SSS-Knight in a Hero World

Swoosh!

The strings around Ferris bloomed outwards, and in the middle was a completely different being.

Ferris became significantly taller, even a bit taller than Lionheart and a tad more muscular, he had dark hair and a particularly unpleasant face to look at.

And yet, he exuded an aura of cold nobility and duty.

I'll have to borrow your form for a bit Sir Alaric. Ferris touched his new body, it felt alien yet so familiar at the same time.

He then touched his Adam's apple and spoke some words for testing's sake.

As expected, even his voice changed as it was now deeper and more refined.

I sound exactly like Sir Alaric, this level of detail is... Ferris worried that Tailoring Swift had to know the details of who Alaric was to get this kind of accuracy.

But looking at the hero, Tailoring Swift didn't look too bothered, rather, he was blushing intensely which Ferris found a bit disturbing.

"Oh my! Where did you get that from, a movie?" the hero said, circling around Ferris as if he was some sort of exotic creature.

Nope.

"Your face doesn't match your contemporary clothing at all, this simply can't do!" The hero prepared his strings once more. "Stay still."

Not again... Ferris closed his eyes, but he didn't think what the output would look like, given that Tailoring Swift already knew what to do.

I should just let the professional handle this.

Swoosh.

Whoosh.

Bam!

"There we go, perfect! It's absolutely perfect!" The hero closed his hands together in a prayer and placed them on his cheek as he tilted his head to admire the beauty.

This is, armor? Ferris observed his simple yet ornamental steel body armor, it also came with an attached sheath for his new sword.

It's a little bit too decorative, and I have no helmet.

Indeed, in practical terms, that kind of armor should only be used for filmmaking or just a display piece to impress eyes.

When Ferris started to sweat in fear because of the armor's questionable protection, the hero cleared up any unknown information.

"Just be mindful, it's just a prop got it? A cosmetic!" Tailoring Swift warned Ferris, stepping closer to him and tapping the metal plate a few times.

"If your armor is damaged, you'll also be damaged. But then again, the disguise will break when that happens. So just go in and out right?..

In

And

Out

Get what I mean?" The hero smiled at Ferris specifically.

... Ferris could think of nothing regarding the hero's last statement.

But hearing his warning, Ferris planned to be more careful and avoid fights if possible.

And if fighting was a guarantee then...

I just need to dodge everything.

Ferris hopped around like a boxer, despite the heavy-looking armor and a bigger body, it felt as if his actual physical characteristics remained unchanged.

My mobility isn't hindered, that's good. Ferris nodded inwardly before stopping.

When Lionheart saw Ferris staring at him with his new unpleasant expression, Lionheart shrunk a little but he continued briefing Ferris.

Lionheart stood firm and upright, "This is your own mission and you have full control on its objectives and profile.

I still don't get why Miss Elizabeth and Asmadeas trust you so much, but I'm sure...

That whatever happens, it will benefit us all."

Hearing this made Ferris proud, but of course he didn't wanna show it to everyone.

Instead, Ferris redirected the topic.

"Thank you, but I have something to ask first... Why are you carrying a sword?"

"T—that's!..." Lionheart thought carefully about what to do next but there was nothing to say.

He signaled the bodyguard who was holding the bike then promptly left without saying a word.

Goodness, at least have the courage to ask me to teach you swordsmanship... If you did... I'd refuse on the spot. Ferris shook his head, imagining how Lionheart would cope with his words last night.

After that strange scenario, the bodyguard stepped up to Ferris and handed him the bike.

"Good luck man. We'll have at least one of us stationed at the front gates every night in case you come back."

Ferris gave a short nod, took the mountain bike, and mounted it as if it were his warhorse of calamity.

A knight on a bike was a strange sight, but the mix of fantasy and reality was unique enough for Tailoring Swift to silently admire it like it was some high class art piece.

Just as Ferris was about to pedal off, one of the bodyguards called out.

"Oh, take this too." He tossed Ferris a familiar emblem—one etched with the image of a broken sword.

Ferris caught it and gave another nod, then looked ahead. With nothing else stopping him, he pressed his foot down on the pedal.

"Wait!"

...

Ferris stopped again, turning back without irritation. A knight had to be patient, after all. "What is it?"

This time, when Tailoring Swift spoke, his tone had shifted into something solemn and flat, lacking the playful charisma from before.

"The truth is… I used to live here with my little brother. But when the city came under attack, I lost him during the mass evacuation." Tailoring Swift's voice wavered slightly. "That's why I became a pro hero—I thought having access to the hero association's resources would help me but no matter how hard I tried… I never made any progress.

And just when I was about to give up, I ended up being teleported back here."

Ferris quickly pieced it together. "You want me to look for him?"

"Y-yeah. Miss Elizabeth told me about you. If it's you, then maybe—

"I'll do it." Ferris cut in without hesitation. "Tell me his name." A knight never ignored the plea of family.

"His name's Zaku. Dark green hair, yellow eyes. But… it's been so long, I don't even know if he still looks the same. Or if he's even—

"Worry not." Ferris's tone grew firm. "I'll find him. You have my word."

So this is how Alaric feels, with this deep voice I sound so much more inspirational, don't I? Ferris jested inwardly.

After removing the worries from the hero's face, he finally set off into the distance and took out his map.

***

Hmm... This is...

Faster than I expected...

Ferris halted his pedaling, stopping by the roadside and parking his bike there.

He then walked toward the other side of the street to view the cityscape below him.

The track they gave me is quite long, it even takes me all the way to this hillside road.

Was it for me to avoid as many villains as possible along the way? Or the scouting teams of Elizabeth were having a bit too much fun exploring around...

Regardless of the reason, it was great that he didn't have to encounter any threat along the way, and plus, from here Ferris could finally see the museum in its full picture.

The museum wasn't surrounded by high-rises, and just like the water park it was more close to the inner city outskirts.

But unlike the water park, the museum's architecture blended into nature, and it looked like it was built into the environment.

Not to mention, it was quite hilly around it except for the entrance area.

There was also a town surrounding it.

I never thought there would be this many villains, it's almost like a city.

They might even outnumber us. Ferris worried if a full scale war broke out.

He could handle fifty nobodies at the same time without breaking a sweat, but a thousand and even more?

Nope, definitely not.

This time, I'll properly infiltrate them and gather as much information as I can.

The shock-and-awe tactics will come later. Sorry, Sir Alaric.