"..."

"We meet again, Mr. Gu Lao."

"..."

"This is...how many times have we met?"

"...Hmm."

"Cheer up, Mr. Gu Lao!"

"..."

"Just now, I met the people in the town, including Miss Qianzhihe."

"...Hello, Eleanor."

"Huh?"

"Can I see people in town again? Anyone can."

"Unfortunately, I can't help Mr. Gu."

"That's right..."

"..."

"...I thought I was used to it."

"Habit?"

"I thought I was used to it... I've seen so many people die, and it's been more than a hundred years, so I should have gotten used to it..."

"..."

"No... I'm probably only used to the kind of death that leaves without saying goodbye... I still can't accept it. Those who promised to accompany me...

The people who came to me, the people who promised to protect me, the people who gave me belonging... all left without saying goodbye... Eleanor, I seem to have lost everything."

"It's a sad fact, Mr. Gu Lao."

"It shouldn't be like this... It shouldn't be like this, right? At least, let me know something... At least let me do something."

"..."

"..."

"...Goddess-sama."

"...Eleanor."

"I'm here, Mr. Gu Lao."

"Those guys who left without even saying hello...can I see them again?"

"It's precisely because we couldn't say goodbye properly that it's necessary to see each other again, isn't it?"

"..."

"Mr. Gu Lao has done a great job. No one could have predicted that something like this would happen. Mr. Gu Lao doesn't have to blame himself."

"Unpredictable...Yes, it's really inexplicable! So many demons appeared out of nowhere, and so many people died out of nowhere. It's incomprehensible, completely incomprehensible..."

"I feel sorry for you, Mr. Gu Lao."

"It's better to skip the words of comfort. It's unnecessary. I know it all too well... I have already considered the possibility, and probably the divine eye has also hinted at me... But I know everything

It's too late... What a bastard..."

"This is not Mr. Gu's responsibility."

"Of course not! How could I, a waste like me, think about protecting anyone... This is the most ridiculous thing..."

"After all, Mr. Gu Lao is still dispensable, isn't he?"

"It's optional...Hey, Eleanor, I don't quite understand something."

"What does Mr. Gu Lao mean?"

"Before, you told me about my... destiny."

"Yes."

"Is this what my destiny means?"

"This time is just the beginning of Mr. Gu's 'destiny'."

"In order to get rid of unnecessary and necessary preparations?"

"So to speak."

"It's inexplicable... let's forget it."

"Why?"

"...No matter what, I don't understand, what can fate bring me? Become a hero? But I can't accept paying such a high price for it... Why let others die for me?

"...is this how my fate is arranged? It's simply ridiculous."

"Calm down, Mr. Gu... the 'destiny of a hero' cannot be generalized."

"...It doesn't matter what happens."

"Before Mr. Gu Lao makes this conclusion, I have a piece of news to tell Mr. Gu Lao."

"What?"

"Besides Mr. Lonely, there are other survivors in the town."

"...Eh?"

"The survivor is not just an old man."

"Really, really?! Who?"

"You will meet Mr. Gu Lao in the future."

"...Then why tell me now?"

"To help the lonely old man regain his spirit."

"...It's really a shame for you to take such trouble."

"Then, please listen carefully to what I am going to say next."

"Wait! To me, are the survivors of the town... very important people?"

"Mr. Gu Lao values ​​​​too many people...Yes."

"...Then please continue."

"Well! Let's go back to the topic of 'heroes'. I think what Mr. Gu Lao doesn't want to be is the 'hero of the St. Vance Empire'. Such heroes serve the empire, fight for the empire, and are recognized by the empire.

Its heroic significance."

"...Hmm."

"But please think about it, what would it be like to become a hero in this world? Well... well, Mr. Gu, please don't be distracted."

"...Ah, sorry."

"Alas, the atmosphere we finally created was ruined by Mr. Gu."

"Uh...I'm sorry, but what I'm listening to is the hero of the world, right? I think...it doesn't matter."

"Even if we can get rid of it, is it dispensable?"

"What do you mean?"

"That's the literal meaning. Isn't getting rid of dispensability something that Mr. Gu has always wanted to do but can't do anything about it?"

"...I understand, please tell me the difference between the two."

"In my opinion, the 'heroes of the world' are the real heroes."

"In your opinion..."

"Becoming a 'hero of the world' means you can maintain your integrity, and your personal destiny can be changed according to your own needs."

"Change...according to your own needs?"

"The world and the corresponding gods are in a mutually dependent relationship. The gods recognize the existence of the world, and the world recognizes the meaning of the gods. Both the gods and the corresponding world will be constrained by various choices and must be certain.

A choice will be made at the final moment. And the only one who can break the shackles of choice is the 'Hero of the World'."

"You mean...there's no need to make a choice?"

"Yes, change the options instead."

"Change options?"

"Change options without being bound by laws and principles."

"..."
To be continued...