Chapter 132

“First, you wretched fool, look squarely at your own mistakes! Since you don’t even understand what you’ve done wrong, there’s no way you’ll be able to lift this curse that’s lasted thousands of years!”

The foolish one struck by the hero’s fist, which would normally rip a regular monster’s head off in one blow, slowly returned to normal thanks to his unyielding, deathless body.

“Ugh….”

“AH, Uncle!”

“You over there too. Stop babying this idiot already! If you keep following around this fool’s sorry rear, you’ll end up living a lifetime of disasters!”

At the hero’s words, the woman flared up and retorted.

“Huh? Hero! Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“Too harsh?! The real absurdity is this moron’s ridiculous actions! Why is he cursed with immortality? Why can no life be born on Arcad’s land anymore? Why have Arcad’s refugees had to leave their homeland and live in other countries? It all stems from this fool’s sins!”

The woman was momentarily speechless at the hero’s outburst.

“Curse of immortality…? Arcad’s land…? A-uncle, what does he mean by…?”

The woman didn’t fully know about the curse that had befallen this fool.

Since no one explained the problem to her, it’s understandable she wouldn’t know.

“But isn’t the curse something where natural disasters rage around him, and he suffers under the sun?”

“That’s not even a proper curse.”

I said coolly as I looked at the bewildered woman.

“That’s just other gods venting their anger on this fool for his disrespectful acts and punishing him while they’re at it.”

“These natural disasters… They’re not part of the curse but merely divine wrath?”

“Exactly. Those aren’t curses either.”

It’s nothing more than children yelling at this fool for his rudeness towards me.

“If you won’t confess yourself, then I shall recount everything here: what you did, the curse you received, and everything about you.”

“S-stop…!”

“Why? Aren’t these reasons so pitiful that you couldn’t even admit them yourself? Then why did you do those things back then? Why did you commit deeds you’d later regret?”

I stared icily down at the fool.

“Did you want to appear good in front of this child?”

“Ugh, ugh….”

Tch. What a pathetic excuse for a being—too cowardly to even admit his own mistakes.

With a short scoff, I continued.

“The reason this fool became cursed.”

“Stop…!”

He stretches out his hand, but it doesn’t reach me.

Do you think such a worthless gesture could possibly touch me?

“On the day the hero drew the Sword of the Hero and became a true hero, at the Temple of Life…”

“STOP!!!”

He screamed like a banshee, but it had no effect.

You foolish, foolish man who hasn’t truly repented.

What will happen if I reveal the truth to the woman following this fool?

Will she despise him? Or…

“In front of the hero, you lusted after me, disgraced the Goddess of Life, and mocked the Temple of Life.”

I spoke in a low voice.

“Using your position as the prince of the once-great Arcad, you coveted the Sword of the Hero and dared to lay hands on me.”

“…”

Horror filled the woman’s eyes.

The fool remains silent.

What an idiotic, stupid creature. Too dumb to even acknowledge his own fault.

Decades of suffering haven’t changed this imbecile one bit.

“Therefore, the Goddess of Life cursed him with immortality and placed a curse on Arcad so that no life could be born there.”

“H-how could she…”

“That’s the truth. This fool isn’t someone worthy of your admiration. He’s just an endless idiot who refuses to accept his own faults.”

I thought he’d reflect and repent after placing the curse. Had I known he’d remain unchanged like this… I should’ve just sent him straight to the Underworld cleanly.

Wouldn’t everything have gone better then? For both Arcad and this fool.

How foolish of me. Foolish…

Should I use my power to rewind time and thrash this fool now? But then all our adventures, the prosperity of Arcadia, the hero’s daughter and her family—all would vanish.

Everything from the moment time rewinds until now would disappear. Is it right for me to tamper with time?

Is it worth paying such a price just to beat this fool?

No, surely not. It’s too great a cost for something so trivial.

That’s why, even with the cheat of time manipulation available, I can’t abuse it recklessly.

So…

“If making him suffer through the curse would make him reflect on his faults, I was mistaken. There’s no choice but to deal with him here and now.”

I raised my hand and gathered magical power.

Perhaps wiping him out here will yield the best result.

The magical energy coalesces into a silver orb brimming with ominous vibes in my hand.

A terrifying force capable of obliterating anything it touches.

“N-nu-nim!!!”

The hero shouted in panic upon seeing me, but I didn’t stop.

Even striking the fool’s head earlier might’ve been the hero trying to prevent me from losing control in my fury.

It’s a bit unfortunate that the hero’s efforts go to waste, but there’s nothing to be done.

This fool has been far too stupid.

“Didn’t you long for death from the hero? I’ll grant your wish. Though there will be no peace after death as you imagine.”

Because the gods of death have been eagerly waiting for the moment they can claim your soul. Even in death, peace will elude you.

If you were to repent, I might forgive you, but clearly, no forgiveness is necessary now.

Let’s erase and forget this stupid man. I don’t wish to think about someone so foolish any longer.

Therefore…

“Move aside.”

I told the woman blocking my path.

“This fool isn’t worth protecting. It’s better for him to vanish from this world.”

Despite my words, the woman refused to move.

Her lips tightly shut, her tear-filled eyes staring defiantly at me, shaking her head.

“Why? Why protect him after hearing of his sins?”

“B-but…”

Her voice trembled with emotion.

“Even though he committed such grave errors… the fact that uncle saved me doesn’t change…”

Fear mingled with her voice.

She instinctively understands how dangerous this silvery magical energy is.

Yet, she stands firm, risking her life to block me.

“You’re foolish too.”

“Even with such grave sins… Uncle is… someone precious to me…”

Ah, because he’s her benefactor. Someone dear to her.

Someone worth risking her life to protect.

Truly, he doesn’t deserve someone as remarkable as her.

“Move aside! This isn’t something you need to risk your life for! Finally, I get to die!”

From behind the woman, the fool cried out.

Seeing death personified before him, he transformed into someone longing for release.

“I’ll say it again; without repentance, you won’t find peace in death. Do you still wish to die?”

“At least it’ll be better than this torment now, this painful existence!”

Hmph, better than now, huh?

“You only say that because you don’t know how terrifying it is to escape the constraints of the flesh.”

Compared to the agony awaiting you in the afterlife, this life’s suffering is like a speck of dust.

If this life is coffee, the afterlife is T.O.P… cough, maybe that’s outdated.

“You have no idea how excruciating it is to torture the soul itself.”

I smirked lightly.

“Especially in the afterlife, there are experts who specialize in torturing sinful souls. You’ll have a blast. Really.”

And those guys are sharpening their blades, eagerly waiting for this fool who disrespected me.

“More painful than now…?”

“Yeah. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Feel free to look forward to it.”

“Nu-nim… That’s a bit too cruel…”

“It’s perfectly fitting for this fool. Otherwise, he’d never repent even a little.”

So…

“Step aside.”

I repeated to the woman still blocking my path.

Even trembling with fear, tears streaming down her face, unable to calm herself in the face of death…

She refused to move.

“No, I can’t let you kill uncle…”

“Even if it costs your life?”

“Even if I die, I can’t let you kill uncle… Please, forgive him…”

Forgiveness. Forgiveness, huh.

I wanted to wipe this fool off the face of the earth right now, but I don’t want to kill the woman standing before me.

Thus…

“I’ll give you one last chance.”

“One… last chance?”

“…”

I addressed the woman.

“If this fool sincerely repents and apologizes at the Temple of Life, I won’t kill him. If not… No matter what you do, I’ll erase this fool from existence.”

Final ultimatum. If this fool genuinely regrets his sins and seeks penance, I won’t kill him.

Though I didn’t say it outright, I’ll also lift the curse of immortality.

But if he doesn’t… I’ll obliterate him completely, leaving no trace in this world.