NOVEL NEXT Chapter 76
Tania made only one proclamation and left Winter Guard.
[Finish your business here and come to the East. Say your goodbyes on the way.]
Most strong individuals have their own territories.
Typical examples are Master and Kunder, who are based in Stormblast, the Northern Region within the Empire.
In addition, numerous powerful figures, such as the Pope and the Sword Saint, hardly move outside their own realms.
“Weren’t they concerned about the balance of power?” I heard that if one person carelessly moves, it could lead to war between nations or fights among the mighty.
But Tania was different. Her territory could be anywhere within the Empire.
If I had to narrow it down, it would be the mansion in the East.
It was officially said to be a gift from the Emperor to honor Tania’s contributions.
Thus, it seemed she was invited to the East, where the first Imperial tour of the Hero Party would also come to an end.
“No matter how you look at it, this is too much.”
A colossal bolt of lightning named Tania completely obliterated the Hero Party.
Though they weren’t as powerful as the world’s mightiest, they were certainly individuals with impressive talents.
Yet, upon her sudden arrival, she eradicated the Magical Spring, which they had been struggling with for about a week, with just a single spell.
It wasn’t just handling; it was annihilation.
Hours earlier, due to the chaos at the Magical Spring, Count of Winter Guard requested our cooperation.
Since the onslaught had ceased, they wanted to investigate.
As a result, it was determined that all three Magical Springs had been destroyed.
However, it was extremely difficult to locate the part that Tania had eliminated.
Because, quite literally, even the traces left by the Magical Spring and the magical creatures were burned away by the lightning.
Due to this gap and the farewell proclamation, the atmosphere of the Hero Party was nearly at its worst.
Ariya, Serelin, and Rapirie each had their own reasons for not coming out for breakfast.
Even cheerful Nia weakly refused her morning meal.
And then, there was one person left.
Knock, knock.
He was the one who was shocked the most and thus the one I worried about the most.
Conversely, if lifted up, he was also the man cherished to the point that the remaining party members could have easily turned away from him.
“······Aswel.”
He was, after all, the Hero.
* * *
“···Rui. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s just… you weren’t coming for breakfast.”
Aswel appeared to be sitting on the bed deep in thought.
Was he perhaps catching a cold? I placed my hand on his forehead, but it felt normal.
“I’m not very hungry today. Everyone else can eat first.”
“Everyone besides me hasn’t shown up.”
“······.”
“Is it because of Tania?”
“······.”
Aswel said nothing. But I understood the meaning.
He was the Hero.
No matter what adversities struck, he would not lose his smile, reassuring his companions and others around him.
Yet, he looked deflated.
No, it might have been more than that.
Disappointment? He probably felt disappointed in himself.
A stranger with an unknown name and identity had come and annihilated what he and the Saint had sacrificed their power to eliminate, so he must have been disheartened by his own power.
Powerlessness.
He likely felt a sense of helplessness for being unable to do anything before she appeared and disappeared.
Anger.
As a result, he felt anger towards himself.
And despair.
In the end, he probably reflected on his past without saying a word.
“Aswel.”
“·········.”
He remained silent.
Perhaps he might have been proud of himself.
Hero.
That simple title bore immense responsibility and weight, but on the other hand, it bestowed equal honor upon Aswel.
An existence that cared for the weaker against powerful magical creatures and demons.
That was the Hero Aswel knew.
But the power Tania had shown, and the power my Master and Kunder displayed before her, surpassed that of the Hero.
If they had occurred in slightly different timelines and distances, it might have not mattered.
But from the Northwest to the Northeast.
The significant events that transpired within that long yet short span of time were enough to instill a sense of helplessness in the Hero.
So, perhaps he was unable to say anything.
“Aswel.”
Still, he gave no response.
Perhaps thoughts of what was to come filled his mind.
The Hero Party torn apart by Tania. And instead of a journey of training and growth, just days of endless training.
During that time, the tasks that the Hero and the Hero Party were supposed to perform were handled by the mightiest and the armies and guards of each nation.
Aswel would likely be thinking that way.
Watching him, only one thought arose in my mind.
I wanted to comfort him.
“Aswel, just a moment.”
So I took his drooping hands into mine.
And lifting my hand, I nestled into his embrace.
I felt his warm yet firm chest.
Forcing his still powerless hands to wrap around my waist.
It felt cozy. And warm.
The sense of stability and weight, and warmth that a Hero should possess.
At the same time, it was a feeling that a man might not easily have.
“Aswel, don’t be too disheartened. Tania… has always had that kind of tone and personality.”
“······.”
Thump. Thump.
I heard a heartbeat.
Was it my heartbeat?
No.
It was a bit more muffled yet vigorous.
The sound of Aswel’s heart echoed.
That addictive sound made me bury my face against his chest, and soon I could hear his heartbeat more vividly.
“The strong beings of this world are truly fickle. How dare they treat a Hero and the Hero Party carelessly, right?”
I wanted to feel his heartbeat a bit more but forced myself to pull away.
And slowly raising my body, I looked into his eyes.
Light had returned to his eyes but it was still faint.
However, the moment our eyes met, his blue eyes began to regain their true color.
“······Rui.”
“Yes, I’m here.”
Once again, I nestled back into his embrace strongly.
“I… have started to feel afraid.”
“What do you mean?”
“That I might create a future where I can’t protect anyone. Merkhad, Stormblast, Astrea… territories that I do not know of exist far above me.”
The four great dukes of the Demon World.
The guardian dragon house of the Northern Empire.
And the Empire’s Mage Fortress.
These were the beings referred to as the strong.
The Hero, Aswel, was still not one of them.
“I see.”
“And while feeling that way, I can’t help but ponder what the journey of the past has been. If Tania Astrea had been there, would the incidents in Alpares or Lakr have happened?”
“I felt the same way. The moment I faced Merkhad, I wished my Master was there instead of me. But I judged those thoughts to be futile.”
“······Why?”
I matched my gaze back to him.
“Because it is the fate bestowed upon us.”
“······.”
“There are countless strong beings in this world. Surely, somewhere that we do not know of, there are those who surpass us.”
“If that’s the case, can’t they handle it? Wasn’t there no need for a boy from a backwater village like me to step in?”
“Uh-uh. No, it’s not possible. Only you can do it.”
“······That’s strange. That’s so strange.”
“Right, the world is strange. And things ahead won’t go as we wish. But Aswel.”
“Yeah…?”
“That’s precisely why we need you.”
“······!”
The Hero is not just a simple title. He is not just a mere soldier or warrior.
“There will come a time when an even more chaotic world unfolds. Existences like Merkhad may arise more frequently, and along with that, many people may get hurt and die.”
The Hero is a beacon.
“At that time, we will illuminate the path. In a chaotic world, we will become a flickering flame, providing stability for everyone and hope.”
A torch is not strong.
The darkness it cannot illuminate will be lit by a stronger flame.
“There are countless strong beings. Yet even they ultimately rely on the Hero Party.”
The Mage Fortress, the dragons, the Sword Saints, the Popes, none can directly confront the Demon King.
And none can enter the Demon World.
Only the Hero.
He alone can restore the chaotic world with the Hero Party.
“So do I, Ariya, Serelin, Rapirie, Niabella, all of us depend on you. And at the same time, I hope you can rely on us.”
“Rui…”
Slowly, I buried my face into his shoulder.
“I hope you won’t take Tania’s words too harshly. She’s always had that kind of blunt way of speaking.”
“Yeah…”
“Details will probably be revealed once we arrive in the East. But it might not be anything special.”
“Yeah…”
“But I have one thing I’m certain of. No matter what happens in the East, or how it unfolds.”
“······.”
“The Hero Party will only grow more solid and stronger.”
Thus, the Hero must no longer wallow in helplessness.
I slowly pulled away from his embrace.
I felt a sudden sense of loss as the warmth disappeared, but it was time to get him up from the bed.
“Aswel.”
And I tried to wake him up.
With feelings from deeper places within me that I did not even know.
Peck.
“·········Rui?”
“Um, how are you?”
I lightly touched my lips against his cheek, just a tiny area for a brief moment before pulling away.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
“This is a punishment. For the Hero who mumbled and didn’t want to get up from bed. So, um… eek.”
“······Thank you, Rui. I really feel energized.”
I couldn’t prevent Aswel, who suddenly sprang up and embraced me, but it seemed like I had managed to instill some strength into him.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“I will do my best, just as you said. And… whatever adversities come or trials we face, I will overcome them. Together with you all.”
“Yes, yes.”
“And someday, when I am ready… Rui, then I will tell you something.”
“What is it…?”
In response to my question, Aswel answered.
“I’ll let you know when the time comes.”
He said with a kind and gentle smile, radiating the warmth of a Hero.