Chapter 193
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[Recruiting Heroes!]
Greetings. We have come to deliver important news to all the numerous Otherworlders who enjoy our World.
Currently, our World is facing a grave threat. As days pass, the Protective Veil surrounding the World grows thinner, and the frequency of Demons appearing increases, like water overflowing a cup. This time, even the King of the Demon Realm has descended.
As a result, the confusion and anxiety among the Gaians are deepening daily. Therefore, I have decided that the time has come to recruit Heroes. We earnestly request many Otherworlders to apply.
There are various benefits to be gained by receiving the Hero Title!
Firstly... . . . .
For more detailed information, please visit the Temple.
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The announcement posted on the Homepage was simpler than expected. It merely outlined briefly how to obtain the 'Hero' Title and its benefits.
However, its impact was far from simple. This sudden event was more than enough to capture the attention of Users in the Community.
Hero! Just these two syllables evoked an extraordinary sense of anticipation. What, after all, is a hero? A hero is a champion who dominates an era, vanquishes evil, and saves the world.
As the saying goes, “Every fantasy plot is merely a variation of a Hero defeating a Demon King.” The word 'Hero' is, at its core, a very fundamental and famous term.
And to think it was being offered specifically to users. Even setting aside the benefits, people couldn't help but be interested, if only for the sheer coolness of the title.
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[Asked at the Temple]
They're picking about 20,000 people, apparently. Yeah
So then, just how many glorious individuals would receive this esteemed Hero Title?
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[Asked at the Temple]
Apparently, they're picking about 20,000 people. Yeah.
[That's a lot.]
[I suddenly lost all enthusiasm lol]
[Ugh, if you're picking 20,000 people, are they even Heroes~]
It was indeed quite a lot. Even hundreds felt like a large number, but they were...
That's a lot. I suddenly lost all enthusiasm lol Ugh, if you're picking 20,000 people, are they even heroes~
It was indeed quite a lot. Even hundreds felt like a large number, but they were picking tens of thousands. Perhaps because so many were being chosen, the benefits offered by the Title didn't seem all that great.
It said damage against Evil-aligned Monsters, including Demons, would increase... But just how much of an increase would that be?
However, that disappointment was fleeting, and users soon found themselves captivated by a growing desire.
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[But if they're picking that many, couldn't I get picked too?]
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Oh
It seems worth seriously trying for
If they were only picking one or two people, the desire wouldn't even arise in the first place.
The goal would be too distant for anyone to even consider themselves a candidate.
At best, someone from a Large Guild or the Rank 1 player would get it.
But what if the number was 20,000? If the Title Quest wasn't too difficult, it felt entirely achievable.
And while it *felt* like a lot, compared to the total number of Users, even 20,000 was an incredibly small figure. If you were to calculate the overall percentage, would it even be 0.1%?
When the total number of Users in [Demon's Saga] was considered, it was truly a tiny fraction. This represented an achievable difficulty.
Even if not for the benefits, those who enjoyed Achievement Farming couldn't help but be drawn in. A Limited Edition Title that wasn't easy to get? How could anyone resist that?
If you had it, you could use it for a long, long time. You could occasionally post bragging rights in the Community as a Hero Title Owner, and look down on the lowly Commoners who didn't become Heroes.
And so, countless Users instantly began flocking to the Temple. It was truly the era of Hero Title Farming...
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“So, I’ll probably be pretty busy with Hero Title Farming myself!”
“Sorry, Yor, there are surprisingly a lot of quests to clear...”
“Eh.”
And just like that, I was instantly abandoned.
Chae-rin and Haneul relayed the news from the internet over the past few days, then said they’d be busy for a while and left.
For me, it was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.
“Nooo!”
After the battle, how much I had been looking forward to my carnal pleasures! Since this battle had been particularly grueling, I had planned to relax and spend my time *getting some*.
Of course, I still had a mountain of problems to face... but a person still needed to rest. But the two Otherworlders who were supposed to hang out with me ran off for some measly Title Farming.
As the one left behind, I couldn't help but feel sad. Yet, I couldn't force them to stay this time, because even I found the 'Hero' Title quite tempting. It was a chance to get a 0.1% Limited Edition Title; I couldn't stop them.
On one hand, I also felt a strange sense of wonder.
“Heroes, all of a sudden.”
And there were as many as 20,000 of them. Wasn't this suddenly too much like a game event?
Of course, looking at it from a realistic perspective, not a game one... it felt like the gods were finally showing something.
The one recruiting Heroes was none other than the Administrator of this land, the Goddess Gaia.
Only the process of recruiting them through quests felt a little peculiar.
I also felt a sense of distance from the Otherworlders, who were suddenly seeking out 'game-like' activities.
When I saw them like that, it really made this place feel like a game...
*“Hmm.”*
Of course, thinking too deeply would only exhaust my mind, so I didn't dwell on it for long.
Instead, I just sighed as I watched Chae-rin and Haneul disappear into the distance.
Anyway, I was alone again, left to my own devices, so I now had to find something to do by myself.
*Feeling bored, I decided to visit The Depths first. although I had just been to The Depths a few days ago*
Since there was a new addition to the family, it seemed like a good idea to visit more often.
After traveling for several hours, I arrived at The Depths, and those inside the Altar welcomed me: Barbatos, the Demon who was just a head, Neria, and Livia.
“Take her away.”
As soon as I arrived, Barbatos immediately made this suggestion. Its gaze was directed at Livia, who was standing awkwardly nearby.
Perhaps because she had only been here for a few days, she seemed quite uncomfortable, unfamiliar with the Altar. Still, she looked much healthier than when she had first returned home.
Back then, she hadn't yet recovered from the death of the Chairman, her supposed mentor.
And at the same time, the Extermination Squad members were glaring at her with fierce expressions.
She seemed to be doing well enough, so I decided to leave it for now and asked Barbatos for the reason.
“Why? Did you two fight?”
“No, not that... but doesn't the Altar feel too crowded because of her?”
Barbatos continued to grumble.
“This Altar was originally quiet, I tell you. Give me back my quiet!”
“But aren’t you less bored?”
“W-well, that’s true, but...”
It averted its gaze unnecessarily. It wasn't that it disliked her, just that it was unaccustomed to having more people around. It was just its usual whining, so I ignored it and moved on.
By the way, I hadn't yet told them about Paimon's resurrection. Given that there was a statue resembling Barbatos in the Altar at the time, it seemed Paimon was the king...
“Since we have a new family member, after all.”
I planned to bring it up after giving them some time to adjust to each other.
The same went for Neria. As I saw Paimon fight, it seemed Paimon was likely the Demon Neria originated from. Since I wasn't going to catch it right now anyway, I decided to keep it a secret for the time being.
I probably wouldn't hide it for too long. Since I had many questions myself, I would ask soon about the relationship between Paimon and Barbatos and what kind of Demon this Asmodeus, whom it mentioned, was.
Ignoring the Demon who was just a head, I approached Livia, who was still standing awkwardly, and asked her.
“How are you doing? Is it all right here?”
“U-uh, yeah. There’s food, and a blanket...”
Even though difficult Monsters roamed outside the Altar, this place was a Safe Space. But her words of reassurance were short-lived. Livia’s face briefly turned towards Barbatos.
“I never thought there’d be a Demon here, though...”
“Ah, well, it just sort of... ended up under my care.”
It often spilled information, after all.
“If that’s the case, why did you refuse to join Lemegeton all this time...”
Livia looked at me as if chiding me. She swallowed the rest of her words, but it wasn't hard to guess what she meant. She was probably asking why I had refused to join Lemegeton when I was already 'raising' a Demon.
Of course, I had my own reasons. I had no intention of resurrecting and serving that Demon, and frankly, it seemed a bit... lacking to be called a Demon.
“It’s a bit pathetic, isn’t it?”
“What did you say?!”
At my casual remark, Barbatos immediately bristled. It rattled on about *This Woman*'s dignity falling to the ground, and how I wouldn't dare look upon *This Woman*'s True Form.
It was noisy and chattering, but I naturally ignored it. Anyway, it was the type to calm down on its own if I brought it a few snacks later.
“Well, I’m glad you’re doing well, anyway. I’d like to move you somewhere else, but you’re a Criminal, aren’t you?”
“...That’s right.”
“Right. So just stay here for now. And don’t go trying to summon it again, like you did with Lemegeton. It’ll be an enemy if it’s summoned, after all.”
If it started acting up again, trying to serve a Demon I’d just have to smash its head in. Covering for it out of childhood affection was enough up to this point.
“Okay.”
When I said that, she gave a wry smile thankfully and nodded. This was perhaps because her mentor, who had supported her, had died, or perhaps because I had saved her life.
Either way, she was quite obedient to my words.
“All right.”
And so, I chatted with the women in The Depths for a while before parting ways. It was a relief that they seemed to be doing well.
And the next day, a familiar guest came to my Cave. It was Hanbyeol Shin. First, I couldn't help but be surprised.
“What? Aren’t you off doing quests?”
Currently, all Otherworlders are busy trying to get a Title. Hanbyeol Shin shrugged her shoulders and said.
“I just cleared one. It’s a Chain Quest, so I just stopped by to pick up a new one.”
“Wow, that was fast...”
I briefly admired her speed.
Even for a Chain Quest, her pace was quite impressive.
*Is this what it means to be Rank 1?* It didn't seem too difficult for her.
On one hand, I felt a slight pang of regret. It meant she would eventually leave again, didn't it? Even if Hanbyeol was fast, the Title was a Limited Edition after all.
There would be a need to move diligently. Because of that, I asked her after a moment of disappointment.
“So, are you going to the Temple now?”
“Yep.”
I pondered for a moment. If I just stayed home like this, I'd only writhe in loneliness and boredom. Wouldn't it be okay to just go out with her, even if that place was the Temple, which I usually avoided?
“Now that I think about it, the Priest also told me to visit sometime, last time.”
I briefly recalled the memory of returning after catching Sitri. Since I had made that promise anyway, I thought it wouldn't be bad to visit this time.
So, I grinned at Hanbyeol and said.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
It was time to visit the Temple.