Chapter 7: The Hero and the Monster
In the shadowed heart of Lunira's dense forest, where the twin suns' rays flickered faintly through a canopy of thick leaves, my world was abruptly upended by a revelation I never saw coming. Before me stood the young adventurer I'd defeated and killed multiple times, her words unveiling a truth that felt like the earth had been yanked from beneath my feet: she was Mirai Houvague Tantenium, one of the chosen heroes of this world, destined by the goddess to brave the perilous towers and confront the Demon Lords, including Tiera Urahica Freya, the formidable ruler of the Tower of Doom, also known as the Tower of Darkness.
These heroes, revered as the world's champions, were the only ones permitted to enter the sacred towers. Many were chosen, each with distinct roles tailored to their divine missions. Some were tasked with protecting humanity from the monstrous hordes that plagued towns and villages—a role that brought immense honor, as they were celebrated as saviors by the people.
"You're one of the heroes of this world?" I echoed, my voice thick with astonishment and disbelief. My crossbow hung limp at my side, but my gaze remained locked on Mirai, who was wiping tears and grime from her face. Her warrior's armor was tattered, streaked with dirt and torn from her latest misadventure, and her appearance was far from the heroic archetype I'd envisioned—a commanding figure wielding a divine sword, exuding unshakable confidence. Instead, Mirai looked like an ordinary girl, chatty and plagued by misfortune, more in need of rescue than capable of saving the world.
"Yeah, that's me," she replied, her tone a blend of boredom and resignation. "But don't expect anything grand. I didn't ask for this. When I got dumped here, I thought being an adventurer would be a breeze, but all I got was sore muscles and pathetic pay."
"Wait," I interjected, unable to mask my incredulity. "If you're the goddess's chosen hero, how come you look more miserable than I do?"
Her eyes flashed with irritation, clearly stung by my words. "Hey, I didn't choose this!" she snapped, her voice rising as she vented her frustration. "I tried to make a decent life here, but it's not that easy, okay?" She explained how she'd struggled to adapt, her dreams of a stable existence crushed by the harsh realities of Lunira.
"That's why I ended up waiting tables and bouncing between odd jobs in town just to get by," she continued, her indignation giving way to defeat. "It's easier to be a worker than to fight monsters like you."
I shook my head, torn between disappointment and pity. I didn't know whether to laugh or scowl at her choice to waste five years in town as a laborer. Imagine—a revered hero of Lunira, meant to protect the world from monsters, choosing to serve food because she couldn't handle the pain of combat?
"Look at fate's cruel irony," I muttered to myself, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "Here I am, desperate to be an adventurer, stuck as a dark dwarf, a mere extra in this story. Meanwhile, you, with the chance to be a hero, chose to slave away for merchants, squandering the divine privilege the heavens granted you just to serve meals in a backwater town."
The forest was eerily silent, save for the soft chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves beneath our feet. My sack of boar meat and jug of water lay abandoned on the ground, their weight mirroring the heavy questions swirling in my mind. How had our fates ended up like this? Why did the goddess's chosen ones feel like pawns in a game we hadn't agreed to play?
I began to wonder about the broader implications. In my five years in Lunira, I'd never sensed any special connection to other Earthlings, despite crossing paths with Mirai multiple times. "Does this mean we're not the only ones from Earth stranded here?" I mused, studying her face, now faintly smiling despite the smudges of dirt. "Maybe I've met others before and never noticed. After all, I'm not the one the goddess chose for a grand mission. I'm just an extra, with no special role in this story," I whispered to myself.
That thought hit me like a punch to the chest. "That goddess is so unfair," I muttered, my voice laced with bitterness. I recalled the roulette of fate I'd spun years ago, which had promised a hero's destiny—clearly not mine. I was sent here to be a cog in this world, a monster hunted by adventurers for their crystal rewards. No grand purpose, no divine calling. "If that's the case, why should I be surprised I can't sense the goddess's chosen ones?" I thought, my grip tightening on my crossbow.
Mirai caught my muttering. "What'd you say?" she asked, tilting her head like a curious child.
"Nothing, just ignore me," I replied quickly, embarrassed she'd overheard my griping. I lowered my crossbow completely, no longer aiming at her, to show I meant no harm. For the first time, I felt a genuine desire to connect with another Earthling, hoping she wasn't like the spoiled, demanding Tiera, who did nothing but sulk and boss me around in my own home.
"Get up," I said, my tone softer. "I won't hurt you, as long as you promise not to cause trouble and behave."
She complied instantly, standing and thanking me with a warmth that contrasted sharply with her warrior's attire. "Thank you, Mr. Dwarf!" she said, her voice brimming with relief. "You know, I owe so much to the guild. If I die again, they might not bother reviving me at the chapel. My life's such a mess!"
As she brushed dirt from her clothes, she launched into a story, talking as if we were old friends. She was so chatty that, without me even asking, she spilled her tale of woe. "I don't know where I'll get the money to pay my debts," she said, her voice heavy with defeat. "The places I used to work won't take me back. And the interest on my loans is insane! This isn't how my life was supposed to turn out if I'd gotten a good spin on the roulette of fate."
She kept talking, and before I could interrupt, she broke into tears. "Wahh! I don't want to end up as a call girl!" she wailed, wiping her eyes. "I'm too young to ruin my future!" She recounted how her creditors hounded her, sometimes harassing her to pay on time. When she couldn't, they seized her possessions, the little she'd earned in five years in Lunira. Even her guild had all but abandoned her, and only a friend's intervention ensured her revival at the chapel.
I didn't understand why she was telling me all this unprompted. Honestly, I didn't need to know her struggles, but her torrent of words was like a storm I couldn't stop. "Hold on, Miss," I said, my patience wearing thin. "It's not that I don't like you, but can you quiet down? I'm not interested in your life story. I've got my own problems in this world."
She stopped crying, wiped her tears, and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," she said, her voice calmer. "I just needed to vent. It's tough when you've got no one to talk to."
I understood her, and part of me wanted to offer sympathy. But I had bigger questions nagging at me. "I get it," I said, trying to be kinder. "I'd help if I could, but I'm swamped right now. If there's a way, though, I can try to ease your troubles."
"Really? You'd help me?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.
"Yeah," I replied. "I'm not heartless. If I can do something, just say so." But inwardly, I regretted my words. How could I help her when I was facing a bigger crisis? I'd almost forgotten about Tiera, the Demon Lord threatening my life, ready to make me her slave or—worse—her partner.
Mirai beamed, clearly touched by my offer. "That's great," she said. "I thought you were a bad guy, Mr. Dwarf. You don't look kind at all."
"Oh, really?" I shot back, hands on my hips. "What do you think I'm like, then?"
"Well, you know," she started, hesitating. "Like monsters in shows—evil, barbaric, and… sex maniacs." She added, "Plus, dirty, smelly, and rude, so it's normal for you to do gross things."
"Stop it!" I snapped, incredulous at her description. "Sure, that's what you'd think of a monster, but let me tell you, I was human once! I bathe, and I'm educated!" Deep down, her words stung. She wasn't entirely wrong about some monsters, but being painted with such a vile brush hurt. I couldn't deny that I sometimes acted like a monster, but I fought those instincts, clinging to my memories of being a civilized human from Earth.
Mirai noticed my reaction and quickly backtracked. "Oh, I know you're not like that, Mr. Dwarf. I believe you," she said, but her eyes drifted to my hand. I realized I was still holding the dirty magazine I'd taken from her trap. "Except for some things," she muttered under her breath.
The moment turned awkward. I shoved the magazine behind my back and forced a laugh, sounding unhinged. "Hahaha… ha-ha…" I stammered, desperate to change the subject. "By the way, I don't know your name yet. You can call me Karma," I said, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Karma?" she asked, curious. The name came from my special ability, which let me grant luck or misfortune to a being depending on the situation. She didn't press for details and introduced herself. "I'm Mirai Houvague Tantenium, 16 years old. I'm a knight, but since I'm not of age, I can't work in the capital yet. So I'm stuck in this town for another four years."
Her frustration with her situation was palpable, and since she'd already shared her debt troubles, I decided to ask more pressing questions. "If you've been here five years, why's your swordsman level so low?" I asked, puzzled. "Shouldn't you be stronger by now?"
She gave a wry smile. "Truth is, I wasn't interested in being an adventurer at first. When I got here, I thought fighting would be easy, but a week of quests just left me sore and broke. So when someone offered me a job as a waiter, I took it and started doing odd jobs around town."
I grimaced. She was lucky to be human in this world, with a chance to be an adventurer, and she chose to be a waiter? "Fate's got a twisted sense of humor," I muttered, barely believing it. "You squandered the chance to thrive in this world, while I, who'd kill to be human and an adventurer, got stuck as a monster extra."
I wasn't sure if I was jealous or angry, but I realized I couldn't judge her. "Since you're from Earth, doesn't that mean the goddess gave you a destiny too?" I asked. "Shouldn't you have special abilities or privileges? Why do you seem so weak as a warrior?"
She laughed, amused by my question. "You mean my talent points? I asked the goddess about that. She said I didn't need high levels because I'm naturally strong, fast, and powerful." She shook her head. "But I don't know. I feel like she scammed me too."
I smirked, sharing her sentiment. "Same here. She sent me here as a monster, and to top it off, this body barely has combat skills, even with high status points," I said. I shared my own misfortune with the roulette of fate—how I'd hoped for at least one stroke of luck, only to be cheated three times. "It's just not fair," I added, my voice heavy with frustration.
"We're in the same boat, Mr. Karma," she said, sighing. "I didn't like my roulette result either. I wasn't a gamer or an active person back on Earth. I hate fighting, and now I'm supposed to battle monsters and save the world? I complained to the goddess, but she said there's no going back. This is my fate, so I have no choice but to finish my mission."
Her words gave me pause. I grew curious about her destiny. If she was unhappy with her role, what had she gotten from the roulette? "If it's not too much to ask, can I know what role you got?" I asked, my voice tentative.
She agreed and, with a flick of her wrist, summoned her status bar—a translucent panel that hovered in the air, displaying her information. I read the details: her strength, agility, and other stats were low, unsurprising. But what followed shocked me: her special skill, "Divine Grace," a holy blessing allowing her to wield divine items and spells. And most stunningly, her role: The Chosen Hero of God.
"What's that?" I whispered, my eyes widening. "You're the heavens' chosen? The one to save the people from the seven Demon Lords?"
She smiled, but it was tinged with weariness. "Yup, that's me," she said. "But don't get your hopes up. I don't even know how I'm supposed to do it. The goddess said I'd free Lunira, but look at me—drowning in debt and bad luck."
"Huh?" I muttered, barely processing her words. This girl, whom I'd killed multiple times, who fell into her own trap and turned into a firework from her talismans, was Lunira's awaited hero? The one destined to slay the Demon Lords?
One thing was certain: my decision regarding Tiera had just grown infinitely more complicated. If Mirai was the hero, what was my role in this story? And how would I face the Demon Lord awaiting my answer?