“Whew!”
I exhaled the breath I had been holding as I stepped outside.
No matter how polluted the air might be, could it really be worse than being inside the body of a Demon King?
The cold air washed over my lungs, refreshing me like it was clearing the blocked blood in my veins.
“Sister!”
“Sehee!”
Why is everyone making such a fuss?
It was like a melodramatic reunion; they all ran to me with arms wide open, striking a ‘Hug me!’ pose.
“Of course, it’s our Sehee! You’ve come to save us!”
“No, I got caught too, you know?”
“Huh?”
“I’m joking. You believed that? You’re such a coward, Taehyun!”
If I had been more relaxed, I wouldn’t have fallen for such silly jokes.
Looking around, it was clear that traces of fierce battle remained.
The barrier of the Nebula had protected the outside, but inside the barrier, the ground was left a mess with evaporated seawater.
Well, thankfully, seeing everyone in decent condition made me relieved—none of them seemed injured. Good job holding out.
Now it was my turn to wrap things up.
“Unha, I brought you. Just hold on for a moment.”
“Ah, okay!”
Dayoung stepped up and cradled Unha.
As I turned my body, I could see the Demon King still writhing in pain, the soul escaping through its wounds.
Honestly, it’s normal to cry and whimper after being forcibly made to regurgitate right after a hearty meal.
“Everyone, wait here. I’m going to take care of the Demon King!”
“Just don’t show us the ending where you, our beloved Sehee, always ends up in a bad spot!”
“Hey, come on! Taehyun!”
Calm down, Dayoung.
No matter how mad you are, don’t swing Unha like a club.
I stepped forward and took an appropriate position.
I could feel the despair, fear, rage, and resentment in the gazes directed at me. All the negativity was shooting into my eyes like a whirlwind of emotions, but…
‘It’s all pointless.’
This level of mental attack couldn’t even leave a scratch on my already sturdy mental barriers.
Since I couldn’t just regurgitate what I had already thrown up, now, in this weakened state, was my chance.
In place of Unha, I would be the hero that goes on to finish this journey.
I would put a period on it.
*
*
*
Slowly, I raised the Holy Sword high into the sky.
It was just a simple stance with the sword held up, yet Dayoung behind me felt an overwhelming pressure.
The golden Nebula surrounding the golden Holy Sword gathered closely.
The clouds of stars shining on the dark universe glimmered and melted into the sword, into my body.
‘What is this?’
For a moment, was it just my imagination? Dayoung blinked but continued to see another form of my sister shimmering in the distance.
It was a familiar back, but radiating an incomprehensible awe; it looked like something wearing the shell of my sister.
It wasn’t just the beautiful Hero’s Equipment wrapping around her body or the golden Nebula enveloping her.
I intuitively felt that it was projecting something of a higher dimension.
If there were a divine figure to save the world, it would be like this.
That emotion was not just Dayoung’s; every Hero watching felt the same.
In contrast, Sehee was drenched in nostalgia.
‘It’s been a while.’
In this moment intertwined with countless worlds and stars, my broadened senses pointed beyond Earth toward a distant horizon.
Memories flashed of the time I had illuminated everything in a realm of demons that had twisted the flow of time with a light surpassing the sun…
The Holy Sword, now glimmering beyond gold like a Supernova, let out a massive roar as if waking from a slumber.
Beyond techniques and skills, Sehee brought the sword down from above.
Killing billions of demons,
Slaying the fallen heroes,
Finally killing the Demon King and saving a thousand worlds, the power was unleashed.
There was no intense clash of powers, no loud noise, no vibrations.
It felt as if the whole world had been bleached, like watching a parade of light…
The light of the Holy Sword erased the Demon King, reaching beyond the darkness that enveloped him into the demon-fied world.
Even the most blasphemous powerful demons trying to block its path simply vanished as if they were subjected to an undeniable law of nature.
In a time span less than a second, that process became deeply imprinted in everyone’s minds.
The scene of the Demon King’s disappearance, who had opened the Gate, along with the light of the Holy Sword purifying the world beyond it.
The very star itself, tainted by blood and pollution, returning to its primordial wholeness.
As the Demon King vanished like a silent film and every trace of evil was obliterated, Sehee quietly declared as she placed the blade of the Holy Sword on her forehead.
“I swear… I’ve kept my promise.”
She conveyed it to the fallen hero who had once matched her blade.
*
*
*
[From now on, I retract my support for Friede.]
[Author: Zikgatero belt]
From now on, Friede and I will become one in spirit.
Attacks against Friede will be seen as attacks against me… Uh, what was it again?
ㅇㅇ: It’s a gay thing…
SweetGuy: If you’re one, which part are you?
ㄴZikgatero belt: The hair in the middle of Friede. It’s golden, you know? ㅇㅇ
ㄴhope5555: You crazy dude, lol. You’re gonna get your head smashed by Friede’s Holy Sword.
ㄴZikgatero belt: Whoa! Our Hero isn’t that kind of person.
[Shout it out! Who are we?]
[Author: Kim Ggaettulakku]
We are the faithful followers of the Godly Friede!
Shout it out! Who are we?
We are the faithful followers of the Godly Friede!
yaSergei: Why is this guy so hyped? Shouldn’t he be calmly tap dancing in his room like me? Tsk tsk tsk.
ㅇㅇ: I’m currently frozen with a face full of Freedom and smacking my butt.
Terminator: It’s amazing how Friede is a superpowered being, that this world actually exists, and that she was just a streamer with those abilities.
[Breaking news! Due to the invasion of bizarre life forms and the appearance of superhumans…]
[Human civilization is now facing a new turning point. Perhaps we are witnessing something with more influence than Jesus Christ…]
[Friede, known by the nickname Forming, has revealed that she was indeed a famous streamer and a hit among the broadcasts…]
[Is there a family of the Hero currently? Did they know their family member was a Hero? We’ll dig into this special feature! Stay tuned!]
A night that was short yet long had passed.
In just one day, only a few hours had gone by, but the common sense of the world had completely flipped.
The stories that seemed to belong in fantasy were becoming a reality.
Every medium was merging into one singular narrative.
Starting with the news.
[The government is currently attempting to contact the superhumans known as Heroes. However, it seems these Heroes have gone into hiding. Connecting to reporter Kim Ggakgim. Kim Ggakgim?]
[Yes, I am at the home of the Heroes residing in Gangnam-gu XX-dong. Many people have gathered around the house, but no one can enter within a certain distance.]
[Is there a special reason for this restriction?]
[Yes. It seems the Heroes have put up a barrier. Several individuals have approached the house hoping to make contact with the Heroes, but they seem stuck in place as if mesmerized by a mirage.]
[Are the Heroes definitely inside?]
[The rooms are lit, and sometimes figures can be seen through the windows, but there are no signs of official activity.]
The news bombarded us with all manners of exclusive reports focused on the Heroes.
They edited Friede’s broadcast analyzing the Heroes or even debated the social changes the existence of Heroes would bring.
Then, news came that foreign dignitaries were planning to visit Korea in succession, and the YouTube algorithm flooded with videos that touched the emotions of every citizen in South Korea.
[China quaking in fear, Japan in panic, and America wooing Korea! Is the protagonist the Hero?]
[Nuclear powers, beware! Now is the era of Hero-holding nations!]
[A New Millennium! We are living in Friede’s era!]
[Friede and Forming’s brands engulfing the world! Presenting a new paradigm through Friede’s vision!]
[A deep dive into the heroic steps taken by the Heroes! Former Congressman Kim Doldol’s commentary!]
[The military! Feeling pride for changing titles from Private to Hero…]
[Recently, elementary students shocked us by saying they wanted to be a Hero when they grow up!]
“What the hell is this nonsense? It hasn’t even been 24 hours.”
Morning arrived, and as Dayoung examined the reactions, an absurd exclamation slipped from her lips.
Only a mere statement filled with this kind of content in just the early hours had her feeling dizzy.
How could it be that in less than eight hours, we were already getting responses from elementary students and military folks?
“Yeah, now the world is in our grasp, Dayoung. It’s time for us to meet the president to discuss unification. We’ll ride across the plains!”
“Shut up. That’s not the important thing.”
Of course, I thought attention would be drawn. I had steeled myself, believing the world would be watching us.
But not to this extent of madness. I shook my head in disbelief, thinking we needed to huddle and plan how to move forward.
Just as Dayoung was resolved in this way, she heard a voice, which she had overlooked until now, echoing loudly in her ear.
“Our daughter, don’t you have something to say to mom?”
“Ah!”
Dayoung squeezed her eyes shut.
Summoning our parents was a serious issue.
* * *
