A man in a dirty black cloak sat on top of a broken building, ignoring his burning surroundings as he watched the battle below him with a grim expression. It was the battle of the decade - the villain vs the hero; the world's enemy vs the world's savior; the White Star vs Choi Han.

In novels and plays, the hero would never be alone as he would always be accompanied by either his companions or the audience.

Unfortunately, this is reality.

Right now, the only ones alive in this place and possibly this world were the hero, the villain, and him, the useless side character.

Huh, useless, how long has it been since the man had someone call him that?

Truth be told, he was a strong swordsman and would definitely be a great support for Choi Han. Unfortunately, just hours before Choi Han arrived, he battled against the White Star and ended up being severely wounded. Not only was he stabbed in numerous places, some hitting his vital points, his right arm, his dominant arm, was cut off. Because of this, even if he joined in the battle, he would only be a liability to the hero.

"You're done, Choi Han!" the White Star yelled in glee as he raised his flaming weapon before running towards the quiet hero with glazed eyes while kneeling on a pool of his own blood.

It was the expected result considering the White Star's ally was literally a god.

The White Star has finally won.

No, he had already won a long time ago when he managed to destroy all the kingdoms in both the Western and Eastern continents.

The only reason he couldn't announce it was because of the hero in front of him.

The hero who is currently about to be killed.

Anything the man does now will be futile.

He knew it.

He understood it.

And yet...

The man clicked his tongue before jumping down, rushing forward and grabbed the kneeling hero by the stomach as he hurriedly ran away to avoid the incoming attack which caused his hood to fall down, revealing middle-length dirty red hair. Once they were far enough, the man placed the hero down to the ground and grabbed a piece of paper from his pocket before ripping it with his hand and teeth. Seconds after, the two vanished and appeared in a ruined estate.

'I'm home.'

The man bitterly thought before focusing on the dazed hero on the ground. Kneeling, the man slapped the hero with all the strength he currently has.

"Snap out of it, you damn bastard!"

The hero slowly touched his cheek which was turning red as he looked at the man who saved his life, recognition passing through his eyes.

"Cale...Henituse?"

Choi Han mumbled in confusion.

"Am I dead? But why would your face be the first one I see?"

"You should be grateful to be lucky enough to see my face no matter what situation," Cale frowned. "but no, you're still alive."

"Ah."

Choi Han looked at the destruction all around him as he let out a bitter laugh, tears streaming down his face.

"Who would have thought that my only ally in this world would be the trash I beat up all those years ago."

Cale rolled his eyes at the hero's words, retrieving a small blue bottle from his pocket.

"Open this for me."

Choi Han did so without hesitation and handed it back to Cale.

He had nothing to lose as the worst that could happen is his death which would be a blessing because he would finally see all his friends and family again.

Taking it, Cale shot Choi Han a smile before shoving the content of the bottle down Choi Han's throat.

"Cough, fuck, ugh!"

Choi Han glared at Cale.

"What was that?!"

"Do you really think I'll kill the one and only hope of the world?" Cale scoffed. "It's a healing potion. I was saving it for a...friend but he never returned so I'm using it on you so be grateful."

Choi Han looked surprised, looking at his injuries that were fading away before staring at Cale who was currently smiling bitterly.

"Friend?" 

Cale sighed.

"I guess you can call him a butler turned friend."

Choi Han had a vague idea on who the man was talking about, remembering a blurry orange-haired butler always on the red-haired's side. So, he decided to skip that question and move on to the next one he had.

"Why...why did you use it on me instead of yourself?"

"Isn't it obvious? You're the only one who has the strength to go against that bastard between the two of us."

Another bitter smile escaped Cale as he glanced at the sunset.

"Besides, I'm already about to die so it would be a waste to drink it myself."

Choi Han looked at the peaceful expression on Cale's face as understanding crossed his face.

"No wonder those two cared for you until the end."

Cale looked at him in confusion.

"Who?"

"The old man and his son."

It was Choi Han's turn to smile bitterly.

"it's funny, you know? They died at different times but both had similar last words which were about you."

Cale looked shocked.

"...Ron and Beacrox?"

Choi Han scoffed, feeling energetic all of a sudden.

"Who else? They always managed to find time to ask people about you."

"...Then why did they leave?"

"They never told you? They didn't want to endanger the Henituse family by staying so they left."

"Didn't they leave because they wanted to avenge their family?"

"Partly but also because they knew someone from Arm would recognize them and attack you and your family."

Cale stared at Choi Han's face, trying to find something that would prove his statement as false but couldn't. So, with a heavy heart, Cale lied down on the ground with a bitter laugh.

"Haha...after all this time...who knew you would be the one to tell me this."

He placed his arm on his eyes, covering the tears running down his face as Choi Han had enough decency to look away.

They spent five minutes like that, enjoying the silence until Cale suddenly sat up and kicked Choi Han away from him.

"Why the fu-"

Choi Han unconsciously stopped speaking, staring at the place he was sitting at just moments ago.

There, with his flaming weapon stabbed directly at Cale's chest, kneeled the White Star with a frustrated look.

"Damn it, why the fuck are you getting in my way!"

Cale shot him a bloody smile, obviously enjoying the other man's anger.

Knowing this, the White Star stabbed the man again.

Cale let out a cough, feeling himself lose conscious as he raised his middle finger.

"Make sure to fuck him up, Choi Han."

The last thing he felt was the cold embrace of death with someone shouting his name.