Chapter 1175

Under normal circumstances, the prayers from the believers of the Church of Heroes couldn't really reach Siegfried.

The number of believers wasn't just a handful anymore, and there were countless prayers and petitions every day. If every single one of them went straight to Siegfried, then he would have to spend his whole day answering prayers without having the time to do anything else.

Thus, the vast majority of prayers and petitions were first passed on to the Church of Heroes’ priests and paladins.

These priests and paladins would then travel to the place where the prayer and petition came from and act on Siegfried’s behalf in resolving the people’s troubles.

That was the system they had in place.

Then what kind of prayers and petitions reached Siegfried directly?

The faith of the one praying was important, and the prayer had to be made with sincerity and desperation. Above all, the situation had to be so urgent that no one but Siegfried himself could intervene in the matter.

In other words, only a prayer fervent enough to spark a miracle could summon Siegfried.

This seemed a bit too strict, but it was necessary.

Siegfried was the founder, high priest, and living deity of the Church of Heroes, so it would be odd if he could be dragged out on a whim by anyone’s prayer.

Besides, it was not like Siegfried was some kind of emergency response team that anyone and everyone could call when needed. However, this prayer had come straight to him, and that alone told him how dire the situation was.

‘

I can’t ignore this. I should see what’s going on at least,’

Siegfried thought.

He closed his eyes for a second and opened the prayer message box to read it.

O Great Hero! O Father who watches over your people!

Please, hear my plea! Please, save our village!

Your Imperial Majesty! A wicked demon has disguised itself as you and is slaughtering our villagers!

Help us! Please! Come to our salvation!

“...!”

Siegfried knew the moment he read it.

‘

It’s that bastard, Lee Geon.’

The line saying that a wicked demon had disguised itself as him and was slaughtering the villagers told him everything he had to know.

Whoever was praying had to be a victim of Lee Geon’s massacre, and it was highly likely that the massacre was still ongoing.

“This meeting is adjourned,” Siegfried said, standing up abruptly.

“What’s wrong, my love?” Brunhilde asked, her voice filled with concern.

“Someone is praying to me desperately.”

“...!”

“I have to go. Right now.”

“I understand. Please, be safe.”

“We will finish this discussion when I get back.”

“Okay, my love.”

Siegfried opened his skills and clicked on Descent.

[Descent]

[Call for me, my little lambs.]

[Open your eyes.]

[I shall stand before you when you open your eyes.]

[Description: Instantly descends to the Hero Statue: Siegfried von Proa nearest to the one who prayed.]

[Type: Active Skill]

[Cost: None]

[Note: This skill is more reliable than any warp or teleport skills.]

‘

Time to get moving,’

Siegfried thought and activated Descent.

Wooong!

A blinding light burst forth from.

[Alert: You have used Descent!]

[Alert: You will be teleported to the target location!]

[Alert: Teleportation will commence in 60 seconds!]

[Alert: 59 seconds!]

[Alert: 58 seconds!]

A loading window popped up before his eyes.

‘

Just hang in there,’

Siegfried thought as he clenched his jaw and fists, waiting for the teleportation to commence.

***

‘

I’m not gonna kill her.’

Lee Geon had no plans to kill Daisy.

Why?

It was all because in his eyes, she was not someone he ought to kill.

She needed to survive so that she could spread the

truth

far and wide. The truth that the Holy Hero Emperor revered by so many, Siegfried von Proa, was in fact a debauched, blood-crazed demon.

If a devout believer of the Church of Heroes like Daisy were to run around proclaiming that her beloved savior was actually a monster, then rumors would spread like wildfire to multitudes.

‘

Yes, that’s it. I’m gonna break the spirits of his loyal NPCs. I’ll make them believe I’m that bastard and watch them drown in despair after having their faith in him betrayed. Kekeke!’

Just imagining how he would completely shatter the faith of Siegfried’s loyal followers and watching them drown in despair sent shivers of ecstasy down Lee Geon’s spine.

“Hey, you,” Lee Geon said, grabbing the little girl by the arm.

“L-Let me go! Let go of me!” Daisy cried out. She struggled with all her strength, but there was nothing an ordinary NPC, especially a young little girl like her, could do against a Grandmaster.

“Don’t be like that now. You called for me, didn’t you? Just tell me, what do you need?”

“Let go! I said let go of me!”

“

Hm?

Don’t like me anymore?”

“Y-You’re not—!” Daisy exclaimed, glaring daggers.

Lee Geon suddenly leaned in and whispered straight into her ear, “It’s me, Siegfried von Proa.”

Slurp!

Lee Geon’s tongue slithered across the nape of Daisy’s neck, and she flinched violently at the repulsive sensation.

It felt like a snake’s cold, slimy underbelly had slithered across her bare skin, and she felt as if her very soul was being defiled.

“

K-Kyaaaa!”

Daisy screamed, trying to free herself from the grip.

“Eh? What’s wrong? I thought you adored me?”

“

Sniff!

N-No... You’re not him!”

“But I told you already, no? I really am Siegfried von Proa.

Kekeke!

You prayed to my statue, didn’t you? You called for me and I came. I descended from that statue, didn’t I?”

“N-No! That’s not true!

“Well, I guess you wouldn’t want to believe me. I mean, who would, right? The hero you worshiped turns out to be a perverted demon like me?

Kekeke!”

“No... no... this is not...”

“Just accept it,” Lee Geon sneered. Then, he let her go and said, “Open your eyes and watch. Watch who I truly am.”

Then, with a snap of his fingers, he ordered his fanatics to drag the villagers up the hillside.

“Open your eyes and look, little missy,” Lee Geon said with a grin.

Right before her eyes, he began the executions.

“

Aaaagh!”

“Kyaaaah!”

“N-Nooo!”

“S-Spare me! Please!”

The villagers fell one by one, cut down by Lee Geon’s blade before they could even fight back.

“

N-No... no... no...”

Daisy’s mind cracked with each person killed before her eyes.

The hero she had prayed to all her life, her hero, had turned out to be nothing but a ruthless butcher.

Siegfried von Proa was nothing more than a demon hiding in human skin, and he had fooled everyone.

However, Daisy refused to believe it, even if this were the truth. She refused to let her faith be extinguished.

“N-No, you’re not... Y-You are not E-Emperor Siegfried v-von Proa...” Daisy stammered.

She was trembling in terror, but she still refused to acknowledge Lee Geon as Siegfried.

This was neither stubbornness nor denial—it was something deeper than that.

‘

No, it can’t be true. That demon is just pretending to be His Imperial Majesty...’

Somewhere deep inside, Daisy could tell that this was all a farce. That demon in front of her was only masquerading as her hero in order to break her spirit. Thus, she clung to her faith even in the face of this living nightmare, determined not to be shaken.

“

Ah,

fuck...” Lee Geon muttered. Seeing Daisy stand firm in her faith till the bitter end slowly started to annoy Lee Geon. “This fucking little bitch is testing my patience, huh?”

Lee Geon hated it when things wouldn't bend to his will. For a mere NPC like Daisy to defy him to the end was nothing short of infuriating.

“You know what, I changed my mind. Just die, you’re nothing but a pathetic, worthless insect anyway.”

With those words, Lee Geon raised his sword and swung it at Daisy.

‘

A mere fucking insect ruined my fucking mood. Just great,’

he thought.

Flash!

The status of Siegfried von Proa unleashed a blinding light, followed by a surge of energy that shoved everyone nearby several meters away.

***

“

Argh!”

Lee Geon was hurled back, but he managed to stay on his feet, unlike his fanatics, who were blown away like leaves in a raging storm.

‘

What the hell was that?’

While Lee Geon was reeling in confusion...

“Are you all right?”

Someone stood over Daisy and reached out a hand to help her.

“

A-Ah...!

”

Daisy’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Y-You are... His Imperial Majesty...? Emperor Siegfried von Proa...?”

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

“Yes, that is me,” Siegfried replied with a nod. Then, he added in a solemn voice, “I’m sorry for being late. I should’ve come sooner.”

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty...!”

“It’s alright now. I’m here and I will protect you.”

“

Sniff...! Sniff...!

Y-You really came! You really answered my prayers and came to my rescue!” Daisy cried out, tears welling up in her eyes. She clung to Siegfried and wept uncontrollably.

The real hero had come—not the demon disguised as him—but her true hero had truly descended to save her. All of the emotions she had been bravely suppressing rushed out of her liek a deluge at the sight of her hero.

“You really came for me... I... I knew it... I knew you would come...”

Thud...!

Daisy slumped unconscious in Siegfried’s arms.

The mental strain had been too much for her, and her body gave out the moment she saw the real Siegfried.

“Hey, Hamchi,” Siegfried called out.

“

Kyuuu!”

“Take care of her for me, will ya?”

“Got it! Leave her to Hamchi!

Kyuuu!”

Siegfried gently passed Daisy to Hamchi.

‘

I’ve got you now, you bastard.’

Now that Daisy was safe with Hamchi, Siegfried redirected his gaze to Lee Geon in the distance. He had been itching for a chance to crush Lee Geon, and now, it had fallen right into his hands.

‘

So it was you. It was all your doing in the end,’

Siegfried thought.

He realized by now just how deep their animosity ran.

Lee Geon had been his true enemy for over three years now. He manipulated Immortal Alchemist Acheron into forming the Church of Osric, and he was also the mastermind of the Illuminati, who orchestrated the invasion of the Middle Realm.

He was the threat to this world all along, and he was coming after Siegfried’s people. In addition, he even allied himself with the Marchioni Empire somehow and was running a smear campaign.

If anyone deserved the title of being Siegfried’s archenemy, then it would be, without a doubt, Lee Geon.

And for Lee Geon, the feeling was mutual. Every plot, every scheme, and every masterpiece that he had orchestrated was exposed, stopped, and ruined by Siegfried.

Thus, it was only normal for the two of them to be hostile to each other.

“Long time no see,” Siegfried said, stepping forward.

“Yeah, it has,” Lee Geon replied with a grin.

These two polar-opposite individuals faced each other once more—one wanted to protect the world, while the other wanted to destroy it.

Siegfried was once an insignificant gamer, but he rose to become the main protagonist of the game. On the other hand, Lee Geon was a living legend in the gaming community whose talent had been recognized for over a decade now.

The two could never coexist, and either one of them had to quit this game for good.

“I didn’t expect you to come in person,” Lee Geon said with a smirk. Then, his eyes gleamed like those of a predator as he added, “Should I buy a lottery ticket tomorrow or something?

Kekeke!”

“Do you know how lucky days usually end?” Siegfried shot back. Then, he thought, ‘

Ah, I feel like shit. What a fucking eyesore this guy is.’

He couldn’t stand that look in Lee Geon’s eyes.

Not that many people could treat him like prey after he ascended to the realm of Grandmaster.

However, Lee Geon was treating him like prey. As a gaming genius, Siegfried was nothing more than just another prey he could crush any time he wanted to do so, at least that was what Lee Geon believed

“Enough with the yapping. Let’s settle this right now,” Siegfried said, gripping his +16 Vanquisher’s Grasp that was transformed into a spear.

“

Oh?

You’re using a spear now? Wasn’t it a mace before?” Lee Geon remarked, sounding impressed.

“It doesn’t matter what I’m using. I’ll beat your ass with it, anyway,” Siegfried said confidently.

“

Haha!

Will you now?” Lee Geon chuckled as if he found it amusing. Then, he asked, “Are you trying to use the Invincible Spear Art on me?”

“...!”

“That old man Sigurd was pretty good with the spear. Don’t you agree?”

Surprisingly, Lee Geon even knew about Sigurd and the Invincible Spear Art.

‘I can’t drop my guard against him. The fact that he’s taunting me even after knowing that I can use the Invincible Spear Art means only one thing. He has something up his sleeve. I’m sure of it,’

Siegfried thought.

He reminded himself that Lee Geon was not an ordinary opponent and that he had to be alert against him at all times.

“This fucking lowborn scum is acting so cocky...” Lee Geon grumbled. Then, he reached into his Inventory and pulled out a sword and a saber.

‘

What the hell...? That’s insane...!’

Siegfried’s eyes widened at the sight of the sword and saber.

And the reason was...

[+22 Hell Demon Blade]

[+22 Divine Celestial Sword]

It turned out that Lee Geon’s main weapons were a sword and a saber, and they were both enhanced to +22.