1.
“I refuse.”
“May I ask why?”
“Ah, well…”
…I already have three active accounts.
If I revealed that, I might end up as a living testament to black magic and get dissected. After some brief hesitation, Nahan opened his mouth.
“As I mentioned last time, my power is insignificant.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Nahan subtly tried to distance himself, but Asha immediately grabbed his wrist.
“How is that relevant?”
“Of course, it’s relevant. If it were up to me, I’d join right away and support you, but I’d only hold you back.”
“…? Wait a moment.”
Asha then realized that Nahan had misunderstood something and quickly added.
“When I said ‘party,’ I didn’t mean our <Hero Party> of Light, but rather, just a party in the literal sense.”
“…Huh?”
“Hestia has returned safely, hasn’t she? It’s a celebration for that.”
“Oh.”
Nahan deliberately blushed.
“My apologies. I once dreamed of becoming a Hero like everyone else…”
The way “Ian Red,” a lowly free priest with little ability, refused a position in the <Hero Party>—which hadn’t even been offered—was indeed embarrassing.
“There’s no way someone like me would receive such an offer. This is quite awkward in many ways.”
“No.”
Asha shook her head, seemingly amused by his remark.
“I’m the one who should apologize. I must have caused the misunderstanding. Besides, this whole situation was resolved entirely thanks to you.”
“Aha… You’re too kind.”
“Too kind? Hardly.”
Thump.
A white, calloused hand rested on Nahan’s shoulder—on Ian Red’s shoulder.
“If not for you, we would have lost Hestia. You accomplished what even the Heroes could not, so you should hold your head high.”
“…Hearing that from a true Hero, I don’t know what to say.”
“Aren’t you holding it just fine? Your head.”
…Was that a joke?
While Nahan pondered, Asha, who had been looking at him with clear eyes, subtly withdrew her hand.
“…”
As if she had meant to ask something, she hesitated, glanced at her own hand, and clenched it tightly.
“Anyway. The party starts tomorrow. If you’re free, why not join us?”
“By ‘join,’ do you mean…?”
“Exactly that. Attend the party with the <Hero Party>.”
<Hero Party>.
In <Babylonia>, it refers to the Hero Party consisting of Asha, Vulcan, Marin, and Selena.
Though Asha made the offer casually, it was akin to an ordinary military chaplain suddenly joining the President and the Minister of Defense.
Nahan immediately came to a conclusion.
‘I have to refuse.’
While Asha already trusted him, the other members of the <Hero Party> were meeting him for the first time.
‘This is the Hero Party. The Great Mage Marin is also part of it.’
They might view him with suspicion, and in the worst case, they could discover his use of artifacts and expose his true identity.
Not to mention, Hestia herself was the greatest tactician in the entire world.
‘I must refuse.’
As soon as Nahan decided to voice his rejection, a deep blue system window greeted him.
─『Subquest Activated!!』─
◆ I, Too, Am a Hero.
: Attend the party hosted by Count Gardner with the <Hero Party>.
◆ Completion Requirements.
- Apply medicine to Asha’s face.
- Attend the party with <Hero Party>.
- Converse with the returned <Hestia>.
- Prevent the attack by <Eclipse>.
◆ Rewards.
: <Hero Party>’s trust in <Ian Red>.
◆ Failure & Rejection Consequences.
: <Eclipse> gains <Hero Party>’s trust.
Eclipse.
A mysterious organization moving with an unknown agenda—this world’s true hidden villain.
They would ultimately deceive the Hero Party and lead the world to its downfall in a bad ending.
If he wanted to avoid following the original storyline, he had to accept Asha’s invitation.
The sub-quest was practically a threat—forcing his hand without directly holding a knife to his throat.
‘…Seriously, this system. Always doing whatever it wants. And what’s with the medicine application?’
Though Nahan felt slightly irritated, he couldn’t afford to refuse.
For now, while their goals aligned, he decided to cooperate without complaint.
“Thank you for the invitation. It’s an honor to attend alongside the Heroes.”
When Nahan bowed with a faint smile, it was Asha who looked taken aback.
“Uh, well… Are you sure?”
“Are you asking if I’m okay with it?”
“Well…”
Asha carefully chose her words before speaking.
“Are you not a Free Priest?”
Free Priest.
Those who left the Church for their own reasons, yet still devoted themselves to the Goddess.
Most chose seclusion, living quietly while helping others from the shadows before vanishing without attachment.
In contrast, the <Hero Party> were the world’s heroes.
Unlike Free Priests, who aided others in silence, they carried the weight of duty and responsibility, shining brilliantly under the world’s gaze.
That was Asha’s concern.
“If you move with us, a lot of attention will be on you.”
They lived lives diametrically opposed to the reclusive Free Priests—constantly in the spotlight.
“So don’t push yourself. In truth, Count Gardner has been eager to meet his benefactor, so I merely extended the invitation out of courtesy.”
…That wasn’t true.
For a mere courtesy invitation, her eyes had shone a little too brightly.
“Of course, there are ways to conceal your identity—wearing a robe or mask, donning full plate armor, or even traveling alone with me in a carriage.”
“Ah. That’s—”
“Don’t worry. If you’re still uneasy, we can ask Marin to cast a cognitive dissonance barrier around you. But still… if you’re truly uncertain, you can refuse.”
Look at that.
Her expression remained neutral, but her gaze was the same as that quartermaster’s when he pressured recruits to sign up for the special forces.
Either way, it was a good sign.
It meant that the name ‘Ian Red’ had become somewhat special to Asha.
Nahan met those faintly trembling sky-blue eyes and smiled.
“As I told you before—I too once dreamed of becoming a Hero. I gratefully accept your offer and will go with you.”
“…!!”
Asha’s eyes widened.
“I appreciate it. Thanks to you, I won’t have to face Count Gardner empty-handed.”
For the first time, her face showed something other than indifference—a faint mix of joy and relief.
It was barely noticeable unless one focused, but Nahan caught it precisely.
And before he could stop himself, he blurted out:
“You are beautiful.”
“…Huh?”
Following his words, Asha instinctively raised her hand and touched the corner of her lips.
…Swoosh.
A faint curve met her fingertips.
…Was she smiling?
…Did I just smile?
It was fleeting, as if it would disappear the moment it was acknowledged, but it was unmistakably a smile.
—Still, I must live.
—Don’t cry, keep running.
—I have to live. I must…
And I will have my revenge.
Memories flooded in alongside her trembling hand.
Crash!
Asha suddenly sprang to her feet, startled, accidentally scratching her cheek.
“Are you okay?!”
Nahan, equally shocked, reached out in concern.
But Asha slapped his hand away roughly, her face twisted in anger as she hurriedly added,
“I’m sorry. I must still be fatigued from the journey. I’ll come to fetch you at this time tomorrow.”
And with that, it was over.
She turned on her heel and walked away from Nahan, her steps brisk.
Revenge.
A burning rage toward those high and mighty scum who trampled Mirabelle—a small yet peaceful place.
“I must not grow dull. I cannot stop, nor settle where I stand.”
That day, she had survived alone thanks to the villagers’ sacrifice.
She had to carry their entire lives on her back.
…Drip.
Only then did a crimson streak of blood trail down Asha’s impassive cheek.
The metallic scent.
The lukewarm heat.
The sticky sensation.
Though her life seemed as cold as ice, in truth, she had always been quietly burning.
“…I need to keep my distance.”
Accustomed to misfortune, she lowered her head and trudged away.
Sudden farewells were nothing new to her.
– Do not approach me.
– I’ll be leaving now.
– I told you—I don’t need anyone.
Whenever she distanced herself—
– Ah… okay.
– …So the rumors were true. What a pain.
– Forget it. Let’s just go.
No one ever ignored her and closed that distance.
But she didn’t know.
“…Hero!”
That no matter how much she pushed away—whether she was the Iron-Blooded Warrior, the Emotionless Empress, or the Strongest Sword—
There would always be someone who, even in the face of her cold, overwhelming strength and authority, would refuse to yield and stand their ground.
“Hero!”
That such a man had drifted into this world.
Thump!
Nahan, who had quickly grabbed something and rushed over, caught Asha’s wrist.
…Clench.
Asha gritted her teeth and flared her Aura menacingly as she questioned him.
“What do you think you’re doing? Didn’t I say I would come for you tomorrow?”
You can call me insane.
“And you dare to lay a hand on me? Do you not realize that as a Hero, I hold the same authority as the Pope?”
You can call me a lunatic who keeps changing his mind.
“So consider this your warning.”
Everyone who had shaken me before had turned their backs, thinking the same thing.
“Do not ever approach me like this again, Free Priest Ian Red.”
You, too, should turn away like the others.
It would be better for you that way.
Asha finished her warning and withdrew her cold gaze, ready to turn away once more.
But before she could—
“Apologies, but since I’ve already been rude, allow me one more act of discourtesy.”
Soft.
Something warm and clean pressed against Asha’s face, blocking half of her vision.
“W-What—!!”
She frantically waved her hands, but Nahan nimbly avoided them as he continued wiping the blood away.
“As I said before, Hero, you are truly beautiful.”
Before she could form a reply, his hand moved again.
Soft.
Like the towel before, a warm salve was gently applied to the wound on her cheek.
“One day, when all these hardships are over, you’ll return to an ordinary life. Wouldn’t it be better to have fewer scars by then?”
“…There is no returning.”
“Shh. Your wound will reopen if you keep talking. Please stay still for a moment.”
With delicate movements, Nahan applied the ointment, and only after confirming the bleeding had stopped did he step back, finally releasing her cheek.
“All done. Now, feel free to punish me however you see fit—whether that be killing me or sparing me.”
His lips carried a faint smile.
“…Why do you…”
“Hmm?”
“…Never mind.”
Asha, who seemed as if she wanted to say something, silently turned her head away.
“I will come for you tomorrow.”
This time, before he could stop her, she vanished swiftly, leaving only an afterimage.
“…”
Nahan, still acting as ‘Ian Red,’ turned back inside and closed the door.
“…Wow. I seriously thought I was gonna die. What the hell was that all about?”
Her personality is really strange.
In any case, it was nerve-wracking—like trying to put a bell on a tiger’s neck.
◆ Completion Requirements.
- Apply medicine to Asha’s face. (Completed!)
- Attend the party with <Hero Party>.
- Converse with the returned <Hestia>.
- Prevent the attack by <Eclipse>.
The first condition of the subquest <I, Too, Am a Hero> had been fulfilled.
He had received an unexpected party invitation, but that was a problem for tomorrow…
“For now, let’s check the rewards.”
Main Scenario – Luna’s Salvation Reward.
The success of the Sub Quest had granted him access to <Black Wolf> members’ past memories.
After a moment’s deliberation, Nahan decided to check the Main Scenario reward first.
He tapped the golden system window and pressed ‘Claim Reward.’
The text that appeared before his eyes—
【Artifact Guaranteed Enhancement Ticket】
◆ Effect:
Enhances a designated artifact. It will be guaranteed to rank up to <EX> Grade.
From that moment on, Nahan resolved to prioritize the Main Scenario above all else.
