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-Kieeek!!

-Kyaaayaaak!!

Like leaves swept away by a storm. The monsters were blown away by her magic.

A month had passed.

On the battlefield, a mountain of monster corpses had piled up, and rivers of their blood flowed across the ground.

At first, the countless monsters seemed endless, but now, it was clear that their numbers had significantly decreased. The situation would likely be over soon.

"Archmage-nim! We need help to the east as well!"

At the soldier's request for assistance, she rode off toward the east.

In the past month, she had fought in countless battles and achieved tremendous growth.

Her magic had reached the 7th circle. Her swordsmanship had reached a level where the path to mastering it was open.

No one, not even from the Empire's past, had reached such a level at her age.

But she wasn't happy at all.

She only wanted to return home quickly.

She continued to slash through the monsters, washing her body in blood.

As this routine went on, her heart gradually became worn down.

Now, no matter how many monsters she ripped apart, no matter how cruelly her own soldiers were killed, she felt no emotion.

She was neither happy nor sad. She only wanted to go home.

Had the Goddess granted her wish?

Soon enough, the battle ended in their victory.

"Uwaaa—!!"

"I love you, Hero!!"

"Long live the Karaz Empire!!!"

On the way back to the Empire, countless people greeted her, throwing bouquets of flowers in celebration.

Before she knew it, her title had changed from prodigy to Empire's hero.

The Emperor promised to grant her the honor he had promised and said he would grant her a marquis title in whatever name she chose.

Not having thought much about a name, she said she would decide later and hurried home.

Having been away for a month, she missed her mother terribly.

Surely, when she opened the door to this house, her mother would be there, smiling and welcoming her.

But unfortunately, that was not the case.

Upon returning home, she was met with only the thick, hazy air and the stench of cheap cigarettes that made her frown.

With concern, she ventured deeper into the house to look for her mother, only to be confronted with an unbelievable sight.

Her mother, who had always greeted her with a bright smile, was lying in bed with a man she had never seen before.

In a daze, almost losing her composure, she immediately grabbed the man and began to beat him as if she would kill him.

"Kyaaak!!"

"Ah! What are you doing!!"

Her mother tried to stop her, but she didn't stop the violence.

In the end, unable to stop her, her mother raised her hand high and—

Slap!

She struck her cheek hard.

For the first time, she was slapped by her mother, and in shock, she stared blankly at the floor. Her mother, with a cold glare, quickly ushered the man out of the house.

Regaining her senses, she demanded an explanation from her mother.

"Who is that man? Did you really—?"

But her mother didn't answer. She silently approached her, gently embraced her, and patted her back.

"You've had a hard time for a month, Ana. I'm sorry I couldn't welcome you properly."

After rolling in the brutal battlefield and finally seeing the gentle side of her mother, she should have felt joy.

But for some reason, there was no joy in her heart.

…

…

One year later…

Before I knew it, I had turned 15.

A lot had changed.

My mother was no longer the kind and warm person I once knew.

She had become someone addicted to power. A filthy woman obsessed only with money and lust.

I even heard she had started using drugs recently.

It wasn't just her who had changed.

I had changed too. Quite a lot, in fact.

I wasn't sure if everything had worn away and vanished, but I had become numb, unable to feel any emotions at all.

Even when I achieved something or succeeded, I felt no joy.

And unlike before, when I looked at my mother's face, now devoid of love, I didn't feel any sadness.

Seeing my mother, who had fallen so low that I could no longer be disappointed, I found myself developing a disgust for humanity.

She annoyed me.

That wasn't all.

The countless expectations and admiration people had for me also became bothersome.

Why?

Why should I fight for humans like this?

I didn't know anymore.

People, with complete certainty, believed I would protect them, as if it were a given.

It was laughable.

I had already repaid all the favors I owed to the palace and achieved more than enough to atone for that.

There was no reason to fight for these people anymore.

So, I stopped.

I notified the Emperor that from now on, I would live the way I wanted.

At first, he was surprised, but he accepted my decision as if he understood.

Though sometimes, when things came up at the palace, he would ask me for help. Since those were things I could manage easily, I agreed.

I felt a lightness in my shoulders.

"Why did you do this?!!!"

A woman with the same blonde hair as mine screamed.

Thanks to the drugs, her appearance had deteriorated to the point where it couldn't even be described in words.

I squinted my eyes at the loud noise and spoke to her.

I stopped because it was annoying.

She began to thrash around in a fit, grabbing me by the collar and shaking me.

"If you stop!! Who's going to pay for the upkeep of this enormous mansion?! My jewels!! My clothes!!"

Did she not realize how shameless she was?

Her disgusting behavior made me feel nauseous.

Right. It was time to cut ties with her too.

I no longer wanted to be bound to this woman by family ties.

I ordered the servants and butlers to throw her out.

Their eyes were filled with hesitation, but—

The title of Marquis was mine, after all.

In the end, they had no choice but to follow my orders.

Did she really think I wouldn't abandon her?

The foolish blonde woman stared at me in disbelief.

Perhaps she finally understood the situation.

With trembling eyes, she rushed toward me and began apologizing over and over again.

"Ah… Ana… I'm sorry… I must have lost my mind for a moment because of the drugs…"

Heh.

I couldn't help but laugh at her pathetic figure.

It had been so long since I laughed, and this was how it came out. How absurd.

I shoved her off me with my foot, making her fall.

Shocked by my unexpected action, she twisted her face in anger, like a demon, and began shouting at me.

"How… how could you do this to your own mother?! Who do you think raised you?! This is how you repay the kindness of a parent, a debt that can never be repaid, in this way?!"

I didn't want to hear any more.

I sent a notice to the guards to make sure she would never step foot in the mansion again.

Turning my back, I walked back to my room.

Perhaps realizing that it was now too late, she revealed her true, ugly self.

"You monster of a woman, without a shred of pity or tears!! I should've known when you didn't shed a single tear when your father left."

She struggled with all her might, shedding tears of blood. But in the end, she was caught by the guards and dragged outside.

"You ungrateful wretch!!! You will never be happy—"

Bang—

As the door slammed shut, the loud, annoying voice vanished, and a peaceful silence settled over the mansion.

Just as expected. Even though I had discarded the one who was supposed to be my mother, I felt no guilt whatsoever.

On the contrary, I felt relieved.

It felt like finally shedding a heavy burden.

Smiling at the long-forgotten feeling of joy, I noticed the servants around me flinch in surprise.

I ignored them and continued to smile, savoring my pleasure.

And the next day.

A large number of servants quit their jobs.

Had they said they were scared after witnessing me, the one who even kicked out my parents with joy?

It was quite laughable.

Just yesterday, they had looked at me with admiration, and in the blink of an eye, their attitude had flipped, as if flipping the palm of their hand.

I scoffed.

Yeah. This is what humans are like.

Born evil.

Weak. Selfish beings.

They depend on others without hesitation, lean on them freely, and are disappointed just as easily.

The kindness they show is nothing but hypocrisy.

The praise and admiration they direct at me will turn into scorn the moment I betray their expectations.

It was amusing to think that they believed I would sacrifice myself for them, as if they had some sort of collateral in me.

Just like this man who suddenly ran to me and desperately begged.

"Ah… Aah… God… thank you so much… Hero, please save our village!! The villagers are dying at the hands of the demons!"

LICH!!

This middle-aged man was panting heavily, tears streaming down his face.

I mocked him, a sardonic smile creeping on my lips.

"Don't bother me and get lost."

The hope in his eyes slowly turned to despair.

His darkened face seemed to show resentment toward me.

Yeah, of course.

Ignoring the man, who muttered helplessly while staring at the ground, I walked toward the palace.

…

…

"Right. You've decided on your name?"

"Yeah."

The Emperor's brows furrowed.

It was probably because I had spoken casually.

Now, there was no need to address him with any formality.

He stared at me silently for a long time before sighing and speaking.

"Something's changed, I see."

"Something like that. Why? Does it bother you to hear a kid like me speak so casually?"

"If I said it didn't, I'd be lying. But I believe someone as strong as you has earned the right to speak that way."

"Hmm."

The Emperor responded calmly, unexpectedly.

I guess being a king isn't something anyone can do.

He reached out toward me and asked.

"So, will you tell me your surname, Hero?"

"Caladbolg. Athena Caladbolg."

I answered without hesitation.

"Hmm? Are you planning to change your name as well?"

"That's right."

The girl who once chased happiness, Ah-na-ra, was no longer here.

I looked at him, smiled, and said.

"It's a name I no longer need."

***

I looked up at the bright, white moon.

As I recalled the memories I had desperately tried to bury, all I could do was let out a hollow laugh.

"Like mother, like daughter."

As she did.

She used people as she pleased.

Hurt them.

Crushed them.

Do I really have the right to mock that woman?

With a hopeless smile, I gave in, looking up at the sky.

This is punishment.

The punishment for trampling on others' hearts without care and crushing them brutally.

"…."

"…Yeah."

Ironically, as I let go completely, the pain that had been tearing at my chest started to settle.

This must have been the answer.

It's time to let go.

Even of her.

Even of the disgustingly repulsive version of myself.