[ WP ] You are a `` hero '' in a fantasy world , but as you `` adventure '' , you are slowly realizing YOU are the antagonist .

My foot crashes through the door of the tavern, sending wooden splinters flying. The group of men harassing the bartender shoot to their feet. Though surprised, they draw their swords and get into a fighting stance. The man on the far left is trying his best not to show that his knees are shaking. 
 
 Amateurs. 
 
 They rush me. I draw my sword as the first one makes his move. His guts spill out onto the ground before he can even understand what has happened. The next one puts up a bit more of a fight, raising his sword to block mine, but he's still not prepared when I shove a fireball into his abdomen, causing him to scream in pain. His scream is cut short as his head topples from his shoulders. 
 
 The third one is tougher, clearly more experienced. He dodges my strikes with ease, weaving between the swings of my sword and avoiding the fireballs I hurl in his direction. For a moment it looks as if he may have the upper hand as he knocks the sword from my hand, causing it to slide across the room. He backs me into a wall, and his sword raises into the air above my head. It's the opening I need. I drive a dagger into the bottom of his skull, sealing his jaw to his head. He's dead before he can even process the pain. 
 
 I stroll to the other end of the room and pick up my sword. As I do, the last man drops his blade and falls to his knees. Tears begin to stream down his face, and from the large dark spot appearing on his trousers I can see he has wet himself. 
 
 `` Please. Have mercy,'' he stammers. `` I'll leave. I promise. Just let me go and you'll never hear from me again.'' 
 
 I walk over to the man and kneel in front of him, bringing myself to eye level. `` Do you know who I am?'' 
 
 He tries to steady his voice as he looks back into my eyes. `` Y-you're Harvey Black.'' 
 
 `` Now, see, if you knew that, then why did you still come to my town?'' The man tries to speak, but I cut him short. `` Deliver a message to the king. Tell him that this is *my* town, and if he sends his scum here again, I'll do what I did to... Are you even listening?'' 
 
 `` I-I'm sorry. It's just a lot to --'' 
 
 The man stops his stammering as I drive my blade through his mouth and out the back of his head. He chokes on his own blood as I remove my sword and he falls to the ground, lifeless. As I stand I turn to the bartender and smile. 
 
 `` Do n't you worry. You're safe now.'' 
 
 `` I did n't ask for your protection!'' the bartender bellows. `` Why wo n't you just leave us be?'' 
 
 `` Leave you be?'' I step toward the man, and he backs against the wall. I do n't like scaring people, but at the moment I do n't care; he's upset me now. `` I'm *protecting* you. I saved your life from the royal guards. You should be thanking me.'' 
 
 `` Thanking you? You killed those men in cold blood! They did n't do anything to me. They were looking for *you! *'' 
 
 I ignore his insane ramblings and turn to look around the bar. Most of the patrons have left, and the few that remain are huddled against the walls in fear of the royal guards. 
 
 `` It's alright!'' I say. `` You're all safe now. No need to thank me.'' 
 
 Silence. I can feel my face contort in rage, and suddenly against my better judgement I cleave my blade through one of the bar tables, eliciting screams of surprise from the civilians. 
 
 `` I said,'*No need to thank me. *'' 
 
 A quiet round of `` thank yous'' come from around the room, and pride swells in my heart. I sheathe my sword and go to exit the building. 
 
 `` Remember everyone! If any royal guards come around town, just send them my way and I'll be sure to protect you!'' I'm just about to leave the bar when a single voice speaks up from the corner of the room. 
 
 `` You're a monster.'' 
 
 I turn to look and see a young woman crouching in the corner of the room. She's trembling in awe of my magnificence, but her face is stern, doing her best to hide the excitement she's feeling at seeing me. I wonder, not for the first time, if I'm really doing the right thing here, or if I may be doing more harm than good. Perhaps I'm misreading the situation, I think. But the cheerful voice in the back of my head reminds me that I'm doing this for the good of the kingdom, and all of those fears melt away. 
 
 As I leave the tavern, the screams of the civilians continue to fill my ears. They sob in fear as they hold the charred body of the woman, unaware that they are mourning the death of a loyalist to a corrupt king. I give one last call back to them as I walk off into the night, the reward of a job well done still warming my heart: `` I'm not a monster,'' I say. `` I'm a hero.''
