Chapter 156: The Guy Who Knows His Monsters Well
Adrang left with Knightrea to discuss evacuation plans.
Meanwhile, I remembered someone I had forgotten about and was crossing the temple grounds of the Order of the Immortal to bring them into battle.
With nothing better to do along the way and out of sheer boredom, I decided to hassle Older Brother Sooho.
“Brother. Wake up, Brother.”
Lately, Brother Sooho has been unconscious more often than not. He only regains awareness when I call out to him.
It’s better for him to sleep soundly anyway since, when he’s awake, all he does is crack silly jokes.
“Eh? Did you call me?”
“Yes, there’s something I need to ask you.”
—”Ask away.”
As usual, Brother Sooho readily agreed.
I cut to the chase without further ado.
“It’s about the Hero Support System.”
—”Oh ho.”
Brother Sooho let out a meaningful hum.
My first question was: “Why don’t the disciples of Cassas show up as monsters like the Resurrection Sect does?”
Aside from Brother Sooho, only Minerva could know this. But I had already used up my chances to ask Minerva when I was learning about Ruci’s secrets. So, I had to keep pestering Brother Sooho.
Perhaps in the eyes of the gods, the Resurrection Sect seemed more dangerous. Although I can’t say for sure, as I didn’t make the change myself.
“…Brother, can someone other than the gods tamper with that system?”
I asked this because of the deliberate erasure I noticed in Hector Cassas’ status window under the “Information Omission” entry.
After a brief silence, Brother Sooho confirmed my suspicion.
Ah. Besides the gods, only three people can interfere with the Hero Support System: me, a man named Hector Cassas, and a woman named Altear. Though they lived 500 years ago, they’re probably all dead now.
“Hector Cassas…!”
There he is. Hector Cassas.
As expected… he himself deliberately erased parts of his own information.
I can’t reveal the specific details as it involves Diana’s private matters. Both of them had some connection with me in the past. While their authority was far below mine, they could still tweak the information that was already written.
Brother Sooho added a few words, and I solemnly nodded.
Did he realize I can view the status windows? Or was this merely Hector being cautious in case of one-in-a-million scenarios?
“… I have a few more questions. Please answer what you can.”
—”Very well.”
During the dull walk, I continued asking about the system. The question I focused on most was: “Why did you copy a game system?”
Of course. To design the most intuitive system that would stimulate a challenge? It was obviously going to be an RPG! So, after analyzing all the Korean RPGs I played, I set out to earnestly create something. Heh.
Here is what he replied:
So, it wasn’t just Brother Sooho who devised the system. The sponsors—namely, the gods—intended this framework for the proper raising of the summoned heroes.
First, exterminate generic enemies such as demons and monsters to gradually level up.
Second, occasionally tackle powerful foes—like the Demon Kings—as field events or mandatory raids to eliminate them according to a matching system.
That’s the image they had in mind.
But in your case, it’s a little different. Actually, it’s quite different.
Brother Sooho then added something peculiar.
I unconsciously pointed at my face.
“Me?”
—”Your growth isn’t optional for you; it’s enforced. To use a game analogy, your genre is altogether different.”
I thought about what Older Brother said and tilted my head in confusion.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean, Brother.”
—”In everything significant you’ve encountered so far, has anything happened because you wanted it to?”
“…”
Upon reflection, that’s true.
Dying countless times while trying to escape the sewer with Leira.
Dying countless more times while escaping Halzenberg and defeating the Eldritch.
Dying again due to the Resurrection Sect when I arrived at Markeuteuriseu.
And dying because of Cassas’ disciples after reaching the capital.
Actually, thinking about it now, I really died a lot over the last while.
I nodded in agreement as a sign of understanding, and Brother Sooho continued.
In an MMORPG, the character’s growth is the main objective of the game.
“That’s true.”
—”So, unless forced by a mandatory event like the Demon King’s appearance, when and how you hunt monsters to grow stronger is usually up to the player. This freedom of growth is the essence of RPGs.”
I crossed my arms tightly and furrowed my brows.
“But that’s not the case for me?”
—”You have a specific purpose, don’t you? Guardian of the Undying Demon King. But the world will not forgive that. So, mandatory events will keep happening, and growth becomes secondary. Understand?”
“…”
That’s right. That’s where the unbridgeable gap between me and the other heroes originates.
For them, growth isn’t mandatory. Those who want to play can play, and those who want to grow stronger can do so.
But I’m different. If I want to survive, I have to become stronger.
For them, growth is the main objective but not mandatory. For me, it’s secondary but mandatory.
[There’s no place to run.]
Even now, that’s still the case.
Hector Cassas uses every means to pressure me from all sides and attacks with forces that have the potential to defeat me.
Thus, with every new obstacle that arises, I must grow stronger, both mentally and physically. To survive, I have no other choice.
Otherwise, I will just keep falling into the endless death-loop of the perpetual hell.
There are trials to overcome at specific stages, and the items from the Three Fates are part of it. Even the reincarnation system resembles a game where you repeat until you succeed. Your life is entirely a “Soul-like” game, know what I mean?
“Yes… I understand.”
—”How about calling you the 163,410,741,000th Soul-like Hero? Haha, that’s a good one.”
Brother Sooho came up with a nickname for me on the spot.
A title so bad it would probably get me flamed on web novel forums. But Brother seemed proud of himself, while I found it unamusing and remained silent.
Instead, I moved on to my next question.
“Well, Brother… do you think it’s good that I continue to increase my party?”
—”Tch, you created such an intense atmosphere and now you ask such a useless question.”
Brother Sooho dismissed it.
He chuckled derisively. His voice, though somewhat grave, was unexpectedly serious.
Sure enough, a sharp comment followed.
You’ve already realized the answer, haven’t you?
“…”
—”Why are you asking? Just do what you think. And why bother checking with others when it’s none of their business anyway?”
“Hearing you say that… it does feel like that, too.”
I scratched my head awkwardly.
Brother Sooho let out a stifled laugh before his cheerful voice came through.
—”It’s not my life but yours, so just take my words with a grain of salt. Personally, I’d recommend avoiding an overly social life.”
“… Why do you say that, Brother?”
When I asked, the silence from Vestark was strangely awkward.
It turns out that silence is a habit of Brother Sooho’s when hiding a bittersweet mood, something I discovered when studying Martial Sword Psychology at the doctoral level.
The more you get close to regular people, the more the disparity becomes apparent. They’re fundamentally different from me, the immortal. Neither our minds nor our bodies can ever truly understand or empathize with each other.
“…”
—”Something like that, roughly.”
I froze.
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand what Brother Sooho said—it was that I understood all too well.
I stood there for a while before finally mustering the courage to speak.
“Brother, that story…”
—”For me, it was Diana. She was the one who made me a monster, but precisely because of that, only she could understand me. And I was the only one in this world who could truly understand her.”
“…”
—”So, I did everything to make Diana happy.”
At this, I saw Ruci’s face flash in my mind.
She had her usual confident and brash expression even in that fleeting moment of recollection.
“… Damn. You’re a hopeless romantic.”
—”Haha. Extremely sweet, isn’t it? X damn.”
Amused despite myself, I curled my lips into a sly grin, and Brother Sooho responded with his usual cynicism.
The question came naturally.
You know the feeling, don’t you?
“…Sort of.”
—”You shouldn’t understand that by the four-month mark. An unusually precocious immortal, aren’t you?”
Brother Sooho laughed and quipped sarcastically.
I couldn’t help but follow suit, even though it wasn’t particularly funny.
This is a spoiler for your life.
Suddenly, Brother Sooho’s tone turned serious.
If someone like that comes into your life… you’ll end up doing something crazy for them. You’re similar to me, after all.
“Something crazy…?”
—”Something crazy. Declaring war on the entire world, like I did?”
I looked up at the sky blankly.
The overcast sky was heavy with dark clouds, glaring down at us.
Even now, if Diana can smile, I’ll do anything. Anything at all.
As Brother Sooho’s words echoed emptily, the skies opened up with heavy rain.
A torrential downpour.
“… This is it. The place he told me about.”
I had reached my destination.
A guest villa hidden in the corner of the Order of the Immortal’s temple grounds.
“Anyone home? I have urgent business! Please open the door!”
Bang bang bang! I pounded on the villa’s gate and waited.
Then came heavy footsteps from inside the villa, and the door eventually opened after some delay.
“Who the hell would be visiting at this hour—oh?”
It was Grenade who peeked through the crack.
He stared at me silently through the downpour for a moment before his face brightened with recognition, and I couldn’t help but give him a tired smile.
“Hey! Isn’t that Beezeel? What a coincidence meeting you here!”
“It’s been a while, Grenade.”
“How did you know I’m here? You’re as sneaky as ever!”
“I asked you.”
“… Huh? Beezeel, you’re still as good at making jokes as ever! Hahaha!”
Though it was somewhat disheartening that my offhand truth was mistaken for a joke, I let it slide.
I sank to my knees right there. The rain-soaked fabric of my pants quickly turned soggy. With heartfelt earnestness, I murmured.
“Sorry for interrupting. Please help me, Grenade. I’m begging you.”
This wasn’t the time to be stubborn.
Ruci mourned my death. I don’t want her to mourn.
To avoid dying. I’ll use whatever I can. Even if it endangers my few precious acquaintances, I’ll survive and show her.
That’s why I came here and knelt.
“…”
For a moment, Grenade silently stared down at me, then burst into derisive laughter.
The next thing I knew, his enormous hand was reaching toward me.
“What’s going on, I don’t know. But what is friendship, Beezeel?”
“…Grenade…!”
I grabbed his hand and stood up, bowing my head repeatedly in gratitude.
And without anyone prompting, we both shared a quiet laugh.
