episode_0697

Francis Meyer.

There are countless nicknames for him, and even those who call themselves his fans can’t remember them all, but it’s a little easier to think of him as a hunter who most often has words like ‘strongest’, ‘best’, and ‘shortest’ in front of his name.

When discussing the strongest, opinions are divided due to the strong people chasing him closely, but when discussing the greatest hero, he is a saint of this era that everyone acknowledges without disagreement.

His amazing journey began with his first steps as a hunter.

As he continued to clear dungeons all over Europe, starting from low level, with the shortest time possible, people’s interest in Francis Meyer grew.

Everyone was excited.

Excellent ability, outstanding appearance, humble personality, and even cheerfulness.

Even if you only have one, you have all the conditions to be loved by those around you, so it can’t be helped.

But up until this point, he was just a hunter who was a little, no, a lot better than others.

It was only after some time had passed that this awareness deepened.

Around the time Francis Meyer was starting to join the ranks of veterans.

People started talking nonsense.

‘Only Francis Meyer can end this anxious and dangerous era!’

… said.

The amazing actions and words he showed over a long period of time were lumped together under the name of ‘trust’, and there were people who started to treat him as a hero from myths and legends.

It was a groundless rumor and a prematurely detonated firework.

Less than half of the people believe it, and the rest are turning into mockery towards those who truly believe it.

After Francis Meyer successfully hunted the black dragon that roared across the skies of Europe, it was no longer a subject of ridicule or rumor.

It was none other than a dragon.

A monster among monsters that can be called a disaster for humanity.

Francis Meyer became a hero among heroes for taking the life out of such a monster, and indeed his actions have changed significantly since then.

Clearing dozens of S-class dungeons located throughout Europe, and single-handedly taking down the worst group of villains classified as S-class dangerous.

Until then, he was just a hunter with outstanding skills and personality, but after hunting the black dragon, he achieved successive achievements worthy of being called a true hero.

As if I were declaring that I would grant your wishes.

But there was a big secret hidden here.

No one knows about it, only Francis has it.

That’s right.

“That black dragon… , in fact, it appeared because of me.”

“… … !”

Kim Do-jin’s eyes grew wide as if they were going to tear.

I felt dizzy.

The disaster that had terrified all of Europe, claimed countless lives, and shattered a glorious civilization was brought about by the hero they had so believed in and followed?

Thump! Thump!

I ask, trying to calm my pounding heart.

“Are you saying that all of that… was a fabrication?”

Should I say that I am fortunate?

He shook his head.

“That’s not it.”

It was not a play, but a product of chance.

A tragedy that occurred when one accidentally gained unwanted power and was unable to properly control it for a brief moment.

His gaze, which had become extremely gloomy, turned towards Kim Do-jin.

A young hunter who has come this far with a path very similar to his own.

“If you’re my friend now, you’ll know.”

“… What are you talking about?”

“The fate, not the destiny, that comes with being called the best.”

“… … .”

The greatest hero of mankind.

The title that was soon attached to his name made him constantly test, prove, expect, live up to expectations, and face the greatest hardships and trials that came his way from the front lines.

I just worked hard to the extent of my ability, and developed the story in line with my original personality, but for that sole reason, people started to have expectations.

At first, I thought it was natural and didn’t avoid it.

It must be said that there was no reason to avoid it.

He was a strong and generous person who could more than handle the expectations of those who followed him in the beginning.

But the limitations came very quickly.

It was natural.

How could it be possible for one person to carry the expectations of billions of people?

“It was really hard. It was hard… but it wasn’t so hard that I couldn’t bear it.”

Kim Do-jin felt it.

The pain and burden that is so great that it cannot be fathomed is hidden in the calm tone of speech.

He was such a bold and great man.

If that was all that was bothering him, he wouldn’t have broken down until he died.

But unfortunately, that wasn’t the only thing that bothered him.

Just because you’re a hero doesn’t mean you can save everyone.

It was inevitable.

Because his body is one.

Because I can’t see the future.

All he can do is run around here and there with his one body and quickly resolve the incidents that have already occurred.

Even if you save a thousand people with quick response, a hundred people will die.

Isn’t it impossible to save someone who died before they even arrived, or someone who died in the aftermath of the fight to suppress the enemy?

He did his best.

This is an indisputable fact.

Yet he was criticized.

-“If only you had come a little sooner!!”

-“You could have subdued him sooner! Why didn’t you?!”

-“It’s your fault my son died, aaah!”

It was an absurd reason.

It was something that should not be said to a hero who sacrificed himself to save others without any consideration for his own body.

He had a lot to say, but he kept his mouth shut.

Because I know.

That there is no sincerity in their words.

That I was just looking for someone to hate in order to somehow relieve the overwhelming sadness.

That was enough.

“If only they could find peace by cursing me… I thought that would be enough.”

As he expected, they criticized him for a while but did not cause any trouble.

As if to prove that time heals all wounds, those who had struggled to shake off their sadness returned to their original daily lives, put aside their resentment toward Francis, and corrected the past with awe toward him.

The problem came next.

“Even though I’m silent, there are people who start talking without any basis.”

Some people began to spread all kinds of rumors, claiming that silence was affirmation.

The reason he remained silent despite receiving absurd complaints is that he could have come sooner, but he was late, and that he may have made a mistake in the process of subduing him. People began to suspect him.

Those were words not worth paying attention to.

It definitely was like that.

“I also became one of them.”

“… … .”

At some point he began to doubt himself.

I repeated this to myself every time I heard those resentful words.

‘Was this really the best I could do?’

Perhaps there was a way to further reduce the number of victims.

At first it was a good source of nutrients.

‘It’s something that will just get stronger.’

If we can become stronger than we are now and solve cases faster, there will be fewer victims.

‘If I become stronger…!’

But it was impossible.

Even if it became twice or three times stronger, it was impossible to completely reduce the number of victims to 0.

The desire for an excessive goal was accompanied by suffering.

‘I resent you too.’

The public expects as they please, is disappointed as they please, and then expects again as if nothing had happened.

‘I never wished for it.’

I didn’t expect their love.

I just did what I had to do.

But why do I have to be swayed by other people like this?

Why on earth?

‘This kind of humiliation is being done to those who are much weaker and more insignificant than me!’

ah.

For a moment, I got goosebumps.

‘What, what did I just say…?’

no.

I just said that out of anger, and I definitely didn’t mean it.

Even though it was just his true feelings that no one heard, he kept repeating it to himself.

As if he was trying to deceive himself.

“… That’s when I started to fall apart.”

It was unacceptable.

I could feel myself having such thoughts, even for a moment.

So he pushed harder, and people became even more enthusiastic about him.

And as the light grew stronger, the darkness also grew darker.

As enthusiasm grew, so did criticism.

Every time I saw this, I suppressed my twisted feelings and whipped myself even harder.

Suppress, suppress, and suppress again.

Clearing an S-class dungeon alone, entering and eliminating a villain group’s base alone, and suppressing a large-scale terrorist attack that spread throughout the city.

It was at that moment that his abilities and the admiration directed at him began to transcend human categories.

Someone spoke to him.

‘Why do you live like that?’

It was a dry question without any tone of voice.

A pure question, without any hint of ridicule or criticism.

He seemed possessed by something and simply answered without suspecting the being who spoke to him.

‘Because I’m a hero.’

I asked again.

‘Did you want to be a hero?’

‘okay.’

‘So… does your current appearance match the appearance of the hero you dreamed of?’

‘that.’

I was speechless.

Because the image of the hero I dreamed of in the past and the image of me now are clearly different.

I was moved by the tone of voice of the person who spoke to me for the first time.

‘So, you didn’t achieve your dream?’

A laughter dripping from his speech.

It was an obvious mockery.

‘You actually hate them, don’t you?’

‘shut up.’

‘I don’t like it when bugs that can be killed with a snap of a finger are told what to do.’

‘I told you to shut up.’

‘I have a way. A way to shut their mouths.’

‘… … .’

I couldn’t say anything to shut up.

To be exact, it was exactly one beat late.

The voice squeezed through that small but huge gap and whispered to him.

‘You just have to rule them all.’

Not a hero.

‘You will become king.’

It was just then.

Krrr-!!

The roar of a giant dragon echoed throughout Europe.