Chapter 285: Name of the Hero |
"Lord Hero, is the Demon Race common in this area?" Bai Mu asked.
"If we're talking about the entire Northern Plateau, the Demon Race is indeed very common. After all, the northernmost point of the plateau is Endae, where the Demon King's Castle is located." The Southern Hero took a sip of tea. "Currently, the Demon King's Army has occupied nearly one-third of the Northern Plateau. From my precognition, by the time the war ends, almost two-thirds of humanity will probably die in this war."
"But around here, you don't need to worry. Even the Demon Race fears the name of my Southern Hero. Furthermore, on my way here, I've already slain all the Demon Race along the route. From now until two months later, the Demon Race shouldn't appear here."
"The war will end... That is to say, Lord Hero has already foreseen the outcome of this war?" Bai Mu once again marveled at the Southern Hero's astonishing ability. "This is really... shocking. Just how far into the future can you see, sir?"
"As for how far into the future... probably until I die," the Southern Hero said. "Which means... about a year or so."
Bai Mu was stunned for a moment before reacting and asking, "Does Lord Hero mean that you have even foreseen your own death?"
"That's pretty much it," the Southern Hero nodded.
Bai Mu was silent for a few seconds. Even when talking about his own death, this person appeared perfectly calm and composed. At the same time, a question popped up in his mind, so he opened his mouth and asked:
"If you can foresee your own death in advance, why don't you try to do something to change the outcome of your death? Or is it... that the destiny you foresaw, no matter how twisting the process in between is, is something that is bound to happen in the end?"
"For example, if I didn't choose to take a detour to this remote area on my way to Endae to slay these Demon Race, then ten thousand people would become corpses because of my choice. Conversely, because I came here, those ten thousand people will survive."
"Whether the future I foresee will happen also depends on what I do. There is a rather complex causal relationship in between. But the foreseen future is not unchangeable. As long as the future hasn't become the present, then I can interfere with it through certain actions."
"If that's the case... why are you still so certain that a year from now will be the date of your death?" Bai Mu looked into the Southern Hero's eyes, trying to see some kind of emotion in his gaze. But those pupils didn't change at all. Should he say that it was indifference, or acceptance of his fate? In short, it was a look he couldn't understand.
If Bai Mu learned that he would die in a year, he thought he would definitely not behave so calmly; he had to do something to change this ending.
But the Southern Hero still said calmly, "It's very simple, because I foresaw humanity's victory in this war, and my death is one of the necessary conditions for this victory."
"As long as I pave the way for the latecomers, then they can kill the Demon King. The Demon King's Army will be routed, one-third of humanity will survive, and a period of peace will be ushered in."
Bai Mu remained silent for a moment, then said, "You are truly worthy of the name of a Hero."
"Even so, I'm just doing multiple-choice questions." The Southern Hero looked back at the corpses in the church. "Between the people in the village and the other ten thousand people, I chose the other ten thousand people to survive. As for the villagers here, all I can do is place their corpses together like this so they won't be devoured by magic beasts."
"And for some others, they can't even leave behind a corpse."
"Everyone's capabilities are limited. I think helping others within one's capacity is already a very remarkable thing," Bai Mu said.
The Southern Hero smiled, "Chatting with you is truly a pleasant matter. Words coming from the mouth of someone like you, who is completely unpredictable, are exceptionally interesting."
"Although I can't foresee anything related to you, encountering you doesn't seem to be a bad thing. Before the blizzard stops, you and this lady can stay here for the time being. I'll also stay until the blizzard stops. So you don't need to worry about magic beasts being attracted by the smell of corpses; I'll take responsibility for taking care of them."
"I remember you said you came to this village to find food. You don't have to worry about this either. Although I've always acted alone, I usually prepare enough dry rations to last two months. It's not a delicacy, but please let me treat you."
"Then I'll thank Lord Hero for your hospitality," Bai Mu said.
During the following time, Bai Mu drank tea with the Southern Hero in the church. He asked the Hero for a map of the surrounding area, and the Hero generously shared his map with him, allowing him to copy one.
Intelligence on the Demon Race, the types of magic beasts inhabiting the surroundings... The Southern Hero gave him a lot of valuable information, allowing him to fully understand the capabilities of the Demon Race.
This made him realize that sleeping in the wild last night was actually a very dangerous behavior. Because the Southern Hero told him that the Demon Race didn't rely on smell and sight to find humans; Mana perception was the most commonly used detection method by the Demon Race. It could be understood as a magical version of a thermal imaging radar, and its range was very large. As long as it was a creature with Mana, they could detect it through Mana perception. And in the Southern Hero's eyes, both Bai Mu and the Witch had Mana.
Moreover, the abilities of each individual in the Demon Race were also completely different. Besides the Demon Race who used weapons like warriors, many Demon Race possessed long-range attack magic. Among them, there were also Demon Race who had mastered "Killing Magic," which was magic specially developed to target humans.
That is to say, if Bai Mu had been discovered by the Demon Race last night, it was entirely possible for the other party to launch a magic attack directly at him from a distance he couldn't see. He would be killed without even seeing where the enemy was.
The danger level of this world could be said to be quite high. Of course, there were also relatively peaceful areas, but this Northern Plateau absolutely had nothing to do with peace. Due to the high concentration of Mana in the air, even not talking about those Demon Race, the magic beasts and monsters inhabiting the surroundings were also extremely dangerous.
According to the Southern Hero, to move around the Northern Plateau, the minimum configuration for a team must include a Level-1 Mage, a qualified vanguard warrior, and a Cleric who could cast high-level healing and detoxification magic. Otherwise, coming here was no different from seeking death.
As for someone who dared to act alone on the Northern Plateau, in all rumors, there was almost only the Southern Hero alone. Because he was strong enough. Even without his precognition magic, he was still a well-deserved powerhouse. He alone was a warrior cross-classing as a mage, "Humanity's Strongest Hero." The one drinking tea with Bai Mu was exactly such an existence.
"So please rest at ease," the Southern Hero said. "Because I am here, this place is currently the safest place in the entire Northern Plateau."
"Before I set off, I had already notified the people from the Norm Merchant Guild to come here after the blizzard ends and transport the corpses to the cemetery. When the time comes, you can leave with them."