Chapter 423: Confront and Protect (10)

Ding-ding!

The warped mission window flashed again, practically shaking to make sure he noticed it.

[Emergency Sub-quest: Display the Hero’s Majesty!!!]

The number of exclamation marks had increased—from one to three.

…

Alberu was speechless.

What even is majesty?

The majesty of a hero?

What was that supposed to mean?

It was absurd.

Infuriating, even.

But he couldn’t ignore the mission. As Cale had predicted, Alberu had met the Sun God.

Of course, the process had been completely different from Cale’s encounter,

but he had spoken with the Sun God first.

It went better than expected.

It wasn’t a bad conversation.

But the Sun God didn’t give him advice, or propose a deal.

Instead—

the Sun God simply told him how the future would unfold.

Saint Jack.

In the Nameless Roan Kingdom — the place the gods refused to name — Saint Jack of the Sun God Church was residing.

Saint Jack’s successor would rise from among the Dark Elves.

The Sun God Church had always rejected races like Dark Elves and necromancers—anyone connected to death mana.

This was because of the Sun God.

And yet, that same Sun God had told Alberu that, as a gesture of reconciliation,
the next High Priestess would come from the Dark Elves.

[And—]

There was one more thing the Sun God had said to him.

[When you choose to reveal your Dark Elf appearance, I will grant you the Sun’s blessing. So, no one will doubt your existence.]

It was surprisingly considerate.

In other words, if Alberu ever chose to reveal his true self as the Crown Prince, the Sun God would once again manifest the legend tied to the “Crossman Royal Family.”

He had no intention of exposing himself.

And why would he?

There was no reason to.

That had always been his stance.

No need to cause unnecessary chaos among the kingdom’s people or spark rumors.
And also—
I need an image of freedom.

He had realized this while playing this game.

Alberu wasn’t just the Crown Prince. Alberu Crossman needed time for himself and to be among his people.

For that freedom, he intended to keep his Dark Elf appearance hidden.

Ding-ding!

[Emergency Sub-quest: Display the Hero’s Majesty!!!!!]

The exclamation marks had increased to five.

Alberu could already guess why the Sun God was doing this.

The moment the true Sun God first connected with the Sun God Church of this new world.

Even with his eyes closed, Alberu could sense it. The believers were thrilled, now aware of part of the truth.

Which made Alberu’s existence meaningful.

A hero.

Proof that both reality and illusion had taken form.

He grinned weakly and thought,

Ha — I really don’t want to do this.

He had no desire to cooperate, especially since it wasn’t for the Roan Kingdom.

Tch.

But fine. I’d do it.

“Hm.”

Alberu cleared his throat on purpose.

“Oh! The hero seems to be waking up!”

Cale Henituse’s cheeky voice echoed.

He was definitely enjoying this.

“Ohhh, Hero—!”

“The Sun’s blessing shall descend!”

The Pope and the bishops raised their voices, and Alberu calmly, naturally opened his eyes.

“Hero!”

The first thing he saw was Cale Henituse’s annoying face.

Alberu gave a faint, composed smile.

Hm?

Cale flinched.

That’s odd.

Alberu Crossman’s reaction felt a little different.

As if, to avoid any awkwardness, he had slipped straight into Crown Prince mode.

Huh?

A strange sense of dread crept over Cale, and he tried to quietly move away from Alberu.

Pat.

But Alberu’s hand landed on Cale’s shoulder.

Then, slowly, Alberu rose to his feet.

“Ah—”
“Hero!”

Even the Pope, the Saintess, and the bishops—who had been too overwhelmed to step into the center where divine light poured through the ceiling—began slowly approaching him.

As leaders of the Sun God Church, they had witnessed every miracle this hero had shown them.

A divine artifact carrying the power of the God of Chaos.

Sunlight striking the frozen surface of the water while that artifact ruled the space.

It was all astonishing.

Cale’s actions were already unbelievable on their own, yet the Sun God’s power left them in even deeper awe.

Whoosh.

But they couldn’t move any closer.

“Ah.”

“Hm.”

Alberu steadied himself and raised his hand, telling them to stay back.

Hm.

Cale swallowed.

Cale thought, Something’s weird about this.

Why is that guy smiling like that?

Only Alberu Crossman wore that bright yet distant smile.

Then he slowly rose from his seat.

His body swayed for a moment.

He hadn’t moved in four days.

“Ah!”

“Oh, Hero—!”

But Alberu stood firm, rejecting the concerned gazes and all the hands that reached out to support him.

Hm.

Due to the atmosphere, Cale decided he shouldn’t stay near Alberu.

He quietly shuffled three steps away.

A wise choice.

“…”

Alberu lifted his gaze.

This was the heart of the Sun God Church’s central temple.

The Hall of Light.

A conical chamber that narrowed toward the top.

Sunlight poured through the slim opening in the ceiling.

Alberu watched the beam of light in silence, his hand resting on his sword’s sheath.

[Charging complete!]

He ignored the notification.

Instead, he bowed his head, drew his sword, and looked toward the Pope, the Saintess, Sir Waltien, and the bishops watching him.

The faint, hazy smile had shifted into one filled with confidence and majesty.

He might be a Crown Prince, but Alberu Crossman was already someone who carried the weight of a ruler.

In this moment, his presence was undeniable.

“…”

“…”

The members of the Sun God Church could only stare. His aura went far beyond anything the word “hero” could describe.

Shing.

Alberu slowly unsheathed his sword.

“Ah.”

The Saintess, seeing light identical to the sunlight pouring from the ceiling radiate from the sword, felt an indescribable overwhelm.

Even she, a Saintess standing at the valley’s edge, was breathless under the power emanating from the God of Chaos’s divine artifact.

A sublime, radiant light shining alone in the sunless night.

The image of the hero creating that light — coughing blood as the radiance faded — stayed etched in their minds.

Drip.

The Pope was already silently weeping.

“…”

Seeing such a noble, majestic, and sacred sight, Cale’s expression turned somewhat shocked.

Whoa.

He was stunned.

Alberu Crossman drew his sword with unhurried grace, like something out of a movie.

His posture. His expression. Everything was impossibly cool.

That guy didn’t usually draw his sword like that.

– Right now, he was truly…putting on a show.

The Dominating Aura had been spot-on lately.

“…”

Sword in hand, Alberu looked over the crowd and spoke.

“The Sun God sent me here.”

The Pope’s jaw dropped.

“Ah, ah— As expected—!”

The Saintess squeezed her eyes shut before lifting her gaze back to the sunlight.

“The life I lived was an illusion—”

Her voice trembled with both sorrow and relief.

“But even that illusion will now become true reality.”

This new world had become a real world.
And as proof, the one who had embraced them was not a system-created Sun God, but the true Sun God himself.

They sent a hero!

And that was—

“Now, even here, the sun will shine forever.”

The hero who saved this world!

Alberu Crossman’s appearance left no room for doubt.
He looked every bit the hero they believed in.
His presence suited the Sun God so perfectly it felt like a painting brought to life.

Even after waking from four days of unconsciousness, his sharp gaze and dignified posture were enough to move the hearts of the Sun God Church members.

“Hero.”

The Pope rose from his seat.

He swayed, but when others tried to steady him, he brushed them off and continued toward Alberu.

He had something he needed to do.

Truly sent by the Sun God.

“Bring it.”

At his command, several bishops stepped forward, carefully pushing a large chest.
They placed it between the Pope and Alberu, then stepped back.

“Sir Boltien.”

“Yes.”

Sir Boltien, the Sun God Church’s highest holy knight, slowly opened the chest.

Oh.

Cale let out a quiet gasp.

Wow.

Indeed, inside the chest was a set of radiant, pure white armor.

Beautiful, dazzling, and unmistakably sacred.

The Pope lifted a helmet from within.

It had no jewels or decorations, yet its elegant shape and the mysterious white material gave off a holy aura.

“Hero.”

He offered the helmet to Alberu with great care.

“Will you become our hero?”

Ding-ding!

With the sound, a message appeared in Alberu’s mind.

[Reached the final stage of the conditions to become a hero and wield the Sun Sword!]

This explained why he had been unqualified until now.

Even though the Sun God himself acknowledged him as a hero, Alberu still lacked the proper authority to wield the Sun Sword.

He had never been officially recognized by the Sun God Church as their hero.

What a pain.

Alberu clicked his tongue internally, but it did make sense.

So, he had played the role of a hero as best he could.

“Thank you for giving me the chance to become your hero.”

With that, he accepted the helmet.

Drip.

The Pope shed a single tear.

Alberu gave a gentle, reassuring smile to the Pope.

Tch.

Cale inhaled sharply but didn’t move.

Ding-ding!

[Received the support of the Sun God’s believers! The greater their support for the Hero, the stronger your ability to wield the Sun Sword!]

Alberu quietly let out a breath of relief.

Whatever, it’s more comfortable to use now than before.

At least it wouldn’t make him bleed the way Cale Henituse had.

The Sun Sword… he still didn’t know its limits, but compared to last time, Alberu preferred ending up exhausted and unable to move over coughing blood or passing out.

He could already sense it.

Good.

Feeling satisfied, Alberu turned his head slightly.

Now his job was done.

His gaze shifted to Cale.

“Ah.”

Realizing what that look meant, the Pope smiled warmly at Cale.

“The Sun God Church’s task is complete. Please proceed.”

What?

Cale felt uneasy under Alberu’s gaze, but he brushed it aside with a calm smile.

“Yes. Thank you all.”

“No, no. We cannot miss this moment when the sun’s power is at its peak.”

It was already past noon.

From here on, the sunlight pouring through the ceiling would slowly weaken, no longer fully absorbed.

“You said you planned to purify the God of Chaos’s divine artifact, correct?”

The Pope spoke to Cale with genuine respect.

Because, through the Saintess and the video storage device she brought, he had seen the miracles Cale had performed.

A man even greater than the Hero.

Purifying the God’s of Chaos’s divine artifact?

Alberu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Even so, Cale continued in a polite tone.

“Yes. I need a holy place where the God of Chaos’s gaze cannot reach.”

“There is no better place than this.”

Since they had talked about this beforehand, the Pope stepped back to give Cale space.

Alberu also stepped back quietly.

But his expression had grown serious.

Purifying that thing?

The God of Chaos’s divine artifact.

That sword had caused more than enough trouble already.

It could be purified, yes—but the process wouldn’t be simple.

In the center of the light, Cale stood alone.

Everyone else formed a ring around him, watching.

[Sub-quest: Acquire the skill Chaos Purification!]

[Visit the holy ground where the God of Chaos’s gaze cannot reach, and obtain the ability Chaos Purification.]

[Sub-quest: Change the sacred artifact’s property to Nothing!]

[Visit the holy ground and subdue the Chaos Blade.]

Cale planned to purify the God of Chaos’s sword to clear both missions at once.

Hm.

But he thought, Chaos Purification is simple.

He only had to destroy the Book of Purification here. But how would he change this artifact’s attribute to None?

Cale took out the God of Chaos’s sword from his inventory.

With his gray skin, he examined the blade quietly.

It didn’t tremble anymore.

Hm.

He looked back at the mission window.

One thing stood out.

A single, truly annoying word.

[Sub-quest: Change the sacred artifact’s property to Nothing!]

[Visit the holy ground and subdue the Chaos Blade.]

Subdue?

Make it submit.

– Am I the one?

The Dominating Aura spoke up.

Cale ignored it smoothly.

No way. Just use a bit of the Domination Aura?

He tapped into the aura ever so slightly.

Just enough that it wouldn’t alarm anyone.

“…”

No reaction from the sword.
Instead, the people around him swallowed nervously as a strange pressure settled over the room.

Anyway, Cale remained stuck.

Hm.

Thinking it over, he looked up without meaning to.

The sunlight was so bright his eyes almost closed.

And in that moment—

– #$^

He heard something.

Huh?

It was an unfamiliar voice.

Cale tried to listen.

But he couldn’t make it out.

Maybe?

He opened his eyes.

Too bright, it almost made him tear up.

– #$%^

He heard the sound again.

The Sun God?

That was the only guess he could make.

And the voice… it sounded like the one he’d heard before.

–  Defeat.

Hm?

–  …

Nothing more followed.

Cale slowly closed his eyes.

Drip.

A tear fell.

The light was just too bright.

“…Ah.”

A bishop, seeing the majestic hero shed a tear beneath the sunlight, unconsciously let out a sigh and clasped their hands together.

Meanwhile, Cale opened his eyes.

When only a faint trace of the tear remained,

“Pope.”

He addressed the Pope with a solemn expression.

“May I use the cloth on the floor?”

The thick cloth had been laid down for Alberu when he collapsed.

It was said to be woven with thread soaked in holy water.

“Ah, yes. Please use it as you wish.”

The Pope agreed without hesitation.

“Thank you.”

Cale carefully set the sword down on the edge of the thick, rectangular cloth.
It looked sturdy, but also uncomfortable enough that one might worry about someone resting on it.

?

Confusion spread across the faces of the onlookers.

“Ah.”

The Saintess gasped.

“Is he… planning to purify it using the power granted by the Sun God?”

As she spoke cautiously, strange expressions crossed the faces of those on the platform.

No.

Alberu tilted his head.

That posture is clearly the prelude to something chaotic.

Cale Henituse.

That guy was acting refined, but his lips were twitching.

Something was definitely up.

“……”

Cale didn’t say a word. He simply moved.

He placed the Chaos Sword at the edge of the cloth and pulled a corner over it.

Wrapped it neatly.

Tremble—

The sword began to tremble violently.

The mood on the platform shifted.

Everyone sensed something was about to happen.

“Hoo.”

Cale straightened, calmly looking down at the now-covered artifact.

Tremble—

It kept shaking under the fabric.

Cale stared at it with a blank expression and took a slow breath.

Then he slowly raised his foot.

Thud!

And stomped.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

With real effort.

Full of genuine passion and sincerity.

Thud! Thud!

With his frail body, he stomped down hard.

Thud!

He began trampling the divine artifact.

“?”

“??”

“…Uh?”

The Pope, the Saintess, and the other church leaders stared in shock.

They couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.

Thud! Thud!

But Cale was completely serious.

He couldn’t hide the slight curve of his lips as he spoke to the artifact.

“You’re just like that crown, huh?”

The Crown.

That blood-drinking crown that once coveted Raon’s dragon blood in front of Cale—and was almost smashed to bits by him.

Vrrrr—

The artifact trembled faintly.

Anyway, Cale cheerfully stomped it a few more times, then turned around.

“Sir Boltien.”

Seeing Cale’s wildly excited eyes, Boltien froze.

“Bring me a hammer.”

Alberu hurriedly tried to intervene, but Cale pretended not to notice and continued in a calm voice.

“Please get me a hammer.”

Vrrrrrr—

The God of Chaos’s divine artifact shook violently.

Even so, Cale stayed serious.

A faint trace of Dominating Aura lingered around him as he smiled.

“Come on. Please bring me a hammer.”

His gaze shifted to the artifact.

“Today, I’ll turn you into scrap.”

Vrrrr, vrrrrrr—!

The artifact trembled wildly, but Cale didn’t falter.

There was no other way.

[Sub-quest: Change the sacred artifact’s property to Nothing!]

[Visit the holy ground and subdue the Chaos Blade.]

As his excitement grew, a new line appeared.

[Remaining Chaos Attribute: 100%]

The more he stomped, the more the number fell.

[Remaining Chaos Attribute: 99.2%]

Already that much.

But there was still a long way to go.

This rotten sword that had dared to summon the God of Chaos—!

The sword that devoured countless sacrificial lives across forty-three rituals.

The sword that gave us so much trouble!

Thud! Thud!

Cale kept stomping on it as he shouted at the stunned Boltien—no, ordered him.

“Get a hammer, anything—bring everything that can smash this sword!”

“Yes, yes!”

Vrrrrrrrrr— brrr! Brrr! Vrrrrr—!

The artifact trembled violently.

Cale didn’t care.

“I’m going to lose my mind.”

Watching Cale stomp away with far too much enthusiasm, as if venting all his pent-up frustration, Alberu squeezed his eyes shut.

 -----

P/R Thoughts: Alberu becomes the Sun God’s official hero while Cale purifies the Chaos Blade the only way he knows how — by stomping it into submission.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]