“They call me Zhengzheng.”
I visited the Skyscraper Guild to see Seon-ah after a long time.
I even treated her to tteokbokki, and just when I thought it was time to head back…
I encountered an unexpected figure.
“My name is Lee Kyu-seong. Nice to meet you.”
“It is Ara! Aaaaabsolutely massive!”
Before leaving, the guild master of Skyscraper, Ryu Wang-jin, who had stepped out, returned.
I intended to just greet him briefly, but there was another person beside him.
A massive build and towering height.
He looked like a giant.
He was Zhengzheng, a Level 9 awakener from China, known as “The One Who Commands All.”
He smiled once at Ara, who was staring at him with sparkling eyes, and then turned to me.
“I hear you are the benefactor who healed Ryu Cheon? Ryu Cheon is like a granddaughter to me. I express my gratitude.”
Zhengzheng bowed deeply.
Even so, I had to look up at him.
“I am just relieved that she was treated safely.”
As I brushed off his gratitude, Zhengzheng lifted his head and met my eyes.
“Lately, whenever I hear news about Korea, there is always one name that comes up. It was yours.”
“Is that so?”
“Your reputation has actually spread across all of China. I hear your contract is ending soon? I hope you would consider our Huanglong Guild.”
Before Zhengzheng could even finish his sentence, Ryu Wang-jin, who had been listening silently, cut in.
“Do not covet him so recklessly.”
“Hahaha. Wang-jin, this is the first time I’ve seen you so wary. You didn’t even protect your granddaughter this much.”
“Kyu-seong is here as a guest of our guild.”
That’s what he said, but could he at least try to mask the possessive gleam in his eyes?
I didn’t know where to put myself under the heavy pressure of these two influential figures vying for me.
‘I should finalize my contract soon if I want to avoid more of these situations.’
Then suddenly, Zhengzheng seemed to remember something and spoke.
“Awakener Lee Kyu-seong, I recommend that you join a strong guild as soon as possible.”
“Pardon?”
“A Level 9 meeting was recently held. This year, it was held twice in a row. Something is definitely amiss.”
“A Level 9 meeting…”
I had already heard from Katrina and Hassan that one had taken place before.
That one was about the Hero and the Demon King.
‘That’s none of my business!’
I tried to convince myself and asked Zhengzheng.
“So, another one was held recently?”
“Yes. It was last week.”
“Ah.”
If it was last week, then it wouldn’t have been about the Demon King and the Hero.
Then what was the topic this time?
“Are you curious?”
“Yes, I am.”
“There were rumors about the existence of a Hero and a Demon King. But this time, it was reported that one of them, the Hero, has fallen and joined the Demon King’s forces.”
“…”
A chill ran down my spine.
Such information was already being passed around?
This could be dangerous.
If Emily’s identity or the fact that I had received a quest from the Demon King got out, I would be in serious trouble.
“But that is not the important part. Since neither the Demon King nor the Hero has been fully identified yet. The real shocker came afterward.”
This isn’t important?
And there was something even more shocking?
What the hell is it?
“A new Hero is being chosen. That itself is not of much interest, but what follows is what truly matters.”
“W-What is it?”
“The new Hero is from another dimension, and it has been foretold that they will invade this dimension.”
“Gasp!”
A dimensional invasion?!
What kind of sci-fi novel nonsense is this?
“Additionally, something called the Seven Great Virtues is expected to emerge.”
“…The Seven Great Virtues?”
Is that the opposite of the Seven Deadly Sins?
Wait, now that I think about it, Emily’s sword was forged from the ore of the Seven Great Virtues.
My head started to hurt.
This was getting really troublesome.
‘I was lucky.’
I was really glad I visited the Skyscraper Guild today.
If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have learned any of this.
A new Hero and a dimensional invasion.
And even the Seven Great Virtues.
There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t connected to me.
Not that I wanted it to be.
“Thank you for sharing this information.”
“There is no need to hide it. It hasn’t been made public to avoid causing chaos, but most major guilds have already received word.”
What’s the standard for a “major guild”?
Our Ara Hongryeon Guild never gets this kind of intel.
After talking a bit more, we soon parted ways since everyone was busy.
I was planning to leave anyway, so I exchanged farewells and headed for the airport.
“Ara, do you know what the Seven Great Virtues are?”
“I do not. Is it something to eat?”
Ara tilted her head, confused.
Meanwhile, Cheong had already fallen asleep on my back.
So even Ara didn’t know.
I should ask the others when I get back.
‘That new Hero also worries me.’
A Hero chosen from another dimension who would invade ours.
Just the combination of those words sounded terrifying.
And the fact that they were invading worried me.
It didn’t feel like just a Hero coming after me—more like a declaration of war against the entire planet.
‘Wait a second. Why did I just assume the Hero was coming after me?’
I am not the Demon King!
I tried to deny it, but deep down, I begrudgingly admitted it.
The Hero was coming because of me.
Please, please, let nothing happen!
I just want to farm in peace!
***
Step, step.
Amidst the tense gazes, someone strode forward with confidence.
Before them stood a sword embedded in a stone.
Finally, someone gripped the sword and pulled with all their strength.
Srring—Pop!
“Waaahhh!”
“The sword has been drawn!”
“The birth of the Hero!”
At last, the Hero had appeared.
A sword that no one had been able to draw until now.
The person who raised it high watched as the blade gleamed brilliantly in the light.
“I am the Hero!”
“Waaahhh!”
“It’s the Hero!”
“Does this mean we won’t starve anymore?”
“No more cold and hunger?”
Amid the cheers of countless people, the new Hero checked the message that appeared before them.
[You have become the Hero.]
[There is no Demon King in this continent.]
[Causality is in effect.]
[Connecting to the Demon King of another dimension.]
An unexpected development.
There was no Demon King in this world.
Yet monsters were rampant everywhere.
The people barely had the strength to resist.
If they had even proper equipment, they might have been able to fight back, but right now, they were struggling just to survive.
Food.
Weapons.
Everything was in short supply.
For them, their only hope was the Hero.
[Preparing for Dimensional Invasion.]
[Defeat the Demon King of another dimension and claim their land.]
‘Ah… why…?’
The Hero, who had been their last hope.
He had believed that once he became the Hero, he would be able to defeat all the monsters in this land.
However, the message was leading him to an entirely unexpected course.
Did he really have to abandon his homeland?
And on top of that, invade another’s land?
The Hero looked around with sorrowful eyes.
Though everything had become desolate and they were forced to live in hiding like this…
This was still their homeland.
“…People come first.”
The Hero made up his mind firmly.
Some of them would strongly oppose the idea of leaving for another dimension.
However, as someone who carried the burden of all their lives, the Hero had to accept even their criticisms.
— Hero.
At that moment, light poured from the sky, and something gracefully descended.
“T-The Goddess has appeared!”
“The Hero’s Goddess!”
At the miraculous sight, the people dropped to their knees in worship.
Even the Hero, who had drawn the sword, knelt on one knee to receive the Goddess descending from the heavens.
— Hero, I can only apologize for placing such a heavy burden on you.
“No, someone must take responsibility.”
— Not only must you leave this land, but there is also great danger lurking in the other dimension.
— In that world, there are seven beings like myself, and the majority of them serve under the Demon King.
“Even so, this is something we must overcome.”
‘… I can only be sorry. But I will not just stand by and watch.’
With a determined expression, the Goddess spoke.
— I will go with you and your people to fight together.
“Waaahhh!”
“The Goddess will be with us!”
“All hail the Goddess!”
Everyone cheered with emotion.
The Hero, moved by the Goddess’s decision, raised his sword high.
“I will definitely succeed! I will defeat the wicked Demon King and bring happiness to everyone!”
— Very well! Then let us begin training to fight against the Demon King.
— Once the training is complete, we will move to the other dimension!
Thus, the Hero chosen from another world began his special training to defeat the Demon King.
***
The cat of Sloth, Bell Faust, had done nothing but sleep ever since moving into the dungeon.
Before that, he had worked too hard forging Emily’s sword.
— ‘Nya, I am replenishing my laziness essence.’
Rolling this way.
Rolling that way.
Sleeping like this.
Sleeping like that.
Bell thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful life in the dungeon.
Although the Dungeon of Sloth had been nice, this place was even better.
Not only was the atmosphere pleasant, but there were people who cooked and fed him.
‘I hated making food, but this is amazing.’
And to top it off, the food was delicious.
Until now, Bell had been so lazy that sometimes he just ate grass growing around him while lying down.
But now, there were people who cooked meals and even fed him directly every day.
It was simply paradise.
Lee Kyu-seong, Jae-seong, the restaurant staff, Kyu-seong’s parents, the Kyler father and daughter, and even Ara…
Everyone adored Bell and took turns feeding him.
It was pure heaven.
Especially Lee Hyun-woo, Kyu-seong’s father, who doted on Bell and brought him fish every day.
Of course, Bell remembered no one’s name and just distinguished them by scent.
He didn’t even know Lee Kyu-seong’s name.
He simply called him “Butler.”
And so, Bell continued to laze around in peace.
Bell and the other cats had settled near a mine as their temporary residence.
Since Bell and the other cats were natural-born blacksmiths, they immediately decided to stay near the mine.
Of course, Bell himself had no thoughts on the matter.
He just followed the other cats since they liked the place.
Ironically, Bell was the only lazy one among the cats.
The other cats were diligent—true blacksmiths at heart.
That’s why complaints occasionally arose among them.
Why was Bell, the laziest of them all, the most talented blacksmith?
No matter how much he was their leader, how was it fair that someone so lazy had such overwhelming talent?
The heavens are unfair!
Sniff, sniff.
— Nya?
Such complaints…
While Bell was sleeping, a faint scent tickled his nose.
Half-asleep, Bell twitched his whiskers and began moving toward the source of the smell.
— Nya, nya, nya.
Suddenly acting like a real cat, he rushed off while meowing.
His expression remained groggy.
He arrived at the mine.
It was an odd sight—goblins, gnolls, and cats all working together.
— Heheh.
Even the slimes were there.
The others looked at Bell in confusion.
Why was that lazy cat here?
— I smelled something.
Bell twitched his whiskers and sniffed around.
He then made his way deeper into the mine.
Curious, the others followed to see what he was up to.
Eventually, Bell stopped in front of a wall.
It looked like it had just been mined.
— Ki-rik. (Not here.)
A goblin shook its head.
After discussing with the gnolls, they had already decided that digging further in this direction wouldn’t yield any ore.
But Bell pointed at the wall and said:
— Nya-dig here.
— Kang?
— Kii-rik?
The goblins and gnolls tilted their heads.
Even the other cats wondered why their leader was acting strange.
But there was no harm in trusting him.
When it came to minerals, Bell had an uncanny sense for them.
If he weren’t so lazy, he would have been the perfect blacksmith.
A gnoll picked up a pickaxe.
Then it struck the wall Bell had pointed at.
— Nya-dig! Just Nya-dig!
Bell used “Nya” as a prefix when excited.
After a long while of digging, they still found nothing.
At this point, it seemed like there was really nothing there…
Plop.
Roll, roll.
Something fell out.
A peculiar stone rolled to Bell’s feet.
Bell immediately picked it up and sniffed it.
Then he shouted:
— This is it!
It was the exact thing he had smelled.
Even Bell himself didn’t quite know what it was yet…
But his cat whisker sensor had reacted intensely.
At first glance, it looked worthless.
Just an ordinary stone?
While the goblins and gnolls examined it in curiosity, the other cats began speculating.
— Myang-myang.
— Myaong.
— Nya?
Then, they stared at it in disbelief.
Just as Bell finished appraising the stone, he declared:
— This is some Nya-amazing fuel!
Bell’s discovery!
Once again, his whisker sensor had succeeded!
Cliche Novel 