I WAS The Rank–1 Hero
Chapter 180 180: Beyond Causes

The steam from the coffee cup in Maria's hands frozen in a twisted ribbon above her cup.

Even the cleaning bot below my feet has stopped moving.

"I always find this part a bit awkward," came Karton's voice from my right.

"Conversations are easier when you don't have people listening in."

I swallowed dryly.

"So, we're alone?"

"As alone as two beings can be when standing outside the rules of time."

He took a bite of his sandwich.

And yes, somehow the teenage god who paused time was still chewing on it, and gestured toward mine as well.

"Eat, if you'd like, they are delicious. It'll stay warm as long as we stay in this moment."

I stared at the food for a beat… then took a bite.

"...Damn. That's good."

Karton grinned.

"Told you."

As I enjoyed my sandwich, I saw the expression on Karton's face shift.

"Now then, Zane Skylark… let's talk about why I invited you."

I almost choked on the sandwitch.

So, the reason for him to invite me… was this serious? Serious enough to freeze everyone else in time?

'I wonder what it is?'

I straightened my posture.

"How much do you know about the conflicts between the gods?" he asked. "Sister Ylthea must've told you about it, right?"

Goddess Ylthea?

She'd barely spoken to me once.

All she did was show me a vision of Olympus in its glory, then its collapse. The division between gods, their endless arguments over the partitioning of the universe.

She showed me all this.

I told Karton everything I saw.

He listened quietly.

Occasionally, he took small sips of his coffee. Other times, he just tapped idly on his tablet without looking down.

But even with all that, I could tell he was paying attention.

"Hmmm…" he rubbed his temple thoughtfully.

"At least you know most of it."

He shifted back, sinking into the cushions of the couch with a sigh.

"Well, that makes this easier to explain."

He looked me straight in the eye.

"You weren't supposed to exist, Zane."

My breath caught.

"What?"

What is he talking about?

Karton leaned forward, his golden eyes calm.

"I govern everything that happens across all timelines. And in this one… you were supposed to be dead."

His words didn't make sense.

'Dead?'

"The day you died on the island, that moment was supposed to be your end. That was where your story should've stopped."

"But I lived!" I snapped, unable to hold back the frustration.

"I lived because of my Immortality. Because Agroth's Authority of Death brought me back. That's why I'm alive, why I'm sitting here sipping coffee with you—"

"You're naive," he cut in, his voice sharper now. "You only had Agroth's Authority that time, not his blessing."

"What…?"

What the hell does that even mean?

An Authority Holder needs the blessing of his or her respective Gods for their Authority skills to work properly.

"Why do you think I sent you into that trial?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

"To get the Relic of Null Fate," I shot back. "That's why you manipulated Maria into dragging me into the Door of Endless. You knew I'd say yes. You planned it every step so I'd reach the relic."

"Incorrect."

His tone made me freeze.

He tapped the edge of his tablet.

"Have you checked your Fate's Interface since you returned?"

I hadn't.

My heart skipped.

Without a word, I opened it.

— — —「▒▒▒▒Null▒▒▒▒」— — —

► Strength: 100

► Agility: 90

► Stamina: 100

► Intelligence: 52

► Essence Capacity: 100

► Authority: Paradox, Death

► Stigma: Paradox, Death Granter

→ Skills

→ Arts

— — — — — — — — — — — —

"What… what is this?!"

I looked up, stunned.

He was smiling.

"Now you understand."

I never had Death Granter's stigma before. That title only existed in that weakened version of me in that other timeline.

But now it was here.

In my actual body.

'How?'

Unless…

"No way…" I breathed.

I looked again at the god sitting so casually in front of me.

Karton's gaze held mine.

He saw my expression change.

"That's right," he said quietly.

"The entire trial was designed to bring you face-to-face with Agroth's fragment, so you could receive his blessing."

Come to think of it, Agroth never mentioned anything about the day I was killed on that island. He never stayed, he resurrected me that day, he only disclosed he himself resurrected me on the Frostvile mUseum incident.

I was the one who simply assumed I already had his blessing.

Karton tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes narrowing at me.

"I didn't call you here because of your prophecy," he said. "I called you here so you'd finally understand all of this."

I blinked. "W–Wait!" I raised a hand, stopping him.

"If it wasn't my Immortality... if Agroth didn't bless me back then—then who resurrected me?"

Karton didn't answer right away.

He placed his cup down gently, fingers steepled together.

Then he said, almost too softly:

"Someone who shouldn't have… but did."

I stared at him.

"What does that even mean?"

His golden eyes met mine, unwavering.

"You'll understand, in time. And when you meet him—ask him why he did that."

I narrowed my eyes.

"So… you know who did this to me?"

Karton tilted his head.

"Perhaps."

I leaned forward.

"And you won't tell me who it is?"

He gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"Preciously. Believe me. It's for your own good."

I studied his face, trying to read between the lines.

But, I got nothing.

I exhaled through my nose and leaned back.

"Fine."

I didn't press further.

'He must have a reason.'

That's what I told myself.

Then, my gaze drifted back to the Fate's Interface.

One line stood out.

「▒▒▒▒Null▒▒▒▒」

I frowned and asked directly,

"What does 'Null' mean?"

Karton took a slow sip of his coffee before answering.

"It means nothing."

I blinked. "Oh."

Wait—wasn't he the one who designed this whole Fate Interface system?

Now that I thought about it, it actually made sense. Karton loved mixing old-world mysticism with modern tech. This whole interface system probably came from his obsession with those ancient game designs.

As if reading my thoughts, he glanced at his tablet and muttered,

"Interesting... I'm seeing here you've barely used the Fate's Interface at all."

He looked up, a faint trace of disappointment in his voice.

"I designed it to make things easier, you know."

I scratched my head.

"Honestly? I just never needed to."

I shrugged.

"If I want to use a skill, I just think it. I don't need to scroll through a list every time. My memory's sharp, so I remember everything I have."

Karton set his coffee down.

"By the way, did you know you can rename your skills in the Fate's Interface?"

I blinked.

"Wait—what?"

He tapped his tablet.

"It's a hidden feature. Not even Maria knows about it, I thought it'd be a fun feature to add."

"You're serious? So, I can rename a simple FireBall to… Goddess-Judgement?"

Now, that would be an amazing thing to do.

"If that's what you want to scream when you use it," he smirked.

I stared at my interface, suddenly I was seeing endless dumb possibilities.

'This is so cool.'

"So, you invited me here… to tell me all this?" I asked.

Rather than the revelation about my existence… or him orchestrating that encounter with Agroth… I didn't think there could be anything more important.

Right?

"No," Karton said, his voice calm but firm. "Now that you possess two Authorities, hiding from the gods won't be so simple anymore. They'll take notice. And sooner or later, they'll start sending their Apostles."

I swallowed hard.

A part of me had already seen it coming—felt it in my bones. But hearing it said aloud made it real.

"So… what should I do?" I asked, my voice quieter than I expected. "I don't want to keep hiding."

Because I had made that choice back in the trial timeline.

The moment I returned to this world, I swore I'd stop running.

I looked up, eyes steady.

"How can I get stronger?"

Karton leaned a bit forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Strength alone won't be enough for you, Zane. You've stepped into a realm far beyond what mortals understand. The gods will come, and not to greet you, but to judge you."

I swallowed.

"Then teach me." I speak my mind.

I have been selfish here, and I don't have any regrets asking him this.

Agroth told me I was becoming one of them—a god. It was funny. But, if that was the truth, then I have to ask someone equivalent in position to teach me.

Karton didn't smile. He just nodded.

"I intended to. That's why I brought you here."

He gestured around.

"This island… it exists outside the regular flow of time. While only an hour will pass in the outside world, you'll have one year here. Ten years to learn what no human has ever dared to ask."

My breath caught.

"Ten… years?"

At the moment, I turned to look at Ruby. Her frozen figure, those sparkly crimson eyes, and that cute smile.

Do I have to wait 10 more years for it to see again? To hold her hand again?

My mind then drifted to my family, Elise, Mom, and Dad. For them it will only be 10 hours. And I don't think they would even notice.

What… should I do?

Karton finally smiled.

"Time is mine to bend. You wanted strength, Zane Skylark? I'll show you what it takes to carry two Authorities… and survive the eyes of gods."

I stared at him then I stood, and positioned myself in front of him.

I just wanted to protect the ones I care about. I don't want to live in fear of the Hero Association, and I refuse to feel powerless in front of other Authority Holders.

"Then let's begin. Master" I said.

A huge smile spread over his face, as he stood up.

"You'll hate me at times," Karton added. "But you'll thank me when it all ends."

[End of Vol-2]

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