TFHITS Chapter 249

A bizarre world where beginnings and endings existed at the same time, where floor and ceiling coexisted.

As I was looking around, a voice spoke.

-Now, please speak.

“Let me be able to die.”

-That is not possible.

There was firmness in the voice.

-From the start, you are misunderstanding one thing.

“What do you mean?”

-Do you truly believe I am keeping you alive simply to converse with you? I am merely preparing to raise you as humanity’s absolute being.

Humanity’s absolute being?

-There exists a race that could be called humanity’s predecessors. The civilization that was the origin of the Primordial Demon King.

“I know.”

-When they discovered a significant portion of the laws, I selected one individual among them and bestowed omnipotent power upon them.

“So one representative of that civilization became the absolute being?”

-Yes.

“Why? What was the point of doing that?”

-Because otherwise, they would have gone extinct.

The law explained calmly.

-Mide. This universe is an extremely dangerous place. You cannot even imagine how many crises are scattered throughout it.

“…….”

-The crises brought about by negative energy are, on a cosmic scale, so trivial they are hardly even worth discussing. Yet humanity failed to properly overcome even such minor crises.

“…….”

-All civilizations require an absolute being to protect them from such threats. Without one, they cannot endure crises tens of times greater than the petty threat you call a Demon King.

The law seemed to sigh.

Then, in a somewhat stiff tone, it continued.

-I can state this with certainty. If you do not become the absolute being, humanity will not endure.

“…….”

-I told you that I look forward to the day when I can speak with humanity on equal terms, didn’t I? That was said under the assumption that you would stand as humanity’s absolute being.

“…….”

-What will the next crisis be? Perhaps the sun in the sky will swell and swallow the world. Or the moon may drift beyond the universe, or the galaxies of the night sky might pour down upon the world.

“…….”

-Without an omnipotent existence like myself protecting humanity, you will never escape such crises. And I cannot directly protect a specific civilization. Only you, who were born human and can become the absolute being, can save humanity’s future.

I remained silent for a while, then spoke.

“A civilization with such an absolute being can never fully discover you.”

-……What do you mean?

“The reason I abolished the hero system in the first place was because I thought that if a massive existence like a hero remained, humanity would forget how to stand on its own. You agreed with that and helped me, didn’t you?”

-I only said that negative energy inevitably stagnates. Now that you have successfully separated it, whether there is a hero or an absolute being, humanity will continue to move forward.

So this was where our opinions diverged.

The law and I agreed that the Primordial Demon King had to be killed.

But the law believed that only negative energy hindered humanity’s progress.

I believed that both negative energy and heroes caused humanity to stagnate.

I organized my thoughts briefly and spoke.

“That predecessor civilization of humanity you mentioned, hasn’t it failed to fully discover you? And that’s because you established an absolute being.”

-I established an absolute being among them only three million years ago. Perhaps not enough time has passed yet.

“Then in those three million years, has that civilization progressed at all?”

The law did not answer.

But it didn’t feel like it agreed with me either.

‘This won’t be easy.’

It clearly had no intention of letting me go.

Then there’s no helping it.

I will do what I always do.

I sighed and said,

“I understand, at least. My thoughts haven’t changed, but… stagnation is better than extinction.”

-…….

“Knowing humanity will be destroyed, I can’t die peacefully. I’m a hero, after all.”

-I believed you would say that.

“But it’s also true that the burden is too heavy.”

-Then?

“Let’s do this. Give me the autonomy to add one ‘law of the universe’ of my choosing.”

At that, the voice grew visibly flustered.

-H, how did you know that it’s possible to add a law of the universe?

“Because you gifted me intuition, I established the laws of the world, which are a reduced version of the laws of the universe. That’s why I know.”

-…….

“In the laws of the world, a hero who kills the Demon King can add a law. Wouldn’t a similar system exist for the laws of the universe as well?”

-Excellent. As expected, my choice was not wrong.

The law explained readily.

-You have fulfilled the specific conditions required to become an absolute being. As a reward, you may add a new law of the universe.

“That’s a relief.”

-So, which law do you intend to add?

I smiled gently and said,

“Make Neril Slane an absolute being.”

-Neril, you say.

“You know her. She is my wife, who left long ago. I want to share this heavy burden with her. We’re husband and wife.”

-That is impossible. Souls that have departed to what you call the underworld can never interfere with this universe or world. That is also why I made it so you could not die.

Fortunately, the law took my leading question perfectly.

‘So once someone goes to the underworld, that’s it?’

Meaning once I go there, it can’t do anything to me anymore.

I put on a deeply regretful expression and said,

“Then… it can’t be helped. Can my children be made absolute beings?”

-That is also impossible. Establishing such omnipotent beings requires conditions.

Once again, it fell for my leading question.

‘So it can’t take it out on my remaining children either.’

Just one last thing.

I tilted my head as if genuinely curious.

“Conditions? Come to think of it, you said earlier that I fulfilled certain conditions. What exactly were they?”

-They differ by civilization and species, but in your case, it would be fame. At least five hundred million points of fame.

Good.

I think I have heard everything I need to.

I sighed and spoke,

“Haa, it can’t be helped. Then… hmm. I will make it so my 560 million fame is preserved permanently.”

-What?

“For humanity, fame is converted directly into power.”

-If you become the absolute being, such trivial power wouldn’t even catch your eye.

“Perhaps. But fame is both my beginning and my end.”

I continued slowly.

“As time passes, the fame of Hero Mide Mohan will gradually fade. When generations change, it will just become an old story.”

-That is true.

“And that’s fine in its own way. Still, fame is proof of my existence, my everything. I want to preserve it permanently. Is that possible?”

-That’s a more modest wish than expected. Of course, it’s possible.

Tap.

A screen window appeared.

But its pattern was very different from the one I always saw.

A deep curtain of darkness, writhing and smoldering with something within.

‘So this is the universe’s screen window.’

I spoke casually.

“Can I write this myself, by any chance? It’s a momentous occasion.”

-If you wish.

An elegant pen with a feather appeared in midair.

I took it in my hand.

Then I slowly began writing words onto the black curtain.

<All fame of Mide Mohan shall permanently……>

Then, at several times my usual speed, I wrote the rest.

<disappear.>

The next moment,

a shrill voice rang out.

-What are you doing right now!

Whoosh.

I tossed the pen aside carelessly.

“You want me to ascend as humanity’s absolute being? To serve them forever?”

-This can’t be. This cannot be happening.

“Are you insane? Why would I ever do something like that.”

The view began to change.

The bizarre space warped and pushed me somewhere else.

Just now, I erased all my fame.

With my fame gone, I lost the qualifications to become humanity’s absolute.

And naturally, I also lost the right to remain here.

I muttered softly.

“Sorry.”

-Mide.

“I’m sorry for deceiving you. I should have just let you go properly from the start.”

-……That’s enough now. More importantly, please answer one last question.

The Law asked in a somewhat distant-sounding voice.

-Are you fine with humanity being destroyed?

“It’s not something that’s set in stone, is it?”

-No. I can guarantee it. With the choice you have made now, humanity’s destruction is certain. A species without an absolute can never overcome the countless crises of the universe.

“Why are you so sure?”

-Up until now, countless species and civilizations have all been like that……

“But humanity hasn’t walked that path yet. Even if ninety-nine people fall while running a road full of obstacles, there’s no guarantee the hundredth person will fall too.”

I quietly closed my eyes.

“And setting all that aside, to be more honest about how I feel…… it’s a hassle.”

-What?

“I have done enough. Whether they are destroyed, stagnate, or develop, that’s for future generations to handle. I don’t plan to worry about it that far.”

-Hehe.

For the first time, the Law let out a laugh.

-It seems I misjudged you greatly. To show a completely different course of action at the very last moment……

After thinking for a moment, I asked.

“May I ask one last question too?”

-Go ahead.

“You said your goal was to prevent humanity’s destruction by establishing me as an absolute. I don’t doubt that.”

-…….

“But that’s not all, is it?”

There was no reply.

Had I already been flung somewhere beyond where its voice could reach?

No. It should still be able to hear me.

I spoke.

“Weren’t you actually lonely?”

-…….

“The absolutes of other civilizations you established before, they didn’t discover as many laws of the universe as I did, did they?”

-…….

“The one who discovered the most ‘you’ in the entire universe is probably me. I’m the only existence qualified to converse with you on equal footing. That’s why you wanted to hold on to me.”

Then.

Whether it was something I truly heard or just an auditory hallucination created in my head, I couldn’t tell, but an answer came back.

-You’re cruel. To notice that and still leave so coldly.

I had only seen the overall appearance of the underworld. I didn’t know what the inner world of that bubble was like.

I heard explanations from the souls of my party members who left first, but I couldn’t really grasp it.

Looks like I finally get to experience it.

I opened my eyes.

Then I said.

“So the underworld is Neril.”

“What are you talking about.”

“The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was your face.”

“Hehe. Isn’t the underworld more beautiful than you expected?”

“That’s a pretty unique boast.”

Swoosh.

Neril stroked my face.

“What took you so long to get here?”

“A lot happened. Want to hear about it?”

“Yeah. Xenia went to call the others anyway. Let’s listen until they get back.”

Still lying down, I leisurely told her about my final con.

At first, Neril was extremely shocked, then she burst into anger.

“So you were trying to steal someone else’s husband?”

“Right? The Law was pretty rude.”

“And then?”

“I…….”

When I said I pulled a small con by adding laws of the universe, Neril burst out laughing.

“Ahahaha. You deceived people and demon kings to your heart’s content, and in the end you even tricked the Law.”

“That’s how it turned out. I was desperate in my own way.”

“To see me again?”

“What other reason could there be?”

At that moment, tears welled up in Neril’s eyes.

She probably wanted to cry from the very beginning, but had been desperately holding it back until now.

She grabbed my collar.

Then she threw herself into my arms and said.

“Sniff. I missed you. I really missed you.”

“Sorry I’m late. When I sent you down to the world, and when I sent you to the underworld first, I always made you wait.”

“No. I’m the one who left too early, who left you first. I’m sorry.”

“Stop crying.”

“You’re the one who made me cry.”

“Is that so. Then I won’t make you cry anymore. Ever.”

As if she would never let go again, she hugged me tightly.

We enjoyed each other’s warmth for a short while.

Then Neril spoke.

“Sounds like the others are coming.”

Sure enough, from far away, enormous footsteps could be heard.

“Doesn’t sound like it’s just our party members.”

“Yeah. The heroes and champions are probably all coming to welcome you too.”

“It’s beyond that. It’s almost at the level of a legion.”

“Hehe. Then it looks like they called everyone who had ties with us in life.”

I slowly got up.

After waiting a bit, from far away I heard the voices of my dearly missed party members.

“Mr. Mide!”

“Hyung!”

“Why did you take so long!”

“Seriously. What were you doing all this time?”

“Do you know how long we waited.”

“Well, you came eventually, so it’s fine. You lived a really long life.”

I walked toward them.

Neril naturally linked arms with me and spoke.

“By the way, how did such an incredible being like the Law fall for such a trivial con?”

“It probably understood me based on how I acted in life. It believed I wouldn’t just leave while being threatened with humanity’s destruction.”

“Totally misread you.”

“Well, I was a hero at least on the surface. A typical hero might really have accepted the Law’s proposal.”

In reality, Grade, Lepia, and Leon refused a new world because the threat called Velosian still remained.

And the heroes before them didn’t receive a new world either, choosing humanity’s prosperity and development instead.

They were all, without exception, admirable heroes.

So it must have thought, “Since Mide is also a hero, he won’t be able to ignore humanity’s destruction.”

“But I rejected that noble sacrifice.”

“Yeah. That’s exactly you. Because you’re…….”

Somehow, I felt like I knew what Neril was about to say.

We opened our mouths at the same time.

“Because you’re a fake hero.”

Before I knew it, I looked around at the countless people surrounding us, one by one.

Faces I had missed so dearly.

Bright, innocent smiles.

Expressions full of joy and emotion at our reunion.

In a gentle voice, I said.

“It’s been a long time, everyone.”

On this day.

On such a wonderful day.

I truly retired at last.

-end-