Chapter 8: The Hero and the Waiting
Beneath the brooding shade of Lunira's forest, where the twin suns' rays barely pierced the thick canopy of leaves, my world was thrown into deeper chaos by a revelation I never anticipated. The prophecy of the chosen hero, a figure long awaited by both humans and monsters in this world, had been woven into Lunira's legends since time immemorial. It foretold that this hero, anointed by the heavens, would bring peace to a planet long tormented by the endless wars between humans, monsters, and the formidable Demon Lords. Yet, no one knew who this hero was, when they would appear, or if they had even been born.
Decades, perhaps centuries, might pass before the prophecy's fulfillment. So, when I learned that the hero was not only alive but standing before me, my shock was indescribable—especially upon realizing that Mirai Houvague Tantenium, the talkative adventurer I'd repeatedly defeated, was the one Lunira had been waiting for.
"Seriously? You're the chosen hero?" I asked, my voice brimming with doubt and disbelief. My crossbow hung limply at my side, my eyes fixed on Mirai, who now sat on the damp forest floor. Her sword was planted in the earth, and her hands were clasped together as if in prayer. Her face, streaked with dirt and traces of tears, bore an odd innocence as she flashed a playful, almost coy smile.
"Unfortunately, yeah, that's me," she replied, her tone a mix of sorrow and ennui. "The goddess picked me to be this planet's hero. She said I have to complete my mission if I ever want to leave this world and return to Earth. But, Mr. Karma, I didn't ask for any of this!" she added, letting out a deep sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the cosmos.
Her reaction was almost tragic, but honestly, I couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy. If she'd just use her head, she'd see how fortunate she was. A hero, chosen by the heavens, endowed with divine powers and a mission to reshape Lunira's history! Meanwhile, I was just a dark dwarf, dodging adventurers and serving the whims of a bratty Demon Lord, Tiera Urahica Freya. But what I couldn't accept was the fact that Mirai had chosen to become a waitress instead of embracing her destiny as a savior.
"I don't get it," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, you'd rather be a servant, slinging food in some town, than save the world from the Demon Lords?"
She scratched her head, visibly sheepish. "It's not exactly like that, Mr. Karma," she began, fumbling for an excuse. "At first, I tried being an adventurer, but it was so hard! Nothing but aching muscles and measly pay. Then I got scammed by some crooks in town. They cleaned out the money the goddess gave me to start with. After that, I just… lost my drive."
She continued, her voice heavy with frustration. "I tried fighting, but I kept getting unlucky. The people in town I worked with were awful—rude, selfish. Why should I bust my butt for them when there's nothing in it for me? Plus, food and rent aren't free here. I couldn't survive as a hero without money. I'm not some martyr who'd sacrifice herself for people who've never been kind to me."
I shook my head, torn between irritation and pity. "But didn't you ever think about the people counting on the hero?" I pressed, hoping to prick her conscience. "Generations have passed, and they're still dreaming of the day someone ends the Demon Lords' reign. And here you are, giving up so easily, turning your back on your mission."
She smiled, but it was a wry, bitter smile. "I know, Mr. Karma, maybe I'm a bad person," she said, her voice tinged with desperation. "But I'm only human. You'd understand if you'd been through what I have. Life in that town is brutal—full of bullying and betrayal. If you were in my shoes, you'd probably do the same."
She had a point, I had to admit. Who was I to judge her? As a monster, I had no right to act high and mighty about destiny or duty. If anything, she was a victim of the goddess's whims, just like me, pawns in a cosmic game we didn't choose. She didn't ask to be a hero; she just picked the path that felt safer. Who could say that was wrong?
I thought about my own situation. "Guess we're not so different," I muttered, almost unaware she'd heard me. "I ran away from my fate too, you know. I didn't want the dark dwarf life, fighting endlessly with my tribe. That's why I became a lone wanderer, hiding out in this forest." We'd both turned our backs on the traditions and expectations thrust upon us. In that moment, I started to see her in a new light.
The forest was quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds. My sack of boar meat and jug of water still sat on the ground, their weight mirroring the burden in my mind. Mirai's reasons were becoming clearer. No wonder, in my five years in Lunira, I'd heard nothing about the chosen hero or any budding legend. The one everyone awaited was too busy waiting tables and paying off debts.
"Another thing," Mirai added, as if reading my thoughts, "to me, the beings around us don't feel real. Think about it—we can die and be revived at the chapel. And all this magic, these weird floating panels? It's like we're trapped in a video game."
I smirked at her analogy. "Of course it feels strange to you—you lived on Earth," I replied. "But I think this world is real, part of the universe. To the creatures here, this is their reality." I understood her perspective. As a former Earthling, it was hard to accept Lunira's rules—the status bars, divine spells, and resurrections. But for the natives, this was just life.
I felt a pang of sympathy for Lunira's inhabitants, who'd long yearned for a hero to free them from the endless war between humans and monsters. But with Mirai seemingly unwilling to embrace her role, they'd have to wait another century—or longer. Then a chilling thought struck me. "If she's the hero, that means I'm in danger if she takes up her mission," I whispered to myself, my heart suddenly gripped by fear.
As a monster, I was part of the world she was meant to fight. If she decided to become the hero, I could be her first target. But if she rejected her destiny, I'd be safer—and the Demon Lords, like Tiera, would remain unchallenged. That thought offered a strange comfort, but it also raised a question: why, after shunning combat, was she suddenly out here, sword in hand, taking quests in my territory?
"Hold on," I said, my tone laced with suspicion. "You said you were done with fighting. If you're not interested in being a hero, why are you suddenly taking quests? And why do you keep coming back to my territory to try and kill me?"
She scratched her head again, caught off guard. "Oh, that?" she said, her smile sheepish. "Well, I got tired of the same old routine in town—cleaning, serving, paying debts. It wasn't getting me anywhere. So I thought, maybe it's time to try adventuring again. Who knows? Maybe my life will change."
I laughed, but it was a sardonic chuckle. "Oh, great! So you've finally come to your senses, and now you're disrupting my peaceful territory!" Her choice wasn't inherently bad, but I couldn't help wondering: out of the thousands of monsters in Lunira, why was I always her target?
"Don't take it personally, Mr. Karma," she said, as if it were no big deal. "I'm just doing my job as a hero. Well, kind of."
I furrowed my brow. "So, you're planning to take up the hero role, even though you don't want to?" I asked, trying to unravel her logic.
She shook her head, her face clouding with frustration. "I don't have a choice," she said, pouting. "You have no idea how stressful my life is every day! But wait—didn't you say you'd help me? This is your chance, Mr. Karma! Help me become a real hero!"
I grimaced, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead as she inched closer, her eyes sparkling with hope and a playful charm. My earlier promise to help her now felt like a trap. Did she think I'd just agree to whatever she asked? Sure, I was a helpful guy back on Earth, but things were different now. I had a Demon Lord threatening my life, and Tiera was probably lounging in my house, acting like a princess and barking orders.
"Hold up!" I said, nearly stepping back. "I'm not sure I can help. I've got a huge problem right now. There's this witch I'm serving, and she's at my place, living like royalty, ordering me around!"
I couldn't deny I'd made that promise in the heat of the moment, but now I was scared I couldn't follow through. My life was still in Tiera's hands, and until I resolved her ultimatum—kill her or join her in the Tower of Doom—I wasn't free. A fleeting, ridiculous idea crossed my mind: "Maybe I should bash her head with a rock while she's sleeping? Might knock some sense into her," I muttered, then shook my head. I knew it wouldn't be that easy.
"Look, my situation's a mess," I said, trying to be honest. "But fine, tell me what you want. Maybe I can help somehow."
She edged closer, twirling a strand of her long hair around her finger. I'll admit, she looked kind of cute doing it, but as a dark dwarf with monster blood, I wasn't swayed by her appearance. Or maybe I was just too preoccupied with my own survival to care? Little did I know, her next words would leave me dumbfounded.
"It's a simple request, Mr. Karma," she said, her smile radiating innocence as she sat in front of me. She plunged her sword into the ground and clasped her hands together, as if praying. "Can you let me kill you?"
"Huh?!" I muttered, my face contorting in a grimace. Her voice was so gentle, as if she were asking to borrow a pencil, but her request was something I'd never expected from a girl who seemed so sweet and innocent, now casually asking for my life.