Stupid Steps to End
Chapter 3: The Tranquility

I walked down the river with Arthur. With the lantern being the only illumination, we have to be more careful than ever.

"The sky is still dark. Wouldn't we rather wait until it's a little brighter?"

"This sky will never be bright. We're under the influence of a demon lord"

"really? How do you know?"

My eyebrows twitched for a second. Turning to check behind me, my eyes met his green eyes that were illuminated by the light of a lantern. He suspects me.

I may have underestimated it. Turns out he's not as thick as I thought he was.

I calmed myself down. For a moment, I thought of 2 options: First, I can play the role of a demon king's enslavement victim on the run. I can get sympathy and protection from the protagonist.

Second, I can act as a high-status person who is knowledgeable about the demon world. I can use this identity to direct it.

Without having the god of time on my side, I chose the thing that first came to my mind. I chose the second option to try.

That way, I will more easily manipulate him for the sake of the continuation of the story!

"I am a witch of the Athonian kingdom. When I heard the news about the chosen hero, I rushed here to meet"

"You don't look like one"

"alike you. You don't look like I thought you would"

Arthur lowered his head. He was silent at my words. This protagonist really has an issue of confidence. Of all the stories that the author has ever written, I think this is the most troublesome protagonist.

Well, I can't say in bad. Maybe it's just because I don't like the kind of person he is.

"What's wrong with your face?"

"No. I just thought maybe the king chose me wrong. I can't possibly be a hero who can defeat a demon lord"

The king's choice? I almost forgot the king chose Arthur just because he pulled Caliburn's sword out of the stone. The reason is actually quite simple as to why he fell for it.

—— They want to use it as a sacrifice to defeat the demon lord. Realistically, there is no other reason than that.

They want to exploit the protagonist for their own benefit. Wouldn't everyone think the same if they got the chance?

On the other hand, I can understand why he thinks he is not suitable to play the role of a hero. As a farmer, I believe this is an absurd situation for him.

Previously he had only held my stake towards his rice field. Now he holds the sword towards the demon castle.

"That makes us lucky. I also always questioned why I was the one who was appointed as the royal magician even though I could not use magic at all"

"!!.. K, can't you. use magic?"

"Yes. Until now I don't understand why either. But I believe one thing in my experience"

Although I was the only character chosen to have an awareness of the other world

"—— That doesn't make you any more special than anyone else. Be it a hero or a witch, you are just a human being with flaws and advantages. So respect yourself and live your life"

The question of why I ask, over time I forget. So busy living life, we will not have time to answer these questions.

I hope my words are clear enough. He had to change that mindset in order to become a mainstay protagonist.

SPLASH.. SPLASH..

Hm..? Of water?

I heard water splashing from behind the trees. From the sidelines, I could see the lake we were looking for in plain sight.

We have arrived! Finally, we can rest!

"Arthur, I'll light a bonfire here. Can you check the situation around here?"

Arthur nodded quickly and immediately went to check the surrounding area. I think I made the right choice with the second option. While, he checked the situation, I went to collect the dry wood.

Fire is one of the important things in this forest. With the night never ending and wild monsters roaming about, fire is our savior in every way

THE PING!!

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[You have a new chapter that you haven't read yet]

"Author uploaded a new story?" I froze in place. Falling all the wood I collected, I opened the blue screen to read the new chapter.

7 O'clock in 45 minutes. This is not the chapter the author uploaded. Don't tell me this is-

[That night, Arthur met a mysterious man in the middle of the forest. His appearance was skinny and messy.]

I, This..

Didn't this just happen?! How could? I haven't written the story yet!

What this mysterious system has magical features to write down what is happening in this world. The writing style is similar to that of the author.

["I came here to see you of my own accord" said the man.

"Meet me?" Arthur stared in disbelief at her words.

Moreover, the man looked suspicious. From the looks to the questions he asked, everything sounded awkward. He begins to wonder the mysterious man's sanity to meet him at night.]

Ha?! He thinks I'm crazy? Basic brash kid

I'm not crazy. I just don't have anything so I'm not afraid to lose something important.

But yeah.. It's a good thing my identity as a beggar didn't leak. In this chapter, I am written as a mysterious man or a witch.

[Arthur stared at the witch's back in disbelief. Smiling faintly, he felt calm hearing his words.

'I must have sounded annoying in his ears. I may have been asking too many questions and complaining. Maybe I'm too scared to try something new'

Arthur knew the bad side. He admitted the reason why he was here was because he was used as a shield.

In fact, he is not a hero. Only a farmer is caught in an unfortunate situation. And no one would ever expect to act as one.

Therefore, he no longer needed to fear the expectations of others, his role as a hero, and decided to live life as an unlucky farmer trying to defend himself from the demon lord.

'If I'm going to die, then I at least want to live to the fullest.' ]

...

That's not what I meant. I don't want the protagonist to be that selfish. I intend to make him not humble but still want to be a hero for the greater good.

Not a farmer caught in a crazy scenario!

Where do I know the protagonist turns out to be a blank sheet of white paper - If I had known, I would probably have chosen the first choice!!

What's more, I'm not sure what the system has written can be changed again. Since he wrote it live, I fear that the change will have an impact on the present.

[After repeatedly checking the area around, Arthur found something that caught his attention for the first time.

An orange scarf hangs on a tree branch.]

Oh. This is the part where I asked him to patrol.

It's weird he found the shawl. The legend of Excalibur is supposed to be a sword given to the protagonist by a lake fairy. Or did I miss something?

[From behind the trees, he could see 9 moon goddesses playing in the lake. Rubbing his eyes, he could not imagine what he saw]

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HAAH?!?!

Since when did the protagonist become perverted?!!