I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist - Chapter 156: Encounter. (2)

TN: Thank Peanut again for the chapter. Also read the part after.

「The world is a giant collection of stories, so a protagonist must exist.」

The phantom Arjen slowly stepped toward Arjen. He felt an immense pressure, unlike anything he’d ever felt before, slowly encroaching on his body. Like a snake uncoiling itself from its prey’s toes, the space where the illusion had collapsed grew one moment, then began to shrink.

「But shouldn’t there only be one?」

「This was the protagonist. He could have been the savior of the world. But isn’t it ridiculous, a story about a man who never had an enemy until the very end? Does he think he is qualified to save the world after protecting others simply because he is stronger?」

Its voice was full of laughter as if it couldn’t contain its amusement.

「Could such a deceitful man be the Hero? But this one couldn’t let go of that lingering feeling. Seeing you become a specter and exist in the cracks of the world. I am quite fond of you.」

“What the hell are you on about?”

「Talk to him, get to know him.」

I could move again. The phantom Arjen stopped five paces away. Arjen looked up to see his full-length reflection staring back at him. It was unfamiliar. It looked dirtier and grimmer than the man he’d seen in a mirror. Worst of all, there was a strange aura about him. He is strong. Much stronger than he was.

“Is that enough for you?”

Across from him, the phantom Arjen spoke first.

“Laughing and talking with fanatics who worship that damned god. You can’t even properly avenge yourself to the Hero who kicked you out of the party. Iris, the woman you loved, is nowhere to be found. No one recognizes you. There is only you.”

His eyes blazed with darkness. Arjen grimaced in displeasure at his hostile demeanor. ‘Is that how I treated people?’ Arjen was suddenly reminded of how he had treated others. Who knew looking in the mirror could be so unpleasant?

“I saw your memory. You looked ridiculous. Did Carla do that to you?”

Phantom Arjen scoffed.

“It’s the denial of what happened that bothers me. Didn’t she often say to move on without looking back? I saw a ghost of a man who couldn’t let go of his regrets.”

“Did you not see the memory? I don’t know what the hell you’re dissatisfied with.”

“Conversation won’t work right now. I am quite disappointed in you.”

Arjen chuckled as he heard another version of himself muttering to himself. ‘Is his head working correctly?’

“What the hell do you want? Do you want me to kill the Hero like that voice wants?”

“What I want… If it were that simple, I wouldn’t be here.”

The other Arjen took a step forward. He wasn’t tense, not even holding the sword. Just a simple step. But the sensation of a cold blade against Arjen’s throat made him step back. ‘I must be vigilant. Every nerve in my body is warning me.’

“I only want one thing.”

Another step. Before he knew it, the phantom Arjen was standing before Arjen.

“If you’re going to waste your body and your time like that, give it to me.”

“Where the hell are you-!”

Both Arjens had their blades crossed in the same stance. They glared at each other. Arjen’s hand holding the sword throbbed and was forced onto a knee. They had the same swordsmanship, but their speed, power, and understanding differed. Arjen looked up, inwardly awed by the phantom.

“If you look at all the opportunities you’ve wasted, even you’ll be disappointed.”

The phantom Arjen said, sheathing his sword. Arjen gritted his teeth. There was no way to defeat him. The opponent was too much for him.

“It’s just a waste of time. Isn’t it?”

He looked up. It was the first time someone’s sword had cut down Arjen. He dragged his hands across the floor and looked up, the phantom Arjen’s arrogant look lurking at the edge of his vision. Arjen stared at him for a moment, then broke into a smirk.

The phantom Arjen looked puzzled.

“You’re weak.”

“You look so foolish. Is that how you live, Arjen Elmion?”

Arjen shook his head. Inwardly, he was beginning to be convinced. This is not Arjen Elmion; it was a ghost of his former self, with nothing left but pride and regret.

“The world changes, people change, and those who don’t will be culled.”

At Arjen’s sharp response, the phantom Arjen raised his sword, expressionless.

“Too bad you can’t prove it. This time, it’s you who will be culled.”

Something cold dug into Arjen’s chest. The chill crawled through his body, then it became hot, then cold again. Arjen’s life and consciousness blurred together in the shifting temperatures. Blood regurgitated from his lungs, gurgling from his mouth.

“Argh…urgh.”

Arjen refused to close his eyes. He had to see that this damned illusion was something other than himself. Blood trickled from Arjen’s eyes. Beyond the reddened world, he saw a face identical to his own, the corners of its mouth twitching.

“Farewell, Arjen. Regret it all in the abyss of consciousness.”

The illusionary space was collapsing. Arjen could barely make out the room’s shadows at the edge of his blurred vision. But it was not his body that moved, not his own will.

“Arjen!!!”

A voice called out to him. It was Bishop Andrei’s voice. Arjen turned around and tried to move, but his body was stuck. Someone was moving his body for him.

“First them.”

Over the muttering, Arjen called out. Slowly, his body turned.

“Stay back!”

At the exact moment that Andrei’s voice shouted, Arjen drew his sword.

***

「So, how does it feel?」

Arjen sneered at the voice echoing in his head. There was no blood on his sword. It felt nostalgic. The sword he’d used so well before he’d gotten the Holy Sword. A blade that had been broken while facing the Giant. In this world, it was still intact. It wasn’t quite as good as it once was, but it still did what it had to.

“I’m not particularly excited. I don’t think I should be.”

He missed his targets. The joy of his new body quickly faded, and now there was only the sting of missing his target. Arjen looked at the bodies of the Inquisitors on the floor and clicked his tongue.

「They’re quite skilled to escape.」

Arjen turned the tip of his blade to study the dead inquisitor’s face. Arjen sheathed his sword in its scabbard, putting names on the faces of each of the deceased. He was done looking. Now, it was time to move.

“What do you want from me?”

「Why do you ask?」

The darkness, still speaking in his head, laughed. It had brought him back to this world for a reason.

“A mercenary must be sure of his calculations. I must know if what I’m putting in my mouth is poison or medicine.”

「It’s a relief that you know.」

The darkness spoke like one observing. Arjen thought someone was watching him from high up or far below, but now was not the time to pry.

“There is no favor without a price.”

「Meet the Hero.」

The darkness spoke without delay.

“Why?”

「Kill him. Do what you must. I will take care of everything after that. Do you understand?」

He didn’t ask any questions. It was the nature of a good mercenary to do what he was told, to see what he was told, not to see what he was told, and to be indifferent when he was told. Arjen leaned against the wall and sighed.

“You mean to tell me to go out and kill him? I don’t think I’m in the best position to do that.”

「Then make the Hero seek you out.」

“…I see.”

Arjen nodded with a sigh. Ultimately, he must change the fate of himself and his companions in this world. He knew how this world ended, and only he could save it. Arjen organized the time and events in his mind.

“I’ll go to the Capital.”

Arjen spoke like he was declaring war. Plans were made. To kill the Hero and to fix the ending that had befallen Arjen in the previous world.

“Those who weep at his side. Those are the ones I’ll kill first.”

「Wasn’t this Daphne woman the one who followed you before?」

“Not here. This Daphne has no connection to me. She sees only the Hero. If she chooses to follow me again, I will leave her alone, but if not, I will kill or capture her.”

Arjen said with conviction in his voice.

“Then the inquisitor nun. If Georg stands in the way, there is no forgiveness for him either. There is no point in explaining my position to him, so I’ll strike him down. If anyone stands in my way, I will strike them down. If I can kill the Queen, I will do so. That will force the Hero to hunt me, and then he can taste death himself.”

The words were cold and harsh. Arjen’s hand on the hilt of his sword slowly became firmer.

「And?」

There was a laugh in the dark words.

“And.”

Arjen knew. He remembered how the previous world had ended. He remembered the ‘Origin’ and all the ash that had spilled out of it. How it had begun to consume the world, destroyed the stars and returned the world to nothingness.

“I will destroy the Holy Sword.”

Translator’s Corner

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I’ll have school starting next week, so I’ll be changing the upload schedule. My current plan is to create a chapter every other day. It may also lessen or stop if I die in class. If we hit the kofi goal, I’ll post the bonus chapter within the week.

-Ruminas