Chapter 773

〈 Chapter 773 〉 Part 2, Chapter 7, Section 06

Objectively and subjectively, the Protagonist is a Hero.

Here, the Protagonist refers to ‘Commander.’

Even with a normal ending, Commander stopped Pluto from crashing into Earth, was instrumental in defeating infamous Monsters worldwide, and played a pivotal role in toppling notorious villains.

But didn’t he just sit around jerking off?

Weren’t all those Heroes down below doing the hard work?

True.

However, it was because of Commander as the central figure that they could unite and fight together.

United under Commander’s glorious… leadership (minus the dudes).

Thus, people praised Commander’s achievements and didn’t criticize him much for building a harem unfit for modern society.

Isn’t it better that the world-saving Hero has a harem than be alone in Korea?

If you’re an S-Rank Hero, national leaders would die to tie you to their bloodline. But if you’re a Commander who can create S-Rank Heroes? You’re celebrated as the one and only on a global scale.

So when there was a Japanese princess descended from Kyoto, or one of China’s leader’s many illegitimate children, or even the Queen of England among Commander’s companions—people shrugged it off, however jealous they might’ve been.

After overcoming adversity and bringing about a happy ending while saving humanity, everyone let it slide.

Thus, Commander is humanity’s Hero.

And I have accomplished everything Commander did.

Defeating Seongju.

Excluding interference from Otherworldly Spirits.

Though we failed to eliminate all Cubes—which were more collectible items anyway rather than directly affecting Shin-ra’s rescue—we succeeded in rescuing her.

Rescuing Shin-ra from eternal bondage.

Just by freeing Shin-ra from that endless torment, I was satisfied. The fact that I escaped alongside her filled me with joy.

Had Shin-ra not been there, I might’ve felt empty and wondered endlessly about the past 20 years on Earth.

But because Shin-ra is here, I don’t care about anything else.

Not entirely true—I’m curious—but now, knowing the aftermath of this world is beyond my reach makes it irrelevant.

…to me.

“Simply put, thanks to Big Brother, I avoided being raped by Seongju, right?”

“That’s right.”

Seongju.

The master of Pluto.

That tentacled monstrosity had the audacity to imagine impregnating Yuna with an Otherworldly Spirit. I personally defeated it.

Thus, Yuna remained pure.

Even Chang-yeom’s Phoenix, despite achieving partial synchronization, fought with the readiness to die. How much worse must it have been for Yuna, a direct creation of Seongju?

From that perspective, I am indeed Yuna’s savior.

But…

“This is what they call ‘Savior Syndrome,’ right? I saw it online.”

“No, that wasn’t my intention…”

“I know. But Big Brother’s actions still come across that way. Preparing duplicates of yourself in case you die or disappear—it seems like you’re seeking some sort of vicarious satisfaction.”

“…”

It’s true.

What Yuna described is exactly what I did: leaving behind bio-androids to help those left behind in case they fell into despair or became recluses.

If anyone needed a scapegoat, I wanted them to vent their frustrations on my duplicates instead.

–Would you allow your bio-android to be raped?

–Yes. If it helps release their anger.

–…You are truly a terrible person, sir.

–That’s why I pray such things never happen.

To En-yuhwa, no matter what happens to his bio-androids, it’s fine as long as it soothes everyone’s hearts.

But from the perspective of those left behind, it feels deceitful.

No, thinking about it from their shoes, it *is* deceitful.

What if Chang-yeom prepared duplicates assuming her own demise?

I’d be tormented forever.

Because any duplicate of Chang-yeom would just be a shell, and “Shin-ra” might’ve fallen back into eternal torment.

“…I’ve done something wrong.”

“You know it. And you’ve done something wrong to me too.”

“It’s a bit…no, yes. It’s wrong.”

Setting fires in people’s hearts and then just walking away?

That’s really bad.

“Thinking about it now, maybe if Big Brother had come as a monstrous villain type, I might’ve cooperated much earlier.”

“What?”

“I mean…I get distracted easily.”

“…That doesn’t sound right.”

Would she fall for any good-looking guy? Then Yuna wouldn’t have garnered so much popularity.

Only I am loved by the goddess within reach.

That’s Yuna’s identity as the main heroine, and her nature.

Even the Yuna standing before me now is no different.

“Monstrous villains are men too. But even if I’d met you as a man, trying to win my affection would’ve been far-fetched.”

“No, I think I would’ve. Do you know how thrilling it was for me to pursue Big Brother?”

Yuna pulled out a tablet and played a video.

[Humanity, I entrust you with my legacy. Our time together…wasn’t too bad.]

In the video, the monster slightly lifted its helmet.

A familiar man held blue flames in his hand—someone I knew well.

[A short but happy life, YUNA.]

“…Why am I here?”

“That’s because Big Brother’s physical modeling was used in-game.”

“…Suddenly, I feel dirty.”

At my words, Yuna’s expression stiffened.

Realizing I might’ve been misunderstood, I shook my head and grabbed her hand.

“It’s not because of this. It’s just…showing this side to male Commanders feels weird.”

“That’s fine. With male Commanders, it strictly ends in friendship. Nothing close to what Big Brother is imagining happens. That’s also because Mr. Cho dislikes it.”

“Surprising. I thought he’d enjoy that kind of thing.”

My slight annoyance towards Mr. Cho lessened.

“So it only happens with female Commanders?”

“Yes. That’s why many try to achieve the ‘Monster Phoenix’ achievement in female Commander mode, but Phoenix has a ‘soul’ setting. In those cases, she’s treated purely as a comrade—not what Big Brother is thinking.”

“Do you really think that?”

I asked seriously, and Yuna fidgeted her fingers.

“Yuna. Don’t give even the smallest excuse in that area. Human fantasies are endless, and history repeats itself.”

“Was it a mistake?”

“It’s not a mistake on their part. Look. Honestly, I’m scared to search, but this situation proves it.”

Reluctantly, I showed her the incidents that occurred when I entered the game to save Shin-ra.

“Who do you think I am?”

“Big Brother will never be someone who gets overshadowed.”

“Exactly. Just by understanding that, you already know, don’t you?”

At my words, Yuna looked away.

On the pad were countless images of a blonde Western man and a black-haired Eastern youth tugging at each other’s ties.

Images so explicit, it couldn’t get worse.

Most Commanders obscured their faces with masks or covered themselves, but in a few where their faces were visible, they resembled one of the default Commander faces.

“I endured all this while saving Earth, but it was for Shin-ra, not for you.”

I drew a clear line.

“Saving you was a secondary result of defeating Seongju. I didn’t kill Seongju to save Yuinah. To be honest? The reason I welcomed Yuinah as a companion, synchronized with her, and ultimately saved her…was to save Shin-ra.”

“I understand.”

Even after deliberately saying hurtful things, Yuna’s eyes remained unwavering.

“One question. In the game, I romanced the Monster Phoenix, right? Did I have sex or not?”

“…”

The Monster Phoenix is male.

Naturally, as a male entity, he should have some level of libido.

– KYOOOOO! Everyone! It’s YourFanBo! Today, for the first time in broadcasting history, I’m having sex with Phoenix! Let’s take my virtual virginity before my real one!

– OH GOD…♥

– Is THIS…sex…? If this is sex, then I’ve wasted my entire adult life…!!

I watched this through ‘YourFanBo’s’ gameplay stream.

– So embarrassing. Hmm, but it felt so good…

She was the first to reveal and successfully romance the Phoenix route, engaging in virtual reality sex with him.

While it seemed extremely pleasurable and gained cult-like popularity among women…

– Shin-ra, why are you like this?

– Hmph…you’re too much like him, which pisses me off a little.

It gave me chills.

It felt like I was having sex myself.

While consoling a genuinely upset Shin-ra, I mimicked every action Phoenix took in the video, sweating profusely during the process.

And yet, did Yuna, though it was virtual and based on my data, not have sex with Phoenix?

Impossible—

[MyPantiesArePurple. Farewell now. Be happy.]

[Just once more…can I hug you?]

Yuna sniffled as she asked.

It looked like she was saying goodbye to me for the last time, making me feel unnecessarily guilty.

[Hugging, huh…you haven’t changed, really.]

Phoenix…no, ‘me’ smiled wryly and extended a hand toward Yuna.

As if habitually wanting to pat her head, ‘I’ hesitated, then retracted the hand and flicked her forehead instead.

[Say that to the person you truly love in your heart.]

[You…]

[But…honestly, I envy you. Receiving the love of such a beautiful woman.]

I was disappearing from the bottom up.

[Truly…is it love…?]

I disappeared with a look of relief.

[Me too…one day, I want to fall in love.]

[What will you do if you find someone to love?]

[Hmm…]

Snap.

[I will love this body, until my last breath.]

I vanished.

“…Did you see that?”

Yuna stopped the video and grinned as she stared straight at me.

“…”

I wanted to leave immediately.

“Big Brother is this kind of man.”

“…It’s in-game! Not me! It’s that bastard Cho’s fault!”

“Nope. It’s the same. Just like in-game Yuna reflects me fundamentally, Big Brother and the in-game version share the same essence.”

Yuna continued to smile cheerfully.

“Being loved by a man like this…which woman wouldn’t dream of it?”

“…”

Damn in-game version of me.

‘Thinks he’s a romantic or something.’

Cursed bastard.