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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The specially modified carriage traversed the remnants of a road that had once connected Sak and Hailen, a path now barely discernible after 500 years of neglect and the ravages of the Chaos Realm.
Inside, five heroes accompanied me, my limbs bound, my freedom curtailed.
‘So this is how it ends…’
Libero and Gineus.
I had killed two Demon Kings.
And I had been caught red-handed by the Order’s heroes.
‘Escorting me to Hailen…’
In a way, it was a good thing.
When I had killed the 71st Demon King, it had been so sudden, so unexpected, that my true identity had remained hidden.
But this time, it was different.
They were probably monitoring both Libero and Gineus.
‘They must know about me now.’
They might not be able to connect me to the 71st Demon King’s death.
But slaying two Demon Kings… that was enough to make me a target, a threat to be neutralized.
Especially since I was still just a boy. They wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate me.
Being escorted to Hailen under the protection of these elite heroes… it was the best-case scenario.
Hailen was the safest place in the human world, protected by the strongest barrier. Most Demon Kings wouldn’t even be able to approach it, let alone infiltrate it.
And it was a city of heroes, with a higher concentration of heroes than any other barrier city.
‘But going to Hailen… it’s not without its drawbacks.’
Being escorted to Hailen meant I would be under the Order’s constant surveillance.
I would lose my freedom, my ability to act independently, to pursue my own goals. I wouldn’t be able to meet with Demon Kings like Libero.
And then there was the issue of my status. It was unclear how they would treat me. My current position was… precarious, to say the least.
‘It can’t be helped.’
This was inevitable.
There were limits to what I could accomplish without registering as a hero.
In fact, it was probably overdue.
Being a hero came with many benefits.
The only reason I had delayed registration was because of Libero.
‘Libero…’
“Hey, kid.”
The archer’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
I knew her, of course.
She wasn’t just a high-ranking hero; we had actually met before.
“You remember me, don’t you?”
Lyudmila, the high-ranking hero.
I had met her with Gwen, on the way to the Trial.
But I didn’t answer.
“You don’t? Well, it doesn’t matter. That’s not what I’m curious about anyway.”
She continued, her tone sharp, her eyes fixed on me.
“That sword… it’s the one Gwen gave you, isn’t it? But it’s only a 2-star relic. There’s no way you could have killed a Demon King with that. What did you do?”
I had no reason to answer her questions.
“Lyudmila.”
Stella, the Saint-ranked hero, interrupted her.
“Not here. You never know who might be listening. The only place where he can speak freely is in the Pontiff’s chamber.”
She was right.
Anything said outside the barrier could be overheard by Demon Kings.
And even inside the barrier, there were no guarantees. The Pontiff’s chamber was the only truly secure location.
“…Understood.”
Lyudmila accepted the rebuke.
After what felt like an eternity, the coach finally reached Hailen.
It had been a much faster journey than going through Basilium and using the Gate.
‘Is that… Hailen’s barrier?’
Unlike other barriers, Hailen’s was transparent.
But it was cloaked with some kind of magic that obscured the city within.
We entered the barrier.
‘Wow…’
The city of Hailen was unlike anything I had ever seen.
It was far larger than Basil or Sak, its skyline dominated by towering buildings.
Basil, in comparison, barely qualified as a town.
The most impressive structure was a massive spire that pierced the heavens, its peak disappearing into the clouds.
And at its base, a sprawling white temple, built from gleaming marble, stood like a testament to humanity’s enduring faith.
If Basil had been a quaint, rustic village, and Sak a bustling steampunk city, then Hailen felt like a thriving Mediterranean metropolis, a city of ancient wonders and modern marvels.
Stella, sensing my awe, smiled.
“There’s a reason they call it humanity’s greatest and final city.”
Her voice was bright, cheerful, a stark contrast to her earlier seriousness.
I knew this was her true personality. She was one of the few Saint-ranked heroes, and I had read about her in the game’s lore.
She started explaining Hailen’s history.
How, during the Age of Chaos, refugees from all corners of the world had flocked to Hailen, seeking sanctuary.
And how the marble structures built during that era still stood, a testament to the city’s resilience.
We entered Hailen’s main street, a wide avenue that seemed to lead directly to the temple in the city’s center.
“That’s enough sightseeing for now.”
Stella closed the carriage’s curtains, plunging the interior back into darkness.
“Normally, I’d let you enjoy the view. But today we have a walking classified secret with us.”
We continued up the hill, the coach finally stopping at our destination.
Stella retrieved a hooded cloak from the luggage compartment.
It looked similar to the one Gwen had worn.
“Put this on,” she said, handing it to me.
“It’s a special operations cloak with a perception dampening enchantment. Use it wisely.”
It seemed different from Gwen’s cloak.
I put it on, pulling the hood low over my face.
I had no way of knowing if it actually worked.
“Follow me.”
We were led to a room that looked like a reception area.
After waiting there for a while, Stella left the room.
The remaining heroes and I waited in silence.
“Hey, kid.”
It was Lyudmila.
She wasted no time approaching me once Stella was gone.
“What’s your name?”
Her interest was obvious.
She was still searching for her successor.
Unfortunately, archery wasn’t my forte.
“I apologize, but I can’t tell you my name.”
I looked around at the other heroes, my gaze lingering on each of them.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t trust you. We’re strangers.”
How many spies did the Demon King Council have within the Order?
Countless, I was sure of it.
That was what my player knowledge told me.
‘I can’t trust any of them.’
The swordsman bristled at my words.
“You think we’re just ordinary heroes? You think we’re fools?”
He stood up, his anger palpable.
“Everyone here, except for him, is a high-ranking hero.”
He gestured to the healer, who was sitting in a corner, looking anxious.
I was about to point out that even high-ranking heroes could be spies when…
“Enough.”
The tank, his voice deep and gravelly, intervened.
His heavy armor seemed to amplify his presence, making him seem larger than life.
“The boy is right. Those who talk too much… well, they don’t tend to live long in this business.”
His words silenced the swordsman, who reluctantly sat back down.
“What’s going on here?”
Stella returned, her brisk, efficient manner a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere in the room.
She glanced at us, her brow furrowed.
“Hmm…” she murmured, then shook her head.
“Must be my imagination. Anyway, kid.”
She pointed at me.
“The Pontiff wants to see you.”
I had anticipated this.
Slaying two Demon Kings… it wasn’t something that could be ignored, brushed aside with a simple report.
They hadn’t escorted me to Hailen just for my protection. They were here to decide my fate.
‘But it seems they’re not convening a Council meeting.’
That was a good thing.
I suspected there was at least one Demon King spy within the Council.
The fact that I was being taken directly to the Pontiff meant that she, at least, understood the gravity of the situation.
‘But…’
I was nervous.
The Pontiff, even in my player memories, had been a figure shrouded in mystery.
I had been awed by the grandeur of Hailen, but what about the Pontiff? What was she like? I couldn’t even begin to imagine.
“Stella, the Saint-ranked hero, requests an audience with the Pontiff. I have brought the boy who defeated the two Demon Kings.”
A voice echoed from within the chamber.
“Enter.”
The door opened, revealing a sparsely furnished room.
There were no decorations, no embellishments.
Just… white. The walls, the floor, the ceiling… all pristine white marble.
And at the far end of the room, she sat.
‘The Pontiff.’
She wore a thin, white robe that clung to her body, its translucence doing little to conceal her figure.
She was undeniably beautiful.
But it was her aura, a sense of otherworldly power and wisdom, that captivated me.
‘Who is she?’
Even in my player memories, little was known about her.
It was said that she had led the refugees who founded Hailen, establishing the Order and guiding the heroes.
But one thing was certain.
My fate rested in her hands.
“It is an honor to see you again, Pontiff. I am Stella, the Saint-ranked hero,” Stella said, kneeling before her, her head bowed.
I followed suit.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Allen Blak, a Pathfinder.”
There was no point in hiding anything now.
This was the opposite of my encounter with Gwen.
When dealing with someone I knew so little about, honesty was the best policy.
‘Though I do have a plan.’
The long journey to Hailen had given me plenty of time to think.
And I had used that time to revise my plan, to adjust it to this new, unforeseen situation.
“Raise your head.”
I did as she instructed.
I met her gaze, her eyes hidden behind a thin veil.
‘My immediate future, and perhaps the fate of the Lodraim Kingdom… they depend on this conversation.’
I had to steer it in the right direction, toward the outcome I had planned for.
“A Pathfinder… how fascinating. Is it true that you have slain two Demon Kings?”
“It’s true. And there’s something else I need to tell you.”
It was time.
“I also killed the 71st Demon King.”
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