26 – Not a Hero

My own words to the keeper made me think deeply after logging out. I'm sitting on my couch in real life, just got home from college, staring at my phone screen showing a kids' soccer team.

That team in orange uniforms was the soccer school I attended back then. From the beginning of my memory, I wanted to be a world soccer star. I want to play in famous clubs like my idols.

However, my dream was shattered because of that traffic accident. A truck failed to brake, crashing into me and several others who were crossing the road several years ago.

I'm one of the lucky ones. The only injured part of me is my right leg. Unfortunately, the feet are the most valuable body part for a soccer player. I can't run fast and do good kicks like I used to anymore.

I switched to the goalkeeper position, but my feet are still a problem. My movement is not as agile as the other goalkeeper candidates.

So, my soccer career was over before I even played in the youth league. It made me lose purpose and go through days of depression. I have absolutely no other dream than to be a soccer player.

In fact, it took years for my parents to persuade me to go back to school.

I'm in college now, but that doesn't mean I've found a new dream. I'm just a poor college student who isn't popular and has average grades.

Until now.

I threw my phone to the table, put on my VR helmet, and then lay on the bed.

At least, in that fantasy world, I have a purpose.

***

I sat on a chair on the side of the road, watching the sight of people passing by on the wide street. The buildings in that place were different from Silkdale city. Most of them display carvings of stars on the walls.

This is Marystar, one of the largest cities in the country, although it is located a bit on the outskirts. If Silkdale city is the hub for adventurers, then Marystar is the entry point for goods from other countries. No wonder I saw some horses pulling carriages.

"Why are you suddenly looking down, Ethan?" Phisovia, who was sitting next to me, asked.

I looked at that woman, then put on a smile. Yes, why grieve in this fantastic world?

"I'm not feeling down. I just thought that all of this would be mine sooner or later."

The red-haired succubus chuckled. "Could you make all this less boring? The star decorations don't help, and they look tasteless."

I rubbed my chin, thinking for a moment. "Maybe I need a symbol to replace all that. But, I haven't thought of anything."

I remembered the symbol of that belief in Silkdale city, which was in the form of a winged circle. It suits me, who also has wings, but unfortunately, that thing has been used and is oriented towards certain beliefs.

"Maybe it's time we did the survey, Ethan." Phisovia got up from the chair. "I love dates like this, but we have an important mission here."

"Let's go then." As I stood up, Phisovia clung to my arms, something I had been waiting for when I was alone with her.

We both strolled down that street, then after a few minutes, I stopped in front of a large white building. One thing that caught my eye in that place was the circular carving with wings on the wall.

Another temple, huh?

"You want to influence the religious leader in this place too?" Phisovia asked again.

I narrowed my eyes at the scene in front of the temple. A woman with gray hair was kneeling in front of a chubby man.

The man's clothes reminded me of father Jude.

"Please, help my son, Father Stephen!" The woman cried while intertwining her fingers.

Father Stephen bent down but struggled a bit because of his big belly. "I'm sorry for your son who became an addict. However, God promises that patience will pay off."

"I'm afraid that he will die soon, father." The woman stood with the help of father Stephen. "Please, help me. I've tried various ways, but nothing worked. I'm really desperate, father."

"Keep trying and praying." Stephen flashed a smile. "I believe God will save your son, Madam. Now, excuse me."

The woman was about to speak again, but father Stephen rushed into the horse carriage.

As the carriage left, I approached that woman.

"Excuse me, Madam. May I ask a question?" I kept looking at her wrinkled face. "If the place where the drugs were made was destroyed, would you be happy?"

The woman wiped her tears, then looked at me with a furrowed brow but answered me anyway. "Of course…. The circulation of this cursed drug will be drastically reduced… In the end, people will be forced not to use that thing anymore. In time they will recover, including my son. However, it is absolutely impossible."

"Even though there will be wars over the remaining drugs in the end?"

A bitter laugh escaped the woman's mouth. "How is it different from now, where there are often battles over the territory for drug trafficking?"

"I see." I nodded. "Thank you for the help."

I continued my journey again. This makes me even more sure our raid tonight will make more people worship me.

A few yards from that temple, I came across a board with many sketches of young men and women.

I heard that recently there has been a sale of humans in this city. The operations center is also where we are going.

Shortly after, I found people swarming around the bodies of robbery victims in the daytime.

Even before I got to that crime-ridden place, I had found solid evidence of the rottenness of this city.

"The longer it goes, the more I want you to own this city, my lord." Physovia chuckled. "I don't know why the atmosphere makes me feel at home. Could it be because many humans here are even worse than us?"

I grinned. "Well, too bad, they're going to become much less tonight."

Do I really want to help this city? Of course not. What was important to me was that I would gain many darkness points by doing the destructions. And in the same time, I also increased the number of people who worshiped me.

I'm not a hero.