Hero Regresses with Villain System-Chapter 26: A Temple’s Shadow

’The wilting lady?’ Adam thought as his face grew white.

The same thing from his vision? But that was just... sort of an apparition? Was it not? A simple lady who seemed more like a symbol than anything substantial or dangerous.

Yet it was obviously something more, something sinister. That’s not the kind of name people make up, especially someone as terrified as Natalie.

There was another thing that confused him. How did she know any of this? About Evan, the wilting lady, everything. He figured it had something to do with her powers, showing the first realm blemish of his leadership. The first thing they should’ve done was go over everyone’s arsenal.

’That’s not really important right now. There’s something hurting Evan and Varek, something that can get to us as well,’ Adam thought as he glanced at Set.

The stupid football knew about this, at least to some extent. After all, he was the one who told Adam to be quiet, that she was watching everything. He didn’t just know her either—he feared her.

Which made him doubt whether or not he could free their comrades.

Without turning to Set, Adam asked, ’Do you think we can save them from this wilting lady?’

Again, the football didn’t perform any of his signature acrobatics or other weird things. Instead, he responded cutely, ’Them? If you mean these two idiots, sure. Though I wouldn’t mind leaving the man behind. If you mean that idiot the girl talked about, then no. You don’t mess with the Mother, kid.’

Adam nodded his understanding once, closing his eyes as the harsh truth of leadership cascaded upon him. That’s how it was then.

"Can we do anything to free them? A-Adam... t-tell me there’s something we can do!" Natalie called, her eyes filled with fear but determined to save the two all the same. In a furious rage of passion, she leapt from her fetal position, clutching the edges of Adam’s suit as she stared into his eyes.

"Please!"

The situation was clear to him. If he outright said his plan, they would rebuke it. Just like in the Endless White, leaving behind a teammate would result in a complete mutiny.

However, this time they weren’t running to the Temple. They were running from it. Whatever Aria was told about this place, she obviously got nothing more than footnotes.

This place didn’t just hold Set. It didn’t just hold some Kaiju. It held death itself. A death that had claimed thousands of species already.

What could they possibly do against that?

Sure, they were inheritors. He didn’t know much about what that meant, but he knew it made them strong. It was likely that they could grow to be useful in the coming battle against extinction.

However, even just Adam far outclassed them. Henry wasn’t too bad himself, and although Natalie was weak right now, not only was she maturing into a capable ally, but she also apparently had some kind of prophetic power in addition to healing.

In short, it would be far more likely that he could stop the apocalypse if he sacrificed Red-Hair and Shadow.

Even if the reality of life pained him.

Closing his eyes as he sighed once more, Adam turned to the two and said, "Follow me. I know my way through this Temple. We’ll find them and then we’ll leave."

’Huh. Who knew a puny human like you could lie so well!’

...

Just like the red markers had led him into the Temple, they were leading him out. All the while, he made sure to remain vigilant of not just the lurking monster in the darkness but also that chicken Kaiju.

With any luck, the wilting lady had gotten to it. If not...

’What’s worrying about it going to do?’ Adam thought to himself as he cleared his mind. All that mattered was leaving the Temple. Being a fucking pussy wouldn’t help at all.

Besides, there was a much more pressing matter at hand. Right now, Henry and Natalie were only following him because he had promised to save the others. Once they reached the edge of the Temple, what would they do?

Most likely rebel. Which would mean he’d have to fight them for their own good.

Taking a glance behind him, Adam could already see signs of that upcoming struggle. Natalie was shuffling skittishly, taking multiple worried glances behind her. Henry kept his gaze forward, but not at the Temple or anything else.

Henry made sure his gaze never left Adam’s back. He was watching Adam’s every move, and as time passed, Adam could see more and more doubt creep into his empty stare.

Yes, the future was obvious to him even though Natalie was the seer. They were going to be stupid, forcing him to step in.

However, he was resolved. He had entered the Temple alone, but he was not going to leave it alone. Even if a few more had to die, he could rely on that fact.

"You said you know where to go."

Natalie’s cold, accusatory statement stopped Adam in his tracks. They weren’t close to the exit, and yet he had been found out.

’She’s a psychic, idiot! Of course, she’d find you out,’ Set smirked. Adam rolled his eyes, almost cursing the distance they had been making. The closer they got to salvation, the more annoying this fucking football became.

And when Natalie was staring at him with a mixture of fear and contempt, he didn’t need another distraction.

Turning to them, Adam latched on to the quiet humming of machinery as he said, "I do know where to go."

The three were silent as the lost species hummed around them, their only artifacts that survived time and allowed this Temple to remain alive. Then, Natalie was the first to break that silence.

"They aren’t that way. Maybe you didn’t know where you were going."

Adam stared at her for a second before shaking his head. "I know where I’m going."

The second he finished talking, Henry stepped in front of Natalie. Putting a protective arm between her and Adam, he asked, "So you were leaving them to die. Why?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Cocking his head to the side, Adam stared at Henry in wonder. His awareness, confidence, power... all of it meant Henry knew the real world. The pain and the struggle.

So what kind of question was why?

"You know how the world is. I realized that we couldn’t save them and then, as your leader, made a decision."

Both of them shook their heads vehemently in defiance, Henry in disgust and Natalie in fear.

Sighing, Adam accepted the fact that words weren’t going to do the trick. Once again, he’d have to drag them to safety.

Because he was the only one who saw the truth. He was the only one here who knew true sacrifice, loss, and pain. Thus, that numbness made him a capable leader.

One who wasn’t afraid to do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

"I’m sorry," Adam said, knocking them out before they could react.

However, before he could even bend down to pick them up, he saw three tendrils come down from the roof. The first two picked them up, and the last was for him.

Come, children. I have long waited for thee.