Chapter 29: If You Are Looking for Me, I Have to Go

A famous Prophet foretold the end of days.

-The Demon King will return, and the world will be shrouded in darkness.

With that, he also foretold hope.

-A child born on the twenty-fourth night of the fifth moon will become the Hero who saves the world.

From that moment, the life of Ropenheim, the third son of the Odenberk Family, changed completely.

“My son. When you grow up, you will become a Hero.”

“A Hero?”

Ropenheim, who was still very young, felt his heart tremble at the word Hero.

Stories of Heroes he had long admired.

The idea that he could become the main character of those stories led him to follow his father deep into the mountains.

There, a special training began.

The Odenberk Count put his son through harsh training to make him a Hero.

“A Hero is forged by overcoming hardship and adversity. So endure. Endure and rise again.”

But Ropenheim had no talent.

He had no talent for martial arts, no gift for magic, nor any special abilities to be called a Hero.

“Can’t we stop now? It’s too hard.”

“You simply haven’t awakened your hidden talent yet.”

“…I don’t want to be a Hero anymore.”

“Silence!”

The Odenberk Count denied reality.

He thought his son wasn’t without talent; rather, he believed Ropenheim had yet to awaken it.

So he pushed him even harder, hoping his talent would emerge.

He made a boy not even ten years old run barefoot through the mountains, refusing to give him food if he didn’t arrive on time.

When Ropenheim failed to sense Mana, he locked him in a cave until he did.

When he first picked up a sword, he was set against a starving hunting dog.

There was no way a boy who had just taken up the sword could fight a starving hound.

“Aaaaargh! It hurts. It hurts so much!”

“If you have time to scream, grab your sword and thrust!”

Odenberk remained merciless.

As time passed, Ropenheim began to grow bit by bit, but he gradually lost his emotions.

A life as his father’s puppet.

Enduring endless pain and overcoming his father’s verbal abuse and neglect, he finally managed to manifest Aura on his sword.

That’s when the Kingdom gathered the Hero Candidates.

“Never lose. You must not lose. Remember, failure is not allowed for a Hero.”

“…Yes.”

The Rotes Kingdom selected Hero Candidates through duels.

There, Ropenheim realized there was a whole new sky above him.

People who lived on a completely different level than him.

He came to realize just how many had real talent, and felt disgusted at how meaningless everything he had done so far seemed.

Most of all—

When he stood on the dueling ground to face an opponent, his body wouldn’t move at all.

He must not lose.

He didn’t want to lose.

But what if he did lose?

Just the tiniest possibility of defeat made him unable to grip his sword.

In the end, he failed as a Hero Candidate, and when he returned home, his father became furious and expelled him from the family.

Chased out, Ropenheim became a mercenary.

All he knew was the sword, and all he could do was wield it.

He wandered aimlessly, only accepting requests he couldn’t possibly fail. Living that way, he slowly began to gain companions.

Through them, he learned friendship.

He learned love, and he learned the ways of the world.

But the world would not let Ropenheim be happy.

During a mission, Demonkind appeared.

Seeing Demonkind radiating dark Mana, his fear of defeat surged, and he couldn’t draw his sword.

In the meantime, his companions were killed by Demonkind.

-Ropenheim… live. You must live.

-Can I ask you to take care of my Mother?

-…Don’t cry. It’s embarrassing.

They were everything in the world to Ropenheim.

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

In his fury, Ropenheim raised his sword and slew the Demonkind who had killed his friends.

And then he blamed himself.

He built their graves with his own hands.

He wept at their side for days and days.

‘…It’s all because of Demonkind.’

If those Demonkind had never appeared, his life would not have fallen apart like this.

Ropenheim’s rage turned to Demonkind.

He wandered the world, cutting down Demonkind without hesitation.

The trauma he overcame after losing his friends—Demonkind could no longer be his enemy.

Ropenheim’s sword, entering yet another world, was now far beyond anything mere Demonkind could block.

And so, at last—

At the very highest point in the world, he cut down the Demon King who had descended upon this world.

Slice!

“Hah… Hah…”

As foretold, Ropenheim became a Hero.

Everyone called out his name, and the King himself granted him the title of Hero King.

But even that did not last long.

In slaying the Demon King, Ropenheim lost his Manahole, and became little more than an ordinary person.

A Hero who had lost his power was nothing but an uncomfortable presence to the next King.

‘Time to leave.’

Traveling the world in search of his broken Manahole, he had many thoughts.

Was he truly a Hero?

Or was he simply made into one by the prophecy?

As he pondered various things and learned much, decades quickly passed.

No one remembered him anymore.

Everyone only knew him as a fairy tale Hero.

There was no one left who even knew his face.

‘I love the sword.’

Ropenheim wanted a job where he could wear a sword at his waist.

Coincidentally, there was a vacancy for a guard at Rotes Hero Academy, so he applied there.

All he did was guard the front gate.

But he found joy in watching the new young people grow, and was satisfied just having a sword at his side.

That’s when he met a child named Artina.

Every time he saw her living a life similar to his own, he felt pity.

Wanting to help, he started exchanging a few words, and they became friends who gave each other advice.

-I want to overcome this fear.

Watching Artina trembling in the arena from trauma, he made up his mind.

‘If that child can overcome her wall because of me…’

Even giving his life for her didn’t seem like a bad trade.

After all, this world no longer needed him, but a new Hero.

So, knowing he could not win, he still drew his sword.

Even as blood flowed and pain racked his body.

Even as death drew close, he endured and held out.

“Then, I’ll fight with you too.”

At last, Artina overcame her fear and created an Aura Blade.

“Haaah!”

But their opponent was stronger than expected.

Boom!

He no longer even had the strength to dodge the enemy’s attack. Together with Artina, he was sent flying through the air.

As the world slowed, his eyes slowly closed.

But then, a warm sensation flowed into him.

When he opened his eyes again, a familiar man was standing before him.

It was the man who introduced himself as Yongje.

At first, he seemed very suspicious, but the energy flowing from his body was oddly familiar.

As if they had met once before—a nostalgic feeling.

Somehow, he even ended up letting him stay the night at his house.

“Why didn’t you run away?”

“Because I found the person I was looking for. Elder Ropen, join hands with me and let’s bring that guy down.”

We could defeat that guy?

“If I join hands with you, is that really possible?”

“Yes.”

His hand moved of its own accord.

The moment he grasped Yongje’s hand, a powerful energy surged into his body.

A bond that felt fiercely strong.

With it, Mana flowed into his broken Manahole. It wasn’t a complete recovery, just a temporary phenomenon.

But it was enough.

Ropenheim rose to his feet and picked up his sword.

“…Good grief. Coming at me in that state again? You’re no fun, you brat.”

“Thank you. For letting your guard down.”

Ropenheim’s eyes flashed.

With that, a powerful energy exploded forth.

Whoooosh!

A fierce aura swept the area.

“N-No way… Were you hiding your strength all this time? Why?”

Ropenheim focused everything into his sword.

The sword forged for vengeance against the Demonkind who killed his companions.

The sword that beheaded the Demon King.

‘Overcoming Evil Slash.’

At that moment, the world split in two.

Screeeeeech!

[Guardian King Ropenheim Odenberk (SS)]
-He is the Hero who slew the Demon King and saved the world. Now old and with a broken Manahole, he cannot use his original power.
-He is thinking of defeating Demonkind.
-Overall Stats: A
-Potential: SS
-Possessed Item: Iron Sword (C)
-Possessed Skills: Overcoming Evil Slash (SSS), Strong Body (B), Keen Vision (A), Cold Judgment (SS), Odenberk Swordsmanship (S)… Broken Manahole (F).

His possessed skills were incredible.

‘Is this what an SS-rank Guardian is like?’

Although he couldn’t display his full strength in his current state, that was something time could solve.

A potion obtainable in the game.

The Elixir, called the cure-all.

If he could just get his hands on the truly exceptional Royal Elixir, it would be possible to heal Ropenheim’s broken Manahole.

‘For now, I can use the Dragon’s Blessing to temporarily use the Manahole as a workaround.’

Through the status window, I looked at Ropenheim.

His strength was impressive, but he possessed something even more important than power.

Varied experience.

All the battles and knowledge he’d gained from living so long would be a huge help to me.

Things I couldn’t obtain right away.

[You have appointed a Guardian.]
[Would you like to return to the Dimensional Tavern?]

Ropenheim, having dealt with the Demonkind, returned to me and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you. I was able to protect that child because of you.”

“It was nothing.”

“So, what happens now?”

“You’ll be coming with me to another dimension.”

That meant he’d have to leave this place.

The hometown where Ropenheim had lived his whole life.

“Actually, I was getting a bit lonely. It works out well. Let’s go.”

He didn’t say any empty words about staying behind if he wanted.

I needed Ropenheim, after all.

“Won’t you say goodbye?”

“To whom?”

“Weren’t you close with Artina?”

Artina lay unconscious on the ground.

Ropenheim looked at her with a fond, grandfatherly smile.

“Seeing that child overcome her wall is enough for me. I have no more regrets in this world.”

“Understood.”

Let’s go back.

[Returning to the Dimensional Tavern.]

As a flash of white light shone, the tavern appeared.

“Heh heh. Amazing.”

Ropenheim, who had come with me, looked around in wonder. I also looked around, searching for Rose.

Rose, who was standing at the bar, met my eyes.

“I thought you’d fail… but you succeeded?”

“Fail?”

“Most people who draw the Advice Card fail the Guardian contract, you know.”

Why was that?

“Let’s save questions for next time. The shop’s closing soon, so would you head home?”

Rose smiled brightly and gracefully gestured toward the exit. With a shrug, I left the tavern with Ropenheim.

It had only been a day, but—

It felt as though much more time had passed.

“Is this where you live?”

“I don’t live here, but it is mine.”

I left the Dragon Lair with Ropenheim.

[Master, you’re back?!]

Fryra, who had been in the Elixir field, approached.

“This is Fryra, of the Dryad Race. She’s been helping me out.”

“Nice to meet you.”

[Yes, likewise! Shall I show you around?!]

Ropenheim gave a delighted grandfatherly smile.

“I’d appreciate that.”

[Master, I’ll be back!!]

“Sure. Go ahead.”

After sending off Ropenheim and Fryra, a Quest message appeared.

[You have completed the Main Quest.]
[Dragon Lair rank has increased.]
[Guardian Promotion restriction has been lifted.]
[Promotion now allows for B-rank Guardian cultivation.]

So the promotion restriction has been lifted.

[A new Main Quest has arrived.]

[Main Quest 15]
-Raise a B-rank Guardian through Promotion.
-Reward: Guardian Subjugation

For now, I’ll clear the Labyrinth today and start the floor war.

[Returning to reality.]

After a quick wash and change of clothes, I boarded the bus to the Association.

The small TV on the bus.

The news was playing.

-The Purification Sect is currently controlling the Labyrinth, preventing new Hunters from descending.
-The World Hunter Association has yet to make any statement regarding the incident.
-Rumor has it that China is planning to restrict Dungeon supply to Korea.

Curious, I looked into the details—and found out it was because of me.

[If you don’t bring over that guy who tormented our people in Korea, I’ll make sure you never conquer the 11th Floor as long as you live.]

The Jeonghwa Leader had released such a statement and was harassing the Korean Hunters.

The World Hunter Association, who should have mediated this thuggery, stayed silent.

China was using the situation to bring up Red Dungeons and pressure Korea.

‘If they’re looking for me, I should go.’

After getting off the bus, I walked into a nearby alley. I took out the challenge letter I’d stored in the Dragon Lair.

Rip!

[You are challenging the master of the Labyrinth 11th Floor.]