Early the next morning, Fang Zheng introduced Akemi Homura to Raphtalia and Liphana. Upon learning that Akemi Homura was Fang Zheng’s Enchanted Clan, the two young girls were initially quite nervous.
However, Akemi Homura remained relatively calm. After all, Heavenly Dao Palace was never short of Cursed Children, and she’d seen plenty with various animal attribute levels. Before long, the three became acquainted. Fang Zheng then took the three of them deeper into the forest to continue leveling up.
Incidentally, Akemi Homura’s bow, like Fang Zheng’s shield, has the ability to absorb other substances to gain characteristics.
However, the bow is much easier compared to the shield. Fang Zheng’s shield can’t absorb weapons and only started working properly after Fang Zheng tampered with its code. But the bow has no such issue; of course, it can only absorb shooting arts weapon characteristics—which is already more than enough.
Not only that, Akemi Homura had a significant advantage.
Most of the weapons she uses are LV1 in this world, meaning Akemi Homura could fuse all the weapons she had stored into the bow for immediate use.
Of course, not everything can be used; for example, things like rocket launchers and missiles cannot be absorbed by the bow. Whether it’s because they’re considered non-shooting arts weapons or for some other reason isn’t clear.
But overall, most weapon characteristics can still be used.
As a result, Akemi Homura quickly got familiar with the bow and applied it in real battles. By the end of the day, she increased her rank to Level 15 alone.
Of course, theoretically, there is a debuff that prevents obtaining experience points when the Four Sacred Heroes are too close to each other, but surprisingly, Akemi Homura did not encounter this issue when she got the bow. This only reinforced Fang Zheng’s trust in the information he received earlier from the Sacred Bow.
After all, if the Four Sacred Heroes are supposed to fight the tides and the Demon King together, naturally they would need to battle alongside each other.
If they can’t gain experience or equipment when in an instance together, that would cause conflicts on the spot.
When Fang Zheng was hacking into the shield system, out of curiosity, he checked and found that the system didn’t have this setting internally.
Now, seeing Akemi Homura, whom the Sacred Bow acknowledged, without any similar problems, he understood why.
Clearly, as previously mentioned by the Sacred Bow, the previous Bow Hero was merely a temporary substitute, faced with many restrictions and unable to enjoy the benefits of a regular employee. Hence, they couldn’t gain experience together, but Akemi Homura, as the officially instated Bow Hero, didn’t have such restrictions.
Strictly speaking, the previous Bow Hero was just a backdoor temporary substitute, while Akemi Homura is an officially appointed high-level character. Different identity and status naturally mean different treatment.
Just as Fang Zheng’s group returned to King’s City, they encountered an unexpected situation.
Hundreds of fully armed soldiers appeared from all directions, surrounding Fang Zheng and his three companions. Behind these soldiers sat the idiotic King on horseback.
Seeing this, Fang Zheng shrugged helplessly and stopped.
"Demon of the Shield!"
The King, sitting on his horse, looked at Fang Zheng with an ashen face.
"As one of the Four Sacred Heroes, how dare you kill another like the Bow Hero! Do you realize your crime!?"
Upon hearing the King’s words, the surrounding onlookers were instantly in an uproar. Though they were aware of the King’s City tension that morning, they didn’t expect such an event to occur!
The Bow Hero was killed?
And by the Hero of the Shield?
"Heh heh..."
However, contrary to the King’s expectations, Fang Zheng simply let out a cold laugh in response to his question.
"I was about to come find you, idiotic King, but instead you delivered yourself to me..."
"What do you mean?"
Watching Fang Zheng’s cold smile, the King’s heart clenched. He intended to use this chance to permanently banish Fang Zheng, but now it appeared the situation was more complicated than it seemed?
At that moment, Fang Zheng suddenly reached out and pointed at the idiotic King.
"Ottoclay Megmarlo XXXII! You tampered with the ritual and forged the Four Sacred Heroes. Do you realize your crime!?"
"What?!"
At this, the King’s eyes widened in shock, while the onlookers’ jaws nearly dropped in astonishment!
Just moments ago, they heard the King accuse the Hero of the Shield of murdering the Bow Hero, and now the Hero of the Shield claims the King forged the Four Sacred Heroes?
What on earth is going on?
"You are slandering me! You killed the Bow Hero, and you dare spout such nonsense here!"
"Bow Hero? You mean that impostor?"
Looking at the indignant King, Fang Zheng chuckled, as if mocking him. Did he really think he was the only one who could pin accusations?
Today, Fang Zheng would show him how it’s done to make someone bear a stigma!
"That was no Four Sacred Hero, but just a fake parading under the title. The true Four Sacred Heroes... are right here."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng snapped his fingers, and Akemi Homura stepped forward, raising her longbow before the crowd.
"That is... the Bow Hero’s weapon!"
"How can this be?!"
Witnessing this, the citizens and soldiers alike were dumbfounded, for according to legend, the Four Sacred Heroes and their weapons are bonded, and if a hero dies, the weapon vanishes too. Yet, though the Hero of the Shield had allegedly killed the Bow Hero, the weapon had not vanished and was now held by another unfamiliar girl?
Could it be true, as the Hero of the Shield claimed, that this girl is the genuine Bow Hero?
"You counterfeit heroes, possessing the Holy Artifacts, thinking your plan is flawless. But fake is fake! Even if you, as King, conceal the truth for them, facts can’t be hidden!"
As Fang Zheng continued, he pointed again, this time at the ashen-faced Hero of the Spear and Sword Hero beside the King.
"They are just impostors!"
"What did you say!"
"Nonsense, I am clearly holding this spear, how can I not be a hero!"
At this point, the two jumped up as if their rear ends were on fire, yelling loudly.
"Oh, really?"
Upon hearing their response, Fang Zheng chuckled.
"Then let me ask you, the Four Sacred Heroes were summoned to this world to protect it and resist the waves. During the previous waves, what did you do?"
"We, we killed the Demon Creature bosses from the waves!"
"Yeah, yeah, if it wasn’t for us, the waves wouldn’t have ended so quickly!"
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Fang Zheng sneered.
"Then let me ask you, who saw it?"
"This........"
Faced with Fang Zheng’s questioning, the two were suddenly speechless. Before, they were only focused on defeating the bosses and didn’t pay attention to these things at all!
"The Four Sacred Heroes fight to protect this world and its people, but you? What have you done?!"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s reprimand, the surrounding citizens and soldiers also began to discuss among themselves.
"Yeah, when Root Village was attacked, only the Hero of the Shield went to protect those villagers, we never saw a trace of the other heroes!"
"That’s right, my brother is in Root Village, and it was the Hero of the Shield who saved his life!"
"Yeah, yeah, they say they defeated the waves, but we never saw those three heroes, nor did we see them fight."
"Exactly, they didn’t come to help us at all! How can people like that be called heroes?"
With the discussion, the voices of the crowd grew louder and louder. Clearly, they all trusted Fang Zheng’s words more. After all, according to legend, the Four Sacred Heroes fought to protect the world and its people. However, the other three heroes obviously didn’t do so—some had suspected it before, but since they were heroes, nobody dared to speak out.
But now, Fang Zheng had given them a reason.
Turns out, it wasn’t that the Four Sacred Heroes didn’t save them; it’s that the other three, apart from the Hero of the Shield, were impostors...
This explanation was clearly easier to accept.
"You... you...!"
The foolish King obviously didn’t expect Fang Zheng would lie blatantly and retaliate like this. Now, he was trembling with rage, unable to speak.
"Nonsense! Guards, arrest them!"
"You dare?! You forged heroes to seize the Holy Artifacts, and now you want to attack the Four Sacred Heroes? Do you really think we’re pushovers?!"
With Fang Zheng’s shout, scorching flames erupted instantly, scattering the soldiers who had surrounded them.
Now those soldiers holding weapons were left looking at each other, unsure of what to do.
By rights, they should obey the King’s command.
But if what the Hero of the Shield said was true and the other heroes were impostors... then they would be aiding villains!
Of course, the immediate threat was undeniable.
As for how strong the other three heroes were, most soldiers were unaware. But at least the members of the Knights’ Order had witnessed Fang Zheng’s power. The monsters they fought hard against were easily swept away by him, as easy as chopping vegetables.
In any case, Fang Zheng indeed displayed the strength expected of the legendary Four Sacred Heroes.
Thinking carefully, the monsters were all slain by him in a flash, while they themselves...
Having barely survived the waves, they weren’t here to die!
Thinking of this, many soldiers quickly backed away. In fact, by now, they were starting to believe at least seventy to eighty percent of Fang Zheng’s words.
Not to mention, the King was indeed targeting them because the Bow Hero was killed. But thinking it over, if both are Four Sacred Heroes, why could the Hero of the Shield easily kill the Bow Hero? Was the swiftly killed Bow Hero really a Sacred Hero?
After all, in the legends, the Four Sacred Heroes were all invincible; how could one die without a sound?
It’s like a novel claiming East Evil, West Poison as formidable, but in reality, they were bricked to death in an alley.
In such cases, people might doubt either the novel’s claims or that the one killed was fake.
Nobody would think the brick was enchanted or laced with fine iron and automatic pursuit and instant death enchantments.
After all, novels declare "any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental," but the legendary Four Sacred Heroes saving the world is an undeniable truth!
How could world-saving heroes die so easily?
Wouldn’t you agree?
Looking at the chaotic scene before him, the King was left speechless, too. He thought he could use the Bow Hero’s death to bring down this bastard. Unexpectedly, Fang Zheng turned the tables, and now the King found himself unable to recover. He noticed the soldiers’ wavering and, more critically, the citizens clearly trusted that damn Demon of the Shield over him!
"You’re lying!"
At this moment, the Sword Hero and Hero of the Spear also stood up, shouting angrily.
"We are the real heroes!"
"You are just a despicable lowlife using underhanded means!"
However, Fang Zheng seemed completely unfazed by their shouting.
"If you want to prove you’re real heroes, I have a way."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng patted Akemi Homura on the shoulder.
"If you want to prove to everyone that you are the real Four Sacred Heroes, then duel her!"
"What?"
Hearing this, the two were stunned, and Fang Zheng continued.
"You all know that she was the genuine Bow Hero I summoned after killing the impostor yesterday. In other words, she has been in this world for less than a day. You’ve been here for a full month. Therefore, your strength should surpass hers. In this duel, defeat her. If you can defeat her, I will temporarily acknowledge you as the Sacred Heroes. But if you lose to her..."
At this, Fang Zheng chuckled.
"If you can’t even beat someone who’s been here less than a day, how dare you call yourselves the Four Sacred Heroes?"

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