Chapter 167: Before the Storm
Several days had passed since the Demon assault.
Thanks to Lia warning me about the assault in advance, the Academy suffered very little damage.
Although several buildings collapsed and a few people were injured, there were no fatalities.
That was because the Academy's response to the assault had been flawless.
The cadets evacuated quickly while simultaneously preparing ways to protect themselves, and the instructors took the lead in exterminating the Demons.
However, it was still unknown how the Demons had infiltrated the Academy.
The Association, knowing that I was still alive, tried to frame me as the culprit.
But that approach failed.
Because someone on our side knew every single corrupt act and crime the Association had committed.
Kim Tae-woo, the former Association watcher, ultimately exposed all the ugliness the Association had hidden over the years and succeeded in turning on the master who had treated him like a slave.
As a result, a large number of Pandemonium collaborators within the Association were uncovered, and the rotten roots of Hero society were finally cut away.
Naturally, Kim Tae-woo himself couldn't escape punishment.
Although he confessed out of guilt, it remained true that he had committed numerous illegal acts while serving under the Association.
As a result, he was put on trial.
Although his sentence had not yet been finalized, it was expected that he would inevitably serve prison time.
Even so, as he was led away in handcuffs, there wasn't the slightest trace of lingering regret on his face.
He had probably already seen his daughter recover.
I had kept my promise to him.
I had cured his daughter, who had been suffering from Demonic Energy Corrosion.
If possible, I would've preferred to treat her myself.
But I couldn't.
Although the Association had been thrown into chaos and there was no longer any need for me to remain imprisoned, the string of recent incidents had prompted the government to begin imposing restrictions on the once-independent Hero society.
According to Chun Ga-eun, there was no need to expose myself and give others a handle to use against me.
So I entrusted the task to someone I could trust.
Or rather...
A Demon.
Joo Sa-rang.
She was my childhood friend who had trained alongside me as an elite Demon long before I possessed this body, and she had once served under Biden.
Together with Lia, she was one of the collaborators helping me from within the Academy.
Joo Sa-rang cured the little girl's Demonic Energy Corrosion perfectly.
Once I explained the method, she quickly understood it and put it into practice.
That was probably because her ability, Material Manipulation, demanded exceptionally precise control over Demonic Energy from the start.
Beside me, Park Siwoo let out a long sigh.
"Did you see the news? It's complete chaos."
"I can't say I'm surprised. Who would've thought that the Association's senior officials weren't just collaborating with Pandemonium, but were actually trying to become Demons."
"It's worrying... People are starting to fear Heroes."
Over the past few months, the reputation of Heroes had fallen to rock bottom.
From the incidents at the Academy...
To the corruption within the Association.
People no longer trusted Heroes.
There were even growing calls for Heroes—who already enjoyed numerous privileges from the government—to be placed under stricter control.
Heroes were no longer seen as figures to admire.
Instead, people regarded them as ticking time bombs.
But now wasn't the time to worry about the world's political climate or public opinion.
"Do you really think this is what you should be worrying about right now?"
"Then what should we be worried about? Our futures are on the line too."
"You should be worrying about searching for Hero Baek Hyun-joong."
Now that the rotten roots within the Association that had been cooperating with Pandemonium had been cut away, it was finally time to search for Baek Hyun-joong.
"It seems you still haven't grasped the situation. Right now, we're standing in the calm before the storm."
"The calm before the storm?"
"Yeah. It wouldn't be strange if Pandemonium launched an all-out invasion this very moment."
They still hadn't truly experienced the fear and danger posed by the Demons.
The incidents that had occurred at the Academy weren't enough.
Because in the end...
They had always been the ones being protected.
During Hell Manifestation.
Even during the raid on Pandemonium's laboratory.
They had always been flowers carefully raised inside a greenhouse.
Watching them only made me more worried.
They still weren't ready.
Not only in terms of strength...
But mentally as well.
Even so...
The final war was steadily drawing near.
I could instinctively tell that the search for Baek Hyun-joong would become the signal that marked the beginning of the final war.
For Pandemonium, the search for Baek Hyun-joong was the last thing they wanted.
He was the one who had ended the Great War and defeated their ruler.
To them, stopping that search was an absolute necessity.
And that wasn't all.
The place where Baek Hyun-joong was waiting for me...
Was none other than the Gate.
If the barrier concealing and protecting the Gate disappeared, Pandemonium would no longer have any reason to remain patient.
Everything they had done up until now—corrupting the Academy from within and orchestrating countless incidents—had ultimately been for one purpose.
To find the 'Gate.'
And reach it.
In other words...
The moment the Gate revealed itself, Pandemonium would invade the Academy with all of its forces.
How could I be so certain?
Because I had already seen the ending of <Become a Hero> countless times.
But reality differed from the game.
Or rather...
The situation was even worse.
The growth of the main characters, who were supposed to take center stage, was still incomplete.
Meanwhile, Pandemonium's military strength remained overwhelming.
In the game's final chapter, most of the High-ranking Executives had already been defeated.
Now, although the Heavenly Demon had weakened them, four executives still remained alive.
Of course...
That didn't mean there was no hope.
In the game, the characters spent three years growing stronger.
But in the process, they lost countless companions.
The Sword Emperor.
Helena's father, Oliver Raiders.
Master Craftsman Gu Ryun.
And many others.
Kang Jae-seok.
Maybell.
Yoo I-seo.
So many of them disappeared long before the final chapter even began.
That was precisely why I had continued cursing every time I cleared the game.
There wasn't a single happy ending where everyone survived.
Only tragedy.
But now...
Things were different.
The Academy's countless allies were all still alive.
I had brought every single one of them this far.
Saving them hadn't been merely for my own satisfaction.
Every one of them had been a key force capable of changing the course of the game.
That was why I intended to make full use of their strength.
I looked at Helena and Dan Cheon-woo.
"Did you ask them about the things I requested?"
Both of them reacted.
The proposal I had asked them to deliver was for the Sword Emperor and Oliver Raiders to work together.
Each of them was a Top-ranking Hero.
The strongest beings in the world.
Their cooperation alone would give us hope against Pandemonium's full-scale invasion.
Dan Cheon-woo spoke first.
"My grandfather accepted your proposal."
"And Helena?"
"Well..."
Helena hesitated.
Come to think of it...
She and her father, Oliver, weren't on good terms.
Originally, several story arcs would have resolved their emotional conflict, allowing Helena to fully awaken her power.
But because fate had changed due to my interference...
Those events never happened.
The same was true for Dan Cheon-woo and the others.
I intended to make up for those missing awakenings through the trials leading to the Gate.
That wasn't how they were originally meant to be used.
But there was no other choice.
"I don't know the details of your family situation, but things aren't looking good right now. We don't know when Pandemonium will launch its full offensive. If you wait until after we're attacked to fix things, it'll already be too late."
Helena shook her head.
"No, that's not the problem. He accepted the proposal, but..."
"Then what's the problem?"
"My father said... he absolutely has to meet you."
"...Me?"
Helena nodded.
There was an odd uneasiness on her face.
I thought about it for a moment.
Why would that man want to meet me?
There was practically no connection between us.
He probably didn't even know what I looked like.
Then Dan Cheon-woo, who was standing beside us, spoke.
"Lord Oliver is famous for being an overprotective father."
"I already know that."
When it came to Helena, Oliver completely lost all reason.
It stemmed from the guilt he felt for failing to take proper care of her in the past.
Even in <Become a Hero>, he absolutely despised Park Siwoo and Dan Cheon-woo.
Especially Dan Cheon-woo.
He practically hounded him relentlessly.
Partly because Dan Cheon-woo had broken off their engagement on his own.
But more fundamentally because the Sword Emperor's family had arranged that engagement in the first place.
Still...
What did that have to do with him wanting to meet me?
Unable to hold back any longer, Park Siwoo clicked his tongue.
"Sung-woo, sometimes you're unbelievably dense."
"What? Where did that come from?"
"After Helena found out you were a Demon, she completely fell apart."
"..."
I already knew that.
And I did feel guilty about it.
Wait.
Only then did I finally understand what was going on.
Oliver treasured Helena more than anything.
And I...
Was the bastard who had mercilessly shattered his daughter's heart.
Then...
What would he do after meeting me?
"You'd better run if you meet Lord Oliver. He might actually tear you limb from limb."
"What the hell?! What are you two even talking about?!"
Helena shouted, her face bright red.
Her expression was admittedly hilarious.
Unfortunately...
I wasn't in any position to laugh.
"What am I supposed to do?"
What else?
This was all the consequence of my own actions.
"Well... it'll work out somehow. Surely he won't actually kill me."
Even if he met me, there wasn't much he could really do.
At worst...
He'd probably challenge me to a spar like the Sword Emperor did.
I knew exactly how powerful Oliver Raiders was.
His abilities were essentially a superior version of Helena's.
Besides, his skill was somewhat below the Sword Emperor's.
Even if we sparred, it couldn't possibly be as difficult as my match with the Sword Emperor.
If it was for the sake of saving the world...
A little sparring was nothing.
Then Dan Cheon-woo poured cold water over my optimism.
"For your information, Lord Oliver is famous for having an absolutely awful personality."
"That's quite a thing to say in front of his daughter."
"Anyway, let's stop talking about Lord Oliver before he even gets here. Dan Cheon-woo, what happened to the other favor I asked you to handle?"
"You mean that? I was told the proposal has been delivered, but they still haven't received a reply."
There had been one more special favor I had asked Dan Cheon-woo to arrange.
To borrow the strength of Master Craftsman Gu Ryun, the owner of the Chiwoo Workshop, and have equipment forged for us.
When it came to character growth, levels, stats, and skills were important.
But equipment was just as crucial.
Simply possessing endgame equipment could completely change the course of the game.
Unfortunately...
None of the main characters currently possessed endgame gear.
Thanks to consistently clearing Fragments, we had already gathered several valuable materials.
But there was no one capable of forging them.
Of course, the blacksmiths of the Chiwoo Workshop were highly skilled.
Even so...
For the war that was rapidly approaching...
We needed the finest weapons.
That was why I had asked the Sword Emperor to introduce me to the Master Craftsman.
He was the greatest blacksmith alive, the man responsible for forging countless pieces of endgame equipment.
If our weapons were forged by his hands...
They would undoubtedly change the course of the coming war.
The day I would finally meet Baek Hyun-joong was right around the corner.
Part of me looked forward to it.
And another part...
Couldn't help but fear it.