I Escaped the Exile Story Only To Find It Was a Regret Trope

59 – 12# Beginning (2)

Erase our existence from the world completely.

So that no one can remember us. Compared to world domination or killing a god, it might seem small in scale. But it couldn’t be overlooked.

Currently, we are the only ones with the will to resist Mephisto. But if we are completely erased from memory? Then it would be the end.

A tyrant with absolute power, against whom no one can resist, would be born. Even if not, becoming a living ghost is not an option.

Fortunately, Ban Serin not only figured out Mephisto’s goal but also found out where he is. To be precise, they exposed their location themselves.

“This is obviously a trap.”

“100%. Unless Mephisto is an idiot.”

If it’s the latter, then there’s no need to worry.

Veris didn’t forget to add a sarcastic remark at the end. Indeed, as she said. If this isn’t a trap, it means they foolishly exposed their base. No need to worry.

But.

What we need to worry about right now is the pursuit of fellow heroes who have chased us to the brink. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Hero Association is practically in Mephisto’s grasp.

“It must have happened through that damned deal.”

“No matter what, you can’t win against the world.”

“That’s not wrong.”

Athena nodded at Veris’s words. The Hero Association is the core of this world and the place that commands all heroes. In other words, it is the military power of the world itself.

Even Veris almost got into trouble with two rookies while off guard. No matter how much Veris isn’t a combatant, she was still a member of the Hero Party.

Even if she was off guard, if she was pushed to the brink of defeat, it means this world also has considerable power. But if such forces turn against us?

And that too with the giant enemy Mephisto in front of us? Naturally, the chances of winning approach zero. But even in this worst-case scenario, there is still a way.

“It can’t be helped, this time we have no choice but to fall into the enemy’s trap.”

“For now, even I think this is the only way.”

“Are you saying we should walk into the enemy’s trap ourselves?”

“For now, this is the only way.”

At Yuri’s words, Yushin sighed and answered. If we don’t go in there, we will eventually end up fighting the Hero Association, wielding swords against each other.

If that happens, our forces will be greatly depleted.

In such a weakened state, if Mephisto appears, it’s game over. We wouldn’t be able to resist properly and things would go as he wants. That must be prevented at all costs.

“It’s better to attack while our forces are intact. Even if it’s a trap, we can counter it.”

Walking into the trap and catching the enemy off guard to defeat them is also a strategy. It’s just that the risk is too high, so we need to be careful.

“Alright, then let’s set off immediately.”

“No, there’s still something we need to do.”

We need to make sure everything is decided. Charging in without a plan is like begging to be killed. Yushin sighed and said.

“We don’t have much time, so let’s keep it brief.”

In the world of dark fantasy, the hero party fell into countless traps. At first, they were inexperienced and got caught, and sometimes they were too careless and fell into traps.

But each time, they somehow managed to escape the traps. That’s why they were able to be here now. And it’s no different now. Break the trap.

Find and kill Mephisto hiding behind it, restore peace to this place, and return to the original world. It’s a clean and flawless way.

“But what about the Hero Association?”

“Right. They’re right in front of us.”

The Hero Association was much faster than expected. They seized the Hero Academy and sent A-rank and S-rank heroes to capture Yushin and his party.

“Leave that to me.”

“Principal?”

The unexpected thing was that Banserin, who was also classified as an S-rank hero, sided with them instead of the Association. Banserin smiled and spoke.

“No matter how strong I am, I can’t stop them alone. But I’m not alone.”

Banserin, known as the strongest among S-rank heroes, couldn’t stop all the heroes alone. But she had her own plan.

Boom!!!

It was to use the connections she had built up until now. There were many S-rank and A-rank heroes she had personally trained, and some of them followed the principal’s words.

That was Banserin’s secret weapon.

* * *

However, Banserin couldn’t hold out forever. No matter how many people followed her, in absolute numbers, they were still at a disadvantage.

So, while she was holding out.

Yushin and his party had to somehow break through the trap Mephisto had set and take his head. Fortunately, Banserin personally moved them to the entrance of the trap until the very end.

Thanks to that, they wasted less time. The problem was that there wasn’t much time left. Yushin raised his head and carefully examined the entrance. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that bad.

When they said it was a trap set by a demon, he thought it would be a pit of fire or a display of dismembered human bodies. Strangely, there was nothing like that.

“It looks more like a giant cave.”

“The problem is that it’s in the middle of the sky.”

“Something about it gives me the chills. It feels like we’re seeing something that should never exist.”

“Breaking the rules, as expected, a demon is a demon.”

While everyone was sharing their impressions, Hayoung was carefully examining the entrance. Soon, Hayoung, who had read the flowing magic inside, spoke.

“I think I can figure out exactly what kind of trap this is.”

“You read the magic?”

“Yes, just a little. I can roughly understand the structure.”

It seemed that what she had learned so far was not in vain. Or perhaps her innate magical talent was beyond imagination. Hayoung immediately used magic.

The magic that spread from her hands seeped into the hole in the center of the sky. Soon, Hayoung opened her eyes. It seemed she had grasped most of the interior.

“How is it possible in such a short time?”

“I learned some tricks from my master.”

“I thought it wouldn’t be a normal method.”

Even Beris, who had knowledge of magic, couldn’t hide his curiosity. Then Hayoung immediately explained to Beris, and thanks to that, Beris was able to understand.

“Normally, I wouldn’t support uncertain reconnaissance, but given the situation, it can’t be helped.”

“At least we can do some reconnaissance.”

In any case, they had to jump into that filthy mouth. It was much better to know something rather than jumping in blindly.

Hayoung immediately stretched out her hands and drew a picture in the air using magic. The magic Hayoung used was very simple, but its utility was limitless.

Look at it now. Wasn’t she able to roughly draw the interior she had explored using magic? Anyway, the interior Hayoung grasped was surprisingly quite complex and long.

“Didn’t you feel anything at the entrance?”

“I didn’t feel anything, but maybe it’s because I’m lacking.”

“So, we won’t know until we go in directly.”

Athena summarized it concisely. Indeed, unless they went in directly, there was nothing more they could find out from here. Yushin nodded and said.

“Alright, let’s form teams now.”

The reason for forming teams. Even if something happened inside, it meant they would stick together. There was a high probability that they would be greatly separated.

But if they kept their minds and stayed as close as possible.

They could at least prevent the worst disaster of being scattered. The teams were roughly decided as Yuri and Beris, Athena and Hayoung, and finally, Yushin alone.

“Consider it an honor to receive my support.”

“Can you not hold me back?”

“Nice to meet you, Hayoung.”

“Me, me too!”

“…The atmosphere is really like night and day.”

In terms of synergy and efficiency, this is the best option. While Beris and Yuri can handle frontal combat to some extent, Hayoung is still lacking in battle experience.

Instead, Athena, who can overwhelm even those two in frontal combat, will be paired with them. And Yushin can manage on his own. He entered alone.

However, until this moment, he hadn’t realized. That it was Mephisto’s trap. And Yushin realized it immediately after entering.

“…What is this?”

Right after entering, in the blink of an eye. Yushin was summoned to a place he had seen once before. And he was alone, without his comrades.

“Welcome, stranger.”

And Mephisto greeted Yushin.

Still as annoying as ever, with a sinister smile.