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Alias.

It’s a nickname that adventurers with some reputation often get, and in martial arts novels, it corresponds to a pseudonym.

In actual history, names like Lionhearted King, Wanli Emperor, King of the Six Sky Demons, and in our country, titles such as Dasan, Yeohae, and Baekbeom correspond to this.

Humans have a tendency to assign grand names to remarkable individuals.

Of course, in novels, it’s frequently used to highlight the power of an opponent or the uniqueness of the protagonist.

Anyway, in Pangrave, having an alias serves as proof that one possesses merit and strength that the entire labyrinth city acknowledges.

For Ellie, who reached her peak through sheer physical prowess and courage without any magical assistance, the alias of Hero was given.

Her strength was dwarfed by the extraordinary nobility and action of Lydia, deserving of the title “Noble.”

For Benny, who deals with all sorts of horrible things while insisting on a typical witch’s fashion style, the alias Creepy Witch emerged.

Aliases really can be called the privilege of the strong.

And I had such an alias, too.

Rookie.

The moment I faced One Who Devours the Twilight in the Cradle Association. It was an alias earned by revealing my hidden strength in front of a multitude.

It probably came from being a suddenly prominent figure.

Strictly speaking, this is not an official alias.

I wonder where the line between official and unofficial aliases lies, but surprisingly, adventurers have this notion of a certification.

It’s the guild’s approval.

The guild that manages adventurers also assigns aliases to the strong out of respect, and the strong enjoy this tradition as well.

However, sometimes an individual can end up with an alias they dislike, leading to various incidents, so several insulting aliases have been moderated by the guild for wider circulation.

Thus, creating a nutrition-rich excrement through the powers of the Earth God and contributing to food improvements across the Pan Continent could lead to the adventurer being called ‘Platinum’ instead of ‘Poop Guy.’

As long as the individual doesn’t mind, unofficial aliases are usually fine, but if they do, the guild mediates, resulting in the alias certification system.

In this way, adventurers have both official and unofficial aliases, with the certification stamped by the guild.

Rookie was an unofficial alias, but it was decent enough, so I let it slide, but being called Crazy Psycho Pink recently was unbearable, so I sought the guild.

…And I had no choice but to accept a new alias.

“That’s driving me crazy.”

“Hehe! How can a person’s alias be Crazy Psycho Pink? Hahaha!!”

Benny, who rolled around holding her stomach after going to the guild with me. Meanwhile, Ellie simply shook her head with a solemn expression, while Lydia surprisingly sparkled her eyes and gave a thumbs up.

“Mad Lord. Not bad.”

It seemed to have sparked some romantic sentiment in Lydia.

I left with some understanding, but the simmering frustration inside me had yet to fade. I expressed this with a shout.

“I can’t understand! How did the pure, weak, and incredibly charming pretty boy like me end up with a lunatic alias like Crazy Psycho Pink?!”

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Crazy Psycho Pink. Don’t be too angry, Crazy Psycho Pink. It could’ve been worse than this, Crazy Psycho Pink?”

“Gahhh!!”

Surprisingly, Benny’s words held truth.

After causing chaos on the Fourth Floor and again in Historia and the Fifth Floor, the names referring to me were numerous.

Blasphemer, End of the Knight, Natural Born Evil, Homewrecker… there were various others, but these five along with Crazy Psycho Pink were the most common.

Blasphemer likely came from my wild manipulation of the undead on the Fourth Floor, breaking them apart and merging them.

Or perhaps for being labeled an unreasonable existence by the Reaper, guardian of the floors.

As for End of the Knight, that’s simple. It’s due to the incident where I nearly brought Historia to its knees.

Lastly, Natural Born Evil. This ominous name was given by adventurers after witnessing me go berserk when my party was kidnapped.

…Even now, I can’t deny I may have gone a bit overboard in the Fifth Floor.

I continued a cruel path in a layer where criminals turned into monsters, even terrifying the monsters themselves.

By the way, during that time, I would smile broadly as I performed illusions of a disappearing dagger to keep my crumbling mental state in check.

This is a secret for here, but the vanished dagger was usually found somewhere in the abdomen of a monster.

Monsters witnessing this strange magic, with daggers popping out of their bellies… or rather, that magic that moved objects to unexpected places, were often amazed and would kindly ask me about it.

Basing the analogy of my almost broken state on original sin was quite a clever choice.

Well, the stories behind each alias may be a bit off, but they sure sound far more plausible than Crazy Psycho Pink…

“There’s always a reason why they shouldn’t be chosen.”

“Such a pity.”

Benny continued nodding next to me with an unremoving grin.

I pinched her cheek for no reason.

“That’s soft!”

“Ah!”

It was squishy.

“Ha… of all things to be stuck with, an alias like that.”

Another deep sigh escaped. The reason why I couldn’t choose another alias was due to the harm it might bring to others, not just me.

Titles like Blasphemer or Natural Born Evil would anger the elves who intended to crown me as the World Tree’s chosen one, right?

Then what about End of the Knight?

It’s just that I am gradually becoming known as the Fallen Prince of Historia. Would the royal lineage of the knight kingdom want to be called the End of the Knight?

I can assure you, knights in Historia who think of me as a battlefield idol would take great offense to this and would immediately march on Pangrave.

They’d say it was a duel, but if a duel were repeated thousands… even tens of thousands of times, what would make that different from a war?

Lastly, Homewrecker.

What need is there to say anything? It is an alias born from those who witnessed the full release of the Avatar of Love I occasionally freed and ended up completely smitten.

Thanks to the Goddess of Love, society recognized that as long as there is love, any form of family could be accepted.

Thus, the perception of someone who destroys such love-born families is never good.

If someday I reveal that I am an Apostle of the Goddess of Love, it would undoubtedly reflect poorly on her, too.

Hence, Crazy Psycho Pink.

A term noted by those who examined my past actions, and the only alias that would not spark conflict with other groups.

Though I don’t want to admit it, it is a reasonable name that even the Goddess of Love, the elves, or the knights of Historia would nod at.

As long as I can bear my embarrassment, I can guarantee that Crazy Psycho Pink is the best choice.

“Why so quiet, Crazy Psycho Pink? Did you suddenly get offended or something, Crazy Psycho Pink?”

“I’m really looking forward to it, Benny. I will absolutely repay this day sooner or later… By the way, how well you’ve accepted an alias like Creepy Witch?”

“It’s Creepy, not Crispy! If you say it like that, it feels like I’m some fried product!”

Benny, who was soft and moist inside, giggled while continuing.

“Well, I liked my alias. So I never filed a complaint.”

“Really?”

“Think about it. Back then, I barely escaped from the laboratory, tackling the labyrinth using nothing but a pickaxe and poison. Obviously, I was ignored a lot and picked fights a great deal.”

Thus, Benny gained the terrifying alias Creepy Witch.

“Not only did all the little annoyances disappear, but even the way people looked at me has changed! That’s why I’ve never complained about my alias. I don’t have a group to mediate like you do, Jonah.”

“Cheh!”

Perhaps it was that among the terrible aliases, Creepy Witch was the most decent of them all.

Thinking back, Creepy Witch actually sounds quite cool. At least better than Crazy Psycho Pink.

“Ughhh! Ellie!!”

“Why suddenly like that, Jonah?”

Ellie shook her head in disbelief as she chewed on a Mana Herb, while I clung to her sleeve and whined.

“If I silence everyone who calls me Crazy Psycho Pink, wouldn’t this disgrace just disappear?!”

“…Jonah, I don’t think that alias is really a disgrace.”

Ellie gasped, as did Lydia and Benny who were listening, even the guild staff, who were wearing a perplexed smile.

“I’m not saying I’ll kill anyone; I just want to make sure it doesn’t get spread around! Please don’t misunderstand! I’m not a bad Crazy Psycho Pink!”

“…But still, Crazy Psycho Pink is correct, isn’t it, Crazy Psycho?”

With Benny bringing Shadow into action to press me, in the end, my alias was solidified as Crazy Psycho Pink.

As I was finally catching my breath, thinking of challenging the Sixth Floor.

A formal notice arrived from the Temple.

– “The one who falsely claims to be an Apostle of the Goddess. Step forth to the temple and prove your innocence.”

In that moment, a chill ran down my spine.

Well, it wasn’t quite that extreme, more like a light shiver?

“Hmm. The time has come.”

The Pope probably caught on to my identity.

Well, it was about time for that, huh?

 

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