NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46
Whitewood Duke.
Laxid Anubeshia.
The declaration of her death sentence.
I had already known that there was a system for executing those with mysteries in the Empire.
Long ago, a person with a mystery went on a rampage in the Empire, resulting in numerous casualties at the city level.
Because of that, mysteries were strictly managed within the Empire.
But I never expected her to suddenly call for a death sentence.
“She didn’t even mention the death sentence for Lucas.”
Yet here I am, and she brings it up first.
“…Am I really going to be executed?”
As I boldly questioned, the attendant of the Whitewood Duke twitched his eyebrows.
His sharp gaze felt like a prick.
It seemed I had failed to show proper etiquette, asking such a question.
But honestly, I could be executed at any moment.
Etiquette meant nothing now.
The Whitewood Duke smiled faintly.
Her smile somehow instilled a sense of unease.
“Of course, even under the Empire’s criminal law, there are exceptions.”
In every world, there are those above the law.
And in the Fire Butterfly chapter, the Whitewood Duke was one of them.
A living witness of the Empire.
Before her eyes, countless laws disappeared and reappeared.
At that moment, laws held little value to the Whitewood Duke.
“Just like me.”
A person with a mystery.
She too was among them.
The mystery she possessed.
Whitewood.
In the past, it was the largest and most vibrant tree in the world.
However, with the intervention of the evil entity, the tree shattered and was reborn as the Whitewood.
The one who single-handedly halted this Whitewood was the woman before me.
The Whitewood threatened the very existence of the Empire and many kingdoms.
The Whitewood Duke, who stopped such a threat, was a hero of the world.
“Hero Special Law.”
She knew how to mention it.
“It is a law applied when one does not absorb a mystery by their own will but becomes one with the mystery while opposing it.”
The Whitewood Duke placed both hands on her waist.
“And this is a law I enacted.”
The Whitewood Duke is a hero.
That is why she performed her role exceptionally well.
To encourage the birth of future heroes who would stand against injustice.
A law she personally came up with.
The Hero Special Law.
The Hero Special Law takes precedence over most laws except for a few provisions deeply related to the Imperial family.
This highlights just how highly the Empire regards her.
“The birth of a hero should be encouraged. The world is always facing a great evil.
If someone envies and resents a hero, leading to their downfall, it is a significant loss for the nation.”
She explained the reason for the Hero Special Law and stepped closer to me.
“So, boy.”
The corners of the Whitewood Duke’s mouth lifted ominously.
Her eyes gleamed with a transparent light, piercing through me.
“Are you a hero or a death row inmate?”
Will you become a hero according to the Hero Special Law?
Or will you be a death row inmate according to the Imperial criminal law?
She forced me to make a choice.
My mouth fell silent.
I knew very well what answer the Whitewood Duke desired.
“I am too weak to be called a hero.”
To be exact, I am merely pretending to be a hero.
This world is a reality based on the Fire Butterfly chapter I played countless times.
I have no great cause.
I’m just struggling to survive because my life is at stake.
The numerous bad endings contained in this world lead to its destruction.
To live, I had no other choice.
The true hero, Lucas, is dead.
Therefore, I, standing in Lucas’s place, am nothing more than a fake hero.
“I fall short of the meaning of a hero, yet the chaos of the world is overwhelming to disregard it.”
The Empire is currently creaking under the struggle for the throne.
The 1st Prince faction and the 3rd Princess faction.
The fierce competition between these two groups has resulted in much bloodshed for the Empire.
The Empire must not fall.
The Empire carries numerous significant issues, including the Magung Academy.
The moment the Empire collapses, the world will rush headlong toward ruin.
“Above all, I understand that a hero is not created by those who want to be one.”
Lucas took on heroic actions.
Among those actions, he never elevated himself to be a hero.
Instead, many admired his heroic journey, respected him, and wished to walk that path together.
The hero I have seen was someone like that.
A made hero ultimately becomes nothing more than a paper doll.
“So, I am still not a hero.”
One must call me a hero.
Calling oneself a hero is meaningless.
“Ha.”
The Whitewood Duke pondered over my words and then unexpectedly began to chuckle.
The attendant silently gulped at the sight.
“Hahahahaha!”
The Whitewood Duke covered her mouth and laughed heartily for quite some time.
It was an exceptionally hearty laugh befitting a hero.
After laughing for a while, she looked down at me once more.
“Interesting. ‘Still,’ huh?”
She accurately picked up on that part of my statement.
She wore a broad smile.
“Boy, you’re right. A hero is not something one can self-proclaim.
At some point, it becomes a position that naturally ascends through the mouths of countless citizens.”
It seems she liked what I said.
“You are saying precisely the response I most wished for, as if you could look into my mind.”
What a perceptive person she is.
“Then am I going to be executed now?”
As I asked again, the Whitewood Duke let out a derisive snort.
“Boy, you are subject to the Hero Special Law. Even if you are a hero wannabe.”
She had already surveyed everything I had done.
The mystery that seized the Spirit Great Forest, the Steel Empress.
To stop it, I threw myself into the fray.
At least that’s how it was recorded in the report.
“Above all, regardless of the intention, you are not using the mystery you possess in foul ways.”
I recounted the story of how I had defeated a demonic being and a forest keeper in the gray forest.
All the countless efforts I had accumulated led to this moment.
Nothing was in vain.
A scenario is a force that drives the story.
When you proceed with the story according to a scenario, the results naturally follow.
“Thus, you will not be executed.”
I had been tense since the path diverged slightly from the original scenario.
Fortunately, I had survived.
“And boy, there is one more special provision in the Hero Special Law. That is also why I’m here today.”
My fists clenched tightly.
It had finally come.
This was why I had caught the Whitewood Duke’s attention so much.
“It is a law I specifically made to encourage heroes and aspiring heroes.”
I felt a pure white tree blooming behind the Whitewood Duke.
The tree radiated an aura.
The Whitewood Duke smiled.
Her eyes added a gentle light when she looked at the young hero wannabe.
“Boy, speak your wish.”
The Hero Special Law.
This contains a declaration that she will directly grant a reward as long as the Whitewood Duke lives.
She asked me, someone who fell under the Hero Special Law, to express my desire.
The strongest statement in this world, aside from the Emperor.
Whatever she refers to as a wish.
It pertains to almost everything a human can imagine.
Swallowing hard, I lifted my head.
“I…”
And I told her what I needed the most.
*
After the Whitewood Duke left, chuckling.
I also exited the hospital room.
Perhaps because I had rested well during the exam period.
My body had healed somewhat.
As I moved my steps, I saw several patient rooms.
While passing by those rooms, I suddenly halted.
Because a name I recognized was written on one of the doors.
Nikita Cynthia.
The room inside was quiet.
Is she sleeping?
‘No way.’
I raised my hand to the door.
Knock knock—
The sound of two knocks resonated.
There was no response.
“Nikita-senpai.”
When I quietly called her name, I felt a presence inside.
“…Junior?”
Luckily, she recognized my voice and responded.
As I slowly opened the door, I saw Nikita sitting on the edge of the bed.
She stared blankly at me, then suddenly flinched and hurriedly hid whatever she was holding.
I caught a glimpse of it being a letter, but I pretended not to see.
“How’s your health?”
Nikita had collapsed due to malnutrition and overwork.
So when I asked about her well-being, she flinched again and forced a smile.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
I noticed a sandwich resting on the drawer.
The sandwich had a single bite taken out of it.
This was her one good effort.
Even though nothing had gone into her mouth.
Seeing my sincerity, she tried to eat at least a bite.
That realization made my heart ache even more.
“You’re not fine at all.”
I gathered the sandwich.
With summer making the weather hot, I knew it would spoil quickly if left like this.
But even with my actions, Nikita wore a blank expression.
As if she was shocked by some news.
“Senpai?”
“Ah, uh-huh.”
Her response was feeble at my call.
Nikita staggered as she got up from the bed.
When I hurriedly tried to support her, she waved her hand.
“I’m fine. Junior, I’m really okay.”
“But—”
“Junior, I have a favor to ask.”
Nikita spoke with a wavering face.
“I want to be alone right now. Can you leave me be? You’re kind, so you will listen, right?”
I didn’t reach out to her anymore.
Instead, I slowly turned and walked away.
“Yeah, take care of yourself.”
While I did that, my eyes clearly captured her face.
A flicker of growing anger appeared in Nikita’s eyes.
I confirmed that.
The letter she had hidden.
I could easily guess its contents.
It likely contained news about Nia Cynthia being assassinated from the Cynthia Marquess family.
And this must have ignited anger and vengeance within her heart.
A fire spreads.
Unlike with Isabel, this was a cruel fire that could not be extinguished before achieving its purpose.
Act 3, Chapter 6.
Disaster Dragon Maiden.
The curtain has risen.