There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 149

* * *

The present and future are more important than the past.

Philomel sat next to Eustis by the fountain in the central garden, sharing a long story.

“You met Elencia?”

Eustis’s eyes wavered. After hearing about his daughter, he wore an indescribable expression.

“I see. That child… was still in that body.”

His expression turned serious when he heard about the Evil God.

“So that’s why the temple’s movements have been unusual lately.”

“Unusual, you say…?”

“According to a spy I planted inside, the High Priest seems to have received some kind of oracle, but he’s keeping his mouth shut.”

“Could it be an oracle about the Evil God?”

“Most likely.”

He stroked his chin.

“Considering they pushed ahead with the selection ceremony even after I questioned Killian Escal’s qualifications as a hero, they must have urgently needed to choose a hero.”

“That’s why Your Majesty came here.”

“Yes. That guy already has a history of cooperating with intruders.”

The Emperor was considering the possibility that Killian was hiding the fake Elencia.

“I searched every inch around him, but there was nothing suspicious. But it’s not good for him to become a hero.”

Philomel swallowed hard.

Knowing the Emperor’s ways, he must be contemplating eliminating Killian.

‘Lergwin, and this guy too. Why are they always trying to kill people at the drop of a hat!’

Philomel’s reproachful gaze turned to the Emperor.

“Stop with the rash thoughts. Harming Killian now will only worsen relations with the temple.”

They should be joining forces in the face of the Evil God’s threat.

“I will become the hero. Then it can be resolved without bloodshed.”

Her conversation with Eustis had given her certainty. The oracle received by the High Priest was most likely about the Evil God.

‘The reason they’re pushing ahead with the hero selection ceremony even after receiving the Emperor’s message…

…means the hero is the key to opposing the Evil God.

In fact, there’s a theory that the demon defeated by the first hero, Balbard, was actually an avatar of the Evil God. Ieris’s existence is top secret, so it was passed down as a demon.’

“Besides, Balbard’s sword will appear at this hero selection ceremony.”

“How did you know that? I only just found out myself.”

“I have a reliable informant.”

The talkative World Tree.

“Amazing. Something that’s not easy even for me, the Emperor… I’m a failure as a parent.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I spent so many years with you, and I didn’t even realize your dream was to be a hero.”

“It’s okay. It’s a dream I had just a few days ago.”

“…Could the reason you’re going to the selection ceremony be…?”

“Yes. I will rightfully obtain Balbard’s sword.”

Eustis looked like he wanted to dissuade Philomel from her decision. But he couldn’t bring himself to, burdened by his guilt.

“…Does it have to be you?”

“The World Tree has only recently recognized Killian and me as potential heroes. And I really want to do it.”

“What’s the reason? It’s not necessary for Elencia’s sake. I will definitely save that child.”

He seemed to want to say, ‘So you should do what you want to do.’

Philomel smiled awkwardly.

“I can’t say that’s not part of it, but there are other reasons too.”

The most recent reason.

“Do you know what people here call me? Hero Philomel. Until now, I’ve always been called the former princess, a VIP of the Imperial Family, or the daughter of the Magic Tower Lord.”

Although it was a brief illusion created by the high-grade loudspeaker, Philomel liked the sound of it.

“I sincerely want to become a hero.”

The Emperor studied Philomel’s expression for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“I see. Then from now on, I will fully cooperate with you.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“If you change your mind and want to eliminate Killian Escal…”

“I told you that’s not going to happen!”

The Emperor’s disregard for human life triggered a chain of memories. The issue with the Angelium security forces.

He had frowned upon hearing her request to withdraw the kill order against them.

“I’m not saying don’t punish them, but let’s do it according to the law.”

However, when Philomel took a firm stance, he eventually relented.

Since the topic came up, she voiced all the things she wanted to say to him.

“Always have a servant taste your food before you eat, don’t wander around without escort knights…”

Eustis seemed pleased by her words, which were prompted by Lergwin’s assassination attempt.

“So you’re worried about my health.”

He seemed to have misunderstood something.

‘Well, it’ll be fine. Lergwin won’t do anything rash.’

Judging by the fact that he cast a spell on Ggyuggyu and left, it seemed he had decided to follow Philomel’s wishes. He had also abandoned his plans to assassinate the Emperor and Elencia.

‘Now that other problems are more or less resolved.’

Philomel only needed to focus on becoming a hero.

The temple’s decision was announced late that evening.

From tomorrow, the hero trials between Philomel and Killian will begin.

The one who wins in more than two out of the maximum three matches will be selected as the hero.

* * *

The next day.

The arena where the trials were held was filled with the heat of the audience.

Competition always gets people’s blood pumping.

The number of people who came to watch the selection ceremony was significantly higher than yesterday.

Betting pools were even set up to predict who would ultimately become the hero.

“I’ve bet my entire fortune on ‘Lady Philomel will win’.”

Philomel forced a smile at Nasar’s words.

“I need to prevent Nasar from going bankrupt because of me.”

She knew he was trying to ease her tension, but it didn’t lessen the pressure.

Philomel consciously regulated her breathing.

‘I can do it. I can do it. Just stick to the plan.’

But suddenly, another voice interjected.

“You might want to give up now.”

It was Killian Escal.

Philomel glanced at the top of the man’s head.

The last time she had seen him up close was right before leaving the Imperial Palace.

When she had given him a bit of a scolding for speaking rudely, his favorability had jumped from 16 to 20 in an instant.

But his current favorability was…

‘32%’

12% higher than then!

Even though they hadn’t seen each other since, except for yesterday.

‘What on earth happened?’

Perhaps Philomel had appeared in his dream and given him a good dressing down.

‘The more I know, the more terrifying he is…’

Killian spoke, oblivious to Philomel’s thoughts.

“This isn’t a place to be flirting with your boyfriend.”

Philomel didn’t back down an inch and retorted.

“Mind your manners. Is it okay for someone aiming to be a hero to act like a thug and pick a fight?”

He scowled.

“A hero should never be swayed by words. Lady, you need to be more resilient.”

‘35%’

Saying that while his favorability is increasing doesn’t make him cool at all.

“Don’t be too scared. I’ll go easy on you today.”

Killian arrogantly returned to his spot.

Philomel barely resisted the urge to say, ‘If I lose, your life will be in danger.’

She looked around. Eustis wasn’t visible, but he was surely watching the match.

The time had come.

“We will now begin the hero trials.”

Another priest conducted the ceremony in place of the High Priest, who had difficulty standing for long periods.

“The first trial is a gateway to determine whether the candidates possess the necessary martial prowess to be heroes.”

Miloof, standing behind Killian, wore a triumphant smile. As if representing his confidence, the audience’s chatter grew louder.

“This match will be disadvantageous for the former princess.”

“Why?”

“Well, her opponent caught the monster Cerberus.”

“I heard yesterday that she also has a White Devil as a subordinate.”

“White Devil? Was there such a monster?”

“I’m hearing it for the first time too. But if it has the title ‘Devil’, it must be an incredibly ferocious creature.”

Before they knew it, the Magic Tower Lord’s nickname had been imprinted on many people as a monster.

Although not a monster, he was a figure who inspired more fear in the dwarves than most monsters.

Archbishop Miloof’s face was tinged with annoyance. He seemed to be thinking, ‘White Devil, my foot! It must be an exaggeration.’

The host looked at Philomel and Killian in turn.

“The method of the trial can be designated by one of the candidates.”

Philomel knew this well.

After deciding to become a hero, she had taken out and thoroughly read all the old materials related to hero selection from the Magic Tower’s archives.

‘If possible, it’s best for me to decide the method of the trial.’

Philomel’s chances of winning against Killian in a battle of strength were very low. It was advantageous to choose a method that was as favorable to her as possible.

However, completely different words came out of Philomel’s mouth.

“I would like to yield to Young Master Escal. After all, he has been aiming to be a hero for longer than I have, and he even has the Archbishop by his side.”

If Philomel chose the method this time, Killian would choose it for the second trial.

‘That must not happen!’

She had to choose the method for the second trial no matter what. To do that, she had no choice but to hand over the right to choose for the first trial to Killian.

Killian narrowed his eyes as if trying to figure out Philomel’s intentions, but Miloof couldn’t.

“Good choice. You might as well stop with the reckless challenges.”

He boasted to the fullest and urged Killian to speak.

Killian nodded as if he couldn’t help it.

“I accept the offer. The method of confrontation I choose is…”

Sweat gathered in Philomel’s grip. She had calmly handed over the order to Killian, but she had no intention of giving up the victory.

The outcome of the confrontation depended on which method Killian chose.

“Arm wrestling.”

The audience stirred at the unexpected word.

Arm wrestling. An act that is generally dominated by the perception that it is purely a contest of arm strength.

“Isn’t that disadvantageous for the Princess?”

In arm wrestling, it would be difficult to hope for any tricks or luck.

However, Philomel thought with a stiff expression on the outside.

‘Just as I expected!’