I Failed to Be a Hero, So I Became the God of Three Realms

Kaito tossed and turned, struggling to find sleep. The events of the past day were still fresh in his mind, swirling like a storm that refused to settle. He glanced out the window at the night sky, the silence in the room only making his thoughts louder. After hours of tossing, he sighed in frustration. How could he sleep after all that?

With no other option, Kaito decided to call on the voice that had been speaking to him ever since his arrival here. He could never explain it, but it was somehow... comforting, in its own twisted way.

"Hey, are you there?" he muttered into the dark room.

[[My my, you're already missing me? How adorable!]]

Kaito groaned, rubbing his face. "Yeah, whatever. Anyway, do you have a name or something? I can't just keep calling you 'the voice,' it's starting to feel weird."

[[Hmm, I haven't used my name in quite some time. I rarely mention it. Anyways, it's Halo Irena. You can just call me Halo.]]

"Halo, huh?" Kaito repeated the name to himself. It sounded... strange, almost like it didn't fit with the voice that had been taunting him. But for now, it was better than nothing.

"So, what are you exactly? I mean, I've been talking to you out loud sometimes, even though I can just think and talk. People around me probably think I'm losing my mind. What am I supposed to say if someone catches me talking to the air?" Kaito chuckled dryly. "I can't exactly explain this to anyone, can I?"

[[Well, just consider me a "voice" for now. That's the simplest way to put it.]]

There was a slight pause before the voice continued.

[[But listen, here's the deal: You shouldn't tell anyone about me, at least not yet. You just have to trust me on this. You'll understand everything soon enough, and when the time comes, you'll be able to explain it to others too.]]

Kaito leaned back against the pillow, closing his eyes. There was something about Halo that didn't sit right with him. He could feel it. But then again, who could he trust in a place like this? The whole situation felt like it was spiraling into some kind of mess he wasn't prepared for. He wasn't even sure who or what to believe anymore.

Something about Halo was different, though. He could sense that. Maybe, just maybe, the voice wasn't entirely malicious.

He exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the past few days crushing down on him. I've been living on a whim, haven't I? he thought. He had always jumped from one moment to the next, one adventure to the next, always moving forward, never looking back. But now… now things were getting serious. Engagement. Marriage. Two days away.

Kaito's brow furrowed. What now?

He tried to imagine what his life would be like once everything changed. The carefree, lazy days he'd gotten used to... gone. Replaced with responsibilities. Duties. A future he hadn't asked for, but here it was, knocking on his door.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" he mumbled to himself. "Can I really just give up everything? Go along with it? Get married and play the part?"

But deep down, he knew that the carefree life he'd once known was slipping further and further out of reach. Every decision from here on out seemed to weigh more than the last.

Could I ever go back?

Kaito let out a sharp breath, staring at the ceiling. The words of the voice echoed in his mind: "You'll understand soon enough." What the hell did that mean?

Could he go back to his easy life? Or was he stuck with this new reality?

The voice's words danced at the edges of his mind, a reminder that his life was no longer his to control.

Only time would tell.

Guess I'll find out soon enough, he thought bitterly, rolling over and pulling the blanket tighter around him.

But no matter what he thought, the clock was ticking. Two days. The countdown had already begun.

The sun was setting as Kaito stared out the window, watching the fading light stretch across the sky. It had already been one day since everything changed. His life was on the cusp of something new. Tonight would probably be his last night of "laziness," the last night where he could let his mind wander aimlessly without the weight of what was to come hanging over him. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be enough. No matter how hard he tried to escape it, the reality of the situation was settling in.

I should just sleep through the whole day, Kaito thought, rolling over in bed. If I just sleep long enough, maybe I'll wake up and this'll all be a dream.

But even after lying there for hours, trying to silence the chaotic thoughts in his head, he couldn't sleep. Not even a wink. The anxiety was too much. The weight of the engagement, the upcoming marriage, and everything else—it was all too overwhelming.

Is this really happening?

Kaito tossed and turned, unable to stop his thoughts. Am I really worth all of this? His mind kept coming back to one thing. What does Val see in a worthless guy like me?

He sighed deeply, staring at the ceiling. Val… He had decided to call her Val, after all. He had referred to her that way on the engagement night, and somehow, it felt more natural. She's such a nice lady. Why would she want someone like me? He had always lived his life day by day, barely scraping by. He'd never considered himself worthy of anything that significant, let alone a lady like her.

His thoughts circled back to the night before, the way she looked at him—calm, kind, and full of trust. It seemed impossible. A man like him didn't deserve that kind of attention. There were people far more worthy, far more capable than him. Val could have anyone she wanted. Yet here she was, with him. And it made him question everything about himself.

[[Well, you simply don't know what you're worth. Don't worry yourself about that too much.]]

Kaito muttered to himself, though the voice had made it clear it was there again. "Well, I don't know what you're talking about. But whatever."

The voice's cryptic response did little to calm his nerves, but Kaito wasn't in the mood to argue. The anxiety was already eating at him, leaving him too tired to care about the voice's vague reassurances.

He spent the rest of the day in a haze, trying to ignore the rapid pace of everything unfolding around him. The engagement, the marriage in just a couple of days—it felt like everything was happening way too fast. He tried to wrap his head around it, but it was like trying to grasp smoke.

How did it all get so out of control? he thought, still not fully understanding what was happening. Is this really my life now?

And what was worse, he couldn't shake the feeling that none of it was real. It was like a dream he couldn't wake up from. Was this really happening, or was he just stuck in some twisted nightmare?

Only two days left. Two days before his life completely changed. And the real question was: Was he ready for it?

No. He wasn't ready. And deep down, he doubted he ever would be.

But for now, all he could do was lie there in the dark, staring up at the ceiling, and wait for whatever was coming next.

It was the day of the marriage. Kaito had been summoned to the castle early in the morning. The entire capital city was abuzz with excitement; after all, it wasn't every day that the Empress was married. The streets sparkled with lights, banners fluttered in the wind, and the air felt electric, as if the city itself was celebrating.

Kaito dressed in formal attire, the weight of the occasion sinking in. The events of the day moved quickly, and while it was an important moment, Kaito found it hard to fully engage with the joy surrounding him. It was hard to ignore the tension gnawing at him as he stood beside Val, trying to navigate his way through a whirlwind he wasn't prepared for.

As the day wore on, everything went down smoothly. The ceremony was grand, and the festivities continued through the night. But now, the next day, Kaito had to face the reality of his new title and responsibilities. It was Crown Day, the day he was to be crowned Emperor of Valtheria.

In the morning, an official proclamation was made from the castle. The entire city gathered in the square as the Empress, seated beside Kaito on a throne for the first time, made the announcement. The people cheered as Kaito was named the Emperor, though the weight of the throne felt heavier than he anticipated. It was strange, sitting there beside her. He wasn't sure what he expected, but the awkwardness of the situation hit him full force. He didn't belong here—not yet, at least.

After the proclamation, Kaito turned to the Prime Minister, still trying to wrap his mind around everything that had happened in such a short span of time.

He asked, "What's the current state of affairs? What's going on in the Empire?"

The Prime Minister sighed, rubbing his forehead as if the weight of his duties was heavier than Kaito had thought. "Well, Your Majesty, the Empress tried to push through a lot of reforms earlier, but there has been a significant amount of opposition. It's as if a new faction is growing, gaining traction. We're also seeing a spike in illegal activities across the Empire. Things are… getting out of hand."

Kaito nodded, but something was bothering him. During the proclamation, he had noticed a few individuals in the crowd who didn't quite fit in. Their faces were hard to place, and their posture was strange—almost as if they were waiting for something.

He looked over at Val, leaning in slightly, and asked quietly, "Val, do you, by any chance, have suspicions about certain people?"

Val's eyes narrowed slightly as she considered his question. "Yes, there are definitely some strange movements. There's an Anti-Empire faction growing in the shadows, but I'm still unable to pinpoint the faces behind it. They're careful—too careful. We'll need more intel before we can act."

Kaito mulled over the information for a moment. If this was as bad as it seemed, he couldn't just sit back and let it fester. The thought of a faction plotting against the Empire he now ruled didn't sit well with him.

He took a deep breath and thought about the power he had at his disposal. Maybe I can do something about it…

"Hey, Halo," he thought, reaching out mentally, "Is there anything I can do to find these people?"

The voice responded quickly.

[[Yes, it's possible. You can think about it, and those traitors could be discovered easily. However, you should be careful. You can't use this power mindlessly. It draws from 'Life Force,' which increases based on positive emotions and decreases with negative ones.]]

Kaito frowned, processing what the voice was telling him. "So, I need Life Force to do this?" he asked, already feeling the exhaustion weighing down on him.

[[Correct. You can check your 'Life Force' by thinking of it. But be warned: each thought you focus on costs 10 Life Force.]]

Kaito tried to focus, closing his eyes for a moment to center himself. He thought about the traitors—their faces, the way they'd stood out in the crowd. He reached out with his mind, trying to sense something, anything.

He opened his eyes and checked his "Life Force."

[[Notice: Amount of Life Force available: 0]]

Kaito let out a sigh. Of course, he had no Life Force left. He wasn't surprised. Great, he thought bitterly. Now what?

It seemed he would have to find a way to build up his Life Force before he could use the power Halo had described. He had a feeling he would need it sooner rather than later.

Kaito sat there, lost in his thoughts, anxiety gnawing at him. He had so much on his plate now—being crowned Emperor, dealing with the growing threats to the Empire, and now, facing the reality of the powers he'd just begun to tap into. He felt the weight of it all pressing down on him, threatening to consume him.

Val, who had been watching him with concern, noticed his distant expression. She reached out to him, her soft voice breaking through his thoughts. "Hey, Kaito, don't worry about all of this. Look, we're married now. Don't let these bastards ruin our happiness!"

Her words, and the way she smiled so gently at him, warmed him from the inside. Her face, full of warmth and sincerity, made him feel a little lighter. He couldn't help but return her smile.

Before he could respond, she pulled him into a hug. It was a simple gesture, but it carried so much weight—comfort, reassurance, and something more. He hugged her back, feeling the surge of emotions rise within him. His heart raced, and for a moment, it felt like everything else had faded away. All that mattered was her presence, her touch, the bond they shared.

The warmth of her embrace made his anxiety feel small, insignificant. He felt as though he could conquer anything, with her by his side.

In that moment, he couldn't help but check his Life Force, curious to see how it had changed. As expected, the emotional surge from their hug had given him a boost.

[[Notice: Amount of Life Force available: 100]]

He was stunned. One simple moment of connection with Val had replenished his Life Force enough for him to use his power. He couldn't believe it. It was like a door had opened, and now he had access to something he'd never fully understood.

Wow, this is more than I expected...

He looked at Val, his mind racing with possibilities. He now had enough Life Force to act. He thought carefully for a moment before sending a command to the power that had been granted to him.

In his mind, he focused and said, All the traitors who are plotting behind the scenes in the Empire will gather at once in the special cell, weakened to a state with sealed magic, and chained.

A few moments later, the door to the chamber opened, and a guard entered, his face pale and slightly bewildered. He bowed before Kaito, speaking quickly. "Your Highness, a group of nobles has been mysteriously found in the special cell out of nowhere. They cannot even use magic, and they're all chained."

It worked!?