Chapter 3: Change

“That b*tch…”

Like a knee-jerk reaction when hit with a hammer, the words that came out of my mouth were not of my own volition.

I’ll say it again, I’m definitely not obsessed with virgins and I’m very open-minded about those who aren’t.

However, it was difficult to accept the fact that the king, ruling over a hellish world where most of his subjects were stuck with non-virgins, was the only one married to a virgin.

Since ancient times, it has been a virtue and duty of a monarch to educate his people. That was the way of the world and the natural duty of a king.

But not only did he neglect that duty and marry a virgin himself, but he also slept with 78 other women besides his wife. This is worse than the actions of a tyrant.

My sense of justice rebelled against the tyranny of this foolish and cruel tyrant, resulting in a minor outburst of profanity, but this situation wouldn’t improve no matter how much I tried to explain myself.

The volume was no more than a small murmur, but since the room was small and quiet despite the large number of people gathered, everyone noticed.

The king’s brow furrowed. Not to mention the knights, all the ministers flushed with anger, and I could easily guess why.

All of those guys have experience counts of at least five or more. A normal person wouldn’t have met so many women, so they must have been picking up the crumbs dropped by that tyrant.

“…What did you just say? (Experience Count: 79)”

“Huh? What?”

The king, his face darkening, asked in a low voice, but I responded nonchalantly.

It seemed he didn’t want to make a fuss, so he sighed and changed the subject.

“…It seems I misheard. Since you’re here, I assume you’ve heard everything from Priest Jarvis? (Experience Count: 79)”

“You can assume that.”

“Then you know it’s a heavy task. (Experience Count: 79)”

“Of course I know.”

The king’s face showed surprise, as if he hadn’t expected such an immediate answer.

I had boldly set out to defeat the Demon King and return home, but my resolve had weakened after hearing stories about other heroes from Jarvis.

The other heroes weren’t summoned from Earth like me. As natives of this world where swords and magic were real, they were all exceptional killing machines recognized by God.

I haven’t met them in person, so I don’t know what kind of people they are, but they’re definitely not opponents I can face, having only received 18 months of military training.

And you want me to grow faster than those people and defeat the Demon King, whose whereabouts are unknown?

This isn’t just unfair. It’s as reckless as making a toddler race against a track and field athlete.

I had already given up on the idea that I could win this unfair fight where the starting line was different.

I came here because I’d resigned myself to reality. It was to survive in this place that would become my new home.

“Would it be okay for me to assume that you don’t have high expectations for me either?”

“…That’s right. It’s not something to say to your face, but I don’t think you can defeat the Demon King. (Experience Count: 79)”

A heterogeneous body with no mana, a physique that clearly hadn’t been trained for combat – I didn’t need to ask how I appeared to him.

“But…what did you do before you came here? (Experience Count: 79)”

“Chef.”

“C-Chef…?! (Experience Count: 12)”

One of the ministers exclaimed in surprise at my words.

He spewed out countless remarks that would have gotten me beaten up and kicked out if this were Earth, saying things like, “A lowly cook from the kitchen is a hero?”

It’s annoying, but it’s a natural reaction. Even doctors were looked down upon in the Joseon Dynasty, so how could a chef be treated well in a fantasy world?

Moreover, what they expected was a hero who would defeat the Demon King and illuminate the world.

So, I understand how they feel, but I couldn’t let all my hard work and career be disregarded without saying a word.

“If you don’t like that a cook is a hero, I don’t mind leaving right now. If you have nothing else to say to me, shall I just leave?”

“…My apologies. I apologize on behalf of my ministers. Then, let’s get down to business. As you’ve already heard, the hero who defeats the Demon King is granted the right to make one wish. (Experience Count: 79)”

Of course, even if it’s a wish, it doesn’t mean any wish will be granted.

Even a God couldn’t grant unreasonable wishes like increasing the number of wishes or annihilating all the humans on the continent.

Conversely, it meant that any wish could be granted as long as it was within the realm of common sense and not unreasonable.

“The landscape of the continent has always been shaped by that wish. If possible, it would be great if our kingdom could also obtain a wish, but that dream has now become impossible. (Experience Count: 79)”

“…The fact that you called me all the way here means you have a use for me. Are you telling me to serve under another hero?”

“You…seem to have a better head on your shoulders than I thought. (Experience Count: 79)”

I’m not familiar with the circumstances of each country, but if national power and the hero’s strength are in a state of equilibrium, the side with more intact power will be the victor.

I’m a half-baked hero, but I’m still a hero chosen by God.

My potential isn’t negligible. That’s why the king considered me valuable as a bargaining chip.

‘I don’t like it.’

His attitude, treating me like his possession, was irritating, but I had no other choice, being powerless.

To be honest, I wanted to give it all up and just open a restaurant, but that wasn’t a realistic option in my penniless situation.

“…I hear you’ll work me to the bone even after the Demon King is defeated.”

“…That’s right. Power is necessary even after the war ends. (Experience Count: 79)”

“Then what will you give this power?”

“First, a noble title and territory. A royal heirloom and…my daughter. Penny, come out. (Experience Count: 79)”

“……” (Experience Count: 1)”

At the king’s call, the red-haired woman who had glared at me with murderous intent in the temple stepped forward.

Cloaked in a palpable aura of hostility, the woman’s eyes were filled with disgust and resentment towards me.

“This is my daughter, Penelope di Arialondo. To celebrate the friendship between the hero and the royal family, I offer her as your wife. (Experience Count: 79)”

“……”

At the king’s words, my gaze naturally turned to my sudden fiancée.

Blood-red hair, rarely seen in Korea, outstanding beauty resembling her mother, the queen, and a beautiful physique honed from training.

Everything was enough to capture my attention, but my gaze was drawn not to her body, but above her head.

<Experience Count: 1>

The moment I saw that mark, which would follow her for the rest of her life like a brand on a criminal, my mouth opened reflexively again.

“Don’t you have any other daughters?”

“What?! (Experience Count: 12)”

The room buzzed again. This time, the knights couldn’t hold back, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords as they glared at me.

The knights around Princess Penny were especially intense, looking as if they would split my head open if I weren’t the hero.

“You scoundrel!!! Do you think you can be forgiven for anything just because you’re the hero!!! (Experience Count: 7)”

“The princess is someone you shouldn’t even be looking at, you b*stard!! (Experience Count: 9)”

“Apologize at once!! (Experience Count: 16)”

As time passed, the atmosphere in the room didn’t calm down; rather, it intensified like oil poured on fire, threatening to engulf me in violence at any moment.

The most enraged of all was Princess Penny. While others merely rested their hands on their sword hilts, she had already drawn her sword.

The gleaming white blade, catching the light of the room, sent a chill down my spine, but I had no intention of apologizing.

An apology is an act for those bound by guilt. It wasn’t something I, who hadn’t committed a sin, should utter.

“Stop!!! (Experience Count: 79)”

The raging flames of anger were instantly extinguished at the roar of the man who had slept with the most women in this room.

However, that didn’t mean I was safe. The ministers’ and knights’ anger was suppressed by the king, but the king’s fury still burned.

The king’s wrinkled fists clenched, and a blue energy, which could only be described as an aura, began to emanate from his entire body.

Is that the mana I’ve only heard of? I flinched at the ominous energy, and the king spoke.

“…Penny is my only daughter. I have no other daughters. Do you have a problem with that? (Experience Count: 79)”

“This f*ck!! You should have prepared another one!!”

“……” (Experience Count: 79)”

As the king raised his hand, the knights rushed towards me in unison.

It seems I’m f*cked.