Chapter 46

Whitewood Duke is a hero.

That’s why she executed her role splendidly.

To nurture the birth of future heroes who will face injustice.

A law she personally initiated.

Hero Special Law.

This law takes precedence over most laws except a few closely related to the imperial family.

This illustrates how highly the empire values her.

“The birth of heroes should be encouraged. The world is always facing a great Evil Zone.

When someone envies and resents a hero to the point they fall, it’s a grave loss for the nation.”

She explained the reason behind the Hero Special Law and walked closer to me.

“So, boy.”

The corners of Whitewood Duke’s mouth curved up eerily.

Her transparent eyes shone as they pierced through me.

“Are you a hero? Or are you a death row inmate?”

According to the Hero Special Law, will I become a hero?

Or according to imperial law, will I be a death row inmate?

She imposed a choice upon me.

My mouth remained silent.

I knew well what answer Whitewood Duke was hoping for.

“I am too weak to be called a hero.”

To put it accurately, I’m merely pretending to be a hero.

This world is a manifestation of the Flame Butterfly faction I played countless times.

I have no grand cause.

Just like every other human, I’m simply struggling to survive to avoid death.

The numerous bad endings contained in this world lead to its destruction.

To survive, I too had no choice.

The real hero, Lucas, is dead.

That’s why I, as Lucas’ substitute, am nothing more than a fake hero.

“I’m lacking to embody the spirit of a hero, yet the world is too chaotic not to.”

The empire is currently screeching from the struggle for the throne.

1st Prince Faction and 3rd Princess Faction.

Due to the intense rivalry of these two groups, the empire has shed a lot of blood.

The empire must not collapse.

The empire carries massive problems, including Magung.

Once the empire falls, the world will race towards destruction in an instant.

“Above all, being a hero is not something you can just decide to be.”

Lucas walked the path of a hero.

He never lifted himself to be a hero out of his own volition.

Instead, countless people admired his heroism and wished to walk alongside him.

The heroes I’ve witnessed were like that.

Made-up heroes are nothing more than paper dolls.

“So I am not yet a hero.”

Someone else has to call me a hero.

It’s meaningless to self-proclaim to be one.

“Heh.”

Whitewood Duke chuckled softly as she mulled over my words.

Seeing this, the attendant quietly sighed.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Whitewood Duke laughed heartily, covering her mouth.

It was an exceptionally boisterous laugh for a hero.

After laughing for quite a while, she looked down at me again.

“How interesting. ‘Not yet.’”

She pinpointed the part I had said exactly.

She sported a beaming smile.

“Boy, you’re right. A hero is not something you can self-pro claim.

At some point, they naturally ascend to that position through the voices of many citizens.”

It seemed she was quite fond of my story.

“You’re giving me the answer I least expected, as if you’ve been peeking inside my head.”

She’s pretty perceptive.

“So, am I going to be executed now?”

When I asked again, Whitewood Duke snorted.

“Boy, the Hero Special Law applies to you. Even if you claim to be a hero-wannabe.”

She had already scouted everything I had done.

The mystery that dominated the Spirit Great Forest, the Steel Empress.

To stave this off, I threw myself into the fray.

At least, that’s what has been reported above.

“Most importantly, regardless of intentions, you’re not using the mystery you possess for vile means.”

I had prevented the Apostle and forest keeper in the gray forest.

Every action I had accumulated led to this moment.

Nothing was in vain.

A script is the driving force behind a story.

If you follow the narrative, the results will naturally follow.

“So the boy will not be executed.”

Since things were going down a slightly different path than the original scenario, I was tense.

Fortunately, I managed to keep my life.

“And boy, there’s one more special clause in this Hero Special Law. That’s why I came here today.”

My fist clenched tightly.

The moment had finally arrived.

This was what I had tried to capture Whitewood Duke’s attention for.

“This law was specially made to encourage heroes and aspirants.”

I felt a sensation of a pure white tree blooming behind Whitewood Duke.

The tree was glowing with a halo.

Whitewood Duke smiled.

Her eyes added a benevolent light as she looked at the young hero aspirant.

“Boy, say what you wish.”

Hero Special Law.

As long as Whitewood Duke is alive, she declares that she will personally bestow rewards to those who qualify.

She asked me, who fell under the Hero Special Law, to speak of what I wanted.

In this world, besides the emperor, the most powerful figure is a hero.

What she speaks of wanting refers to nearly everything a person could imagine.

Swallowing hard, I raised my head.

“I wish for…”

And I spoke my most pressing need to her.

* * *

After Whitewood Duke left with an amused smile,

I too emerged from the hospital room.

Perhaps it was because I had rested well during the exam period,

but my body felt relatively recovered.

As I moved around, I caught sight of several hospital rooms.

While passing by these rooms, I suddenly came to a halt.

For the name I recognized was written on one of the doors.

Nikita Cynthia.

The room was quiet.

Is she sleeping?

‘No way.’

I raised my hand and knocked.

Knock knock –

The sound of two knocks echoed.

No answer came.

“Senior Nikita.”

As I called her name softly, a reaction was felt from inside.

“…Junior?”

Fortunately, she recognized me and responded.

As I slowly opened the door, I could see Nikita sitting on the edge of the bed.

She stared blankly at me, then flinched and hurriedly hid something she was holding.

I saw that it was a letter but pretended not to notice.

“How’s your condition?”

Nikita had collapsed from malnutrition and overwork.

So I asked about her health, causing her to flinch but she forced a smile.

“I’m fine.”

My eyes caught the half-eaten sandwich placed on the drawer.

Just a bite had been taken out of it.

This was all due to her immense effort.

Even without eating anything else,

she had attempted to take a bite out of it just to show her good intentions.

This fact made my heart ache even more.

“You’re not fine at all.”

I started gathering the sandwich.

With summer’s heat rising, I knew it would spoil quickly if left like this.

However, even amid my actions, Nikita still wore a dazed expression.

It was as if she had received shocking news.

“Senior?”

“Oh, um.”

Her response was deflated as she stood up unsteadily from the bed.

When I hurried to support her, Nikita waved her hand.

“I’m fine. Junior, I really am okay.”

“But…”

“Junior, I have a request.”

Nikita spoke with a shaking face.

“I want to be alone right now, so can you leave me alone? You’re kind, so you’ll listen, right?”

I didn’t touch Nikita any further.

Instead, I slowly turned around and left.

“Yeah, take care of yourself.”

Even as I did, my eyes captured her face clearly.

The faint anger blooming in Nikita’s eyes.

I confirmed it for sure.

The letter she had hidden.

Its content wasn’t hard to guess.

The letter likely contained news that Nia Cynthia of the Countess Cynthia family had been assassinated.

And this had ignited her heart with anger and revenge.

A fire spreads.

Unlike with Isabel, this was a cruel fire that could not be extinguished until it achieved its goal.

Act 3, Scene 6.

Disaster Dragon Maiden.

The curtain has risen.