I Became a Hero With a Lot of Experience

18 – 018: Under the Same Sky (1)

As the situation concluded, I shivered due to the belatedly felt cold, a result of the tension finally releasing.

Having sweated too much, my body temperature had dropped. As the cool sweat flowing like a waterfall from my forehead irritated my eyes, I reflexively wiped my forehead.

The wiped sleeve felt damp as if soaked in water. Not only the sleeve but also the shirt, and even the underwear, were damp with sweat.

I can’t even remember how long it has been since I ran this hard.

Not even when I broke my father’s cherished Goryeo celadon during sword dance practice for the Gens Lance qualifying exam.

Not even when my brother, wearing glasses, accidentally deleted all the layers in the illustration he had worked on all night.

The instinct to escape, taken away by the norms of modern society, resurrected in this cruel world of romance.

At this moment, I felt more liberated than ever.

Laughing heartily towards the sky, trying to express that fact through my entire body.

“This bastard!!! (Experience Points Acquired: 17)”

For some reason, Las suddenly grabbed my collar, cursing brazenly.

“What did you just do…!! (Experience Points Acquired: 17)”

“Oh, I know.”

I blew away his high-and-mighty key.

Could it be that they think I’m so stupid to the point of not even knowing what that means?

“But? So what can you do?”

The one who entrusted me with the key to Jeongjodae was the king, and he was also the one who said that whatever I did with it was my freedom.

In other words, the ownership and decision-making power of Jeongjodae belong to me, and this is a right and duty recognized by the king.

In relation to this, even if something happened, if violence is used against me without just cause, it is an act of defying the royal decree without the need for further interpretation.

The indigenous people of this world would better understand what it means to defy a royal decree.

“What can you do? I mean, besides shaking your fists like that!!”

“……Ugh!! (Experience Points Acquired: 17)”

Attempting violence without accepting the defeat in the race theme, how pathetic. Is this the demeanor of a knight? I couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Originally, if we trace the cause, all this happened because Las neglected his duties and engaged in mischief in the carriage.

Originally, even if he had been executed for the failure to guard, he was barely considered a Jeongjodae hyung.

“But now you’re shifting the responsibility to me. Are you even a human being?”

“That’s you…!!! (Experience Points Acquired: 4)”

The priest tried to say something, but it never came to fruition.

Casually speaking out, but upon careful consideration, did she think it would harm her?

Looking at Princess Penny’s expression, it was undoubtedly related to her, but I had no idea what it could be.

“What about me?”

“…Ugh!! (Experience Points Acquired: 4)”

Putting down her clenched fist gently, she furrowed her brow and closed her mouth.

Turning my head again, I asked Las, who still had my collar in his grip.

“But how long are you going to hold on?”

“… (Experience Points Acquired: 17)”

He remained silent.

While he glared at me with his fingers around my collar, I felt an unavoidable resentment in his eyes.

Talking wouldn’t work with him anymore. In an attempt to regain some sanity, I spoke to him.

“Should I give you a punch then?”

“What…? (Experience Points Acquired: 17)”

“Why? Isn’t that what you wanted? To be punched. This whole situation is entirely your responsibility, but still, I can do that much for you after dragging Jeongjodae around for ten years.”

As if urging him to do it, when I gestured, his face began to turn increasingly red.

The fist begins to rise again.

Just before the clenched fist, unable to contain its rage, could strike my face, a bright white light enveloped my body.

“Lord Las!! (Experience Points: 4)”

Sungsoon Uni, in a moment of crisis, wraps its possessor in a white light to protect them.

Uni’s mystical light blocked Las’s fist, and then Uni’s rejecting force, repulsing impurity, pushed him away.

“Did you really think I’d let you hit me?”

How foolish must I have appeared for him to strike me just like that…

Unable to withstand Uni’s emanating light, Las staggered backward, and I calmly stepped forward, holding Uni.

“Halt…!! (Experience Points: 7)”

An ominous sorcerer extended their hand, halting me. Their hand emanated a violet hue.

As the priests and the princess stepped forward tensely, I chuckled and released Uni.

“So, you were about to attack me, huh?”

A delightful tale to tell the king.

They belatedly tried to explain and contain the situation, but by then, it was already too late.

Mutterings from behind reached my ears, but I paid no heed and started running again.

Yet, there were no sounds of pursuit.

I didn’t know if it was because I lacked the strength to run or if they realized it was futile to chase, but either way, it didn’t matter to me.

“Is this the second time that poor soul’s been pitied?”

To have such wretches as subordinates.

If it were me, I’d have grabbed that shameless thing who’s nestled in the arms of 79 women and dived into the Han River.

Tracing the glorious traces of the race, I returned to the castle and promptly visited the king’s chambers.

The knights, without saying a word, guided me to the king’s room, as if they knew I would come.

“Did you have a good time? (Experience Points: 79)”

While I was busy racing around the circuit, the king’s face was flushed red.

As I got closer, I caught a faint scent akin to alcohol. It was like wine but somehow different, sparking my curiosity.

“Care for a drink? (Experience Points: 79)”

“Remember, no alcohol until your daughter is married off.”

“Ah, so you want to drink as a congratulatory gesture for the wedding. (Experience Points: 79)”

“Don’t talk nonsense. So, is it true there’s only one key left? The crow took it, so we won’t be able to find it now, will we?”

“…What exactly happened outside? (Experience Points: 79)”

“To begin the tale, I must first recount the story of how I demolished the fortress…”

The king, with a slight furrow in his brow, burst into laughter as the story unfolded, letting go of the wine glass he held.

“I thought handling that key would be tough, but I never imagined it would be that intense. (Experience Points: 79)”

“It was a race of glory. So, about the key—there’s truly only one?”

As the king laughed and extended his hand, a key that had undoubtedly been perched on a crow in his hand appeared.

“A summoning spell?”

“Yes, would I ever have entrusted you with that key without such insurance? (Experience Points: 79)”

With a laugh, the king handed over the key. This time, after breaking it and tossing it out of the window, when the king raised his hand again, the key returned to its original state, resting on his palm.

“It seems the contingency plan worked perfectly when it was broken.”

“Indeed. Commander Las… No, now he’s the former commander. It must have been a good reward for him too. (Experience Points: 79)”

To keep employing such a person. It seems civil servants being a stable source of income is a universal truth even in this world.

Or perhaps there’s a severe lack of talent in this kingdom, but either way, it seems like a good deal for me.

“I can’t travel with those guys.”

“No, you must. Not just because of the marriage issue, but also for your safety. (Experience Points: 79)”

The battle against the demons won’t be a one-on-one game but an unpredictable war with potential variables.

For that, companions are absolutely necessary, the king explained, emphasizing their usefulness.

“Luvia is a direct disciple of the Tower Master and is considered the next Tower Master, a capable magician. There’s no need to mention how helpful a skilled magician can be during the journey. (Experience Points: 79)”

“Oh, her name was Luvia, right?”

I had definitely heard the name, but the memories of the seven people above my head were too vivid, causing me to forget.

“And Uria, the priestess, is a priestess of the Brave God. She was once touted as a candidate for saintess. It’s not easy to find a replacement for her talent. (Experience Points: 79)”

“Uria… Uria…”

Whether it’s worth remembering or not, I listened carefully to the king’s words, engraving the names of the ragtag group in my mind.

“And Las, the former commander, showed such disgrace, but as the disciple of the Kingdom’s Best Sword, his skill is outstanding beyond his peers, second only to his master. (Experience Points: 79)”

“Hmm… What about your daughter? Does she have any exceptional abilities?”

“…Isn’t it customary to have a mascot for the journey? (Experience Points: 79)”

Still, it seemed he couldn’t come up with words to package his incompetent daughter. But a mascot, really? Whether it’s a magical girl or a colossal being, if the mascot isn’t a virgin, I might switch the channel…

“Well, during the journey, there might be a chance to leverage the royal name.”

“A very positive attitude! But… by any chance, what is your taste in women? (Experience Points: 79)”

“Why ask your daughter to do it?”

If they call her a woman with a severed head and neck here, wouldn’t it be about severing her neck?

Lost in serious contemplation of such thoughts, I found myself unconsciously blabbering, perhaps slightly intoxicated by the scent of alcohol, which I hadn’t smelled in a long time.

“The woman in glasses.”

“Hmm? Unusual taste. Are intellectual women your preference? (Experience points: 79 people)”

When someone says they like women in glasses, everyone reacts like that.

However, it’s not that wearing glasses alone can exude an intellectual atmosphere. My reason for liking women in glasses was different.

“Women in glasses are more likely to be virgins….”

Would a sane man dare to meddle with a woman in glasses?

In other words, glasses are like a fortress on the face.

Therefore, to prevent my brother’s work from being tarnished in Obsceneville or Hentown, I shed tears and placed glasses on my face.

But my efforts like this didn’t reach my brother, and that day he chased me for a whopping three hours with a lance.

It was a week later that I could finally return home.

“Phew….”

Containing the past that I couldn’t utter, I stepped into the king’s room in silence.

Perhaps soon I might catch sight of Princess Penny wearing glasses.

If she wears glasses, even that brat might become a bit more docile.

With such a ridiculous thought in mind, as I walked down the corridor, suddenly the moonlight reflected in the window caught my eye.

“….”

Under the pristine moonlight, like a blank white canvas untouched by anything, small lights sporadically illuminated the streets.

Under that light, tonight too, the inexperienced girls will likely increase their count.

In this kingdom where the king, who intends to marry off his virgin daughter, and his subjects under him forget the importance of chastity and indulge in licentious behavior.

“If this is the kingdom, wouldn’t it be better if it perished?”

I never harbored grand aspirations to save the world, but suddenly, I couldn’t fathom why I should fight.

If I keep staring at that light, it feels like I’ll be plagued by bad thoughts, so I dismissed these musings and turned away from the window.

*Riiiiing!*

As I did so, a smartphone that surely wasn’t connected anywhere began vibrating.