I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 142: An Invitation

And the moment I broke it, a strange, sweet, rose-like scent spread through the air.

"Strange…" said Ruby as she carefully inspected the letter in my hand.

"So, it this a letter?" she asked.

Nodding, I said, "Seems like it."

'By the way, human,' interrupted Sera, her voice carrying a curious tone, 'try reading the letter.'

Yeah, I plan to do that.

With that, I pulled the letter from the envelope and unfolded it.

"...?"

At first, I thought I was seeing things.

But after Ruby's comment—"What is this language?"—I realized it wasn't just me.

The letter was long, at least three to five paragraphs.

I was now certain that it was something special.

The letters on the paper consisted of boxy handwriting. From the looks of it, it seemed to be some kind of ancient language.

Getting curious, I asked Sera,

Can you translate this?

But she was already on it.

'This is a God Tongue, spoken only in the past—when Olympus existed,' she informed me.

'As for translating it, I already did. Allow me to inject the language into your memory.'

As she said this, several streams of information surged into my mind.

It was overwhelming—but within moments, I could not only understand the language, I could read it fluently.

'Done,' Sera informed.

Looking back at the letter, I was now able to read it.

—-------

To the one called Paradox,

I write to you not as a god above mortals, but as one who shares a stake in what is about to unfold.

You, whose presence defies timelines and stirs fate itself. I have felt your awakening. The moment you tore free from your sealed fate, the currents of time shifted. It is not coincidence, but it is convergence.

As such, I extend to you this invitation.

Come to Windstorm Island, off the coast of Aquadore, in two days.

There, my Apostle shall await you.

She will recognize you. And you… will recognize her.

Time, as you know it, is no longer linear. You must understand your place in this tangled world before it coils too tightly to unwind.

Do not delay. As the past remembers you. The future fears you.

And I…

I am merely the one watching all ends.

—Karton

—-------

I went silent the moment I started reading it. Sera, too, was quiet. She didn't interrupt. She didn't ask anything.

We were simply too invested in the letter—one written by a god himself.

Seeing me quiet, Ruby asked worriedly,

"What's written in it?" She, too, seemed to understand the weight of this letter.

Folding the letter in my hand, I carefully slid it back into the envelope.

"Fuuuuu…"

Scratching my head, I looked up at her.

"It's an invitation."

"Invitation?" Ruby asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"Yeah. And it was solely directed at me."

After hearing that, her expression grew more puzzled as she extended her question.

"Whose invitation is this? And... from where to?"

To that, I answered both.

"A letter from a god. He's asking to meet me," I said casually.

"What?!" Ruby flinched, clearly unable to process my words.

"Wait! Wait! A god?" she asked again. "But didn't you say the gods vanished a long time ago?"

"True, they did," I informed her. "But I don't know how or why—'he' came back to Earth."

Ruby gulped.

"S-So, a god descended to our land?" she asked, hesitating. I could see it clearly in her expression.

I nodded in response.

"T-Then... are you going to meet 'him'?"

At her question, I paused to think.

The God of Time—Karton—was someone supposedly on our side. Not to mention, the pendant Aegis that I carry was something he created.

Maybe... meeting him will be beneficial. I plan to ask him why I was chosen. Why did the gods vanish? And beyond that—why can't I die? Why am I the only one who possesses two Authorities? Could it be because I'm the Child mentioned in that prophecy?

These were the questions I still didn't have answers to. And as a god, he must know them.

Right?

He has to.

Turning to Ruby, I answered her directly. "Yes, I'm planning to accept this invitation."

The moment those words left my mouth, Ruby shot back.

"Then take me with you!"

She insisted. "I don't want you to meet a literal god all alone—no matter what side he's on."

She didn't let me speak.

"I will be coming too," she said, unfolding her arms. Stepping close, she gripped my hands tightly. "Take me. I'll use everything in my power to assist you."

Her pleading red eyes were something I couldn't resist. And without hurting her pride, I accepted.

After all, I had promised her—if I ever felt scared, I'd take her hand.

So…

"All right," I said, giving her a warm smile.

"Mhm." She nodded, returning a smile that instantly washed away all my fears.

After explaining everything the letter contained, and telling her about Karton, we finally decided on our date of departure.

"We'll leave tomorrow evening," I suggested.

Karton had asked to meet in two days, and the flight to Windstorm Island, Aquadore would take us around 24 hours. So, leaving tomorrow would be the most optimal option available.

After thinking for a few seconds, Ruby nodded.

"All right. That gives me plenty of time to submit a leave of absence to the Hero Association."

Of course, Ruby was a Rank-7 hero. She couldn't just disappear into thin air.

An official hero was required to formally submit a leave request if they wished to take a break, so the Association could assign another hero to take over her missions.

The whole process would take a day to complete.

Remembering that, I made a request.

"Use my illness as an excuse and get me a leave from Nova too."

"No way," Ruby said immediately, narrowing her eyes.

I blinked in surprise. "Why not?!"

What did I do wrong? She was the Headmistress. She could do anything she wanted.

'Aren't you taking your girlfriend's position way too casually?' Sera's voice rang in my mind, scolding me.

What? I didn't understand. I've never taken advantage of Ruby's position... at least not intentionally.

'You're going to hell,' she clicked her tongue. 'Or are you forgetting that I can read your thoughts?'

"..."

Caught red-handed.

All right, I'll admit it. I did use her authority once—on the night of the Auction House. But that was then! I couldn't help it! And she agreed to it!

"You already took a day off before," Ruby said, crossing her arms. "As such, I can't grant you another one. Otherwise, people will think I'm favoring you too much."

"Ah..."

She had a point.

If this kept happening, both students and professors would start whispering. Rumors of her favoritism would circulate, damaging her reputation... and mine.

And if anyone ever uncovered our connection, it would take the Hero Association less than a day to link everything back to me.

I didn't want that—for either of us.

So, then... what could I do to avoid showing up?

"I'll just lock myself in my room for a few days," I muttered aloud.

"..." Ruby gave me a strange look.

'Are you an idiot?' Sera scolded.

Then suggest something better, oh great queen.

I snapped back mentally.

'You could always run away from the Academy,' she replied smugly.

Are you out of your mind?! And I'm the idiot here?

"You don't need to worry about getting a leave," Ruby said suddenly.

She pulled out her tablet from her Inventory ring and turned it on, handing it to me.

"What's this?" I asked, glancing at the screen.

Clearing her throat, she grinned.

"Consider it a reward."

A reward? For what exactly?

My eyes scanned the text on the screen, which appeared to be an official notice from the Academy, and as I read, my eyes widened in disbelief.

—----

Nova Academy

All 1st Year students must attend a mandatory practical training in Vanilla City, Aquadore.

This will be undertaken as your practical assignment and will reflect your credit points in your report.

Departure: In 2 days at 8:00 AM.

Return: After 4 days.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

Bring field gear and assigned items.

Attendance is required.

Contact your homeroom instructor for details.

— Faculty of Nova

—------

Sometimes, my luck surprised even me.

Call it coincidence or something else I wasn't sure—but somehow this managed to work in my favor, and that fact alone bothered me now.

"This notification will be sent to all first-year students by tonight," Ruby said, taking the tablet from my hand.

So that's why I hadn't received it yet.

"What do you think about this matter?" she asked, staring seriously into my eyes.

I straightened my back.

"About what? The fact that the notification and my meeting with the god fall on the same date?"

Ruby's eyelid twitched.

"That too… but I was asking whether you think you can manage both the practical assignment and the meeting."

I grinned smugly.

"What do you think? Don't you know me by now?"

"Haaah…" Ruby let out a long sigh. "You and your attitude, seriously."

"Hehe," I chuckled. "I can manage."

"All right then," she said. "From my side, I can only authorize your departure a day before the venue. That should be enough, right?"

I nodded confidently. "Plenty."

With that, our conversation came to an end. I went for a final check-up with the doctor and then returned to my room.

As soon as I entered, I pulled out my old communication device and sent a message to Amy.

[Me: Tomorrow, 11 a.m.]

I needed to collect my items from the Auction House.

Not even a minute passed before I received a reply.

[Amy: All right. I also have some information about an ancient temple.]

"Ancient temple?"

That must be the information I'd asked her to find, something related to ruins or artifacts left behind by the gods.

"Great. She actually managed to find one this quickly."

With that, my schedule for tomorrow was set.