(69 Hehehe. I have the humor of a 14-year-old, thank you for asking.)
In one month, the Hero has changed drastically. He is skinnier than before, and his eyes show signs of sleep deprivation as they bulge out from his eye sockets. Around those eyelids of his are rings of darkened skin. He looks as if he is 10 years older, being near 30, not 18.
No more the confident bright young man he used to be. No more the leisure life as the son of the most powerful family and the son-in-law of the richest, the Hero now is not more than a shell, a husk without his former glory.
On the inside, he is empty, lifeless, and soulless.
If Sam is growing to be the man who would do anything to protect his happiness, Hero is the one incapable of thinking like so. The one who suffered has been able to stand up easier than the one with a titanium spoon in his mouth.
Hero is like this because he has been put into a dilemma by the Goddess of Curiosity.
First, his mind is terrified by her presence. He was so arrogant that he thought he could one day become like her, a Manaborn being while having completely no idea what she was capable of.
He can still remember that day when he accidentally thought of using the Goddess. The horror of feeling his body being twisted in every single limb, not being able to die or to lose consciousness was unimaginable.
He felt all of that. His joints, his bones with the fragments that broke apart, piercing the skin of his body and organs, Hero felt them all.
If not for the Goddess, Hero could have never lived through that.
But not only that, he had his body folded like a piece of paper, breaking nearly every bone inside of him. The Hero was bent far greater than anyone can ever think of.
And the pain was simply beyond the cosmic scale. Even the cruelest torture in this world would have never been able to surpass that day. The pain alone would have been able to kill Hero. Yet the Goddess let him live. No, She made him live through the whole ordeal.
She wanted him to memorize it.
By the Goddess, Memorize he did.
It has left a disastrous impression on Hero's mind, forcing him to be thinking about it all day and night. He can not eat nor sleep, he can not do anything normal.
All of that mental stress because she wanted him to kill people. Just kill those people, and he would once more earn the trust of the Goddess.
But that in itself was creating conflict.
The Hero did not have the nerve to end someone else's life. However, he will have to.
He does not want to suffer that trauma again. For that, he will kill. There is only one person, after all.
Once he finishes killing, then the Hero will truly be lost. He will not be the same person any longer.
He will become a tool for the Goddess. No more, no less.
The Hero mumbles alone in the room, looking at the still unconscious Bianca.
After all of the mental stress, the Hero has developed many phases in his mental state.
"Kill that guy...kill that guy...I have to do it...I don't want to feel pain again...I need to kill him...Cut his head...Take his arms...I must do it...I must...kill...kill...kill..."
First, his expressions change from anxious to determined. He would clench his teeth and hands to remind himself of his resolve. This is the acceptance phase as he will do whatever the Goddess requests.
"I don't want to do this...I want to go back...I want to go back to Earth...this place is horrible...I'm scared...I miss my old family..."
Next is the phase of depression. Hero would change his determination to sadness. Tears would run down his face and drop down his chin. In this stage, he shows that he is just a normal person with power, rather than a powerful being.
"Why does this happen to me...? I never wanted to go to this place...Why me...? Why would you ask a student to murder...? Where is the moral of this world? Why is no one doing anything about this!? Fix your own damn world you fucking imbecile! Why are you asking me, an outsider to do something you don't want to?!"
This is the denial and anger stage. He starts to become furious and curses at his life. His eyes are wide open and there are no signs of tears even though he just cried.
"Please...let me go...I'll do anything...just don't make me kill anyone...I can not do it...please...God...Buddha...anyone...take me back to my old world...I will do anything just to escape this hell..."
Bargaining has begun. He begs the deities of old Earth where he used to live to bring him back. Of course, he is on his own.
And finally.
"Kill...kill...kill...kill...Must...kill...That guy must die...I must kill him...The pain will be gone if I kill..."
Thus, the loop is complete.
The Hero has been in this crazy state since the last time the Goddess came. She most definitely left a strong impression. One that he will never ever forget.
It matters not if the means, She gets what she wants, and that is final.
But suddenly, Hero stops mumbling and starts shaking uncontrollably. He kneels down on the floor and bows. His head touches the ground underneath.
That same Ethereal voice is talking inside of him.
"Hear my words, mortal..."
After the quick announcement, immediately, Kan storms into the room.
"Hero, my son, did you hear what the Goddess just say?" Kan grabs Hero by the shoulders. His face shows that he is worried about him. But in his eyes, there is no such feeling.
"Kill...kill..."
He rejoices. "Yes! Yes! Hero! That's the spirit! You just need to murder someone, and then everything will be good again! Isn't that great?!"
"I need to kill that guy...torn him to pieces...cut his fingers and toes off..."
"Be sure to torture him a little, my son. The Gods and Goddesses love drama, after all." Kan slaps Hero on the back.
"Kill him, assault his women, and then kill them too! Or better yet, make them your slaves so that they can become your sexual relief!" There is a hint of incredible darkness in his eyes.
"Sexual...relief...?" Hero repeats those two words.
"You have not been able to do that, right? I can understand. Bianca is still sleeping, I know. Here, take a look at this."
Kan takes out a picture. There are five people in the frame.
Sam, Lily, Yui, Yuno, and Nycta.
There is an X on Sam's face, circles on the others.
"Beauties, are they not? What do you think?" Kan smiles creepily? This is what he has prepared to target the girls. Even though the Goddess told him not to touch them during the last month, She did not say anything about the Selection.
"Beauties..." The Hero whispers.
"Find them, my son! Force them! Make them beg for your mercy! Break their minds and their wills, destroy their thoughts so that they think of you and you only. These women are very good materials, don't you think?
"Good...materials..."
The old man points at Yui and Yuno. "Look at these two. World-class beauty! And they are even twins! Imagine one of those petite bodies under you, while the other lay there, opening up her crotch, asking you to touch it! I would love to be indulging myself in those two girls. It must feel so good, it is a crime! Not to mention their teenage-like faces, they certainly have it young I must say."
"Touch...the twins..."
"You understand it now, my son! Let's put on a good show for everyone to see! Show this universe how you are going to conquer it! Let's follow me I will treat you to an ultra-fancy meal to prepare for your departure."
Lord Kan pulls the Hero outside. The latter keeps on mumbling what Kan just said.
"Kill...break...minds...make slaves..."
"Hahaha! That's really good, my son! Remember to break their bones so that they can not escape you first!" The old man pats the Hero on the back.
"But first, why don't we help you release some stress? Maids." He calls.
"Yes, master!" 4 women gather shortly. Both hands on their hips, they lower their heads.
"Help him with his urges, and clean him afterward."
"Certainly, My Lord." They elegantly bow at Kan and start pulling The Hero away.
"And prepare for a luxurious lunch."
One person stops and bows. "We will inform the kitchen right away."