Chapter 10: The Guardian of Humanity (1)
Evil Eye remembered.
A power that defied imagination. She didn't know what kind of man Kaiser had been before she met him — but when she did, he already possessed strength that transcended reason itself.
By then, he was already known as Kaiser.
Even back then, he had said:
"I've forgotten my old name."
Whether he truly had, or merely pretended to forget, she could never tell.
But when he occasionally spoke of the past — his voice tinged with nostalgia — Evil Eye was sure he remembered.
She wasn't tactless enough to press him about it. For him, comrades were sacred — living proof that he had once been human, reminders of a time he held dear.
Even if those memories were a sanctuary sealed in sorrow, Evil Eye never wished to defile them.
Yet, every time she saw that hollow look in his eyes, she could sense it: whatever those comrades meant to him — however precious, however noble — their final act had left him cursed.
That much, Evil Eye was certain of.
The Kaiser she remembered was a hero — the kind who never retreated, no matter how powerful his foe; who bled without hesitation if it meant saving others.
"The Guardian of Humanity" — no title fit him better.
But when everything ended, and the last battle was won, he simply vanished — as if his role in the world had finally concluded.
Even Evil Eye didn't know who his last opponent had been.
But her instincts told her — that fight had been far beyond even the battles of the Thirteen Heroes.
....
"You disappear without even saying goodbye… and now you show up out of nowhere. 'Elusive' suits you perfectly, doesn't it, Kaiser?"
"I suppose so," Kaiser replied calmly. "At the time, my duty was already finished anyway…"
Kaiser had never cared for glory.
The moment his task was done, he left without looking back.
By then, his humanity was already gone.
Kaiser remained as a Guardian, as a Hero, yes — but that was all.
What stood in his place was a warrior — one who fought, who protected, but no longer lived as a man.
He no longer understood things like camaraderie, affection, or connection.
In one sense, he was the perfect guardian; in another, a human utterly disqualified.
....
"Hey, Evil Eye…" Gagaran spoke, scratching her head.
"Instead of whispering among yourselves, mind introducing him to us too?"
Evil Eye sighed, exhaling through her mask — not at her comrades, but at Kaiser himself.
Then, with a flick of her hand, she cast a silencing spell so their conversation wouldn't leak out.
Kaiser recognized the spell. He used to employ it often himself.
"Kaiser," Evil Eye said curtly. "They call him the Guardian of Humanity, a so-called legend… but in reality, he's just a hopeless man. That's all."
"…Wait, Evil Eye, hold on."
Gagaran blinked. "You're saying this guy is the real Kaiser? Did I hear that right?"
Evil Eye gave a tired nod. Kaiser just smiled awkwardly.
The members of Blue Rose — the kingdom's only Adamantite-ranked adventurer team — fell silent.
Only the leader Lakyus and the warrior Gagaran were present, both staring at the man before them.
Snow-white hair.
Black eyes calm and unfathomable.
Not a trace of hostility.
He smiled gently, without a hint of a warrior's tension.
Even his build was unassuming — leaner than
Gagaran, perhaps even Lakyus.
Not weak, but hardly imposing.
His loose clothes made him look even less formidable.
"So what, you're saying this guy's the one from the legends? The man who slew seven archdemons? Defeated a Demon God alone? Took down one of the Eight Greed Kings?"
"All those legends are wrong," Kaiser said simply.
"Oh, so they're exaggerated?" Lakyus asked cautiously.
Kaiser shrugged lightly.
"There weren't seven demons — there were one hundred and eight. Not a Demon God, but an Evil God beyond them. And as for the Eight Greed Kings… I defeated all of them. Though to be fair, some fell easily — victims of their own arrogance — so I can't claim every victory was earned through pure skill."
Silence.
Blue Rose's members stared blankly.
If not for Evil Eye's acknowledgment, they might have laughed him off as a mad braggart.
But Evil Eye had lived long enough — and was strong enough — to know the truth when she saw it.
Recently, the name "Kaiser" had become less of a person's name and more of a title — something bestowed upon the strongest warrior known to humanity.
And yet here he was — real, alive, and… surprisingly ordinary-looking.
"So you're telling me this man is the Kaiser…" Gagaran muttered. "Evil Eye, when his name came up earlier, you didn't even deny it, did you!?"
"I didn't confirm it either," Evil Eye replied. "If he cared about fame or honor, he would've denied it himself. But he doesn't. He's too much of an idiot for that."
"Hey now," Kaiser chuckled. "That's a bit harsh."
And indeed, if he had cared about reputation, he wouldn't have vanished after the war of the Thirteen Heroes.
He could have made himself a god, if he wished.
Instead, he disappeared — and the legend of Kaiser grew on its own.
...
"Incredible," Lakyus finally said, bowing her head slightly.
"To think the true Kaiser stands before us… I am Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra, leader of Blue Rose, the Adamantite-ranked adventurer team to which Evil Eye belongs. It's an honor to meet you."
"A noble doing such dangerous work, I see."
"I've always loved adventure tales," Lakyus replied with a bright smile.
"I grew up reading about your stories. It's an honor to finally meet you in person."
....
"You're quite trusted, aren't you, Ki— ahem, Evil Eye."
"Shut up."
"Come now, can't you forgive me already?"
Kaiser chuckled gently as he spoke.
It was clear they shared a genuine bond — one built on trust and history.
He even seemed aware of Evil Eye's true nature, which only showed how much she trusted her teammates to treat her words as truth.
Despite Kaiser being a "legend" most now dismissed as myth, the Blue Rose adventurers accepted him immediately, without doubt.
Two hundred years ago, during the battle against the Demon God, Kaiser had privately regarded Evil Eye as the strongest among the Thirteen Heroes — though depending on the situation, the rankings could easily change.
....
"That's a familiar sword you're carrying — the Magic Sword Killineiram, isn't it?"
"I'm impressed you recognized it. It's said to have belonged to the Black Knight, one of the Thirteen Heroes."
At those words, Kaiser's expression softened slightly.
He remembered them — those fools, those cheerful idiots who never gave up until the end.
He still recalled their final battle vividly.
Later, he'd heard the leader refused resurrection magic and died with pride.
At the time, Kaiser hadn't even felt sorrow — his human emotions had been too faint.
Only now, after centuries, did he finally feel the weight of that loss.
"Had he lived longer, he would've become even stronger," Kaiser murmured. "He could've been a great help in times like these. But he was only human… I suppose surviving this long would've been impossible anyway."
....
"So, Kaiser," Evil Eye asked, "are you planning to stay in the kingdom?"
"No, I just happened to be passing through."
He paused, then looked at her seriously.
"Actually, there's something I should tell you, Evil Eye."
"What is it?"
"A Player has appeared."
Evil Eye froze.
The word "Player" didn't mean god, but something just as terrifying — beings from another world who possessed overwhelming, reality-breaking power.
The Six Great Gods, the Eight Greed Kings — they were all Players.
Evil Eye had long suspected that even the leader of the Thirteen Heroes might have been one.
"Strong?"
"Of course. If he truly wishes to conquer this world, surrender might be the only way to save the most lives."
"And his subordinates?"
"Each of them strong enough to be called a Guardian. They're all terrifying in their own right."
"Can you defeat him?"
"One-on-one, I think so," Kaiser admitted. "But in consecutive battles… I might lose."
"And the Player himself?"
"If he's in perfect condition, one-on-one would be… difficult to say."
Evil Eye clicked her tongue sharply.
If Kaiser — the Guardian of Humanity — said that much, the situation was already apocalyptic.
A being capable of destroying the world had arrived — and possibly not alone.
"Still…" she said quietly, "you look much more human now. Back then, you were nothing but a puppet that existed to protect humanity."
"I haven't changed."
"Humanity has forgotten you."
"I know."
"They've even stabbed you in the back before, haven't they?"
"Plenty of times."
"And yet you still protect them?"
"Because I'm Kaiser," he replied softly. "The Guardian of Humanity."
Evil Eye exhaled deeply, stepping closer.
Then, for the first time in centuries, she removed her mask.
Her crimson eyes met his — eyes once filled with hatred, now trembling faintly with warmth.
Kaiser smiled gently.
And for the briefest moment, Evil Eye's lips curved into a small, bittersweet smile.
"You're still the same idiot you've always been."
"Heh… maybe so," Kaiser replied.
"So what will you do now? Where are you planning to go this time?"
"I've been thinking… maybe it's time to take on a disciple."
"A disciple, huh? If you're the one training them, they're bound to become strong."
"That's what worries me," Kaiser replied with a faint hesitation in his tone.
Evil Eye instantly caught it — and she knew exactly why.
This was the same man who once charged through battlefields drenched in blood, slaying monsters without flinching.
Yet now, he hesitated… over something so human.
No — not trivial. Never trivial.
She understood the weight behind that hesitation.
If Kaiser trained someone, even an ordinary person could reach the level of a hero.
With enough talent, they might even surpass that — but that kind of power always came with a price.
"You're afraid," Evil Eye said quietly, "that your disciple will gain a power no human can bear… and crumble under it."
"Haha… something like that," Kaiser admitted.
Evil Eye understood perfectly.
Power too great always destroyed its wielder.
Even if it didn't, the world would destroy them instead.
For every human who admired strength, there were ten who feared it.
The greater one's light, the deeper the shadows cast by others.
The cruel irony of the world: people kneel before overwhelming evil, yet shun overwhelming good.
"Idiot."
"You've been calling me that a lot today."
"Because you deserve it," she snapped. "That's an insult to your would-be disciple. It's not for you to decide whether they can handle it. It's their choice. Or is your potential disciple too stupid to make that choice?"
"...No, that's not it."
"Then you already know what to do."
Kaiser smiled faintly.
"You're right. Just because I lost my humanity doesn't mean others will. You're absolutely right."
....
He finally made up his mind.
A new war was coming.
And if the worst happened — if Nazarick turned from cautious ally to enemy — he would need every possible ally and fighter he could prepare.
He doubted even Adamantite-class adventurers could stand against Ainz's Guardians.
In Kaiser's eyes, only two beings in this world could even hope to match them: the Theocracy's hidden trump card — the girl known as Desperadeth, and the Dragon Lords of the Council Alliance.
Even then, the odds were slim.
He would need to train others.
....
"Don't be ridiculous."
Evil Eye reached out and pressed her hand down firmly on Kaiser's head, her voice sharp but trembling faintly with emotion.
"You're human. Don't forget that. Even if you've lived for centuries. Even if your will wavers. Even if that title — 'Guardian of Humanity' — devours you from the inside out. You are still a human hero."
Evil Eye wasn't angry that Kaiser had no fame.
She never cared about recognition.
But what did anger her — what truly made her blood boil —was how humanity had betrayed the man who had loved and protected them more than anyone else.
And Kaiser — damn him — never resented them for it.
That was what frustrated her most.
But then again… that was who he was.
A stubborn, foolish, honest man — the kind only legends were born from.
"You're still as dense as ever," she muttered.
"And yet, that's why you're the hero you are."
"You're always helping me, Kino. Thank you."
Thwack!
"Ow."
"Liar."
If a punch from a magic caster like Evil Eye actually hurt, how had he even survived all these centuries?
Evil Eye quickly turned away, pulling her mask back over her face.
When she looked up, both Lakyus and Gagaran were staring at her with teasing smirks.
"N-no! It's not like that!"
"Not like what?" Gagaran grinned. "We didn't say a word, did we, Lakyus?"
"Not a single word," Lakyus said, smiling slyly. "But now that you mention it… what are you thinking, Evil Eye?"
Evil Eye's muffled yell of frustration echoed through the tavern, while Kaiser only laughed softly beside her.
"Th-that's not—"
"So what, our little shorty here's into that kind of guy?" Gagaran teased.
"You're wrong! Everything you're thinking is completely wrong, Gagaran!"
Evil Eye's shout rang across the tavern, but the banter only pulled up another scene from her memory—
the first time she met Kaiser.
When she thought death was certain, he had appeared—cutting through an army of monsters like a phantom.
That word, phantom, suited him perfectly.
He always appeared without warning, saved without hesitation, and vanished just as suddenly—a being who embodied both salvation and solitude.
In those days of despair, Kaiser had truly lived up to his title as Guardian of Humanity.
He was hope incarnate, an ideal given form.
....
"Tina would probably like his face," Gagaran mused.
"A bit tall for her taste, though."
"I'm actually on the shorter side," Kaiser said calmly.
"Still too tall."
"Then how short am I supposed to be?"
Evil Eye sighed quietly.
At least he looked better now than the hollow, half-dead figure she remembered.
Back then, his eyes were lifeless—his expression, exhausted beyond repair.
Truthfully, the real reason she'd been angry wasn't about the past or the battle.
It was because he had left without saying a word.
Among the Thirteen Heroes, she had been closest to him—or so she'd believed.
If he had said come with me, even once, she would have followed—no matter how thorn-covered the path ahead.
But he hadn't.
He'd walked away alone, saying that the burden was his to bear, that there should be no more sacrifices.
That was the last sight she remembered:
his back, illuminated by fading light.
Maybe the foolish one wasn't Kaiser at all.
Maybe it was her—for letting him go.
Still, she was grateful.
Someone—she didn't know who—had brought life back into his eyes.
Someone had given him back a piece of his humanity.
Evil Eye couldn't have done that herself.
Part of her felt jealous, yes…but more than that, she was simply relieved.
....
"If there's a chance, let's spar sometime, Kaiser!" Gagaran grinned. "Could be a good experience."
"A duel with the strongest, huh? That sounds exciting."
"Splendid," Kaiser replied mildly. "Are Adamantite adventurers as strong as Gazef, by any chance?"
Evil Eye quietly watched the conversation unfold,
then glanced at the small slip of paper Kaiser had slipped to her earlier.
It was probably the information about the Player he'd mentioned.
She'd read it later. For now, she followed the others as they walked out of the tavern.
....
"So, you're leaving for that disciple of yours right away?"
"No, I'll stay a bit longer before I go."
"Then how about taking a job together for old times' sake?" Evil Eye suggested.
"There's a high-paying request that came in. You'll need local currency eventually, won't you?"
Kaiser made a thoughtful expression.
"All right," he said at last. "If it's Kano's request, I'll accept."
"Evil Eye," she corrected sharply. "You can save the idiocy for when you're lost on the road, not when you're talking."
"Hahaha, so he gets lost easily, huh?" Gagaran laughed.
"Everyone's got weaknesses," Evil Eye said flatly. "And his barely counts as one—it doesn't affect combat, at least."
That might have been true for most people.
But Kaiser was far from most people.
Even with a map in hand, he could probably wander for hours and still not find his own lodgings.
Without someone beside him, he'd get lost in his own shadow—a living legend who could slay gods…but couldn't navigate a single street.
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