Chapter 577

Carr swallowed dryly at Rian’s words.

When he had first encountered a god, he had been struck by how much more ordinary the being seemed than he had expected.

If not for the Dragon Lord’s guarantee, Carr would never have believed Rian’s identity or anything he said.

But now, the presence emanating from the figure before him surpassed anything Carr could have imagined.

'I can’t... breathe.'

Merely facing Rian made his chest constrict and left him struggling for breath.

Rian had not done anything in particular.

He was simply observing Carr.

Yet that alone held enough power to freeze Carr’s entire body.

It made him realize that the being before him existed on a completely different plane from every race he had encountered before.

Rian’s very existence overwhelmed him.

'I’ve... felt this before.'

Though his body trembled, Carr steadied his breathing and quickly regained his composure.

Rian’s eyes gleamed at the sight.

“This should be your first time meeting a god face-to-face, yet you regained your composure remarkably quickly.”

Strictly speaking, Rian could no longer be called a god. Long ago, he had become part of the Hero Record in order to serve as its administrator.

Even so, he remained a being comparable to a god.

An ordinary human would lose all composure the moment Rian revealed his presence.

And Carr fell well within the bounds of an ordinary human.

'Someone of exceptional caliber wouldn’t have been shaken in the first place.'

In the eyes of an absolute being, Carr was nothing more than one of the countless pebbles scattered along the roadside.

Carr scratched his cheek at Rian’s question.

“It felt somewhat similar to when I saw Erebos.”

“Ah. That abomination.”

Rian nodded.

“Indeed. You encountered that abomination when the Brave came into this world through the Hero Record, didn’t you? Then this isn’t your first time encountering a divine being.”

“Is the Calamity Flame a god too?”

“Its essence is the same as ours. Of course, what we seek is different. We desire the world’s continued existence, while that abomination desires its destruction.”

“Why is that? Were all of you companions at first or something?”

“Not at all. That abomination was born that way. It exists solely to burn the world to ashes.”

Rian shook his head as though he had recalled something revolting.

'Even if he has seen Erebos before, regaining his composure so quickly seems to be a strength of his own.'

The more Rian observed Carr, the more intriguing he became.

Despite possessing nothing, he still stood out.

'Luck must have played a part. But what Carr Thomas has achieved could never have been accomplished through luck alone.'

“You said I possess two things Lumene-nim lacked. What are they?”

Anticipation appeared on Carr’s face.

“Do I perhaps have some hidden talent even I don’t know about?”

Rian stared at the slightly excited Carr, then smiled radiantly.

“Ugliness and foolishness.”

“Pardon?”

Carr stared blankly at him.

“Lumene was not foolish, so he never did anything as unsightly as clinging to the impossible.”

Rian gave Carr a thumbs-up.

“Carr Thomas! You are so hopelessly foolish that you continue clinging to the impossible! It makes you look utterly unsightly!”

Thud—!

Carr dropped to his hands and knees.

“Hold your head high and puff out your chest! You’re doing something Lumene could never do.”

“Please don’t make fun of me. It’s depressing.”

“What are you talking about? I’m praising you! This is praise!”

Pat! Pat!

Rian repeatedly slapped Carr on the back.

“Why are you depressed when a god is praising you?”

“Of course I’m depressed! You’re a god, and you made it sound so profound that I thought I might have some hidden talent I didn’t know about!”

“I told you earlier. You’re a student who does not resemble Lumene in the slightest.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you aren’t heroic in the slightest.”

Rian shrugged, then pulled a figurine carved from a gemstone out of his clothes.

It was a carving of Lumene, the Twilight Knight.

“Although Lumene was born a slave, he possessed an extraordinarily noble soul.”

Rian turned the figurine this way and that as he spoke.

“The heroes the gods love most are undoubtedly the Great Heroes. But Lumene comes directly after them.”

“He must have been born with extraordinary talent because the gods loved him.”

“There is a flaw in that reasoning.”

Rian glanced at Carr.

“Some beings are indeed loved by the gods. But that does not mean the gods bestow special talents upon them. Doing so would far exceed the authority granted to any god.”

“Pardon?”

“Humans loved by the gods earned that love themselves. Remember that, Carr Thomas.”

Rian smiled and shrugged.

“Well, the gods do have their own preferences.”

“What kind of preferences?”

“Heroes like Lumene.”

“...”

“Overflowing with talent, upright in character, handsome, strong, accomplished, and popular with women. And then...”

“Would you please stop? Life is starting to feel increasingly unfair.”

Carr let out a hollow laugh.

“Lumene-nim truly has nothing in common with me. I understand why the gods loved him now. The gods like perfect people.”

“There are no perfect people. Only people with fewer flaws.”

Rian shrugged.

“That is why, in the past five thousand years, there has never been a hero like you, Carr.”

“I know better than anyone that I’ll never become a hero.”

“Then why don’t you give up?”

“Because I’m ugly and stupid.”

“...”

“Don’t I have to set my sights high if I want to get even a little closer to those guys?”

“You’ll soon run into your limits.”

“Then I’ll surpass them. Just like Lumene-nim.”

“...”

“I may not resemble him in any other way, but if there’s one thing I learned for certain at Lumene, it’s that I should emulate him in this.”

“Carr Thomas! Where are you?”

“Huh? Eliza?”

Carr turned toward Eliza’s voice, then hastily looked back.

“God-nim, I think I have to go now. Hmm?”

When he turned around, Rian was gone. Carr searched the bathroom before scratching his head.

“Did he leave?”

“Carr Thomas!”

“Do you have to hound someone even when he’s in the bathroom?”

Carr sighed at Eliza’s voice and left.

Rian reappeared and shook his head.

'He truly isn’t heroic in the slightest.'

Throughout the long, five-thousand-year Age of Heroes, no one like Carr had ever had their name recorded in the Hero Record.

It was not merely because such a person did not suit the gods’ preferences.

'It’s because he cannot accomplish great deeds alone.'

In the end, those who accomplished great deeds were beings with tremendous power.

A hero capable of protecting and leading the world inevitably possessed exceptional individual might.

'He’s ordinary. Carr Thomas is far too ordinary.'

The gods took no interest in ordinary humans.

They loved only those who were exceptional.

Rian was no different.

However...

'You will never be able to resemble Lumene, Carr Thomas.'

Rian gazed at the gemstone carving of Lumene he had created.

'Lumene gave up because he couldn’t bring himself to become that foolish and unsightly.'

He had closed off his own potential.

Rian smiled.

'Instead, you resemble the Hero of Beginning.'

Of course, comparing Carr to Leo, who possessed the Purity Mana Trait, was absurd.

'But Leo-nim saved the world because he continued struggling, however foolish and unsightly it seemed.'

Rian pulled an uncarved gemstone from his clothes and toyed with it.

'Carr Thomas is not heroic in the slightest. But that is only according to the standards of the Age of Gods.'

Fragments of the Age of Gods remained even now.

'But that age ended five thousand years ago.'

Rian smiled.

'And it came to an end as a failed age.'

By the gods’ standards, the Age of Gods had undeniably been a failure.

It was true that they had suppressed Erebos for an exceedingly long time and created a world filled with light.

But in the end, they had failed to stop Erebos.

Instead, their world had burned away with pitiful ease.

Only the singularities known as the Great Heroes had emerged from that failure and saved the world.

And thus, a new age had dawned.

However...

'Can the Age of Heroes truly be called an age of heroes?'

The gods were gone, yet the divine legacy known as the Hero Record continued to sustain this age.

'Perhaps I’m extraordinarily fortunate.'

Rian had cast aside his divine status and fallen to the level of a mere component in a system.

However...

'I may be witnessing the true beginning of a new age right before my eyes.'

Rian grinned from ear to ear.

How could the prospect be anything but thrilling?

'Ah, my choice wasn’t wrong! I may witness with my own eyes an age in which gods are truly unnecessary!'

===

The second event of the Festival of Heroes featured the second-years.

Each academy had formed a ten-person raiding party, and they would compete to see which team could clear a Hero’s World the fastest.

The spectators were thrilled by a competition on an entirely different scale from the first-years’ match.

Moreover, the current second-years of every academy were known as a golden generation.

Expectations were bound to be even higher.

“We get to watch them clear a Hero’s World with our own eyes!”

“But it isn’t a Hero Dungeon, is it? Doesn’t that mean it won’t be dangerous?”

“Learn what you’re talking about before you speak! A Hero Dungeon is merely the result of the Hero Record going berserk! A Hero Dungeon is still a Hero’s World in the end!”

“Let’s see... Leo Plov isn’t competing for Lumene, is he?”

“Isn’t that because he has already attained the rank of hero?”

“But look! Lunia El Lunda is competing for Seiren!”

“Hmm... Is it because he’s busy as the Student Council President? No. Lunia El Lunda is a Student Council President too.”

Questioning voices erupted throughout the stands when the spectators realized that Leo was not competing.

Lunia watched them and muttered,

“At least they have a conscience, judging by their decision to leave Leo out.”

In all honesty, the outcome would have been obvious if Leo had competed.

It was frustrating to admit, but Seiren could not handle Leo as he was now.

'And neither could any other academy.'

Lunia sighed softly.

“Still, I’m glad the event is about clearing a Hero’s World.”

“This won’t be easy either. What are you so relieved about?”

When Eiran spoke from beside her, Aris Tuina asked in confusion.

“After watching the first-years, I was worried we might be made to fight Leo-nim.”

At that, Aris’s twin, Garin Tuina, looked puzzled.

“Would that be such a problem?”

“Did you forget that Leo Plov swept aside all of Lumene’s second-years? Clearing a Hero’s World is still better than fighting a monster we have no chance of defeating.”

Garin crossed her arms and nodded at Aris’s words.

“Now that you mention it, that’s certainly true.”

“By the way, Carr Thomas? He’s the student who cleared Dweno-nim’s World, isn’t he? I heard his grades themselves aren’t impressive, yet he was chosen as a representative?”

When Aris looked puzzled, Lunia answered,

“He deserves to be chosen.”

“That’s right. With Carr-nim there, the Lumene students will feel reassured.”

The Seiren students looked puzzled at the reactions of their highest- and second-highest-ranked students when—

Vwoooom—!

A resonant hum suddenly rose from the floor.

[Hero Record Open.]

The Seiren second-years looked slightly startled by the message that abruptly appeared.

But they soon regained their composure.

“We’re used to unexpected situations like this by now.”

Lunia gave a dismissive snort.

The other academies reacted similarly.

Eiran’s ears suddenly perked up.

“Didn’t they say we would take turns clearing the same Hero’s World?”

“Yes.”

“But it sounds as though the students from the other academies received Hero Record messages too.”

“What?”

Eiran’s hearing had reached the realm of Hyper Sense. The moment she looked bewildered—

[Lumene’s Wo■. Chapter ■: ■■■■■]

“What?!”

Lunia stared at the message in horror.

At that instant, brilliant light erupted and engulfed the students standing on the Erek parade ground.

“Ghk?!”

Lunia hastily opened her eyes.

A fist was flying straight toward her face.

“Kyaa?!”

Lunia reflexively dodged it.

“Kyaa? Kyaa? What’s with that disgustingly cute squeal? You coy elf!”

“You—!”

At her attacker’s words, Lunia calmly assessed the situation.

'I don’t know what’s going on, but we’re fighting! I need to counterattack—!'

Just as Lunia prepared to exploit an opening—

“Huh?”

She caught sight of her opponent’s face and let out a dazed sound.

“Don’t space out in the middle of a fight! Your side!”

“Ghk?!”

Her opponent mercilessly struck Lunia in the ribs.

“Time to finish this! Solar plexus!”

Thud—!

“Ghk?!”

After taking the blow to her solar plexus, Lunia repeatedly gasped for breath before her knees struck the ground.

“Huh? That actually hit you?”

The woman who had struck Lunia looked even more bewildered by the result of her own attack.

Clutching her chest and struggling for breath, Lunia called out to her.

“Rodia... nim...”

Thump—

Her eyes rolled back as she collapsed unconscious.

“Hey! Breathe! Breathe!”

Slap! Slap!

Rodia panicked and slapped Lunia’s cheeks.

“Seiren! Breathe!”

***