I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 56: The Faithful Turn [3]

’I sense two Authority holders,’ Sera warned. She was floating just a few inches above the ground.

’Yeah, I can tell,’ I answered in my mind. It had been around two hours since Sera, the Queen of the Elves and I got our personal mental group chat system. And from that, I concluded she can pretty much read my every thought.

’Fuck my rotten luck!’ I cursed inwardly.

’~Teehee.’ Sera grinned.

"…"

There goes my private life.

With my Ruler skill activated, I sensed a few of our classmates to the north. They were moving in a group, and fortunately, Defender, the Rank-69 hero, was leading them.

But that’s not the problem here.

Just after the trio—Anna, Julius and Aria— woke up, we started moving to the north.

And after a couple of minutes, both Sera and I sensed the presence of another Authority holder.

At first, we thought there was only one Authority holder—that is, the Dream Authority.

But now, we sensed another.

I took out my pendent—Aegis, the artifact crafted by the God of Time himself.

Its hour hand should point to the Authority holder’s hour number near me.

But the hand is fluctuating between 13 and 01.

’Is it broken?’ I asked to Sera.

’It’s working fine,’ Sera responded, "It’s pointing to the Authority 01, that is Emotion and Authority 13—the Paradox, because we are closest to it.’

’Tsk…! This thing is useless.’

’…One day, you shall burn at the hands of a God.’

Ignoring her, I tugged the useless junk inside my shirt.

It’s a good thing I had warned Ruby and my Master about an undefined threat, so they were moving with caution.

Envy turning around and said in a commanding voice.

"Alright, kids, we will be taking a ten-minute break."

"Haaah… finally…" Julius sighed before he sat on the ground.

"I can’t feel my legs…" Anna added.

And Aria… she was quiet.

"…"

We had only been walking for two hours, but their condition was worse.

Such low stamina.

’I worry about their future…’ I thought turning my attention toward them.

’Hey, just because you’re powerful doesn’t mean you can criticize others’ weaknesses, that’s—’

’Please stop reading my mind!’ I scolded.

’Tsk!’ Sera clicked her tongue.

’But, I didn’t even say it out loud.’

Now I worry about my future.

"Hey…" Ruby, who was walking ahead, now stood beside me and said in a low voice, only audible to me, "You seem worried. Are you hiding something from us?"

"...Mmhmm, I was just worried about them." I nodded, pointing towards the trio, who were now gracefully munching on sandwiches my master provided.

Ruby’s deduction didn’t surprise me. She always took things seriously when it came to me.

She was always quiet, but when it comes to me, she just couldn’t stop herself. She didn’t have a family. I was the only one she held dear, and I was grateful for that.

I still remembered that one time when I had just joined the Hero Association. They sent me on my first mission. I was scared. I even pleaded with the authorities, but they didn’t listen. In the end, Ruby was the only one who took my side. Instead of me, she took all the missions.

’My, what a pitiful child…’ It was Sera who spoke telepathically.

’…’

She can even read all my memories. How scary.

Even so… pitiful?

Who? Me?

No way…!

The Hero Association’s the one pitiful here—torturing kids, manipulating them, using them as weapons.

"Heh…" I chuckled at the thought.

I now felt lucky that I got killed by that thing, at least I get to escape the grasp of Hero Association.

It’s laughable how a Rank-1 Hero, whom the demons feared, was himself scared of the Hero Association.

You can’t blame me, I can’t help it, they are nothing but a bunch of ugly minded bastards. They would use everything in their power to bring me under their control.

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

I was not scared by that. They could harm me all they wanted—that was fine, But I was scared of the fact that they would come after the people I cared about. In this case, it was Ruby. They knew about my bond with her, how close we were, and they wouldn’t hesitate to harm her just to knock some senses into me.

’…’

I stared into the darkness, the fire, lit by Anna, flickered, its crackling sound filling the quiet air as it cast a yellow hue around us.

But then—

"!"

My attention shifted to my right hand.

Ruby’s hand now holding mine, intertwining with mine. Her soft palm sent a wave of unimaginable warmth through me.

I didn’t reject it.

I looked at her. I couldn’t make out her expression clearly due to the darkness surrounding us.

Her gaze was lowered, watching the flame danced in front of the trio as they gracefully munched on their sandwiches.

A small satisfied smile tugged my lips.

How kind of her… always comforting me.

’I would do anything to keep a smile on her face.’

’How romantic. ~Heehee’

Surprised by Sera’s sudden comment, I abruptly let go Ruby’s hand.

"Huh…?" Ruby was taken aback.

"Wha—!?"

’D-Don’t say weird thing, I don’t—’

As those words echoed in my mind, I felt my whole face heat up.

I tried to deny it, but the words died in my throat.

’W-Why?’

’Oh my, I was just teasing, but look at you, your face is beet red.’

’Shut up!’

I walked towards Envy, ignoring Sera’s ridiculous claims.

’You’re totally blushing.’

’I’m not!’

"Zane…?" Ruby called, but kept on walking.

I didn’t turn back. I didn’t know what my face looked like right now.

Reaching near the fire, I sat beside Anna.

"Took you long enough." Anna said, before she poured me a warm cup of soup.

I took it gracefully.

"Thanks."

I was hungry myself. I wondered how we had survived a whole day inside that dream world.

Yes, we were trapped in that dream world for a full 24 hours.

The time inside that world moved unimaginably fast.

Sitting in front of me Julius spoke.

"Man, why is you face red?"

Sppprrruuutttt!!

"Cough… Cough...!" I couldn’t hold it.

The soup in my mouth splashed onto Julius’s clothes.

"What the fuck?!" Julius hurriedly stood up,

"Sorry… Cough…!" I apologised, hiding my face with my hands.

"Are you ok?" Beside me, Aria asked, "Do you have a fever? Your whole face is red?"

’Not her too!’

’Hahahahaahaa! We—We told you! Haahaahaa!’

"N-No, I’m good," I answered, my voice breaking, "I just had a bug in the soup."

"…"

"…"

"…"

’What a lame excuse—’

’I know, please shut up!’

She is going be a real pain in the ass for me in the future.

’How rude!’

"Cough—" Envy cleared her throat. "Manners."

I hurriedly straightened myself.

And then, with a deep, serious tone, Envy informed us. She was specially looking me in the eyes.

I had a bad feeling about this.

"Three other Single Rankers are with us…"

I listened.

"Justice, Greed, and…"

Everyone went silent, but on their faces, it was clear they were happy and excited to hear that more single Rankers were here to rescue them.

How grateful they must be.

"And lastly… Hope."

All went silent, their eyes wide open, the only thing which can be heard was the crackling sound of fire.

End of Chapter.