[Amelia] The Level Zero Hero Chapter 216 (Patreon)

Arthur continued to eavesdrop on the conversation. Although, at this point, neither Amelia nor Grat-ra’zun were trying that hard to hide the contents of their discussion. It was starting to get heated, with the former occasionally raising his voice at the stubbornness of the latter.

Having worked for Amelia for a while now, Arthur knew just how frustrating his boss could be. She was blunt, and when she made up her mind, she usually stuck to her decision. He was used to this behavior. However, he could also understand why Grat-ra’zun was getting upset by it.

After all, as an Elder Dragon, Grat-ra’zun very likely never had any difficulty with getting anything he wanted. Most people— be it humans or elves or even merfolk— would naturally listen to him and his authority. Even today.

No— especially today. There might have been more animosity held towards dragons in the past due to the Grand Nova Empire. But now that dragons had become a rarity, they were looked back at more fondly than ever.

So Grat-ra’zun was likely accustomed to both the respect he had been treated with back during the height of the Grand Nova Empire, and the reverence he was treated with today. And to have someone like Amelia who was not only unintimidated by his power, but also apathetic to his status… with all these factors combined, it must have been incredibly infuriating.

And that was before even considering the legitimacy of his arguments. While Arthur could certainly see where Amelia was coming from, he was still won over by what the Elder Dragon was saying. The logic made sense— to a certain extent.

The world was in danger, and it was up to Amelia to step up and save the day.

Perhaps Arthur felt the urgency of this situation because of his experience as a former vessel of the Void. He had seen the depths of the evil within the Fal-Deus, and he knew that it would not stop until all of Vacuos was destroyed.

So he wanted Amelia to intervene. He knew only Amelia could stop what was to come. And even Grat-ra’zun was coming to that realization too now.

“...you are the only one who can save the world.”

The Elder Dragon whispered as Arthur closed his eyes.

“…or is she really the only one who could do anything?” the former Lich King asked himself that question as the conversation continued. “Can I really not do something as well?”

It was a question Arthur whispered to no one else. But even as he stood there lost in thought, hearing the continued discussion between Amelia and Grat-ra’zun grow muffled, he heard an answer.

An answer that he reached himself.

That something could be done. That something had to be done. And his eyes flickered with electricity as he raised his head, knowing…

That he had the power to get something done.

—--

I wanted to scoff when I heard what the Elder Dragon said. It was ridiculous. It was borderline fanatical dogma. No— it was fanatical dogma.

Grat-ra’zun was no longer appealing to my emotions. He was no longer appealing to my pity. He wasn’t even trying to argue logically against me any longer. Instead, he was appealing to authority. And what authority was he appealing to?

The System.

The World System.

That which was supposedly the God of Vacuos.

“It has already been decreed by the World System as soon as you stepped foot into Vacuos,” Grat-ra’zun said in a low voice. “You are meant to be a [Hero], not because of any heroic qualities you exhibit, for you exhibit none—”

“Thanks,” I snorted at his remark.

But he continued uncaringly. “Rather, it is because you are the only one who has the power to stop what is to come. That is why you have been chosen to be a [Hero]. For you are the only one who is worthy.”

“...I see,” I said flatly as he finished. He wore a serious look on his face. A grave expression that was wrinkled with worry for the future that was to come. It was a stark difference to what he looked like before, which had been a blend of frustration and desperation.

Now, there was an air of acceptance around him. Like he finally understood the situation. Even though I was still dubious and slightly confused.

“Look, the System may be your god, but it’s certainly not mine.” I shook my head at the Elder Dragon. “I don’t care if it thinks that I’m supposed to be the hero of this world. I will not intervene—”

“Unless absolutely necessary,” Grat-ra’zun said knowingly. “Indeed, and that means you will have to intervene. For it will become a necessity.”

I blinked, then pursed my lips at that. The Elder Dragon bowed his head.

“I understand that you refuse to interfere for there will be consequences you do not wish to bear. However, your role in this story is already concluded. While I will still urge you to take action sooner than later, it does not change the outcome.”

“What are you talking about?” I shifted back when I heard his words. “You’re acting like this is all part of some prophetic destiny. That no one else can do a thing about the [Hero King]. But there are plenty of others out there who can stop him.”

“They will certainly try, however it will all prove fruitless in the end,” Grat-ra’zun said simply as he drew back from me. I narrowed my eyes, watching him raise a clawed hand to the ceiling. A spell circle flashed there, and a portal opened up.

“Where are you going?” I asked with a frown.

“I shall rest and recover,” he answered, glancing my way. “While I wish I could have convinced you to take immediate action, I have realized that I was wrong. I thought that there would come a time when [Hero King] becomes too powerful for you to overcome. However, the World System has already made the determination that such an outcome shall not come to fruition.”

“And why not? Because I have the power to stop it, so I will stop it?” I said, practically glaring at the Elder Dragon.

He looked back up at the portal, then shrugged. “Whether or not you will take action— I can only have faith. Faith in your words that you will act before it is too late, and faith that you have the strength the World System sees in you. Certainly, you have survived the full wrath of the Void before, but I can only pray that the rest of Vacuos shall survive this incursion with your help.”

I blinked, then watched as he raised his single wing and flew up into the portal. I wanted to say something. I wanted to argue against his ridiculous statements. However, he was gone. The portal closed, and I had to bite my mouth shut.

“And he leaves, just like that…” I muttered under my breath.

I stared at the magically-expanded ceiling. The Elder Dragon was gone. After a lengthy discussion, he came to a realization of his own. He didn’t understand my perspective, however, he thought he saw something I couldn’t.

That the System or whatever saw something in my future.

And while I was glad that Grat-ra’zun was no longer pestering me to take action, I was still unsettled by what he said. Because he was essentially saying that I was never going to be able to fully live this ordinary and peaceful life I sought. He was saying that I was always going to have to be a hero. No matter what.

It unsettled me. Not because I thought what he was saying was true. Was it true? Maybe, or maybe not. I didn’t know. But what I knew was that he was right about one thing— that I was strong.

And this was a fact from my world. That great power came with great responsibility. So even if I tried to distance myself from being a hero, I was always going to have a degree of responsibility over the fate of the world, because of my strength.

I had always known this. But that was also why I wanted this world to grow its own heroes. So that my degree of responsibility could decrease eventually. However, being reminded about this fact by Grat-ra’zun right now, when I had just been enjoying my time here in my restaurant… it was vexing.

I sighed as I swept my gaze around the vast room of my restaurant.

“At least his magic is still working,” I said, trying to look at the bright side. “Now I’ll be able to host more customers.”

I rose to my feet as I began to start back towards the kitchen. Arthur was no longer standing at the bar. He must have disappeared to his room while waiting for the conversation to end. I opened my mouth to call out for Jax to clean up the mess Grat-ra’zun left behind, but then the front door swung open,

I paused, craning my neck to face a man as he exploded into the room.

It took me a moment, but I recognized him. I saw the glasses on his face, and I saw his black hair. He was exhausted, drenched in sweat. He even bore some cuts and injuries from his travels. But I knew who he was. I remembered his name. I remembered his face.

After all, he was one of the very first people I had met when I arrived in Vacuos. A [Receptionist] at Windrip’s Adventurer’s Guild, and a rather grouchy young man.

“Justyn?” I stared at him in shock.

“Amelia— listen to me!” he exclaimed, stumbling forward. He knocked over a handful of tables and chair as he rushed to my side, panting in a panic. He dropped to his knees right before me.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes. “Are you alright? Do you need my help?

Justyn shook his head, before looking up to meet my gaze. “No— I don’t need your help. But I was told to warn you…”

“Warn me? About what?” My brows snapped together as I peered at him. I thought this was going to be another problem I had to deal with. I could already feel the annoyance building up within me, especially after hearing what the Elder Dragon had said.

But Justyn finished, “To warn you that Kallistus Kal— the [Hero King]— is after your life!”

And I blinked a few times. I looked down at the [Receptionist] as he panted where he knelt. I saw his exhaustion— I considered the long journey he must have to find me.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for him.

“Justyn…” I started, closing my eyes. “Unfortunately for you, you’re a little bit too late.”

“Wha… what?” Justyn raised his head, his confusion evident. “What are you talking about? How am I too late? Guildmaster Evan sacrificed himself to save me— to get that message to you!”

I didn’t know how else to tell him about it, so I decided to just be blunt. “I mean, you certainly delivered it before the [Hero King] got to me. But… also, I kind of already know all that. And I kind of already saved Guildmaster Evan too.”

And Justyn’s eyes went wide. “...what? But— but—”

He tried to work his jaw. He looked down at himself as I drew my lips into a thin line.

“I worked so hard to find you. I took so long to get here. And you’re telling me… it was all for nothing?”

“...yeah,” I said apprehensively. “I mean, I am happy to see that you’re alive?” I tried to cheer him up.

Justyn looked up at me, then stared at the palm of his hand. He saw the dirt staining his skin. He saw the bruises he had suffered to get here. He closed his eyes. The wrinkles on his face seemed to vanish. And with that, he passed out where he knelt.

Author's Notes:

What thonk?

Read next chapter here