CHAPTER 5: THE FORGOTTEN RECORDS
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Haruto sat at the stone table, fingers tracing the edges of the notebook left behind by a long-forgotten False Hero.
The air in the chamber was thick with dust and silence, as if time itself had abandoned this place. The faint glow of the ruins’ symbols flickered along the walls, their dying light barely illuminating the desperate, frantic scrawl across the pages in his hands.
He swallowed hard.
"Alright. Let’s see what kind of horror show we’ve got here."
He flipped open the first few pages. The handwriting was uneven, erratic, like the person writing had been in a rush—or worse, on the edge of losing their mind. Some lines were scratched out, others faded beyond recognition. But what he could read was more than enough to send a chill through his spine.
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"If you're reading this, it means you’ve made it this far. It also means you’re next."
"They don’t make mistakes. They make sacrifices. And you’re one of them."
"I was summoned just like you. I thought I was special. A hero. But I wasn’t. None of us were."
"The prophecy isn’t real. The kingdom doesn’t need us. The Goddess doesn’t care."
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Haruto’s grip on the pages tightened.
"That’s… unsettling. Love that."
He turned the next page. The ink was smeared, as if the writer had been shaking while writing.
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"Every time a hero is summoned, there are always more than one. But only one can be the real ‘Chosen Hero.’ The others… we’re loose ends."
"We aren’t meant to win. We’re meant to disappear."
"Some of us are executed outright. Some of us are sent on ‘missions’ we were never meant to survive. Some… just vanish."
"I saw one of us get erased. Like he was never there. No body. No record. Just gone."
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Haruto felt his stomach twist.
"They just... deleted people. Like they were never supposed to exist."
He exhaled, flipping ahead. The final entries were more erratic, almost unreadable.
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"I can’t stay here. I have to move. If I die, I die. But I won’t fade away."
"If you’re reading this, remember: It’s not about surviving. It’s about proving we were ever here at all."
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Haruto slowly shut the notebook.
For the first time since arriving in this nightmare, he felt like he was carrying someone else’s ghost with him.
"So, it’s not just me. There were others before me. And now they’re gone."
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
His eyes flicked to the other books and documents stacked in the room.
"If this guy left behind a warning, maybe there’s more."
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Haruto pulled a dusty volume from the pile, flipping through its pages.
The first few entries were official kingdom records, listing the names and abilities of summoned heroes throughout history.
At first glance, they seemed normal—descriptions of legendary warriors, great mages, and noble champions.
Until he noticed the pattern.
Each summoning event had multiple heroes listed.
But only one was ever recognized.
He skimmed through a few examples:
Name: Kalen Everhart
Summoning Date: Year 876, 4th Moon
Abilities:
* Sword Saint’s Blessing – Grants unparalleled swordsmanship.
* Holy Light Manipulation – Wields divine magic against dark entities.
* Tactical Genius – Naturally gifted in military strategy.
Kingdom Recognition: The Chosen Hero.
Fate: Successfully led the charge against the Demon King’s forces. Honored as a savior.
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Then, further down the same page:
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Name: [Redacted]
Summoning Date: Year 876, 4th Moon
Abilities:
* Shadow Step – Allows brief bursts of teleportation within a short range.
* Illusory Veil – Can create minor visual distortions.
* Adaptive Memory – Rapidly learns and mimics observed skills.
Kingdom Recognition: [Text Removed]
Fate: [Entry Missing]
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Then, another—
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Name: [Text Removed]
Summoning Date: Year 920, 11th Moon
Abilities:
* Divine Appraisal – Can analyze any person, object, or magic and uncover its true nature.
* Mnemonic Recall – Perfect memory retention.
* Strategist’s Insight – Enhanced ability to perceive lies and inconsistencies.
Kingdom Recognition: [Classified]
Fate: Awaiting Judgment
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Haruto froze.
"Awaiting Judgment?"
That was different.
The others were erased, erased, erased. But this one?
They didn’t delete him.
Why?
Haruto flipped through more pages, searching for more details, but the record ended there.
"What happened to him?"
His pulse quickened. If one of the False Heroes hadn’t been erased outright, what did that mean?
"Did he fight back? Did he escape? Or—"
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Needing to clear his head, Haruto turned his attention to the cloak and ring he had found.
He slipped the worn cloak over his shoulders. At first, it seemed like nothing special. But when he shifted slightly, the fabric blurred, subtly blending into the background.
Haruto raised an eyebrow.
"Huh. I’m a budget chameleon now. Could be worse."
Next, he inspected the ring. It was simple, unadorned, worn smooth with time.
He slid it onto his finger.
And waited.
Nothing happened.
He waved his hand dramatically. "Activate… something?"
Still nothing.
He sighed. "Great. A fashion statement. That’s useful."
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A deep mechanical groan echoed through the ruins.
Haruto froze.
The Guardian, still wedged between two ancient stone columns where he had last seen it, had begun to stir.
Its eyes flickered, its body jerking violently. The narrow passage it was stuck in began to crack, chunks of stone breaking loose as it forced itself forward.
"System… reboot… incomplete data…"
"Directive… corrupted… purge—"
"Object… missing… retrieve—"
Haruto’s heart pounded.
The Guardian heaved against the columns, its metal fingers digging into the stone, crushing everything in its path.
One of the columns snapped.
Another collapsed entirely.
The Guardian lurched forward, unstable, but free.
Haruto ran.
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Haruto scanned frantically—his way back was blocked.
Then he spotted it—a collapsed section of the ruins leading into a narrow tunnel.
The Guardian tried to free itself, but its movements were still sluggish, its joints grinding against broken stone.
Sparks flew. Its voice glitched again.
Haruto did not wait to see if it fully recovered.
He sprinted through the tunnel, feet pounding against the stone.
Ahead—light.
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Haruto stumbled onto rocky terrain, gasping for air.
For the first time since arriving, he saw the sky.
Behind him, the ruins collapsed, sealing the passage.
And ahead—
A settlement. Civilization.
Haruto hesitated.
The notebook’s words haunted him.
"False Heroes are erased."
"Can I trust anyone?"
His grip tightened around the book.
"Step one: Escape the dungeon. Check. Step two: Figure out what the hell comes next. …Yeah, I got nothing."
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END OF CHAPTER 5