Stupid Steps to End
Chapter 2: A Journey

To defend this world, this story has to move. For this story to move, I must help the protagonist to defeat the demon lord.

But honestly I don't want to go to that goddamn forest. It's not my responsibility to save this world, is it? Why do I have to go there?

I mean, this isn't the first time. Whenever the author writes, at one point he will ignore his work. The author never finished the story.

After all, wasn't I just a side character? If I was destroyed, he would recycle me. I'm sure in no time he'll write a new story.

Everything's gonna be okay, right?

.

.

.

Then why am I feeling so agitated? I knew I never lived but my heart felt so claustrophobic every time I realized he had ignored me again.

L'm...

—— I'm here! Please don't delete 'me' again!

And for once I want to see the end of your story. I'm determined to go to Montein's forest even if I don't want to.

No matter how bad I am as the narrator of this story, I swear I will end this story for you.

CRACK..

The fragments in the sky were widening. My footsteps are getting faster. I have been walking non-stop for 3 days. My body hurts all. Unfortunately, I can't stop. In a moment, I'm sure I can meet the protagonist.

...****************...

Arthur POV's

Tonight is a long night. I feel so tired today. Surprisingly, I can't sleep. There was a tangled thread clumping in my mind.

When the king sent me here, did he actually send me to kill myself?

No, it's impossible. The king did send me help when I reached the forest. I just need to be patient.

There's no way she-can

KRAASHIS.. TAP, TAP...

I heard bushes and footsteps. Moving from my position, I grabbed the Caliburn sword that the king had given me and prepared to attack.

"Wait, wait-I don't mean bad!!" Shout a voice. I scrunched my forehead, trying to see in the darkness. But I could see nothing but her thin hands raised in the air.

I walked closer to him. Slowly I could see clearly his face was a mess. His body was very thin and I could see his legs were covered in wounds and blood.

"Who sent you here? Who're you?"

"I came here to see you of my own accord"

"Meet me?"

The man nodded quickly. Stepping closer to the campfire, he staggered like a moving bone. I looked at him in horror, afraid that he would fall at any time near the fire.

Taking him to sit by the tent, I asked him what he needed until he had to meet me in this condition.

"I'll explain everything. But first, do you believe that we're a character someone wrote?"

Did he come here just to ask me that? What does he mean is a creator god who has determined our destiny before we are born?

"I believe every man is the author of his life-"

"No-I mean, do you believe that we're a novel character?"

I frowned at me. Rubbing the back of my neck, I tried to understand what he meant. Is that a parable?

From the tone, I don't think so. I know I can't judge a person by his looks but...

He might be a LITTLE crazy.

"Eitherway. If we're a novel character, there's no way I can feel pain and hunger, right?"

...****************...

I've guessed. He couldn't possibly believe it. I think he has consciousness as well as I do. At least a little conscious after the sky has not changed for 12 consecutive days.

Hey, that's weird isn't it just me the only one who's aware of the crack above the sky? I began to wonder why no one had ever realized this world would actually be destroyed.

"Can you see the cracks in the sky too?"

"Cracks in the sky?" Arthur looked up at the sky I pointed at in the west. His eyes widened and he pegged for a moment. Closing my mouth, I could see the horror clearly in his eyes.

... So he could see it when he was awakened. Is it because the protagonist is still too attached to the plot so that he cannot move freely outside of what has been set?

In that case, I should take another way to help him move forward.

"A, what is it? Is that the devil king?"

"Yes. I came here to warn you that we're running out of time"

Arthur blanch. He blamed himself for not trying enough to defeat the demon lord. So this is the protagonist the author wrote.

He was not the epitome of valiant courage and the typical hero I imagined. It has potential if it is sharpened.

Unfortunately, characters like this usually require a long development character from zero to hero. I'm not sure I can build Arthur into a hero before this world is destroyed.

What does it take to be a hero?

From your experience reading the author's story, he will first need an Overpower weapon. This will help him a lot.

Second, the character of good support to help its development.

Third, a love story. Even if it's just a bonus.

Fourth, a mentor who helps him develop in strength.

For now, those 4 alone are enough for a short hero story. Because the author did not build this world much, I think we have to rely on what is.

Starting from our first steps, Arthur must do something useful for his character to avoid the crack from growing.

We are lucky the Author once wrote that in this forest there is a legendary sword. To obtain it, he needed to walk to meet the elf who was guarding the lake of Lyon.

"Arthur, don't blame yourself. I'm sure we still have enough time. First of all, you need to upgrade your sword first"

Excalibur—— Weapon that will defeat the demon lord.