This World Needs a Hero

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HEL SCANS

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My oldest memory was of the moment I first replicated a human.

“Wh-what is that? A Mo-monster!”

“Kill it!”

Polymorphed into a human, I gained the ability to think intelligently. But was it actually a blessing, one might ask?

‘Well, it’s complicated.’

I acquired the identity of a human.

Naturally, the desire to live among them, to blend in with humans, arose from within.

But, in the end, I was a shapeshifter.

A bizarre race with the ability to replicate any being, be it human or demon.

Humans could not tolerate such a presence. It was a downright miserable situation.

‘That’s when my living hell began.’

Settling down was a distant dream. Polymorphism is not all-powerful.

Eventually, I would be exposed.

People who laughed and talked with me would turn into a mob wielding weapons overnight.

Nowhere to call home.

A life like an outcast, unable to form any connections, akin to a nomad.

…That’s why, when the Hero found me one day, without asking questions, I followed him.

“I never thought such a being truly existed. Well, this works out nicely.”

No matter what future awaits, it has to be better than now. In the end, it was the right choice.

“From now on, you are my double.”

He often left his post for various reasons, and each time, I attended formal events on his behalf.

In the process of being his double. I learned a lot.

“Don’t think you can perform my role properly just by imitating the appearance. There’s more to being my double than meets the eye.”

Swordsmanship, etiquette, history, culture, politics, military tactics, and more.

I learned deeply and extensively.

The process was harsh and painful, but…

“Heh, heh, is it really necessary to go this far?”

“You have to reach the extreme to progress.”

“…The extreme?”

“Rise. To truly mimic me, you still have a long way to go.”

Looking back, that time was like a gift. How could I not be grateful to him?

Our relationship was never defined in words, and I couldn’t know how he perceived me. To me, the Hero was like a father who gave me a new life and a mentor who taught me how to live.

So, I hoped his goal would be achieved. Killing the Demon King and liberating humanity. It was a challenging mission, but I considered it manageable for someone inherently capable and talented.

A few days ago, when the victory report arrived from the front lines, I even thought achieving that distant goal wouldn’t be far off.

“The Hero achieved a great victory against the Demon King!”

“The Demon King is said to be seriously injured and needs care in the Demon Realm.”

“What about the Hero?”

“Hey, did you see the Hero injured? He came back in perfect condition.”

“Wow, the end of the Great War is near.”

The unexpected good news stirred the entire Empire. Naturally, I was ecstatic, perhaps more than anyone else.

“You finally did it!”

Until the pale-faced Hero staggered into the hideout.

“…Hero?”

“……”

The moment I saw him, no explanation was needed. I ran to him, holding his crumbling body.

He spoke calmly, “There was a traitor among us.”

“……”

“The Demon King attacked in the worst possible situation. If it weren’t for this, everyone would have died.”

…But was there a need to cling to life even in such dire circumstances?

I swallowed the words I wanted to say. That’s how I used to be.

“…It’s a bit cold.”

The Hero increasingly relied on me. As the blood flowing from his mouth touched my body, it quickly chilled.

I tried hard to find words, but my mind went blank like a fool.

“Can I ask you for one thing?”

The Hero suddenly said such words before the stillness could set in. A request? He had never uttered such words before. I raised my head in confusion.

He looked as if he could collapse at any moment, yet his gaze was clearer than ever.

“…Yes, anything.”

The Hero, hearing my response, smiled faintly. A smile that seemed ordinary at first glance. But within it, various emotions were vividly felt—regret, sorrow, apology. We had spent many years together as shadows.

Even looking back, the Hero wasn’t someone who easily revealed such emotions. On the day after a cherished comrade died, he had gone to the battlefield with a nonchalant demeanor. Yet now, for the first time, he was exposing his true feelings. I couldn’t dare to imagine what that meant.

I silently gazed at him with sadness.

“That’s a good expression.”

“…?”

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HEL SCANS

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A good expression? Outwardly, I showed no emotions. Following his teachings, a ‘Hero’ needed to conceal their true feelings, regardless of the situation. It was the first thing I learned to live as the Hero’s counterpart, and I maintained it every moment. However, for some reason, he spoke again abruptly.

“I didn’t teach you in vain.”

For some reason, his face seemed slightly proud.

‘Ah…’

At that moment, I finally understood what he wanted. It was thanks to the memories of the time we spent together. The Hero’s swordsmanship, the Hero’s strategies, the Hero’s politics, and the Hero’s mindset… Looking back, it was strange. Why did he teach me all those things if I was just meant to be a mere counterpart?

Even in his busy schedule, he took the time to enlighten me about the things I needed to have as a Hero. Initially, I thought it was his facet of hedonism or perfectionism coming into play, but it wasn’t. What the Hero wanted…

I finally broke the silence.

“People… hope that you don’t die.”

He remained silent, just looking at me. It was his habit to stay silent when affirming something positive. I couldn’t maintain the stoic expression he used to praise anymore.

“I’ll do it. I’ll live as you, as a Hero.”

As a mentor, a family member, and the man I respected the most, I would inherit his will. It was inevitable. During the long time we spent together, my goal had become aligned with his—to provide hope for people to move forward. This world needed a Hero.

“Heh, haha.”

The Hero laughed. After a while of alternating between laughter and coughing, he spoke with a much more relaxed expression.

“It won’t be easy.”

“I know.”

“…It’s always brave to touch upon sensitive topics.”

The Hero spoke firmly, “I won’t deny that you’ve been doing well as a counterpart so far.”

Silence followed.

“But that’s just being a counterpart. If you act as the real Hero, getting caught is just a matter of time.”

It was a valid point. Being a Hero was not just about mimicking appearances. If a situation requiring force arose, I would be exposed sooner or later.

“I can buy some time…”

The Hero interrupted me with a gesture and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a worn-out glasses case with stained fingerprints. Inside was an equally old pair of glasses.

“But with this, you might not just mimic but truly become a Hero.”

I stared at the glasses on his palm. I knew this item.

“The Iris of Laplace.”

I heard about it during the time he taught me. In his early days, he credited this artifact for helping him start out as a Hero. Although he mentioned that it became uncontrollable at some point, so he stopped using it.

“Try using it.”

I slowly brought the glasses to my left eye and blinked.

“Huh…?”

At first, I thought I was seeing things.

Blink.

But I wasn’t. The characters inscribed in the air didn’t disappear.

▼

Activating the Iris of Laplace.

This artifact, ‘Iris of Laplace,’ automatically generates comments based on the information stored by previous users.

The user’s death has not been confirmed.

Normal operation is not possible…

▲

“…Comments?”

Suddenly bombarded with many explanations, I couldn’t grasp it all in one breath. However, there was something intuitively apparent. Ever since I put on the glasses, my vision had transformed like an illusion.

I gazed silently at the overflowing information. This could be a decisive aid in living as a Hero.

“Comments guide you in the right direction. Information, advice on growth… you’ll understand once you try it,” the Hero spoke, coughing slightly.

“But that function is quite limited. Once you reach a certain level, the Iris of Laplace will undergo changes.”

“Changes?”

“Yes, it’s difficult to explain now. Just keep it in mind,” the Hero said, stopping abruptly. His breath became uneven and shallow. In his weakened state, he simply chuckled.

“Now, everything is ready,” he stated with a small smile, reaching out to pat my shoulder. Something hung on my neck with that gentle pat.

I couldn’t find words as I stared at him.

“I request this, Ted Redeemer,” he whispered.

Yet, his eyes held warmth for a moment.

“Bring a future to humanity.”

I couldn’t continue speaking, and just stared at him. The lump in my throat grew as his weak breaths filled the air. Ted Redeemer, the Hero, had quietly taken his last breath.

I looked at him in a daze, feeling a heavy sadness. Emotions surged, reaching up to my throat. Yet, that was the end.

‘Think.’

I shouldn’t get lost in contemplation. It’s not what the Hero wanted, and now it’s not something I’m allowed to do.

‘Never get caught.’

The Hero is the ‘unique’ means to confront the Demon King. If news of his death leaks, the wounded Demon King, who had retreated, will resume the invasion of demons, even if it means breaking their forces apart.

The demise of humanity is the natural course that would follow.

‘Plans, I need plans.’

I clenched my fist. The Doppelganger, who had been living aimlessly, was now dead. What the Hero longed for, what I now crave as well–to defeat the Demon King and bring salvation to humanity.

I embraced the Hero’s aspirations, my mentor and my father.

‘I will do what I can.’

A faint vibration echoed in the Iris of Laplace.

▼

The death of the previous user, ‘Ted Redeemer’, has been confirmed.

Following the emergency sequence, assigning a new user.

Rebooting…

▲

Countless characters emerged before my eyes.

▼

Message from the previous user, ‘Ted Redeemer’:

“-Before you leave, find the Empress.

I’ve left information about your existence and the current situation. She’ll be of help to you in many ways.

Persuasion will be necessary, but if it’s you, you can pull it off. Good luck.”

▲

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.

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This is the story leading up to the banquet.

Beep-beep-beep!

A sharp sound jolted me from my thoughts.

‘An alert?’

The Hero’s communication bead was ringing.

It was the early morning, well past midnight.

Not many people would seek the Hero at this hour.

As expected, the sender was…

“Empress Euphemia Cecilia.”

Perfect timing.

My plan required her assistance; without her, executing them would be impossible.

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HEL SCANS

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