Dony spoke calmly.
"Sorry, Rendara… but it looks like you have to leave this party."
As he glanced around, Dony smiled at the party—and of course, at Rendara's replacement.
Rendara looked confused.
"What do you mean, Dony? Weren't we—"
Before Rendara could finish, Dony cut him off.
Dony said firmly,
"There's no need for a long explanation. It's obvious that your approach no longer fits our strategy. I hope you'll leave peacefully and accept the removal notice I've sent."
Still confused, Rendara tried to calm himself. He took a deep breath… then slowly let it out.
"Huff…"
Rendara calmly snapped his fingers.
Click.
Suddenly, the world stopped moving.
Everything froze—everything except Rendara.
He looked around, then spoke softly.
"Ah… now I get it. This is the real problem."
He calmly looked at the party Dony had gathered—now filled with women, including his own replacement.
Still calm, Rendara spoke to no one in particular.
"Honestly, I don't mind being replaced. Doesn't matter if it's a woman, a man, or even some other creature.
But lately, the people joining the party… they're not exactly qualified.
I noticed it the moment Dony picked someone with a lower level than the previous member.
And every time I questioned it, he brushed it off—said it was 'regeneration,' that we needed 'fresh blood.'"
Then—
The world started moving again.
And Rendara had already made up his mind.
While Dony and the others were chatting excitedly—
"I can't wait to get closer to you, new member!"
"As the leader, I'll make sure to guide you properly, hehe."
"Wow, Leader Dony is amazing!"
"Looking forward to working together!"
"Don't be so stiff!"
"Hey, relax a bit—haha!"
Caught up in the mood, Dony eventually tried to compose himself and looked toward Rendara.
But—
Rendara was gone.
Confused, Dony noticed a notification on his screen.
Rendara has left the party.
"Ah… he already left. Oh well."
Meanwhile, Rendara calmly walked away, heading toward the center of the city.
Lost in thought, he muttered to himself.
"Alright… am I really sure about this?
If I think about it, isn't this kind of petty?
Hmm… but honestly, Dony really does need a lesson.
What he's doing isn't something a hero should be doing.
And he is a hero."
A faint smile formed on Rendara's face.
The air around him suddenly grew colder… heavier.
"In that case… I'll turn this world into something normal.
More specifically—into the kind of world I lived in before coming here.
Get ready to face reality, Dony."
He kept walking, circling the central fountain again and again, until night fell.
"So… where do I even start?"
The air cooled. People returned to their homes.
Even the royal patrols noticed Rendara pacing around the fountain—but chose not to interfere.
After thinking for a while, Rendara finally sighed.
"Ah… why am I overthinking this?
I should just read the books in the royal library.
I'm sure there's something there that'll give me a starting point."
In the blink of an eye, Rendara arrived at the royal library.
A librarian noticed him and greeted him as he approached.
The librarian smiled.
"Welcome, Sir Rendara. My name is Sena, the librarian here.
To save time, may I ask what kind of book you're looking for?"
Rendara smiled back.
"Ah, perfect timing. I'm looking for a book on how to defe—
uh, I mean… books about the enemies the kingdom faced in the past."
Sena smiled knowingly.
"I see… books like that do exist.
But I assume you're not just looking for history from the kingdom's point of view, right?"
Rendara blinked, surprised—but answered calmly.
"Ah… yes. Is there such a book?"
Sena nodded.
"There is. But books like that aren't kept in this section.
Please, follow me."
Curious, Rendara followed Sena to a massive door.
He could only stare in awe.
"Wow…"
Sena smiled politely.
"If you'll excuse me."
Rendara stepped back slightly.
"Ah… alright."
Suddenly—
Sena stabbed her own stomach with her hand.
Blood spilled. She nearly collapsed.
From her wound, a small, bloodstained key emerged—then instantly, the blood vanished, revealing a silver key with faint cracks.
Rendara froze, shocked and confused.
"Is… that really the key?
Isn't it way too small for a door like this?"
Without hesitation, Rendara rushed to heal her.
"Hey—are you okay?! Don't worry, I can heal you!"
Sena smiled weakly as the wound closed.
"This is my duty, Sir Rendara.
That key is extremely valuable. Protecting it was my responsibility.
So I chose to store it inside myself… hehe."
Rendara fell silent—confused, disturbed, unable to fully process the sacrifice she had made.
Sena continued calmly.
"Don't worry. I didn't actually swallow it.
I used magic to secure it safely inside my body.
The only way to remove it was through my stomach.
And honestly, you didn't even need to heal me—I already knew this would happen.
Someone would come here, seeking knowledge… important knowledge."
Coughing up a bit of blood, Sena slumped.
Rendara gently supported her and leaned her against the wall.
"Thank you, Sena. I'll handle the door."
Holding the key, Rendara realized—there was no keyhole.
Seeing his confusion, Sena spoke weakly.
"You just need to push the door.
The key isn't for unlocking—it's permission."
Rendara pushed the door.
It opened.
He turned back to thank Sena—but she was gone.
"What…?"
Looking around, Rendara quickly understood.
"Ah… this place is an illusion.
Everything here—space, books—it's all magic.
So this is how the kingdom protects its most important knowledge… interesting."
One by one, Rendara read the books.
Knowledge. Perspectives. History. Truths he never knew.
Yet something felt off.
"Why is all of this so easy for me to access?
Is this information even real?
Well… real or not, it doesn't really matter.
My original goal had nothing to do with most of these books anyway."
A faint, sly smile appeared.
"Still… there are some really interesting ones.
But taking them out would definitely mark me.
I'd be watched nonstop.
And that book… 'How to Arrange the World'—damn it…"
Frustrated, Rendara stepped outside.
Sena was standing near the door, perfectly fine.
"Welcome back, Sir Hero Rendara.
So… did you find any books to borrow?"
Rendara laughed lightly.
"They were fascinating—but better read than taken, honestly.
Those books are something else."
Sena looked a little disappointed.
"Why? Are you worried about me, Sir Hero?
You don't need to be. That responsibility is mine.
I don't fully understand those books either—but no matter how dangerous they are,
if they help a hero like you, I'd gladly take that risk."
Rendara shook his head calmly.
"Thanks… but it's fine. I was just killing time anyway.
Here's the key. I'll be going now."
He left the library.
Later, Rendara headed to his favorite noodle stall.
"One special fried noodle, please."
"Coming right up."
"Here you go."
"Sorry for the wait."
He ate quietly. No talking. No stress. No thoughts about what happened earlier.
Then—mid-slurp—an idea hit him.
"Alright… I've got it.
I forgot—I can copy everything straight into my head.
…Or should I write it down?
No, that'd just become evidence later.
What about a magic book instead?
Yeah… stuffing everything in my head might be a headache anyway."
He smiled.
"Alright. Now I just wait for the right moment.
And the title for this first book will be—"
"A Mad Plan to Fix a Broken World."