Chapter 364 - [25th Round] Unpopular Guy

“I give up.”

“… Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

I couldn’t believe what I just heard.

Kang Han Soo, who had been attacking me tirelessly since he spread his Righteous Hero’s Wings, suddenly announced his surrender.

I didn’t even have an overwhelming advantage.

? Job: Brave (All around = Level 1)

Fantasy-based stats had become useless due to the effect of Brave, after all.

He had lost his lightsaber, and his Righteous Hero’s Wings were under the threat of osteoporosis, preventing him from using them recklessly.

However, he still had the Holy Sword Nucleon and an army of spirits.

I, on the other hand, could only fight using justice and martial arts.

“Why?”

“Because I value my lower back.”

“…”

“I lived without regrets for 20 years. Only when I lost what was dear to me did I realize I should cherish what I have.”

“… I see.”

Lost what was dear to him?

There was no doubt he was talking about Saintess H.

“I’m already engaged to the Sword Princess anyway. Aside from this battle, I wouldn’t lose anything. It’s still a bit of a shame, though.”

“Indeed.”

I didn’t even have anything to say.

He openly declared defeat.

That was a big change in his personality.

Perhaps this was the very moment when Kang Han Soo became the current me.

*****

As the winner of the tournament, I was given a chance to challenge the Sword Princess, but she had already announced her engagement before that, so there was no longer any point for me to do so.

Kang Han Soo had to pay for our last drinking binge and all the alcohol I poured into myself after the battle.

“Another bottle,” I said, sitting in the tavern. I wasn’t the only customer, but it was very quiet here.

Ding~?

The door chime rang.

“I see you’ve grown addicted to alcohol, handsome husband.”

“… You brought the baby with you again.”

“I wasn’t planning on coming in, but it’s unexpectedly quiet here.”

“Yeah…”

Sidael, our son, only ate and slept all day.

Sometimes he cried because he wet himself, but it never lasted long since his butt was cleaned and his diaper changed within 0.5 seconds.

Right now, he was fast asleep.

“Are you worried about the marriage of Kang Han Soo and the Sword Princess?”

“…”

“Let me tell you about what I went through when you fell into a coma, which shocked my very core. At that point, I immediately grew afraid the whole world would begin to collapse, and when I found out I was pregnant with Sidael, the future looked even darker.”

“…”

“Sidael was born on Earth. Do you know why? My mother died, my father disappeared, and my husband, on whom I depended, was in a coma. That’s why, out of panic, I went to your mother on your home planet.”

“… I’m sorry.”

I made an impulsive decision at the time.

After countless simulations in my head, I was confident I’d succeed but didn’t think about what side effects it might bring, like becoming a eunuch or the owner of a cloaca, after achieving perfection.

Therefore, I ignored all of my wife’s objections.

Pouring fruit wine into an empty glass, Ssosiel continued.

“That got me thinking. Even a year without you was already difficult for me, but what about the Sword Princess? She raised Chris alone for 15 years and even kept him a secret from everyone. For as long as the Hero doesn’t regress, her suffering will go on forever. And if the Hero dies, everything will start all over again.”

“… Do you want to get her out of Fantasy?”

“That’s impossible. My father killed her. The current Sword Princess was created based on a personal file. That’s why she can’t live outside the dimension of Fantasy.”

“… I know.”

I understood what she was trying to say.

Ssosiel wanted to give the Sword Princess, who was always suffering, a ‘husband.’

My past self, Kang Han Soo, would be perfect for that role.

“Can you create a separate dimension for her?”

Perhaps she could live in an independent Fantasy world.

She shook her head.

“Her soul isn’t a character in a computer game. Created from the huge amount of information in her personal file, she exists in all dimensions of Fantasy. To do what you desire, we’d need to apply a scenario where she’d die immediately after birth… In all worlds but one.”

“Fuck…”

“Don’t swear in front of our baby.”

“…”

“Perhaps this is hypocrisy, but somewhere in the world of Fantasy, every time the Hero regresses, a woman appears who is brutally abused by goblins and then killed. Compared to her, the Sword Princess is in a far better state. However, I’m not an all-powerful god. I’m just a jealous, cowardly woman. Nevertheless, I want the Sword Princess to be happy.”

“Are there other options?”

“I can erase her memories of you. That way, she’ll continue her lonely life.”

From Ssosiel’s perspective, the Sword Princess was nothing more than a component of Fantasy.

However, she wished her happiness.

All she needed was my permission.

“Do what you see fit.”

“Thank you.”

At that moment, my “sister,” sitting on my cowardly wife’s shoulder, interrupted our conversation.

“That’s mean, niece.”

“How so?”

“You skillfully got rid of a strong rival. You must never become as mean as your mother, Sidael.”

“Hey!”

“Heeheehee! Let’s raise a toast, my niece. For eliminating rivals and strengthening your position as my brother’s first wife!”

“That sounds strange! Don’t treat me like a villain!”

“Cheers! Heeheehee!”

“Auntie!”

“Waaah!”

“Ah?!”

My little son, awakened by his mother’s screams, began to cry.

So Ssosiel and my sister immediately rushed to comfort him.

As for me…

I poured more fruit wine in my empty glass and, raising it to the light of the stars in the universe, said, “Cheers!”

I wished nothing but happiness for Kaisa Kureil, who loved me.

*****

Kang Han Soo, having fulfilled his desire to settle down, left Aladdin’s party.

The same event happened in the other parallel dimensions as well, albeit several years apart.

“I couldn’t get the Sword Princess, but this is my world now!”

“Can we still do this? There are only three of us left…”

“Even though Kang Han Soo’s plans for our adventure were terrifying, he made it possible for us to progress without problems.”

Unlike Aladdin, who was overjoyed at the departure of Kang Han Soo, the very person who was leading their journey, the two female heroes with him were uncomfortable.

I was also a little worried.

But he wasn’t Sieg, who died on the 1st floor…

“Everything will be alright.”

“I think Aladdin will be fine.”

“I agree. All we have to do is avoid recklessness.”

“Exactly.”

“There’s enough of us, too.”

The companions Kang Han Soo diligently recruited also voiced out their thoughts.

Saintess A, Sage, Tomato, Sylvia…

They supported the pitiful Hero Aladdin, frankly delighted by the departure of their boss.

My 1st round immediately came to mind.

But things didn’t go as they hoped.

“Ladies and gentlemen, did you miss me?”

“What?”

“K-Kang Han Soo?!”

“Why?!”

“Why are you here…”

Upon seeing Kang Han Soo, who was wearing a luxurious travel suit, the heroes and their companions were filled with confusion.

And he wasn’t alone.

“Hello, I am Kaisa Kureil, but you can call me Sword Princess. Honeymoon seems like a luxury during these difficult times, so I decided to keep you company for a while instead. Please forgive us if we become a little noisy at night…”

“Seriously…”

“Um…”

“God…”

“How frank.”

A powerful couple joined their party.

At that moment, the heroes’ adventure became a part of their honeymoon.

Kang Han Soo’s relationship with the Sword Princess had always been intense, both on the battlefield during the day and in a sleeping bag at night.

This went on for three whole years.

“I wish you the best of luck, my dear comrades.”

“Thank you for your company.”

The couple announced their retirement from the party in front of the Demon Lord’s Tower.

Afterward, they held each other’s hands and headed north.

As for the remaining heroes’ party…

“Are we finally free?”

“Those were troubling times…”

“I just hope my insomnia will pass…”

They hugged, rejoicing at the event.

They decided to take a year off to help the villagers situated around the Demon Lord’s Tower.

One year smoothly turned into two years. Two years became three years, and three years became five years…

The reason was simple.

“She started having morning sickness.”

“I think I’m pregnant.”

“I promised to marry the princess.”

Hero Aladdin broke his promise to start a family only after defeating the Demon Lord.

From that moment on, their team fell apart like dominoes.

But they couldn’t postpone the battle forever.

? Warning: Hero! Please hurry! Demon Lord Parmamon will soon regain his strength! If you don’t dare fight him, the beautiful world of Fantasy’s hopes and dreams will be obliterated!

That was caused by a new system rule, which stated that the world would be destroyed even if the Hero didn’t die.

There was no exact time limit, considering it increased slightly when they defeated strong monsters or gained achievements.

However, as soon as the countdown began, the Hero should immediately start climbing the tower. Otherwise…

Viciousness D → Viciousness C

Just like the Karma skill, the Viciousness skill’s rank would increase, heightening the overall negative effects of the world.

The higher its rank, the more its owner would be betrayed by their friends and loved ones.

“Perhaps it’s worth the trip.”

Hero Aladdin, who did nothing but have fun for the past years, finally left the princess’s ass alone and began his ascent through the floors of the tower.

Silently, Disco and Green Cake set out after him, but they didn’t expect much results.

? Was your adventure exciting, Dear Hero?

? The path of a true hero is indeed perilous. However, many relationships supported you through your journey, and you did not lose hope or lose track of your goal. You grew and learned of friendship and love. In the end, however, you still couldn’t defeat the Demon Lord. We truly feel sorry for you!

? Let’s take a look at your grades.

There was nothing to see here.

After all, Aladdin, abandoned by his companions, surrendered halfway through himself.

It was only thanks to Green Cake that he was able to get to the 10th floor, but he never saw the 11th.

This was the result.

? Please check your report card thoroughly!

? Name: Aladdin

? Combat Power: A-

? Achievements: C +

? Reputation: D

? Personality: B

? Record: 10th Floor

It was a pitiful sight.

Although his grades were better than Sieg, who died on the first floor, he lacked a sense of purpose.

Unsurprisingly, Aladdin shamelessly chose “regression,” but I refused to let him go so easily.

“Wife!”

I brought down justice upon him!

For a hero like him, such luxury was impermissible.

Karma C → Karma SSS

Good luck!

From now on, he would be treated like a dog.

***

The second inspection had finished.

However, the interim results of it were so dismal I already lost all hope.

Was this a complete failure?

As a last resort, I planned to save my cowardly wife and my child by letting them escape to Earth. I was prepared to face the punishment alone.

Disco smiled, “From what I’ve seen, the results are already obvious. And I’ve seen a lot.”

I didn’t deny anything.

This was what I became a perfect god for, after all.

I had already finished my preparations to get my wife and son out of here.

“Now what?”

“I will give the Demon Lord a choice. I’ll give you an extra point if you accompany me calmly and without any nonsense. Naturally, it would be complete surveillance. Of course, there would be no penalty if you refuse. The choice is yours. What do you think?”

From my perspective, it was clear she wanted to establish control over me to prevent me from running away.

“Do what you want.”

I had no intention of escaping in the first place.

Now I was more interested in the next student to be chosen at random.

“I don’t like the fact that I’ve only picked students who can’t control their primal instincts so far. This time, I’ll choose the student least popular with women.”

“Hmm…”

I wasn’t going to defend Sieg and Aladdin, but how could I count on a pathetic hero who wasn’t even popular with women?

That wasn’t a random choice!

As the Righteous Demon Lord, I decided to challenge Disco’s vile choice…

“It’s Satan.”

“I object—”

I stopped abruptly.

There was no correlation between popularity and skills.

I had no objection to her random selection.