Is this Hero for Real?

[Act 9] Easy Orc

The city exit was two-dimensional like those Stargates in science fiction genres.

Meaning that if you went around the exit, you’d be back inside the relic without leaving the city.

“This is it.”

I found the relic’s treasure right away.

Behind the giant dolmen, there were countless swords sprawled out across the dirt ground.

“The treatment of these treasures is a little too depressing.”

My expectations were crushed.

[A certain god pretends to be knowledgeable, saying that’s a beginner’s holy sword.]

“Oh! What’s gotten into you?”

‘Did they just give me information before I begged for it?’

I didn’t know why, but it looked like god was in a good mood that day.

It was a plain sword made purely of metal, but I guessed they were saying it was a special sword with divine energy.

Even though it was still for beginners…

[A certain god says it can only be lifted by Heroes.]

“Aha! No wonder it was abandoned like this. Oomph…!

I’d even lifted a fairy and a demon with ease, yet that sword was extremely heavy.

It wasn’t impossible to hold, but I couldn’t use it as a weapon like that.

I could tell it was rejecting me.

[Hero]

‘There isn’t a single likable thing about this damned goddess!’

My jaw clenched.

[A certain god says you could still hold it because you’re a Hero.]

“…No. I’m not going to use a weapon that refuses me. Surely it’s going to stab me in the back in the future.”

Snap-

So I broke it.

[A certain god is bewildered.]

[A certain god asks what you’re doing.]

“This should be a fair game. I’m not letting the other Heroes use it either.”

[A certain god is amazed by your fairness.]

“Thanks.”

Snap, snap, snap-

I broke the beginner’s swords one by one.

I think I was about halfway done when I found a holy sword that barely weighed anything.

Swing, swing, swing.

I swung it around to test it, but it wasn’t heavy at all.

“This one’s light?”

[A certain god diagnoses it as a defective product.]

“Yeah, sure.”

I had my hopes up that it would be a special holy sword, but they were saying it was only a defect.

Of course, I wouldn’t have the good luck of the main character in a fantasy.

“Well… Maybe it’s special in its own way?”

It was a stupid holy sword that’d accepted my cursed self as a Hero.

[A certain god asks if you’re done breaking them since it’s not unfair anymore.]

“Ah! Nope.”

Snap, snap, snap-

I made all of the unforgiving, smart holy swords into scrap metal.

Then, the only beginner’s holy sword was mine, a defect.

“How’s that, god? It’s not a defect anymore.”

There wasn't anything normal to prove that my holy sword was a defect.

[A certain god is impressed by the outsider’s logic.]

“Thanks again.”

Right when I was about to leave with my newly acquired holy sword…

[Holy Sword]

There was already a new curse.

What was more surprising was how indifferent I felt about it.

***

The plot development of the main character, a nobody in real life, becoming a distinguished figure in the fantasy world was something Hero Choi Gangmin hated the most.

“It’s all just a gimmick.”

He was the most popular guy in school, and he’d gained instant popularity in even the fantasy world.

Not only were the female Heroes dependent on him, but the maids and hierarchs who worked at the temple also showed a great liking to him.

“Hey, Kangmin. Are you free?”

“Dear Hero, do you have time tonight…”

One difference was that because there were no minor protection laws in the fantasy world, dating was quite liberal.

On top of that, Choi Gangmin was 17.

In a fantasy world where early marriage was commonsense as well as the norm, he was considered a full-grown adult.

“I’m tired.”

[A certain male god voices that you should still do what you should even if you’re tired.]

[A certain carefree god of heaven tells you it’s okay to take it slow.]

[A certain god suggests cold water and some rest.]

[A certain god…]

The gods seemed unaware that he wasn’t just tired because of his popularity with women.

It was them, too!

It was not easy to please the gods with different tastes and tendencies.

“Hahaha!”

And still, Choi Gangmin was able to bear through it with a genuine laugh.

Because…

[Name] Choi Gangmin

[Level] 7

[Blessings] Hero E, Grit E, Magic D, Acceleration E, Bulletproof F, Immunity F, Invincibility F

[Curses] -

[Dividend] 5.15

—Effort didn’t betray him.

Aside from his Magic Blessing, the rest were all powerful Blessings given by the gods.

—Seven of them, at that!

Among the Heroes, Choi Gangmin held the most Blessings.

This wasn’t an assumption.

“Oh, my! Dear Hero, is there anything good going on?”

“I can’t stop smiling when I’m talking to someone so beautiful.”

“Oh, you…”

He wasn’t able to take a peek into the other Heroes’ status windows, but he did have beautiful hierarchs secretly feeding him information.

The women usually came in during the dead of night and left at dawn.

That is reality.

Every Hero started out fairly, but the differences got bigger according to their talent and effort.

Of course…

“Dear hierarch. Is Jang Miyeon still at level 7?”

“Yes, so do not be so anxious. You will be able to catch up in no time.”

“…For sure.”

“Hero, how about we stop talking about boring work talk? It’s getting cold.”

“Oh! My apologies.”

Hero Jang Miyeon…

Having formed a huge faction, she was the biggest obstacle to Choi Kangmin.

Having most of the Heroes(male) under her command, Jang Miyeon stayed in the back, gathering exp.

It was an extremely efficient hunting method. No… could one even call that a hunt?

* * *

* * *

“Hero Choi Gangmin. Don’t worry too much. Heroes who solely rely on others like them reach their limits quickly. There is proof in history.”

“History… you said there were other summoned Heroes in ancient times, right?”

“Yes. It is said the ancient Heroes trained at a special location until they reached level 10.”

“A special location?”

“Yes. Training grounds just for the Heroes, but nobody knows where that is. Maybe it's a myth created by the minstrels.”

“Hm…”

Training grounds just for the Heroes…

If he could get in by himself and train, wouldn’t he be able to surpass Jang Miyeon and Yoo Bora, getting first place all for himself?

He was disappointed.

Even if the legendary training grounds really did exist, the Saintess would give all of the Heroes a fair chance.

He couldn’t have it all for himself.

“Please, bear through this. You will get the special treatment you wish for soon.”

“…Can’t I know in advance?”

“Only if you keep it a secret, as well as the next promise.”

“Okay.”

The overpowering resources Jang Miyeon or Yoo Bora couldn’t copy was the driving force that helped hero Choi Gangmin aim to be first place.

“There will be a tournament soon.”

“I see, a ranking competition.”

It was the very event Choi Gangmin had been looking forward to.

“That’s not all. The all-around victor will be rewarded with a holy sword that’s being kept by the Temple.”

“A holy sword…!”

“It’s a holy sword that was made in the training grounds I mentioned before. There’s only one sword, so if you’re aiming for first place, you must acquire it.”

“Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing.”

The beautiful hierarch quietly left his bedroom like a shadow.

After escorting her, Choi Gangmin turned around and pumped the air with his fists.

“The holy sword of legends!”

‘You’re mine!’

With his determination stronger, Hero Choi Gangmin started to prepare for the tournament.

***

“Ptooey! Nasty holy sword.”

I couldn’t believe I got a red card just for breaking some beginner’s holy swords that were laying in the dirt!

What an irrational world.

[Holy Sword]

> The blood and tears of the creator strengthen all of the holy swords in your vicinity!

> It will be more difficult for you to destroy or seal an innocent holy sword.

“…is this really a curse?”

I could see the intention behind the curse.

It strengthened holy sword’s so I wouldn’t steal them and raised their durability so I wouldn’t destroy them.

But…

“What do they mean when they include my sword in there too?”

Vrrr-

The super-cursed holy sword was shining brightly.

I didn’t test it out, but it looked like its blade was much sturdier than before.

Basically, it was a Blessing.

[A certain god expresses their sorrow to the creator.]

“I know, right? This Curse didn’t even consider the chance of a Hero breaking the holy swords.”

That curse was way too poorly made.

[A certain god points out most people just steal them.]

“Aha! There were so many holy swords, I didn’t even think about that.”

Weren’t they mass produced?

Anyways, I turned to the city exit without any regrets after acquiring a stupid holy sword and Blessing(?).

“Human…!”

“Oh?”

Pushing himself through the exit, I saw the guardian running in a straight line from the entrance.

—But he didn’t look normal.

The green pig’s toned muscular flesh had turned all saggy and wrinkly!

The guardian was aging rapidly from getting away from his relic.

“$#@!”

“%#?!”

“% [email protected]!”

The fantasy natives, who’d been hanging around to see the aftermath, scurried away in fright.

“Move…!”

With the guardian’s skills, he could probably kill a couple of people just by walking past them.

But he didn’t touch anyone, he was trying to get to the relic as soon as possible.

“You look constipated.”

‘Then I’m not gonna sit around, either!’

I blocked the path so the guardian wouldn’t reach the relic.

The snarky smirk was an additional service.

“Human…!”

“How stupid.”

He would have arrived easily if he’d kept his mouth shut and ran.

[Holy Sword]

‘Time to test out my stupid, cursed holy sword!’

Bang-!

We took each other on outside of the relic.

And the victor was…

Slash!

Losing his right arm in a single blow, the green pig rolled on the dirt with blood spewing.

“Kirk…!”

But he didn’t slow down at all. Keeping his attack stance the same, he dived into the relic!

“Human! The cost of extorting my youth is very expensive!”

Woosh.

The guardian’s body quickly recovered after returning to the relic.

His severed right arm recovered, his wrinkly muscles became toned again, and his back that I’d kicked straightened…

But there were fine wrinkles I hadn’t seen before.

“Looks like you’ve aged.”

“It’s all your fault! My youth that I neglected the death of 300,000 of my people for… all because of your despicable attack…!” He cried out.

“Well, you sure are disqualified as a guardian.”

“Hmph!”

The guardian scoffed and drew his sword with determination.

Zing!

There was a rough gust of green light from the blade.

“How do you never learn?”

An entire day had passed, but the guardian wasn’t a bit stronger than before.

In fact, it seemed he’d gotten weaker from age.

[Holy Sword]

I didn’t even need to put in full force.

The super-cursed holy sword blocked his attack with ease.

“What-?1”

Slash!

The bewildered head of the green pig flew into the air.

“Are you stupid?”

If I was weaker than the guardian, it would have been impossible for the guardian to even try such an obvious attack.

So the result was inevitable.

[A certain god advises you it’s not over.]

rrrrr.

The guardian’s head slowly started to revive.

“…how persistent.”

Slash!

So I really went to work on him. If a butcher had seen me, he would have been amazed at my work of art.

Rrrr.

But the Guardian kept reviving.

“What the hell, you pigroach.”

He wasn’t dying from fatal injuries that even I wouldn’t survive.

Then there was only one tactic:

I had to take him out of the relic…

Clang.

“Human! I lost! I’ll do anything, please don’t throw me out of the relic!”

The guardian threw down his weapon and begged for his life.

“Anything?”

“Y-yes.”

“What can you do?”

“…I can temporarily move the city’s entrance and exit.”

“Wherever?”

“Only if it’s near the holy swords that were made in this relic, but there’s a restriction that only Geroes can hold it…”

“You mean this?”

I let go of the defective holy sword.

Float.

The holy sword stayed in the air, ignoring gravity.

“…”

“This is it, right?”

“Human- ahem! Were you a Hero, sir?”

“What’s with the sudden formalities?”

“It’s a guardian’s instinct that I can’t go against.”

“You’re an easy orc, aren’t you?”

“…”

It looked like we could become good friends.