Not a Hero’s Story

“Why… do you hate the Holy Heaven Army so much?”

Bai Ci asked, watching Luo Yu’s intense reaction.

Hearing this, Luo Yu clenched his fists tightly.

“Hate them? How could I not?”
“If you lived in Sin City, you’d understand my rage.”
“If you haven’t experienced life here, no amount of explanation will make you feel what we feel.”

Luo Yu was right.

Bai Ci had only crossed paths with the Holy Heaven Army a few times—and already despised them.

It was hard to imagine what they truly represented to the people of Sin City after years of occupation.

“Look at the people on those streets…”
“They’re not ungrateful for light. Who blocked their path to freedom?”
“The capital… the Holy Heaven Army.”
“That’s why I need your power.”

Luo Yu locked eyes with Bai Ci, revealing his true purpose.

“I brought you here. Told you about the monsters, about the Holy Heaven Army—that’s my sincerity.”
“These truths are known only to us three.”
“Aren’t you afraid I’m one of them?”

“If you were, you’d be a corpse the moment I attacked you earlier.”
“But more than that—I fear a future with no tomorrow.”

“Join the Shiyu Church. I’ll put you beside me—equal in rank.”

Luo Yu knew—this man before him wasn’t just significant to him.

No. To all of Sin City, Bai Ci was an unpredictable variable.

A Sorcerer who could cast spells without incantation…

Could even his own father—the High Priest—achieve such mastery?

If Bai Ci joined them…

maybe, just maybe, they could finally lead the people of Sin City out of this exile of darkness.

“What?! He’s not actually a new executive of the Shiyu Church?!”
“Damn you, Luo Yu! You lied to me!”

Xiao Mo realized Luo Yu had deceived her when he first introduced Bai Ci.
She immediately started hitting him, but her fists bounced off like striking iron—she yelped, shaking her sore hand.

“Ow ow ow…!”

Luo Yu didn’t flinch, sitting motionless in his chair, eyes fixed on Bai Ci.

He waited for Bai Ci’s answer.

The Shiyu Church… Bai Ci sighed.

“Sorry.”

He had no reason to involve himself in their grudges and vendettas.

For Bai Ci now, nothing mattered more than Garuda’s rebirth.

He disliked the Holy Heaven Army—but not enough to join an organization just to oppose them.

Shiyu Church… Holy Heaven Army…

Did they even realize what they were about to face?

Should he tell them?

About Garuda…

Could these people really help him?

After weighing it, Bai Ci decided—telling them would change nothing.

“Alright.”

Seeing Bai Ci’s response, Luo Yu understood.

Truthfully, he’d expected this.

No words could sway someone like Bai Ci to join his cause.

“Fine. I know you don’t care. As long as you’re not with the Holy Heaven Army, that’s enough.”

Luo Yu poured himself another cup, downing it in one gulp.

“You know… I might actually consider joining for a few days,” Bai Ci joked.

Luo Yu chuckled.
“Then we’d become enemies.”

Enemies…

Honestly, the moment Bai Ci released Garuda, he’d already prepared to stand against the entire world.

One more enemy wouldn’t matter.

As long as killing Garuda could absolve his sins…

“Still, if you ever change your mind—if you want to learn more about the Church—you can always contact Miss Lilith.”
“You know her, right? The innkeeper where you’re staying.”

Luo Yu shrugged. Clearly, he hadn’t given up on Bai Ci yet.

So the innkeeper was one of Luo Yu’s people too…

Was there anywhere in this city I can trust?

Bai Ci sighed deeply, a dark line appearing on his forehead.
“Understood. And thank you—for the intel.”

The information Luo Yu provided about the monsters was still useful.

The royal family in the capital couldn’t possibly be unaware that the seal site had been destroyed.

And now, during this critical time, these monsters appear in Sin City…

Why?

“N-no good, Young Master!”
“Wait—I haven’t reported yet! You can’t enter without permission!”
“Can’t you see who I am?! Get out of my way!”

A sudden commotion outside, followed by frantic footsteps, shattered the room’s calm.

A blood-soaked church member stumbled in, his right arm twisted unnaturally, a massive gash on his leg proving his dire state.

“Ah! Wait—”

A servant girl chased after him.

“Who allowed you into this place?”

Luo Yu’s gaze turned icy, the room’s temperature plummeting.

“Forgive me, Young Master… He said it was urgent… so I let him in…”

The servant trembled.

“Leave. Now.”

Luo Yu waved a hand. She exhaled in relief and hurried out, casting a resentful glance at the intruder.

“Y-Young Master… it’s bad…”
“What happened? Was it the Holy Heaven Army?”

Once alone, Luo Yu stood and supported the barely-standing man.

“No… the monsters… the monsters, Young Master…”
“At the central square… there are so many…”
“What?!”

Luo Yu slammed the table, rising instantly.
“How many?!”
“More than… twenty…”

!!!

Twenty? That’s never happened before—all at once?

This was serious.

Luo Yu knew—he alone couldn’t handle so many targets.

And gathering Church members quickly would be nearly impossible.

But still, he had to go.

It was his duty.

Glancing at Bai Ci—who remained unmoved—Luo Yu gave him a deep look.

“No matter your goal… please believe me.”
“In Sin City, those monsters and the Holy Heaven Army—are no different.”

Then he turned to Xiao Mo:
“Take this money. Reward your informants well.”
“No time. We’ll meet again later!”

Leaving behind a pile of gold coins, Luo Yu dashed out the tavern door, racing toward the distant square.

“Hey! Hey! Why are you running so fast?!”

Xiao Mo shouted at his retreating back, frustration boiling over.

But she already knew—this was Luo Yu’s way.

Her voice faded unheard. Her anger slowly turned bitter.

Staring at the untouched wine, she whispered:
“Meet again later… But next time we meet, who knows when that’ll be?”

Bai Ci sat silently, saying nothing.

“You’re Bai Ci, right?”
“Mm.”
“You’re strong… aren’t you?”
“Not really.”
“Then why…”
“Why won’t you use that strength to help others?” Xiao Mo asked, voice tinged with sorrow.

“It’s not my responsibility.”

Bai Ci knew—he wasn’t a hero. This wasn’t a hero’s story.

“But… have you seen how those monsters eat people?”
“If you have… can you really feel nothing?”

Bai Ci recalled the day he entered Sin City—
the moment he killed a monster feasting on half a human body.

Honestly, yes—he felt pity.

But he also knew: this suffering, these monsters… might all be tied to his sin.

Looking at Sin City’s torment, he questioned himself—
Was destroying the demon seal with Xiya’s help the right choice?

Was there another way to save Earth?

Bai Ci didn’t want to doubt himself. He was afraid.

Because if he ever rejected the choices he’d made—

everything he’d endured would collapse in an instant.

What would become of him then?
Would he fall into madness? Vanish from this world?

He didn’t know. He didn’t dare imagine.

So he chose not to face it—the suffering born from his actions.

They called it avoidance.

Just wait for Garuda to return. Kill him. Purge his sins. Then peace.

Yet Bai Ci forgot one thing: the butterfly effect.

Seeing Bai Ci silent, Xiao Mo shook her head.

“Sorry… I know this isn’t your burden.”
“I was trying to guilt-trip you… I’m sorry.”

“But no matter what—people should follow their heart’s truth, right?”
“If you do feel compassion… please… don’t ignore it.”

Bai Ci froze.

Follow the heart’s truth?

My heart…

Was my choice wrong? No—it wasn’t.
Because it came from my heart.

Can I forgive myself? No—I can’t.
Because it came from my heart.

Do I want to save those suffering? Yes.
Because it came from my heart.

Is that enough?

Following the heart…

Then, just this once—let me try.
Let me follow my heart.

Face my sins. Save those in pain.

I understand.

“I’m leaving.” Bai Ci stood, looking toward where Luo Yu had vanished.

“Mm.”
“Next time we meet, bring me that three-gold-bottle wine of yours.”
“Count on it, hero.”

Xiao Mo smiled.

Bai Ci knew—this wasn’t a hero’s story.

But sometimes, stories become legends.

And legends… begin with a single step.