It was a life with no wants. My parents who went to a tennis club each weekend were healthy, and our family wasn’t in such dire straits that I needed to study and work part-time at the same time.
Fantasy, Muhyeop, games, novels, movies, comics…
I was an ordinary high schooler who liked these things.
That’s how it definitely was until ten years ago.
“I can’t understand even now after ten years have passed. Why me? Fantasy worlds are supposed to be the welfare center for the disabled that saves social outcasts, the Greenpeace that helps the disadvantaged.”
Clearly that’s how it was in fantasy novels and comics.
For instance, someone bullied at school?
For instance, a shut-in?
Summoning those B-rank humans who found it difficult to live on Earth to a fantasy world, giving material and spiritual support so that they could live a rosy life… Looking back on it now, the way these stories played out was truly retarded.
That’s why this had to be a mistake.
“Listen carefully. I lived just fine on Earth. I was a cultured citizen who shared and discussed novels and comics with friends everyday.”
No, my circumstances were better than my school friends. I was a bourgeois who could majestically spend 100 won in front of my friends who went around looking for free events and illegal downloads.
Now, if only my face had been a little more handsome… No, never mind.
“Why is someone like me treated the same as those losers in life? You also think this is wrong, don’t you?”
I looked down at a fallen comrade, seeking agreement.
Of course, they had no hope of surviving as I had crushed their heart for certain. But the glaring light in their eyes alone was quite lively. Had this been the law-governed country Korea, somebody who witnessed this scene of slaughter would have reported it to the police and things would have become troublesome, however…
This place wasn’t Earth.
A fantasy world ruled by those with power.
A utopia for savages.
It was a world where, as long as you had the physical strength, whether it be money, glory, power, women… anything could be had or stolen.
“Crazy bastard…”
Even the vehement words full of malice spat by my comrade couldn’t shake me. All it was to me, was like the barking of some dog.
“Calling the hero-nim who will be slaying the Demon King that threatens humanity crazy. Aren’t you touched in the head?”
I was a hero. Someone who was chosen as the apostle of justice. It wasn’t a title I decided on. The natives of this worlds summoned me here and called me as such as they pleased. Saying that I was the hero of legend who would save the world.
“Somebody like you isn’t a hero…! Cough!”
“Are those your last words?”
“…”
There was no retort from that comrade who had vomited blood from between their lips. They were no longer able to glare at me with anger.
I turned my back on the comrade, with whom I had shared lasting bad blood, without regret. The corpses of my other comrades had long been scattered around the place, lying on the cold ground.
Sword Princess.
Fairy King.
Sage.
Mercenary King.
They were heroes who were overwhelmingly stronger than me at one time. But at present, after 10 years have passed since my forced summon to this fantasy world, they were no match for me one-on-one.
So I killed them.
Right before the battle with the last boss, the Demon King.
I slew them cleanly by surprise.
“Oi. Try talking again if you happen to be alive.”
“…”
“…”
“Weren’t you going to kill me as well after killing the Demon King? Pah! Who are you kidding.”
I was able to win thanks to a difference in values. To my comrades this fantasy world was their home where they were born and raised in. If the hero lost to the Demon King then their family, friends and lovers would be at the mercy of the demons, so they couldn’t thoughtlessly lay a hand on him.
But me on the other hand?
It wasn’t my business as to how this world ended up.
I was going to kill the Demon king and return to Earth, to my family.
Now, there was no obstructions blocking my way.
Scattered flesh and pieces of bones were scattered left and right in the dark hallway. The pools of blood that had gathered on the stone floor thickly drenched my shoes. There were corpses of humans, corpses of monsters, and corpses of demons who looked somewhat similar to humans.
They had all perished together harmoniously.
For the sake of sending the hero past this point.
For the sake of protecting the Demon King beyond this point.
“H-, Hero-nim. Why…?”
Ah, there was a survivor?
The mercenary leaning against the cold wall, dying, asked me this. A close follower of the Mercenary King, I remembered him as a pleasant fellow who would hum a song even in the most dire of situations.
▷The path of a true hero is truly difficult. But there were countless bonds that encouraged you who did not lose your hopes and dreams. From them you learned friendship and love, and after maturing together with them you defeated the wicked Demon King at last. Congratulations truly!
▷Shall we look at your grading now?
“Wait! Grading…?”
It was my first time hearing this. My intuition which had never betrayed me was ringing alarm bells, telling me that something strange was going on.
▷Please check your report card carefully!
▷Name: Kang Han Soo
▷Combat Power: S
▷Achievements: A-
▷Reputation: D+
▷Character: F
▷Note: Why the hell did you go and kill off your perfectly fine comrades.
But they weren’t perfectly fine?
My comrades had meddled and imposed in everything in my life. Disregarding human rights and violence under the pretense of training were par for the course. There was even one crazy bitch who had revealed her birthday suit by her own negligence then wielded a sword at me.
If I were to make a list of the indignation and unreasonableness I went through in the past 10 years, there would really be no end to it. So that was a justified revenge…
▷You have failed to pass.
▷Reason: With great power follows equal responsibility. But you possess a character that does not suit the power you have. For the sake of the world’s order and peace, you shall be returning to the first day of the test.
▷Beginning re-test.
“Return? Re-test? What bullshit is this!”
No matter how arbitrary a god could get, this wasn’t acceptable. Roll around again in this garbage dump that didn’t even have flush toilets? The comrades I had done my best to kill were going to come back to life?
The mere thought of it caused goosebumps to rise…
A suspicious light enveloped my body.
▷All of the teaching staff are praying for your success!