34

War is established when the opposing sides are of similar military
force. When one side is overwhelmingly stronger, it wouldn’t be called a
 war—it would be called a slaughtering.

“R-run away!”

“Is he a demon?!”

“Dodg—kyagh!”

The frail waists of the Elves, who were advancing towards the
Dumpling Kingdom, were sliced apart like sheaves of straw in great
masses… each fallen to a single sword strike. Eyes following the horizon
 could see the blood of thousands of Elves, whose torsos were separated
from their lower bodies, spray out and kiss the cold earth.

Exterminating the violent Elves who threatened humanity! This was the best stage to raise my reputation. In addition…

“Holy Sword 2 is certainly different to Holy Sword 1.”

It was also a chance to test my new partner’s performance.

Holy Sword 1 had possessed an ultimate move, an offensive technique
which grew in power the more companions there were nearby. By using that
 move, you could put up a good fight against even a powerful foe whom
you would never be able to best normally by the ‘power of friendship’.
It also had various other functions aside from that ultimate move;
auto-defense, auto-attack, auto-vigil, auto-storage… it was the last
boss of everything automatic in fantasy!

In contrast, the Holy Sword 2 I obtained was simple. The heart-shaped
 hilt of the sword would shine and enhance the hero’s Skills. It didn’t
raise the rank of Skills, but improved some of their effects. Taking
Massacre(SS) for example…

▷Type: Skill
▷Name: Massacre(+)
▷Rank:SS(+)
▷SSS: EXP reduction disappears.
▷SS: Deals large-area damage.
▷S: Unaffected by terrain.
▷A: Area of damage increases tremendously. (+)
▷B: Power of attack increases tremendously. (+)
▷C: Piercing attribute added.
▷D: Area of damage increases extremely. (+)
▷E:Power of attack increases extremely. (+)
▷F: Deals area damage.

The area of damage which had been the size of a baseball field
changed to the size of a skiing ground. I swung Holy Sword 2 three times
 and the Elf army was wiped out—what followed was a one-sided pursuit.
As the Elves had all died in one blow, I couldn’t tell the degree of
Massacre’s area damage amplification; however, it was certain to have
easily went over the original 5%. No, it had to be even than that, since
 the effect of the other Skills were also enhanced. The synergy of the
Skills multiplied several times over.

‘Partner, you’re quite to my liking, you know?’

“H-how could such a thing…”

I saw the violently trembling figure of the Elf King, surrounded by
his aides. He seemed more furious at having suffered defeat by the hands
 of some human, rather than the vain deaths of his kin who had
participated in the fight. The Elf King channeled that emotion and began
 to summon forth Elementals. Tens of them, hundreds, thousands, ten
thousands…

This time it would be hard to kill him with the slip of a hand, but there wasn’t particularly a need to worry.

Stab-!

Because the enemy of an enemy is a friend.

“Kagh?! Nasus…! What are you doing…!”

“I am ending the war, Father.”

Prince Nasus stabbed the back of the Elf King using Elemental Sword
Endymion. It was a clean blow which penetrated through the king’s spine
all the way to his heart. Even the Elf King wouldn’t be able to survive
this.

Slump.

Thus the Elf King passed away in vain even in the 3rd Playthrough,
following his death in the 2nd Playthrough. With that I could kiss
goodbye to an SS-grade in achievement, but I had already accomplished
enough. Victory in a war among races counted as an achievement, no?

“Father…!”

“Your Majesty…!”

Sylvia and Sieg’s screams rang out in succession. Was it just my
imagination that the distance and atmosphere between the two were
strangely like that of a couple?

“Elfheim will surrender.”

Nasus so declared after having killed the Elf King and usurped the right to the throne.

“Brother Nasus! How could you do that to Father…!”

“Sylvia, my incompetent little sister. Take a look at the
surrounding. Countless of our kin have died because of a foolish king.
As the legitimate heir to the crown, I will not tolerate any further
sacrifice.”

“You have no right to become the Elf King!”

This tear-jerking dramatic exchange of back and forths continued for
about 10 minutes. Despite Boyfriend Sieg stepping up to support Princess
 Sylvia, who was pushed back in terms of eloquence, this matter wasn’t a
 problem that could be solved with two idiots joining hands. In the end,
 victory was to be determined through barbaric strength!

However, the two sides didn’t even meet the requirements to establish
 a proper showdown, as Nasus was a mini-boss whom I acknowledged.

▷Race: Arch-Elf
▷Level: 999+
▷Job: Swordsman(Swordsmanship=Cutting Force↑)
▷Skills: Swordsmanship(SS) Sword Ki(S) Regeneration(A) Elementalism(A) Majesty(A)…
▷Condition: Inheritance, Serene, Good

While he wasn’t a match for my present self, this prince possessed
experiences in life that couldn’t be measured with Level and Skill
alone. He was a true fighter who was on a different league from the Elf
King, who wouldn’t lift a finger and instead entrust battles to
Elementals. To show what the little sister who was challenging him was
like…

▷Race: Arch-Elf
▷Level: 314
▷Job: Shaman(Blessing=Elementalism↑)
▷Skills: Elementalism(A) Elegance(B) Charm(B) Archery(C) Blessing(D)…
▷Condition: Lewd, Sorrow, Rage

While her Level was higher than it was the last time in the 2nd
Playthrough, her Skill ranks had greatly fallen overall, which spoke
volumes of the hardships she experienced. From my perspective, Sylvia
looked like someone who wished to suicide.

“Kyagh-?!”

And in reality as well, the fight between brother and sister ended in
 a dull manner; Nasus used Endymion to cut down the Elemental summoned
by Sylvia and in the ensuing opening, drove forward to land an
unrelenting punch in his little sister’s abdomen. It was a smooth series
 of movements performed within a single breath of time.

Slump.

Eyes rolling backwards, Sylvia collapsed like a marionette that had
its strings cut. Looking down at her, Nasus said, “I shan’t kill you,
Sylvia, since I will have you go to the human kingdom to serve as the
pledge of truce and alliance between our nations.”

“Says who-!”

Sieg attempted to save his girlfriend who was beaten in the blink of
an eye; he let out a powerful cry as he charged forward. He was Suicide
Candidate No.2…

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 131
▷Job: Hero(EXP 500%)
▷Skills: Endurance(S) Swordsmanship(A) Interpretation(A) Survivability(A) Blessing(B)…
▷Condition: Rage, Nervous, Holy Sword

… or so I had thought, but Sieg’s Condition was strange somehow.

Far away from me, a golden bastard sword was summoned forth into the
hand of Sieg, who couldn’t have possibly traveled to and back from the
northern continent. The sword was an antique work of art giving off a
fantasy feel, which made for a contrast to my boorish heart-shaped Holy
Sword 2. I called it…

“Why is Holy Sword 1 in Sieg’s hands…?”

… Holy Sword 1.

I wasn’t seeing wrong. There was no way I couldn’t know, as I had
used it for several years in the 1st Playthrough. The real deal had
appeared, and its performance also lived up to its name.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang…!

The mini-boss and Level 131 hero went head-to-head in a showdown on
equal footing. Level, Skill, proficiency, experience, condition… the
top-level swordsman who was superior in all aspects compared to the
snot-nosed hero couldn’t fight well at all. Strictly arguing, Nasus was
in the midst of fighting against Holy Sword 1’s automatic function—Sieg
was no more than a scabbard being led about by Holy Sword 1.

“Sir Hero! Come on!”

“You have to win! Sir Hero!”

“I believe in Sir Sieg!”

“Sieg… you’ve got to win for sure…”

The archer, thief and priest belonging to Sieg’s harem cheered him
on, and at the end even Sylvia, who had just regained consciousness,
prayed for his victory in all earnesty. Friendship and love began to
overflow.

The golden brilliance surrounding Holy Sword 1 suddenly intensified—its ultimate move was about to be unleashed.

“Ridiculous!?”

Nasus was astonished. The hero’s Holy Sword 1 didn’t lose momentum
even after breaking the blade of Endymion, one of the three hidden
treasures of the Elf kingdom, and finally that golden brilliance managed
 to slash down Nasus’ chest. As somebody said, it was a ridiculous
outcome.

Thud.

Mini-Boss Nasus fell to his knees before Hero Sieg’s sword, before a
mere Level 131 greenhorn. This was Holy Sword 1’s power. So far things
had played out as I had predicted, but…

“Kang Han Soo! Even if we may be from the same home town, I can’t
forgive you! To think that you slaughtered the Elves who love peace and
nature! I will defeat you here!”

Sieg gesticulated at me as he spouted bullshit.

A dry laughter burst out of me.

“Is that what Alex, who died a dog’s death in your place, told you to
 do? To stand on the side of Elves, and attack humans and the kingdom.”

“Alex will also understand.”

“… That so?”

I unsummoned Holy Sword 2, and then leaped forwards.

The likes of Level 131 Hero Sieg, who was full of empty courage and
falsehood, wasn’t capable of reacting to my movement, but Holy Sword 1’s
 auto-defense function ignored such limitations.

Swip-

Holy Sword 1 moved Sieg’s arms of its own accord and blocked my incoming fist. It was infinitely laughable in my eyes.

“As I predicted, is it.”

Holy Sword 1’s movements were no different than how it was in the 1st
 Playthrough; swift, powerful and fluid. It was at the level of a genius
 swordsman who possessed an SS-rank Swordsmanship Skill. Automatic was
just automatic in the end, however.

Holy Sword 1 moved itself towards Sieg’s right shoulder to block my
fist. It was a marvelous move that took in consideration defense and
even counter.

Knowing that technique well, I didn’t carry through my punch to the
end but intentionally came to a sudden pause in the middle—this was my
aim from the start—and then launched a kick.

Swoop-

Holy Sword 1 took actions to block my leg this time, and I once again stopped my attack in the middle.

Swip—pause.

Whiip—pause.

In short, I continued to make a repeated show of attacking, but I
carried out my movements in a furious flurry. The clownish sight of
Sieg, who continued to be led about by Holy Sword 1’s gradually
accelerating automatic battle, was better off not being seen. Was his
plan to try and get his opponent to make a mistake out of laughter?

An interesting thing would happen if this entire process was repeated for several rounds.

Smack!

“Gueegh-?!”

Sieg cried out in a satisfying manner—I had pretended not to strike
before carrying through with my punch, landing a blow on his head.

Swip-?!

Holy Sword 1’s auto-defense hadn’t functioned properly; the automatic
 defense system had gone into disorder, tripped up by the very simple
psychological warfare. I had realized this characteristic in the 1st
Playthrough.

“Sieg. It’s comfortable since the weapon fights for you, right?”

“Euuh…”

Entrusting the work to others while taking victory and fame for
yourself. Holy Sword 1 was so very attractive, but its flaw would be
exposed in no time in just a few sparring sessions, and it wasn’t
effective against truly powerful foes. Of course, there was a way to
overcome this.

“Sir Hero…!”

“You must win-!”

“Sir Sieg!”

“Sieg! Come on!”

Love and friendship gathered around Sieg, and Holy Sword 1 once again
 began to shine brilliantly. Holy Sword 1 made Sieg, who had been
knocked unconscious by a single blow of my fist, stand up like a
self-righting doll and readied its ultimate move. It didn’t care for
something like the scabbard’s(hero’s) will.

The women cheering Sieg on from the side were surely under the
mistaken impression that Sieg had risen up again by his tenacity, and
wouldn’t doubt his imminent victory either. The power of love and
friendship… I knew of its might better than they did. However…

“Partner.”

Tak.

Sieg wasn’t the only one with a Holy Sword. While it was a question
as to how Sieg had managed to obtain Holy Sword 1, which was slumbering
in the northern continent, I wasn’t much different in that regard and so
 decided to just look past it.

The second Holy Sword… even the very existence of Holy Sword 2 wasn’t
 known to the world. Its design was also extremely boorish like some
outdated item. It was, however, powerful.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Blood sprayed from the necks of the archer, thief, priest and the
shaman, the women who had been cheering on Sieg, as their heads fell to
the ground.

Slump, slump, slump, slump.

Their bodies which had lost their heads collapsed to ground a beat
late, like puppets with their strings cut. There was no way I would let a
 hostile audience live, no? It shouldn’t have been painful.

“S-Sylvia…!” Sieg cried in the midst of readying his ultimate move.

With a sudden flash, Holy Sword 1 released a light even more
brilliant than before—the entire fury of the hero who lost love and
friendship was fueling it.

“Come at me, Sieg.”

“Kang Han Soo…!”

Hero B’s ultimate blow came descending down on my head, a pure-white radiance falling vertically like an iron hammer of a god.

Holy Sword 2 had no ultimate move like that; however, I laughed.

“I wonder if this’ll also count as an achievement?”

Slash—!

I neither dodged nor blocked Holy Sword 1, taking it on with my bare
body. Tolerance(SS), Endurance(SS), Destruction(SS), Fortitude(S),
Stamina(S), Immortal(S), Recovery(S), Perseverance(S), Vitality(S),
Tenacity(S), Resistance(S), Regeneration(S), Immunity(S), Iron Wall(S),
Indestructible Body(S)… my damage reduction-type Skills took effect all
together. Their effects were even further amplified thanks to Holy Sword

Peck-

A 35mm scratch was made on my forehead in a straight line. New skin formed within 0.7 seconds and healed over the scratch.

“N-no way…!” Sieg yelled as if rejecting reality.

“It tickles?”

Holy Sword 1’s ultimate move, which by all rights should have been a
critical blow even if the damage was mitigated through all kinds of
defensive Skills, was reduced to the level of a scratch. The difference
in Level and Skill between Hero A and Hero B also had a part in it. With
 this it became clear.

Holy Sword 1: For beginners
Holy Sword 2: For professionals

There wasn’t even a need to compare whether which partner was more helpful.

I swung down Holy Sword 2.

“Eargh-!?”

Sieg’s right arm, which had been holding Holy Sword 1, fell down from
 the shoulder. My heart was inclined towards cutting his head off;
however, no matter how much of a fallen hero Sieg was, killing him would
 mean that my character and reputation grades wouldn’t be safe, and thus
 I restrained the urge. It seemed that this 3rd Playthrough was
frequently testing my patience.

I scanned my surroundings; the land was lined up with the corpses of the violent Elves.

“Alright. This is the right time.”

People across the five continents of Fantasia were busy praising me;
however, they weren’t able to give a clear answer to the question of
“what’s amazing about him?”. But no longer would that stand true.

1) Punished the Elf Kingdom who turned against humans!
2) Subdued the fallen hero, Sieg!
3) Achieved a perfect truce without suffering any casualties!

I had made a clear achievement, and the demon worshipers would
diligently publicize it. Going at this rate, I might even get an
SSS-grade in reputation. I judged that this was the very optimal timing
to defeat Demon King Pedonar.

A thousand emotions filled my heart.

“Sieg. Thanks a lot, really.”

“Kang Han Soo! You’re a demon…!”

“Not as much as you are.”

I had learnt the essence of despicably building a reputation from
Sieg. I experienced growth while suffering a humiliating hardship.

Now, the time had come.

“It’s a good weather to slay the Demon King.”

I no longer needed those bothersome muppets—I rushed full-speed to
the castle of the Demon King, massacring demons along the way, where my
ticket to Earth awaited me.

\*
\*
\*

Crash-!

‘I’ll be intruding to my heart’s content!’

“Ahem! O Hero! Do you not know how to knock…!”

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Knock my ass!’

Looking at the shape they were in, they wouldn’t have heard whatever I did.

“My love, don’t lose to the hero.”

“Hm, naturally.”

Madam Elf Queen kissed Demon King Pedonar on his cheek, as if praying
 for his fortune, and then took her leave, swaying her hips in a
bewitching manner as she went. It seemed like the relationship between
the two had become stronger than in the 2nd Playthrough(22 days back).
Was it that the principle and harmony of Yin and Yang transcended even
ideology?

It was only after the Elf Queen left that we could proceed to the meeting between top dogs.

“Sir Demon King, let’s get it over with quickly.”

“What? Wait! O Hero! Why are you in such hurry? It is the final
battle between the Demon King and Hero. Do you not intend on giving even
 a self-introduction in this historical moment?”

Demon King Pedonar, who had been preparing a showy performance by
exploding his SSS-rank Dark Energy everywhere, asked this question in
bewilderment.

The reason why the proud Demon King was buying for time using an
unsatisfactory reason like self-introducing was simple—the Demon King’s
penalty. He needed time to adjust to the sudden drop in his Level.

I turned the cogs in my head. Self-introducing was a waste of time.
This was my 3rd meeting with Demon King Pedonar, and didn’t have
anything like a name to give to the king who would soon be dead. I did,
however, have the intention to make use of this situation; I guided the
conversation in a direction the Demon King who required time couldn’t
refuse.

“Spill what you know about Ullullu.”

He was Pedonar, one who was called the first demon. There was no way
he wouldn’t know about that distinctive giant whose head looked like
that of a catfish. The Demon King would gain time, while I would obtain
information. It wasn’t a bad trade.

“Ullullu, you say… an interesting question you ask. Then my answer is decided then. Hm-hm. Listen well.”

Swooosh—

There was an explosion of the energy of darkness..

“O
 Hero! You have done well coming this far! I am the very pinnacle of all
 evil, the one who shall dye this world in darkness, Pedonar! Try using
that worthless power of love and friendship to defeat me! Then you will
be able to draw near the door of truth!”

The trade was off. However, since the Demon King had bought quite
some time by giving a long self-introduction with some pauses in
between, it shouldn’t be a complete failure.

I nodded in agreement.

“I agree that love and friendship are worthless.”

“…”

“What?”

“Are you really the hero?”

“I am.”

And a hero on his 3rd Playthrough at that!

Demon King Pedonar didn’t lie, because it was definitely true that I
would draw near the truth by defeating him. Who would expect a report
card to be waiting at the end?

I summoned forth Holy Sword 2.

“A cursed Holy Sword…!” Demon King Pedonar shouted loudly upon sighting Holy Sword 2.

It was an extremely interesting reaction—even the saintess who was
closest to the hero had denied the existence of a second Holy Sword, yet
 the Demon King seemed as if he had known.

“Looks like you know of this Holy Sword?”

Pedonar would become more used to his fallen Level as time was dragged out, but I prioritized gathering information.

The Demon King replied in a serious tone, “… I should have realized
it when rain fell against nature back then. So you used that small power
 to slay Ullullu and approach the secret… This generation’s hero really
is absurd.”

Shiing-

After speaking up to that point, the Demon King drew the Demon Sword
by his waist, a different reaction from the 2nd Playthrough when he was
utterly careless. He appeared wary of Holy Sword 2.

“Sir Demon King. How about explaining before you croak?”

“O Hero. You shall come to know naturally if you defeat me.”

“I didn’t, though.”

Even after cracking his skull, after cutting off his head, I didn’t find out.

“Are you a fool? Or hard of hearing? I said that you will know the
secret if you defeat me. It’s only natural to not know yet. I would
appreciate it if you didn’t show off your ignorance.”

“…”

With the negotiations broken down, Hero A and the Demon King proceeded to clash.

\*
\*
\*

The curtains fell on the stand off which could have ended up in the destruction of this barbaric world 0 times.

It was over the moment Holy Sword 2 and the Demon Sword collided.

Tang!

The Demon Sword was cut through, along with the Demon King’s robust waist.

“H-how can this be…?”

His torso cleanly separated from his lower body, Demon King Pedonar muttered to himself in disbelief.

I shrugged my shoulders in a natural manner.

“I’m a bit strong.”

Holy Sword 2’s amplification effect had good synergy with me. When
the hero and Demon King’s Levels became the same, the one with superior
Skills and greater experience would hold the advantage. The Demon King
held the upper hand in terms of overall Skill ranks as always; however,
the tables were turned with the addition of Holy Sword 2.

“O Hero…!”

The Demon King pried open his lips with difficulty to speak.

“Don’t die in the middle and just sum up the main point.”

I refused to hear awkward foreshadowing or bait.

“Show that cursed Holy Sword to Oblivion Dragon King, who disappeared
 all of a sudden 500 years ago. This is as far as I can tel—kegh?!”

“Then die.”

I didn’t want to listen to some trivial last words.

Demon King Pedonar’s life came to an end. I lightly ignored the look
of indignant resentment that remained in his still wide-open eyes.

Ssss.

Dark Energy seeped out from the Demon King’s corpse, and was absorbed by me like EXP.

“You can inherit Dark Energy by killing a powerful demon, but…”

It was a kind of a curse, a power that gradually drove an individual
to madness. I didn’t remember clearly if I had gained this power in the
1st Playthrough as well, as at the time, I had no other mind than to
quickly return to my home planet.

Not anymore, however. Having become able to not forget Skills through
 Black-Box, I brought the SS-rank Skill Dark Energy, which was obtained
upon defeating the Demon King in the 2nd Playthrough, over to the 3rd
Playthrough. Then this time as well…

▷Race: Chaos Human
▷Level: 999+
▷Job: Hero(EXP 500%)
▷Skills: Battle Spirit(SSS) Dark Energy(SSS) Massacre(SS) Chaos(SS) Destruction(SS)…
▷Condition: Chaos, Holy Sword

Dark Energy, which had been SS-rank all this while, was promoted to
SSS-rank. The total amount of Dark Energy I possessed had become similar
 to what Pedonar had.

“Really! I think people would believe me if I claimed to be the Demon King now?”

The rest of my abilities had changed beautifully as well. While I had
 a lower Level than what I had in the 1st Playthrough, I had become far
stronger. I had two SSS-rank Skills which even the first Demon King had
only one of. When taking into account Holy Sword 2’s amplification
effect as well, then measuring my combat ability would become
meaningless. And that was why my stomach burned even more.

“It’s a bit of a pity about Holy Sword 2.”

To think I’d have to return it after not having used it for much.

Shiik…

I unsummoned Holy Sword 2 which was stuck in the Demon King’s heart.
What was the point of yearning for what couldn’t be reached?

Now, I waited calmly for the result of the adventure.

▷Sir Hero. Has your adventure been enjoyable?

‘Nope. Not in the least. I’m tired in mind and body because of a certain despicable competitor and doing volunteer work.’

▷The path of a true hero is truly difficult. But you formed countless
 bonds which encouraged you who did not lose your hopes and dreams. From
 them you learned friendship and love, and after maturing together with
them you defeated the wicked Demon King at last. Congratulations truly!

These same lines touched my heart today especially—the 3rd
Playthrough had truly been rough. Many times I had almost fallen to
despair because of Sieg, that maestro of hypocrisy and propaganda, but
it was with the encouragement of the demon worshipers that I could
muster strength.

While there was no love or friendship, it was at least certain that
we had experienced growth together. Thanks to the demon worshipers
earnestly raising up my reputation, I was able to take down the Demon
King with a light heart. I truly felt grateful towards them.

▷Shall we look at your grading now?

I looked back on the 3rd Playthrough. This time I had really prepared
 thoroughly. Although I was slightly anxious regarding my achievement
grade, what with Prince Nasus having taken the initiative to off the Elf
 King, I was confident that my reputation and character was perfect.
Combat ability didn’t even need be mentioned. This time I was certain of
 a triple SSS-grade!

▷Please check your report card carefully!
▷Name: Kang Han Soo
▷Combat Power: SS
▷Achievements: SS
▷Reputation: A+
▷Character: FF
▷Note: Why on earth is the easiest subject, Character, in this state?

… Eh?

I also didn’t know why it turned out like this.

▷You have failed to pass.
▷Reason: It is a chaotic mess on the whole so I do not know where to
begin. A hero must set off on an adventure with hopes and dreams in his
heart. An adventure filled with propaganda and falsehoods is no
different than a mirage.

‘Wait! Sieg is the one who started that mirage business, though? I only followed what he did.’

▷Beginning re-test.

Ignoring my reasonable protest, light began to envelop my body.

“Hey! You bastards! Don’t give me that shit! What standard are you
judging my character on?! What about the character of you lot,
kidnapping somebody who was living just fine on Ear…!”

▷All of the teaching staff are praying for your success!
▷A specialist instructor will be dispatched.
▷A specialist instructor will be dispatched.
▷A specialist instructor will be dispatched.
▷There is no specialist instructor to dispatch.

\*
\*
\*

“Welcome Sir Hero!”

“…”

The voice of Lanuvel who was acting cute rattled my ear drums. I had
put in so much effort to fix that pretense of hers, yet it was reset
again. A horrifying evidence that the 4th Playthrough had begun.

“Have you come to your senses?”

“No.”

I was about to go nuts.

I was really about to go nuts.

In my 3rd Playthrough, I had achieved top-level scores in all of my
subjects, excluding that unreasonable and bias verdict on my character
subject. It was a passing score when based on the average, wasn’t it?
This time’s re-test didn’t make any sense. I was going to go insane.

“Is, is that so. Hero-nim, please come to your senses soon! You’re
very confused at being summoned abruptly without even a warning, aren’t
you? This is Fantasia. A different dimension from the world where
Hero-nim was born and raised in. It must be unreasonable to hope for you
 to immediately understand. I’ll start explaining things one by one from
 now.”

I turned a deaf ear to Lanuvel’s explanation, which I was on the
verge of learning by heart word for word, as I took a look around the
magic circle I was standing on.

Lanuvel, Sieg, and the palace knights. It was the completely same
start as in the 3rd Playthrough. Nevertheless, I carried out a test for
starters.

“Sieg, do you remember me?”

It seemed that this guy, whom Professor Morals had praised so very
highly as a model student, had also failed to graduate and regressed.
The dazed-faced Sieg found me, and then shouted with glaring eyes,
“Gasp! Kang Han Soo! You, this punk! Am I bloody glad to see you! How
dare you do that to my Sylvi—gueh?!”

I punched the lower jaw of Sieg who came fearlessly at me, giving vent to my emotions. I felt my stress ease a little.

Slump.

I examined the Status of Sieg who had collapsed, frothing at the mouth.

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 1
▷Job: Hero(EXP 500%)
▷Skills: Interpretation(A)
▷Condition: Critical, Knocked Out

I had thought the vile teaching staff was only discriminating me, but
 Sieg’s Status had completely reset after regressing. It seemed only his
 memories from the previous Playthrough remained. As for me on the other
 hand?

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 1
▷Job: Hero(EXP 500%)
▷Skills: Interpretation(A) ■■(E)
▷Condition: Good

Everything was the same as Sieg’s except for one thing: Black-Box. It
 had remained as it was, promoted up to E-rank in the 3rd Playthrough. I
 had worried whether it would be caught out by some vicious means like
that of a antivirus program, but apparently my fears had been
ungrounded. My Status was modest as the Skill had yet to be activated.

“Eek?!”

“Sir Hero?!”

“Gasp?!”

Lanuvel and the palace knights were astonished. They seemed surprised that the heroes punched at each other out of nowhere.

Popping
 In: Seems quite chaotic around here. Has something already happened? I
might end up wanting to cry if I get wrapped up in a big problem from
the start.

What was with this guy? The way he spoke was entirely different from Professor Morals. Was Professor Morals really replaced?

Lively:
 Hello! Student Kang Han Soo! I’m a temporary teacher here for some
practice teaching this time! My outstanding seniors unanimously conceded
 the role to me, so I’m very nervous to have come without preparation.
It’s my first practical experience so I’m sure I’ll be lacking in many
things, but I look forward to your kind cooperation!

Hooh… a fresh teacher had come.

‘Are you a man? Or a woman? Tell me that to start with.’

Flinch:
 I’m really sorry. The rule is that while I may be a teacher, I can’t
reveal personal information for the fairness of the lessons. In
exchange, if there’s anything else you are curious about, I’ll give you
an answer with all my sincerity!

‘This teacher’s a black man. His legs must be covered in hair like pine caterpillars.’

Explode:
 I shave meticulously every morning I tell you! Student Kang Han Soo!
It’s not in personal relations to make assumptions that may hurtful to…
Ack?!

‘Uhuhuhu… Come on in, Miss Trainee Teacher. Ah! Have you married by chance?

Fit
 of Anger: I haven’t! I still haven’t even held a man’s hand yet! What
does that matter to—hub?! You idiot, me! idiot! Even though I swore to
never lose my head on the job! It’s all over for me…

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, don’t be too pessimistic. How about we… become secret friends?’

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Startled: That won’t do! No! Something so immoral! You are a student,
 I am a teacher-…to-be. The line mustn’t be crossed! Those who enjoy
danger are said to be ruined by that danger!

‘How uptight. Do you think you can understand the hearts of students like that?’

Conflicted:
 Th-that is… I understand. While it won’t be secret friends, if it’s a
bit of friendship then… It’s all for the sake of better education!
Education I say!

‘Oh! A trainee teacher with flexibility I see. I’m sure you’ll become a wonderful teacher someday.’

“Uh, Sir Hero…?”

I returned to reality as I felt goosebumps pop up upon hearing the whispering voice of the wannabe cute Lanuvel.

Sieg, whose face had become a bloody mess, was in the middle of
receiving treatment. The palace knights were watching me with slightly
tense expressions. Lanuvel was armed with feigned cuteness. And then
there was the 4th Playthrough!

Combat ability, reputation, achievement. My grades in these three
subjects were definitely excellent. While I felt slightly discontent
regarding my reputation being A-grade, it was still a far cry from being
 a failing grade. The problem was character—it had fallen even more than
 it had been in the 2nd Playthrough, and I received an FF-grade. The
unreasonable tyranny of the grader was extreme.

“If you’re gonna be like that then I’ve got some of my own thoughts too…”

“About what?” Lanuvel interjected, tilting her head.

Instead of scolding her, “Don’t act cute!” I gave a brilliant smile
as I said, “Lanuvel. Quickly guide me to where His Majesty is, will
you.”

Sieg had done just this to favorable reception, and I even added a smile as service.

“Excuse me, Sir Hero? You’re not trying to kill His Majesty, right…?”

“Why would I?”

What benefit would come out of killing the Dumpling King? Even in the
 3rd Playthrough I had turned him into a puppet, but didn’t kill him.

“It, it’s nothing!”

We directly headed for the king’s audience chamber. Sieg, whose jaw
was done in hard, wasn’t able to move even at the end of receiving
treatment, which was why I ended up meeting the Dumpling King alone.

The conversation proceeded very much smoothly. With this, it was our
4th time meeting. I was perfectly aware of the Dumpling King’s
preferences and personality. Of course, I also knew about the queen, who
 was sitting obediently next to the king, from head to toe down to the
last detail.

“O Hero. Please save this kingdom!”

“Of course.”

I promised free service without any sort of conditions attached.
Taking a leaf out of the book of ungrateful hero Sieg, who had stood on
the side of Elves and attacked the kingdom rather than help it, I said,
“Leave every problem to me!”

The Dumpling King, who didn’t know that my words were lies, seemed
extremely delighted, and the nobles appeared satisfied as well. Thanks
to that, the meeting came to end under a harmonious atmosphere. Now…

“Lanuvel, get-… see you tomorrow.”

“But Sir Hero, we’ve only just met, haven’t me? I’ll tell you about Fantasia’s continents in detail!”

“Tell me tomorrow.”

I had 11 years of experience in Fantasia now. Secrets of the world,
hidden relics, uncomfortable truths, hideouts of guardians, various
secret organizations, ancient mazes, mysteries of the world, Oblivion
Dragon King’s lair, the future weather and wars to come, dark secrets,
the situation of various nations, password of the Dark Commerce… I was
confident I knew far better than Lanuvel.

“Aww… Ah! Are you feeling a bit hungry right now? I know a really
delicious place to eat at! This is a secret, but the skill of the cook
over there is better than the palace chef’s.”

“Also tomorrow.”

And the food at place Lanuvel was going to recommend tasted
absolutely nasty; the meals were sweet, salty and sour. The flavors were
 matched to her preference for stimulation.

“Uuhm. Then…”

Lanuvel didn’t scram off easily.

“Hey! Lanuvel. Listen well while I’m asking you with a smile. We are
going to meet tomorrow now. Got that right? Tomorrow I’m saying,
tomorrow. I’m not going to do anything with you today.”

“Everything tomorrow?”

“Right.”

“Aww… Then I’ll see you tomorrow!”

I was able to get her off my back with difficult persuading. Maybe
that nuisance was the main cause of screwing up my character grades?

“Endure it for now, endure.”

After I was led to the bedroom I was allocated by palace knights, I
was finally able to have some alone time. Now it was time to carry out
an interim evaluation.

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, you were watching everything right? What do you think?’

Impressed: You do well even by yourself!

Unlike Professor Morals, who had the tendency of vanishing like the
wind with the excuse of being busy, this trainee teacher said she had
plenty of time as she was entrusted with exclusive charge of me. It
couldn’t be… that she would watch over me at night too, right? That’d be
 a bit too troubling!

“Well, I guess there’ll be no problem since I’ll graduate this time?”

In this 4th Playthrough as well, the exciting orientation day with
Alex was decided to be five days later. Of course, I had no mind to wait
 until then.

I activated Black-Box.

▷Race: Chaos Human
▷Level: 1
▷Job: Hero(EXP 500%)
▷Skills: Battle Spirit(SSS) Dark Energy(SSS) Massacre(SS) Chaos(SS)
Tolerance(SS) Deadly Venom(SS) Physical Strength(SS) Endurance(SS)
Agility(SS) Fighting Skill(SS) Destruction(SS) Five Senses(SS)
Swordsmanship(SS) Majesty(SS) Oblivion(SS) Leadership(SS) Boxing(S)
Sword Ki(S) Slaughter(S) Close Quarters Combat(S) Body Technique(S)
Fortitude(S) Breakthrough(S) Stamina(S) Swimming(S) Judgement(S)
Immortal(S) Breath(S) Recovery(S) Perseverance(S) Vitality(S)
Tenacity(S) Incitement(S) Resistance(S) Fabrication(S) Regeneration(S)
Immunity(S) Composure(S) Iron Wall(S) Indestructible Body(S) Spear
Throwing(S) Roar(S) Taunt(S) Berserk(S) Pursuit(S) Vigor(S)…
▷Condition: Chaos, Holy Sword

A Status which was even more jammed than it was in the 3rd
Playthrough unfolded before me. The thing that needed be highlighted
here was the Condition—Holy Sword.

“Well, I’ll be! Partner! I am overjoyed to meet you again!”

Holy Sword 2 had come along into the 4th Playthrough. The F-rank
effect of Black-Box, ‘Will not forget.’ didn’t seem to be related to
this no matter I how thought about it, so it could only be the E-rank
effect: ‘Cannot be destroyed.’

This was literally a revolution, the reason being…

Tak.

The moment I summoned forth Holy Sword 2 and lightly held it in my
right hand, the effects of my Skills underwent an exponential leap. A
synergistic addition to an already existing synergistic set of
combinations gave rise to something even greater. I felt as if I had
suddenly become Level 500.

Startled: How is it that the Holy Sword is with Student Kang Han Soo?!

It looked like Miss Trainee Teacher didn’t know about it at all.
Since the possibility of that preacher, Professor Morals, concealing the
 truth was low, it was certain that the teaching staff thought the issue
 of Holy Sword 2 would be solved by itself when I regressed; however,
Holy Sword 2 wasn’t destroyed. It had wholly become my power.

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, won’t you be secret friends with me? Genuine friends who even share one another’s deep secrets.’

Wince: It, it’s fine! I’m not curious!

‘Tell me whenever if you change your mind. (Grin).’

\*
\*
\*

Had the responses I showed in the audience chamber been to the other
side’s liking, perhaps? I was introduced to the best room I ever saw
throughout all the Playthroughs. The bed wide enough to frolick with two
 maids throughout the night, the thick soundproofed walls meant for the
privacy of nobles, and the aphrodisiac and liquor boldly placed atop a
table were very much to my satisfaction. And the most important thing…

“Sir Hero, give me any order you’d like fulfilled. Any.”

… a woman to soothe the loneliness of a moonlit night. A maid of rare
 beauty even within the palace spoke to me with a hot gaze that scanned
me up and down, a green light signal which a man couldn’t possibly be
ignorant of.

“Mhm. Get out.”

But not today.

“What?”

“I’ll ring the bell if I have a need for you, so leave. And don’t let anybody inside my room. Ever.”

“I, I understand, Sir Hero.”

Creak—click.

The maid left the room, politely closing the door behind her.

Now, no one would interfere with me. While there was a window that
let in plenty of sunshine, there was no building or structure nearby
which was tall enough to peek into this room on the palace’s 4th storey.
 It was quiet space just right for some contemplation.

I was in a strange mood.

“It’s really been a while since I’ve had this sort of calm.”

It was extremely rare for me to remain still by myself.

Games, karaoke, Internet, movies, entertainments, shopping… as
someone who remembered the stimulating life on modern Earth, Fantasia’s
continents was a still and boring world… though that didn’t mean it was a
 leisurely place.

In the 1st Playthrough, I had no time to rest as I was busy cleaning
up after the incidents caused by my companions running wild as they
pleased. And when there was the occasional breather to take? I would
repeat training over and over, raising my combat ability. Even when my
companions held a victory party, I overworked my body and mind with the
determination to escape this barbaric world. Everything… was for the
sake of returning to Earth. And it was the same even now.

Peek: Student Kang Han Soo. What are you trying to do?

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, a very good question!’

I had no time to organize myself due to being busy with volunteer
work throughout the entire 3rd Playthrough. While it was correct that
Skill ranks rose with repeated practice, there were also Skills which
required a mental growth such as Faith or Elementalism.

I laid vertically on the bed.

Tap.

I summoned the amplifier, Holy Sword 2 as well. Doping up was basic in order to save time and progress smoothly.

I began to gather the scattered pieces of my soul.

Berserk(S)→Berserk(SS)
Mental Capacity(A)→Mental Capacity(S)
Fortune(D)→Fortune(C)

I concentrated until the day grew dark and achieved a slight growth.
Even this was a heavy task which was unthinkable to do if not for a
hero’s EXP 500% perk. That’s how difficult and uncertain a training
method this was.

There was nothing largely notable regarding the development of
Berserk. While its SS-rank effect was a bit outrageous… since I wouldn’t
 ever be falling into a berserk state, as someone who always maintained a
 rational judgement, its existence didn’t have much of a purpose. In
short, Berserk was a Skill that was like chicken ribs.

Ah! Mental Capacity was slightly good though. Only, it wasn’t a Skill
 that made you clever. A fool was a fool, a genius was a genius. When
the Skill Mental Capacity became developed, your speed of thought would
increase. For instance, if you took around 10 seconds to solve a math
equation normally, that time would be cut down to 8 seconds with the
Skill. But an equation you were too stupid to solve from the start would
 still be answered wrongly even if you solved it quicker, no?

That was about it for Mental Capacity, but it was nevertheless definitely good to raise its rank. And finally…

“Fortune…?”

I had no idea when this Skill had risen to C-rank. I felt as if I had
 picked up something which had coincidentally dropped from the sky. It
was a necessary Skill for grave robbers and gamblers. It was said that
to raise Fortune to A-rank the standard way, you had to either lose
yourself in gambling long enough to bankrupt a country, or save your own
 skin from the jaws of peril about a hundred times. That was why it
wasn’t easy to raise its rank by human effort.

It was currently pitch dark and late at night.

Everyone else had drifted off to dreamland while I was meditating on
the bed. In truth, my goal hadn’t been the development of my Skills. I
had merely spent what would have been tedious waiting hours in a useful
way.

Observation: You waited for night to fall? Why?

Miss Trainee Teacher, who had been quietly watching me since I began meditating, tentatively asked me a question.

‘It should be fine to tell her this. My 4th Playthrough goal is already decided.’

“To do nothing.”

My character in the 3rd Playthrough got an FF-grade. The lowest grade
 that wasn’t possible by common sense. It was certain that the unfair
and irrational grader was picking at all kinds of faults to drop my
character grades, and thus I made a plan.

Creak-

I opened the window of my bedroom and looked about outside. Although I
 could see two palace knights patrolling the outer edges of the palace’s
 beautiful garden, the nights in this fantasy world were extremely dark
as mass production of ‘magic lanterns’, which were similar to modern
fluorescent lights, was difficult. The cities and even the palace was no
 exception.

“How lax.”

Perhaps they were taking me lightly because I was a Level 1 Hero who
was just summoned. I uttered a dry laugh, then lightly jumped down out
of the window.

Curious: Student Kang Han Soo. Are you going on an outing?

‘No. It’s a bit different from an outing. I intend to go to the Demon King’s castle like this and not return, you see. (Grin).’

Bewildered: What?! The Demon King on the first day?!

Tap.

I lightly landed on the ground from the 4-storey high window. Holy
Sword 1, which sparkled with a golden light, might have been noticed,
but the modest crimson-colored design of Holy Sword 2 didn’t stand out
particularly. It was very much good enough to use for assassinations
too.

Like this, I got out of the palace and the capital, and ran across a grassland.

“Hmph! My character is the problem, you say?”

I had thought this system of education one where even if you had 0
points in one subject, but 100 points in three subjects, you would be
able to graduate with an average of 75 points. But in the world? All the
 subjects were being taken into account separately. In exchange,
however, it seemed that the hurdle wasn’t that high to get the lowest
grade.

That being the case, the method I would take was already decided.
They wouldn’t be able to use anything against me if I didn’t do
anything! So as to give no potential ammo to the grader, I didn’t even
kill wild monsters and evaded them. Not running into people was a given.
 But then I couldn’t help becoming bored.

‘Ah! Miss Trainee Teacher. Are you good at singing?’

Flinch: That’s a secret.

Miss Trainee Teacher had been keeping up an iron-tight guard ever
since having her personal information squeezed out of her once; however,
 since only a mere day had passed now, I saw no need to rush.

Not even half a day had passed when I passed the kingdom’s borders and barged into the Demon King’s territory.

“Mm? I feel like something passed by.”

“You must have seen wrong. It’s just in your head.”

I also entirely ignored the lower-class demons who were wandering
about the wilderness; after all, when it came to a biased grader, they
might shriek about having killed innocent demons and cut down on my
character grade. That was an out, for the same reason as the Oblivion
Dragon King and Holy Sword 2 being bait waiting to be taken. I intended
on outright not giving any pretext to grab at.

Fwip, fwip, fwip.

The traps, mazes and the like set up in various places across Demon
King Pedonar’s territory were no obstacles at all to me. It was my 3rd
time passing through just this path alone. I was now at the point of
being able to go through with my eyes closed.

Ludicrous: That’s ridiculous… You really came…?

It took one day to go from the Dumpling Kingdom to the Demon King’s
castle. I was slowed down quite a bit trying to get by unnoticed in my
Level 1 state. Right about now, the people over at the palace were
likely making a racket trying to find me, who had gone missing. The
‘Demon King’s room’, which I snuck into, was also quite the noisy scene.

“I, I shouldn’t do this…”

“Then don’t.”

“I have a husband and children…”

“I said don’t.”

Sitting on top of the solid thigh of the Demon King, who was seated
in his large throne, Madam Elf queen said in a voice full of anguish,
“But I’m a captive so it should be fine.”

“What sort of logic is that?!”

The Demon King’s face was full of fatigue from dealing with her. The
queen’s dress was fallen beneath the throne, and its owner said in an
importuning tone, “Lord Demon King, hurry… before my body cools.”

“I was all wrong! I tried kidnapping you because that Elf King fellow
 kept on bragging about his wife so much. I’ll graciously send you to
your home, so go quickly.”

“It’s too late.”

“It’s not. We only held hands.”

“No. Having come to know of that ‘thing’ of yours, I’ve become a captive not only in body, but in heart as well. So quickly…”

Anger burned inside me as I continued to listen.

Empathy:
 Right! Poor Elf Queen! To think she fell to the point of being
dominated by vulgar desires! That Demon King is really evi…

‘If you’re gonna do it, get on with it already!’

Shock: Eh?! That’s the reason you were furious?!

I was too frustrated to wait any longer.

Bang!

“H-Hero?! How is the hero who was summoned yesterday here…!”

“By my own feet of course!”

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

There were no other demons nearby the Demon King’s room; they weren’t
 so clueless as to steal glances at the clandestine meeting between a
man and a woman which crossed the racial barrier, and my surprise attack
 met no obstacle thanks to that. It couldn’t be a more perfect timing.

“You stay out of it, lady!”

I charged up to the throne in the span of a breath and launched a
hard kick at the tight buttocks of the Elf Queen sitting on the Demon
King’s thigh, clearing her to the side.

“Kyagh?!”

The bothersome hindrance was gone, and now what remained was…

“Kagh-?!”

Puk!

I stabbed the point of Holy Sword 2 deeply in the chest of Demon King
 Pedonar, who was reduced to a defenseless state. The Demon King, whose
Level had plunged to Level 1, couldn’t even stand up from his throne,
let alone dodge the attack. It had gone just as according to plan.

“A hero being so cowardly as to resort to assassination…! Cough!”

It seemed Pedonar was more shocked at my heroism rather than his own imminent death.

“This is what you call a tactical victory! Surprised?”

“…”

But the Demon King who had already drawn his last breath couldn’t
retort; his vitality and even recovery ability had decreased as his
Level fell to Level 1.

“Haeung… Just what in the heavens…”

I ignored Madam Elf Queen who stood up in an alluring manner while
rubbing her sore behind. Now wasn’t the time to be eyeing another’s
woman.

‘Now then, quick!’

▷Sir Hero, has your adventure been enjoyable?

The grading began immediately.

▷The path of a true hero is truly difficult. But you formed countless
 bonds which encouraged you who did not lose your hopes and dreams. From
 them you learned friendship and love, and after maturing together with
them you defeated the wicked Demon King at last. Congratulations truly!

Wasn’t this too lacking of sincerity, humanly speaking? I had formed no bonds at all in the 4th Playthrough.

▷Shall we look at your grading now?

But I magnanimously looked past that point with a smiling face
because, according to my calculations, I would be able to graduate for
sure this time around. There had been nothing which could have been used
 as some pretext by the grader.

‘Now! Get out with my report card already. Come on~’

▷Please check your report card carefully!
▷Name: Kang Han Soo
▷Combat Power: C+
▷Achievements: SSS
▷Reputation: C
▷Character: C
▷Note: Is this a monster born by the re-tests…?

‘A monster, is it. How saddening. I would like to be called an intelligent student.’

The only flaw was that my combat ability was evaluated low due to
being Level 1, but it wasn’t particularly at the level of being an
issue. Graduating wasn’t decided by the average grade anyhow. You only
had to pass the minimum standard in each subject and that would be it.

It was the same as university entrance examinations. You only had to
achieve the grades required by the university you were aiming for. Of
course, it wasn’t certain if you’d manage to meet that standard due to
the competition between examinees, but this test I was taking wasn’t
based on relative, but absolute evaluation. There was no need to worry
at all.

▷You have passed.

The result came out as expected.

“At last…!”

I became able to escape from this barbaric fantasy word and return home.

Tears of emotion sliding down from my eyes obscured my vision, and as even my nose felt sour, I found it hard to speak as well.

“Hah! It was too long!”

I was locked up in this place for around 11 years. How should I
explain to my parents upon returning to Earth? That I was abducted away
to the experimental lab of sinister aliens? But that didn’t matter right
 now. It wouldn’t be too late to think on it after going back.

Congratulations:
 Student Kang Han Soo! Congratulations! I can’t say anything other than
this as I haven’t helped in anything, but I’m really as glad as if this
happened to me! Sincere congratulations on your graduation!

‘What are you saying? Miss Trainee Teacher helped too. It was enough that you didn’t nag like Professor Morals did.’

Smile:
 I never expected to get results in a single day of practice teaching!
My colleagues will be immensely envious when they find out. And I don’t
know how I should thank Student Kang Han Soo for this… Ah! If we happen
to meet in society, then I’ll become your friend. It’s a promise!

‘Alright. Not just friends, but secret friends, alright? I’ll pray that Miss Trainee Teacher will become a wonderful teacher.’

▷The teaching staff are overwhelmed by your success.

Apparently the teaching staff were also surprised by my elaborate exam strategy. Now this was how you took a test.

“Look here! Teaching staff. Are you listening? It was stressful being
 with you lot all this while, and I hope we won’t ever meet again even
by coincidence!”

▷Congratulations on your graduation.
▷Certificate: The above student went on adventures with diligence and
carried out good deeds by his own will in his everyday life. In
addition, he became a role model of Fantasia’s natives by always taking
care and conceding to his companions. Hereupon the above student is
appointed as a B-rank Hero. Sincere congratulations on your graduation.

My god! There was a certificate award!

But this also smelled thickly of a half-hearted copy-paste job, and
the B-rank Hero phrase was irksome as well. However, I had achieved my
goal of escaping from this fantasy word and so, the rest was whatever.

Sniff: Tears are coming out for no reason.

Miss Trainee Teacher was a crybaby!

I liked it, because she was more humane than Professor Morals.

A ray of light warm like the womb of a mother shined down upon me,
beginning to envelope my body. There didn’t seem to be much of a
difference from the times I regressed, but… I was surely just imagining
it.

‘Mr. Earth! I’m coming to meet you now!’

\*
\*
\*

The moment I came to my senses, I examined my surroundings.

“… Is this a cave?”

I had opened my eyes in a pitch-dark room. Sitting on a primitive
throne that seemed as if carved from rock, I was gazing at a way out
from which a faint light leaked in. I glanced around me, and saw there
was no path aside from the tunnel in front. It was as if I was being
blatantly told, “Dear Customer, the exit is that way.”

First, I checked the state of my body which was most important of all.

The movements of my limbs were fine. Sight, hearing, smell and such were working normally as well. Next up was Status.

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 1
▷Job: Jobless(EXP 110%)
▷Skills: Interpretation(A) ■■E
▷Condition: Good

I wasn’t able to tear my eyes away from my Job. For some reason, ‘Hero’ had disappeared.

“My god! Jobless. I’ve become a bum? They said they appointed me as a
 Hero, yet not only did they not get me employed, they took away what I
had as well. What tyranny is this?”

But that was fine. The Job of Hero was simply excessively outrageous;
 there were plenty of Jobs that were alright. Assassin, Champion,
Tracker, Swordsman, Thief, Great Villain… When looking at the aspect of
specialization, they were even better than Hero. The worst case scenario
 I had speculated was my Status disappeared like a ‘shit dream’.
Compared to that, this was within the scope of what I could handle.

Currently, my attire was only comprised of a drooping, brown, cotton
t-shirt and cotton pants. To my surprise, I wasn’t even wearing
underwear! My hands were empty as if it were only natural, and my
pockets didn’t even contain basic livelihood funds.

In short, I was a poor bum.

“Hah! Really! Doesn’t the Fantasy God even have a conscience? Seizing
 everything cleanly without giving a single graduation gift.”

After lightly grumbling my discontent, I stood up from the throne, and activated Black-Box.

▷Race: Chaos Human
▷Level: 1
▷Job: Jobless(EXP 110%)
▷Skills: Battle Spirit(SSS) Dark Energy(SSS) Massacre(SS) Chaos(SS) Destruction(SS)…
▷Condition: Good, Holy Sword

Skills SSS-rank, SS-rank, S-rank. My Status was filled beautifully like the Milky Way on a night sky.

Tap.

I was able to summon forth Holy Sword 2 without particular
restrictions as well. Its function of amplifying Skill effects also
remained the same.

The upgrade of my physical body was also finished in no time. I had
become reborn again as the warrior race specialized in surviving in a
barbaric fantasy world. Strong, flexible, and intelligent.

“Return preparations complete.”

My heart thumped with anticipation that couldn’t be hidden. Now, all
that remained was to leave this cave and fully enjoy the life on Earth.
The first thing I would do was to find and meet my parents, and then
binge watch all the movies and dramas I had missed out on. There was a
mountain of things to do.

Before long I came out of the dark cave.

And then I came to a realization.

“Now matter how I look at it, this isn’t Earth…?”

After taking in the open scenery outside, I felt in my bones that
something was wrong. Or had the environment of Earth changed drastically
 in my 11 years’ absence?

A forest of huge trees the size of tall buildings… there were no such species of trees that existed on Earth at all.

2 moons up in the sky… I had never heard of the moon giving birth to a baby.

“Hey! Teaching staff! What bullshit is this now? Explain right this instant!”

And they really began to explain.

▷Your graduation was put on hold.
▷Reason: You passed the test by using a means and method not intended by
 the examiner. While you are registered in the roster of graduates, your
 actual graduation will remain on hold until you pass the examination in
 a proper manner.
▷Note: The same trick won’t work anymore. Capiche?

‘Capiche my ass, moron. Why don’t you look at your own brazen behaviour of insisting that I cheated instead?’

They turned the fault into the student’s after having half-assed the
exam and grading standard themselves. Their character and conscience was
 FFF-grade level.

“Anyhow, where exactly is this?”

I couldn’t see the dimension transfer magic circle and Lanuvel, who
would have spouted, “Welcome, Sir Hero!” had I regressed normally.

“Hey there! Is it your first time here?”

Instead, a woman I was meeting for the first time suddenly approached to ask me this.

I was about to completely ignore her and pass by when I came to a pause.

‘What? This woman…’

I took a new look at the woman who came talking to me.

Her pretty face was done up with light makeup, and her outfit and
accessories didn’t originate from a boorish fantasy world, but used the
polished designs and materials of modern Earth. Was she perhaps a hero
summoned like Sieg?

I swiftly scanned through her Status.

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 496
▷Job: Warrior(Crisis→Fighting Skill↑)
▷Skills: Interpretation(A) Evasion(D) Fighting Skill(D) Swordsmanship(E) Regeneration(E)…
▷Condition: Enhancement, Blessing, Doping

She wasn’t Level1, and her Job also wasn’t ‘Hero’. Then had I seen wrong?

I needed information.

“It’s my first time like you asked. I was dragged over here without
knowing why and so am very confused. Beautiful lady, pardon me for
asking you this at first meeting, but can you tell me where this is?
I’ll definitely return the favor.”

I attempted communication in the language of gentlemen.

“Yes. This is, you see… Yah!”

The woman, who had seemed as if she was going to explain kindly with a
 smiling face, drew the sword hung by her waist and came thrusting it
towards my throat.

Puk!

But I was faster. After ducking my torso and summoning forth Holy
Sword 2, I severed both ankles of the woman’s outstretched legs.

“Kyahh—puhah…!?”

Right before the woman’s scream could escape her lips loudly, I
stomped down hard on her chest using my shoeless bare foot. Her scream
turned soundless as the air in her lungs emptied, and with that the
situation came to a close.

I had noticed what was up from the moment this woman had approached
with a friendly face, as that expression was something I was extremely
familiar with. The imperial princess of the Holy Empire… the woman’s
expression was the same as that princess’, who had used her beauty and
tears to mislead the Hero’s party and in the end, risen to the seat of
the Holy Empire’s empress.

I lifted away my foot that was pressing down on the woman’s chest, saying, “Shut up before I stuff your trap with your guts.”

“…”

She immediately became well-behaved.

“Pretty bitch, I’ll ask again. Where is this? It’ll be best for your mental health if you reply while I’m talking foul.”

“I, I give.”

Swallowed by fear, the woman gave an irrelevant reply.

“… Right. We were still strangers, weren’t we? We should first converse with our bodies and then resume the talk—Eh?!”

Pop!

The bloodied woman before my eyes disappeared all of a sudden,
leaving not a single trace like ‘logging off’ from an online game. What
kind of magic was this?

I desperately needed somebody to kindly explain this to me. I felt like wanting to borrow help from even Professor Morals.

▷The teaching staff are flabbergasted by your return to school.
▷A specialized instructor will be dispatched.
▷A specialized instructor will be dispatched.
▷A specialized instructor will be dispatched.
▷There is no specialized instructor to dispatch.

… That didn’t mean that I really wanted help from him, though. Could it be they couldn’t tell apart jokes and earnest words?

Startled:
 Hello! Student Kang Han Soo. We meet again so soon! I’ve just heard
about your graduation being put on hold. You must be very upset, right?
But get back up and go for it again. I’ll cheer you on by your side!

‘Welcome, Miss Trainee Teacher. I feel that, as we’ve been together
since my entrance in the 4th Playthrough to my graduation, we don’t need
 to keep up false appearances. We’re good friends. How about it? Are my
words wrong?’

At
 A Loss: When you put it that way, it sounds like we were together a
really long time. It was just a single day… but you’re right! The depth
of a relationship can’t be measured by time. However, being friends
feels too rushed…

‘Hey now! Miss Trainee Teacher. Did you forget your promise already? I’m an alumni now too. A member of society, yeah?’

Assent:
 Indeed, I did promise. That we’d be friends if we met again in society…
 although I never thought we’d meet in this manner.

As expected! It was like Miss Trainee Teacher to get it so quickly.

While pointing towards the forest, I asked, “Where is this?”

The attire of the woman who I had just encountered was exactly like
that of an Earthling; however, this place wasn’t Earth no matter how you
 looked at it. I could only vaguely guess that this wasn’t a simple
re-test, a regression which began with the wannabe cute Lanuvel’s
“Welcome, Sir Hero!”.

Miss Trainee Teacher answered without reserve.

Explanation:
 While your graduation was regrettably put on hold, Student Kang Han Soo
 is an undeniable alumni as well, after all. You graduated at just the
right time now. Don’t be surprised at hearing this—Tadah! This place is
the scene of a festival which only alumni can enter!

It was perhaps something like an alumni association? I could only feel an ill omen.

Introduction:
 Student Kang Han Soo! Welcome to the Hero Festival! Various events and
food are prepared, and a generous prize awaits the winner who defeats
all the other participating alumni!

‘Defeat? You mean kill?’

Frightened:
 You can give up like the girl just now! And I’m sorry, I spoke wrongly.
 There’s no need to defeat everyone. The prize will be fairly awarded to
 the last three survivors, you see, which is why you should form a party
 with three others, and by the power of love and friendship… Student
Kang Han Soo? Are you listening?

‘Mhm. I’m listening closely with my ears wide open, Miss Trainee Teacher.’

Hero Festival. In order to take three people’s worth of the prize, I
had to simultaneously deal with the last remaining three participants
apart from me.

Perplexed: How, how did you interpret it that way…?

‘Thanks for the advice, my secret friend. It would’ve been truly terrible if I didn’t know!’

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Explanation: It’s been 15 days since the festival began including
today. I also helped out heaps with the festival preparations as a
trainee teacher, and I really had an awful time back then! Ah! And if
you die or give up during the festival, you’ll only suffer a slight loss
 in Level and leave the festival, so don’t worry too much.

‘Huh? Wait! Miss Trainee Teacher helped prepare the Hero Festival? Then you should know plenty of good information, right?’

Flinch: Th-that’s a secret.

‘Oh come on. That’s heartless, what with our relationship. Looks like
 you were speaking empty words when you promised to be my friend.’

Changing
 Subject: Ah! Isn’t that snowy mountain that can be seen yonder really
great? I got a small feeling that something good might happen at the
small spring which can be seen on the straight path over there. Though
it’s probably just in my head!

‘Right, it’s all just in your head! Miss Trainee Teacher! But I also just feel like going over to that snowy mountain.’

\*
\*
\*

Hero Festival. This ‘massacre event’ would be hosted once every 4
years until it ended. This was training of a reserve forces under the
guise of a festival.

The purpose was to periodically summon and train the alumni who had
defeated the Demon King and returned to their home planet, so that they
wouldn’t lose their touch. All of the alumni would be summoned, and as
you were able to give up immediately, there was no compulsion involved.

Promoting:
 But only a small minority of heroes give up, and that’s because the
events we prepared are plenty, and the food that can be found in the
various villages and cities are all kinds of delicacies! This is
something I can absolutely not tell you about, but the main event prize
is really awesome!

Or so she said. But wasn’t an interval of 4 years too short? The
festivals could overlap if the massacre events didn’t end quickly.

Forgot
 to Mention: Ah! So you didn’t know. The time in the dimensions of
Fantasia and the festivals flow 10 times faster than the norm. Simply
put, you can say that the festivals go on for a maximum of 40 years.

10 times?!

This was information I hadn’t at all known about. Professor Morals
didn’t teach me such things and only prattled on with his preaching! But
 of course, a bit of the fault did lie with me as well.

While I was strong when it came to subject of biology, I was weak in physics.

Einstein’s theory of general relativity showed that time didn’t flow
equally, yet I had been adamantly believing that the time here would be
flowing at the same speed as on Earth. That was why I hadn’t even asked
Sieg, who had recently been kidnapped to a fantasy world, what the
current date was on Earth.

A sigh escaped my lips.

“Stupid! Sieg’s smartphone case…!”

If time had flowed at the same speed, then there was no way he would
have had a character item of an old-school game which was in trend 10
years ago—I had overlooked this truth. In any case, this was definitely
good news for me.

11 years of life in a fantasy world… that had been an extremely long
period of time to me. But my parents would have felt a mere year pass,
though the fact that their son had gone missing without a word, whether
it be for a year or a day, was a problem in itself. Nevertheless, I was
able to feel relieved slightly at least.

“So only a year and a month of time has passed on Earth since I went
missing. I can comfortably think of a year has having repeated an exa…
Mm? Wait! It can’t be… won’t I officially still be a minor if I returned
 to Earth now?!”

I felt shock and fear.

“Hey, the guy who yelled in the forest! Show yourself immediately!”

Ah! Perhaps my voice had been too loud.

There were people who had come before me at the small spring which Miss Trainee Teacher had tacitly told me about.

“Mr. Wolf, you’re being too aggressive right off the bat. You’ll
sound as if you’re picking a fight with the one who came later.”

“That’s right, Wolf. It’s not good to start a problem in a festival everyone is enjoying.”

The youth called Wolf who looked like a bear stood at the fore of a
3-man party. Behind him was a lanky man and pretty woman who were
sticking beside each other like a couple. Judging by the three’s looks,
they were westerners from Earth. I swiftly examined the Status of the
two men and woman, and received a slight shock as a result.

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 654
▷Job: Monk(Faith→Punch↑)
▷Skills: Interpretation(A) Faith(C) Iron Wall(D) Close Quarters Combat(D) Endurance(E)…
▷Condition: Good

The above was what Wolf, who had a high Status out of the three,
amounted to. Just like the woman from a while ago who had run away,
aside from Interpretation(A) which was unrelated to combat, his Skills
didn’t even reach the standard of a Level 200 mercenary.

I was in disbelief even after seeing it. Could it be that they were
hiding their Skills like I was? This bunch of dirt, who were even more
useless than the muppets, were alumni…?

Defending:
 They’re not so bad as dirt! The Hero Job and Holy Sword are retrieved
when students graduate. It’s because they didn’t manage themselves
consistently afterwards that their Skill ranks fell. These people
weren’t dirt from the beginning either.

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, so you’re saying that they’re currently dirt.’

Excuse:
 Student Kang Han Soo! It’s not good to make generalizations! There are
also alumni who are like big breadcrumbs that are bigger than dirt!

Dirt or breadcrumbs, they were all the same, weren’t they? But in any
 case, I had roughly grasped the situation. Job Hero… the truth behind
that outrageous perk of EXP 500% was that it was meant for education,
and Holy Sword 1 which was smeared all over in automatic functions was a
 training aid. It seemed that when those two things disappeared, only an
 empty can(Level) would remain like this lot, like the Elf King.

Skill management was immensely easy while a Hero remained a ‘Hero’,
but the moment they ceased being one, they would need to invest 5 times
the effort and time in order to keep things as they were like before.
That wouldn’t be easy even for me.

“What? This punk, he’s just Level 1 isn’t he? I got nervous for nothing.”

“Indeed. I wonder how he graduated? Pft!”

“Wolf, I’m sorry. This can’t turn into a problem. Kikik.”

This bunch of dirt began to sneer upon seeing my Status. The couple
that had criticized the aggressive attitude and words of the man called
Wolf acted the same way after finding out I was Level 1. Birds of a
feather, flock together, was it? It seemed that they weren’t able to see
 my Skills just like Sieg, though nothing would improve if even they
did.

“Is there some problem with my being Level 1?”

I looked around the surrounding of the three, and saw a droopy tent
that would just barely block out only the wind. Inside it I saw canned
food they had brought as provisions. A travel kit and sloppy mindset,
which not even a Level 5 greenhorn Hero who’d just begun his adventure
would have… it was as miserable as their Skills.

The Level 654 Monk, Wolf, warned me, “Scram while I’m talking nicely.
 I’m sparing you because you’re a Level 1 that’d give meagre EXP even if
 killed.”

My interest was piqued at his utterance.

“EXP?”

“That’s right.”

“Does Level rise here as well when you kill?”

“An impossibly stupid question.”

At this kind answer, I responded with a smiling face.

“Run away while I’m talking bad. I’ll kill you because you’re a Level 654 with tasty EXP.”

“Wha-?”

I slashed sideways with Holy Sword 2 which I had rapidly summoned.

Slash—splurt!

The head of Wolf, who had been careless due to my being Level 1, flew
 into the air while spraying blood everywhere. His arms which had been
rising up to block the attack in a manner befitting a Monk froze in
their tracks, and his headless body fell over a beat late.

Slump.

“Kyah?!”

“Wolf-!”

The surprised couple took a combative stance; however, dealing with
these two was far easier compared to Wolf, and that was thanks to my
Level increasing after taking him down.

Slash, slash-

Kicking off the ground and dashing forward, I closed the distance
within the span of a breath and slashed down. Considering that they were
 a couple, I cut them down simultaneously.

“I’ll use your EXP well guys! When you go back to Earth, make lots of pretty love while criticizing me!”

I prayed for the happiness of this hopeless bunch. Me and my meddling, really…

Impressed: Student Kang Han Soo! You’re tremendously strong!

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, that was a piece of cake.’

I was a hero who had even received an SS-grade in combat ability.
Were it not for the incompetent Fantasy God picking faults at my normal
character, I would have long graduated with top grades.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The corpses of the 2 men and woman immediately disappeared, while leaving behind their clothing and belongings.

“The clothes are somewhat good enough to use. No, anything would be better than the cheap get-up I’m in.”

But I couldn’t bring myself to lay a hand on the underwear they had
been wearing, including the spares in that shoddy tent. Fortunately,
there was some money among their belongings.

Cling.

Although I was completely clueless regarding the currency and prices
used in this festival, it was unlikely that I wouldn’t be able to buy a
pair of underwear with a gold coin.

“Really now! The Hero perk is amazing after all.”

It was with this incident that I felt it clearly. Only when you lost
something would you realize its importance, was it? I deeply realized
how amazing the Job of Hero was.

▷Race: Chaos Human
▷Level: 102
▷Job: Thief(The Weak→Fortune↑)
▷Skills: Battle Spirit(SSS) Dark Energy(SSS) Massacre(SS) Chaos(SS) Destruction(SS)…
▷Condition: Good, Holy Sword

I had only collected my rightful spoils of battle, yet by an unfair
verdict my Job was changed from ‘Jobless’ to ‘Thief’. In addition, the
EXP I gained was despairingly low despite having killed three
individuals of around Level 600. Had I been a Hero, I would have at
least achieved Level 300. It seemed I wouldn’t able to even think of my
Skills improving.

“Well, whatever.”

I just had to put in 5 times the effort, and it wasn’t as if there
were only disadvantages; a certain Skill, which hadn’t been able to
shine while my Job was fixed as ‘Hero’ until now, rose to sudden
prominence—Fortune(C). It was thanks to my Job changing to ‘Thief’. When
 a Thief was facing against weak individuals, their fortune would go up.

▷Type: Skill
▷Name: Fortune
▷Rank: C
▷B: Occasionally ignore traps.
▷C: Luck increases slightly.
▷D: Will not die from falls.
▷E: Occasionally dodge unseen arrows.
▷F: Luck improves.

Those were the effects of Fortune(C). They were all greatly vague and
 full of uncertain probabilities, so there was a chance of losing your
life if you held blind faith in them. And to make it worse, the Skill’s
proficiency level would only increase when your luck did its work, so
how difficult would it be to raise ranks? It would rather be far easier
and safer to self-mutilate all day long to raise the proficiency of
Endurance. However, what if Thief and Holy Sword 2 were added into the
equation like seasonings?

▷Type: Skill
▷Name: Fortune(++)
▷Rank: C(++)
▷B: Always ignore traps. (++)
▷C: Luck increases tremendously. (++)
▷D: Safe from falls. (++)
▷E: Dodge all unseen arrows. (++)
▷F: Luck improves.

The ambiguous Skill effects become definite! Now that I looked at it, it seemed even better than a Hero’s EXP 500%.

‘Was Thief this amazing a Job…?’

While there was the prerequisite that my opponent needed be weaker
than myself, if it was as according to Miss Trainee Teacher’s
explanation, this festival was brimming with the weak. And that’s how it
 was right now as well.

“Troooor…!”

The weak didn’t necessarily need to be human. Fortune’s effect had
risen with the appearance of a Level 100 wild troll. Instead of running
away upon discovering me, the troll chose to fight; it charged at me
while holding up its long arms in a threatening manner. While its spirit
 was truly commendable…

Crash!

The troll stepped on a pebble nearby the small spring and slipped.

Thump.

And even landed the back of its head on a sharp rock while tripping over!

“Troooog~?!”

The troll that stood up while expressing pain continued its clownish
foolery. Even I couldn’t suppress a dry laugh when its feet got tangled
and it fell into the spring.

“Really now…”

Was this troll for real?

“T-trooo…”

The troll was already reduced to tatters by the time it drew near,
without my having to lift a single finger. Just what on earth had this
troll been fighting against? It was to the extent that I felt sorry
watching.

Stab-

Which was why I pierced its heart with Holy Sword 2 and granted it
rest. At this time, something happened which I couldn’t have predicted.

Fortune(C)→Fortune(B)

The rank of the Skill ‘Fortune’, which was infamous for being
difficult to raise in proficiency even among other Skills, had risen.
And to B-rank at that! It hadn’t advanced from a low rank. There was no
need to even calculate how much proficiency would be needed to promote
the Skill from C-rank to B-rank—your luck would have to shower a
waterfalls’ worth of good happenings on you.

“This… might be an opportunity?”

When the Hero Festival ended, my Job would change from ‘Thief’ to
‘Hero’ again, and then the effect of Fortune would fall as well. It
wasn’t possible to carry around this much luck with the amplification of
 Holy Sword 2 alone; only when these two elements were together could
this kind of miracle be possible. And this ‘fortune’ was a passive
Skill.

Splash-!

The waters of the small spring churned upwards.

“M-mermaid needs saving-! Cough-cough!”

One freshwater mermaid feebly climbed to the waterside.

“… What are you?”

“I got sudden cramps in my tail, so… I planned on only giving it to
someone who seduced me with their sweet singing, but this must also be
fate. Gentleman over there, could you lend me your hand for a moment?”

“Hand? I’ll turn you into sashimi if you bite.”

“I won’t! Do you think mermaids are piranha?!”

The mermaid coughed dryly after momentarily flaring up, and gently
holding my right hand, she then kissed the back of it. Some of my Skills
 underwent a change.

Swimming(S)→Swimming(SS)
Charm(F)→Charm(D)
Blessing(B)→Blessing(A)

Aside from these, the proficiency of numerous Skills I had rose by a
small degree; Fortune, Glamor, Song and Dance, Energy, Elegance… There
were almost no godsent event rewards like this in Fantasia’s continents,
 and even those events that did exist gave something extremely meagre.
And yet…

“This festival is epic…?”

Hero Festival. Could it be that the teaching staff took away ‘Hero’
from the graduates, and made up for it with an event? The event reward
was much too exceptional.

“Huhu! It’s a blessing given by a mermaid of legend. May only fortune light your future days!”

The mermaid, licking her lips which she had kissed my hand with while
 smiling with her eyes, gracefully dived into the waters to where she
lived the moment her tail recovered from the cramp.

Splash!

The small spring event was cleared on its own.

This… wasn’t my luck too straightforward?

Proud: Student Kang Han Soo, how was it? Isn’t the festival’s event reward really amazing?

Indeed. I agreed! It was amazing to the extent of being too good to
give away to others. I shouldn’t only aim for the massacre event.

In truth, I had felt a slight flutter in my heart at the sight of
Earthlings. I wanted to strike up a friendship with them and hear news
of Earth. Going a step further, I had even planned on asking them to
send my parents my regards in my stead… until just a while ago, that is.

The Hero Festival would continue until the final 3 participants
remained. In short, as long as 4 people including myself remained alive,
 the massacre event wouldn’t end.

“I should quickly eliminate everyone while leaving only three. It’s not too late to comfortably enjoy the festival afterwards.”

According to Miss Trainee Teacher, various event rewards and
plentiful foods(EXP) were prepared; however, the festival had already
proceeded for a whole 15 days. As a latecomer, my efforts would only end
 up in vain if I didn’t move a little more diligently than the others.
That was the one outcome I wanted to avoid.

Tremble: I feel like you’re gradually going farther away from the festival’s purpose…?

‘Mhm. You’re just imagining it, Miss Trainee Teacher. I’m in the middle of actively joining in the event.’

“While I’m at it, I’ll aim to rank up Fortune as well. Fortune’s
E-rank effect, dodge all unseen arrows. Wouldn’t its proficiency jump up
 if I waged war against Elves, who have a high ratio of archers?”

‘Which is why, Miss Trainee Teacher… won’t you become my navigation?’

Persuading: A fair event…

‘I want to go where there are lots of violent Elves and Earthlings. Come on~’

Changing Subject: Oh my! A cool southeasterly wind is blowing!

No matter how I measured the angle, this was a southwestern-… kind of
 southeastern wind. In any case, it was blowing from the southeast.

‘If Trainee Teacher Zhuge says so, then it must be! Okay!’

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

I ran straight towards the southeast from where a cool wind was
blowing. While I did feel as if something was also coming in from the
southwest, it was all my imagination.

Explode: What’s wrong with southeast!

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, who said anything?’

Everything was quite big in the terrain of this continent where the
Hero Festival was taking place. Trees, grass, pebbles, ponds, streams…
even the small spring where I met the mermaid was the same. Although it
was easy to imagine it as the size of a bathtub in which a celestial
maiden might strip and bathe in, that small spring was large enough to
be used for a swimming competition.

The Zelkova tree I was seeing before my eyes at present was like
so—it was immensely large. It was as wide and tall as the legendary
Tower of Babel. Its top part couldn’t be seen clearly as it was covered
by thick fog and its branches, but my eyes could discern the people
sticking to the uneven bark of the thick tree trunk like cicadas.

“Get lost all of you!”

“Don’t push I say! Gasp!”

“Euaagh~?!”

These people were in the midst of climbing the steep trunk of the
Zelkova tree; however, they were far from cooperating with one another,
overflowing with friendship and love—it was a scene of pandemonium where
 they shoved and attacked among themselves. Something amazing was
definitely at the top of that tree, and that being the case…

Grab!

“Keh-kekegh?!”

I decided to grab hold of Passerby 1 who was going by and ask him a question.

“My friend with the hair dyed red, let me ask just one thing. What’s
up there at the top that those people are struggling so hard to climb?”

I slightly eased my grip on his neck so he could speak.

His windpipe opened, Passerby 1 replied, “Cough-cough! You crazy punk! Think I’d tell y-”

“Oops!”

Crack!

My hand slipped, and Passerby 1, whose neck was broken as a result,
disappeared like a mirage while leaving behind his clothes and
belongings, as well as some EXP.

I searched for a new Passerby 2.

‘It’d be nice if my hand won’t slip this time.’

“Pardon me, lady with the outrageous underwear showing under her
short skirt. It’ll only be moderately bad for yourself if you look this
way instead of pretending not to have heard me.”

“Hiik?! Yes, yes!”

“Now, then let me just ask one thing. What’s at the to-”

“An Elf King’s Tear!”

Passerby 2 gave a quick reply, cutting across my question. Apparently she had listened to my conversation with Passerby 1.

Elf King’s Tear… it wasn’t the tear of that lump of EXP whose
loathing towards humans reached the extreme—I wouldn’t take something
like the tear of a coarse man even if given to me. This tear was one of
the three hidden treasures of Elfheim Kingdom.

Note: It is a replica, though.

Miss Trainee Teacher then added that the original items couldn’t be placed in the festival.

In any case…

An Elf King’s Tear is an elixir, made from processing the special
amniotic fluid that comes out when an eternally living Elf royalty is
born, a cure-all of a forever young and undying being! However, as
Arch-Elves had abysmal birth rates, the amniotic fluid used in creating
an Elf King’s Tear was also greatly rare, which was why it was one of
the three hidden treasures of Elfheim and also why Elves guarded it
desperately.

“Fend off the human intruders!”

“Stop them from climbing into the sanctum!”

“Don’t save your arrows!”

An uncountable number of Elves were lurking on the huge Zelkova tree. They mercilessly shot arrows at the humans climbing up.

Twang! Twang! Twang—!

“Aargh?! My eye-!”

“There are too many arrows!”

The people were hit by the Elves’ arrows and fell below the tree.

It was at this time that I came to know of one surprising truth.

“Euah, auh…”

Over here, there was the unfortunate Human A who was dying due to falling.

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 586
▷Job: Magician(Age→Magic Power↑)
▷Skills: Interpretation(A) Magic(C) Elementalism(D) Blessing(E) Charm(E)…
▷Condition: Poisoned, Bleeding, Fracture

Human A couldn’t even use a single flight spell properly and had
fallen to the ground despite being a Magician—to say it was because of
the poison smeared on the Elves’ arrowheads would be no more than an
excuse. It was at this moment that the cute-looking Human B approached.

“I’ll cure you!”

The warm light emitted From Human B’s hand suffused throughout Human
A’s body; the injury which was so horrible as to show bone was healed
within the span of a breath, and…

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 581
▷Job: Magician(Age→Magic Power↑)
▷Skills: Interpretation(A) Magic(C) Elementalism(D) Blessing(E) Charm(E)…
▷Condition: Good

Human A’s Level dropped by a whole 5!

If Human B had committed a brutal deed like that to me, then I would
have made the other side repent by suffering from a herniated waist disc
 until death, yet Human A’s attitude was the exact opposite.

“Thank you for saving me!”

Not minding his own Level, Human A thanked Human B. What was he
thankful about after giving a vast amount of EXP as the healing fee? I
couldn’t understand.

“Don’t mention it. I wish you good luck.”

But Human B, who took that as if it was a matter of course, saw Human
 A off with a business smile, pushing at his back so that he would
quickly end up injured again while fighting.

Touched: A wonderful collaboration, isn’t it?

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, I think one more of this wonderful scene will end up killing a person?’

It was an awfully shocking sight.

“So that’s why the Level of the graduates were low…”

Upon graduating, only your Job and the Holy Sword would be retrieved,
 while the core of a Status, Level and Skills, would remain. Yet why?
The state of all the graduates was a mess. Granted that their Skills
might have become reduced to shambles as they stopped being a Hero, but
their low Level which didn’t even reach 999 didn’t stand to reason.
However, it was after witnessing that collaboration from just before
that I came to a realization.

“Hah! Assholes like Sieg are hanging about everywhere!”

A surprising magic that made you weak upon going adventuring!

Only Human B was done a favor in the previous scene.

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 999+
▷Job: Healer(Age→Heal↑)
▷Skills: Heal(SS) Interpretation(A) Charm(B) Health(B) Business(C)…
▷Condition: Good

A Status specialized for healing only!

Unlike those with combat occupations who lost Levels the more they
fought, the Level of Human B, who had been harvesting EXP safely from
the rear line, was normal. And Human B wasn’t the only one like this.

“I’ll cure you!”

“I’ll run to wherever there’s a patient!”

“It hurts, right? Endure it just a little!”

I saw many Level 999 Healers running about like army doctors. There seemed to be more of them than the patients.

“… What a sickening sight.”

Tap.

I summoned forth Holy Sword 2.

I had toiled for a whole 11 years to escape from this barbaric world,
 but the pathetic sight of these assholes called graduates went beyond
my imagination. What had I been trying so hard for all that time? I
couldn’t admit that I was lesser than this bunch.

And so I was going to remove them.

Fwip—fwip—fwip—

I swung Holy Sword 2 towards where the healers and patients were
gathered. It didn’t matter even if my opponents were Level 999; it
wouldn’t even require breaking a sweat to dice up ‘paper bodies’ that
foolishly raised only Heal without defensive Skills such as Endurance.

I hacked at the area of a skiing grounds using Massacre(SS).

“Keuurgh?!”

“Wh-what’s going—kugh?!”

“Kyagh?!”

The entire area at the base of the tree, where the event to fight for
 the Elf King’s Tear was in a full swing, was dyed crimson with the
blood and flesh of humans. This cruel scene only lasted for a moment,
however.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

The graduates who were judged to have died were expelled from the festival.

“I, I give!”

“Give up!”

“Hik?! I give up!”

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Those who had luckily escaped the range of Massacre(SS) or withstood
it also quickly shouted their intent to give up and made their exit.

The previously bustling event location became quiet.

Flustered: All the dirt was swept away by the southeasterly wind…

‘Oh! Miss Trainee Teacher, that’s a tasteful way of putting it.’

▷Race: Chaos Human
▷Level: 376
▷Job: Thief(The Weak→Fortune↑)
▷Skills: Battle Spirit(SSS) Dark Energy(SSS) Massacre(SS) Chaos(SS) Destruction(SS)…
▷Condition: Wild, Frenzy, Berserk, Holy Sword 2

I no longer needed the indistinctive Hero perk, since Level would
rise in no time if you went hunting with 5 times the effort. My
Condition was a trivial issue, so it was nothing to pay mind to. Now,
for the Elf King’s Tea…

“Who are you?”

Slash-

I reflexively swung Holy Sword 2 at hearing the polite voice of a
youth which sounded from very close by. I once again pulled taut my
nerves which had slightly relaxed.

‘I failed to notice somebody’s presence…?’

This was normally something impossible; however, the place I was at
wasn’t normal—the Hero Festival. It was a venue of festivities where all
 the heroes who had defeated Demon King Pedonar were squeezed into. It
would be nonsense to say there wouldn’t be a single hero with superior
combat ability among them, and that really was the truth.

The person who dodged my attack was a brilliantly shining gem among the dirt.

▷Race: Grand Human
▷Level: 999+
▷Job: Monarch(Vassals→Omnipotence↑)
▷Skills: Swordsmanship(SSS) Divinity(SS) Leadership(SS) Endurance(S) Immunity(S)…
▷Condition: Constellation, Blessing, Demon Sword, Doping, Divine Protection

Even his Status was surprising, a beautiful banquet of Skills that
came close to my standard in the 1st Playthrough. It was a wonder as to
how he was maintaining the proficiency of so many Skills without the Job
 ‘Hero’. The answer was likely ‘Omnipotence’. And that ‘Grand Human’
Race also caught my attention as it was a Race I didn’t know of.

“I could ask the same?”

“Haha! An interesting person I see, to think that you don’t know my
face. I can tell it hasn’t been long since you graduated, as you
wouldn’t be running so wild otherwise! This isn’t a fantasy world that
only exists for yourself. It is maintained by rules and order. In
addition, there are also punishments.”

Tuk.

The man then summoned forth an antique-looking bronze sword; it was
the ‘Demon Sword’ marked in his Condition. I was also very familiar with
 that sword.

“That’s… Sword King Alex’s exclusive weapon, isn’t it…?”

It was the Demon Sword which had always hung by the Sword King’s
waist like a lover—Holy Demon Sword, Swordmaster! It was possible to
obtain it by using pure swordsmanship to defeat the guardian ‘Sword
God’, who had lived crazily for the sword and ended up truly going
insane. Vexing though it was, I had failed to obtain it, as I didn’t
have the mad talent to achieve mastery in one specialty.

“Haha! I am spec…”

Puhwak-

The man’s handsome head flew up into the air.

‘I detest long-winded men. Right?’

At
 A Loss: You even cut through his weapon? Then even outstanding
swordsmanship would be useless. Though the gentleman who got done in
would feel very bewildered and aggrieved.

‘Pah! If you feel aggrieved, then why don’t you use a better weapon than Holy Sword 2!’

“Kyah?! Sir Kim Man Cheon~?!”

“Our guild master was finished in a single-?!”

“What? The Sword Saint was defeated?!”

“My god! Mr. Kim Man Cheon was…!”

The onlookers who had been peeping by the sides kicked a fuss. It was
 definitely no coincidence that the ratio of young and pretty woman
among them seemed extremely high. He was a monarch who knew romance,
apparently?

‘That’s the reason for your defeat! Monarch A!’

“Everyone~ Was the festival enjoyable? Now it’s time to pass on the baton and return home to sleep~𝅘𝅥𝅮”

\*
\*
\*

I nicely placated the onlookers who insisted on staying and sent them
 all home. Even though I couldn’t go back despite wanting to… they were
idiots that didn’t appreciate the importance of home.

This woman before me was the last of them.

“Sir Kim Man Cheon will never forgive y—Kyauh?!”

I gave a pretty slash between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae of the
 woman, who foretold a boring revenge tragedy in a harshly sharp voice.

“Mhm. Buzz off to your beloved sweetheart.”

“Son of a b-”

Pop!

There had been a remarkable number among the women who wore outfits
that clearly showed off their slender hips and creamy thighs. There was a
 high ratio that chose to wear black fishnet stockings and garter belts
too. Perhaps their style reflected Monarch A’s preferences? It was easy
to cut them as their defenses were poor.

“It would still be nice if they put on something, though. Are they
looking down on people? Or could it be… they can’t distinguish actual
fighting from cosplaying?”

Well, in any case.

The area of the huge tree had become quiet.

Sigh:
 My senior might end up crying if he saw this lonely sight. He really
worked hard preparing the event to fight for the Elf King’s Tear…

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, there’s no need to feel so sad. Because I’m taking over this event.’

“Stop! Human!”

“If you come any closer… Eyah!”

Thwish-!

An Elf shot an arrow at me as I leisurely climbed up the tree, not
simply as a warning shot but with the intent to kill. I neither dodged
nor blocked the incoming arrow, however; there was no need for that at
all.

▷Type: Skill
▷Name: Fortune(++)
▷Rank: B(++)
▷A: The energy of the universe lends aid occasionally.
▷B: Always ignore traps. (++)
▷C: Luck increases tremendously. (++)
▷D: Safe from falls. (++)
▷E: Dodge all unseen arrows. (++)
▷F: Luck improves.

Under the divine protection of Fortune(B), no arrowhead made its mark on me.

“Shoot that human!”

“All units commence firing!”

“Protect the treasure!”

The several thousands of violent Elves, who had been lurking in
various spots on the huge Zelkova tree, began to rain down arrows.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

But I remained fine without a scratch. All the arrows unbelievably
brushed past my body. Their trajectories would bend due to a sudden
gust, or the arrows would collide against each other during flight and
fall apart. There were even cases of bow limbs breaking or bow strings
snapping. The causes for the arrows missing were truly various.

“Hng~ Heung~♫”

I reached the place where the Elf King’s Tear was stored without a
fight. The proficiency of Fortune shot up as my luck activated
repeatedly. This would have been impossible had my Job been ‘Hero’. And
then at last…

Fortune(B)→Fortune(A)

The energy of the universe permeated my body.

Mourning: Senior. Your event is turning weird…

Pop.

I opened the lid of the glass bottle containing the Elf King’s Tear
and drank it. While it was a replica, its effect was quite significant.

“… Mm?”

‘What’s that? Something huge dropping fast this way…’

Craash-!

A meteor crashed onto the top of the Zelkova tree, on which the Elves
 were jumping about—the event site and those related to it disappeared
without leaving a trace.

The energy of the universe was amazing!

Silent Prayer: Senior…

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, will you end your praying quickly?’

I was looking at the earth from which the huge Zelkova tree was burnt
 out of existence; something that looked like a secret tunnel came into
my sight which lead down towards where the tree roots were. Was it an
extension of the event?

Puzzled:
 I’m not sure. It was Senior who set all the Elves as archers, saying
that the festival preparations were bothersome. There’s no way he would
have put in such an elaborate setting…

“That so…?”

I promptly jumped down into the pitch-dark hole.

‘Let’s try believing in the energy of the universe.’

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

I absentmindedly dropped down the pitch-dark hole. I felt like a skydiver who had jumped off a plane forgetting his parachute.

Clomp.

Nevertheless I safely landed at the bottom. While my superior
physique played a part in this, the largest contributor was Fortune’s
D-rank effect of ‘Safe from falls.’.

I saw it through the unfathomable darkness, a magnificent structure
built in an empty space so large it was unbelievable that this was
underground. The structure… should be called a palace, perhaps.

It appeared that the huge Zelkova tree planted above it had been
pressing down on this palace, while its roots had dug inside and widened
 the cracks along its walls; however, this wasn’t the part that was
drawing my attention.

“It’s a strangely familiar palace design.”

I had never gotten such a feeling from the architectural styles of
the various races and countless cultures I had seen in the continents of
 Fantasia, and that was because this structure before me had an Eastern
flavor of Earth to it.

Korea’s Gyeongbok Palace, Japan’s Himeji Castle, China’s Forbidden
City… From the tiles on the roof, window, to the murals on the walls, it
 felt like everything good was taken and mixed in. Or was it the
opposite? This here was the original, while the ones on Earth were fake?
 Whatever the case, I got a gut feeling the moment I saw it.

“I’m sick of journeys finding out the secret or truth of the world, though…”

I had 11 years of Hero-ing under my belt, and I had plenty of
experience digging up all kinds of trivial truths. While they were
grandiosely wrapped up using the word legend or myth, when you got down
to actually opening them up, many of them turned out to be either
childish or empty facts.

And wasn’t the very representation of this the ‘Hero of legend’? The
natives of the fantasy world firmly believed that the Hero chosen by
their god was an amazing human, but in reality these heroes were no more
 than social rejects of Earth kidnapped to be recycled. When you took
away the Job perk and Holy Sword from a Hero, all that remained would be
 a corpse.

Except for me, that is!

Startled: I never heard such an enormous building was buried beneath the festival continent!

‘Huh? Wait. Miss Trainee Teacher doesn’t know about this either?’

Affirmation: Yes. I didn’t know at all.

A place that even an absolute figure related to the teaching staff
didn’t know of. Perhaps she wasn’t able to inspect it due to being a
temporary teacher and not an official one; however, regardless, it was
suspicious without a doubt. Something that was hidden or that isn’t
known even by the teaching staff—this reason alone made it worth looking
 into.

“Shall I make an entrance to start off with…”

I gave a hard kick at the palace walls.

Crash-!

While it was quite sturdy for an old palace, it wasn’t to the extent
of withstanding my leg strength enhanced by all sorts of Skills; a
rather good entrance was made.

Flustered: Student Kang Han Soo?! The entrance is right over there in the open though?!

‘Tsk-tsk. Miss Trainee Teacher, listen well. That’s a one-dimensional approach.’

From time immemorial, grave robbing was a specialty of ‘Heroes’.
Especially if something caught my eye, whether it be some jar of gold, I
 would sweep up everything down to the last coin.

In the case of a ruins like this that was neglected for long, there
was bound to be intact traps and watchmen dispatched in several layers
at the entrance. There was no reason to insist on going to find them
myself.

“Hng~ Hnng~𝅘𝅥𝅮”

Humming a song to myself, I entered the palace through the freshly made entrance.

Right off the bat I saw something of a forked path before my nose;
one heading right, and one left. There was no friendly warning sign, and
 as the paths were symmetrical, there was no hint or clue to base my
judgement on. The chances of not going around in circles was
fifty-fifty.

I fell into thought, stroking my chin.

“So it’s a classic labyrinth style?”

I could deeply sense the malice of the maker behind this, the intent
to defeat the visitors who came aiming for a jackpot through deception
and stress. I too was victim to this sort of thing countless times in
the 1st Playthrough.

Advice:
 Life is a series of big and small choices. You can’t advance towards
the future if you hesitate fearing failure. Student, Kang Han Soo, have
courage. I’ll be cheering you on by your side!

‘Thanks, energetic Miss Trainee Teacher.’

Indeed, it was as she said. It wouldn’t do to fear failure, and yet I
 had been worrying and hesitating until now at the possibility of this
palace, which gave off the air of holding an amazing secret of the
world, collapsing.

‘I might as well start reflecting from now on.’

Question: Uh, Student Kang Han Soo? What exactly to you mean by collapsing…?

After summoning Holy Sword 2, I answered through action instead of words.

Shooong—

The jet-black aura of Dark Energy(SSS) began to envelop Holy Sword
2’s crimson blade, and an immense force amassed at its center.

As the effects of my offensive-type Skills piled atop one another,
giving rise to a series of synergistic effects, Holy Sword 2 further
amplified it all, and for some reason even the ‘energy of the universe’
joined in. My Level was also sufficient thanks to hunting Monarch A and
the other rabble.

“This is my choice.”

I thrust Holy Sword 2 forward in a stab.

Paaang-

The force of Dark Energy(SSS) extended forward in a straight line,
and like a bulldozer, that jet-black energy relentlessly pushed through
the palace walls, monuments and the like which were blocking the way.

Pong! Crash! Boom! Pang!

A wide tunnel was formed as tens of layers of walls were penetrated.

I was going to go by the 3rd choice.

Disconcerted:
 Eh… This is a choice too I suppose. While it won’t be the adventure of
mystery intended by the planner who built this palace…

‘Look here, Miss Trainee Teacher. Adventures are for the weak. Only
those punks incapable of using the straightforward tactic of destroying
the labyrinth cling to vague hopes as if gambling, saying, “It’ll turn
out well somehow.” That’s exactly Sieg’s way of thinking.’

“… I wonder what’s become of that guy around about now?”

Right when the 4th Playthrough began, Sieg had fainted after taking a
 blow to the chin from me. Perhaps he was bewildered by going directly
over to the 5th Playthrough after having fallen fast asleep—now that
would be a bit funny.

Gratified:
 While you may pretend otherwise, Student Kang Han Soo is very
considerate I see. To think you’d worry for your classmate. It’s said
that friendship is love without its wing…

‘Wait! Miss Trainee Teacher!’

Reply: Yes? Please speak.

‘Friendship with Sieg? Love? Don’t go off anywhere spouting such
horror! If the teaching staff misunderstand and stick me with Sieg
again, my blood pressure might just explode.

‘Miss Trainee Teacher, did you get what I said? I’ll spread rumors that you’re a man if you don’t understand properly.’

Shock: I’m not a man I tell you!

‘That ain’t my concern. A Hero’s specialty is grave robbing, while incitement and fabrication his hobbies.’

\*
\*
\*

I followed along the third path and headed straight inside a temple.
Although I saw works of art and antiques scattered about which seemed
like they’d be sold for quite a bit, I abandoned the thought as it was
said the things obtained during the festival couldn’t be let outside. Of
 course, there were exceptions to this.

According to Miss Trainee Teacher:

1) Level EXP
2) Skill proficiency
3) Event rewards

These three things would remain in possession, which was why I gave
up on my small material desire and swiftly advanced towards the deep
regions of the palace.

Peek: Aren’t you hurrying too much?

‘Mhm, I am hurrying.’

It would be a lie to say that the palace’s Eastern architectural
style wasn’t interesting; however, even at this moment the scum outside
were diligently targeting my event rewards. I was absolutely not allowed
 to forget this fact—there was no time at all to dawdle.

“Sure is comfortable since I can ignore traps with Fortune’s effec-”

Click.

A device activated upon detecting my movement.

‘Huh? Strange. It should be normal to ignore traps?’

Upon analyzing the cause, it turned out that unbeknownst to my right
hand, my left hand had been holding onto an expensive diamond. It seemed
 that my left hand had activated the trap by blatantly touching it.
Haha! This sly leftie of mine.

“Ow Ow…!”

“Ow Ooow…!”

The iron cells built in various spots in the temple opened, and 5 monsters let out queer screams as they pounced towards me.

Even these things appeared to be quite Eastern like the palace.

▷Race: Ogre
▷Level: 947
▷Job: Champion(Crisis→Fighting Skill↑)
▷Skills: Iron Fist(B) Deadly Venom(B) Fighting Skill(C) Berserk(C) Immortal(D)…
▷Condition: Thawing, Frenzy, Agitation, Fury

Ogres, or if called in the native way at home, goblins. These were
humanoid monsters with sharp horns protruding from their forehead. Their
 average height was 5m, their four limbs were as thick as a drum barrel,
 and their tough-looking bodies would remind you of a dump truck.

Unlike crafty trolls, ogres were very much stupid; they lacked the
very thought of tactics or cooperation. In exchange, their natural born
combat instinct and physique could be considered top-level among all
monsters. Their hobby was to eat men.

“Ow Ow-!”

An ogre whose eyes were bloodshot crimson threw a punch the size of an electric rice cooker at me.

“It’s obviously not meant for the festival.”

These fellows were stronger than normal ogres. Their Levels alone far
 exceeded that of an ogre’s average Level of 300. If just 100 of the
ogres in this temple were released on the surface, then the Hero
Festival would transform into their tasting party; Hero BBQ, Hero Stew,
Hero Bacon… That’s how powerful these ogres were.

Slice—Puhwak!

Of course, that was speaking from the perspective of scum. With a
light caress of Holy Sword 2, the 5 ogres were all bisected and
collapsed to the dusty earth just like that.

“Ow…”

“Ow Ow…”

The ogres, famous for their tenacious vitality, breathed their last
one after another and turned into EXP. I didn’t confirm their deaths one
 by one, but instead quickly passed through the area. There was no need
to stop due to running across some ants during a stroll, was there?

I ran into three more of such interferences.

My experiences and intuition told me that I had arrived at my destination.

“It must be here.”

The decoration alone of the firmly shut grand doors before me was
dazzling. There was bound to be a treasure or boss monster of the temple
 inside.

Suggestion:
 Student Kang Han Soo, don’t you think you’re being too hasty? They say
you should knock even on a strong stone bridge before crossing.

‘Really now! Miss Trainee Teacher, I’ve done 11 years of Hero-ing. Grave robbing is my specialty, got it?’

Pout: Yes.

Seeing how Miss Trainee Teacher didn’t seem to be able to believe me
even after saying this much, I decided to show a light demonstration.

I lightly jumped on the spot, twice.

“One, two, one, two~𝅘𝅥𝅮”

I shook my pelvis to the left and right, matching the rhythm; this
was an exercise to lightly stretch the waist so as to prevent a
herniated disc. Afterwards, I pulled my right foot back, and then
launched it forwards with all my might. This kick was acknowledged 4
times in a row by Demon King Pedonar—its power and performance were
impeccable.

Crash-!

The enormous doors were destroyed like cardboard.

“Gasp! Who is it!”

“Bingo.”

There was a boss in the room as I had expected; an Elf male who
appeared very much similar to the Elf King. I could already feel the
wickedness oozing from his very genes. My 11 years of experience
whispered to me: that’s definitely the incarnation of evil.

The wicked boss who had been sitting on his throne shot to his feet and shouted, “That sword, could it be…!”

He seemed to know of Holy Sword 2, a joyful news which I hadn’t
expected at all, because Demon King Pedonar had left some profound bait
saying, “Show Holy Sword 2 to the Oblivion Dragon King,” before his
death. In the 4th Playthrough I took down the Demon King straightaway
and it ended, yet it was in an unexpected place that I discovered a clue
 to the sword.

“You know about this Holy Sword?”

“Of course! I am extremely well aware.”

“Hooh.”

“But O Hero, how is it that you have come this far alone? I do not
see my daughter who went out to receive you at the palace
entranc—Guegh?!”

Smack-!

After leading the boss’ line of sight onto Holy Sword 2, I threw a
hard blow at his slender jaw. This was but the beginning, however. Cut!
Stab! And pummel!

“It would’ve been real dangerous if I didn’t know.”

“K-keuh… O Hero, why do you attack…?”

Why?

I had obtained extremely important information from the boss’ words—that there was another monster similar to him.

▷Race: Chaos Elf
▷Level: 999+
▷Job: Deposed King(Fame=Authority↓)
▷Skills: Elementalism(SSS) Archery(SS) Oblivion(SS) Blessing(SS) Perseverance(SS)…
▷Condition: Seal, Astonishment, Confusion, Panic, Shock

This was the boss’ Status. It was on a different league from the
pathetic Elf King who lost his wife to the Demon King. They were only
similar in appearance. The ranks and make up of the boss’ Skills were at
 a terrifying level. Perhaps the one relief was that his defensive
Skills were relatively lower ranked.

I could handle going one-on-one against him, but two of such opponents would be impossible. So…

“Shut it and die already!”

I had to take the boss down while he was alone before his darned
daughter, who was supposedly lurking at the palace entrance, noticed
something was up.

“O-O Hero! Let us talk for just a moment…!”

Fallen to a disadvantage, the boss insisted on talking peacefully;
however, I knew—the moment I let my heart soften at his offer of peace
and showed an opening, the boss who was pretending to be aggrieved would
 close his mouth cleanly and counter-attack.

Now wasn’t the time to hesitate. The boss’ darned daughter could be
on her way back. I would become disadvantaged the more I dragged out the
 time.

Confused:
 I did take a rough scan through your student record, but what kind of
experience did Student Kang Han Soo gather during those 11 years…?

‘Me? I lived amidst the deception and backstabbing of my companions!’

“I won’t be fooled anymore.”

“Kuh! How could one called Hero be so rash-”

Slump.

His heart pierced through by Holy Sword 2, the boss’ life came to an end.

My Level shot up.

■■E→■■D

And Black-Box advanced in rank as well.

“Hmm. Is there some connection between races of similar attribute…?”

Chaos Dragon.

Chaos Titan.

Chaos Mermaid.

Chaos Elf.

I could no longer pass it off as coincidence. If only to oppose the
Fantasy God who only let retards graduate, this was worth investigating.
 But where would it be good to start…

“My father the King, I did not see the Hero who released the seal on the underground priso… My father!?”

It seemed like I could get investigating right away.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_