The sensation of forcibly dragging my struggling mind up from within wasn’t exactly a delightful one.
It felt like being sucked back into a dream, the dizzying sensation pulling me out as my eyes shot open.
“Hmm…”
Oh, is it already morning? No, wait. Looking at the clock, the digital numbers read 3 AM.
This is the lifestyle of a night owl. My little goal of becoming a morning person is crumbling like this.
“Owww!”
As I desperately dodged my own thoughts, my body trembled with the rush of blood coursing through me. As the blood circulating throughout my body rushed to my brain, the lingering drowsiness shook off entirely.
Coming out of the shower, I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in the opposing glass. Hmm, is it just my imagination, or have I lost some sort of purpose? Now that I think about it… what did I do before going to bed?
Feeling too lazy to just stand there, I sank into the couch while trying to piece together my memories. So, I snatched Rank 1, and then the season ended just like that. I remember feeling quite satisfied looking at my nickname, which was now completely fixed in the rankings. And… I think I bragged a bit about being the best at Soul Warfare.
“Not much to it.”
Thinking back, a sigh of emptiness escaped me at the absurdity of it all. It was strange. This sense of hollowness felt disheartening already, even though it hadn’t been like this when I was gaming before being summoned into this world. I used to jump for joy, thrilled just by winning a game or two. If I had really clinched Rank 1 like this, I would’ve been smiling and grinning ear to ear… but here we are.
Just from a single sleep, I’m suddenly in this “sage time” phase? What an absolute waste of opportunity. Now that I think about it, the realization of having achieved the goal I aimed for through Soul Warfare has seriously diminished my enthusiasm for both broadcasting and gaming. I’m suddenly filled with a strong desire to just call it quits. This surely couldn’t be the worst situation for a streamer.
-Ding.
Caught off guard by the vibration notification on my smartphone, I subconsciously reached for it.
It was a text from Yuri, and the content was quite simple. Just asking if I was awake. After lightly replying with a “yes,” it wasn’t long before the doorbell rang.
*
*
*
I felt a bit apologetic towards the visitor, but before I could register Yuri’s appearance, the piece of sandwich she was holding immediately caught my eye.
Only then did my body recognize that I was starving, sending intense signals urging me to shove that food into my mouth. Sure enough, after skipping meals and gaming all this time, I must be worn out.
“You gamed until dawn, didn’t you? Now that you’ve achieved your mission, eat something proper.”
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
As soon as I took a bite, the mixture of meat, veggies, and bread smoothly went down my throat.
“Delicious.”
This wasn’t just a calculated response; I said it purely savoring the taste. Hearing my reaction, Yuri’s face lit up with a hint of excitement.
“It’s a sandwich with fold pork, cheese, jalapeño, tomato, and salad in a brioche bun. I even drizzled some salsa on it to kick up your appetite.”
“Is that so?”
This girl always goes into detail about the food she makes.
She even chattered away when A-Jin moved in, providing a strange experience of eating while hearing descriptions of jjamppong and sweet and sour pork.
Taking another bite, the toppings in the sandwich harmoniously delighted my mouth. Alright, I’ll definitely acknowledge this. My own personal Hero’s maid.
“Sorry for the trouble. I feel bad.”
“Nah. I made too much anyway, so it would’ve been tough eating it alone. Plus, you’ve been busy lately and didn’t have time for meals. This actually worked out well. I’ll make you sandwiches or some light dishes anytime.”
“Ah, really? I appreciate it, but…”
I wonder if she’s pushing herself too hard.
And thus, my meal continued without anything particular to talk about, just me repeatedly nibbling on the sandwich. Yuri sat across from me, staring blankly into space. Thinking about it… unlike Da-Young or A-Jin, Yuri seemed to draw a peculiar line.
At first, she showed some interest in me being a streamer, but that faded quickly. Now, all she does is provide meals when there’s a moment. One could argue about whether being a cook who prepares meals means setting boundaries, but it really does feel that way. Maybe there is no topic left for us to discuss besides this. Having finished the sandwich, the timing couldn’t have been better as fullness began to loosen my mind a bit.
What kind of life did Yuri lead as a Hero?
I remember her saying she had a family. I wonder if they’re all healthy.
Using the broken boundary, a curious thought crept in. Now that I’d reached Rank 1, my sense of purpose dwindled even further, I couldn’t hold back this question that randomly popped up.
“What kind of Hero were you, Yuri?”
After a moment of thought, Yuri bobbed her head before replying.
“Well, I guess it was just ordinary. I mean, is it strange for a Hero to be ordinary? Meeting with someone like Se-Hee or others doesn’t feel particularly unusual.”
She raised her hand, and a small light seemed to gather around it, soon taking the form of a sword. Though not as magnificent as my Holy Sword, it was definitely a radiant weapon filled with the world’s light, a manifestation of power.
“Oh… a Holy Sword.”
“Yes, I have one too. I was surprised the first time I saw Da-Young and A-Jin. One was a magical girl, and the other an esper. I thought if there were multiple Heroes, they would all have Holy Swords.”
Clearing her throat, Yuri took a moment before sharing her story.
“My story in this world was… a typical Hero’s adventure, clad in dazzling armor and defeating the Demon King with my Holy Sword. It was just like a fairy tale.”
As she spoke of her typical Hero’s quest, it drew my utmost attention like never before.
Yuri’s tale of being a Hero was quite simple. Summoned to wield the Holy Sword, she embarked on adventures with companions to defeat the Demon King. Exploring dungeons, rescuing fairy kingdoms in peril, seeking the legacy of former Heroes… it sounded boringly intriguing. Just like a solid, compact novel. Most importantly, the characters were quite colorful.
There was the tsundere from a noble house, the one known as the future Swordmaster who was the same age as her.
A proud prince who commanded archery and spirits, haughty yet still caring.
The cool, mysterious magician in charge of the Tower, who secretly provided help from the shadows.
A saint from the church, who was unusually kind to her, chosen by God.
Truly, a model lineup of a Hero party. A frontline Hero surrounded by melee DPS Combatants, ranged DPS Archers, Magical DPS Mages, and the Sweet Heal guy—this composition is nothing short of outstanding.
However, the characters she described felt strange compared to their job classes.
“I’ve seen this character setup somewhere… Ah, wait!”
This is the typical setup of a fantasy novel! Is there going to be a villainous noble lady too?
“Didn’t you have a girl bothering you?”
I asked with partial curiosity, but she seemed shocked, like a fish caught on a hook.
“Ah, right. There was a girl summoned with me. The issue is…”
“What’s the issue?”
“She ended up becoming the Demon King later, and at the last, we had to fight.”
“What happened? You would think there’d be some common ground since you were both summoned Heroes.”
“Well….”
Yuri awkwardly scratched her face, then sighed as she began explaining.
“I was the real Hero summoned. She probably came along by accident. Plus, she wasn’t from Earth but another world altogether. At first, I thought we’d bonded over our shared predicament, but….”
“But?”
“The moment a Hero party formed around us, things fell apart. I think she didn’t have the talent of a Hero, and the others focused on me instead.”
Where’s the popcorn?! Bring it here!
“The last time we met again after she left the party was at the Demon King’s castle. We defeated her, who had merged with the Demon King, but at that time, she cursed me in her final struggle. That curse was….”
It involved turning into a man. I was curious why she placed such a curse, but it all clicked into place. So that’s why. She didn’t want me snugging up to the Sweet Guys of the Hero party. They say a woman’s jealousy can spring up even in summer. One forced transformation curse, and off goes my dreams of being a Hero.
From what I gathered afterward, the shocked Sweet Guys resigned from the party and cut ties with Yuri. It turns out, most of the Sweet Guys from fantasy novels only look shiny on the outside—empty shells inside. Lost in despair, Yuri returned to Earth through the summoning goddess, but the curse remained, compounding matters by rendering her incapable of harnessing the Hero’s Power.
“But, I’m glad to have met you, Se-Hee. It feels like I got a second chance.”
She smiled shyly, yet not a hint of shame was visible. Perhaps a calm sense of confidence rested within her.
This was truly a story that could touch one’s heart without any tears.
