- Sizzle!

    The presumed leader of the pantless freak emerged from the group and started fighting with Aishi.

    “Wow... he’s really good... We should incorporate this into our combat techniques,”

    “It looks different from typical combat. But it’s highly effective.”

    Lulu, analyzing the fight with her Magic Eye, and Irina, observing sharply, both make these assessments.

    “Yes... it’s definitely efficient. Maybe I should learn it too.”

    “Professor Isolet... Are you really going to roll around on the ground like that?”

    “...W-Well, that wouldn’t be very knightly.”

    While the heroines, hastily gathered, watched the scene in a daze, someone tapped me on the side.

    “Frey, what do you think?”

    “...Huh?”

    Turning to look at him, Serena, who was gently rubbing her lower abdomen, asked.

    Her gaze seemed unusual.

    Did she perhaps figure something out?

    “Indeed, it’s a bit strange... but the combat effectiveness is remarkable. It could probably hold its own against me and Ruby.”

    “...But doesn’t it seem a bit unnatural?”

    “Unnatural?”

    After listening to her sharp words and observing again, it was indeed unnatural.

    It felt almost like a puppet.

    “I’ve been observing closely until now. The other clones of the first heroes moved similarly. Like necromancers or puppeteers.”

    “Hmm...”

    “So, I think they might be receiving remote signals to move...”

    As Serena murmured this, she covered her face with a fan, her eyes sparkling.

    “It’s just... it sounds like the game mentioned in the prophecy...”

    “...?”

    “If that’s true... those inside might be ‘players’... And if that person is the most skilled among them... could it be...”

    Serena, deep in thought, began to think with her typical blank expression.

    When she got like this, it would be best not to disturb her.

    I should leave her be so she could fully utilize her sharp mind.

    “...Hmm.”

    Turning my gaze back to the battlefield, I couldn’t help but swallow hard and frown.

    This isn’t the end...

    There was something I hadn’t told everyone yet.

    The updated scenario following the addition of the ‘Raise Glare’ DLC system.

    The ‘final showdown’ in that scenario would differ from what was written in the prophecy.

    It wouldn’t just end with the Demon King falling; it would involve facing the mastermind behind it all.

    “...”

    But to face the mastermind, I first had to fall with the Demon King.

    That was the condition to enter the ‘final scenario.’

    Not that I’m planning to die completely.

    I needed to use my spiritual form to reach that bastard’s main body.

    “Sigh.”

    Despite knowing that, there was still a lot to worry about and think over.

    I already mastered the ‘Hero’s Power’ and ‘Stellar Mana’ since childhood, attaining tremendous strength.

    In other words, I already reached the limit of how strong I could become.

    Although I recently mastered swordsmanship through training with my father,

    Could I really consider that breaking through my limits?

    Does splitting the sun mean literally having the power to split the sun?

    Am I ready for the final showdown?

    “...”

    I’m also worried about the heroines.

    I’m starting to regret promising to join forces with them.

    The power of that Eye from the Void was unexpectedly great.

    Sure, it was strong after devouring several dimensions, but wasn’t there a limit to it?

    - Crackle!

    “wjsxnwhwrkxdlgksp...”

    After fighting with Ruby, Irina, and the dragons for half a day,

    And then battling the pantless freaks who suddenly appeared, even destroying half of them,

    Now facing off against the one assumed to be their leader.

    All of this was done by that Eye’s avatar, not its main body.

    - Rumble!

    As I scratched my head, not knowing what to do, a nasally voice came from below.

    “We’re on the same side!”

    Glare, who was being tended by Ferloche, widened her eyes and shouted.

    “Don’t attack!”

    “...”

    In the ensuing silence, the man quietly nodded and slowly sheathed his sword, cautiously approaching us.

    - Swish...

    He handed the scroll over, still eyeing Ruby with suspicion.

    “...I feel like I want to hit him.”

    “It’s a pretty large-scale spell... I’ll help. Should I bring some dragons too?”

    “I-I’ll help too... I’m an idle princess, so I have plenty of mana...”

    “Grr?”

    One by one, the heroines who had gathered around laid their hands on the scroll, starting with Ruby, who took it with a slightly annoyed expression.

    - Slide...

    “Excuse me...”

    With my hand on the scroll, waiting for it to activate, Serena, the last to place her hand, asked ameaningful question.

    “Are you the First Hero?”

    “...?”

    “No, I should rephrase that.”

    As we tilted our heads in confusion, Serena, infusing mana into the scroll, asked again.

    “...Are you the First Hero, Kim Han-byeol?”

    “Eek!”

    Momentarily dazed and trying to understand the sudden question, Glare jumped into my arms and placed her hand on the scroll.

    - Crackle...

    At that moment.

    - Crackle!!!

    The scroll glowed golden, and a large magic circle began to form beneath us.

    “Serena, what was that about...”

    As I held Glare in my arms and looked at the scene, I asked Serena about her earlier question, but...

    - Sizzle...!!!

    Seeing the shape rising from the magic circle, the heroines and I couldn’t help but be surprised.

    “...Are these people... No way?”

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    “You... you all...”

    After staring in a daze at the people who had appeared before him, Frey finally smiled broadly and spoke.

    “...How are you here?”

    Unexpected faces he had seen months ago in the underground ruins in the desert.

    The First Hero Party had appeared before him and the heroines, fully assembled.

    “Did you... come to help us?”

    Looking at them with a grateful expression, Frey walked forward, holding Glare.

    “...Oh.”

    Feeling an ominous energy, he stepped back slightly.

    - Step, step...

    At the same time, the members of the First Hero Party began to approach the heroines with fierce looks.

    “Geuhh? Wait... where are you taking me? What? Teaching me as a Sword Saint?”

    “K-Kania? I don’t know much about her either...”

    “What? Are you a dragon too? What, legal wife? Who’s the legal wife now? Why do you have to ask that?”

    “F-Fighting together...? B-But... I’m still a princess... How can I... with the First Empress... Ahhh...”

    “There’s a secret technique in the Moonlight family? Where is it?”

    “You’re funny, First Saintess! So stop pretending to be a fool! You’re the real mastermind, aren’t you?”

    After a while, as the girls paired up and headed towards Aishi amidst the chaos, the few remaining pantless freaks started screaming.

    - Rustle...

    Unable to intervene in the rapid series of events, the First Hero covered his head and shook it in frustration.

    “Uh...”

    Frey, who had remained in place, holding Glare, cautiously asked the First Hero.

    “...Are you really my ancestor?”

    In response, Kim Han-byeol smiled and gestured for him to follow.