In the months that followed, Wen and the priestess lived through adventures as perilous as they were idyllic. Together, they heroically faced goblins and trolls roaming the outskirts of the Barbarian Lands of Fantasia, wizards from the Beilin army, and even Asian mercenaries in the pay of Zhenhai.
One evening, after a mission where they had to track down a centaur holed up in a temple to the south, they found shelter in an inn near a riverbank.
— Would you like something with your meal?
A waiter approached, a notebook in hand.
— Alcohol for both of us...
Alya, the priestess, answered cheerfully while discreetly slipping a small coin into the waiter's pocket.
— I don't drink alcohol... I'm still underage, Alya...
Wen Lin murmured faintly. But the priestess leaned against him, pressing her chest to his arm.
— Come on, just one glass~
She pushed a pint of beer toward him.
Under Alya's insistence, Wen gave in. He brought the mug to his lips and drank the amber liquid in one go. Almost immediately, his vision blurred. Everything became unstable, and a violent dizziness caused him to lose consciousness.
When he opened his eyes, he felt numb. Above him, Alya, naked, was smiling mischievously. He, too, was undressed. A second veil of darkness fell over his mind before he could react.
The next day
Wen woke up with a start, disoriented. His clothes, his jewelry, his gear... Everything was gone. His heart raced. What had happened?
He jumped out of bed and rushed to the door, kicking it open with a furious blow. In the hallway, royal knights were waiting for him, their faces grim.
— You're just in time! Listen, Alya told me—
Before he could finish his sentence, one of the knights slammed him to the ground.
— Hero, you're coming with us.
Royal Court of Fantasia
Wen was dragged to the throne room. As soon as he arrived, he tried to protest.
— What's going on here?! Alya, are you here?! You—
A brutal blow to the back of his head sent him crashing to the floor. One of the knights drew his katana and placed the cold blade against his throat.
— I trusted you... But now you disgust me. Give me one reason not to kill you right now, you filthy scum!
The heroine with the sharp blade shouted in Japanese, her eyes filled with contempt.
Another hero, the one he hated the most, burst out laughing.
— Pff... You can't expect anything from a piece of trash like that! And you dared to criticize me for my harems?!
Wen wanted to respond, but then his gaze met Alya's. Her expression... It wasn't one of distress. No. She wore a sly smirk, a sadistic grin.
— My poor Alya, can you testify before everyone?
The king's voice echoed through the hall, exasperated yet full of authority.
Alya curled up, pretending to sob.
— The... The hero raped me last night... He took advantage of me while I was drunk... I... I feel so filthy...
She put her hands to her face, hiding what appeared to be tears... But Wen saw, through her fingers, a brief mocking grimace directed at him.
Everything collapsed.
Why? Why did he have to endure the apocalypse, be transported to this other world... and now this? He, who had confided in Alya, who had supported her... How could she do this to him?
A flood of rage overwhelmed him. He clenched his fists and slammed them into the floor.
— BITCH!!
The knights tried to restrain him, but a wave of dark energy exploded around him, throwing them backward.
— And now... You plan to stop me?!
The heroic archer, furious, drew his bow and aimed at Wen.
— You might still be useful... But if you weren't a hero, you'd be sentenced to lifetime torture.
The king's voice rang out again.
— However, I cannot tolerate such a heretic here. You are sentenced to exile to the nation of Zhenhai. Get out!
Wen gritted his teeth. He cast one last look at Alya.
Without a word, he turned on his heel.
He, who had been a hero... was now the most hated of all.