The Fake Hero Is Too Strong

Chapter 193

It wasn’t just Idria and her followers who were shocked by those words. We were, too.

Offense asked, “Why? You finally got your own body back.”

“It doesn’t matter. Aktion is still inside me.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Mother. I only realized it just now, but Aktion ate my personality a long time ago. Then he pretended to be me in front of you.”

Idria shook her head in disbelief.

“But when you devoured Adin…”

“Yes. That time, it really was me. I think when you absorbed Adin’s soul and became stronger, I was able to regain control for a short while too.”

“Then isn’t that good enough?”

“But it didn’t last. Aktion took over again almost right away. Even if I go outside now, it will be the same.” I cut in.

“Even if it’s the same, it doesn’t matter. The Aktion affected by the law I added isn’t in his right mind anymore.”

“…”

“That means he doesn’t have enough sense left to take back your body.”

“True. Right now Aktion seems completely lost. Because of that, I found an opening and managed to read a bit of his thoughts.”

Batore spoke heavily.

“I don’t fully understand everything, but Aktion’s thoughts were clear about one thing. Mide, the law you made won’t last long.”

“What?!”

“Right. You took Aktion’s power with the Gem of Greed, and the world saw that as a proper ‘transfer of ownership.’ But for someone like the Demon King of Greed…”

“He said before that you can’t steal powers forever. Only a few minutes left, wasn’t it?”

“Exactly. When those minutes are up, you will no longer be the so-called ‘hero chosen by the world.’ The law you created will disappear, that’s what Aktion believes.”

So that’s it.

In the vision from the Eye of Omniscience, Impelium had received his powers by drinking the wine his predecessor used to enjoy. That must have been the ‘proper’ way to transfer a hero’s power.

Using the vial of Greed to take it by force wasn’t complete.

Idria said, “Even so, are you saying you will stay here?”

“Mother.”

“Come with me first. Aktion can’t use his full strength outside the special room anyway.”

“Even so, I would still be his eyes and ears. Nothing changes.”

“Batore.”

“That’s why… I’m truly sorry, but I will step down first.”

Before anyone could ask what he meant.

Thud.

Batore stabbed a dagger into his own heart.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“B-Batore…”

“Cough… Stay back. When I die, Aktion’s mind will rise again.”

“No. You can’t die before me.”

“Hold her back.”

Thump. Clatter.

At his words, Sobius, Sabach, and Pirensha grabbed Idria with all their strength and pulled her away.

“Let me go.”

“Mother, please understand Batore’s feelings.”

“I said let me go.”

“Please, I’m begging you.”

But Idria wouldn’t listen.

Finally, Pirensha shouted,

“We are sad too! Don’t you get that?”

“…!”

“Batore is our brother too! Please understand how we feel, holding you back like this!”

Idria’s strength left her body.

Batore’s eyes grew dim.

He whispered, “I’m glad… that I got to see you again that day. Thank you.”

“Batore…”

And just like that, Batore died.

[…Wait, the Finger of Lies can die just because of a dagger in the heart?]

‘Idria could bring him back if she wanted. She revived Sabach after that deadly poison, and even Sobius after I killed him.’

[Then why not now?]

‘Because in this case, even Idria’s power wouldn’t work.’

I nodded toward Batore’s body.

Or rather, Aktion’s body now.

“Grr… Damn it. I didn’t think he would actually do that.”

As Aktion returned, the world’s law took effect again.

This time, it was drowning.

His body swelled up, gasping and choking as if underwater, though there was nothing around him.

[So even Idria’s power can’t save Batore from the world’s law.]

Seems that way.

I let out a quiet sigh.

Idria just stared blankly at Aktion, who kept dying and reviving over and over.

I said to her, “Let’s go.”

“…Okay.”

Strength returned to her eyes.

She seemed to realize that if they didn’t leave soon, the rest of her Fingers might die too.

I motioned to my group.

Then Neril said, “Mide, wait. Isn’t this our chance?”

“Huh?”

“That guy lost his powers for now and is too busy suffering to fight. Why not kill him while we can?”

“You just don’t want to leave empty-handed, huh.”

“He pissed me off too much to let it go.”

She wasn’t wrong.

I nodded. Neril formed a hand sign.

“Transcendent Disintegration.”

A spear of transcendent energy shot toward Aktion.

It struck him, again and again as he kept dying and reviving.

“Gaaahhh!”

Aktion’s body vanished completely.

Not even dust remained, he was gone.

[Is it finally over?]

‘Who knows. The world’s law might still punish him even in the afterlife.’

[Good. Have Adwin check later.]

Then Adwin’s voice came.

[Yes. I will check and report back.]

[Adwin? You were here?]

[Of course I was. I couldn’t just sit still while my sisters, brother, and uncle were all struggling there. ]

[You really insist on calling me “uncle,” huh.]

Adwin ignored him smoothly.

[I will make sure his soul really went to the underworld. Xenia, you okay with that?]

[No! My arm is killing me!]

[Thanks! I knew you would say yes.]

[Ugh, seriously! Can’t even complain after all this.]

I couldn’t help but smile.

Before we knew it, we were standing right in front of the door.

I grabbed the handle without hesitation.

And then…

Click.

At last, we could leave the special room.

We ran like the wind, passing through the door beneath the imperial castle, and gathered at a corner of the outer wall.

“Let’s part ways here.”

Idria spoke with dry, cracked lips.

“When will we fight?”

“When do you want it to be?”

“…Give me three days. I need time to mourn Batore.”

“Alright. The ‘play’ starts in three days then.”

Idria nodded.

Crackle.

She opened a crack in the air.

Her children went through first, Sobius and Sabach jumped in silently, while Pirensha turned to Serein.

“See you next time.”

“Yeah. Wasn’t that the plan anyway?”

“Where did you pick up that attitude?”

“Don’t go around saying you’re my sister. I will kill you before you get the chance.”

Pirensha didn’t reply and vanished through the rift.

Just as Idria was about to follow, she turned to me.

“I almost forgot.”

“What?”

“Thank you for helping.”

“Well, I didn’t expect a thank-you. I only did it because if you died, I would lose my chance to kill Velosian.”

“I know. I do.”

She gave a faint, bitter smile.

“But it’s still true that I was able to save my children thanks to you.”

“…You never change.”

“I should go. I need to bury Batore.”

I didn’t say something like: His body’s already gone because of the Transcendent Disintegration.

I simply nodded.

Then Trail spoke up.

[Next time we meet, don’t come looking like that.]

“What?”

[If you look that exhausted when Mide kills you, it won’t do much for his fame.]

Idria gave a small laugh.

“I will remember that. Thanks.”

Then she disappeared.

Trail muttered under her breath.

[I wasn’t trying to comfort her. Why did she thank me.]

We returned to the inn.

Xenia, half out of her mind, was shaking a bell by Adwin’s ear.

“Hang in there. Xenia Seide. Mm-hmm, good job. That’s it, just like that.”

“…”

“Hang in there. Xenia Seide. Mm-hmm, good job. That’s it, just like that.”

“What are you doing.”

Xenia replied through the soul link.

[Don’t talk to me. I built a spell to match the rhythm of ringing the bell.]

“Hang in there. Xenia Seide. Mm-hmm, good job. That’s it, just like that.”

[If I stop, I think I will go insane.]

“Hang in there. Xenia Seide. Mm-hmm, good job. That’s it, just like that.”

We all stared at Xenia with expressions that couldn’t quite be described.

Neril twirled her finger near her temple.

“She’s gone like this now, huh.”

“Well, it has been almost a full day. Doing the same thing over and over that long isn’t easy.”

Xenia nodded fiercely.

[Exactly. I also really need to use the bathroom, you know?]

“Since when?”

[Three hours ago! I think I have already surpassed human limits.]

Neril sighed.

“I will take over. Go.”

“Thank you. You saved me!”

“There’s no need to switch.”

Adwin suddenly stood up.

“It’s done! I will go now!”

Xenia burst into tears and ran outside.

She came back three minutes later, looking like she had conquered the world.

“Well, what can I say. You have worked hard.”

“It’s fine. I mean, sure, I held it for three hours and didn’t eat anything for a full day, but I doubt I suffered as much as the rest of you.”

Serein gave a faint laugh.

“Tell us how you really feel.”

“Ah, right, speaking of feelings, remember when you confessed that your wish was the same as Offense’s?”

“…Please forget that ever happened.”

Then Adwin spoke.

“Anyway, hyung.”

“Hm? Oh, right. Did you find Aktion’s soul in the underworld?”

“No.”

The mood instantly dropped.

Adwin rubbed his fingers together awkwardly.

“I came back because I thought if I took any longer, Xenia would be in serious trouble, but…”

“Don’t say it.”

“The thing is, by now, his soul should have shown up in the underworld. I don’t think Aktion actually died.”

I crossed my arms.

“Wait. I will check. Trail, can you look?”

Trail replied,

[Can’t you use the Eye of Omniscience without me now?]

‘Why are you sulking?’

[Well, it was mine originally, but I can’t even see anything with it.]

‘I will buy you some snacks later, alright?’

[Don’t need it. Whose secrets are you trying to see anyway?]

‘Velosian’s, of course.’

Tap.

A screen appeared.

I pressed a hand to my forehead.

The others already guessed what that meant.

Neril asked,

“So you can’t see it anymore?”

“Yeah. Guess the few minutes already passed. My power must have gone back to Aktion.”

“So the world decided the inheritance wasn’t complete, huh. How petty.”

Her tone reminded me of Serad, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ahaha.”

“What’s funny.”

“Serad used to talk like you.”

Offense tilted his head.

“That can’t be. At the banquet, she was perfectly refined.”

“So you’re saying I’m not refined?”

“I’m saying it plainly.”

“….”

“Maybe Serad was just hiding her true nature. Sounds like Serein, actually.”

Before Serein could snap back, I spoke first.

“Let’s all get some sleep.”

“Huh? All of a sudden?”

“When we defeated Adin, Impelium threw a banquet to celebrate. What happened today is even bigger.”

“…”

“So they might throw more than a banquet this time, maybe a full party. Let’s go and see.”

I added,

“There is a lot I want to ask, too.”

It was time to learn every secret of the world.

Support on Patreon

Rate on NovelUpdates