[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-transmigrated-as-the-original-hero-in-a-game-lik":3,"chapter-transmigrated-as-the-original-hero-in-a-game-lik-transmigrated-as-the-original-hero-in-a-game-lik-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Transmigrated As The Original Hero In A Game-Like World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},978855,1277,"Chapter 21: Ch 21: Protagonist.","transmigrated-as-the-original-hero-in-a-game-lik-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>It was around the evening when the sun was setting in the background, when Mars finally struck down the wolf with a wooden sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath and wiped his sweaty face with his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his breathing calmed down a bit, he flopped down on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was dead tired—he had been moving his body all day long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran went and sat down next to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How’s it? How do you feel about killing a wolf for the first time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the, that’s what you ask from someone who is finally getting his piece of rest after being worked to death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Don’t now people usually say that you have worked hard?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars looked at Kieran with a fed-up expression, then sighed and released his expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, he was always like that, rather, being normal would be his abnormality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly speaking, I was scared sh!t at first. I was so nervous that I couldn’t even move ambly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like his heart had stopped moving when the wolf growled and showed its razor sharp fangs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, I managed to hit it once, and that once became twice, and the twice became thrice, and at some point, I was just no longer afraid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of fear, rapacious fighting spirit filled his heart as if to outflow to his mind. A wolf’s wild predatory gaze and sharp molars frighten him no longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so? Good job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran smiled and patted Mars on the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Kieran, who was stingy with his praises, praised him, Mars smiled brightly as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right bro. It’s something I’ve been wondering about before. Why do you hate Isabelle so much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some may not like someone else in their first encounter, habit of bad first impressions. However, Kieran’s attitude toward Isabelle was too extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars couldn’t help but wonder why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran spoke, looking straight into Mars’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You like her, don’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W, What?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars was taken aback by the sudden query. What followed was a combination of crude excuses that were embarrassing to even utter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after a while, was Mars finally able to calm himself down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly nodded his head in affirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes, that’s correct. I do like Isabelle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then isn’t it good for you that I hate her? To be honest, I was a bit sassy indeed. But, if I had been interested in her, it would have been the end for you, buddy. You won’t even stand a chance, ha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran rubbed his palm against his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then he thought—no, Mars will have his confidence shambled, but, he had nothing to console with, because everything he said was too true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Mars, who has a moderately decent appearance, Kieran had a face that made him look like a high nobleman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frankly speaking, Mars was indeed a little relieved from inside that Kieran was hostile to Isabelle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Mars was feeling the bitterness of reality, Kieran opened his mouth while savouring the last glow of sunset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I also had a childhood friend like Isabelle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars realized that those words were the real answer to his question. He listened to Kieran with a serious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was an orphan. I lost my parents when I was young, so I can’t even remember their faces.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was because he couldn’t fathom that Kieran was an orphan like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And, you know what? Children are pure and innocent, but sometimes cruel too. I was bullied by the village children because I had no parents.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At that time, the only friend who reached out to me was Neria. She was the village chief’s granddaughter, and she always took care of me and, helped me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the village chief’s granddaughter, so, the village bullies did not dare say anything reckless about Kieran anymore. Saying that, he chuckled with a nostalgic expression on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I liked her as a kid. How can I not? She was the one and only person who took care of me when the world ignored me. Can’t help but fall in love with her, eh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars smiled and nodded his head as if he knew that feeling too. That’s what Isabella was to him too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And, you know what? Neria’s dream was the same, just like yours—to become a knight. It was a dream too big for a small village chief’s granddaughter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But she did not give up. She ardently practiced her swordsmanship skills, and even saved her pocket money to buy herself a sword. I knew, she was just meant for it. So I decided to follow her. I wanted to like what she liked too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars continued to listen quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After a lot of hard work, I finally got the right to stand by her side. We went on many adventures. Caught monsters and met many new people. Then, we met a man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Kieran mentioned ’a man’, his face contorted for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he soon returned to his normal laid back expression and continued the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That man had some pretty great skills. He was honestly much stronger than me. He wanted to accompany us and we gladly accepted it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a mistake. Kieran murmured under his breath while sneakily glancing at Mars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our adventures continued, and then from a certain moment, the distance between the two of them began to grow closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the case of a critical situation, Neria relied more on him than on me. It lobbed my pride, but what could I do?It was true that I was weak, too weak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran had a deep sense of defeat on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars had no choice but to swallow his saliva. Kieran was so much stronger than him, but even someone like him couldn’t do anything...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, he felt that the continent was wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought it was fine though. Unlike him, I thought that Neria and I were bound by a strong bond. Have you ever felt the same way with that lass named Isabelle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, I do feel that way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he gets married later, his wife could only be Isabelle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Mars had that conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, it was all an illusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like suddenly a hammer hit his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Mars could come back to his senses, Kieran continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was that one night. It was a particularly sleepless night. I wanted to go for a night walk, at that time, I noticed that she wasn’t in the bed next to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was trying to find out where she had gone when I heard some strange noises from the room next door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice from the room next door was Neria’s. An ominous imagination gripped my mind. But, I opened my door, believing it was nothing like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars swallowed his saliva.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, my damned ominous imaginations have always been right. What I saw through the gap in the door... was Neria, who was biting that man’s cock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many emotions on Kieran’s face, which he struggled to hold up to this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sadness. Anger. Betrayal. Disappointment, etc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was mixed, with all the negative emotions that a human could imagine was mashed up in a hodgepodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that expression, Mars couldn’t almost breathe for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That, big bro...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah... I’m sorry, I must have been too empathetic. It’s been a while, but even now, when I think of it, it comes up like this, mh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran had an awkward expression as he shook the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, that’s why that lass named Isabelle didn’t look so nice to me. Because... she was just as beautiful and just as youthful as Neria back then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, loosen your face, you baby chick. This is just my story anyway. Your’s would be different, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes, definitely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha, look at the heavy atmosphere I caused. I was just talking. Thanks to you, I now have to say goodbye in this heavy atmosphere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars, who had a grim expression on his face, widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goodbye?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, I’m no mama bird, boy. I can’t stay here forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, b-but... can’t you just stay a little longer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nope. To be honest, I’m already running a little late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said that with a grin, Kieran took out a money bag from his arms and threw it at Mars. Mars, who received the heavy money bag, tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This..?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About two thousand gold. With this, go to a Swordsmanship Guild in a nearby town and learn some cool sword skills.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two thousand?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars looked at the money bag in his hand, startled like a little lamb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never held a hundred gold in his whole life, let alone two thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars’s hand holding the money bag trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He resolutely shook his head and handed the money bag back to Kieran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I don’t think this is right. I cannot pay you back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Duh, what should I do of a guy who wants to become a brave knight but is scared of some measly two thousand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Succeed in your ventures and pay me back, you idiot. Don’t worry, it’s interest free!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grim expression on Kieran’s face was long gone. He patted Mars’s back with a bright smile as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To that, Mars also laughed helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I will pay it back after I make it big.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do pay it back. Don’t die before you do, you stubborn punk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving him a few more tips, he turned his back and left. Mars waved his hand to see him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, when he disappeared from sight, Mars’ expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the recount Kieran had told him earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Kieran bro is handsome.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just handsome, but very handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is also slightly taller than average and has a good physique. He is a skilled adventurer and not poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His personality is little questionable, but still charismatic in its own right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the one who took care of Mars like no other, he was a kind man too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’...Yet brother’s love did not come true.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He devoted himself to the woman he liked, but his love was not reciprocated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran had no shortages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran was like that too, but, what about him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is uglier than Kieran, has no skills to speak of, was dirt poor, with a less interesting personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was how he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mars! Did that big brother go? Can I come up now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, his unrequited love, Isabelle showed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was as lovely as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Mars’s gaze on her was quite complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t stop by this village to take Mars with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if I take Mars with me and train him, he will grow quickly, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It could be a poison pill instead.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is a protagonist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t it referring to someone who overcomes the hard trials that befall him in the name of fate and carves out a path of his own way ahead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what if I take Mars with me and change his ways?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That’s no longer the main character.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just an extra or a slightly important supporting role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I didn’t take Mars with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because that guy has to carve his own path as the main character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I can do for him is to give him some advice and to steer him on his path while being away from tragedy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’My lie must have created a stir in Mars’ heart.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hopefully the next time we meet, the stir will be bigger and ready to become waves that leads him to joy.\u003C\u002Fp>",1941,"2026-06-03T08:03:25.628Z",1,"novelbin.me","0ff836723fe27c8a44b201c970609805694c06483e31ee217433452c27f93824","transmigrated-as-the-original-hero-in-a-game-lik-chapter-22","transmigrated-as-the-original-hero-in-a-game-lik-chapter-20",191,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ftransmigrated-as-the-original-hero-in-a-game-lik-cover.jpg"]