Book 1 Chapter 577

Karl swallowed dryly at Rian's words.

The feeling he experienced when he first saw a divine being in the past was, contrary to his expectations, exceedingly ordinary.

If it weren't for the Dragon Lord's guarantee, he wouldn't have believed anything Rian said, let alone his true identity.

But now, he felt an otherworldly presence from the person before him.

"My breath…"

Just facing him made his breath catch, and he felt shortness of breath.

Rian hadn't done anything in particular.

He was merely looking at him as if observing him.

Yet, that alone possessed the power to freeze his entire body.

He realized that the being before him was on a completely different level from any race he had ever encountered.

He was, quite literally, overwhelmed by his mere existence.

"I've felt this feeling… before."

Karl, trembling, regained his composure and quickly calmed himself.

Seeing this, Rian's eyes sparkled.

"This must be your first time meeting a god head-on, yet you regain your composure so quickly?"

Rian, having become part of the Hero Record to manage it long ago, wasn't strictly a god.

However, he was undeniably a being comparable to a god.

A normal human would lose their composure just by Rian revealing his presence.

And Karl was, for all intents and purposes, a normal human.

'If they had had broad minds, they wouldn't have been flustered in the first place.'

In the eyes of the absolute being, Karl was no more than a pebble found anywhere on the street.

In response to Rian's question, Karl scratched his cheek.

"It felt similar to when I saw Erebus."

"Ah. That monstrosity."

Rian nodded.

"Indeed, you met that monstrosity when the Chosen One came to this world through the Hero Record. If so, this isn't your first encounter with a divine being."

"Is the Flame of Calamity also a god?"

"In essence, yes. Though our pursuits differ. We desire the world's continued existence, while that monstrosity wishes for its destruction."

"Why is that? Weren't they comrades from the beginning?"

"Not at all. That monstrosity was born that way. It exists solely to burn the world to ashes."

Rian shook his head as if recalling something revolting.

'Even if he had seen Erebus, regaining his composure so quickly seems to be this child's ability.'

The more he looked, the more intriguing it became.

Possessing nothing, yet standing out.

'Luck must have played a part. But what Karl Thomas has accomplished isn't solely due to luck.'

"You mentioned that Lumene lacked two things that I possess. What are they?"

Expectation flickered across Karl's face.

"Do I perhaps have some hidden talent?"

Rian gazed intently at Karl, who asked with a slightly excited voice, and then smiled radiantly.

"Ugliness and foolishness."

"Excuse me?"

For a moment, Karl's expression was blank.

"Lumene wasn't foolish, so he didn't cling to impossible things in a pathetic manner."

Rian gave Karl a thumbs-up.

"Karl Thomas! You are so foolishly persistent in chasing the impossible that it's utterly pathetic!"

*Thump-!*

Karl put his hands on the floor and knelt.

"Stand tall! You are doing something Lumene never could."

"Don't tease me. It's making me depressed."

"What are you talking about! It's a compliment! A compliment!"

Rian patted Karl's back.

"Why are you depressed when a god is praising you?"

"Of course, I'm depressed! A being like a god spoke so plausibly, I thought I had some hidden talent I didn't know about!"

"I clearly told you earlier. You are a student who doesn't resemble Lumene at all."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means you're not heroic at all."

Rian shrugged and took out a carved jewel figurine from his pocket.

It was a figurine of Lumene, the Knight of Twilight.

"Lumene, though born a slave, possessed a very noble soul."

Rian examined the Lumene figurine, turning it around.

"The gods' favorite heroes are undoubtedly the great heroes. But the next most beloved hero is Lumene."

"He must have been born with great talent because he was loved by the gods."

"That statement is flawed."

Rian glanced at Karl.

"There are indeed beings loved by the gods. However, that doesn't mean the gods bestow special talents upon them. That would far exceed the authority granted to the gods."

"Yes?"

"A human loved by the gods has earned that love themselves. Remember that, Karl Thomas."

Rian grinned and shrugged.

"Well, gods have their preferences too."

"What are those preferences?"

"Heroes like Lumene."

"…"

"Talented, righteous personality, handsome, strong, achieved great deeds, popular with women. And also…"

"Could you please stop? It's making me feel like life is unfair."

Karl let out a hollow laugh.

"Lumene is nothing like me. I understand why he was loved by the gods. The gods like perfect people."

"There are no perfect people. Only those with fewer flaws."

Rian shrugged.

"That's why for 5,000 years, there have been no heroes like you, Karl."

"I know better than anyone that I can't be a hero."

"Then why don't you give up?"

"Because I'm ugly and foolish."

"…"

"Don't you have to aim high to get even a little closer to them?"

"You'll hit your limit quickly."

"I'll surpass it. Like Lumene."

"…"

"If there's one thing I learned for sure from Lumene, it's that I have to resemble him in that regard."

"Karl Thomas! Where are you?"

"Huh? Eliza?"

Karl, who had turned his head at Eliza's call, turned back in surprise.

"God, I think I need to go now. Huh?"

When Karl turned his head back, he realized Rian was gone. He searched the restroom frantically and then scratched his head.

"Did he leave?"

"Karl Thomas!"

"Are you nagging someone who's in the restroom?"

At Eliza's voice, Karl sighed and left the restroom.

Rian, who had reappeared, shook his head.

'He's truly not heroic.'

In the Hero Era, which was not short, lasting 5,000 years, no one like Karl had ever had their name inscribed in the Hero Record.

It wasn't simply because they didn't fit the gods' preferences.

'Because they can't achieve great deeds alone.'

Ultimately, those who achieve great deeds are beings with immense power.

Heroes who protect and lead the world must inherently possess superior individual combat ability.

'Ordinary, Karl Thomas is too ordinary.'

Gods do not pay attention to ordinary humans.

They only favored exceptional humans.

Rian was no different.

But…

'You will never be able to resemble Lumene, Karl Thomas.'

Rian looked at the jewel carving of Lumene he had made.

'Lumene gave up because he wasn't foolishly ugly enough to persist.'

He closed off his own potential.

Rian smiled.

'Instead, you resemble the Hero of the Beginning.'

Of course, comparing Leo, who had the attribute of Pure Mana, to Karl was nonsensical.

'But Lord Leo also saved the world by struggling foolishly and pathetically.'

Rian took out an uncarved jewel from his pocket and fiddled with it.

'Karl Thomas is not heroic at all. But that's only by the standards of the God Era.'

Remnants of the God Era still lingered.

'But the God Era ended 5,000 years ago.'

Rian laughed.

'It ended in failure, no less.'

From the gods' perspective, the God Era was a clear failure.

It was true that for a long time, they suppressed Erebus and created a world filled with light.

However, they ultimately couldn't stop Erebus.

Instead, they were consumed by flames with such helplessness.

It was only in that failure that singularities like great heroes emerged and saved the world.

And then, a new era began.

But…

'Is the Hero Era truly the Hero Era?'

Although the gods disappeared, the Hero Record, their legacy, supports this era.

'Perhaps I am incredibly fortunate.'

I abandoned the status of a god and fell to being a mere part of a system.

But…

'I might be witnessing the true beginning of a new era right before my eyes!'

Rian's smile stretched from ear to ear.

What a heart-pounding and exciting prospect this was!

'Ah, my choice was not wrong! I might get to see an era where gods are truly worthless… right before my eyes!'

***

The second round of the Hero Festival featured the second-year students.

It was a competition where ten-person attack teams from each school competed to see who could conquer the Hero's World faster.

The scale, different from the first years, excited the spectators.

Furthermore, the current second-year students were referred to as the "Golden Generation" by all schools.

Thus, expectations were understandably high.

"To actually see them conquer the Hero's World!"

"But it's not a Hero Dungeon, right? So it's not dangerous?"

"You don't know what you're talking about! Hero Dungeons are just a runaway Hero Record! Hero Dungeons are also ultimately the Hero's World!"

"Let's see… Leo Flov isn't participating for Lumene, is he?"

"Is it because he's already ascended to the position of Hero?"

"But look! Lunia El Lundia from Seirun is participating!"

"Hmm… Is it because she's busy as Student Council President? No. Lunia El Lundia is also the Student Council President."

Seeing Leo not participating, voices filled with questions arose from all around.

Lunia, watching this, muttered.

"At least they have some conscience. To exclude Leo."

Frankly, if Leo participated, the outcome was obvious.

It was frustrating, but for the current Seirun, handling Leo was impossible.

'Not just Seirun, but no school could handle him.'

Lunia let out a small sigh.

"Still, it's a relief that it's about conquering the Hero's World."

"This is no easy feat, so what's a relief about it?"

Aris Trina asked with a puzzled look when Eiran spoke beside her.

"I was worried after seeing the first-years, thinking they might have to fight Lord Leo."

Aris's twin, Garin Trina, looked puzzled at her words.

"Is that a big problem?"

"Have you forgotten that Leo Flov wiped out all the second-year students of Lumene? Fighting a monster whose capabilities are unknown is still better than conquering the Hero's World."

As Aris spoke, Garin crossed his arms and nodded.

"Indeed, now that you mention it."

"By the way, Karl Thomas? Wasn't he the one who conquered Dwenno's World? I heard his overall performance wasn't great, yet he was chosen as a representative?"

As Aris looked puzzled, Lunia said.

"He's worthy of being chosen."

"That's right, with Karl-nim, Lumene will feel secure."

As the top and second-ranked students reacted, the Seirun students looked puzzled.

*Rumble-!*

Suddenly, a resonance sound arose from the floor.

[Hero Record Open.]

The sudden message caused the second-year students of Seirun to look slightly flustered.

But they quickly regained their composure.

"We're used to these unexpected situations now."

Lunia chuckled dismissively.

It wasn't just Seirun Academy.

Similar reactions erupted from other schools.

Suddenly, Eiran's ears perked up.

"Didn't they say they would conquer the same Hero's World in order?"

"Yes."

"But it seems like students from other schools are also getting Hero Record messages?"

"What?"

Eiran, whose hearing had reached a hypersensitive level, looked bewildered for a moment.

[Lumene's Se■. ■age: ■■■■■]

"What?!"

At the message before their eyes, Lunia's face contorted in horror.

At the same time, a bright light burst forth and engulfed the students on the Erek training grounds.

"Argh?!"

When Lunia opened his eyes urgently.

He saw a fist flying towards him.

"Kyaaak?!"

Lunia instinctively dodged the punch.

"Kyaaak? Kyaaak? Stop being so disgustingly cute! You hypocritical elf!"

"Eek!"

At the opponent's words, Lunia calmly assessed the situation.

'I don't know what's happening, but I'm fighting! Counterattack…!'

Just as Lunia was about to exploit an opening in his opponent's defense.

"Huh?"

Upon seeing the opponent's face, Lunia let out a dazed sound.

"Why are you spacing out! Your side!"

"Urk?!"

The opponent mercilessly struck Lunia's side.

"Finisher! Solar Plexus!"

*Thwack-!*

"Gak?!!"

Hit in the solar plexus, Lunia made choking sounds and then collapsed onto his knees.

"Huh? Did you get hit by this?"

The opponent, who had struck Lunia, looked even more bewildered, as if he had hit him.

Lunia, clutching his chest and gasping for breath, called out to his opponent.

"Rodi… a… ni……"

*Thump-*

And then he fainted, his eyes rolling back.

"Hey! Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!"

*Slap- slap-!*

Rodhi panicked and slapped Lunia's cheeks.

"Seirun! Breathe!"