Chapter 582: Clean Up 2

A way to survive the darkness of this world.

When the evil goddess Erebil descends, the world itself describes her arrival with a single word:

Inevitability.

A fate that cannot be overturned.

A shadow destined to swallow everything, no matter how much you fight against it.

In the game’s story, no matter which route you chose, no matter which ending you reached—whether happy, tragic, or bittersweet—sooner or later Erebil would always descend.

It wasn’t a matter of if. It was only a matter of when.

The only thing left for you, the player, was preparation.

And in that preparation, one name always stood at the center: Lucas.

The Son of Light.

The Hero of the World.

The Blessed Child chosen to shoulder the impossible weight of fate.

He alone was destined to stand against the evil goddess when the world fell into darkness.

The only limit placed on him was the same one placed on every player—your choices.

The journey you took, the allies you raised, the bonds you made.

That was the true measure of how strong Lucas could become.

The game summed it up with a single, famous quote burned into the memory of every player:

“The son of light, fated to carry the world. The goddess of darkness, fated to smother it. Your choices will decide whether the light endures or is consumed.”

It was a simple setup, even cliché.

An evil goddess and a chosen hero—it sounded like every other fantasy tale.

And yet, within Hero’s Legacy, those roles carried countless twists, branching paths, betrayals, and revelations.

Every playthrough revealed something new through the eyes of different characters.

The idea of a “word” was especially important.

Each word carried weight, shaping destinies—Blessings or Burdens.

They were more than just titles; they were chains and wings at the same time.

And the word Hero… was the heaviest of them all.

To bear the word Hero was to carry the world on your shoulders.

Every choice, every action, every sacrifice, would shape the future of humanity itself.

That weight would crush most. But it would also forge Lucas into something stronger.

And while that was his burden to bear, that didn’t mean I couldn’t ease it.

“W-Who are you—w-wait—UGHCKK!!”

My blade cut clean across the bald man’s neck.

A hot spray of blood burst into the air, but before the droplets even hit the ground, white flames consumed him.

His body withered, blackened, and vanished, leaving only a faint scorch mark on the dirt road.

He’d looked so harmless even until the end—eyes wide, lips trembling like an ordinary man begging for his life.

But only after death did the truth reveal itself: a pair of jagged demonic horns sprouting from his skull, curling into the air like a grotesque crown.

Donald Leaf.

On the surface, a simple baker living near the outskirts of the academy walls.

Supplying bread and sweets to students and professors alike.

Kind, quiet, forgettable.

But beneath that mask? Just another worshipper rotting the world from the inside.

“Is this guy the last one, Master?”

A small, airy voice floated near my ear. Lavine, her fairy-like body perched on my shoulder, flapped her translucent wings slowly. She sounded exhausted.

“For now…” I murmured, wiping the blood off my blade even though the flames had already done the job. “But don’t get too comfortable. We might add a few more to the list next time.”

“Ehh? You mean there’s going to be more?” Lavine pouted, sinking down until her tiny legs dangled lazily over my collarbone.

I let out a dry chuckle. “Demonic worshippers are like cockroaches. You never really know how many are crawling in your home until you turn the whole place upside down.”

Her nose wrinkled. “Now that you mention it… these trashes have been a little too sneaky lately.”

“It’s their master’s specialty—hiding. That’s why finding them is always more troublesome than killing them.”

Although the man I killed just now didn’t pose that much of a threat to Lucas directly, for the other ordinary citizens living near the academy he was the root of countless nightmares.

To them, he was more terrifying than any monster in the dark.

Lucas might have been portrayed as the hero, the chosen savior, but the truth was cruel—he couldn’t save everyone.

He couldn’t be everywhere at once, not when the Demon King Asmodeus finally descended.

That was exactly why someone like Donald Leaf—the baker, the hidden worshipper—was the perfect target for me.

He wasn’t important to the main scenario. In the game, he was only mentioned in a stray line, a side note buried in the background.

But in reality?

He was dangerous enough to ruin lives quietly, without ever making it into the spotlight.

That was reason enough for me to erase him.

“Master,” Lavine piped up from my shoulder, her tone half questioning, half grumbling, “you said last time the saintess, that ridiculously strong hero-kid, and those hidden paladins already cleaned out the academy of demonic filth, right? So why are guys like this still hanging around?”

I shook my head, lips curling into a faint smirk. “Emilia and the others did purge a good portion of the worshippers last time, but they couldn’t exactly wipe all of them out. No matter how strong they were, the rot spreads too deep. And the ones we’re dealing with right now… they don’t even serve the same lord as before.”

Lavine frowned, her wings slowing. “So, a different master? Great… as if one wasn’t enough.”

Her voice dropped lower, thoughtful. “Seeing as how even I had a hard time seeing through them until the last second, that must mean this demon lord is high up the ranks. Maybe even a Domain Holder…” She hesitated, her delicate face tightening. “But that would make him nearly equal to a fledgling god. No—” her eyes narrowed, “maybe it’s just because I’m not in my true form right now.”

As someone who knows how truly powerful Asmodeus is, I know he was at least as strong as a mid-range god in the least, but… in front of the current Lucas right now?

He wasn’t really a big deal.

One clean use of Lucas’s [Justice] skill and everything would be over in minutes.

That was the reality of the main story as well—the big threats were often blunt and obvious.

But the real danger came from variables.

Like that clown demon from last time—small in presence, huge in chaos.

Chances of Erebil interfering weren’t low either.

The goddess didn’t always show up in the same way.

She could seep into events like a shadow and wreck a plan before you even knew a plan existed.

“Lavine, you kept track of Trisha’s movements, right?”

“Yes, but she’s not acting strange—at least not like you expected. She’s been going back to the dorms a lot, after classes ends and training with other students personally. When needed but she doesn’t really go out much.” Lavine’s face twisted with a hint of confusion. “Honestly, I thought she’d contact another demonic entity after that clown fell, but she hasn’t.”

“Keep tabs on her,” I said. “Her involvement in future events isn’t unlikely. Don’t lose sight.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got one of my mini-clones on her at all times,” Lavine said, sounding proud.

I nodded.

There were more names I wanted cleared before the official start—little stains that could grow into open wounds once the story accelerated.

But killing everyone at once would be messy, risky.

I needed to inform the principal about today’s incidents—some things might require a clean paper trail.

And there was a final call to be made about Cristo too.

I looked up at the moon — it was getting late. I was turning back to my room when —

KILLING INTENT…!!!

SWIIISHHH!!!

A dagger flashed toward my throat. I moved like habit, grabbed the tip of another blade with two fingers, inches from my skin.

Cold bit my fingertips.

The air around us snapped; a shockwave rolled out and the temperature dropped like someone had opened a frozen door.

The dagger trembled, then stopped as if the world itself decided to pause.

“Haah~ at least let me get a hit, Riley~”

A voice, low and syrupy, cut through the silence. From the shadows stepped a woman, dagger held out like a toy. She pulled back with a dramatic sigh.

“Big sister Bom?” I said, more surprised than angry.

“Oh my, oh my~” she cooed, stepping closer with that fake sweetness she always used. “So, you remember to call me ’big sis?’ Good, good. As expected of my future brother-in-law — you’ve earned extra approval points.” She winked. “I’ll allow you to freely have ten children with my sister!”

“Ten’s a bit too much, you know.”

Bom laughed, that musical, dangerous sound.

Her eyes glittered with mischief and a warning.

As always, Big Sister Bom carried that sly, untouchable charm — the kind only she could pull off.

Her foxy aura was unmistakable, sharpened further by the natural curve of her slanted eyes, half-lidded just enough to hide and reveal the faint glimmer of her ruby-red pupils.

Her crimson hair, tied neatly into a high bun, swayed with each subtle tilt of her head, giving her that dangerous yet elegant air of a predator who was always a step ahead.

“Hey, you damn brat, how dare you—!”

Lavine, who had been the most rattled by the earlier shockwave, furiously sputtered, her tiny wings flapping in agitation. She lunged straight at Bom like a tiny arrow, her face red with outrage.

I quickly caught her mid-flight, pinching her delicate frame between my fingers before covering her mouth with my thumb. “Shhh. Not now.”

Bom chuckled, raising a hand to cover her lips as if genuinely amused. “Fufufu~ your familiar is just as cute as ever.”

“She tends to be a bit dramatic though,” I replied, holding Lavine firmly as she struggled against my grip, muffled complaints buzzing like an angry bee.

“My, my~” Bom leaned closer, her ruby eyes glimmering with mischief. “She looks so adorable. Can I hold her for a bit?”

“Maybe next time,” I said with a faint smile. “Once she’s calmed down.”

Lavine squirmed harder at that answer, her muffled voice no doubt cursing both me and Bom together.

But even as I joked, deep down, I was still baffled.

I had already ascended — my senses sharper than ever, my awareness cutting through shadows and lies alike — yet I hadn’t felt a single trace of Big Sister Bom’s presence until the dagger was literally at my throat. Not even the faintest ripple in the air.

If Asmodeus himself tried to challenge her in a contest of concealment, she might actually win.

“It’s nice to see you again, Riley,” Bom said softly, her playful smirk curving into something dangerously elegant. “But really now, I expected more of a reaction from you. Where’s the shock? The trembling? Do you know how disappointing you’re being?”

“I am surprised,” I said evenly. “After all, it’s not every day that your sister-in-law tries to land a sneak attack on you.”

“Fufufu~”

“So—could you please tell this ignorant little brother of yours why you tried to sneak up and stab him, and also why you’re here, big sis?” I asked, folding my arms.

Bom put a finger to her lips like she was savoring a secret. “Hm. Think of it as a small mission…and a warning.”

“A warning?” I echoed.

“Yes. In more ways than one.” She stepped closer, eyes glittering. “Something dangerous is moving behind the scenes, and you’re right in the middle of it, Riley. At least, that’s what the perpetrator thinks. I can’t say much—contracts and all that—but someone tasked me to try and kill you, if possible.”

“So, you really tried to?”

“Fufu. Well, it didn’t work, did it? So, it doesn’t matter~”

If I hadn’t reached the level of power I had now, if I’d still been the kid I used to be, there was no way I could’ve shrugged off that attack so casually.

At best I would’ve dodged a lethal blow by inches.

But…

Knowing Bom, she wouldn’t have actually gone all-in on killing me—Seo wouldn’t forgive her if she did something that reckless.

“So, someone’s trying to assassinate me?” I asked again, calmer now, testing for lies.

Bom didn’t answer with words.

She smiled—small, calculating, like a blade tucked behind silk. Her silence said more than any speech.

She was trying to keep a professional distance: but the answer was already obvious…

It must be her huh…

Well,

I was half expecting attempts on my life… but I didn’t think they’d use Bom. Either they’re that desperate, or they wanted to draw something out.

Whatever the reason, I’d take whoever she sends anytime.

“Will you relay what happened today to our so-called secret master?” I asked.

Bom nodded. “I might need to alter a few words though… and also—just so you know—the clan head is here, Riley.”

“Master?” I froze.

“Yes.” Bom shrugged, tossing the word off like it didn’t matter. “But don’t worry—this whole fiasco is separate from him. He’s not even aware this is happening. Or maybe he is—stupid old grandfather of mine. He’s probably deliberately ignoring it. One word from him and a bunch of unnecessary stuff would stop. Sigh. Anyway, you’ll probably meet him soon, so consider this a heads up.”

“I see. Thank you for the information.”

“You’re welcome.” She stretched her back like a cat, the movement casual and fake-innocent at once. “Seeing as my loss is inevitable no matter what I try, I better get going. But not before you make things a bit realistic.”

“Realistic?”

“Yes. Now—hurt me.”

“Huh?”

She smiled that ridiculous, dangerous grin. “You want the assassination story to look real, don’t you? A fight with a little blood, a scar—something to sell the lie. Pretend like I actually tried to kill you and failed. Do it quick. Make it messy enough for the whispers, but not enough to actually hurt me.”

What she was saying made sense — most professional assassins could disappear cleanly, walk away without a scratch after a failed hit.

But Bom wasn’t most assassins.

She didn’t take “no” for an answer, and I had a bad feeling she’d try again if I refused.

I didn’t want to hurt her. Not really. But she asked for a bit of realism, and there was one method I’d never used on a living person before.

“All right… don’t move for a bit, Big Sis,” I said.

She nodded, casual as ever, waiting. Her grin was still in place, like this was another one of her pranks.

For a second, I almost believed it would be.

Then I looked her in the eyes and activated the divinity I kept buried. I didn’t reveal it fully — just a flash, a sliver of my true self.

The air around us dropped cold.

For a fraction of a second, she saw what I really carried.

My reflection in her pupils wasn’t me. It was a dark swirl of tentacles and void, an anomaly of shadow folding in on itself. It was brief, a blink — but enough.

The effect hit harder than I expected.

Blood welled from her eyes first, then her nose and mouth. It wasn’t theatrical stage blood; it was real, bright and sudden.

Bom gasped, a strangled sound torn from her throat.

She sank to her knees in front of me, hands clawing at the air.

“Ugh…! Cough… cough!” she hacked, trembling.

“Big Sis! Are you all right?”

She was shaking so hard I could barely get a grip on her shoulders.

My hands hovered, useless for a moment. I’d meant to scare her, not break her.

“Cough…!!!”

Shit.

I really underestimated my own true form.

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