Chapter 5

The first priority is to get out of here.

I can think about everything else when I’m safe.

Just as I was about to step past the two still-applauding knights beside me, I paused at the call of another name.

“―Ryan, please come up.”

With a toothy grin beginning blooming on his face, Ryan walked with confidence up to Eleanor, Chris, and the mage.

He glanced at Chris for a moment before speaking aloud.

“Ohhh~ This ‘Hero of Justice’ fella is lookin' mighty anxious, aint’cha?”

Chris frowned and asked with furrowed brows, “What are you talking about, Ryan?”

In response, Ryan’s grin turned into something reminiscent of a sneer.

“Oh, boyyy~ Wouldn’t it be a shame if someone were to come along and, snatch, that title you're so proud of…”

“What are you talking about? ...Don't tell me... Ryan, are you implying that you will take my ‘Hero’ title away from me?”

Ryan laughed in derision.

“Puhah! Like anyone would want that stupid shit. Listen 'ere, dumbass, if ya still don’t get it.”

All of a sudden, he grabbed the knife out of Eleanor’s hand and pricked his finger with it over the ranking plate.

He then raised his voice as an ear-to-ear grin stretched across his face.

“Erase the thought that there can only be one S-rank!”

This, too, was a performance he put on―probably to gain some traction and special benefits―but everyone was too distracted. Their eyes widened, expressions turning into ones of shock as they stared at the powerful, violet light emanating from the ranking plate.

It was a light no less intense than Chris' golden light, and a sight no less brilliant to see.

No one could say anything, even after the light had diminished.

They were all simply speechless.

Of course, this included all the knights and Nobility, too.

The king was not present, but I'm sure he would be no different.

A few moments had passed where Ryan was simply relishing in the looks on the faces of these people, before the mage muttered something with a clearly bewildered expression.

“2...S-ranks...... in a row....?”

The attitude of the people were very different when compared to Chris, although the ranks were the same.

Probably due to his way of speech and his arrogance.

But, even though they were all like this, they began to applaud him.

They couldn’t not.

After all, he was the second S-rank Hero that appeared in a row, and his light didn’t lose out to even that of the 'actual Hero'.

I, however, was a bit different.

My body seemed to know that something was wrong.

I wanted to get away immediately―I knew I had to―but I couldn’t make myself move even an inch.

It was then that I felt something...

Something inside me changed.

More specifically, it was as if....

Something.

Simply.

Snapped.

Skill「Envy」has activated

―I felt it once more, that this world was unjust.

I glared resentfully at the screen in front of me.

Envy?

Envy, you say?

……Yes, I…

I might be a little jealous, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say I feel…

No.

That thinking―get rid of it.

This window, it is right.

…I admit it.

I am jealous.

Extremely so.

Skill「Envy」has activated Skill「Envy」has levelled up [Lv.0]→[Lv.1] The envy within you grows...

I then heard an unfamiliar voice.

Resounding throughout my head, it spoke in a distorted, raspy tone.

[Ahhh... It feels wonderful being free after so long.]

Ah…

I see…

This is why I feel this way.

.....I don’t like it…

I really don’t like it at all.

But, it changes nothing.

―It doesn’t change the fact that I need to get out of here, right?

If I want to prove this... This "Envy", wrong, then I need to live first, huh.

I spoke out.

“…Hey… I really need to go to the toilet now…”

“Eh? Oh, my bad kid. I was just so amazed by the appearance of two S-rank Heroes, hahaha~ You see, it's really an unheard of thing, and―”

“…”

Skill「Envy」has activated

[Hmm? Your plan is to run away...? Kuh... Kuhaha...... Really? Kuhahahaahahat!! I'd call you a fool, but at this point, that's really is all you can do, isn't it!]

....This sucks.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much time for Jae.

The large delay in beginning the escape has cost him quite a bit of time, so he had to be quick. After making sure he was fine, Jae opened the window in the bathroom, and climbed out. Because the bathrooms had to be flushed, they were located on the outskirts of the palace, where the majority of the windows were. The windows were also able to be opened so that the bad smell could be reduced―It just made things easier for many people.

Anyway, after climbing out from the window, Jae found himself on a grassy patch, with the surroundings consisting of many types of flower bushes.

It appears that there's a large garden lining the external sides of the palace, but not at the front or back where the entrance and barracks/training areas were located. Jae ran through the garden as fast as he could.

From what he could tell, it felt like his current stats were the same as when he was on Earth. That means Chris did actually start with an advantage, albeit a slight one, because, back on Earth, they were pretty much equal in terms of athletic ability.

After about two minutes of straight running, Jae reached the end of the vast garden and could see a forest ahead.

What the hell is a forest doing beside a royal palace! Do they have it for display or something?

There was no time to wonder, so Jae just ran straightforward into it. He continued rushing through the forest for an unknown amount of time when all of a sudden...

“We found him!”

What?! Shit...!!

“The deserter is over here!!”

―Knights were suddenly able to be seen advancing in Jae’s direction from almost all sides.

How did they notice already!?

He was at his fastest speed, but it was nowhere close to enough. Not only are they adult males, but they are trained knights. Hence, they are much, much faster than the current Jae, both naturally, and stat-wise.

Fucking knights!! What do they go this far for!?

It was then that Jae saw a bright light ahead of him. It was like a light at the end of the tunnel. A possible hope has appeared?

But then.

Why...!?

It was only the end of the relatively small forest. Turns out it was a man-made one, so the size isn't that big compared to a natural forest. If he left the forest, Jae would be in clear view of all the knights. He would quickly be captured, or worse, killed. But he can’t stay in the forest either―the knights would just sweep check the whole thing, which wouldn't take long at all considering its size.

Shit! Damn it, if there’s no other way, then I’ll just keep running...!!

He refuses to die here. Jae was out of breath, but he kept going.

It was to survive.

He jumped over a fallen branch, and found the morning sun shining brightly on him. It was blinding. He was no longer in the forest, but now…

“There he is!”

“Get him!"

The cover of the trees had disappeared. The warm rays of the sun only served as a kind of spotlight to highlight Jae's location.

“Do it right, men! Without mess and mercy! The Princess's order; you know what happens if you fail!! ”

"""YES, SIR!!!"""

...She what now?

Jae’s expression froze.

She wants me dead… 'cause I want to live?

Because of his frightening thoughts, Jae couldn't see why, but...

*thud!*

...Huh...?

Suddenly, Jae fell to the ground, seemingly unable to move any further, or get back up onto his feet. Due to it, he also scraped his arms, which soon began to bleed because of the rough and rocky ground beneath him. Belatedly, Jae realised.

As he turned around to figure out the current positions of the knights―

His right leg―completely gone.

From the knee-down, it was simply, 'missing', as if it never were.

That was when a sudden surge of agony flooded Jae’s body, emanating from the area of the missing limb. He clenched his fists to endure and closed his eyes, as if to desperately say it all wasn’t true.

Conditions met. Skill「Pain Tolerance [Lv.1]」has been acquired

He quickly opened his eyes, now marginally able to withstand the pain, and looked solely to the sky. Perhaps because of his innate skill, Jae was still able to think crystal clearly, even though a normal person would've already lost consciousness from the immense blood loss, pain and stress.

In an attempt to get up in spite of the missing leg, Jae only fell down, slamming his head into the hard rock ground. His vision quickly turned red due to blood flowing into his eyes.

Skill「Pain Tolerance」has levelled up [Lv.1]→[Lv.2]

This pain was greater than any he had ever experienced.

However, he could feel no fear due to his Trait. For better or for worse.

Then, everything slowed down significantly. It was as if the world was in slow motion. Jae's gaze naturally drifted to somewhere else. Promptly, Jae learnt the futility of all his previous actions.

Ahead of him, was nothing. Or, more specifically, it was simply air.

With the very last of his remaining strength, Jae pulled himself forward, bit by bit, as the knights slowly advanced from behind...

Until...

Ahh…, he internally groaned, …I... see…

―Jae had reached the edge of the cliff he was currently struggling on.

There... was never any hope... of surviving, in the first place, was there......

It was a rhetorical question, since he already knew the answer. A deadly chill ran creepily down Jae's spine as he sensed the knights nearing ever so close with each and every step. Was it because of his quickly draining blood, that his body temperature was dropping? Jae felt cold. An outrageous wintry feeling overcome his body.

Who knows.

*Shiiiing~*

His bones, flesh and muscles, all began to freeze, as Jae heard the sound of scraping metal and leather―the indication of a sword being drawn from its sheath.

Looking over the cliff’s edge, most of Jae’s frantic thoughts began to cease.

Gradually, his resistance against death was crumbling, bit by bit.

The fall was way too far for anyone to survive, let alone a guy in his condition. And, even though there seemed to be a sea of green at the bottom, the cushioning from the trees would never be enough to survive. But that wasn’t all; even if he managed to survive, despite all that, he would soon just bleed out. It’s not like he could walk out of there, after all.

Jae used all of his remaining strength to turn his head around, and he looked at the knights slowly approaching him with swords drawn, and shuddered deeply. His body quivered uncontrollably and all he could do was watch his incoming demise.

Again, he felt no fear, but he could feel his imminent death. In some ways, it was many times worse, because his thinking ability was not hindered by fear, so he could see in great detail how he was going to die.

He began to feel faint; perhaps because he really didn't want to die, or was it the substantial amount of missing blood? However, his last thoughts and actions were to no avail. Soon, Jae’s life flashed before his very eyes.

―His family.

Even still... Even though it isn’t what the world wants......!!

―His friends.

I... I don't want to die......

Skill「Pain Tolerance」has levelled up [Lv.2]→[Lv.3]

―His girlfriend.

All those who Jae loved dearly―they all seemed to materialise in front of him, before subsequently vanishing like a ghost, as he screamed internally.

I don't want to die...!!

He didn't even realise the fountain of tears pouring from his face as he cried his heart and soul out.

The knight who first reached him wordlessly grasped the hilt of his sword. He stretched his arm out…

I... I want... to live-----!!

*thud*

…and sliced Jae’s head, clean off, the momentum causing it to roll off the cliff's edge to the wilderness below soon after it landed with a 'thud'. Then, another knight walked up to the corpse; it was the same person who gave the command earlier.

That knight, who had placed a foot on the cold corpse of the boy, rolled it over the edge of the cliff. His indifferent eyes watched it fall all the way down, until it could no longer be seen below the canopy of the huge forest beneath them.

Nodding in confirmation, he turned to the other knights and spoke.

“Clean up nicely. Her Highness has a fitting background planned for this despicable deserter of duty. Oh, and, the orders are to ensure that if, by some miracle, he comes back alive… Who the bad guy is, is clear. You get that, men!?”

“””Yes, sir!”””

And so, without a spec of recognition in this new land…

―The (ex)student, Jae Kang, had died, less than one day after entering this new, fantasy-like world.

...But then, unbeknownst to anyone, two blinking notification windows appeared just above the edge of the cliff.

You have died Title「Apostle of Sin」has activated