The Fake Hero Is Too Strong Chapter 42

I shouted in shock.

‘…! Wh-Who are you?’

[You’re trying to cut Iori through the barrier of mana, aren’t you?]

‘Could it be…’

[But if you want to do that, you should bend your knees a little more. Watch carefully. With your current stance, you can’t deal a critical blow.]

…

Ah.

That’s right.

I need to bend my knees just a bit more. About three centiters.

[Just two centiters. Any lower and you’ll lose power.]

‘You understand a technique you’re seeing for the first ti better than I do. As expected of you, Lady Lepia, the embodint of the sword.’

[Fufufu. I don’t like that nickna. It’s too embarrassing.]

‘It actually fits well in this situation. I don’t like being called the “Sword master of No Killing” either.’ Follow current novels on novel⦿fire

[It sounds like a good nickna, though.]

She whispered softly.

[Before you strike Iori, please give your hand the slightest bit of rcy.]

‘…’

[Please.]

‘Understood.’

I responded, and at the sa ti, activated the technique.

‘Cut What I Want to Cut!’

Shhhk!

My sword, leaving behind a trail like black light, was drawn from its sheath and then returned.

And Iori could no longer infuse mana into the sun.

“Urgh.”

“Huh? Ah.”

Neril’s disintegration spear embedded itself into his mana barrier.

It disassembled the barrier completely, then disappeared as if it had finished its task.

All that remained was Tiv—no, Iori Otix.

I spoke inwardly.

‘Would you like to borrow my voice?’

[May I?]

‘If it’s you, as much as you want.’

[Thank you. You’re a good person.]

Soon, my mouth opened.

“Iori Otix.”

It was unmistakably my voice, but Neril and Xenia instantly realized that I wasn’t myself.

“Huh? Mr. Mide… sothing’s off…”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

“Huh?”

“I realized it midway through the battle—Lepia is the one Iori has been desperately searching for. Likely the soul fused into Mariana.”

“The second Hero…”

“Yeah. Looks like little Adwin managed to separate her safely. She probably wants to deliver a ssage using Mide’s body, so let’s watch.”

Then Lepia spoke through my mouth.

“The Underworld… or as mages like you call it, the Realm of Nothingness. You weren’t there.”

“Le-Lepia? Is that really you, Lady Lepia?”

“Yes. That’s right. I knew your soul remained on the continent. It was always painful and regretful… but we’ve t again at last.”

“Lady Lepia…”

Drip.

Tears began to fall from Iori’s eyes.

Lepia continued.

“What attachnt kept you here?”

“There was sothing I absolutely had to say to you.”

…

Uh. Wait.

I think I know what he’s going to say next.

But don’t.

Don’t say that while using my body. I swear I’ll die.

“I loved you.”

I said don’t, dammit!

Lepia spoke.

“Why didn’t you say that when we were together?”

“Because I was unworthy.”

“One of the Empire’s great nobles, unworthy? I was a commoner.”

“A Hero is soone far beyond commoners or nobles. That’s why… I tried so hard. So I could be worthy when I confessed to you.”

“…”

“I believed that if I killed the Demon King of Greed, I’d finally be worthy. So I planned to confess afterward…”

“But you couldn’t. You made a noble sacrifice.”

“I saved you, Lady Repia, so I don’t regret it. But not being able to convey my feelings—I’ve always regretted that.”

Lepia used my facial muscles to make a sorrowful expression.

Do you really have to do that too?

Just give my body back already.

“Can I hear your answer?”

“Uh, um… the owner of this body is desperately resisting.”

“What?”

“He says he can’t allow that kind of thing using his body.”

“What a crazy, arrogant brat.”

“Fufufu. He’s a fellow Hero. Don’t say that.”

At that, Iori suddenly beca ek.

“My apologies. He is indeed a Hero.”

Seriously, doesn’t your entire personality change depending on who you’re talking to?

Lepia’s playful voice echoed in my mind.

Since she’s speaking through my soul, it must be audible only to .

[Iori’s always been like that. That arrogant attitude toward commoners—I always hoped he’d change. But when it cos to soone he sees as more noble than himself, he gives absolute respect, loyalty… and love.]

‘Can you maybe skip the love part? At least for now?’

[Fufufu. Got it. It’s ti to wrap this up anyway.]

She spoke again using my voice.

“Then let’s go back, Iori Otix.”

“Wait…”

“I’ll give you my answer in the World of Nothingness. Our comrades are there too.”

“…”

“And stop calling Ort a ‘pig bastard’. If you say that over there, he’ll get mad.”

“He’s just so out of shape… No, I understand. I’ll stop.”

Lepia nodded in satisfaction.

“Before you go, return the lifespan you took from the villagers. You can still convert mana into lifespan, right?”

“I shall obey your command.”

“Good. Head on first. I’ll follow after speaking with these people.”

“Yes. I’ll wait, my Hero.”

In the next mont,

Tivre’s body faltered.

And he collapsed endlessly to the ground.

“Flying.”

Thankfully, Neril cast a spell, preventing him from splattering on impact.

“That bastard really sees people he doesn’t acknowledge as less than bugs.”

“…”

“And I used to admire soone like that… what a waste of my life.”

“…”

“Why are you looking at like that?”

Well.

You kind of have a bit of that in you too.

—

Once Iori returned their lifespans and Xenia healed them again, the domain was filled with vitality.

Lepia gave back my body.

I climbed atop Agril and declared in a loud voice.

Neril amplified it magically so it echoed throughout the entire territory.

“Everyone! Please, do not worry any longer. The nightmare is over.”

“…!”

“The ghost incidents in this domain were all caused by a remnant of the past—not Mariana Ayn.”

“Ahh…”

“In fact, she pleaded with to protect all of you. She asked , Mide Mohan!”

An enormous cheer erupted.

“Uwooooah!”

“Waaah. Lady Mariana, I’m sorry I doubted you!”

“Mide, Mide Mohan!”

“The legendary Hero!”

“Thank you so much. Really, thank you for saving my daughter!”

“Over here! Please wave your hand this way too!”

I kept waving until their excitent died down.

But as it didn’t seem like they’d calm down anyti soon, I had no choice but to make an exit.

Xenia sent Agril away and muttered,

“She says not to call her for a week. What do we do?”

“Give her at.”

“at doesn’t fix everything! Neril, was that sarcasm just now?”

“Yup.”

“Wow. She just said yup with that refreshing smile…”

Anyway, we all headed back to Mariana’s house.

There, a mother and child were anxiously pacing in front.

Mariana, looking far more lively and healthy than before, cried out:

“Ah! You’re safe.”

“Mariana.”

“I’m… I’m so relieved.”

She wiped away the tears welling in her eyes.

Adwin stepped out from behind Mariana and spoke.

“As expected of the reincarnation of Hirahan and a child of the Crimson Moon. I was going to watch a little longer before stepping in, but I see it would’ve been unnecessary ddling.”

“Hirahan? Crimson Moon? If they were beings of the other side, there’s no way I wouldn’t know them.”

“Uh… well, I just made those nas up.”

Xenia took so ti to return Adwin to normal.

anwhile, we entered the house and sat down at the dining table.

I asked Mariana,

“What exactly happened?”

“My son, Adwin, did it.”

She looked at Adwin with a face full of pride and affection.

“He discovered a fusion of souls I didn’t even know about—and then managed to separate them.”

“Ahem. I-it was nothing, really.”

“Oh, co on. If you say it was nothing, it just makes look pathetic.”

“Mother…”

“As I said, you’re far more gifted than I am. From now on, stand tall and be confident.”

“Yes!”

“…But don’t let it go to your head, alright? You know what I an.”

Adwin looked slightly gloomy and bowed his head.

At that mont, I heard Lepia’s voice.

[That boy has a remarkable talent for necromancy. Could you ask that lady if I can borrow his body for a mont?]

‘Huh? Why not just speak through my mouth?’

[It’s uncomfortable. It feels like there’s another soul inside you.]

…

She must an Trail.

Now that I think about it, he’s been awfully quiet for a while.

‘Adwin said sothing similar too.’

[He’s an exceptional necromancer, so he probably sensed it more precisely than I did. I just sense there’s another soul besides yours.]

‘Who… could it be?’

The mont I asked, I regretted it.

This was a question I should’ve directed to Trail himself and received an answer directly from him.

Fortunately, Lepia seed unaware.

[Well, I wouldn’t know either. I thought you knew.]

‘Hmm, I don’t. Anyway, let’s ask Adwin.’

I told Adwin that Lepia wanted to borrow his body.

Mariana imdiately objected.

She instinctively didn’t want to allow her son’s body to be used by a being that had once fused with her soul.

But Adwin calmly reassured his mother.

“It’s alright, Mother.”

“But—”

“As I said, she’s the second-generation Hero. There’s no way soone like that would be evil. And I’m sure the soul fusion wasn’t sothing she chose.”

“…”

“We need to find out what’s going on. And I’m the only one here suitable for spirit possession.”

Except for when he gets a little weird, that kid has an above-average character.

In the end, Mariana gave her permission.

Soon after, Adwin began to chant sothing.

On the back of his arms, runes and symbols briefly flashed and then vanished.

Just as Tivre had said, it looked like he had made the incantations invisible beforehand.

A short while later—

Adwin—no, Lepia—opened her mouth.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Lepia Odgar.”

“Second-generation Hero.”

“Yes. I had hoped there would be no more Demon King descents. I wanted my generation to be the last…”

She glanced at .

“Unfortunately, we’re already up to the fifth generation, huh.”

That statent, which clearly acknowledged as a Hero, made Neril and Xenia smile even more brightly than I did.

I was used to shalessly accepting praise from others, but getting acknowledged by an actual Hero… made my face heat up.

I did sothing unlike myself—acted modest.

“Ahem. The oracle hasn’t co down yet, though. Calling a Hero seems premature.”

“You were going around calling Iori a Hero multiple tis though.”

“Well, in front of my senior, I should be a little humble.”

“Hehe. The oracle will co soon enough. …Though, now that I think about it, the Demon King has already descended. So why hasn’t the oracle co yet?”

Everyone’s faces changed at that last comnt.

It was probably because of what Lepia had added—‘the Demon King has already descended.’

Xenia asked with a trembling voice,

“What… do you an by that?”

“Since I’m borrowing a necromancer’s mouth, let’s say I’m speaking from the underworld. While there, I heard a certain voice.”

“A voice?”

“The voice called itself as the Demon King of Lies and Deception—Idria. It said it was showing respect since I was the Hero who fought the Demon King of Greed.”

“…”

“He told he wanted to borrow my soul for a bit. And then—he literally took .”

Her tone was calm, but the impact wasn’t.

Especially for Neril and Xenia, who both turned to at once and said,

“Idria—that’s the na the Martial King and Mariana encountered!”

“The Demon King of Lies and Deception… and she’s already descended?”

I felt sorry, but I couldn’t quite share in their shock.

Partly because I already knew…

But also because my mind was fixated on a different point.

‘This is strange. Can a Demon King really interfere with the underworld?’

Necromancers can open the gates to the underworld and summon spirits, but that’s done by politely asking for their cooperation—not by forcefully taking them.

Lepia’s soul, especially, should be in a completely different league from ordinary spirits.

That’s when I finally heard Trail’s voice again, after a long silence.

[Idria is in a whole different league from the Demon Kings of the past.]

‘Where have you been?’

[That weird woman was clinging to you. It was uncomfortable. That Hero was annoying. Don’t ever let her in my body again.]

‘My body, you an. Not yours.’

Trail ignored my protest and continued.

[Anyway, Idria is just too powerful. Probably because the world is overflowing with lies.]

‘Huh? I feel like you ntioned sothing like that before.’

[Yeah. A Demon King descends when a particular negative force in the world becos overwhelmingly strong. For example, the Demon King of Desolation appeared during an unprecedented famine.]

‘Hmm. And during the era of the Demon King of Destruction, there was a massive war.’

[Exactly. And in this era, lies are everywhere. Far more than in the tis of Destruction, Greed, Corruption, or Desolation.]

Trail clicked his tongue once and added,

[So Idria is especially powerful. Don’t make the mistake of comparing her to past Demon Kings.]

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