The Hero Returns

“Oh. You’re embarrassing me,” he said.

Kim Dae-ho looked like he was debating if he could take this or not. It was obviously a huge amount of adamantium. It was enough that he could make two Balmungs.

“I...will only use the half,” said Kim Dae-ho.

Kim Dae-ho, agonizing over the decision, lowered his head. It wasn’t his usual manner. He usually shouted confidently, he didn’t hang his head in shame. He seemed very shy.

“Thank you, Su-hyeun.”

“I thank you,” Su-hyeun said, “You have always made good swords and armor for me. You’re my savior.” When Kim Dae-ho, who was a relatively short man, lowered his head, Su-hyeun bent to his knees as he spoke. “So, please raise your head, mister. You can thank me, but please don’t feel sorry about it.”

“Man...” Kim Dae-ho looked at the ground, grinning big. He raised his head and rolled up his sleeves. “All right, then. I’ll make something awesome. I promise you, on my honor.”

“I want two things.”

“Were the spears I gave you good?” Kim Dae-ho asked.

“Yes. They weren’t bad.”

“Then, I’ll make a good one, not just a ‘not bad’ one. Let me see. What should I use for a handle for this much adamantium?”

Kim Dae-ho could understand what Su-hyeun wanted, even though he didn’t say anything.

“After you make a spear, if there is still some left, could you mix what remains into this armor, please?” Su-hyeun took off his armor as he asked the question.

Kim Dae-ho took Su-hyeun’s armor. He looked at it closely and tapped with his fingers. His eyes flashed.

“This is a fine set of armor. Where did you get this?”

“I don’t know who made it because a monster spat it out.”

“A monster spat it out?” Kim Dae-ho asked in surprise.

“Yes. This armor has very high magic resistance, but it’s weak physically. Wouldn’t adamantium go well with this armor?”

“There’s no metal that adamantium doesn’t suit. Even more, this one has some sort of magical stuff you guys are talking about...” Kim Dae-ho thought for a moment and nodded. “I think the resistance of armor itself will increase, rather than its strength and hardness.”

“That’s even better.”

“What do you mean? Wouldn’t it be better to improve its defensive power? I think its magic resistance is already high enough.” Kim Dae-ho couldn’t understand. “And why do you need another set of armor with his magic resistance, anyway? I don’t know much about raiding dungeons, but I thought there weren’t many monsters using magic, are there?”

Suhyun tended to care about magic resistance a lot. At first, Kim Dae-ho hadn’t cared much about that. But he thought it was too much to care about both inside and outside armor for magic resistance. Most monsters had physical attack power.

Sometimes there were monsters that could use magic, but it seemed unreasonable to choose magic resistance armor to defend against the minority of monsters. And he was Su-hyeun, the best awakener in the world. There was no way he would make such a stupid choice.

“Yes. There aren’t many.”

Of course, Su-hyeun knew everything that Kim Dae-ho knew. He definitely knew it. But...

“But they still exist.”

The monster Su-hyeun thought about most wasn’t like most of the monsters that Kim Dae-ho mentioned. Su-hyeun cared about the few monsters. The powerful few.

<hr />

On the way back home, after meeting Kim Dae-ho, Su-hyeun simulated the images as always. He consciously tried not to recall the memories of his past life, but for some, he had to remember them.

<<What I didn’t have enough of...>>

Su-hyeun had lost in the fight against Fafnir. And, now, he tried to figure out the reason for the failure. Su-hyeun had been thinking about it since he had started his new life.

<<Stats and equipment, especially magic resistance and resistance items.>>

Su-hyeun hadn’t known about the boss named Fafnir.

<<I can resist physical attacks with my body. But for magic resistance...I can support it with skills and items.>>

For that reason, Su-hyeun had been learning skills to increase magic resistance for a long time. There weren’t many chances to use them, but he didn’t neglect to improve his proficiencies.

<<I’m getting ready.>>

Little by little, step by step, he was preparing for that day.

<<But I can’t be sure yet.>>

There was an old saying to know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated. Su-hyeun knew himself well. But he couldn’t say that he knew everything about Fafnir.

<<I have to prepare perfectly.>>

Su-hyeun changed his clothes as soon as he arrived home. He had asked Kim Dae-ho to improve the Falcon’s Holy Armor with adamantium. So, he had to wear another set of armor inside his outer one. It was a set of armor that made with middle-grade Ether stones, with both magic resistance and strength. He had passed the 41st floor. Now, it was time to challenge the 42nd floor.

<<The level of difficulty has definitely risen after the 40th floor.>>

In the last 15 days, he had passed the 41st floor. It wasn’t difficult. Since he already passed the 40th floor and his Strength stat had increased. The trial of the 41st floor was less difficult than the 40th floor. Every 10th floor was more difficult. But, considering Su-hyeun had chosen level 10 on the 40th floor, the 41st floor’s level was definitely tricky. When he compared 39th and 41st, the level of difficulty had almost doubled.

<<Hak-joon told me he already passed the 70th floor.>>

Considering the level kept rising as the floors got higher, Hak-joon’s speed was very fast.

<<I can’t lose.>>

Because of their difference in level, it would be difficult to catch up with Hak-joon. But still, Su-hyeun tried to hurry up to keep up. People still didn’t know what the top floor of the Tower of Trials was. But it was known that one S-Rank awakener who chose level 1 went up to the 550th floor. Everyone who tried to go to a higher level had died. People usually gave up on the 200th floor, which was known as the demon’s level.

<<I don’t know how much time I have left.>>

Rip—

When he was prepared, he headed to the tower again.

<<I’ll try to go as far as I can go.>>

<hr />

Su-hyeun arrived at the trial and opened his eyes. He was in a bright room. The room was decorated with quite luxurious furniture, including a nice bed. The light glowed softly. It was a strange place for Su-hyeun, who had been in far rougher places for most of his trials.

<<Am I alone?>>

Su-hyeun, who was sitting on the sofa next to the bed, got up from his seat. And, at that moment...

[The trial on the 42nd floor begins.]

[In the first-dimensional world, a contest to choose the best hero was held. You have been selected as the hero to represent your world.]

[A place where many heroes compete. You must enter the quarterfinals. Please show your skills to the fullest.]

“...?”

It was a very kind explanation and quite simple. He didn’t need any more hints. He just had to participate in the tournament and get to the quarterfinals. Su-hyeun turned his head. On one side of the room, there was a full-length mirror. In the mirror, he could see an unfamiliar face.

A man with a good-looking face with pretty blond hair as if dyed stared back from the mirror. Su-hyeun touched his face. A big scar ran from one eye to the cheek. It looked like it was made by the claw of a monster, not from a sword. Fortunately, only his body had changed. His sword and equipment were still there.

<<This man is a hero?>> Su-hyeun thought.

Su-hyeun had no idea which world this hero came from, but he was sure that this body was a handsome one. Su-hyeun took off his outer armor and lifted his clothes. Inside of the inner armor, there were tons of scars on the white skin. One scar on the face was nothing. His front and back were covered in scars.

Knock, knock—

A knocking sound came from outside while he was looking in the mirror.

“The competition will start in 10 minutes. Please be ready.”

It was a hard, machine-like voice. Su-hyeun assumed it must be a host of the game.

“Hmm...”

Su-hyeun sat back down on the couch again and scratched his head, thinking things over.

“Hey, Miru,” Su-hyeun called.

Rip—!

Miru, who was hidden away because of his big size, came out.

Purr—!

Miru stuck his head to Su-hyeun.

Su-hyeun stroked Miru’s head and said, “I have to make it to the quarterfinals.”

Purr—?

Miru tilted his head as if he was asking what quarterfinals mean. Su-hyeun smiled lightly at his reaction. And soon, the host came back again.

“Times up.”

Su-hyeun got up. He had no idea whose body this originally was, but he had to participate anyway.

<hr />

He was lead to a big Colosseum without a crowd. The stadium was as big as the one for the Ranking Wars, but there was not a single spectator in the rows of seats. The only people there was the one host and two players. Su-hyeun was one of the players.

“What is this poncy looking man? Is he a hero from some world? He’s so low.”

His opponent was a rough giant-like man about two meters tall. The man had dark red skin and looked different from a normal person. The third eye in his forehead certainly showed that he wasn’t a normal human.

<<Possibly another species. Well. I also have a third eye, though.>> Su-hyeun grinned at the thought.

“Are you laughing now?”

The giant player had a hot temper. He shook his fist at Su-hyeun.

“Calm down. The game starts at my signal,” the host said.

At the host’s admonishment, the giant player put down his fist. But he still frowned and stared at Su-hyeun. It seemed like he was trying to break Su-hyeun’s spirits before the match. On the other hand, Su-hyeun was calm, no matter what his opponent did. Miru was sitting far away, watching Su-hyeun and the giant with bright eyes. They stared at each other for a few minutes before...

“Three, two, one. Start!”

The host gave a signal as if he didn’t want to drag it out any more.

Whoosh—

At that moment, the giant player rushed right at Suhyun. The magic of his fist turned into a giant tiger. The tiger charged forward and opened its mouth wide as if it would swallow Su-hyeun in one gulp. Su-hyeun didn’t try to avoid that fist, just wielded his own fist, instead.

Crack—

“Aaargh!”

When the two fists hit each other, they produced a bone-breaking crack. The giant player held his fist and stepped back.

“Sigh. I thought you would be a good one,” Su-hyeun said.

Su-hyeun stretched out his arm and snatched at the neck of his opponent. The muscle-bound body lifted up. Su-hyeun slammed the giant man to the floor.

Boom—!

“Argh...”

“Is he a hero? He’s so low.” Su-hyeun clicked his tongue and looked at the host.

The host walked up to Su-hyeun with the same expressionless face. He held Su-hyeun’s hand and raised his arm.

“Hero Siegfried wins!”