Giant Fist walked towards the altar.
“Wai—!” Chi-Woo paused. He had to stop Giant Fist, had to pull him back. However, it didn’t seem like Giant Fist would listen to him; he had already made up his mind. Chi-Woo wasn’t sure he would be able to crack Giant Fist’s determination. There was no way for him to change his friend’s mind...
‘No, there is a way.’
4. Others
-> [World’s Milestone] is currently active.
Chi-Woo shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled it out with the die. He felt conflicted as he stared at it, but then Giant Fist had made it on top of the altar. Chi-Woo cast the die, silently chanting, ‘Please!’
[Rolling the World’s Milestone.]
The seven-sided die drew a curved line in the air and fell onto the ground, stopping the moment it landed without rolling at all.
[Result: Three stars]
[Consuming inherent stat, [Blessed] Luck (85 -> 82)]
Chi-Woo’s breath hitched. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again. However, the reality didn’t change. There were still three stars on the die’s top face.
[The World’s flow is slowly heading to a designated place.]
Chi-Woo closed and opened his eyes almost reluctantly.
[Fail. An incident has occurred.]
His heart sank.
[The cursed ones heading to the base camp have stopped moving.]
‘They’ve stopped moving?’ Chi-Woo grew hopeful reading the message. ‘Can it be—’.
[Several cursed ones are in turmoil. They bare their fangs as their bodies grow in size. Some of the cursed ones heading to base camp are undergoing faster mutations.]
Chi-Woo blanched, and his lips trembled. Rather than helping him turn the grave situation around, the die had worsened it further.
‘Of all the things that could happen. What have I done?’ Chi-Woo was swept by regret and guilt. Chi-Woo stared down at the die blankly and wobbled. He had lost all the strength in his legs. He was picking up the die and considering rolling it again when one of his knees hit the ground. Chi-Woo barely managed to stop himself from toppling over. He stared down at the ground helplessly. It felt like everything was sinking around him.
“You’re doing well,” Mua Janya walked up to Chi-Woo and said. “I would have pulled you back if you tried to stop him.”
Chi-Woo scrunched his face. He kept thinking this wasn’t supposed to happen.
“But get up, sir,” Mua Janya said in a hearty voice. “This is his final moment. You should witness it.”
Chi-Woo flinched. He realized it was already too late when he jerked his head up to look at Giant Fist. The lizard man was already kneeling before a statue on the altar.
“…Therefore, pray ye.” Shahnaz Hawa was wearing a white shaman costume with pink sleeves and a crimson skirt wrapped with an indigo belt. “Oh, great last king residing in the Heavens, hallowed be your name…” Hawa proclaimed as she placed a holy branch on top of Giant Fist’s head with both hands before sweeping it over both of his shoulders. “Drink this.” She picked up a white bowl lying on the altar and gently held it to him. Inside the bowl, there were small black circular bundles that seemed to have been made from crushed and rolled up grass.
“Sleep, sir. You will be able to go peacefully.” It was clear from Hawa’s words that these were poison. Giant Fist reached out for the bowl without hesitation. When Chi-Woo looked up due to Mua Janya’s prompting, Giant Fist had already gulped one down. The effect was immediate. The poison circulated through his body quickly since he was in a weakened state. Giant Fist tilted as soon as he sat up.
Bam.
There was a heavy thud, followed by gasps people let out before holding their breath. The noon-time sun cast a blinding ray onto Giant Fist. Giant Fist looked up to the sky with his eyes half-closed. Flashes of images surfaced his mind. He had started his life in the garbage dump, but then a hand reached out to him. Since the moment he grabbed it, every day that followed felt like magic. It was fun. Of course, there were bad days as well, and there were some days that were so difficult to endure or burdened him so much that he couldn’t help but shudder or wish for death. But even those days were precious to him in retrospect.
‘I have no regrets…’ As these memories whizzed past him, Giant Fist closed his eyes. He recalled his first meeting with Choi Chi-Hyun during the lowest point in his life. His now purple lips curved into a smile before he stopped moving altogether. And then there was a different kind of silence. Mua Janya let out a quiet sigh.
“Good. You’ve done well.” Her calm farewell echoed in the quietness. “I will follow you soon.”
Staring blankly at Giant Fist, Chi-Woo couldn’t help but blurt out, “Why?”
Mua Janya looked at Chi-Woo like she thought he was being adorable. “That’s how it has to be. Giant Fist and I have been sent here for similar purposes.” She shrugged and rolled her eyes with a smirk. “This is the one role I will play in this world.”
“But—.”
“Didn’t I tell you before, sir, about the making of a hero?” Mua Janya said in a lowered voice. Chi-Woo swallowed his retort and recalled what she had said to him.
[A hero doesn’t become a hero due to their greatness alone.]
[Do you know why most heroes are the sole survivors of all kinds of adversaries and difficulties?]
[It’s because their dear families, companions, subordinates, masters, and even strangers have sacrificed themselves for them.]
[Why, there’s even a term for extras that no one even remembers—random villager A.]
[Who’s to say we won’t turn out like them?]
[Especially in a world like this.]
That’s what she had told him.
[You can’t do my line of work without recognizing that. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise.]
She had made up her mind a long time ago. There seemed to be nothing Chi-Woo could do to sway her. All he could do was weakly shake his head at her in disagreement.
“Why?” Mua Janya asked, “Are you planning to stop me?”
Chi-Woo couldn’t even open his mouth, let alone say anything.
“You know, sir.” Mua Janya knelt on one knee to face Chi-Woo properly. “Could I make one final request?” After meeting his eyes, she murmured quietly, “Even if you are a young master from a prestigious family, I am older than you, and this could be our last meeting.”
“…”
“Let me talk to you as an older sis once.” Mua Janya took Chi-Woo’s silence as agreement and made a circle with her thumb and middle finger. “Hey, kid. It’s a hundred years too early for you to stop me.” Then she smiled and muttered, “Like older brother, like younger brother. You two are so much alike.”
Bam!
Mua Janya gave Chi-Woo a finger-flick to the center of his forehead. Then, after flashing him a cheery smile, she rose to her feet and headed towards the altar without looking back. There was no trace of regret in the way she held herself. She soon kneeled down on the altar and prayed before taking the poison Shahnaz Hawa handed her. A couple of seconds passed, and Mua Janya remained praying on her knee. A couple of minutes passed, and yet Mua Janya hadn’t faltered. Only more time had passed did everyone realize that she had died at some point with no one the wiser.
Hawa placed the holy branch on Mua Janya’s head, and her head drooped. Even after death, she displayed unbelievable mental fortitude. Just like that, two heroes had offered themselves as sacrifices. The air grew heavy following Mua Janya’s death. Her sacrifice hit differently than Giant Fist’s. Not only were her skills comparable to him, but she was perfectly healthy and well-known as a hero.
Nevertheless, she had offered herself as a sacrifice, which had powerful repercussions. Soon after her death was revealed, another person stepped forward.
“Yohan!?” Eshnunna screamed. “What are you doing? Why are you doing this? Why?”
A small boy walked up to the altar; it was Salem Yohan. He paused midway and turned to Eshnunna. “I thought really hard for a couple of days,” he said in a low voice. “Sister, I’ve been thinking about how if it wasn’t for me, if I didn’t exist…you might have made a different choice.” Eshnunna had always been exceptionally smart and strong. “I might have been holding you back this whole time…”
Eshnunna’s mouth slowly widened in shock.
In contrast, Yohan had a big smile on his face. “I’m the real coward, and I don’t want to be one anymore.”
“No, don’t do this.”
“I’m sorry, sister, and thank you.”
“No, Yohan. Don’t do this!” Eshnunna was about to run towards him, but was stopped by Yohan’s fierce gaze.
“Sister.”
“Yohan, please…!”
“No,” Yohan said in a strong voice.
Eshnunna flinched. The siblings made exchanges with their fleeting glances, and Eshnunna was able to read her brother’s thoughts.
‘Are you planning to repeat the same mistake again?’ That was what Yohan was asking her silently, and Eshnunna was keen enough to read it.
Giant Fist had set the stage, Mua Janya had sent a message to the recruits, and now, it was time for a message to be sent to the natives. There were only two people who could perform the third task. Realizing what the two heroes had intended, Yohan willingly stepped forward.
“Yohan, Yohan…” Eshnunna looked around despite her shock. Her eyes caught the leader of the fifth recruit, who was left with only his head and his torso. Then her gaze shifted to the altar, where Giant Fist and Mua Janya lay dead.
Most of all, her eyes focused on Chi-Woo, who was on one knee and pale as a sheet. Giant Fist, Mua Janya, and Chi-Woo had seemed close, like comrades that had known each other for a long time. Even then, Chi-Woo had endured; he had gritted his teeth and endured while they sacrificed themselves even though it was obvious that he wanted to stop them. Eshnunna felt all energy leave her body.
Chi-Woo felt similarly. He hadn’t told Yohan all those things for him to sacrifice himself; he had just wanted Yohan to understand Eshnunna’s perspective and help her.
“I know that’s not what you meant.” Yohan smiled wryly when he felt Chi-Woo’s gaze. “But…we don’t have time for that anymore.” This World wasn’t waiting for Yohan to grow up. “So I’m trying to do what I can right now.” It was a practical decision, but it wasn’t a decision a child should have to make.
“…Before…” Yohan hesitated and suddenly opened his mouth again. “The snacks were tasty.” Now he smiled as a child would, and with those parting words, he hurriedly turned around—as if he was afraid that his determination would waver if he took any longer. He dropped to his knees as soon as he climbed onto the altar. Then he prayed and took the poison.
Eshnunna’s breathing was rough as she watched everything unfold without moving her eyes away from Yohan even once. It wasn’t long before Yohan’s body fell, and Eshnunna finally burst out crying. She collapsed onto the ground and wailed, baring her heart for all to see. Her sorrow was so great that everyone watching her felt their hearts break in sympathy.
A strange atmosphere permeated and enveloped the onlookers amid her gut-wrenching outburst, and the leader of the fifth recruits fell into deep contemplation. Even though he had lost both his eyes, he could still hear, and moreover, he could sense the heavy atmosphere around him. A ritual they had failed to perform had begun. While the fifth recruits hadn’t even managed to set up a ritual, the seventh recruits had been successful in putting things in motion.
‘Why?’ They had been close to succeeding. In fact, success had been right within their reach, but in the end, the fifth recruits had failed. What was the difference between the fifth and seventh recruits? The only thing he could think of was Giant Fist setting up the stage, and Mua Janya supporting him.
There had to be a foundation for a stage to be set up, and the foundation was built by a member of the seventh recruits. Following the thought process, the leader of the fifth recruits came to realize what had made the difference this time.
‘…Is that it?’
There was a deciding factor—hope. The seventh recruit had found a small piece of hope amid the mire and showed it to everyone. The fifth recruit hadn’t been able to do that, and the sixth recruits hadn’t even attempted to do that. That was what had led to the different outcome.
‘That’s why…’ It was simple now that he thought about it, so it was even more difficult to come to terms with their failure. There was only one thing left for him to do. The stage had been set, and the plan set into motion; now he needed to make sure the show went on smoothly. With his mind made up, the man asked a fellow hero next to him, “Please help me up there.”
“Are you asking m-me?”
“I’m useless in battles in this state. This is the least I can do.”
The woman was part of the fifth recruits as well, and she hesitated to do as he said. However, their leader insisted, and she gave in, carrying him and limping her way to the altar.
“It’ll be difficult for me to pray.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Hawa quietly prayed and passed the poison to him. Without making a sound, the man toppled to the ground.
“Is he gone…?”
His sacrifice had been calm and silent.
“He’s gone.” After confirming their leader’s death, the female hero looked up with flickering eyes, and was met with Hawa’s emotionless gaze. The female hero wasn’t in a good condition, either. While she had fared better than her leader, she had lost an arm, and one of her legs was paralyzed.
“Hah.” She had an inkling why her leader had asked her to take him to the altar at the very beginning—he was telling her to become a sacrifice like him. The hero took a deep breath and looked around before saying, “I guess there’s no other way. Might as well do this while I can given the circumstances.” She knelt in front of the statue, and those who had sacrificed themselves before her filled her vision: Giant Fist, Mua Janya, Salem Yohan, and Siegres Reinhardt, who had led the fifth recruits…
She accepted the poison with shaking hands and quickly gulped it down. Only then did she let out the breath she had been holding. “Everyone, take care of the rest.”
Since she was going to die anyway, she wanted to die in style. “Please survive.” She wanted to die without hesitating for even a second like Mua Janya. “And save this World…Liber…ugh!”
However, a tear fell from her misty eyes. The poison was spreading little by little as her body drooped. “Ah…” Her body wasn’t cooperating with her plan. “No…” The fear that she had been ignoring came rushing back to her. “I don’t want to die…” She regretted her decision and wanted to turn back time. “I want to live…!”
Never in her wildest dream would she imagine the last moment of her life as a hero to go like this. She thought that she would save many different Worlds and receive praise and respect, meet someone she loved, start a happy family, spend her old age surrounded by a big family, and finally pass away peacefully. She had never thought for a second that her dream wouldn’t become reality.
She began to cry. “But…I want to live…I don’t want to die…” She begged to live while crying. “I…need…to live…”
Startled by seeing the hero's true emotions, the natives looked on with a different expression—anxiety and pity had given way to empathy.
[We are heroes.]
Giant Fist’s final words finally began to reach them. The hero’s pleading cries joined Eshnunna’s mournful sobs until finally, her voice faded, and she was no longer with them. Two more people had sacrificed themselves. Chi-Woo looked on in a state of shock. He realized how arrogant and foolish he had been. He had promised Eshnunna that he would save her; he had promised her a happy ending where no one had to die and everyone could live. Chi-Woo had acted based on that belief, and this was the result of his decisions.
Eshnunna said, “I also, I also…”
“No, you mustn’t,” said Hawa.
“Why…?”
“Because you’ve already been saved. There must be a reason why you were saved. If you want to run away, do that after fulfilling your duty.”
Eshnunna had gone up to the altar and asked to be sacrificed like she was bewitched, but Hawa turned her away coldly. Chi-Woo lowered his head, too ashamed to even look at Eshnunna. During his time on Liber, Chi-Woo had given up on his desires for an exciting, wondrous adventure or special perks that would make him invincible. Still, he had naively thought that things were looking up.
However, the reality of Liber came crashing down on all of them. He felt smothered by the helplessness that plagued his childhood.
‘How…awful is this damn world that…’ He wanted to do something, but there wasn’t anything he could do. Without thinking, Chi-Woo dug his fingers deep into the dirt. That was when he felt someone approaching him.