The Fake Hero Is Too Strong-Chapter 140

One hour later.
We arrived at Havel Territory.
To give you an idea of how fast this was, neither Kaeld nor Idria’s monsters had showed up. They were still lingering as smoke.
But even that smoke alone had thrown the territory into shock and terror.
I immediately had an audience with the lord.
The Lord of Havel Territory wiped cold sweat from his brow as he spoke.
“I-I have heard much of your mighty reputation, Hero.”
It was hard to tell if he was trembling from the smoke or from hearing my name.
“You have come because of that black smoke, haven’t you?”
“Yes. And that is no ordinary smoke.”
“…”
“If your territory uses the Empire’s communication orb system, you should have already been notified. That is the handiwork of monsters belonging to the Demon King of Lies, Idria.”
Gulp.
He swallowed hard, his body shaking all over.
He had known, but he hadn’t wanted to believe it.
Perhaps it was because of that shock.
The lord let slip something he never would have said in his usual right mind.
“Ahh. Why is it not Lord Kaeld, but Lord Mide who…
huph
!”
He clamped his mouth shut, but it was too late.
Crack.
The veins bulging on Neril’s forehead were clearly visible.
Even the comparatively mild Xenia and Lisel reacted the same way.
“What did you just…”
“Calm down.”
“Mr. Mide.”
“From his point of view, it’s a natural reaction. After all, Kaeld has already handled monster threats four times.”
In those four territories, the name of Mide Mohan would not have been spoken.
No, not just unspoken. It would have been deliberately excluded.
I asked the lord in a subtle tone.
“In the four territories recently attacked by monsters, how am I regarded?”
“…What?”
“It’s fine. Please be honest.”
The lord carefully studied my face.
Perhaps realizing I was serious, he took a deep breath and spoke.
“They say… those monsters were summoned by you, Lord Mide…”
“…”
“I-I don’t believe that, of course!”
“I understand.”
So that’s how it is. They are cutting down my reputation like that.
That will cost them dearly.
I thought for a moment.
Soon, a suitable idea came to me.
“My lord.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“No need to be so stiff in your answers.”
“…”
“Whatever you may think, I am the true Hero. And the rumors out there are the opposite of the truth.”
I continued softly.
“The monsters were summoned by Kaeld.”
“S-surely not.”
“I will prove that what I say is true.”
Not only the lord, but also my companions looked at me in doubt.
That Kaeld was working with monsters, surely that was the secret he would most want to conceal.
How could I possibly expose and prove it?
I spoke slowly.
“To do that, I will need your cooperation.”
“…And what is that?”
“You must keep our arrival here a secret.”
Neril cut in.
“Keep it secret? Why?”
“We need Kaeld to continue believing that ‘everything is going well.’”
“…”
“If he comes again with Pirensha like last time, she would try to fight alongside Kaeld against the monsters. That would ruin my proof.”
That sharp-minded ‘second finger’ would avoid a direct confrontation with me and instead be content to share fame amicably, half-and-half.
I couldn’t allow that.
I turned to the lord.
“Will you grant me this favour?”
“But…”
“My lord. If I prove that Kaeld is in league with the monsters, you will become a hero.”
“Me?”
“The greatest issue facing the continent right now is discovering which of us, Kaeld or myself, is the fake. Havel Territory will be the land that uncovers the truth. You will be the one credited for it.”
His eyes darted around, calculating.
With his fear and unease somewhat fading, he was doing what he always did, calculating profit and loss.
“Would His Majesty the Emperor simply pat you on the back for such merit and leave it at that?”
“Ahem…”
“If you wish, I can even submit a petition to His Majesty, ing that your contribution was decisive in exposing the fake Hero.”
Freeze.
His eyes stopped moving.
He had reached his decision.
I gave him a gentle pat on the back.
“All you need to do is one thing. Keep it secret that I arrived here first.”
After a moment, he answered.
“I will do so, Hero.”
Good.
Didn’t sound like a lie.
We soon left the lord’s manor.
At a suitable inn, once we sat down, Serein spoke up.
“While we were busting our backs, it seems Kaeld was busy sucking up all the sweet rewards.”
“Yeah. Well, I suspected as much just from looking at his fame score. But still…”
“Yes. Hearing the actual rumors first hand feels awful.”
I chuckled.
“That’s why we will repay him.”
“Repay him?”
“Our plan was to sweep the monster army before Kaeld had a chance to move, right?”
“Right.”
“We are changing the plan.”
Everyone tilted their heads.
I spoke again, my tone darker this time.
“As I said earlier, we will prove he is working with the monsters.”
“How?”
“Even if Kaeld attacks them, we will make it so the monsters never fight back.”
No matter how staged a play may be, the monsters still have to play their roles properly.
Sometimes they should attack Kaeld, and sometimes he should take a few hits.
But what if Kaeld slashes them again and again, and they just take it without resistance?
That would be far too strange.
Neril nodded.
“I follow your reasoning. But how will you make them unable to strike back?”
“By making sure they can’t even lift a finger. With this.”
Tap.
I flicked a gem into my hand.
The Gem of Desolation.
Neril’s eyes gleamed with understanding.
“Indeed… If it drains the monsters’ essence down to the roots, it might work.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“And convenient, too. It was due for a recharge.”
“Hmm. But can this absorb monster essence? After all, it’s a Demon King’s core.”
Although, it’s from a fake Demon King crafted by Idria.
“It will work. Remember, this one has been modified through my hands.”
“Ah.”
“It’s no longer a Demon King’s core. You can think of it as a tool that absorbs essence and amplifies abilities. Judging from how it felt last time we faced monsters, it should be able to absorb them just fine.”
She smiled in satisfaction.
“If we absorb the essence of all ten thousand monsters, we will have plenty to use for a while. It will feel like being full without even eating.”
I chuckled.
That was when Offense spoke up.
“But this plan ends the moment we are exposed. If Idria peeks at us even once, we are finished.”
“True.”
“And if Pirensha comes along with Kaeld, it could get dangerous. That finger seemed pretty sharp.”
“You’re right. That’s why we will move.”
“Huh?”
I stood up.
“Let’s return to the territory we were at this morning. It’s only an hour’s travel each way anyway.”
Everyone wore awkward smiles.
They still hadn’t gotten used to this speed, it seemed.
Neril asked carefully.
“There is still one thing that bothers me.”
“What is it?”
“Will it really be enough just to make the monsters not fight back against Kaeld?”
“…”
“They have brains too. Wouldn’t they obviously object? They might claim you’re controlling the monsters to frame him.”
I chuckled.
“You’re right. But that plan was only step one.”
“…?”
“All it does is plant the seed of doubt. What comes after is more important.”
I continued slowly.
“Who says Kaeld’s the only one who gets to put on a show?”
Five days later.
The black smoke had become an army of ten thousand.
Kaeld and Pirensha, just as before, boldly stood to face them.
With the city walls at their back and all the soldiers’ cheers behind them, they confronted the monsters with pride.
So far, it was the same as always.
But Pirensha felt something off.
‘The lord… he looked like he was hiding something.’
Empty-headed Kaeld hadn’t noticed, but Pirensha had caught the faint tremor in the lord’s smile.
But what could he possibly be hiding at this point?
She quietly closed her eyes and called to Idria.
—Mother, do you have a moment?
—Speak freely.
—Where is Mide’s party right now? I just have a bad feeling.
Idria didn’t ask for reasons.
If Pirensha felt uneasy, it was always worth trusting.
Yet with her authority over space, she confirmed that Mide’s party was still where they had been checked five days ago.
—There’s nothing to worry about. He hasn’t moved.
—Really? Hm.
—Why do you ask?
—The lord seemed to be hiding something. But if it’s not related to Mide, then it doesn’t matter.
—If you’re uncomfortable, you may return.
—No!
With determined eyes, Pirensha pressed on.
—Even if you have grown stronger recently, I know sending an army of ten thousand across space is no small feat. We should make the most of it.
—Heh. Very well. But don’t overdo it.
—Yes, thank you.
Just as her link with Idria ended, Kaeld’s voice came.
“Not starting yet?”
“Ah, I was in a good mood just now.”
“…?”
“No matter. Let’s begin. How much strength shall I grant you?”
Kaeld folded his arms, thinking.
“Last time, the fight ended too quickly.”
“Half a day, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah. This time, make me a bit less strong.”
Pirensha nodded and snapped her fingers.
And in the next instant.
Kaeld felt indescribable power surge through his body.
It was beyond words.
Power that made him feel capable of doing anything if he willed it.
As if he could become not just a Hero… but a god.
The Second Finger of Lie could strengthen someone within the bounds of her ability.
To a miraculous degree.
“Go ahead. If you start to struggle, I will support you again.”
“Heh. Always grateful.”
“Think nothing of it. Just put on another good performance.”
Shiiing.
Kaeld drew his sword, replying.
“After this many times, what could be difficult?”
On the morning of the fifth day,
Just as we were about to set out, a red screen suddenly appeared.
Then, as if all it needed was to confirm my location, it quickly shifted to blue.
I smirked.
“Idria peeked again. Offense, your advice paid off.”
“Another thanks to me, eh.”
“You’re getting less humble these days.”
“Who do you think I learned it from?”
Surely not me.
Xenia spoke.
“If we hadn’t withdrawn in advance, that would have been dangerous.”
“Exactly. Soon Kaeld will be acting out his desperate struggle against the monsters.”
“What if the fight ends before we get there?”
“You saw the Empire’s s. In all four past invasions, Kaeld kept fighting for half a day. We will arrive within an hour.”
He must have believed showing such an impressive battle to the people of the territory was the best way to raise his fame.
That worked out well for us.
“Let’s head out.”
“Yes. Agril!”
And so we soared toward Havel Territory at terrifying speed.
If he loves theater that much, I will show him a play of my own.
‘Though not the ending he wants.’
When we arrived, Kaeld was already raging across the battlefield.
“Graaaah!”
“Grrrk?”
“Kiieeeek!”
Amidst the monsters, he was showing off his full strength.
Whoosh.
Each swing of his sword cut down dozens of monsters with ease.
Of course, for the sake of the performance, the monsters struck back in turn.
Spitting venomous darts, firing spikes, trying to tear him apart with their jaws.
But Kaeld brushed it all aside, walking proudly through the battlefield.
Neril muttered.
“He looks stronger than when we saw him at Gabriel Territory.”
“Because Pirensha is here too.”
“Hm? Ah, yeah, I see her. But what do you mean by that?”
“Look at her hands.”
Neril narrowed her eyes.
Offense interjected.
“You’re too old for sharp eyesight, Neril. Don’t strain yourself.”
“Have you written your will yet?”
“If I may explain instead…”
“I asked if you have written your will.”
“…”
At that moment, Xenia, who had eyesight as sharp as mine and Offense’s, spoke.
“She keeps snapping her fingers one after another. What is that supposed to be?”
“She is making Kaeld stronger.”
“What? With that?”
“She didn’t look like a combat type when we saw her last time either. And look, she’s still staying far from the battlefield.”
“…”
“A servant of the Demon King wouldn’t come all this way just to spectate. Her role is clearly to empower Kaeld.”
That was why, even before my regression, Pirensha never traveled alone.
She always accompanied other Fingers, supporting them from behind.
Facing a Finger strengthened by Pirensha’s aid… retreat had always been the only wise option.
[How in the world is she making him that strong?]
‘Adwin will explain in just a moment.’
[Huh? What are you talking about.]
And right then.
Adwin’s mouth dropped open as he shouted.
“I think I know!”
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