How to Live as a Knight After the Ending
Chapter 273: The Era of Humans (2)

Deliphiros.

Osian had heard that name before.

He was one of the five mayors of Tirna. A human mayor elected periodically through voting.

He came looking for Osian, saying he would make him a hero.

'I guessed he was someone with a high position, but I never expected him to be a mayor.'

Even for a recently elected mayor, Osian thought he would be at least over 40, but that wasn't the case at all. At most, he was in his early 30s, and a handsome man whose white hair suited him well.

If he hadn't introduced himself as the mayor, Osian might have mistaken him for a celebrity or actor.

'I never thought I'd meet two mayors in such a short time, when most people don't see one in their entire lifetime.'

While he met Aspirex through his connection with Amenora, Deliphiros was quite unexpected.

The man at the top of this city had personally come to meet Osian, a fixer at the bottom of society.

Normally, one would feel honored or overwhelmed by the difference in status but Osian, without showing any emotion or excitement, asked directly.

"When you say you'll make me a hero, are you asking me to work under you?"

"Saying 'under me' sounds a bit harsh, so let's say we'd be good business partners working together."

"Why me? There must be plenty of people with skills as good as mine."

"Since you're being direct, Mr. Osian, I'll answer directly as well. It's because of your position."

"My position?"

Mayor Deliphiros quietly gazed at the scenery through the car window.

Outside, through a light mist, tired laborers and lower-class citizens were walking around.

The car stopped at a traffic light.

The laborers walking by glanced at the car as the luxurious limousine naturally drew attention.

What emotions would be on their faces?

Jealousy? Anger? Or envy?

Surprisingly, the laborer soon turned away disinterestedly and went on his way.

They had neither aspirations nor anger toward those who lived better than themselves.

They were just trying to endure this painful day and prepare for tomorrow.

They were empty puppets without even a spark and seemed like dolls made from ashes that remained after everything had burned out.

"Do you see? Those people, having lost their future, are just barely surviving the present."

"Are you concerned about welfare for the poor?"

"Haha. That's something I've always been doing. But you know, even as a mayor, changing everything isn't easy."

It couldn't be helped.

No matter how good the policies or welfare programs, they never reach everyone equally.

That only happens in imaginary utopias.

Tirna isn't a utopia. If anything, it's closer to a dystopia.

This place lures people in with its glamorous appearance, then cruelly devours them once they enter.

Osian knew how many cases more terrible than the laborer who just passed by existed in this city.

"I don't think I can help everyone. But that doesn't mean I can just sit still."

Deliphiros' gaze turned to Osian.

"That's why I need you. Mr. Osian, who has built his reputation as a fixer purely on his own merit, without any backing or foundation."

Osian immediately realized what Deliphiros wanted.

Deliphiros wanted Osian's success story.

He wanted to show the public how someone entered Tirna with just a sword and climbed up to a high position as a fixer.

"I don't think I'm that famous as a fixer yet."

"You're being excessively modest."

"It's partly modesty, but also partly the truth. There are many people in this industry whose names carry more weight than mine."

Osian pointed out the name recognition aspect.

While he wasn't sure about the skill level of top-tier fixers, he was confident he wouldn't fall behind them.

Noticing his boldness from his word choice, Deliphiros chuckled softly.

"Yes, I can't deny that. But they already have established stories, and most importantly, they all have backing of some sort."

"So I'm suitable because I don't have any?"

"Let's just say we can create countless possibilities moving forward."

Osian smirked.

"You've already come looking for me because I met Mayor Aspirex, haven't you?"

Osian seriously considered why Deliphiros had sought him out.

As he just mentioned, seeing his star potential and wanting to develop it further could be one reason.

But that couldn't be the complete reason. It was probably a secondary goal at best.

How did this human mayor track Osian's location and arrange to meet him so naturally?

He had been watching him ever since his meeting with Mayor Aspirex.

"Hahaha. I won't deny or hide that part. Someone meeting with Aspirex? I couldn't help but be curious."

Deliphiros was indeed formidable.

Even when Osian hit the nail on the head, he didn't blink an eye.

Rather, he seemed to enjoy it, revealing his true intentions openly.

"You already performed admirably during the terrorist attack in District 34, and then Mayor Aspirex meets you? And even the woman behind the mayor was looking for you."

Deliphiros knew about Amenora too.

Of course, Osian didn't react and Deliphiros didn't expect a reaction either, so he continued.

"I could feel the star quality you possess. That endless potential, continuing to grow at a rapid pace even after you've already grown so much. That ambition that's impossible to predict how high it will go. After examining your footsteps belatedly, I became convinced. That it's you."

"So you're saying you'll make me a star?"

"Star, hero. Whatever works. I'll support you, Mr. Osian, and you'll do more excellent work. Enormous fame, vast wealth, everyone will look up to you."

What Deliphiros was trying to do was a kind of star discovery project.

No welfare or system provided by the city can save the lives of those at the bottom because fundamentally, they don't move the hearts of the lower class.

Small subsidies and grants might bring minor happiness but it's far from enough to end the life of a cog in the machine.

That's why hope is necessary.

Someday I can live well too. Someday I will rise to that level.

The motivation to set that goal and keep running toward the finish line was right here.

I want to become like that someday.

It's about stimulating that desire.

'A person who started as a bottom-level fixer creates a success story and thrives. For others watching, it would be eye-opening.'

The fixer profession itself isn't that preferred.

Unless you're a super rookie with abilities like Osian, most fixers are deceived by brokers and used as cannon fodder for dangerous missions.

Emerging from such circumstances, Osian was like a lotus blooming in the mud.

"But will people really be that enthusiastic? Couldn't you pick someone more suitable? For instance, that laborer who just passed by. Wouldn't nurturing him be a better approach than promoting me?"

"Strictly speaking, the more rock-bottom the subject is, the greater the satisfaction of a success story. But do you know what? Such people end up being consumed by their own success."

‘Consumed by success.’

Deliphiros spoke with certainty.

"People harbor greed. It's a natural desire everyone has. Even priests who pretend to be noble have deep, dark desires within."

"You speak with too much certainty. Isn't that prejudice?"

"If it were prejudice, why would incidents like the recent kidnapping at the Petra Church branch happen?"

Indeed, Deliphiros knew about that incident too.

Being the city's mayor, it would be strange if he didn't know about an incident that involved a large mobilization of guards.

"Do you know what people have in common? It's that they find it difficult to fully bear their desires. You suggested giving that street laborer a chance, right? What do you think would happen if he were given one?"

Deliphiros swirled the drink in his glass.

His blue eyes, gazing at the crimson liquid, were piercingly cold.

"They get crushed by their own desires. Receiving something excessive beyond their capacity, they break down and become strange. Eventually, they fall back down, believing that their rise was purely due to their own abilities."

"You seem to think I'm different."

"How could I view others the same as Mr. Osian? I pride myself on my ability to judge people."

Osian knew there wasn't a trace of falsehood in those words.

If nothing else, the fact that he, as a mayor, personally came to meet him was unusual.

'Even so, to willingly face someone carrying a sword like this. He's not of ordinary mind.'

Of course, Deliphiros had his own assurances for acting this way.

Just look at the unidentified figure sitting in the passenger seat next to the limousine driver.

'A remarkable expert. If I had to guess, around the level of an executor. But since an executor wouldn't be employed for such personal business, he's probably his personal secretary.'

He wouldn't have just one highly capable secretary.

Given that he tracked Osian's location and came here, there's a high probability that guards are deployed in the vicinity.

'Even taking that into account, sitting face-to-face with him at this point, his ambition is clear. Mayor Deliphiros, as Amenora said, is not someone to be taken lightly.'

Despite reaching the high position of mayor, he personally moved to recruit one person.

Osian began to understand why he received so much support.

"What do you think of this city, Mr. Osian?"

"It's a city of desire. It helps realize desires, but also devours them. It seems to run smoothly, but there are all sorts of strange things embedded throughout."

"That's just part of the city, but you've seen it correctly."

Deliphiros nodded in agreement.

"Mr. Osian, I like this city. Despite the people pointing fingers from outside, I'm truly proud to be a person of this city."

"Is this city praise?"

"This isn't just praise. It's because I truly, genuinely feel that way. I want to develop this city that I love with sincerity."

‘Development.’

The idea of further developing Tirna, which is already quite developed, seemed rather illusory at first glance but from Deliphiros' voice to his eyes he truly, desperately wanted that.

'Does he just wish for it? No, he puts it into action.'

Osian quietly waited for Deliphiros' next words.

"You mentioned earlier, right? That there are all sorts of strange things embedded throughout. I consider them impurities. Foreign substances, oil masses, useless parts stuck in machinery that should be perfect. That's truly undesirable."

"I don't understand what you're trying to say."

"Tirna is a city oriented toward the future, and indeed, it can be called a blueprint for the future. But it's not perfect. Countless people burn as firewood at the bottom for the city's radiance."

"......"

"Especially the remnants of the past remaining in the city, those who aren't human. Despite their numbers, they possess too much authority. They didn't even earn it through their own efforts. They just naturally have it and that’s unfair. In the city I envision, that's unnecessary."

Deliphiros put down his glass and extended his hand toward Osian.

"That's why I need you. You won't be consumed by your own desires, and you'll be an example for those at the bottom. Among the people I've seen, you shine the most brilliantly, like a beacon that can lift the people of this city higher."

What did Deliphiros see in him, a mere fixer?

He wasn't exaggerating to recruit him. He genuinely believed it.

'This is the human mayor who leads people.'

That gaze. The passion embedded in that voice. The sincere attitude toward others.

Despite sitting in a high position, he wasn't authoritative, and he showed boldness by moving personally.

Osian began to understand why Deliphiros had become mayor and why he received full support from countless people.

"Let's create a world for humans together, Mr. Osian."

"That sounds quite appealing. Honestly, I'm tempted."

Deliphiros' smile deepened.

"But I have a question."

"Yes, please ask."

"In the world for humans you speak of, are there no others? Like witches, orcs, elves, these different races?"

"Haha. Mr. Osian. You're making an amusing joke. They aren't humans, are they?"

That's it.

The discomfort Osian felt while looking at Deliphiros.

This was exactly it.

"Then, I'll decline your offer."