Chapter 116

“Did they say a Hero just came out?”

It was announced that a Hero had emerged from the Cathedral.

“No way, how did that happen?”

I couldn’t help but question the validity of that claim.

After all, the Holy Sword was currently at the stronghold of I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire.

It was obvious that the Cathedral was just trying to stir up some intrigue.

I couldn’t help but think that this had to be a cleverly staged hoax of a Hero.

– Haha, a Hero? Seriously?

– No way, isn’t the Holy Sword with the Head of the Gallery?

“Pfft, Cathedral, are you feeling confident?”

“Seriously, you could just keep quiet, but you’re still being loud.”

Naturally, the Gallery’s reactions were icy.

The Cathedral’s image was already unlikable.

No, it had completely plummeted since the last incident.

“Why the heck are they trying to stir controversy like this?”

I just didn’t get it.

But one thing was certain: they had definitely grabbed attention with that headline.

It was the moment my curiosity kicked in, and I clicked on the post.

[Title: A Hero Emerged from the Cathedral (For Real).jpg]

First of all, I’m not a priest.

This isn’t some cathedral propaganda, seriously.

I was just a Gallery member who became interested after hearing the announcement about the Hero this morning.

(An image of the Hero standing next to the Pope)

(An image of the Hero holding the Adrian Holy Sword)

Damn, it’s real.

How the hell did that happen?!

[Upvote 5232] [Downvote 102]

– No fucking way, is this for real?

– Is it really true?

– (Image of a peasant with a cracked head)

– ???

“Wait, what?”

But it was true.

The silver-haired man whom the Pope introduced as the Hero was indeed holding the Holy Sword.

A shock coursed through me like I’d been hit on the head.

“He successfully escaped?”

No way, I definitely left it at I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire, or maybe I just dropped it off for a moment?

Was this some sort of high-level trick?

Head of the Gallery*: (Image of the Hero with the Holy Sword)

Head of the Gallery*: Is this real???

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: He ran away while I was asleep.

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: My beloved bamboo lady…

But it became clear that this was from I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire’s assurance.

That was indeed my eco-friendly lamp.

– No way, if that’s real, what does that make the Head of the Gallery?

– Wasn’t the Holy Sword supposed to shine when he picked it up?

– But that Hero is also making the Holy Sword shine, right?

– I heard the Head of the Gallery had been practicing light magic recently, so maybe he was just manipulating it to shine?

Of course, the comments section was chaotic.

Opinions were divided between those claiming it was just the Cathedral stirring things up and those saying it couldn’t be fake since the Pope acknowledged it and there was the Holy Sword.

And just then, taking advantage of this moment, the Cathedral released an admission statement.

[Title: We Are Holding a Hero Appointment Ceremony.]

Posted by: Pope Pavelio

(Image of the Hero holding the Holy Sword)

Recently, the heavens have appointed a Hero.

The Hero has appeared before our Cathedral with the Holy Sword, and as the Pope, I will officially recognize him as a Hero in a ceremony according to the will of the heavens.

This couldn’t be happier news!

All citizens of the Empire should attend to witness the legitimacy of the Hero as ordained by the heavens.

[Upvote 5232] [Downvote 102]

– sigh…

– No way, really a Hero?

– Didn’t they say Heroes were like legends?

– If this is real, what is the Head of the Gallery then?

– I’m not trying to belittle the Head of the Gallery, but since the Hero is selected by the heavens, the Head of the Gallery would have to be a fake, right?

– No, but the Head of the Gallery shone too.

– Seriously, I think that one shone more brightly.

– But the Pope acknowledged it, didn’t he? The Head of the Gallery might have used light magic to fake it.

The Cathedral was planning the Hero’s appointment ceremony.

If the legitimacy of the Hero was proven there, I would naturally be deemed a fake.

No, I’d not just be a fake, but I’d have the accusation of pretending to be a Hero while holding the Holy Sword.

“Hmmm…”

However.

“Hmm?”

To be honest, I didn’t care much.

I wasn’t particularly interested in the discussions about whether I was a Hero or a fake.

What even is a Hero?

“So, does this have anything to do with the Gallery?”

Instead, I began to examine the silver-haired Hero in the image more closely.

“Hmm… I feel like I’ve seen that face somewhere.”

He had a strikingly good-looking appearance befitting a Hero with his dazzling silver hair, but it felt oddly familiar.

I lost myself in thought as I looked at the man for some time.

*

“Ah, Hero, is that you?”

In the spacious waiting room.

The Pope, Pavelio, approached the silver-haired Hero with a gentle smile.

The man referred to as the Hero looked up from the Holy Sword and stood up.

“Your Holiness.”

“Don’t be too nervous; you will be a Hero before the entire world soon, right?”

“But…”

The Hero, the rightful physical authority of the church.

But both the Pope and the man called the Hero knew very well.

That his Holy Sword had never actually shone.

In fact, it was the Pope who had made it look like it shone.

Yet Pavelio treated him like he was a genuine Hero.

“Hero, no, Darian.”

Because.

“Don’t worry. The truth doesn’t matter.”

The truth is hardly relevant.

Pavelio placed a hand on Darian’s shoulder.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he whispered smirkingly in his ear.

“I still can’t express how surprised I was when you brought the Holy Sword to the Cathedral.”

At that moment, the Cathedral began creating a fake Hero under the Pope’s orders.

Just then, Darian appeared.

Holding the true Adrian Holy Sword.

“Where did you say you found it?”

“I just picked it up in the forest where it was abandoned.”

He had merely picked up the seemingly exhausted Holy Sword.

“Right, you’re not really a Hero, and you just picked up the Holy Sword by chance.”

It was just sheer luck.

But Pavelio saw this as an excellent opportunity.

The Holy Sword, which should’ve belonged to the Head of the Gallery, was now in Darian’s hands, which was crucial.

“From today onwards, you are the Hero.”

“But the Holy Sword didn’t shine.”

“We can create light with magic. If I call you a Hero, then you are a Hero.”

Even if the sword didn’t shine.

Pavelio slowly lowered his body.

Through this Hero appointment ceremony, he would regain legitimacy and, in turn, regain power.

“If that goes with your plans…”

In the days long before the Gallery existed.

He would be able to return to a time when he could kill the innocent with just a wave of his hand, like a god.

And perhaps eliminate that detestable Head of the Gallery for good.

“No, I’ll kill him.”

Perhaps he could swallow up the Gallery too.

As Pavelio envisioned that sweet future, he slowly wiped the smile off his face and focused on Darian.

“So don’t forget, Hero.”

With that final remark, Pavelio left to prepare for the upcoming ceremony.

Left behind in the waiting room, Darian slowly gazed down at the Holy Sword.

– Hmm…

Even if it didn’t shine at all, this was definitely the Adrian Holy Sword.

Perhaps that was his destiny.

“I won’t forget.”

Darian muttered as he looked down at the Holy Sword.

*

Things progressed swiftly.

Less than a day after the appearance of the man called the Hero, the ceremony was going to be held.

[Title: We Are Starting the Hero Appointment Ceremony.]

Posted by: Pope Pavelio

As I looked at the post about the most talked-about Hero bait in the Gallery, I was deep in thought.

“Damn, Hero. What the hell is this familiarity!”

Of course, I was still pondering.

No matter how I looked at it, it felt like I had seen that Hero somewhere.

Full-Peel Elf: Head of the Gallery, Head of the Gallery.

Full-Peel Elf: Are you really going to sit back and watch this unfold?

Dragon Dragon X: Well, it is kind of fun watching these mortals lose their minds…

Dragon Dragon X: But it feels a bit too excessive to me.

Dragon Dragon X: If it’s alright, I can go and clean this up instead.

Despite the worries of the Deputies watching, I still took no action.

[Title: We Are Starting the Hero Appointment Ceremony.]

Posted by: Pope Pavelio

(Image of Darian on the podium)

(Image of the Pope explaining to everyone in front of Darian)

This is the Hero Darian, bestowed upon us by the heavens.

As the representative of the Cathedral and a servant of the heavens’ will, I hereby appoint Darian as the Hero.

(As Darian raised the Holy Sword, a bright light emitted from it.)

At that moment, the appointment ceremony began.

The Pope called the man, and as the man grasped the Holy Sword, a bright light began to shine.

“Hmm, that light looks a bit different.”

Compared to the bright golden light I saw when I held it, it was a dull and artificial glow.

Yet the crowd gathered below erupted into cheers of joy.

– Damn, at this point, he’s basically a real Hero.

– Haha, finally a Hero has appeared!!!

– Bring on the monster slaughter!!!

– So when’s the Head of the Gallery going to explain himself?

– Seriously, still pretending like he doesn’t see anything.

Letting it slide intentionally, all sorts of disruption and spamming were causing chaos.

Full-Peel Elf: Hey, is that an idiot crab sea slug for not banning right now!?

Full-Peel Elf: What are you waiting for to ban them!!!

Yet despite the Deputies’ concerns, I continued to watch the man, the Hero in the images.

Suddenly, the Pope shouted loudly.

“With this, I have proven the qualifications of the Hero!”

“I will appoint Darian as the Hero according to the call of the gods!”

– Oh, is it finally starting?

– I’m still alive to see all this happen, haha!

At the Pope’s call, the man slowly stepped forward.

And just as his hazy features came into focus…

“Oh wait, that’s the guy I saw in the square back then.”

Darian, as I recalled, was the same man I had encountered on the day I went for a walk with Penny, who was lying in the square as a beggar.

“His name was certainly Darian Jallot, right?”

I had given him a tuna can and a coat.

And in the video, Darian was putting on exactly that coat.

So that’s why it felt familiar.

“What did he say to me back then…”

After hurriedly consuming the tuna can, Darian had knelt before me and said just that before he left.

“I will never forget.”

– Gasp

“Ugh.”

In that moment, the Holy Sword pierced through the Pope’s body.

It was an unexpected turn of events.

For a moment, I questioned whether what I had seen was really what happened.

– …? ???

– What the hell?

– Huh?

Only the rushing dark crimson blood confirmed that this was indeed happening.

As everyone stood in stunned silence, Darian’s expression changed in an instant.

“All heretics must die.”

He erased the amiable smile and muttered with an unnerving calmness.

Then, he pulled out his sword and kicked the Pope off the stage, staring straight at the system.

“Long live the Head of the Gallery!”

“What?”

Wait, is that me?

As everyone stood confused, the Hero raised the Holy Sword high into the sky.

At that moment, a system appeared before my eyes.

[One empty slot remains.]

[Searching…]

[One target nearby is present.]

[Would you like to designate a target?]