There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 137

“…What do you mean?”

Don’t get involved in this.

The Mage Tower Master said firmly.

“It’s dangerous. If a real Evil God is involved, I don’t know what harm might come to you.”

“But…”

‘If it’s because of an Evil God, isn’t it equally dangerous for you?’

Unfortunately, Philomel couldn’t say that. Le Guin was the Mage Tower Master and a powerful wizard. Unlike herself, who couldn’t even cast magic and had no strength.

Philomel thought hard and finally found a reason. A reason why she had to be involved in this.

“I’m the only one who can enter the store. Surely there’s a role I can play.”

But the Mage Tower Master shook his head.

“Well, the intruder won’t appear in the store until the merchandise is restocked.”

That was true. Philomel had been lying in wait behind the store for days, heavily armed, just in case, but it was all in vain.

“And if there comes a time when I need your strength, I’ll call you then.”

“…”

“I’ll take care of this problem, so don’t worry and rest.”

When Philomel didn’t answer, golden eyes with a serious light turned to her.

“Phil, if it’s true that the intruder has joined hands with an Evil God, the most dangerous person is you.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. Who is the one he has shown the greatest animosity towards?”

In an instant, the eyes of the fake Ellensia came to mind.

Eyes full of hatred.

That person must hate Philomel the most in the world. In the first place, the reason he wrote was because he didn’t like Philomel.

The Mage Tower Master said.

“It’s better to refrain from going out in the future. It will be uncomfortable, but bear with it. There’s no place as safe as the Mage Tower.”

Philomel returned to her room without finding anything to refute.

‘He’s right.’

‘If I interfere unnecessarily and get taken hostage, it’ll be a bigger problem.’

Let’s not cause trouble for those around me and stay still. When I think about it carefully, there’s no need to step forward.

‘The Mage Tower Master of all people is going to roll up his sleeves, so what could go wrong?’

It’ll be resolved soon.

She just needs to watch the situation as he said and help when he asks for it.

Time passed like that. Although she was confined to the Mage Tower, there was no discomfort. Le Guin had specially allowed Nasar to enter the Mage Tower.

“Instead, you have to leave on the dot when the designated time is up.”

The Mage Tower Master said sternly, looking at him calling himself Father.

Philomel took Nasar around and introduced him to various parts of the Mage Tower. Unlike Angelium, which he had already explored, the Mage Tower was full of new things.

The two roamed the Mage Tower as if exploring an unknown world.

The problem with the shattered Eye of Truth was also resolved. A few days ago, with Le Guin’s help, she contacted the World Tree.

“What! You broke what?”

The rabbit was initially shocked, but soon sighed and said.

“Well, if it was damaged in the process of the Hero fighting the Stranger, it can’t be helped. That’s what it’s there for in the first place.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Fortunately, she breathed a sigh of relief.

But….

Philomel asked cautiously.

“Does the World Tree really think I’m a Hero?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Even though she could only hear the voice, she could picture the rabbit’s eyes widening.

“I even weaved a coffin out of my branches and leaves for you!”

“But the title of Hero was given to me because I stopped Le Guin….”

“Oh my, oh my! Listen to this Hero talk. Do I look like a tree with nothing to do?”

“Actually, objectively speaking, I’m not Hero material.”

“What do you mean you’re not?”

“I’m not strong, and I don’t have a strong sense of duty….”

“That’s all? Those things are nothing.”

“Yes?”

“Since when did we start treating someone as a Hero only if they risk their lives to catch an Advanced Harmful Monster? That’s not what a Hero was originally!”

“Then what is it?”

“Do you know the legend of Barbad, the first Hero?”

“There’s hardly anyone living in this land who doesn’t know that.”

Barbad, the first Hero.

A legendary figure who defeated an evil demon long ago and saved the world.

The temple’s selection of a Hero every ten years was also a ritual to commemorate Barbad’s achievements.

“Barbad didn’t leave his hometown with the grand purpose of saving the world from the beginning.”

That’s right. The legend began with a small act of kindness.

A young man who went to borrow money from a corrupt merchant to buy medicine for a child living next door who had fallen seriously ill.

‘In the process, he accidentally learns about the collusion between the merchant and the lord, and somehow ends up digging into it.’

Who would have guessed that the clumsy man who struggled to drive out the rural lord would later become a hero of the era?

The World Tree spoke in a loud voice.

“The key is the desire to help suffering neighbors! That heart is the most important thing!”

“I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not that kind….”

“Why is your self-assessment so low? You were recognized by the Fairy and Dwarf tribes in the past!”

“That was just by chance….”

“You also helped create a cure for the epidemic!”

“…How do you know that story?”

It’s not known to the public.

“The King of Elita recently heard me praying in front of me.”

“Ah.”

It is said that if you pray to the World Tree, the prayer reaches the sky through the tall tree trunk? Because of this belief, high-ranking people often seek out the World Tree when they want something.

“You saved two races from hardship and even created a cure for the epidemic. Who else deserves the title of Hero if not you?”

“When you say that….”

I’m so embarrassed.

Philomel had never thought of her actions as great deeds.

‘I just helped others appropriately, within the limits of what I could do without overdoing it.’

So she brushed it off when she received the title of Hero from the World Tree.

For some reason, her heart flutters. Hearing those words makes her feel like she has become a truly great person.

Perhaps noticing Philomel’s feelings, the World Tree opened its mouth.

“Do you know now? Honestly, you are more suited to be a Hero than that human who caught Cerberus!”

It was Killian’s story.

“Is the act of defeating monsters with the initial goal of becoming a Hero a true act of good?”

The rabbit chattered cheerfully and then suddenly lowered its voice.

“And this is something I’m only telling the Hero….”

“What is it?”

“Just yesterday, the High Priest came to me, and he’s going to give Barbad’s Sword to this generation’s Hero.”

“The sword that the real Barbad used?”

“Yes! That’s what he prayed for!”

“Wasn’t it lost in a fire a long time ago?”

“I thought so too! But it seems the temple has been hiding it, pretending it was lost.”

The sword that the Hero Barbad used to defeat the demon. According to legend, it has the power to destroy evil beings.

The World Tree continued to speak.

“The High Priest seemed to have a lot of worries. It seems he received some kind of revelation in a dream, and it must be very serious if he even took out Barbad’s Sword.”

Philomel also became serious.

Could it be a revelation about the intruder? Or is it related to Ieres?

But apart from that.

“…Is it okay to leak such an important story to me?”

The World Tree laughed.

“The Hero selection ceremony is coming up soon, so I’m boosting the morale of the Hero I chose!”

The Hero selection ceremony is a temple event that takes place every ten years.

‘Come to think of it, it’s coming up soon.’

Although it’s called a selection, Killian is the most likely candidate this time because there are no other notable candidates.

‘The Heroes of the previous and previous generations died while catching monsters.’

Recently, the word ‘Hero’ was just a word referring to Killian.

“Anyway, do your best at the selection ceremony! I’ll be cheering for you, so don’t be discouraged!”

The World Tree said that and cut off the communication.

Philomel looked down at the communication stone in her hand with a dazed look.

“Is he telling me to go to the Hero selection ceremony?”

Even if she is a Hero recognized by the World Tree, that’s a bit….

If she does that, she will have to compete with Killian in front of everyone.

“No way.”

Philomel chuckled and then gently touched her cheek.

“…By the way, was I discouraged?”

In fact, she had heard similar words from Nasar.

“If you have any concerns, please tell me at any time.”

But there are no concerns.

Recently, Philomel’s life has been extremely comfortable. Life in the Mage Tower is quite enjoyable, and although she is still still awkward with the wizards, she is gradually becoming closer to them.

Most of all, there are people here. Nasar, Le Guin, Lexion, Cardin, Jeremiah. The people she loves….

“I’m fine, so please protect the people I love. I’m begging you.”

For a moment, she caught her breath at the memory that came to mind.

Ellensia.

‘You said that.’

A child who prioritized others at the end, even while trembling with fear in the darkness, having her body taken away.

In fact, there is a concern. Her body was comfortable, but her heart was not. Even when she was doing well, Ellensia’s face flashed through her mind from time to time, and she threw away dozens of letters she had written to the Emperor.

Philomel suddenly realized.

‘I don’t like the comfort I have now at all.’

Let’s be honest. She wants to save Ellensia. She wants to reunite her with her father.

She doesn’t know why. She just kept seeing that pitiful child.

‘Why?’

As Le Guin said, Ellensia is a complete stranger to Philomel. All they did was meet once in a place that may or may not have been a dream.

“No. That’s not true.”

She unknowingly uttered words of denial.

Ellensia is not a stranger. She cannot be dismissed as a simple stranger.

Philomel had known Ellensia for a long time. Thanks to that book, .

Even if that book is distorted, it clearly contains pieces of the true Ellensia.

The time she was disappointed when it rained when she was going to the National Foundation Day, the time she was happy to receive a birthday present, the time she cried after being scolded by Katrin.

‘Even things that were secret from her closest friends.’

Philomel knew everything.

Because she had read Ellensia’s story over and over again since she was a child. Until the book wore out.

It was no exaggeration to say that she grew up with that story.

To be honest, she never liked Ellensia. She couldn’t count the number of times she desperately prayed that the child wouldn’t appear so that her being a fake wouldn’t be exposed.

‘Still….’

Before she knew it, she had grown fond of her. To the girl who didn’t lose her smile even while being scolded by Katrin.

That forgotten feeling was revived after seeing Ellensia in her dream.

Ellensia was still a strong child. She was the girl who didn’t give in to the taunts of the neighborhood children that she didn’t have a father.

When things were difficult, Philomel thought of Ellensia and resolved not to lose.

And now is the time to do so.

She got up.

“I have to do something.”

Ellensia is working hard, but she can’t be so down.