The Retired Hero is an Extra
Chapter 172 - 172: Hero's Resolve

After everything was said and done, Helios found himself in his younger body post awakening.

"I don't know why, what, and how, but if this is a chance–"

(System Initializing...)

"Wh-what?!"

The sudden sound in his head interrupted his resolve to right his wrongs and save the world. It confused him greatly.

(...99.99%)

"Just what's going on?! Show yourself!" Helios shouted, flailing around his young limbs and falling down.

—Thud!

"Oww," he yelped in pain, unable to fully control his younger body due to its difference in strength and size.

Uncaring about his conditions, the sound in his head continued,

(System Initialization Finished!)

(Searching database...)

"W-what!? What system? Initialization? Database?" Helios stuttered, not able to accept reality.

Though his denial was far greater than when he lost the First Rank in the Entrance Test to Jash, as he had gotten used to a lot of unusual things by then.

(Data found...!)

(Greetings, Host! Welcome to the Savior System!)

"Savior system?! What are you and why are you in my mind?" Helios yelled, wanting clarification.

(I am a System, granted to you by a higher being to guide and assist you on your journey to right your wrongs and save the world.)

"You mean the one who sent me into the past??" Helios immediately asked, wanting to know more about it but the system's response wasn't satisfactory.

(The Host is too weak to know about that being or anything related to it.)

(Also, I am not in your head, I can also materialize...)

—Fwip!

A white background screen with golden text and borders appeared in front of Helios's eyes.

"W-what?! Won't others see you then?"

(No. Only the Host can see the system.)

The same words he heard appeared on the screen as he tried talking to it in his head and worked.

(The Host is blessed by the Goddess of Light and is the Hero, so the system will assist you in completing your goals and saving the world, ensuring you can address your regrets.)

"So can you help me grow stronger?" Helios asked, a fire of hope burgeoning within him.

(Yes, that's my goal, but it's not that easy.)

"That's fine. As long as I can save the world from its destruction, I will do everything within my power to achieve the goal."

Hearing Helios's resolve, even the system was affected, seemed to respond with urgency. It sent all the basic information regarding itself into Helios's mind.

In simple terms, it was similar to Amael's system, but without the Villain Points and being forced to change the plot.

All Helios had to do was correct his regrets, right his wrongs and grow stronger to save the world.

"By the way, you're going to be with me for a long time, so what do I call you?" he asked, not feeling right about using it as a tool.

(Just call me 'System' as I am not really alive, and I am a part of you from now on since the being can't intervene anymore.)

"Alright, System? When will I be able to grow stronger using you?"

(Only when the Host reaches a certain strength, the system will inform the host itself.)

(The system advises to use your memories to grow stronger faster. However, it warns against using the true legacy of the first hero.)

"Hmm? Why?" Helios frowned in confusion. That was his best bet to grow stronger than ever, after all.

(Firstly, if the Goddess notices your actions, it may lead to significant changes. To balance these changes, the world might suffer sooner.)

(Simply, any changes made by you will be altering the future—the balance of the world—and to fix it, the world will have to pay a price.)

"So, you're saying that I must be extremely careful on what I change and why, or it will have negative consequences?"

(Exactly, host!)

In the end, Helios remained on the ground, contemplating the advantages of returning to the past.

The present and future were ever-changing and had probably already changed, so what should he do?

He was sure about saving the world, but was that even possible?

If the system was correct, then every time he saves someone, someone else will have to pay the price.

(Host, if you vanquish the enemies and transcend the worldly limits, any actions made by you will bear no consequences, but...)

"That sounds too far-fetched, right? And there is no guarantee that I will be able to live till then."

Nevertheless, he was the protagonist for a reason, vowing to give his all to achieve that.

After that day, he started training like crazy, wanting to make use of the system as soon as possible.

One day, he discovered that he could use System's Status Screen, displaying not only his, but also other's strength.

'This will help me gauge others and make it easier to know their weakness in advance,' he mused.

He wasn't stupid to not use the advantage handed to him on a silver platter, planning to use it on all his future enemies to find their weakness early on.

If he couldn't change them and had to ultimately eliminate them, he would have an advantage over them, and not just from his past life.

This contrasted sharply with Amael, who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate threats before they could fully emerge.

But then again, he was someone with a different path in his past life and didn't hesitate to even kill himself.

The two were different extremes—poles apart—and thus, were archenemies if one considered the original novel or Helios's past life.

—Ding!

(Quest Failed!

Quest: Rank First and become the Year Representative

Reward: Inventory Upgrade

Penalty: Inventory locked for a month.)

"Damn it!!"

Helios cursed, smashing the table in front of him as the quest failure notification from the system brought him back to the present.

He had revisited his memories, searching for what led to his failure, but found nothing he could pinpoint.

As a result, he was frustrated, denying the reality that was in front of him, just like he denied everything.

(Host...)

The system tried to get his attention, but only succeeded to get his ire. "What?" he asked, irritated at the pestering system.

(The Host can merge their sword technique, bringing it closer to the true legacy, making it easier to use in the future.)

"What's the use of it? I already lost! Why did I not get it earlier??"

(It was based on the performance from Ziva Arne, Jash Ramille, Amael Blake, the host, and several others.)

(Creating techniques is impossible from memories alone, but if supplemented by real life usage, it becomes easier.)

(As a result, the host will get a sword technique that is stronger than the current one, being a far stronger version.)

"But will that be even suitable for me??" Helios asked, doubtful of the system for the first time.

(Yes! It will increase your power by approximated 14%)

Hearing the number, Helios was pleasantly surprised, his previous emotions getting replaced by his excitement at getting stronger once again.

So what if he had to start again and work to increase his mastery over the sword art created by the system?

It was beneficial for him in the long run as it would help him improve his mastery over the sword itself, if only very little.

'Just you wait, I will defeat you all...'

Helios resolved, fire burning in his eyes as his depression washed away, realizing his mission to save the world...

***