"We will erect a statue to forever celebrate your heroic deeds of defeating the Demon King and saving the continent... after your death!"
"Why are you wasting time with nonsense? He doesn't have much magic power left! There are so many of us; can he really kill us all?!"
"I'm sorry, Hero, but your era is over!"
…
[Respected Mr. Noah, good afternoon. Congratulations on being selected by the 10086th "World Savior System." This system will assist you in saving the world with ease and joy!]
…
In a deep, rain-swept alley, a silver-haired young man lay on the water-covered bluestone slabs.
Beneath his tattered silver armor, his body was covered with wounds so deep that bone was visible. Blood seeped out, slowly dyeing the stagnant water red. The cold rain fell, sliding across a half-broken, hideous mask and striking his pale cheeks.
Suddenly, his brows furrowed.
The fingers gripping his sword trembled slightly, and the boy's eyes snapped open, his dazed blue pupils reflecting the hazy sky.
"...Please die!"
The murderous face appeared before his eyes again, jarring his consciousness from the chaos. He subconsciously tried to stand up.
But in the next second, his vision went dark as severe pain and weakness spread throughout his body. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and Noah almost fainted again.
After a quick look at his surroundings, he realized that although the place was unfamiliar, it didn't seem dangerous.
The young man relaxed slightly and curled up, clutching his wounds.
"Hnngh!"
After panting for a long time, the boy regained some strength, climbed to a corner of the wall where he could barely find shelter from the rain, and sat down. He took off the broken mask, revealing his pale face.
He took several deep breaths before he had the energy to look around again.
He was in a deep alley.
Apart from the gray sky above and the walls on all sides, nothing could be seen.
The only thing that was certain was that this was definitely not the desert battlefield where he had first fought a decisive battle with the Demon King and then fought a bloody battle against a group of traitors.
"Where am I? Is this still the same continent?"
As he was looking up at the sky in confusion, a crackling sound, like a weak electric current, suddenly rang in his ears.
His whole body tensed up. The young man gripped his sword tightly and glanced around.
But no enemy attacked. Instead, a light blue, fluorescent screen appeared before his eyes.
[Current world detected: "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?"]
Looking at the flickering screen, Noah's eyes showed only confusion.
"What in the world is this?"
The Dungeon… Noah had heard of such a place, a deep labyrinth full of ferocious monsters. But he had only ever heard of people going to a dungeon seeking wealth, power, or even slaughter. This was the first time he had heard of people seeking "encounters."
Falling in love in a place teeming with bloodthirsty monsters? Ugh.
Even though Noah had taken countless lives, he still felt a little disgusted at the thought of eating next to a mangled corpse.
However, Noah soon noticed another important point.
"'Current world'? So, I've come to another world?"
[Affirmative. This world is in a different dimension from your previous one.]
Noah fell into a brief silence. For a moment, he suspected he might be under an illusion. But, with confidence in his own abilities, he ruled out that possibility.
This confidence was twofold: first, in himself, even seriously injured, no one could trap him in an illusion without him realizing it. And second, in his former companions; they would never have risked letting him survive, or all the traitors would have died by his hand.
After realizing this, Noah lowered his guard and subconsciously hugged himself.
It was hard to say if it was from the cold of his blood loss or from the confusion and desolation of his situation.
As the Hero, Noah had killed too many enemies on his way to save the world. There were countless external threats like rebels, bandits, monsters, and demons.
More importantly, Noah never showed mercy to traitors from within.
Corrupt officials who oppressed the common people, extravagant princes and nobles, depraved religious orders...
A considerable number of them had once been his comrades, subordinates, elders, classmates, teachers, and even good friends.
In fact, many of them had risen from poverty and hardship, fighting bloody battles for justice alongside Noah.
That was until they were corrupted by power, turning into the very people they once hated most and becoming Noah's enemies.
Therefore, Noah was long prepared for the possibility that he and his allies would one day stand on opposite sides. He just hadn't expected them to be so direct and impatient.
No, that wasn't right. In truth, Noah had a premonition with the Demon King destroyed and himself in his weakest state, it was the perfect time for him to "die a hero."
How could those people possibly resist the opportunity?
However, Noah, who thought he had become as hard as iron after countless battles, hadn't realized that a trace of tenderness and sentimentality from past friendships remained deep in his heart.
It was this last bit of softness that made the exhausted hero relax his vigilance and make a risky choice for the first time.
If the Demon King is dead, then the Hero's mission is over.
If everyone is looking forward to my death, then I can finally give myself a long-overdue rest.
Of course, Noah had made sure to take all the traitors with him in the end.
[As long as the host continues to complete missions, there is a chance to return to the original world.]
"...No, that's not necessary. I've already given enough to that world. From now on, they're on their own."
Noah shook his head and slowly stood up, steadying himself against the wall. He raised his head, looked silently at the hazy sky, and felt the drizzle on his face.
"...From now on, I'll live for myself."
...
Walking towards the alley's entrance, Noah's attention gradually returned from the past to the present.
An unknown, alien world?
A new feeling of nervous excitement welled up in Noah's heart, reminding him of when he was twelve years old, carrying the best sword in the village and heading from the countryside to the capital.
At that time, he was like a newly forged blade, sharp and bright. He believed that his swordsmanship alone could cut down all ugliness and injustice and bring happiness to the world.
But in a joke of fate, Noah learned the art of power, understood strategy, and knew how to weigh the pros and cons, becoming a hero whose heart was filled with nothing but calculations and caution.
If he were a weapon now, he would be a rusty, broken sword, its edge long gone.
Even though he had hypnotized himself countless times with the words "this is for justice," Noah knew his soul had become tarnished long before his armor was ever stained by the Demon King's blood.
But now, he felt that excitement for the unknown once again, just like when he first stepped into the royal capital.
What will I encounter in this world?
With this thought in mind, Noah stepped out of the alley.
The bitter winter wind, mixed with icy rain, swept across the street, clearing Noah's vision.
He was immediately captivated by the scenery before him.
The wide avenue was paved with bluestone slabs, and shops lined both sides of the street.
Merchants in business robes, adventurers carrying weapons, and residents with baskets and backpacks filled the thoroughfare.
Most strikingly, there were powerful beastmen, scantily-clad Amazons, and elegant elves mingling naturally with handsome men and beautiful women of otherworldly temperament.
All kinds of races were mixed together.
More importantly, the street was framed by two incredible sights: at one end stood a massive city wall that encircled the entire town, and at the other, in the town's center, a colossal white tower - the Tower of Babel.
All of this seemed familiar yet completely different from his past, converging into a scene Noah had never witnessed in his previous life.
But the next second, his eyes widened.
"My God! They have child traffickers in this world too?"
...
On the empty streets slick with icy rain, an eight-year-old girl, Ais Wallenstein, ran with enough force to shatter the ground beneath her feet.
Hot tears streamed from her eyes, blown away by the oncoming wind.
Even as her damaged armor fell away, revealing hideous, bleeding wounds, she did not stop.
The pain and cold tore at her body, but she kept running, as if she could leave all her sorrow and troubles behind if she just went fast enough.
But it was no use.
The words she had said, sharp as swords that wounded both others and herself, still haunted her like a nightmare.
'You're not my mother!'
Riveria's pained and sorrowful expression flashed before her eyes, and Ais felt as if her heart was being stabbed.
It felt like it was being crushed in a vise; every breath brought a searing pain that made her tremble.
Why?
Why don't they understand?!
This world is full of danger and darkness. If you don't gain enough power quickly, you will be swallowed by the darkness of despair all over again!
Just like her father and mother!
Reality is not a fairy tale. A "hero" will not appear.
There was no such thing in the past, there is no such thing now, and there will be no such thing in the future!
No one will come to save me. No one will lend a hand. No one will come to my rescue.
Even when she was covered in bruises, when she cried until her throat was raw and her tears turned to blood, the hero she longed for never appeared.
So, she couldn't wait…
So, she couldn't hope…
So, she took up her sword…
Because Ais Wallenstein had to be her own hero.
When Ais came to her senses, she had already arrived at the entrance to the Dungeon.