I Failed to Be a Hero, So I Became the God of Three Realms

The morning sun filtered through the windows of the palace, casting golden streaks across the marbled floors. For the heroes, today was charged with anticipation — their first real adventure awaited.

Tatsuya led the group through the bustling streets of the capital, his confidence infectious. Hanae and Usagi walked side by side, exchanging quiet words and occasional giggles. Riko strode forward with that unwavering determination she always carried, while Reiji's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, ever the strategist. Behind them, Riona and Alfred followed, their presence adding a strange calmness to the group.

Riona's eyes sparkled with a bit too much excitement, her usual composed demeanor cracked just enough to be noticed.

"Ah, the Dragon's Den," she murmured to herself, almost theatrically. "What secrets do you hold?"

Tatsuya raised an eyebrow. "It's just an F-class dungeon. Nothing too crazy, right?"

Riona flashed a grin, but something in her eyes hinted at a deeper excitement — or was it something else?

"Sure, just an F-class dungeon. We'll see."

Alfred, walking beside her, gave an almost imperceptible sigh but said nothing. His hand rested calmly on the hilt of his sword.

The guild hall loomed ahead, its sturdy stone walls and heavy wooden doors making it seem more like a fortress than a simple administrative building. The moment they entered, the noise hit them — adventurers laughing, arguing, and haggling over rewards.

The Guild Master, a broad-shouldered man with graying hair and sharp eyes, greeted them with a practiced smile.

"Welcome, heroes. Ready for your first assignment?"

Tatsuya stepped forward confidently. "We're here to register and take on whatever job you've got for us."

The Guild Master nodded, pulling out a few parchments and sliding them across the desk. "Standard process for new adventurers. Fill these out, and you'll officially be part of the guild."

Once the forms were filled, the Guild Master eyed them thoughtfully. "Since you're just starting out, we'll assign you something appropriate. There's an F-class dungeon called the Dragon's Den just north of the capital. Should be a good warm-up."

Riona's eyes gleamed at the mention of the dungeon's name. "Perfect," she whispered, a little too eagerly.

The Guild Master chuckled. "Don't get too excited. It's been cleared dozens of times. Just watch out for traps, stay together, and you'll be fine."

He handed them a map and some basic supplies. "Good luck out there."

As they turned to leave, the Guild Master's smile faded. A nagging thought tugged at his mind, something about that dungeon... A Black Dragon? Hadn't there been reports?

His eyes widened, but the heroes were already gone.

"Damn it," he muttered. "Why does it have to be today of all days?"

He ran a hand through his hair, anxiety gnawing at his gut. He knew he should stop them, but if it was just a rumor... interrupting the Emperor's chosen heroes over speculation wasn't a call he could make lightly.

Please, let it just be a rumor.

The forest surrounding the Dragon's Den was alive with the hum of insects and the rustling of leaves. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the canopy, but the deeper they went, the dimmer the world seemed to grow. The entrance to the dungeon loomed ahead — a jagged maw of stone leading into darkness.

"Doesn't look so bad," Tatsuya muttered, gripping his sword tighter than he probably meant to.

"F-class dungeons rarely are," Reiji replied, adjusting his glasses. "Let's just stay cautious."

The group entered, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls. The first few floors were just as expected — low-level goblins, traps that were easily disarmed, and a few enchanted locks that Reiji dispatched with a flick of his wrist. They moved in sync, their training and teamwork shining through. Even Riona, who should have been out of place, moved with a natural grace.

But it was the fifth floor where everything changed.

The air grew thick, heavy with a strange pressure. The usual chill of the dungeon deepened, sending a shiver through their spines. The chamber before them was vast, the ceiling lost in shadows, and there, resting in the center, was a creature they were wholly unprepared for.

A Black Dragon.

Its scales shimmered like obsidian, absorbing the faint light and radiating an aura of sheer, primal dominance. Its eyes, glowing like molten gold, locked onto them, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat. Fear shot through the group like a bolt of lightning.

"Is that... a Black Dragon?" Hanae whispered, her voice trembling.

"They're the third most powerful dragons..." Reiji's voice cracked. "This... this isn't possible. This is an F-class dungeon!"

Tatsuya's knuckles turned white around his sword hilt. "We need to retreat. Now."

But before they could move, Riona's eyes sparkled with an almost unsettling excitement. Without hesitation, she sprinted forward.

"Riona! What are you doing?!" Alfred shouted, his face pale.

The dragon's eyes flared, and its jaws opened, a pulse of energy gathering for an attack. The heroes braced for the worst, their hearts pounding.

But then — the impossible happened.

The Black Dragon froze, its massive head lowering until its snout touched the ground. Its wings folded in reverence, and its entire form bowed before Riona.

Silence stretched, thick with disbelief.

"W-What?" Usagi stammered, eyes wide in confusion and fear.

Reiji's mouth opened and closed, his brain refusing to process what he was seeing. "Why is it... bowing?"

Alfred stepped forward quickly, his face composed but his eyes darting between his sister and the dragon. His mind raced for an explanation — any explanation that could cover this up.

"It's weak," he said firmly. "Riona must have poisoned it somehow. It can't move."

Tatsuya's brow furrowed. "Poisoned it?"

"She's a Dark Mage," Alfred said, his voice steady. "Maybe she used some sort of spell. Now's our chance — finish it before it recovers."

Tatsuya hesitated, glancing back at Riona. Her face was oddly serene, but there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes. He shook off the feeling and tightened his grip on his sword.

"Alright. Let's end this."

With a swift motion, he lunged forward, his blade piercing the dragon's neck. The creature let out a final, shuddering breath before going still. The air seemed to lose its weight, and the oppressive pressure vanished.

Riona's hands curled into fists, her eyes glistening with something between sorrow and rage. A faint pulse of energy crackled around her, her aura slipping free.

Before it could surge, Alfred leaned in, his voice low and urgent. "Send it to the other realm before it's too late."

Riona's eyes met his, and after a tense moment, she nodded. Her fingers traced a quick, invisible pattern, and a soft glow enveloped the dragon's body. The others watched in confusion as light poured from the creature, lifting it into the air before it vanished completely.

"What... was that?" Hanae asked, her voice shaky.

Alfred straightened, his face a mask of calm. "A purification spell. To make sure it's completely dead. Black Dragons are resilient — you can never be too careful."

Reiji adjusted his glasses, trying to piece it all together. "I've never heard of a purification spell like that."

"There's a lot you haven't heard of," Alfred replied smoothly. "Let's just be glad it worked."

Tatsuya let out a long breath, exhaustion and relief washing over him. "Well, we did it. Our first dungeon cleared."

"Yeah..." Riona's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes fixed on the empty space where the dragon had been.

The group turned and began their trek back to the surface, the weight of what had just happened pressing on their minds. Unspoken questions lingered, and a new mystery wrapped itself around Riona — a mystery none of them knew how to unravel.

For now, though, they had survived.

And their adventure was just beginning.

They all left for the Guild and arrived in a couple of hours. They entered the hall, with Pride and a heavy demeanor.

The Guild Hall was buzzing with the usual noise — clinking tankards, boisterous laughter, and the clatter of weapons being sharpened. But as the heroes walked in, their expressions grave, the atmosphere shifted. Adventurers exchanged glances, sensing something serious had happened.

The guild-master, a burly man with a salt-and-pepper beard, looked up from a pile of paperwork. His eyes narrowed at the sight of them.

"You're back quicker than I expected." He rose from his chair, his demeanor shifting to one of concern. "So, how'd it go?"

Tatsuya stepped forward and placed a scale — not just any scale, but a piece of obsidian-black, shimmering like dark glass — onto the counter. The guild-master's eyes widened, his face paling.

"Is that... a Black Dragon scale?"

Riona nodded, her expression still carefully composed. "We found it on the fifth floor."

The guild-master's face darkened. "The fifth floor? You're telling me there was a Black Dragon in an F-class dungeon?"

Reiji adjusted his glasses, his voice steady. "We're not just telling you — we're reporting it. We cleared the dungeon, but that dragon wasn't supposed to be there."

A murmur spread through the hall. Adventurers who had been lounging around or swapping stories turned their heads, disbelief etched on their faces.

"Black Dragon? In a low-tier dungeon?"

"That's insane."

"No way a bunch of rookies fought that."

The guild-master ignored the chatter and stared at the scale, the weight of the revelation sinking in. He swallowed hard and turned to one of his aides. "Issue the update. Dragon's Den is now classified as an S-ranked dungeon. No exceptions."

The aide nodded and rushed off, already scribbling notes.

The guild-master exhaled heavily. "You lot just did something unheard of. Clearing an S-class dungeon when you're only F-ranked..." He scratched his head, looking conflicted. "Normally, protocol says you'd need years to rank up. But this situation? It's not normal. And you lot aren't normal either — you're the God's chosen heroes."

He straightened up, his eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. "I'm offering you a rank-up to A-Class. It's not a handout — you'll need to take a test. But given what you've just accomplished, I'd say it's well-deserved."

The hall erupted with whispers again.

"F to A in one go?!"

"That's never happened before."

"Heroes or not, that's crazy!"

Alfred, always composed, nodded respectfully. "What kind of test are we looking at?"

The guild-master's brow furrowed. "An A-ranked job. Dangerous, but necessary. You see, there's someone who needs an escort — someone important."

Tatsuya raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

The guild-master leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Sylph Draconia."

The name fell like a thunderclap. The Draconian Empress — ruler of the dragons, the most powerful species on the continent. Her name alone carried weight, and her presence demanded respect.

"She's here on diplomatic business," the guild-master continued. "But we've got reliable intel that assassins have been hired to take her out. The Kingdom's Prime Minister personally requested the job."

The weight of the task settled over the group. An escort mission for the Empress herself. Failure wasn't an option.

Tatsuya clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "We'll do it."

The guild-master's gaze softened. "I figured you'd say that."

But before anyone else could speak, Riona's face lit up. The sorrow that had clouded her features moments ago evaporated. Her eyes shimmered with a strange warmth, a smile curling at the edges of her lips.

"I accept," she said, her voice clear and unwavering.

The others exchanged glances. Whatever hesitation they had vanished in the wake of her conviction.

"Well, looks like we're all in," Alfred said with a small grin.

The guild-master nodded, a rare smile breaking through his usually gruff expression. "Good. You leave at dawn. Prepare yourselves — this isn't just about your rank anymore. This is about protecting someone who could change the fate of nations."

The weight of those words lingered as they left the hall, the murmurs of astonished adventurers trailing behind them.

Their first adventure had already been more than they expected.

But it was clear now — this was only the beginning.