‘The Hero’

A word that originally meant a brave person, but nowadays more often refers to a superhuman capable of defeating the Demon King with just a sword.

It’s such an appealing concept that it frequently appears in both games and novels alike.

My favorite game, “Chronicles of Xian”, is also based on that very concept of a hero.

The story follows a commoner-born protagonist who overcomes countless hardships alongside his captivating companions to ultimately defeat the Demon King—a classic, well-trodden narrative.

Although it wasn’t groundbreaking, the charming characters, solid world-building, and intricate skill trees made the game objectively well-regarded.

Some people were drawn to the well-crafted, easy-to-understand world while others enjoyed exploring its many intricate details, creating a strong fanbase that relished in fanfiction and other creative works inspired by the game’s characters.

For me, “Chronicles of Xian” was all about its expansive character development. I loved raising different heroes.

Whether it was the classic swordsman, archer, or mage, I explored them all.

But I particularly enjoyed following unconventional paths—like raising a shaman or a bard to defeat the Demon King in creative ways.

Since I was always focused on how to defeat the Demon King more efficiently or imaginatively, I cared little about the game’s storyline or setting.

By my second playthrough, I was already skipping the story. Out of the thousand or so side quests, I barely completed over a hundred.

Looking back now, that was a huge mistake.

...If I had known I’d be trapped in this game, I would have paid much closer attention to the story.

It’s now been three years since I was pulled into “Chronicles of Xian”

At first, I thought I was losing my mind.

I mean, who suddenly wakes up in another world—much less the world of a game?

I tried everything: denying my reality, convincing myself I’d wake up from a dream, even venting my frustrations to the gods in the temple.

I did everything anyone watching would call crazy.

But as they say, humans are creatures of adaptation.

In the end, I had no choice but to adjust. Or rather, I had to. There was no other option.

“Chronicles of Xian” is a game where the hero defeats the Demon King.

In other words, until the hero defeats the Demon King, the world is constantly under threat by him.

“Your Majesty, Lord Xian is expected to arrive in the capital tomorrow.”

“Yes, tomorrow already.”

The character I’ve possessed, “Laios Arhan”, had a father who was assassinated by the Demon King’s army, and the empire is constantly under the shadow of the Demon King’s looming threat.

“Prepare for a procession from the city walls to the imperial palace. As the daughter of Duke Fael is among the hero’s party, assign the preparations to the duke.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

To stabilize the trembling empire and help the hero Xian defeat the Demon King, I had no choice but to accept my new reality.

I became the Emperor... in a hero game.