The hero had lost faith in humanity. After witnessing his followers transform into monsters, he could no longer deny it—Laftiel had been right. Everything he had fought for, all the battles and sacrifices, now seemed meaningless.
Exhausted by the weight of his failure, he decided to make a deal with the god. His voice cracked as he uttered the words that would change his fate forever: "I want to make a deal."
Laftiel responded immediately as if he had been waiting all along. The god's grin, more menacing than before, revealed sharp, fang-like teeth. "Excellent," he purred, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Just shake my hand, and everything will be over."
Without a moment's hesitation, the hero grasped his hand. The grip was cold, yet the hero didn't flinch. He felt nothing. He had already lost everything, or so he thought. In that moment, he sealed his destiny—unaware of the true cost of the bargain.
Laftiel's eyes glowed with a dark amusement. "Let me be clear about this deal," he said, his voice like silk masking poison. "I will give you what you desire—what you truly crave in the deepest part of your soul. But, as with all deals, I will take something of equal value."
The hero's voice was hollow, devoid of emotion. "I don't care anymore. Take whatever you want. I have nothing left. I want this to end. Please, free me from this burden." His once proud and determined eyes were now empty, shadows of the man he used to be. The hero who had once inspired nations had become a shell, broken by loss and despair.
Laftiel's grin widened. "Excellent," he hissed. "Then I will fulfill my part of the bargain. I will erase every monster from this world. But understand this—you will no longer be the almighty hero."
As Laftiel spoke, the ground trembled, the sky darkened, and the air itself grew heavy. The landscape around them dissolved, replaced by a surreal darkness that pulled them into the hero's subconscious.
When the hero awoke, he found himself in an unfamiliar land. His sword and armor were gone, replaced by simple white clothing, identical to what any ordinary person would wear. He felt a strange emptiness in his chest, as though something had been torn away. He stood and wandered through the desolate landscape, but there was no one. He was utterly alone.
It was then that the full weight of Laftiel's words began to sink in. The god had given him exactly what he asked for a world without monsters—a world where he was free.
At first, the freedom was intoxicating. He ran through fields, slept under the stars, and ate as much as he wanted without the constant threat of death looming over him. For the first time in years, he felt like a child again, unburdened by responsibility. The air was fresh, unlike the blood-soaked winds he had grown accustomed to. For a while, he even smiled. The sun's warmth kissed his face as he lay on the soft grass, memories of his family—his mother's gentle touch, his father's laughter—flickered in his mind. Even with the ever-present danger of monsters, there had been moments of happiness.
But then, deep within him, a voice—his own voice whispered, "This isn't right."
He opened his eyes and sat up, his sense of peace quickly unraveling. Something felt wrong. "Is this truly my perfect world? If it is, where is everyone?" he wondered.
"There is no one here," answered a voice from behind.
He turned sharply, and there stood Laftiel, the god of deals. The sight of him, standing so casually in the perfect world, sent a chill down the hero's spine.
"How are you, hero?" Laftiel asked, his tone mocking. "Enjoying your new world? You certainly seem more relaxed."
The hero stared at him, confusion and dread gnawing at his mind. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice shaky.
Laftiel gave a slow, sinister chuckle. "I gave you exactly what you asked for—a world where there are no monsters to slay and no humans to save. It's just you, alone. You're free."
The hero's heart sank as the truth hit him. "That wasn't the deal! You were supposed to eradicate the monsters, not the humans!" His voice was filled with panic as if he were grasping for something that had slipped through his fingers.
Laftiel's eyes gleamed with a cruel amusement. "Ah, but that was the deal, wasn't it?" he replied, his voice soft yet chilling. "You see, the world operates on a delicate balance. To eliminate all the monsters, I had to remove the humans too. That is the law of reality. But, deep down, isn't this exactly what you wanted? A world without conflict, without struggle?"
The hero's legs wobbled, and he took a step back. Laftiel's words pierced through him like a blade. His hands shook as he stammered, "No... this wasn't what I wanted."
Laftiel approached, his presence overwhelming. "Oh, but it was. You lost hope, not just in humanity, but in yourself. You realized that you could never save them all, that no matter how many monsters you defeated, there would always be more. You were trapped in an endless cycle—kill, save, repeat. Until the day you died, this was your fate. So, you came to me, seeking escape."
Laftiel's hand shot out, grabbing the hero's face. The hero's eyes locked onto Laftiel's, and what he saw there was pure darkness—an abyss without end.
"In exchange for your perfect world, I took something from you," Laftiel whispered, his voice low and terrifying. "Something more valuable than you realize."
The hero struggled to free himself, pushing against Laftiel's grip. "What did you take from me?" he demanded, his voice breaking.
Laftiel released him, letting the hero stumble back. His grin widened. "I took your identity," he said, his tone cold and final. "You are nobody now. You no longer exist. You never did, and you never will. Immortal, yet not alive. You can't die, and you can't live. Congratulations—you will be alone in this paradise for eternity."
The hero's heart raced, tears welling up in his eyes. "No, this can't be real," he whispered. "Please, let me redo the deal. Let's make a new one. I'll give you whatever you want—just please, undo this."
Laftiel chuckled darkly. "I'm afraid there's nothing you can offer me. Even if you gave me this entire land, it wouldn't be enough. You have nothing left."
The god of deals stepped back, his form beginning to dissolve into the air. "Well then, I must be going. Enjoy your paradise, former hero. By the way, what was your name again? Oh, right—it doesn't matter anymore. You've lost your name."
Laftiel vanished into the sky, his laughter echoing as he disappeared. The hero—who never existed—was left alone, standing in a desolate world where no one could hear his cries for help.
He was nobody now, trapped in a forgotten land, forever...
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