This World Needs a Hero - Chapter 111

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Chapter 111

Lucas fell forward.

I caught him to prevent his nose from breaking and read the comments that appeared in front of me.

▼
Firewood ready to burn.
After what seemed like an eternity,
Through the darkness, a spark ignited.
▲

▼
– Glimpsed Enoch’s Dream world.
Understanding of Enoch deepens.
Understanding Level: 0/100 -> 10/100
– ‘Enoch’ has been added to the list of polymorphable subjects.
– By acquiring an understanding of the subject through an incomplete path,
only some abilities can be replicated.
▲

▼
The First Era – Part II is now available for viewing.
▲

Facing the Demon Legion Commander in the dream world.

Honestly, it wasn’t an easy choice.

But sadly, I had no other means to target a spiritual form besides this.

If Enoch escaped like this, the situation could lead to unpredictable consequences.

I had to embark on a bold adventure.

…Of course, there was a reason.

Through various experiments and encounters with the ‘Original,’ I realized that my mind remained unaffected by all kinds of mental attacks.

It was proven when I faced Magorn barehanded.

If the power of the spirit is determined by the accumulated memories and years lived, then my soul, which has undergone numerous replications of human experience, would never lose to that guy’s calculations.

‘Actually, it was true.’

Bucks and Delian, among others.

Humans I had connected with before.

I knew that I hadn’t just replicated their appearance.

As polymorph evolved, I could feel the existence of the ‘core.’

‘Although the combined power was more powerful than I thought.’

Even so, I didn’t know I could send Enoch away with just one blow.

…Anyway.

The income from the adventure seemed sufficient.

‘I never thought I would gain an understanding of Enoch….’

The strange thing was the moment he touched the memories I replicated.

Whether the mental barrier weakened when examining my memories, I could also explore his memories.

The amount was too vast, so I only skimmed through, but I could find meaningful clues about the demons’ next plans.

‘Next target decided.’

Understanding the subject through an incomplete path, only some abilities can be replicated.

Even if it’s only some, it’s the abilities of the Legion Commander.

Interference with basic dreams and enchantments will be given.

The ability of the Doppleganger, which becomes stronger as the understanding level rises, is a good match.

It can explore the subject’s imagination as if constantly triggering a nightmare.

Very useful for me, who needs frequent information warfare.

‘If used well, it will be a very useful weapon.’

Besides, meaningful rewards like memories from the First Era were given.

I wanted to tear them apart and investigate each one, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury to do that right now.

Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu-!

The mist that had settled densely in the shelter cleared.

The children who had been captivated in dreams were waking up, looking around in confusion.

“What is this? Was I asleep?”

“What’s going on… Oh? It’s the professor.”

“I feel like I had a really weird dream….”

“I feel weak….”

However, it seemed like everyone was still having difficulty moving due to the aftermath of exposure to demonic energy.

Noubelmag quickly rushed over, holding high-performance relief items that had been stored in the backpack.

Discovering a black-haired girl with short hair stumbling out of the tent, he sighed with relief.

Some of the children still hadn’t awakened.

Lucas, directly affected by Enoch, and Ban, who was in a battered state.

I wondered if Noubelmag had provided first aid while I was dealing with Enoch; bandages were tightly wrapped around Ban’s body.

But his expression was as comfortable as ever.

“Oh? Why is he still lying down?”

Children nearby noticed Ban’s condition and murmured.

“He’s injured….”

“He, he fought, didn’t he? Come to think of it, Lucas seemed a bit strange.”

They couldn’t guess the exact circumstances.

But it seemed like the children realized that Ban had protected them from some kind of threat that almost overwhelmed them.

Perhaps when they woke up, Ban would become quite popular.

Thinking that, I looked at Noubelmag, who was sitting down and catching his breath.

“…Phew, it’s exhausting. Damn, at this age, I have to chase after these bloody humans.”

He, who had been puffing on a pipe, seemed to notice my gaze toward Ban and added a word.

“It shouldn’t affect his life immediately. If left like this for about an hour, who knows.”

“Fortunately. Thank you for your hard work.”

“…By the way, that Dietrich guy. He must have really sweated it out.”

The bandages wrapped around him excessively seemed to contain the intention of sparing his comrades from experiencing the same sorrow.

While looking at the thick sweat droplets running down Noubelmag’s cheek, I took away the pipe he was holding.

“Stop smoking. You have to live long.”

“This crazy guy!”

Swish!

Just then, the communication, which had been blocked by the dense demonic energy, resumed.

Urgent voices simultaneously echoed in my ears.

[Hero! The medical team you requested is about to arrive at the shelter! Vehicles for transporting the injured to the main ward are also waiting. Are you okay, Hero?]

[Leader, Ban, my son, is he safe? What about the demons!? What happened to that guy?]

While looking at the children, I slowly opened my mouth.

“The situation is over. Enoch has been dealt with.”

And raising my voice a bit more, I continued.

“All the children are safe. Thank you all.”

It wasn’t a perfect defense.

We did our best to prepare, but we couldn’t completely avoid big and small crises.

But in the end, we protected the children.

There were those who were hurt, and considering the long-term exposure of demonic energy to them, we have to keep an eye on them for a while….

The heavy burden on my chest felt like it had been lifted halfway.

[All… are safe?]

[Ha… Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness. Thank you, Leader.]

Tension and anxiety were rapidly dissipating from the voices beyond the communication device.

I looked around while sighing in relief.

Beside me, Nyhill who was standing unsteadily.

Pia, who had appeared at some point and was running around with the arriving medical team.

The children who discovered me and brightened up.

In between them, the bright noon sunlight was seeping in.

“…Yeah, really fortunate.”

* * *

Immediately after the attack by Enoch, the Demon Legion Commander, was concluded.

The Imperial palace and Glendor company and Rosenstark mobilized all available means to track down those involved and restore the damages.

Consequently, the following processes occurred in a blink of an eye.

Those who were mesmerized by Monma were all detained in isolation wards, where they underwent interrogations by specially dispatched investigators.

Additionally, those who were even slightly exposed to demonic energy received special medical supervision in isolation wards.

Unprecedented amounts of consolation funds were provided to the families of the deceased and victims.

Due to identity verification and surveillance issues with the staff, the recovery process was slightly delayed, but the academy gradually returned to its original state.

As the midterm exams that had not been held were postponed to early next month, some children secretly enjoyed the delay.

In the midst of this chaotic situation, Jeremy Eitrobin, the host of Enoch and the instigator of this incident, gained unprecedented notoriety as a collaborator throughout the continent.

Of course, thanks to the intervention of the hero, the scale of the damage was less compared to other major ‘collaboration incidents,’ but the nature of his crime was the problem.

He had colluded with Monma and sold the future of humanity, the children.

-So what happened to him?
└ Did The Perfect kill him?
└ Was it a scene of him being killed on the spot?
└ Well, even I would have killed him if my son was in danger.

-Wasn’t it supposed to be more painful for him and he should’ve suffered more before dying?

Eitrobin, who was reported to have been killed by Felson’s furious sword externally, responded…

“Everything you’ve said so far. Is it all true?”

“Yes… it is true.”

In fact, Eitrobin was detained in the underground of an obscure Rosenstark building.

The interrogation ended more easily than expected.

Eitrobin seemed to have lost all will, and he detailedly confessed from the beginning to the end of the incident.

The process of succumbing to poverty and ambition, leading to becoming a collaborator.

Very detailed, and vividly painful.

Through this process, the hero was able to secure a list of humans who had helped each other.

For example, a mercenary leader who manipulated the ledger, claiming to have eliminated monsters appearing in the iron mine owned by the Eitrobin family for a large sum of money.

A peddler who, despite knowing that the ‘Droplet of dreams’ was a suspicious substance, distributed it without asking for its origin.

He found the bugs that shared the sweet fruits gained through Eitrobin’s collaboration.

Eitrobin’s sincere repentance was not only because of his grudge against Enoch.

▼
– Glimpsed Enoch’s Dream world.
Understanding of Enoch deepens.
Understanding Level: 0/100 -> 10/100
– ‘Enoch’ has been added to the list of polymorphable subjects.
– By acquiring an understanding of the subject through an incomplete path,
only some abilities can be replicated.
▲

The hero used the newly acquired ability without hesitation.

The replicated abilities were not as powerful as expected.

It had a minimal impact, as it was almost negligible against an opponent with an intact mental barrier.

‘Approximately at the level of an intermediate Monma.’

But Eitrobin’s mental barrier was nothing short of a rag.

Moreover…

‘Perhaps it’s because of Enoch’s ability, but there’s not even a resistance.’

Eitrobin responded to the question obediently, as if I were Enoch.

“Well, one more thing.”

With a cold gaze, the hero tasted the scene he had seen in ‘Enoch’s memories.’

“…Is it correct that Enoch’s next goal was to collaborate with the Demonic Church, alienate the elven races friendly to humans, and absorb the hostile elven races?”

“…Yes.”

“If you have more information about this, tell me everything.”

In this way, the hero transcribed Eitrobin’s muttering.

Significant clues emerged.

When the hero’s questioning ceased, Eitrobin, like a puppet with its strings cut, stopped moving.

His bony forearm was spread out on the bed like a piece of wood, making one wonder if there was any point in handcuffing him.

The hero looked at his face covered with deep wrinkles, the twitching body, and the discolored eyes.

“…It’s quite fascinating.”

In response to these words, Eitrobin showed a faint reaction.

Humans are indeed fascinating.

There are those who unhesitatingly dedicate their one and only life for the happiness of the present and the brilliant future for humanity.

And then there are those blinded by glittering gold coins, selling out their own kind.

Is there another species that shows such a vivid contrast between individuals?

“…”

Perhaps it was an impulse.

The hero reached out.

▼
‘Delirium’ manifests.
The ability to delve into the other person’s subconscious and automatically project desired desires has manifested.
▲

“Aha, haa….”

Joy briefly spread across Eitrobin’s face, gradually fading away.

Drool flowing down his slackened mouth and eyes gradually moistened with tears.

If the ability were to be exerted further, it could reveal what he was seeing, but the hero didn’t want that.

The hero turned away and left the room.

That night, Eitrobin, slammed his head against the wall and ended his own life.

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