I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

You know what's truly cruel?

Standing in front of someone who opens their heart to you, and not being able to return that same feeling.

It's not just heartbreaking… it's a betrayal of trust.

They shared their truth with you, their fears, their vulnerabilities.

So to respond with silence, or half-truths, would be nothing short of disrespect.

If someone trusts you enough to hand you their heart… Then the least you can do is hold it with honesty.

Even if your feelings are complicated.

Even if your past is all messy.

They deserve the truth—don't they?

Ruby was someone I trusted the most in this world, even more than myself.

She was my anchor, the light that pulls me back when the world starts to go dark. So in that sense, it's only natural that I wants to protect her.

Keeping her far away from all those chaos, the gods, the Authority holders, the secrets that even I wasn't unaware of.

But here's the thing—Ruby's not fragile.

I kept forgetting that.

She's strong—super strong infact, smart, and kind. And I know that. That's why the guilt was gnawing at me.

Because not telling her isn't protection. It's distancing me from her.

We both trained together, fought together, and gone through soo much….

We both once shared the same fate.

So, I have to tell her.

Not because I wants to. But because she deserves to know.

Because love isn't just about shielding someone from the storms… It's standing with them in the eye of it.

Taking a slow breath, I spoke again, my voice was low and calm.

"I'm entangled in a mess involving the greatest power this world has ever witnessed…"

"..."

As expected.

She didn't flinch. Not even a slight twitch in her expression.

She just listened.

As if she already knew that I will tell her everything, and that made it even harder for me to speak the next part.

I gulped, swallowing a lump of saliva. My grip on my fork tightened as I stared directly into her eyes.

They didn't weaver from my face, as if telling me to finish.

I continued.

"...the theory that Gluttony proposed, It might be true."

I glanced at her.

She still didn't flinch.

Parting her lips, she said.

"Go on."

If I say someone else about the existence of Gods being real. They would think that I might have gone mad.

But the girl infront of me wasn't someone like that.

"The Gods were real."

I said it, but still deep inside me, something was lingering… I don't know what that was, but I do know, that whatever it truly was it's helping me keep my mind calm.

This time though, Ruby's eye's widen slightly, but it soon returned to it's initial sweet glare.

There was silence between us, and Ruby was the one who broke it.

Dropping her spoon, she reached out and gently took my hand. Slowly, her fingers laced with mine. My hands were cold, but the moment her skin touched mine, a wave of warmth surged through my entire body.

Still holding my hand, she smiled.

"I don't know what you witnessed in the Demon Continent…" she said softly.

"But ever since you came back, you've changed."

Her voice wavered, her grip tightening as if afraid I might pull away.

I clenched my teeth.

Ruby continued,

"...It's like you've been pulling away. Bit by bit, without even realizing it."

Our eyes met.

"And you know what?" she whispered, her eyes shining.

"I really hated it."

"..."

I opened my mouth to speak—

But no words came out.

Nothing felt right at the moment.

With a quiet sigh, I lowered my head, letting my gaze fall to the food on the plate.

But she didn't let me escape.

Leaning down slightly, Ruby tilted her head, catching my eyes from below. Her expression was soft, her eyes radiated warmth—

"So… will you allow me carry some of your weight too?"

My breath caught in my throat. I stared at her, and right now I was stunned.

She wants to carry all my weight…?

She trusted me that much, and no matter how heavy the burden was, she would carry it…just because it was mine?

"Ah…" My voice cracked.

I was holding it in the entire time. I was once called the humanities strongest—but in front of all this gods, deities, and Authority holders, I was nothing more than a peasant.

They would crush me any time they wanted.

I thought, I will have to walk this path alone… and I even accepted this fate of mine.

"..."

Her hand was still wrapped around mine, her fingers were warm, and the little rubbing of her thumb was all it needed for me to melt down.

I swallowed.

"You don't know what you're asking for," I said, barely above a whisper. "This isn't just about any secrets. It's dangerous, Ruby. The kind that twists fate, rewrites lives… and even ends them."

"I know," she replied quietly.

Her thumb brushed across my knuckles.

"I know. So… you don't have to fight with them alone."

I couldn't look away from her. It was like I was seeing her for the first time again.

"...Thank you," That was all I could manage.

Because if I said more, I was afraid my voice would break.

"Hey…" she whispered, "I won't leave you, you know."

Looking at her, I saw a wholesome smile—the kind that made me feel grateful to have her by my side.

Gripping her fingers gently, I nodded.

"I know."

Then, letting go of her hand, I crossed my arms and smirked.

"After all, I'm your best friend."

—Smack.

She kicked me out of nowhere from under the table.

"Ugh!" I flinched and glanced at her.

She was pouting, her cheeks puffed out, eyes narrowed, arms folded tightly against her chest.

Scratching the back of my head, I asked with a teasing tone,

"What was that for?"

Ruby turned her head to the side, sulking like a child.

"Meanieee~ Hmph!" she huffed, then glanced at me from the corner of her eyes.

"After all that… and I'm still your best friend?"

"...!"

The moment those words left her lips, my entire face burned up.

That's unfair!

A critical hit, right to the heart.

Since when did she become this bold?!

This has to be cheating!

I slowly raised my gaze.

She was twirling a loose strand of hair around her finger, pretending to act casual, but her eyes were still fixed on me.

There was a smug little grin tugging at her lips.

And honestly?

I found it insanely cute.

I gulped and cleared my throat.

"T-Then..." I hesitated, "...what are we now?"