This World Needs a Hero

Chapter 321:

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Darkness engulfed everything in the blink of an eye.

Although no message appeared due to the shattering of Iris of Laplace, he immediately grasped what was happening.

The situation was identical to when he first visited the Library of Memories to view Ted’s memories.

Darkness consumed his vision, and only a voice could be heard.

Rosalyn's figure emerged from the darkness: white hair, white eyes, a calm and graceful face, and a neatly arranged priest’s robe.

He had never felt any special affection or longing for her.

She had treated him like a chess piece, following Zero’s orders.

However, meeting her at the end of this journey, after being together from the very beginning, stirred emotions within me that he couldn't quite understand.

Perhaps it was because, in his absence, she had given her life to protect Rosenstark.

“…….”

Words came to mind, but he needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

“I didn’t expect to meet you at this moment.”

But, unfortunately, what returned were the same predetermined words, the same predetermined responses.

“Please be informed that most interactions, including conversations, are restricted.”

“…Is that so?”

A brief explanation followed.

The Rosalyn before me was merely an information relay device, not even a thought-form.

It was a mechanical existence that responded only to preset inputs, devoid of reason.

A slight sense of emptiness lingered in my chest.

“Thus, only a brief guide is possible.”

“What kind of guide?”

“Regarding the memories left behind by my true self, Rosalyn Requiem.”

Rosalyn’s image raised her hand.

White light began to spread in the darkness.

“Before accessing the memories, I will convey the words left by my true self.”

He listened closely, and after a brief silence, the voice continued.

“Hello, my brother.”

The previously expressionless image now smiled brightly, as if it had regained life.

“If you are hearing this greeting, then I am no longer a homunculus in this world.”

A subtle play on words.

A soft chuckle followed.

It was the same voice, but it carried warmth that the image could never replicate.

“First of all, congratulations. After a long and arduous journey, you have reached your destination, with just one step remaining.”

Even though he knew she couldn't hear, he responded.

“Thank you, Rosalyn. You played a significant part in getting here.”

“But before you complete that task, I believe you should know the truth.”

The truth.

The unexpected word momentarily took him aback.

“When you asked before if there were any remaining memories of the master, I said there weren’t.”

“Yes, you did.”

“That was a lie. In fact, one memory remained. The memory of the very last moment.”

Rosalyn’s image smiled awkwardly, yet somehow it seemed relieved.

“To the master, sharing this memory would be considered the utmost defiance.”

“…And yet, you’re showing it to me. Despite following Zero’s orders without question.”

“But considering that the master did not erase this memory from me, I think a part of him might have wanted this memory to be conveyed to you.”

He was at a loss for words.

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His curiosity surged, wondering what kind of memory it could be.

“I believe you have the right. The right to choose what you believe is right.”

Those were her last words.

Rosalyn’s image shattered into countless pieces.

He gazed blankly at the glowing fragments in the darkness.

Soon….

Paaaah!

The light rapidly intensified, flooding the entire space.

.

.

.

…When the hero opened his eyes again, he found himself in a laboratory.

The room was filled with intricately arranged lab equipment, large and small flasks, test tubes, and other complex devices whose purposes were unknown.

‘This is….’

But among them, one thing stood out above the rest.

[Whoa… Look at that.]

A device similar to the bio-reactor he had seen in Depikio Lugo’s lab was emitting a mysterious light at the center of the laboratory.

The massive device looked almost like the heart of some living being.

Tiny bubbles swelled inside the glass exterior, and the green culture fluid fluctuated irregularly. And within it….

[It’s you.]

‘…Yes, it’s me.’

Upon closer inspection, a label reading “■■” was attached to the lower part of the device.

And….

“Yes… It’s inevitable. It has to be.”

A man, busily moving in front of the hero, was jotting something down on a piece of paper.

His profile looked familiar, likely from spending so much time with Izaro.

However, his demeanor had drastically changed.

??? muttered in a low voice.

[If I ran into him on the street, I wouldn’t recognize him.]

The hero was equally surprised.

To put it simply, he seemed obsessed.

His eyes bore the fatigue of countless sleepless nights, yet his gaze was eerily sharp and obsessive as he stared at the device.

His hair had been disheveled for a long time, and the various chemical stains on his robe sleeves, combined with the blue smoke constantly rising from the pipe in his mouth, created an unsettling atmosphere.

‘Like ??? said, he’s so different from how he appeared in the memories.’

Zero had once been a warm and kind person, albeit somewhat hot-tempered.

The hero had admired his noble spirit when Zero took responsibility for a fairy spouse during the first era, where non-human species were ostracized, and tirelessly worked to prevent Platooz Namsov’s tyranny.

‘Did he suffer too much after single-handedly rebuilding the second era and preparing for what came after?’

Decades had passed since then, and Zero had changed beyond recognition.

The hero looked at him with a complicated mix of emotions.

‘…By the way, is this Rosalyn’s perspective?’

That was correct.

Adjusting his viewpoint, the hero saw Rosalyn standing a few steps behind Zero, watching him with deep concern.

Her lips parted slowly.

“Will you dispose of it?”

After a brief but heavy silence, Zero slumped into his chair, shaking his head.

“No, I can’t. I cannot destroy the arrangement with the highest chance of defeating the Demon King with my own hands.”

“Then….”

“Plan B.”

Rosalyn remained silent.

However, the hero noticed the growing discontent on her face.

She had always referred to him as ‘Master’ and held him in high esteem.

What could Plan B possibly be to make her wear such an expression?

“Rosalyn.”

The hero wasn’t the only one who noticed her dissatisfaction.

Zero turned his chair and spoke expressionlessly.

“Remember this. We have failed.”

“…….”

“We completely failed to instill in him an absolute and eternal goodwill towards humans.”

“Perhaps Depikio Lugo will succeed….”

Rosalyn couldn't finish her sentence.

It was because Zero had suddenly stood up and positioned himself in front of her.

“Do you really believe that?”

“…….”

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“Answer me, Rosalyn.”

Rosalyn answered quietly.

“No, I don't.”

Zero, who had been glaring at her for a long time, returned to his seat.

This time, he turned his back to the bio-reactor.

“Whether it's good or evil, intentional or not….”

A slow, tired voice continued.

“A doppelgänger is inevitably a being that will bring chaos to the human world. That’s my conclusion. So this is just a minimal safety measure.”

“…But he’s likely in a state where he loves humans enough to defeat the Demon King, right willingly?”

“Loves humans, you say. That might be true.”

Zero put down his pipe.

“But a hundred years from now… two hundred years from now, will he still be able to love humans?”

At that moment, ??? spoke for the first time, with a confused voice.

[Wait a minute. No way…]

The hero didn’t respond and continued to listen to the conversation.

He was gradually realizing where this story was headed.

“I've placed the life of a single homunculus and the safety of all mankind on the scales. The first era’s humans suffered enough from trusting in unknown outcomes and meeting disaster.”

“Master….”

“My mind is already made up.”

After finishing his words, Zero reached out and caressed the surface of the bio-reactor.

It was near where the hero’s face was located.

As if shaking off any hesitation, Zero clenched his hand tightly.

“Plan B. When the Demon King’s destruction is confirmed, the experiment subject who fulfilled his purpose will also be destroyed.”

“…….”

“Yes, that will do. That will….”

Rosalyn stood still, then slowly turned around.

Her voice, sounding choked, continued.

“Master, do you really… If this was your plan, why did you give us names….”

“Rosalyn.”

Rosalyn did not answer and simply headed out of the lab.

Perhaps it was her first act of defiance.

Even at that moment, Zero continued to gaze at the hero within the bio-reactor.

His sigh, mingled with mutterings, reached the hero's ears at the end of his memory.

“I'm sorry. I….”

A complex laboratory.

Zero.

Rosalyn.

His own self with closed eyes.

Everything quickly faded and disappeared.

The hero returned to the pitch-black darkness.

‘…Do I still have more memories left?’

But Rosalyn's apparition did not appear.

Only silence and darkness existed in the space.

Perhaps it was to give him time to process the shocking truth he had just faced.

The hero let out a long sigh and sank to the ground.

‘…Well, that’s good.’

Now, the parts that hadn’t made sense became clear.

The prophecy of the Observer, Laplace, flashed through his mind.

“The Demon King led to your birth, so your death will also be with the Demon King.”

“Yes… that’s how it was. In a way, it was inevitable….”

And those uncomfortable expressions that Izaro had occasionally shown.

He, too, must have known this ending as Zero’s homunculus.

The dreams he had before must have been along the same lines.

Dreams in which Zero tried to ask for his forgiveness, apologizing for all that had happened.

As the many pieces of the puzzle fell into place all at once, the hero could only laugh in disbelief.

“The right to choose what you believe to be correct….”

It was a choice that’s difficult if difficult, easy if easy.

The hero murmured softly.

“Rosalyn really knows me well.”

It was then that ???, who had been silent, spoke in an angry voice.

[You fool. Do you really intend to play into Zero's hands until the very end? Even knowing all this? You should be turning around and running away right now, and even that might not be enough!]

“If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have come this far in the first place.”

[Do you think this is just about death? Even if everything ends well, you'll be pushed to oblivion with no reward…]

As ??? continued speaking, he slowly fell silent.

It was because he noticed the hero's trembling hand.

[You…]

“Could you please not say anything?”

[Grr…]

??? let out a growl, as if his anger was boiling over.

Yes.

Just as the hero couldn’t fully understand his own life of hatred and persecution.

He, too, could not fully understand the hero's feelings.

But one thing was certain: he was still going to fight the Demon King.

‘You should’ve set a better example. One that Zero could trust us by.’

[That… Damn it, I’m sorry.]

‘Forget it.’

The hero chuckled as he stood up.

‘Well then, shall we go?’

But the return to reality did not happen immediately.

Fwoooosh-!

‘……?’

[……?]

The space, which had been filled with darkness, began to be filled with light once again.

[Wait, what is this?]

‘…Another memory?’

And when the brilliant light had all faded away.

The hero, having forgotten even his sense of despair, could only stare at the new owner of the memory.

“…Ted.”

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