The Fake Hero Is Too Strong

Chapter 197

The hero chosen by the world.

“….”

But wait, does that mean I’m the world in this case?

So I chose myself… whatever. I don’t know.

“Let me give you one last gift. Well, it’s not exactly from me, but still.”

“Hm?”

“You remember how you messed with Aktion last time by adding a new rule to the world’s laws?”

“Haha. I should have saved that in the Append View.”

“It’s fine. You can see it again if you want.”

He spoke leisurely, his tone calm. “The ability you stole from Aktion using the Gem of Greed, its duration ended. And along with it, the rule you added disappeared too.”

“Meaning…”

“Yes. You can add a new law to the world again.”

My heart started to race.

He spoke again, like he was testing me, just like before.

“What law will you add this time? Are you going to target Aktion again…”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I will decide that later. And seriously, why do you keep asking questions like you’re testing me?”

Impelium scratched his head awkwardly.

“Because you’re my role model.”

“…Come on.”

“I just wanted to make sure I was still on the right path, following your example. If you gave an answer that met my expectations, I would feel at ease.”

“I’m not that great.”

“You are right, you’re not even human.”

He corrected himself deliberately.

“If the word ‘god’ bothers you because of Adin, then I can use something else. Absolute being, guide, savior… Whatever. You’re something beyond both human and hero.”

“All of those sound awful.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“And no matter what happened before, I’m clearly human now. Even if I don’t know why.”

Impelium looked like he was about to say something, but I shook my head.

There was no need to ask him for answers.

“I will find out for myself.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“…”

“It feels a bit lonely though, knowing you don’t need my help anymore.”

He turned his back.

When I turned too, I saw my party members waiting with anxious faces, itching to grab me and demand an explanation.

Serad spoke first.

“Impelium, it’s about time…”

“Yeah, I know.”

He smiled and addressed us.

“People of the world who gave birth to me and Serad… it’s time for us to part from our homeland completely.”

“…”

“When grown children succeed in another land, they still wish happiness for their home, right? That’s how I feel now.”

“…”

“I hope you handle Velosian, Aktion, and Idria well. Even if we will never meet again, I sincerely wish for your success.”

We all nodded firmly.

Then my vision began to blur. The warm, cozy room. The tea that was always ready.

And….

Even the gentle smiles of Impelium and Serad faded away.

I said to them,

“May you create a good world too.”

When I came to, we were all sprawled on the floor of the inn room.

As I groggily sat up, my ears started ringing immediately.

“Mide, what did all that stuff Impelium said even mean?”

“I was dying trying not to ask questions right then.”

“‘Absolute being,’ ‘guide,’ ‘savior’ come on, that’s so embarrassing.”

“So you did realize it, Adwin…”

“Everyone, one question at a time. One.”

“Let’s start with the one we most want answered.”

Everyone nodded at Serein’s suggestion, as if they had already agreed beforehand.

I tilted my head.

“What are you most curious about?”

Neril spoke for the group.

“You’re not planning to leave, right?”

“…Huh?”

“You know like Impelium and Serad. You’re not going to just leave this world alone, are you?”

What kind of question is that?

I gave a small laugh.

“That’s your biggest concern? Right now?”

But even with my laugh, everyone’s faces stayed serious. I had no choice but to sit up straight too.

“That’s not going to happen. Don’t worry.”

“From the moment we first met Impelium, I have had a bad feeling,” said Neril.

“Yeah, like you might go somewhere far away,” someone added.

And in a way, Neril’s instinct wasn’t wrong.

Not because I planned to leave the world.

But because I had already come far.

From a simple mercenary, to a hero, and now to someone treated like a divine being across the continent.

If I went one step further, I would become someone like Impelium or Serad.

That’s what they were afraid of.

I spoke clearly again.

“That will never happen. I won’t leave you all behind.”

Serein nodded.

“If you go, I will die first.”

“…Wow, that’s blunt.”

“No matter what anyone says, you’re the center of this party. If you disappear, so does the party. I don’t want to part from everyone.”

Lisel chuckled softly, teasing her.

“Well, that was your wish, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“…Huh?”

“I might as well admit it now that everyone knows. Yeah, it’s my wish.”

I never thought I would hear Serein say something like that.

Everyone smiled gently.

I stretched and yawned.

“So, what’s your next question?”

“Let’s see…”

“Actually, maybe we should wait. I don’t think you can tell us everything right now, can you?”

“…No. Not yet. Even I don’t know everything. Give me a little time.”

This meeting with Impelium had revealed so many secrets, yet I still didn’t know who I really was.

Why was Mide, the ruler of this world, living as a human?

Why did I start seeing blood script at seven?

Why did Trail merge with me before the regression?

If I’m the master of this world, why did the Eye of Omniscience go to Trail, and yet the blood script appeared only to me?

Above all…

‘How many sins have I committed?’

Now, after this final level-up, I could finally see my own sins.

I stood up.

“I’m going to my room for a bit.”

“Huh?”

“I will use the complete Eye of Omniscience to find out the truth.”

“Ugh… waiting is going to be hard.”

“You won’t even feel like you’re waiting. Once I use it, time stops for everyone. Even those who have turned fame into power.”

They all nodded, understanding.

I moved to my room.

Then Trail spoke up.

[Can I come too?]

‘Why wouldn’t you be able to?’

[Well, you’re leaving the others behind.]

‘You are… different.’

There must be a perfect word to describe this guy, but it just won’t come to mind.

‘Anyway, yeah, come along.’

[…Thanks, Mide. Really.]

‘Not that it matters, you will be frozen in time too.’

[Wow, you ruined the moment in one second.]

I ignored him and stepped into my room.

Trail muttered behind me.

[But if time is going to stop anyway, couldn’t you have just done this in the other room?]

‘That room didn’t have a mirror.’

[Huh?]

‘This one does… right there.’

I took a deep breath and stood in front of the mirror.

Then I carefully looked up above my head.

There were words written there.

– Please set the definition of sin first.

Huh?

What does that even mean?

Tap.

Just then, a screen appeared.

I quietly inhaled.

I thought for a moment, then asked,

“I can already see other people’s sin freely. So why does it say I haven’t set the definition of sin?”

“…No.”

What’s going on?

Even though it was only text, I could almost imagine it smiling softly.

“Who are you?”

“…”

“…”

After that, I spent what felt like seven hours in that room.

To Trail, Neril, and the others, it probably felt like only a second had passed.

I checked all the secrets of the world.

Why the former hero, Aktion, ended up the way he did.

The past heroes before Impelium, and what they achieved.

How the other worlds, gifted to those heroes, were now doing.

The hidden stories of the old heroes.

And the secrets I didn’t know, those Idria had buried in history to harvest lies.

There were so many more.

“Phew.”

I let out a long breath.

What a day.

From the party with Impelium to all this new knowledge, my head was spinning.

“I think I have seen most of it.”

“No, I said most. There are still a few more things.”

Now came the most important part.

“Why am I human? Why was I a baby on Mount Baharma?”

<…>

“And who is Trail, and where did Kaeld come from?”

<…>

“Lastly… who are you? What’s your name?”

I expected the Eye of Omniscience to activate again.

But the words that appeared surprised me.

“What? No? Even with the Eye of Omniscience, there’s something I can’t see?”

“….”

Now that I think about it, Impelium said something similar before.

Unbelievable.

This thing really isn’t the same as the usual system window that just shows stats.

“Why not?”

“Hey.”

“Time hasn’t even passed here. Stop dodging and show me.”

The screen wobbled from side to side.

It reminded me of old times, and I smiled faintly.

‘Trail used to act like that too.’

Tilting his head, shaking slightly, expressing emotions without words.

Was this thing doing the same?

“Fine. If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you.”

“I’m not the kind who forces people.”

Haven’t changed?

Well, I guess that’s true. I never forced my party members either.

Even Offense mentioned that a few times.

“You don’t seem very pleasant.”

“Anyway, since we can talk like this now, what should I call you? Can’t you at least tell me your name?”

The screen went quiet, as if thinking deeply.

Just when I was about to ask again, a line appeared.

Bion?

That name… I have heard it somewhere.

– Bion Kunze.

I froze, trying to say something.

Tap.

But before I could, the screen vanished.

“…What was that supposed to mean?”

[Huh? What are you talking about?]

Trail’s voice came back, time must have started moving again.

I thought for a moment.

“You are Trail, right?”

[Snap out of it.]

“No, never mind.”

My gut told me the system would tell me everything eventually.

After all, I now had the full Eye of Omniscience. There was no need to rush.

What mattered now was sharing everything I had learned with the party.

“Let’s go back.”

[You’re really going to act all enlightened now, huh.]

Trail grumbled, but didn’t argue.

We returned to the room where everyone was waiting.

“You’re back already?”

“Time must have stopped, but still, that was quick.”

“Hyung, what did you see?”

I calmly answered Adwin’s question.

“I will tell you everything, one by one.”

That night, I shared all the secrets I had learned.

We stayed up until morning.

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