Revelation, Rage, and Reflection.

Shortly after Goli left, we were left in a strained silence for a good while. Not that we didn't have stuff to talk about, it's just that we never found a way to spark conversation.

It felt like when the middle friend goes away for a bit and the edge friends finally have to talk to each other.

It got to the point where she gave up on worrying about it and just played something on her phone beeping obnoxiously. I guess she doesn't understand the concept of the volume button. Man, that's rich coming from me.

She occasionally made some grunts, twists, and turns while playing. Put with every other sensory overload I was hearing, it drove me mad.

The indescribable sound effects and physical expressions coming from her went on for minutes on end. The noise beating at my head.

“Can you turn that down already?” I snapped. My hardest attempts for a proper conversation starter. Wasted by sounding like a jerk, frustration controlling my speech.

She didn't say a word and turned it down. Somehow worse than if she would've retaliated. Now I look like a jerk, and we didn't even argue! Conversation is impossible with bums.

I found myself sitting in distress. The silence was killing, and the woman in front of me was a mystery.

“So uhm. What are we supposed to be doing? Aren't we on a quest to find the pillars? Maybe we should get up instead of sitting around.” I started. Then immediately I was shot down.

“Listen, you can leave now. You only came here for a meet up right?” She spoke without looking from her phone. Her words made me understand my circumstances.

She sighed and gave me some gentle eye contact before looking back down.

“Not to be rude, it's just–you've been staring at me for the past hour or so. I'm not the most socially adept.”

I mean, I'm poor, no leads, a secretive worthless goddess, and an ability that forces me through trauma. There isn't really anything I can do, not to mention I barely know anything about this time.

“But if you want to talk about something, let's talk about how you snapped at those people. Made my heart flutter with you being all dominant.” She said clearly not carrying the energy her words suggested. Still not even bothering to look me in the eye.

“I just got a little angry. Last I checked, I was the one to beat Richter.” I vented, trying hard to maintain my persona.

“Wait, you weren't lying!?” She suddenly perked up. “This is huge news! If you actually found Richter, hell you beat him! That means you might be fully recognized as a hero!”

Though she seemed so indifferent to everything, it's clear she wished the best for Gajuo.

She got up and started pacing around me, peering through me again.

“I guess that explains your soul being all jumbled. He must've done a number to you.” She said looking through me once again.

“So was he strong? Was he actually crafty or was the name just for show? Did you get any information out of him?” She drilled me with questions, but my accidental facial expression of ‘how do I answer this?’ made her back off.

“Y-yeah,” I mumbled. Though she looked at me with a strong look of pity. She was about to critique my embarrassment before the intent faded.

“Regardless, we have to visit the capital. It's been a while since your banishment though.” I may have given off an attitude of nonchalance, but I was diligently taking in the crucial information from the conversation.

“So how would we get to the capital? I'm sure my ban isn't just lifted.” I said pessimistically.

Though she seemed so hyper earlier, the clear shortcoming in her plan caused that excitement to die back down. She pitifully retreated into her phone once I pointed out the obvious.

“Well, I'll come back tomorrow. Try to come up with a plan by then, I have some work to attend to.” Deciding I wouldn't get much else out of her, I called it a day.

She gave parting words and began talking about something else off topic, but I was out the door.

[Our Hero's Final Straw.]
[The Goddess Makes Her Modest Return]

“So can you hurry up with killing the Pillars?”

“The fuck did you say to me?”

Those were the first words I heard when I walked into my slum of a home. I was greeted by Goli, clad in a white spa robe. And how did I know it was a spa robe? She still had the cucumbers on her eyes.

“Listen, you haven't done anything since you got here. Be more proactive!” She said, getting more comfortable on my bed.

“Be more proactive? More proactive!? I'll tell you what I've been doing, running myself ragged! Trying to figure out a way to meet your already—absurd demands!” I said snapping. I must've lost control because when I calmed down a little I saw a broken lamp on the floor.

“I know you're upset, trust me I feel your pain…” Now she tries to comfort me like I'm some fucking child! The ‘calm’ I earned reverted ten-fold.

“I'm going to kill her. I actually need to kill her.”

“Hey! What are you muttering about over there, it's creepy. Why are you coming towards me? H-hey! Let go of my neck!” Apparently the goddess doesn't need to breathe to live…

Or run her damn mouth.

“I'm tired of your bullshit, woman! How about you answer those questions I gave you!? You had enough time to have a spa day, so I'm sure you came up with an answer.” I interrogated like a teacher catching a student playing around.

“Yeah, that's why I came! Now can you let go of me? You messed up my wonderful robe.” Goli, more worried about her robe, straightened it using some application of AllBeing. I'm just glad I didn't see what was under it again.

She snatched the cucumbers off her eyes and ate them. “Alright let's address these questions!” She finally sat up and started playfully swaying.

“You already got a lot of information on who the previous hero was. Your aspect is AllLearning, able to steal any aspect through eating a compatible soul aka someone's heart. But what happened while you were dead will take a bit longer.”

She ushered me to sit next to her, though I had thoughts about why she didn't explain Gajuo, I simply obeyed. Clearly history has a more important story to tell.

“After you died, most of your party members were murdered. Ones who lived were cast out, or they fled. The rogues that killed you were worshipped and rose to power.” Huh. My party members were bested as well? Something's off.

“Hold up, most of them!? I just don't think it's possible,” I doubted.

“Yup, the rogue that killed you had a pretty nasty Aspect combination.” She rubbed her chin.

Wait a second. “What are you even rubbing?”

“Continuing on!”

“The lineage kept going and going, just kept making themselves stronger with their riches. The children spread across the world with fear as a motivator. Exaggerating their accomplishments. Due to their dissolute sex lives, there are enough of them to make up a small country.” I could feel my fist tightening just hearing this.

But she just sighed. “They now have a bunch of clan rankings and stuff, so that's when they made the hero system. Simply for military power over their relatives.”

“Hero system? I thought Gajuo was the only one. Does this imply there are heroes in other countries?” I deduced

“Yes. Every country has at least one hero, I'm sure you saw the hero posters inside Cult Corner.” She answered slightly impressed by my question.

“So they are just fighting over the rights for the name of ‘hero killer,’ which was a fluke.” I guessed.

And she answered with: “Bingo. But the truth is that Werner poses a big threat to the government in this country. So you need to stop him, whatever you do after that is up to you.” She said flatly.

“Why shouldn't I just destroy the government for their crimes against me?” I probed.

“Well, are you prepared to lead the whole world? Even if they are dogshit at their job and have horrible personalities and even worse history, they get the job done.” Fair point. I don't wanna lead people.

“Of course there is more to the story, and what started the War of Paltriness. But you understand the gist of it. You're smart right? Piece it together.” she added.

I was going to ask another question, but when I blinked she was gone. She definitely waited for me to blink.

“Murdered? The lot of them? Preposterous.” I laughed to myself. The thought lingered in my mind even after the topic closed.

“But if she was telling the truth, I'll just murder the descendants anyway.” I at least hope Prisha survived.

[A Reminder of The Past]
[Back In The Era of The Old Legendary Hero]

Another day, another party. Fitting for the world's greatest person. It's a shame this beauty doesn't appreciate the people's offering.

Leaving another town, on the way back to our humble abode. Prisha was in another bad mood again. It's like this every time I decide on enjoying my time.

“This is cumbersome, Donovan! Every time we go into a main city, you drink yourself out! Even when the enemy was right around the corner.” Prisha groans, again. I can’t stand it when she complains like this.

“When the people want their hero to feel welcomed, who am I to deny such hospitality!?” I say with my chest out.

Her posture immediately stiffened. I think she wants to kill me for some reason.

“I almost died because you insisted that ‘if they try something, I'll be sober enough to stop it’ and how do I find you? Drunk and sleeping under floozies!”

“We're alive, aren't we?” I chuckled.

She sighed out with distress and threw her hands up. “Then you do this! I try to tell you about yourself to improve and you just- blah blah blah blah-” She grabs my collar. “Listen, dammit!”

So violent. Honestly, she wasn't like this when she first joined. What made her like this?

“Can you relax! You act like I can't just handle everything that comes at me. I am the hero after all!” This caused her look to darken. She dropped my collar and went back to walking. Refusing to look back at me.

“One day, there will come a time. Where your power can't save you, and the way you were before will be necessary. Intelligent, cunning, hell you had a type of charm back then. You had pride, you weren't this cocky sack of shit.”

“Hey, Prisha, my fault.” I jest.

“...”

“Hey, say something.”

Not another word was said for the rest of the walk, and she didn't say another word to me for the rest of the day. I think that was her last real, heartfelt warning for me.

[Back to The Present]
[The Grand Hero, On a Date? Huh?]

Once Goli left, I decided to finally loot the wallet I won inside of mortal combat. I found money, identification of this time, and a phone number.

After a short conversation, we decided to meet up outside the mall. The guy from before was still in the hospital, but it's not important.

“Hey, hero,” she said waving, jogging my way. In heels of all things. “I didn't know that you were the Controversy Hero Gajuo.” What kind of shitty title is that?

“So why did you call me out here? You aren't still mad about that failed attempt, right?” she fretted. Though I just shook my head.

“I called you out here to return your wallet. I'm glad the number in here was yours instead of just some random person.”

“That's it? Maybe I don't have to work overtime to… Where is my cash?” Her glare was strong, strong enough so that the floor was extremely interesting.

“I, uh, had to pay for my room.”

…

“I retract my previous statement,” She groaned, checking the wallet for at least one bill. “Is there anything else you want from me, hero?” She forced out through a broken smile.

“N-no.” “Good.”

And with that she stormed off. I'd be mad too if someone robbed me and returned with a fraction of what I had.

Leaving the parking lot of the local mall, I walked on the sidewalk. A straight shot back to my motel, the lights amazed me once again that night. A beautiful sight, even if the people around it weren't as wondrous.

The moment I stepped into my room, I saw Richter sitting on my bed. He had his guard up as always.

“We need to talk, Gajuo,” he said as we stared at each other. The awkward silence filled the time after his words.

“If I were to pledge my loyalty to you, would you swear to bring down this corrupt nation?” He looked at me, eyes of determination.

“And what brought this on? What happened to all that bravado?” This drew a sigh from him.

“I heard you earlier swearing to kill the political leaders. I don't know what brought it on, but I just popped up right when you said that.” He buried his head in his hands.

“If you have the same goal, I might as well help you. Not like I can help them anymore anyway.” MosAnalyze didn't sense any falsity from him. He was truly sincere.

“I have no problem with it. Welcome…” I trailed off as something caught my attention. The smell, the appearance, even the quality of the air. There was no mistaking it.

“The house is on fire!” I began to panic. So much so I tried fanning it with my bedsheets, though that made it worse.

AllBeing! I swung my hand out to cancel the fire, though muscle memory lost the muscle not long ago.

“Shit… Richter, we can talk about this later!” I yelled as I busted the door down. As I ran outside, I saw the fire attacking my part of the motel.

“I just bought clothes a couple days ago! No…” All the money I stole—I mean earned!

I contemplated running back in until Richter grabbed my shoulder. Tears were forming in my eyes as I turned back, then I was met by a-

“Damn.”

“I will kill you again. This is serious man!”

Richter had this dumb smile on his face, teeth illuminated by the flames. I did see the attendant from the corner of my eye examine the situation. Then she promptly walked back where she came.

Then I turned back to find him with this fake ass pity on his face, clearly trying not to laugh at my misfortune.

This is just not my day, hell, my month.

About 15 minutes later, firefighters arrived. The fire was extinguished easily, not before it completely ruined my building and mine alone.

When I asked the firefighters about it, they said they couldn't find the start of the fire. Damnit… where am I supposed to sleep now?

[The Hero Faces a Roadblock Before The Capital]
[NEXT TIME: Stressful Situations]