I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

Walking out of the Nova Academy, I felt the usual noisy streets with four-wheelers on the road and hot air balloons in the sky. I walked around the streets, deciding to enjoy the fresh air and the scenery as I slowed down my footsteps.

Staring at the people walking along the city road, I fell into deep thought as I looked back at my meeting with Nathalia.

'Be aware—Amadeous knows about Paradox's existence.'

That was what Nathalia informed me before I returned from the dream world.

Honestly, it's not surprising to me.

The Demon King 'Amadeous' must have already figured out my existence, whether directly from his own accord or because he heard it from Nathalia herself.

The latter one was the most possible answer, knowing that Nathalia had summoned humans to the Demon Continent, and not long after, she sent them back.

She probably needed a valid explanation to speak in front of the Demon King about why she did that.

The Authority Paradox was granted by the goddess Ylthea. She was known as the creator of the universe and the overlooker of other Authorities… so messing with her apostle would be a big blunder.

"Fuuuuu…"

Well, thanks to her not revealing my identity, I was able to finally take a proper breather and focus on myself.

It will take time for them to know about Paradox's real identity from that little information… they only know that I, the Paradox, was someone either from those humans Nathalia teleported to the Demon Continent or from the heroes who came to their rescue.

I got time…

Knowing that they were dealing with another Authority holder, they won't make their moves carelessly.

I've built a lot of stress during these few weeks, both physically and mentally.

Walking around a corner, I found a sweet shop with plenty of customers lining up in a row. Noticing that, Sera demanded to have some.

'Human, I want those.'

…Fortunately, I had already realized this before she even asked, so without arguing with her any longer, I went there.

As I walked closer, I noticed that the queue was increasing. I hurriedly quickened my pace and joined the line at the back.

I feel hungry too.

Seriously, I was rather dumb expecting to fill my stomach in that dream world.

That was a fucking dream, dammit!

'You humans make some great sweets!' Sera informed.

"Yeah. Yeah," I murmured, moving a step forward with the queue.

Honestly, she can even rival Aria's love for cakes at this point. Both of them have a sweet tooth.

"Oi, brat, move,"

A light push came from the person behind me.

Moving forward, I turned my head to get a proper look at him—a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing an office attire: proper suit, necktie, and specs on his annoyed eyes.

Squinting my eyes, I nodded my head apologetically, but somehow, that made him even more annoyed.

I ignored him and moved forward.

What is wrong with this man?

He must have had a fight with his wife…

"Next~"

A young boy from the sweet shop called out—it was my turn. Reaching the counter, I scanned all the sweets on display.

"What can I get you, sir?"

"Hmmmm…"

Such varieties… there were three rows, and on them, six different cupcakes were displayed.

Only today did I realize that we have these kinds of sweets.

Sera, what do you want?

Her answer came immediately.

'There are so many choices,' she thought for a second before giving her final choice.

'Take all of them.'

"..."

Are you serious?!

She wants me to die by eating sweets. Sera doesn't have a physical body, so instead of her, I have to eat on her behalf to satisfy her taste buds.

Seriously, I know she can survive without even eating. What type of ghost needs food?

But, I did give her my word that I would let her eat anything.

—Sigh.

Letting out a deep breath, I ordered,

"Pack up everything from here to here," I pointed with my finger, "one of each, please."

"..."

"..."

The boy stared at me for a second before replying, "O-Of course, sir."

Don't look at me like that! It's all for a ghost who's possessing me.

'I hate you,' Sera commented, pouting her mouth. 'Hmph!'

"Here, sir," handing me the package, he also gave me the bill, "your total is fifteen thousand."

"Hm?"

I blinked at the boy. Fifteen thousand for eighteen cupcakes?

Looking at the bill in my hand, I checked again.

[15,000]

Either way, I have to pay. Taking out my wallet and paying the amount, I moved to the nearest bench.

Taking my seat and pulling out the first cupcake toward my mouth, I thought back on the things I had missed checking earlier.

But before I did anything, I confirmed it with Sera.

Sera, if I use my Fate's Interface here, it won't get noticed by any Authority holder, right?

Agreeing with me, she said,

'Mhm.'

Alright, I've been meaning to check the rest of my skills. Now is the best time.

Taking a bite from the cupcake—

"Hmmm!"

"What is this thing?!"

I held the cupcake in front of my face—a choco chip cupcake with vanilla cream on top.

Seriously, just one bite and the flavors exploded in my mouth.

"W-wow, this is delicious."

Sera agreed.

'Indeed.'

Anyway, taking another bite and focusing on Fate's Interface, I activated it.

— — —「Child of Ylthea」— — —

►Strength: 80

►Agility: 72

►Stamina: 89

►Intelligence: 52

►Essence Capacity: 100

►Authority: Paradox

►Stigma: Apostle of Ylthea

►Strength: 80

→Skills

→Arts

— — — — — — — — — — — —

A purple transparent display popped in front of me, but unlike before, I noticed some changes to it.

"...hm?" I squinted my eyes at it. "Weird. How did it change?"

If I remember correctly, Fate's Interface didn't look like this before. Earlier, it was more detailed—I was able to see all my skills just by opening it.

To my comment, Sera replied,

'That's the beauty of Fate's Interface. It changes based on its user's need.'

User's need?

I was confused.

Sera explained further,

'Earlier at the Demon Continent, you were in constant threat, so Fate's Interface displayed your skill list in its main window.'

Now I get it. So basically, this Fate's Interface changes based on my surrounding environment.

'Precisely. What you're seeing right now is the default window—you have to get used to it.'

After Sera's explanation, I analyzed the screen in front of me again.

Taking out another cupcake, I took a bite.

"This thing even shows my strength..." I murmured to myself.

Strength 80. Not bad…

Oh... My stamina is high too.

"Hmm?"

Then I noticed something.

"Why is my intelligence so low?"

Is it just me, or is this thing lower than the previous one?

Giggling, Sera teased,

'See? You're super dumb. This thing is the proof.'

"..."

Hey, I'm not dumb!

'Sure.'

"Tsk!"

Ignoring it, I read further.

"W-Wow, look at my Essence Capacity," I said in amazement. "A perfect point."

Well, given the fact that I can control all five elementals, this isn't that surprising.

"That reminds me..."

Sera, you can control all five elementals, right?

Sera replied,

'Not just me. All the elves were able to utilize the five elementals.'

She continued.

'Elves were the only creatures who could do that. I was surprised when I first saw you, as a Human, have the same powers as us.'

I myself wasn't able to use all five before. After I got caught up in that Frostvile Museum blast, I noticed some humongous changes in my skills and elemental control. Before that, I was just an ordinary fifteen-year-old.

That blast…

There are some mysteries behind it that I want to uncover, but no matter how much I think, I can't link certain things together, as if I'm missing something.

"Fuuuu…"

Let's not think about it...

Reading further, I stumbled upon two things:

→Skills

→Arts

Concentrating on 'Skills', another window popped up, closing the previous one.

— — —「Skills」— — —

►Distortion : <A> Rank

►Elemental View : <S> Rank

►Paradox Invoker : <Ex> Rank

►Ruler : <S> Rank

►Immortality : <Ex> Rank

►Appraiser : <A> Rank

←Back

— — — — — — — — — — — —

Sera was the first to react.

'Hold up!' She sounded genuinely surprised. 'You have two Ex Rank skills!'

"...Yeah," I said casually. "Is this not common?"

She sounded serious.

'Common my foot!' She was panting in her voice, her tone cracking with each word.

Seeing her act like this, I got nervous too.

"W-What exactly is wrong here?" I asked.

Paradox Invoker and Immortality—I have two Ex-Ranked skills.

'Do you know what an Ex Rank skill is?' she asked.

I nodded my head.

It's among the Authority Holder's skills, right?

'...True, but an Authority Holder is only blessed with a single Ex Rank skill,' she explained.

Thinking for a second, I replied back in my mind.

Maybe Goddess Ylthea granted me two Ex—

Then it hit me...

That day when I met Goddess Ylthea, as she showed me the destroyed Olympus, she told me something:

"That skill, Immortality, was not something I granted you."

"..."

The hair on my body stood up.

How could I have missed this detail?!

Calming my mind and taking a few breaths, I asked Sera,

"Sera, what does this mean?"

She went silent for a second before she spoke.

'Accept my apologies, Human.' She sounded serious. 'It was my fault for not noticing it before…'

She continued,

'An Ex Rank skill is something a god grants to their apostle, and each god is only blessed with one Ex Rank skill. For you to possess two, that can only mean one thing…'

I was at the edge of my seat right now. It wasn't hard to guess what Sera was talking about, and if what I concluded was the same as her, then my life was about to change one more time.

Sera finished her sentence.

'...Human, you possess two Authorities.'