Adwin asked again with a puzzled expression.

[You’re saying watching us is helping us?]

[Yeah. I will explain now. So…]

I continued explaining what I had tried to say earlier.

As they listened silently, admiration crept onto the group’s faces.

Of course, all within the bounds of a natural conversation

Offense spoke up.

[That’s… a bit too clever.]

[Call it scheming. If you keep praising me, I will get used to it.]

[Sigh.]

Then Neril spoke.

[Sorry. It’s impossible.]

[Why?]

[What do you mean why? I told you from the start when I first gave you the headband. That thing can’t be remade.]

[Shh. Sobius might hear.]

[Yeah, like he could.]

It was the soul’s voice, but somehow I could hear a snort.

How strange.

[I believe you can do it.]

[I told you I have forgotten the inspiration from back then.]

[And I believe you will remember it.]

[Mide…]

[I’m asking you. Please, Neril. Only you can do this.]

A moment later, she answered immediately.

[Fine. I will give it a try.]

……

What the.

Everyone in the group tried to keep their expressions neutral at the same time.

After a long pause, Neril spoke.

[What? I said I would do it. What now?]

[No, really. Thank you.]

[Whatever.]

[Anyway, if we follow this plan, we can shatter the lie Idria completed 200 years ago. The problem is what comes after.]

[What comes after?]

I swallowed hard.

[If we destroy Idria’s lie, Padania will probably go into a frenzy.]

The Demon King’s goal is to create a fake world.

To achieve that, she must absorb the lie of “deceiving the entire continent” twice.

The first time, she succeeded through Padania.

And that success is still holding, for now.

[From our perspective, if things go smoothly this time, Idria’s plan is done for. Even if Kaeld succeeds.]

[…]

[So Padania would rather wipe this entire territory off the map than let the lie be exposed.]

[Uh… Even if he’s the top fighter, can he really massacre millions of people in this land by himself?]

With that ability, he more than can.

It’s the power I fear the most.

I stayed silent for a moment, then said,

[Everyone has a last resort. Let’s assume Padania does too, and prepare for it.]

[That’s true, but what kind of preparation do you mean?]

[Hmm. I didn’t expect I would be the one to say this, but…]

I could already feel my stomach churning.

Ugh. Do I really have to go this far?

Being a hero is rough.

After several deep breaths, I turned to Offense.

[Offense.]

[Yeah?]

[You still have that vial of Greed’s filth, right?]

As a proper assassin, Offense did his best to keep a straight face.

But he couldn’t hide the thrill in his voice.

[Wanna try a sip too?]

Three days remained until the duel.

During that time, Sobius kept a steady watch on Mide’s group through the authority granted by Idria.

He didn’t realize that Mide had become aware of this surveillance.

Because of that, he had no choice but to believe what he saw.

“Mide appears to be training.”

“What?”

Kaeld looked into the rift that split the air.

Sure enough, Mide was deep in some mountain forest, swinging his sword with vigor.

His expression was serious, his movements sharp. He genuinely looked like he was training hard.

“Why is that bastard suddenly training?”

“Because of the duel with me, obviously.” Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NoveI[F]ire.net

“I hate to admit it, but Mide’s physical prowess is already top-tier. He doesn’t need to train.”

“He’s not doing it to build stamina or anything.”

Sobius crossed his arms.

“He said he is trying to develop a new technique.”

“Hah. That makes even less sense. What can he come up with in just three days?”

“Well… I agree with that, but then why is he taking it so seriously?”

Kaeld had no reply.

Sobius watched Mide’s training closely.

Mide said nothing and simply kept swinging his sword.

But then, a moment later.

“It changed!”

Sobius, uncharacteristically loud, jumped to his feet.

Kaeld, having missed Mide’s last movement, tilted his head.

“Changed? What did?”

“His last strike. It was aimed for the waist.”

“What? No way… I could have sworn it was aimed at the head.”

“That’s just what you saw. It seems that body really is weaker than Bion Kunze’s.”

Kaeld’s eyes flared.

But Sobius paid him no mind and removed his helmet.

“At the very last moment, he twisted his wrist and redirected the blow to the head. If I hadn’t seen that just now and walked into the duel, I’d have guarded my waist.”

“…..”

“How can he bend an attack packed with that much force so effortlessly? No wonder Lady Idria sees him as the biggest threat.”

“Is it really okay to praise an enemy like that?”

“I’m a swordsman myself. Whether enemy or ally, I admire true skill.”

He stroked his chin once.

“I think I get what Mide’s aiming for.”

“What?”

“He is planning to destroy my helmet with that new technique.”

“…”

“And with that, he will try to reveal my identity to the world.”

Kaeld tilted his head.

“You mean… Mide figured it out? That you’re Padania’s Brook?”

“Yeah. I had a hunch he knew back in the waiting room.”

“How? How could he possibly know?”

“I have no idea.”

Sobius’s voice turned cautious.

“Whatever the method, when they see someone recorded as dead and buried standing perfectly fine, people are going to panic.”

“…”

“Then he will ride that wave of doubt and suspicion, riling them up, demanding investigations, whatever it takes. It’s a solid plan… except for one fatal flaw. I saw it coming.”

He gave a crooked smile.

“Let him break it all he wants. Thanks to Lady Idria’s blessing, I can change my face. Just like Ophelia and Hyran did.”

“…”

“In fact, I will use that opening to cut off his headband myself.”

For a moment, Kaeld wondered, Will it really go that smoothly?

Mide had always been meticulous.

Even if one plan failed, he always had a second one ready.

When it was all over and you looked back, you couldn’t help but feel it: They had been dancing in Mide’s hand from the very beginning.

“You really think that will work?”

“You saw it with me just now. Wait, no, you said you missed it.”

“I know Mide well.”

“No need to listen to a loser’s opinion.”

Sobius dismissed him cleanly.

Kaeld opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it.

But the unease in his heart wouldn’t go away.

If he could, he would have ask Mide directly: “Is that really all there is to it?”

Unfortunately for him, his prediction was spot on.

Mide wiped the sweat from his forehead, having perfected the new technique.

‘Still red, huh.’

[Yeah. Watching over you… mm, it’s gone now.]

The screen in Mide’s vision returned to its usual blue hue.

He let out a small chuckle and murmured,

“That should be enough bait.”

The day of the duel had arrived.

Perhaps deciding to go all in, the lord had generously opened up the entire military training grounds.

A sea of spectators filled the vast arena.

Each wore an expression of excitement and tension as they whispered among themselves.

“I’m sure Sir Kaeld’s party member will win, right?”

“I think Sir Mide will.”

“What? You actually believe in that sketchy second oracle?”

“Hey, quiet down.”

“Honestly, just by looks alone, Sir Mide seems more like the true Hero.”

Whoever said that last line clearly had a keen eye.

They will succeed in whatever they do.

Our party gathered in the very front row of the stands.

As I loosened up, I looked toward the opposite side.

Kaeld was seated in his designated seat, anxiously shaking one leg.

Serein said,

“What’s up with him?”

“Hm… don’t tell me he found out about our plan.”

“Trail told us the timings of their surveillance. We stuck to the script every time.”

Right.

[Maybe he has built up a resistance from being outwitted by you so many times.]

‘No way.’

[Think about it. Kaeld used to be one of the most renowned names on the continent. And then you completely wrecked him not long ago.]

‘…’

[Better to be cautious.]

I gave a slight nod.

Then whispered to the group,

“Neril. What about the Append View?”

“All ready. Just need to finish the final sign seal.”

“Good. Time it right. Do it the moment I throw Sobius off balance.”

“Don’t worry. But can we really distract him that easily? He seemed pretty sharp when we first met.”

“If everything goes according to plan, we will manage. He won’t even have the brain space to glance at the stands.”

I turned to the rest of the party.

“If our plan wraps up in phase one, you guys don’t really have anything to do, right?”

“We will cheer, of course.”

“Uh… yeah. Other than that.”

“Then I guess nothing in particular.”

“Keep an eye on Kaeld. If things go south, feel free to beat him half to death.”

Lisel cautiously asked,

“Will that even work? Magic or sorcery doesn’t work on him, right?”

“Trail said… hmm. Never mind, he said it should be fine now.”

“You were about to say something.”

Trail had once possessed Kaeld’s body and shared his theory about why the guy had seemed so invincible.

Because it was a body prepared for the Hero.

Even Idria, for all her talent in creating fakes, likely couldn’t perfectly reproduce a Hero’s physical form.

“Of course, don’t overdo it. Only if it’s doable.”

“Understood.”

“All right. Let’s get started.”

Tap.

I turned.

Sobius was already standing in the center of the dueling grounds, waiting for me.

Neril spoke.

“Don’t get hurt.”

I gave a small grin and replied,

“Yeah. I will be careful. You will scold me again if I get hurt.”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant…”

“Anyway, I will be back.”

Clack clack.

I walked slowly toward Sobius.

The cheers of the crowd grew so loud they rang in my ears.

“Waaaah!”

“The Hero…”

“Maybe we are witnessing a moment in history right now?”

“It’s not maybe, it’s definitely!”

Tap.

This was a duel with no judges or referees.

Even the timing of when to start was left up to us.

Which is why I opened with a lighthearted comment.

“Not hot in there?”

“What?”

“That helmet looks uncomfortable.”

“…”

“I won’t aim above the neck, so feel free to take it off. I promise.”

Heh.

Laughter came from within the helmet.

“If you take off your headband, maybe I will consider it.”

“So you knew.”

“Of course. The illusion spell engraved into that headband… I didn’t think you would use that to engrave the mark.”

“How do you know that?”

“Who knows.”

“You saw it with your own eyes, didn’t you?”

Flinch.

I could feel the slight twitch in his body.

I licked my lips.

Time to lead him into the trap.

“Ah, of course you did. You’re not exactly young anymore.”

“…”

“So… when did you meet Idria, Padania Brook?”

Padania stayed silent for a long moment before speaking.

“Haha. You knew after all. What did you use to figure it out?”

“Who knows.”

“Unveiling someone’s carefully hidden identity? That’s rude, especially to a senior.”

I casually scratched my ear and said,

“I don’t see you as a senior. I only recognize the first through third Heroes as my predecessors.”

“…”

“A Hero, becoming a Demon King’s pawn… it’s disgraceful. On behalf of the previous Heroes, I will pass judgment.”

“…Heh heh.”

Padania let out a chilling laugh.

“How arrogant.”

He growled low.

“I know what you’re planning, Mide Mohan.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You want to crack my helmet. Reveal to the world that the fourth Hero, long thought dead, is alive and here. But do you really have the skill to do that?”

“Absolutely.”

“I will be watching, fake Hero.”

“Hah.”

I gave a scoff.

“Who’s calling who a fake here?!”

Taat!

I dashed forward with terrifying speed, charging straight at him.

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