The secret to success in Tirna had always been simple. You just needed to be better than others. People with ability received recognition. This was Tirna's unique advantage, different from other countries where discrimination based on status was rampant, regardless of gender or age.
'Of course, Tirna isn't a completely ideal place without discrimination. Discrimination exists here too. Sometimes it's even filthy and insidious.'
However, the fact that it was relatively better than neighboring countries couldn't be denied. As a result, many people from other countries came to Tirna. From those who came with permission to those who entered illegally.
'Naturally, the latter are overwhelmingly more numerous.'
Consequently, incidents and accidents related to this never ceased in Tirna. It was natural since those with ability received respect. Such things didn't always work as advantages.
'Where there is light, there is darkness.'
Merit-based society, conversely, created a class system based on ability. At the same time, if someone had ability, they were tolerated even for immoral and unethical behavior. This was the duality that the world possessed.
When it crossed the appropriate line, the city government would bring down the hammer, but it was undeniable that it was laissez-faire - they generally didn't interfere.
'As a result, people became even more obsessed with ability, even abandoning their humanity.'
But in the end, they gave up and collapsed.
Their next choice was simple.
'Grabbing the ankles of those who were ahead.'
They didn't even need to hinder those who were ahead. When they saw promising buds rising fiercely from below, they would try to eliminate them in advance. The latter case was overwhelmingly more common.
'Those without talent are eliminated in Tirna. But those with talent become targets of envy. They crumble under external attacks.'
It wouldn't do to lack talent, nor to have it. Then how should one survive in Tirna?
'Not mediocre talent, but overwhelming talent.'
Becoming an irreplaceable existence that no one could touch.
In Tirna, there were many flowers that withered without fully blooming their talent. Nevertheless, new buds grew between the rotting petals. Because such people gathered there.
Even in such gaps, there existed flowers that bloomed by overcoming adversity and hardship. To them, Osian must have been such a person. That's why, now that he was treated as a hero, they would have tried to eliminate him before others could act.
But even that attempt had failed because of the man standing before Osian.
'No. I don't even know if it's a man or woman, child or elder.'
The man before his eyes looked like a heavily armed special forces soldier, but he couldn't feel the sound of a heartbeat from him. Because that was nothing more than an automaton mimicking human form.
'An automaton resembling a human. Unless it reveals that artificial skin, it's not even easy to distinguish.'
Osian knew from rumors too that there were only a handful of people in this city with such perverted tastes.
And someone who would come to help him at a time like this - there was only one such person.
‘Mayor Deliphiros assistant.'
The name... he didn't know. The publicly known name would be fake anyway. Instead, there was a title he was called by.
"Puppeteer."
"Call me whatever is comfortable."
The Puppeteer didn't bother to deny Osian's words. He preferred being called this way too.
"So, what's this all about suddenly?"
"I detected suspicious movements from those targeting you. So I moved directly to protect your safety."
"Do you know who's trying to attack me?"
"Military background. Plus they hired external mercenaries."
"Hmm. People who would inevitably have grudges against me."
However, strange parts still remained.
"Even so, you appeared at just the right timing when they were targeting me. As if it was blatantly orchestrated."
At Osian's words, Asmer manifested starlight over his sword. The twin holy swords illuminated the surrounding darkness. He was ready to cut necks at the slightest wrong move.
"Are you suspecting me?"
Automatons controlled by the Puppeteer appeared between the alleyways. They wore uniforms reminiscent of special forces made of brass material and armor with mechanical clockwork turning. Red light shone in various forms - lines, crosses, and dots - over masks covering their entire faces.
The numbers were many, but only one controlled them all. The Puppeteer's main body. This was exactly what made the Puppeteer remarkable.
'His identity hasn't been revealed, and it's unknown how many automatons he can control.'
The human-like automatons weren't everything either. If he wanted, he could also control combat-related automatons. The range of automatons he controlled even exceeded Tirna's 'districts.' It meant he could operate in different numbered districts simultaneously. Not being bound by location - there was no greater cheat than this.
"Are you suspecting me right now?"
"I just want to make sure of everything."
"The Mayor holds you in high regard. There's no reason to eliminate you. My will is the Mayor's will. Any other interpretation would be unpleasant."
"If you knew there were those targeting me, you didn't need to come out directly like this."
He could have moved in advance to prevent it. Appearing at such timing could only be seen as calculated.
"If we prevented it in advance, we couldn't round up all the troublemakers at once."
The Puppeteer revealed this honestly without hiding it.
"So you essentially used me as bait."
"I knew you weren't bait that would die to the likes of these guys."
That was also true. Even if the Puppeteer hadn't come to help, Osian and Asmer would have gotten through without much danger. Still intervening was a kind of showing off. And the Puppeteer didn't try to hide that either. Osian chuckled.
"Bold. I like seeing that."
Rather than hiding it ambiguously, revealing it so openly at least earned points from a knight. If that was what he was aiming for, it was praiseworthy enough to deserve a compliment sticker.
"So, what's the main point?"
"As I said, it was to eliminate troublemakers through you. Tirna needs a hero. Even more so to get through chaotic times like now."
"I know the reason for forcibly making me a hero. But that can't be the entire reason."
"Incidentally, he wants to use your goodwill to bring you over to our side."
At those words, Asmer's eyes widened in surprise. His expression asked if it was okay to say such things so honestly.
"What of it? There's nothing to hide anyway. Since the other party already knows, trying to hide it obviously would only make the impression worse."
Indeed, the Puppeteer was quite skilled. He wasn't Mayor Deliphiros' assistant for nothing.
"And originally, the Mayor said it would be better to speak clearly without hiding anything."
"I wondered why you were speaking so obediently despite being suspicious, but it was an order from above."
Recalling Deliphiros' appearance from that day, it was quite convincing. He was truly a remarkable man. That's why he had climbed to such a position at such a young age.
"The Mayor continues to watch you closely. He's very curious whether your actions will become the city's hope or poison."
"Let me tell you, I'm not that favorable toward this city."
While working as a fixer, he had seen many ugly things in Tirna. If anything, he felt disgust. That emotion had been maximized due to the Eternal Church incident.
"You let the beasts swarming in this place run wild without controlling them, so what makes this a city for humans?"
What kills humans the most is ultimately humans. That probably couldn't be denied. The city shouldn't be taken by other races? Protect the city from monsters? At least from Osian's perspective, those who had once been human that he saw in that bloody banquet hall that day were far more terrible monsters.
"So don't expect ideal heroic behavior from me. It's just an image you people arbitrarily imposed anyway."
The Puppeteer didn't respond. He only stared at Osian with a piercing red light. It might have been intimidating enough to make one flinch, but Osian defiantly didn't avoid his gaze.
"Be careful."
The Puppeteer said while turning his back. The presences felt between the alleyways quickly grew distant.
"Many target you. Probably more will increase in the future. The more brilliantly you shine, the more broken ones in this city who want to break that light. Including myself."
Why was that? That voice subtly tinged with bitterness seemed like the first genuine emotion the Puppeteer had shown.
"So don't break and struggle as much as possible. The Mayor would be disappointed if you broke futilely."
"You too, tell him to do well so I won't be disappointed."
The Puppeteer didn't even respond and disappeared as if melting into the darkness of night.
"What exactly was that guy?"
Asmer asked. He seemed quite curious due to the unique presence and appearance the Puppeteer had shown.
"Indeed. Perhaps, he might be someone who once received countless expectations."
"What? Is that really true?"
"It's just speculation. No one knows his real identity. Only Mayor Deliphiros would know."
"More than that, I was surprised. I didn't expect them to be moving like this already."
For Asmer, becoming a hero only had positive images. The chivalric novels he read while living with his grandfather always ended that way. Becoming a hero, receiving people's praise, and living a happy life.
"I felt it before, but this place is really terribly dangerous despite appearances."
In Tirna, becoming a hero was a completely different story. People didn't ideally follow heroes like in stories.
Some envied, some feared, and some acted to kill the hero.
The same went for those who followed heroes. They arbitrarily used the hero's image to satisfy their own desires. They would use the hero's voice to propagate their unreasonable claims as if they were the truth.
For Asmer, who only had images of admiration for heroes, Tirna's attitude was very confusing. It would be nauseating too.
"Asmer. The world is ultimately a collection of all kinds of people living together. Stories written from any single perspective are just a part of it."
"So this is reality. Excessively cold and harsh."
"Right."
Asmer fell into thought as if chewing on something.
"Are you feeling disappointed now?"
"Honestly, yes. However, I don't know if I'm qualified to feel disappointed."
"Ho."
"As you said, the world is harsh. It was different from my expectations. But conversely, because it's such a cold world, light seems to shine more brilliantly and warmly."
If there were only starlight in the sky, people wouldn't consider it beautiful. They would just think it's natural.
People feel light because there is darkness. Because there is a pitch-black night sky, the stars shining in those gaps are more beautiful and valuable. It's ironic. True happiness exists within suffering.
"Moving forward without losing oneself in such a world. That's exactly the mindset we should have."
"Oh! You truly are the Successor!"
"More than that, it's gotten late. Let's head back quickly. You should also go rest. There will be work tomorrow too."
Asmer was about to agree when it happened. His eyes sharpened as he stared into the void.
"Who's there!"
"What's with you suddenly? Why so scary?"
With a coquettish voice from the void, Seren Gracia popped out. At her appearance, Asmer hurriedly sheathed his sword.
"Se, Seren! I'm sorry!"
"Well, looking at the surroundings, you'd have to be sensitive."
Seren narrowed her eyes as she looked at the traces of a storm having swept through once.
"More than that, what happened here? You look busy."
"Right. I actually came looking for you about an important matter."
Seren looked directly at Osian. Unlike her usual appearance of hiding emotions, she looked strangely urgent.
Osian instinctively knew that something had happened somewhere he didn't know about.
"The Broker Union mentioned your name."
"Me?"
"They officially announced they'll file charges against you - a fixer who leads a private group."
It seemed trials had come faster than expected.