The Return of the Disaster-Class Hero

[We meet again.]

Hugo was shocked by the voice. The being who had appeared behind him to pierce his heart was neither Confusion nor Time.

“H-How…!”

A young man who looked to be in his late twenties stood behind Hugo. He wasn’t human, nor was he a monster.

‘God!’

Yes. The one to appear was none other than a Zodiac! Moreover, he was someone who should never exist in this place!

‘Thirteenth original owner?!’

Hugo was sure of it. It was the man praised as the top genius in the Divine world and also called the genius manufacturer.

Hugo had seen this handsome man wearing the same clothes as he was currently in a vision. Of course, this was unlike the vision where he had watched the thirteenth original owner get murdered. The current one was vivid.

Unlike Lee Gun, he had a gentle face, but cold red eyes flashing between his hair like Lee Gun.

This shocked Hugo.

‘How can someone murdered by the Zodiacs be here…?!’

However, that wasn’t the most shocking part.

“Kuh-huhk!!”

After shoving his hand through someone else’s chest, the thirteenth owner retracted his hand.

Hugo groaned as he expected the pain of his heart being ripped free. He started to fall.

“Uh?”

However, there was no pain at all. That wasn’t all.

“What the hell? Why is my heart unscathed?” Hugo looked confused as he felt his body. There was no trace of it being pierced. It made him wonder if he had a vision of his chest being pierced.

[Alright. That’ll do.]

“…!”

The thirteenth original owner let out a meaningful smile as he leisurely dusted off his hand. Moreover, it was clear that Hugo’s blood was falling from his hand!

Hugo clutched at his chest as he screamed. “What the hell? That bastard did pierce my body!!”

So why was he unharmed? In fact, he was better than ok. He felt an odd power emanate from his body.

The thirteenth original owner let out a bright smile in response.

[Hey, now. Aren’t we acquaintances?]

“Nope. Not at all.”

When Hugo said it with a straight face, the thirteenth original owner looked very sad about it.

[My god! We’ve met each other every day for the past twenty-four years. It is unbelievable that you can’t recognize me.]

“We met every day for the past twenty-four years? What nonsense—”

Hugo’s eyes turned round. The reason was the familiar voice he heard.

[Warning! Let’s put aside the fact that you don’t know we’ve met. Do you still not recognize me?]

[Do you still not know who I am after hearing the notification?]

“…?!” Hugo almost screamed when he heard the familiar voice of a woman. “N-No way. The notification…!”

[Yes. Anyone affiliated with the Serpent Bearer temple hears my voice.]

“?!”

[Of course, the only ones I speak directly to are you and the new Serpent Bearer.]

“…?!” Hugo was confused.

The voice he had heard after entering the Serpent Bearer temple was him? His voice is the one that Lee Gun said he always heard?

No, he had something to clear up before that.

“Why did you use a woman’s voice!?”

[It’s cuter]

“Hey!!!”

When Hugo became angry, the thirteenth original owner clicked his tongue since his joke wasn’t working.

[You might be the exception, but do you think he would follow the orders of an ill-humored male voice?]

Hugo burst out laughing. “What? It isn’t as if Gun would listen more attentively because it’s the voice of a woman.”

That wasn’t in Lee Gun’s nature….

However, Hugo’s mouth fell open when he realized something. “Y-You used Miss Yeonwoo’s voice?”

[I lowered the voice a bit, so Lee Gun didn’t notice it.]

The thirteenth original owner laughed as if he was having fun. On the other hand, Hugo furrowed his brow. That wasn’t important right now.

“Why is someone who is supposed to be dead here?”

[!]

Hugo was unconvinced. It was understandable since the original owners had been murdered by the Zodiacs and their bodies were used for other purposes.

A subtle change occurred to the thirteenth original owner’s expression.

Hugo’s eyes turned cold at this. “Are you still alive?”

In response, the thirteenth original owner immediately sent his fist toward Hugo’s face.

‘!’

Hugo was surprised.

‘This is crazy. He’s as fast as Gun?!’

He didn’t look like a fighter, yet he was an expert! Hugo couldn’t even pick up the hand movement!

Hugo thought he would be sent flying, but he merely blinked.

“…!!”

The thirteenth owner was like a ghost. His fist passed through Hugo’s face. Then, the thirteenth owner smirked in a light-hearted manner.

[I’m already dead. This is merely my afterimage.]

“Then…!”

[Before I died, I secretly put my power into the Divine statuses of the Serpent Bearer. If certain requirements were fulfilled, I would be able to awaken.]

In other words, he wasn’t in his normal state. This took Hugo aback. “Why would you do such a thing? Was it for revenge?”

[No. It was all done since I knew what would happen to Lee Gun.]

“…??”

Lee Gun? Why would Gun’s name suddenly be mentioned here?

Hugo looked suspicious, but the thirteenth ignored him as he spoke.

[Anyway, you’re going to die in your current state. That’s why I came to you.]

“W…What?”

[Wouldn’t it be bad to leave behind your wife and children after suffering an early death?]

Why the hell was this bastard suddenly putting a death sentence on him?

Hugo was baffled, but the other being was the previous Serpent Bearer. So Hugo pushed down his anger and tried to keep his manners. “Understood. I’m in danger of being killed, and that’s why you appeared to help—”

[Nope.]

“What?”

[You have to die.]

“What?!!”

[Ah! My mistake. I meant to say I can’t revive you.]

“…???”

Hugo was dumbfounded.

‘They are the same.’

The thirteenth had a psychotic personality that liked humiliating other people. It was just like Hugo’s friend. Therefore, Hugo asked, “What’s your relationship to Gun?”

The thirteenth was silent for a brief moment. It seemed he was reluctant to reveal the truth. However, the expression on his face indicated that he had decided it was time to reveal his relationship to Lee Gun.

“Hello?”

[I am Lee Gun’s amazing papa.]

“What?”

[Lee Gun’s cool daddy.]

“…what??”

[Father.]

Hugo’s mouth fell open when the thirteenth looked annoyed. He had thought they looked alike, but…!

“Father?!”

The thirteenth no longer pouted as he looked worryingly toward Hugo.

[At this rate, you and Lee Gun will die. No, the entire humanity will die.]

“…what?”

While Hugo wondered what he was talking about, the thirteenth approached Hugo.

[Anyway, I was able to change into this form thanks to you awakening as a Construct. However, I am merely an afterimage.]

Hugo tilted his head in confusion. He was able to change into that form?

Soon, the thirteenth looked at Hugo with a bit of sadness in his eyes.

[I cannot prevent you guys from dying.]

“…!”

The thirteenth furrowed his brow.

[Humanity will be wiped out, and Lee Gun will die at the hands of Confusion and the time traveler.]

Hugo was surprised. When he said time traveler, the thirteenth was referring to the Time monarch. However, the more shocking statement wasn’t that.

[Lee Gun will be gone before he even gets to fight.]

“?!”

[Lee Gun exists in only this timeline. In other words, Lee Gun will disappear once and for all when the time traveler returns in time once again.]

“…!!”

This was Lee Gun’s weakness, and it seemed the thirteenth was very guarded about Time.

[The unwanted guest wants my son’s stage 5 power of Death.]

“!”

[He wants to use the power of Cycle, and he’ll kill Gun as soon as he acquires Death.]

“When you say Cycle…”

[It’s a troublesome power that even I didn’t use. However, using it is possible with Gun’s power. It’s a way that will let everyone survive. I would like your help, but I’m fine if you don’t want to help.]

Hugo was surprised. “I’m not saying I don’t want to…!”

[Is that so?]

The thirteenth laughed. He was about to say something, but he soon sighed. It seemed the time left to him was almost up.

[My child! This will hurt a little, but please endure it.]

“What? What do you mean by it’ll hurt—”

Then…

“Kuh-uhk!”

Hugo could no longer speak. An attack had come flying from his back and pierced through his stomach.

However, the one who attacked him this time wasn’t the thirteenth.

“Ah! I finally found you.”

“…!!!!”

The voice that he heard was none other than Confusion’s! Moreover, the monarch didn’t look like his normal self.

‘Monarch…!’

Half of his body was human, but the rest was that of a monarch.

Hugo vomited blood. The thirteenth’s soul was long gone. The only thing left was his voice.

[Do not be afraid. The blessing of the Serpent Bearer is with you.]

“…!”

[Well, it has been a very long time since I used it. It can’t be helped if it doesn’t work.]

“?!”

The energy of the thirteenth disappeared after speaking those clueless words.

Confusion didn’t pick up on the thirteenth’s presence. He let out a menacing laugh as he looked at Hugo.

Confusion had modified his plans and decided to aim for Hugo. “If I kill you, I’m sure Lee Gun will advance to stage 5, right?”

Hugo glared as he clutched at his stomach.

* * *

It was nine at night…

The restoration of the city was somewhat coming to an end, so everyone was getting ready for a dinner party.

Before the next day’s meeting on what they had to do, they were having a party to celebrate a new life. It was also to celebrate Hugo’s birthday.

“Hugo-nim is a bit late. He said he’ll be here soon.”

Lee Jaewon looked at his watch, worried about Hugo. He had tried contacting Hugo, but had been unable to contact him.

“I wonder if something happened.”

Lee Gun, who had been making a present for the baby, furrowed his brows when he heard those words. If something happened to Hugo, he wouldn’t even need the system. He would immediately know by feeling Hugo’s presence.

However, something was bothering him; something kept interfering with him.

On the other hand, he trusted Hugo’s skills. Although he might nag Hugo, Hugo was his best and most trustworthy partner in terms of fighting ability and the ability to assess a situation.

‘I doubt something would happen to him, but…’

Since he acknowledged Hugo’s skill, him going to look for Hugo could be a nuisance. However, Lee Gun soon got up from his seat.

‘He’s making Miss Jiwoo and his kids wait.’

Ding dong!

“!”

The doorbell rang, and everyone’s expression changed.

“Hugo-nim must be here!”

They quickly headed toward the front door.

“Really, Dad. Why are you so late…”

However, they were surprised when they opened the door.

“It’s a quick delivery!”

“Quick delivery?”

“Yes. It’s an item sent by Hugo Otis-nim.”

Everyone’s eyes turned round when they saw the present sent through the delivery.

“What did Hugo-nim send?”

However, they soon laughed brightly. Then they looked at Chun Jiwoo.

“Hugo-nim said he was going to buy presents. It seems he sent them ahead of him.”

Lee Gun clicked his tongue. “He must have overdone it. Even the box is high quality.”

Chun Jiwoo laughed as she walked toward him with the box. “I believe this isn’t for me. It’s for Lee Gun-nim.”

“Me?”

Lee Gun, who had been making a present for the baby, furrowed his brows. However, it didn’t take him long to act as if he knew what Hugo was aiming for. “He probably wants me to check it first.”

When Lee Gun laughed, the youngest Archer disciple let out a shout.

“Hurry up and open it, Jiwoo-nim!”

“Hear, hear!”

Everyone laughed at those words as they placed the present on top of the dining table.

“What did Dad send?”

“Hurry up and open it.”

“He didn’t have to send such a thing.” Chun Jiwoo acted shy as she opened the box.

Everyone looked at her with anticipation in their eyes.

“Ah!”

What did she see? When she opened the lid of the box, her complexion changed.

When her hands started to shake, the Chun siblings looked at her with worry in their eyes.

“Mom? What’s wrong?”

“Did Dad send something strange in poor taste?”

Chun Jiwoo couldn’t answer them. She lost grip on the present box.

Koohng!

The Chun siblings and the disciples turned deathly pale when they saw what came out of the box.

“D-Dad!!”

Lee Gun’s face hardened when he saw what rolled out of the present box. It was something sent by a monarch.

– It’s my present for you.

Then, the sound of his rational mind breaking could be heard.

[You have awakened stage 6 of Death.]

[You have satisfied the requirement.]