The Fake Hero Is Too Strong-Chapter 132

Offense’s eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“Looks like Idria sent out the monsters again?”
“Yeah. We need to know where. I’m counting on you.”
“Just wait a moment. And don’t fall asleep like last time.”
Whoosh.
Offense’s presence vanished as if it were a lie.
Xenia blinked and asked,
“Mr. Mide, what did you mean by ‘counting on him’?”
“Idria realized Trail can see secrets.”
“What?”
“So she is now hiding her destination from Kaeld and her underlings. She is shielding it so we can’t track her.”
Everyone’s expression darkened.
Adwin spoke up.
“Then… aren’t we in trouble? Even if Agril goes full speed, we will need to leave by tonight.”
“Yeah. We will probably have to sleep on Agril’s back tonight.”
“I don’t mind. It’s softer than a bed anyway.”
“Maybe I gave him too much holy power. He has probably gotten fat.”
For some reason, Xenia reacted.
“He is not fat!”
“I wasn’t talking about you.”
“Well, I’m not either!”
“Anyway, I get what you’re trying to say, but just wait. Offense will be back with the intel soon.”
A week ago.
Before leaving the Feck territory, I had asked him something.
If Idria hides her destination even from Kaeld and her pawns, then technically, there might be no ‘secret’ shared between them.
And if it’s not a secret, Trail’s Eye of Omniscience can’t see it either.
“So I asked him, could he mobilize every assassin guild across the continent?”
“Huh?”
“Assassin guilds are even more sensitive to information than mercenary guilds. When an assassin guild controls a territory, they are required to any major incident in the area to the guild master within an hour.”
A flood of black smoke descending on a territory?
There’s no way an assassin guild wouldn’t notice that.
No way it wouldn’t be ed.
“All the continent’s guild masters are linked through special communication orbs to avoid overlapping kill targets.”
“Oh… that means…”
“Yeah. Offense went to the assassin guild of this territory. He will get information about where something unusual is happening.”
Lisel spoke in awe.
“Amazing. We could really use this method from now on!”
“I will avoid it if I can. It costs a ridiculous amount.”
“What… they want a reward? Even when we are saving the continent?”
“Assassins are like that. Offense is a rare exception.”
“That’s true. In a good way.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Soon, Offense returned.
I asked,
“How did it go?”
“You want the money first or the intel?”
“What do you think… Obviously the intel.”
“So money was the issue. We spent about 40 gold coins.”
Insane.
Offense shrugged when he saw my crumpled expression.
“They say they gave me a discount. Half of it goes to the guild of the territory where the intel came from.”
“Phew. Money is not the issue, anyway.”
“Then stop popping that vein on your forehead.”
“So, where is it?”
“Domitri Territory. They say a black smoke is rising there. Got the just a few minutes ago.”
Shff.
Neril helpfully unfolded a map.
Pointing to a location, she said,
“It’s on the far southern edge of the continent. She really went far.”
“Idria must have known we were in Tetra.”
“Huh? Oh, did she spy again with that space authority of hers?”
“Yeah. That’s why she picked a place as far away as possible.”
“But it doesn’t matter. We are right in the center of the continent.”
“Exactly. She must have been pretty disappointed.”
Neril gave me a satisfied smile.
Xenia suddenly jumped up.
“Considering the distance, we should head out right now.”
“Yeah. Call Agril.”
“Got it. Just a sec! Serein, lets go!”
Serein had just taken a sip of liquor.
She started coughing, as if it had gone down the wrong pipe.
“Huh? Why me?”
“If I ask alone, Agril acts all high and mighty. He listens better when you are there too.”
“Oh come on.”
“Shall we go then?”
Xenia grabbed Serein and dragged her out of the inn.
Their teamwork is almost suspiciously good.
[We should probably hear Serein’s opinion on that.]
Anyway, the rest of us waited patiently.
We had already been through the same thing back at Feck territory.
With all the eyes of the local people watching, there was no chance of a fight to the death breaking out.
So the party waited calmly for Xenia and Serein to return.
But.
BOOM!
The two came running back in less than five minutes.
Faces pale as a sheet.
“Mr. Mide!”
“W-What’s going on?”
“It’s bad. Really bad.”
Xenia looked like she would burst into tears at the slightest touch.
Actually, she was already on the verge of tears.
This was the first time since the Ophelia incident that Xenia wore such a face.
Serein spoke up in her place.
She didn’t look much better.
“Agril isn’t appearing.”
The Celestial God sat on his throne at the starting point.
He gazed off into the distance, a radiant mass of light, magnificent and immense.
Then, slowly, he turned his head and extended a hand.
He reached toward something shackled beside him by golden chains.
“Grrr. Krrrk!”
That being… the divine beast Agril, growled and avoided the god’s touch.
The Celestial God spoke in a voice full of benevolence.
“Has it been so long that you no longer recognize your master? It hasn’t even been 1,000 years since I gifted you to mankind.”
“Krrrk!”
“Or… perhaps you have grown fond of your current master. That Xenia girl?”
He withdrew his hand.
The gentle voice was gone, replaced by one sharp and scolding.
“There is one thing you must understand.”
“Krrrk.”
“I am a very jealous god. Comparing me to a lowly mortal… That deserves punishment.”
“GRRRKK!”
The chains tightened around Agril’s massive body.
They pierced his thick, armored skin and started digging into the flesh beneath.
Wounds opened. Blood spilled.
“GRRAAAHHH!”
Agril cried in agony.
The Celestial God leaned back in his chair, listening as though it were the finest symphony.
He closed his eyes and murmured softly.
“I wonder… Does this still count as ‘passive cooperation’? I am curious to see just how much the laws of the world will allow… Even for me, this is a bit nerve racking.”
“Agril! Agril!”
Xenia called out desperately from atop the territory’s fortress wall.
It had already been 40 minutes.
Neril finally stepped in.
“That’s enough.”
“Agril…
cough cough
…”
“Your voice is shot. Stop already.”
“But…!”
Neril pulled Xenia back sharply.
Physically, there’s no way Xenia would budge, but she stumbled as if truly weakened and leaned into Neril.
“I’m sorry. Thank you.”
“It’s fine. Here, wipe your face.”
“I wasn’t crying, okay? It’s sweat.”
“If you’re sweating that much, you need a doctor. Here.”
In the end, Xenia took the handkerchief Neril offered and wiped her face.
Meanwhile, Offense turned to me.
“What’s going on with Agril? Could it really be just a health issue?”
“But he was totally fine this afternoon, wasn’t he?”
Hrngh…
Just then, Xenia blew her nose into Neril’s handkerchief and said,
“Agril is definitely mad. At me.”
“Hey. Your nose…”
“We used to joke around while going on missions together, just the two of us. But now that I only hang out with the rest of you, he is probably sulking.”
How do you even joke around with Agril?
That’s what I find more unbelievable.
Then, Serein opened her mouth.
“No, I don’t think that’s it.”
“Huh?”
“Speaking as someone who had her divine power stolen by Agril… he still really likes you, Xenia. I can guarantee that.”
There was no logical connection between her reasoning and conclusion, but Xenia seemed comforted by the words and regained her smile.
Well, I don’t think Agril disappeared out of anger either.
That leaves only one possible answer.
“The Celestial God.”
“Huh?”
“Agril is a treasure granted to humanity by the Celestial God, right? During the Second Demon King’s descent.”
“…”
“If it can be granted, it can be taken back.”
The Celestial God agrees with the Demon King’s plan.
To quote his own words, he is even passively cooperating.
“We have been catching up to Kaeld despite the vague oracle. That must have made the Celestial God feel threatened.”
“Oh…”
“Not to mention, last time I really ticked him off, didn’t I? He probably wants to ruin me by helping the Demon King.”
“Haa…”
Lisel let out a deep sigh.
“Still, how can a god be so petty?”
“Right?”
“And what a cheap move too, stealing Agril, one of our allies. There are so many other ways to mess with us.”
At that, Xenia’s face turned slightly red.
Lisel hadn’t said it with any intent to comfort her.
Which meant she truly thought of Agril as “one of our allies.”
“Thank you, Lisel.”
“Huh? What did I say?”
“Mm… never mind. The fact you said it without realizing makes it even more meaningful.”
Lisel tilted her head.
Everyone chuckled warmly.
I smiled along with them, sorting out my thoughts inside.
‘Lisel really has her sharp moments sometimes. Even when she doesn’t realize it.’
[What are you talking about?]
‘She just said it: there are so many other ways to mess with us.’
[Yeah, so?]
‘That’s the answer. Imagine if the Celestial God had taken divine power from Xenia and Serein instead. Would we have even survived this long?’
Trail went silent, seemingly convinced.
I continued.
‘I think our previous theory was right. The fact that he can’t even leave the starting point freely… there must be some kind of law at play. One that even the Celestial God can’t escape.’
[Who could have bound a god with such a law?]
‘Beats me. It’s such a far off idea I don’t even care to wonder.’
That’s when Neril spoke up.
“For now, I will try my best.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s fly using the Flying spell. Lisel, you back us up with the spirits.”
I wasn’t sure if it was possible, but didn’t say it aloud.
We had no better options. Neril’s flight spell with spirit support was the fastest speed our party could achieve.
I handed her the Gem of Desolation.
“If it gets too hard, stop midway.”
“No. I’m going to make it no matter what.”
“If I tell you to stop, stop. I’m not letting you collapse.”
“…Okay. Thanks, Mide.”
Just like before, Serein whispered to Lisel.
“See? Those two are at it again.”
“…”
“I told you it’s not like that!”
“I didn’t even say anything.”
Anyway, we soon took off into the sky.
With the wind spirits aiding Neril’s flight using the Gem of Desolation, we gained more speed than expected.
Xenia and Serein used shield spells to block the cold and air resistance.
Adwin handled communication during flight, and Offense took care of scouting.
But I sensed it in less than a minute.
At this speed, we wouldn’t make it in time.
And sure enough, we missed it.
I was able to confirm that thanks to Trail.
[Looks like we were too late this time.]
‘Why?’
[Look at this.]
Tap.
The continental map appeared.
<Mide Mohan / Total Fame: 318,500>
<Kaeld Wake / Total Fame: 410,730>
My fame had slightly decreased since I last checked.
Kaeld’s fame had slightly increased.
A heavy blow.
Since regressing, this was the first time my fame had ever dropped.
‘Feels like my bones are being shaved off.’
[That bad, huh.]
‘I didn’t know I was this sensitive about fame. Good experience, I guess.’
[You really know how to spin things. Impressive.]
I checked the map.
Kaeld’s black mist loomed over the Domitri Territory.
My own fame flickered faintly beyond the fog, but overall, he dominated the area.
‘Looks like Kaeld had a field day while I was gone.’
[Yeah. He probably bad-mouthed you freely. Said you were a pawn of Idria, just like the first oracle stated.]
‘Coming from the guy who handled 10,000 monsters, it probably sounded convincing.’
I let out a deep sigh.
Neril noticed the change in my expression right away.
She slowly began to reduce speed.
Soon, we circled down and gathered.
Neril asked gently.
“…We were too late, weren’t we?”
“Yeah. Seems like it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? Don’t say that.”
Neril gave me a faint smile.
That’s when Adwin, trembling, spoke.
“Hey, uh, hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“If we are already late, can we go down now?”
“Are you scared? Is it because you can see the ground now, unlike when riding Agril?”
“Pfft. Who do you think I am, yeah, I’m scared.”
His overconfident tone didn’t even last a full sentence before he admitted it.
I quickly stepped in.
“Adwin is in danger! He is seriously unwell.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Let’s land, Neril.”
She gently brought us down.
Luckily, we had reached a valley stream. We filled our canteens and drank.
Offense said,
“Adwin, just ride on my back next time.”
“Pfft. Who do you think I am…”
“Ah. Seems like you have calmed down. That’s good.”
He turned to me.
“So Kaeld’s fake success is already over?”
“Seems like it. His fame rose in the Domitri territory. Mine dropped.”
“…”
“Don’t look like that. The gap isn’t big enough to worry about yet.”
I kept my tone upbeat on purpose.
“We will just be on time next time.”
“But we haven’t even made it halfway through Domitri yet.”
“That’s true.”
“And like you said, Idria is pushing a speed-based strategy. Without Agril, there’s no way to go any faster, right?”
I scratched my head.
Then Serein spoke in a small voice.
“Should we try going back to the starting point?”
“Huh?”
“If the Celestial God really did take Agril, then he must be there. We beat him up and take Agril back.”
“I would love to do that, but…”
“I know it’s impossible with just our strength. But… what was his name again?”
Xenia chimed in.
“Impelium?”
“Right. If we mention his name, maybe we can get Agril back?”
Not sure.
Thinking back to how the Celestial God flared up when we tried to escape the starting point… it’s hard to imagine it would go well.
He would probably be thrilled to see us and crush us completely.
Maybe Impelium will visit me in a dream again with advice?
Hmm… in that case…
“Alright then.”
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