I Became the Hero While Paving a Flower Path for My Niece - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Hero Bloomed from Laying Flowers for a Lich — Episode 016
[So what’s the plan going forward?]
Ibek asked eagerly, and Alex replied.
“The world’s destruction stems from three major causes. First, the invasion of the Demon King and the Demon Race. Second, the Corrupted Dungeons. And third, the calamities and disasters that befall each nation.”
The Corrupted Dungeons and these incidents had thrown the world into chaos, and then the Demon King and his forces appeared, plunging everything into utter ruin.
“I suspect the Demon Race is involved in those calamities too. But stopping them will be difficult—I simply don’t know the details.”
[Why?]
[Shouldn’t you know everything since you’ve regressed?]
“Leo stayed in the village until he turned sixteen. Rumors reached us, and there were people who knew a lot about the continent… but I was a ghost.”
I couldn’t pick up a piece of paper, so I couldn’t read newspapers or letters, and since I couldn’t talk to anyone, I had no way of asking questions.
“So my knowledge is bound to be patchy and jumbled.”
Alex exhaled heavily.
“And by the time Leo set out on his adventure, the Demon Race had already occupied vast territories. We were too busy fighting to investigate the causes or processes behind it all.”
And that was information from twelve years in the future.
He had no way of knowing how useful what he knew would be right now.
[Fair point.]
[Then we’d better do our best to block things on our end.]
At Ibek’s refreshingly direct attitude, Alex couldn’t help but laugh.
“That’s why I plan to investigate the Corrupted Dungeons while building up my strength.”
Alex decided to start with what he could do.
“As I mentioned before, the Corrupted Dungeons don’t disappear, and we can’t predict when a Dungeon Break will occur, so they’re extremely dangerous.”
Merely destroying the Corrupted Dungeons would push back the Apocalypse considerably.
[But didn’t this Corrupted Dungeon vanish?]
“It did. And I find that strange too.”
Alex pulled something from his pocket.
A pristine white Bone Fragment that had hung around the Goblin Shaman’s neck.
“I think it’s because of this. But what is it…?”
Alex activated Mana Detection.
Then the mana in the Bone Fragment became visible.
A dark green mana.
It was indeed similar to the Skull lodged in the Demon King’s chest. Perhaps they were somehow connected.
‘I suppose I’ll have to visit the Magic Tower Federation eventually?’
After all, the Magic Tower Federation would know the most about magic and mana.
But whether fortunately or unfortunately—
Alex had no need to travel to the Magic Tower Federation.
Because Ibek told him what this Bone Fragment was.
[That’s it!]
[I wasn’t mistaken after all!]
[This is my right little toe bone!]
[The very tip of it!]
…?
Alex blinked. He felt as though he’d just heard something extremely strange.
“…Your what?”
What kind of bone?
[My right little toe bone!]
Ibek’s right. His little toe. A bone?
The combination of words was so unexpected that his mind seemed to stall.
[You said you felt my mana in that dungeon earlier, didn’t you?]
[I was uncertain because we’re in another world, but it checks out. It was my mana.]
[It’s a bit corrupted, though!]
[Originally it’s a nobler shade of green!]
Alex remembered that too.
That’s why he’d planned to rescue the people first, then re-enter the dungeon later to investigate.
But the dungeon vanished before he could.
“…So the source of that mana was this Bone Fragment?”
[Yeah.]
“But why did your bone suddenly end up here?”
Ibek shrugged. Though he had no shoulders to shrug.
[That’s what I’d like to know.]
[I’m guessing that when the Life Vessel fell into this world, my bones were transported along with it?]
Whatever the reason.
This Bone Fragment belonged to Ibek, a Lich from this world.
[Well, this works out perfectly!]
“? It works out?”
[I was planning to create a new Life Vessel anyway. But gathering my bones might actually be easier and faster than that.]
Ibek spoke with sudden excitement.
Who could have imagined his body still existed in this world?
[Since it’s the body I used to have, it’ll feel natural. And since my Mana is in it, I can cast spells!]
[Then bringing down the Demon King should become much easier.]
Alex’s expression grew intent.
If this Lich from another world not only taught him magic but fought alongside him as an ally, it would be a far greater asset than he’d anticipated.
‘The Sollenius Church will be a problem, though.’
Alex, thinking it might work out somehow, asked a question.
“But what do you mean your Mana is in there?”
[Well, bone is a bit fragile, right?]
[So when I created the body, I cast spells to strengthen it. And I put Mana into it too, so I could draw it out if I needed to fight or handle emergencies.]
[Like a Mana Stone, basically.]
The moment those words reached Alex’s ears.
A sudden realization struck him like lightning.
“…Then if someone else were to possess your bones, they could use your Mana?”
His voice seemed to tremble slightly.
[I’ve never thought about that before….]
[Hmm.]
[It seems possible.]
Ibek added, considering the possibility.
[Normally, since I’d be controlling it, that wouldn’t happen. But right now my bones and my soul are separated.]
[So whoever picks them up could probably use them however they wanted.]
[Wait, hold on.]
Ibek’s voice turned alarmed.
[Then was that Goblin Shaman using my Mana? Is that how a low-tier goblin became a mid-tier shaman?]
[Wow, that’s insane!]
[My Mana really is strong! And that was just a little toe bone!]
Alex, who had been staring blankly at the Bone Fragment, finally opened his mouth.
“…Ibek.”
[Huh? You called me?]
Ibek, still caught up in self-admiration, answered quickly.
“If you have a toe bone… you’d have leg bones too, right?”
[? Of course?]
Alex’s eyes darkened.
“If there are leg bones, there’d be hip bones too.”
[Huh? What, are we having anatomy class?]
[Of course they’re there. How else would the leg bones stay in place?]
The fist clutching the small Bone Fragment tightened.
“If there are hip bones, there’d be vertebrae too.”
[Right.]
[Man, my spine. It was so beautiful, not a single herniated disc.]
His heart hammered so hard it shook his entire body.
“If there are vertebrae, there’d be shoulder blades too.”
[Yeah. And the collarbone next to it. Plus the arm bones connected to everything.]
[I had a real hard time gathering those and processing them.]
As Alex clenched his teeth, veins bulged in his neck.
“And above that, there’d be cervical vertebrae.”
[My neck bones were perfectly shaped too—no forward curve, no straight neck, nothing wrong at all.]
Alex steadied his roughening breath and spoke in a low voice.
“And… the Skull. The cranium. That would be there too, right?”
[Yep!]
[My beautiful skull!]
[That was such an important part, I packed it full of Mana!]
“Damn it!”
Alex didn’t hold back.
“It’s your fault! You bastard!!”

* * *
[…What? Me?]
Startled by Alex’s sudden outburst, Ibek stared blankly for a moment before his voice rose in protest.
[What did I do! I didn’t do anything!]
[And did you just curse at me!?]
“That Skull of yours…!”
As though heat were surging to the crown of his head, Alex shot up from his chair, about to shout.
“Uuuung….”
He stopped himself—Leo was still sleeping in the back room.
[Don’t wake Leo!]
“Urgh…!”
Alex forced himself to breathe steadily, struggling to stay calm.
But could anyone be expected to stay calm about this? Wasn’t anger the obvious response?
“Damn it! I’m going to lose my mind!”
Keeping his voice as low as possible, Alex felt his fury with nowhere to go and nearly tore at his own hair.
[You need to explain what happened. Otherwise I won’t understand.]
At that, Alex—who had been pacing silently around the room in agitation—seemed to settle somewhat, sinking back into his chair. He looked exhausted.
[You really burned yourself out.]
“Haa….”
Alex pressed his forehead and exhaled a deep breath before opening his mouth. Right. Let me start by explaining.
“The appearance of a Demon King and a Hero in our world—this is the third time.”
[Oh, so this wasn’t the first time?]
“No. The Hero won both times before.”
They were ‘properly prepared’ Heroes, so they never suffered the kind of catastrophic Destruction that befell us in that ‘future’.
“But Leo became a Hero at sixteen. Still a child.”
At an age when he was barely managing to raise an infant alone, the fate of the world had been placed on his shoulders.
“He had the talent, but there simply wasn’t enough time to build real skill and gain experience. The Demon Race’s territory kept expanding.”
Alex continued, his expression grim.
“…Leo endured countless hardships to grow stronger, but….”
Only two years later, at eighteen years old.
‘The Hero Leo’ was killed by the Demon King.
“This generation’s Demon King was simply too strong. And the Demon Race with him.”
As if they had obtained some new power.
“Even the Patriarch Sollenius didn’t know where this ‘new power’ came from or how it appeared.”
[Oh….]
“And in that Demon King’s body was embedded a Skull—something that supplied immense power. It glowed with a sickly green light, just like this Bone Fragment.”
A silence fell.
Ibek swallowed involuntarily and opened his mouth.
[…Uh….]
[That… looks like my skull.]
“So it IS your fault, you damned thing!!”
This time Alex kept his voice low but poured all his fury into it.
“Leo! Damn it! How much he suffered because of that!”
Even now, thinking of it, anger rose like a tide.
[B-but I didn’t do it!]
[My bones are just… well, like a kitchen knife, right? If someone kills with a kitchen knife, you don’t blame the blacksmith!]
[Though I suppose the damage here is more like a nuclear bomb than a knife….]
Ibek made a groaning sound and lamented. As he recalled the ‘future’ Alex had described earlier, his spirits sank further.
“If you’d poured all that Mana into the bone, you should have put a lock on it so no one else could use it! Such a dangerous thing! They even bind the Holy Sword so only a Hero can wield it!”
Alex’s voice rose, low and sharp.
[How was I supposed to know! I didn’t know either!]
[I didn’t! One moment I was home, and the next I’d fallen into another world!]
[I was trapped in a Life Vessel! How was I supposed to know my body would shatter into pieces scattered across the continent! How was I supposed to know the Demon King and the Demon Race would use my bones!]
“Argh! Really!!”
He had a point, but Alex’s blood was still boiling.
With nowhere for his rage to go, Alex clutched his head and groaned in anguish. Ibek, equally anguished and indignant, gradually calmed and apologized hesitantly.
[I’m… sorry I didn’t put protective magic on them….]
He understood the depth of Alex’s rage—he had witnessed Leo’s death firsthand.
“Hah….”
[No, wait—look on the bright side. We’ve found out why the Demon King and the Demon Race grew stronger. There has to be a way to fix this, doesn’t there?]
That ‘reason the Demon King and Demon Race grew stronger’ spoke on desperately.
“…It’s also the source of the Corrupted Dungeon.”
The reason the Corrupted Dungeon hadn’t been destroyed was likely because they’d never recovered Ibek’s bones, which appeared to be ordinary bone.
‘Ibek’s bones must have remained in the dungeon and become a second dungeon core, spawning monsters and demons.’
As time passed, the Corrupted Dungeon finally reached its breaking point, and the Dungeon Break must have erupted.
[Yes… that’s right. And it’s all because of my bones….]
[I’m sorry.]
Hah….
Learning such an enormous truth weighed heavy on his mind. Sighs came unbidden.
“And Holy Power not working very well….”
[Maybe it’s because I’m a being from another world?]
Hah….
The sighs wouldn’t stop.
[I’m really sorry.]
“…Enough.”
Hearing Ibek’s dejected voice for the first time, Alex splashed water on his face and tried to collect his confused thoughts and scattered mind.
“You’re right—it’s not your fault you fell into our world.”
It was just an accident. Pure chance.
Tragic and lamentable and unjust and infuriating.
“Still, we have to clean up the mess. Help me fight the Demon King earnestly.”
[Understood!]
“And pave the way for Leo too.”
[I’ll do my best!]
Ibek spoke with renewed determination.
[But listen—I’m not asking for any leniency or anything!]
[It seems like I’m the one who caused your Regression!]
“…What?”
Alex didn’t know what to make of that statement.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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