The Retired Top Ranker Was Abducted to Another World - Chapter 19

“But how old are you then?”

“I’m curious too.”
“Uh… let me guess… was it around eight hundred years old?”
“Eight hundred… I see.”

He was older than me…
Jake was shocked.

“Why on earth do you talk like that at that age…”
“What do you mean ‘like that’! I’ve made an effort!”
“Why? Was there any problem?”

“Well… they all teased me, saying I spoke like an old man!”

Of course, I admit I’m an old man.
But that doesn’t mean I want to appear that way.

“Back in the day, I used to say, ‘Ha ha, the weather is quite nice today,’ and they all teased me, saying I sounded like an old kid.”
“Indeed… I might have thought so too.”

Objectively, Baek Yeon-woo looks very handsome.
And he looked very young.
Yet, speaking like that created a sense of dissonance.

“So, I changed it.”
“Then your lighthearted nature too?”
“Oh, as I lived long, I ended up like this.”
“Hum… I see. For a human, you indeed lived long.”
“For a human?”
“Yes. I’ve never heard of a human living eight hundred years. But not the same for other races.”

There are numerous races living in this world.
And undoubtedly, there are races that live long.

“For instance, our dwarves live easily for five hundred years, with the oldest living up to seven hundred.”
“..!”
“And elves have an average lifespan of five hundred years, with high elves easily living a thousand years. Even dragons live more than a millennium.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. This place is amazing.”
“Yeon-woo, our race also lives long.”
“Wind wolves?”

“Exactly. If not eaten by predators, we can live up to seven hundred years.”
“I see…”

They all live much longer than humans.
That’s enough.
It means I can spend more time together.

“But there’s something I’m curious about: is the reason you don’t age really because of the fire?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Well… from what I see, it might be something else.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because the fire appeared when you almost died.”

There was considerable time between when the fire saved Baek Yeon-woo and when he stopped aging.

“I suspect that it’s not the fire but the ice ability you’ve manipulated. Isn’t that why you don’t age?”
“I hadn’t considered that…”

Is it because of the ice ability that I don’t age?

“Honestly, I don’t know about this awakening stuff, but that’s what I think.”
“My abilities are… ‘Master of Frost’ and ‘Heart of the Phoenix.'”

When one becomes an awakener, they naturally come to know what their ability is while going through the awakening pain.

“Phoenix! So the fire you use is the flames of the Phoenix!”
“You know about it?”

“Of course! It’s known that the Phoenix’s flames are purer than any fire in the world!”

No wonder it wasn’t a normal fire; it was from the Phoenix!
This is a family honor.

“So the reason you don’t age might indeed be because of the ice ability. Even phoenixes die eventually.”
“Phoenixes?”

A phoenix signifies immortality, so why?

“A phoenix is called immortal because it can’t be killed by injuries. It dies of old age naturally, and a successor is born.”
“..Really?”
“Indeed. Even holding the Phoenix’s fire, you would have aged.”
“Then… am I immortal because both abilities combined?”
“Probably.”

‘Master of Frost,’ which prevents aging, and ‘Heart of the Phoenix,’ which makes one unkillable.
Combining these two abilities creates true immortality.

“Uh… doesn’t seem hopeful at all?”

In the end, it means never being able to die.

“Well, it’s still fine, right? You said uncle and Fay live long?”
“Yes. By that time, you’ll have other friends too.”

Then you won’t be lonely.

‘You’re a good person.’

Though quirky and amazing, he certainly was a good person.
Fighting for centuries for the world without complaint is not an easy task.
Surely, he will make many friends.

“But if you were summoned as a hero from another world… what about the Demon King?”

Jake blinked.

“Well… if they can’t do it, I suppose I’d have to?”
“What the Demon King! Hey? I may look like this, but I was once called the strongest in the world!”

“No! No matter how strong you are, you can’t defeat the Demon King. Only a hero is allowed that.”
“..? Is it that important?”
“Of course. Only a hero can defeat the Demon King.”

“Why?”
“I don’t know. But attacks from beings other than heroes were of no use to the Demon King.”
“Really?”

Why on earth?

“We don’t know either. But that’s why heroes are important.”
“Really?”
“..All we can do is hope that the one who took the destiny can succeed.”

Hope that person can defeat the Demon King…

‘But… is it possible?’

To be honest, Jake was pessimistic.
Because, as decades passed, the Demon King only grew stronger.

‘If this person was chosen as a hero, surely…’

This generation’s Demon King might be far stronger than the previous ones…

***

[Are you okay?]

“Yes, it’s something I have to bear…”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

James swung his sword and trained.
But, unlike novels, his skills didn’t grow rapidly.
Muscles developed step by step, and he got a bit stronger bit by bit.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

‘Demon King…’

While swinging the sword, James couldn’t shake off his stray thoughts.
Rationally thinking, it seemed a trap, but instinct screamed it was the truth.

‘My greed has tripped me up.’

But either way, he ultimately caused all this.
It began with taking the destiny and entering that cave.
Eventually, everything… started from him.

‘If only… I hadn’t used that artifact when I discovered it…’

If he had just left it alone, he wouldn’t be dealing with these thoughts now.

“James! Training here?”
“Aria…”
“You should take it easy, you know?”
“I can’t. I’m still lacking.”
“Why? You’re more than enough already.”

Aria was puzzled.
James was among the top ranks in the academy.
Yet, why was he pushing himself so hard?

“To achieve my goal, I’m still not enough.”
“Really? What’s your goal?”
“Going to the Forest of Calamity.”
“…Uh..are you sick?”

Aria touched James’ forehead.

“No fever.”
“I’m perfectly normal.”
“But why? Oh! By the gods! How dangerous the Forest of Calamity is! What do you plan to find there?”
“There is someone I must meet.”
“Something must be wrong with you! How can anyone live in the Forest of Calamity?”
“There is. I have something to deliver along with an apology.”
“Is it that important?”

“Yes. I must do it.”
“Alright. You’re surely not ready to go there right now.”

The Forest of Calamity is that perilous.

“Be careful. Okay?”
“Yes.”

With that, Aria left.

[Seems like you have talent.]

“The teachers say so.”

[That’s fortunate, you might just make it to the Forest of Calamity.]

“Um… God, may I ask you something?”

[What is it?]

“If that person is that strong, can’t they easily defeat the Demon King? Then why is destiny important?”

At first, he thought having the destiny of a hero meant becoming powerful.
But even after taking the destiny, nothing changed.
So what is so crucial about the destiny?
Apart from being able to communicate with God, he didn’t see any benefits.

[Hmm… Without the destiny of a hero, you cannot defeat the Demon King.]

“Why?”

[I cannot say. Honestly, this situation is new to me, so I don’t truly grasp it either.]

“Is that so…?”

James nodded with a strange expression.
There seemed to be a point in God’s words.
But without precise explanations, it aroused suspicion.

[Ah, still, there’s one thing I can tell you.]

“What is it?”

[The hero’s destiny is actually a device to restrain them.]

“Restrain?”

[Yes. Although I don’t want to admit it, they lived well in another world. But… I kidnapped them.]

“Ki… kidnapped…”

[Yes. But if they came here without any restriction, wouldn’t they run amok? Maybe even destroy the world. Ahem.]

The more he learned, the less the idealized image of heroes he had remained.
Nonetheless, hearing the explanation made sense.

‘Wouldn’t anyone be like that if kidnapped while living peacefully?’

It turns out all past heroes were kidnapped individuals.

[So, I opted for heroes and restrained them. It consists of three parts.]

“Three parts?”

[First. Do not kill without a valid reason.]

What is considered valid is judged by those around.
The companions traveling with the hero.
As long as they deemed it a valid reason, lives could be taken freely.

[The second is not to ignore those in need.]

“Why that?”

[What do you think a hero is like?]

“Someone who protects the world.”

[Exactly. So, wouldn’t they usually be considered good?]

“Right?”

The perception that heroes are good because they protect the world is ingrained.

[A being with powerful strength flexing its power would always incite fear. Hence, this rule exists.]

Doing good deeds to foster a friendlier image.
That was the intent.
The impression of a powerful being and a powerful ‘good’ being feels different.

“And the last one?”

[The last, the third, is to return to their homeland after defeating the Demon King.]

“Why is that? Doesn’t that seem natural?”

If kidnapped, wouldn’t anyone want to return home?

[No. Some preferred to remain here.]

“What? Why?”

[Because they could enjoy absolute authority.]

“Authority…?”

[Their power is indeed formidable. But… no, nevermind.]

God abruptly stopped speaking.
And no amount of waiting prompted any more information about that curiosity.

“God… do you know the worst kind of thing in the world?”

[What is it?]

“The first is cutting off conversation mid-sentence. The second is…”

[Hmm…? Why stop speaking now!]

Following that, James didn’t open his mouth again.
God was irritated, but James didn’t care, sorting through his thoughts.

‘The heroes I knew were just the surface…’

A creation of God.
In that case…

‘Could it be the same for the Demon King…’

Heroes are considered good, and the Demon King evil.
If it was ultimately God who established this premise…
Perhaps the Demon King is also enveloped in preconceived notions…