Clang—!
“Put more strength into your waist and hold your ground!”
“Grrk!”
Claang—!
“If you’re pushed back here, it’s over. At times like this, you twist the angle of your sword and break your opponent’s balance.”
“Ugh!”
Two men were crossing real blades in the training ground.
“Let’s stop here for today. You worked hard, Hero.”
“You too, Sir Carlson.”
The knight commander extended a hand to Jun, who had been forced down to the floor.
Jun took the knight commander’s hand, rose to his feet, and shook it.
“Hero, please take a short rest. We will move to the Magic Tower in thirty minutes. Wipe off your sweat with this towel.”
“Thank you, Sophia.”
Leaving the Hero wiping away his sweat behind him, the knight commander departed the training ground.
“I have come to seek an audience with His Majesty.”
An enormous stone gate, ornately carved.
““Knight Commander Wel Carlson enters!””
Ruuuumble.
The doors opened.
The knight commander bent one knee before the king and lowered his head.
“Sir Carlson. Raise your head.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Now then, what brings you here?”
“I have come to report that the Hero’s level has reached a certain stage.”
“Is that so? In your judgment, do you believe it would be all right to reveal the Hero to the people?”
“I do, Your Majesty.”
“I will take that into consideration.”
“Your grace is immeasurable.”
Once the knight commander withdrew, Beer II spoke to his retainer.
“What is the Hero’s next schedule?”
“His lesson at the Magic Tower, Your Majesty.”
“As soon as the Hero’s education is finished, have the Tower Master enter the royal court.”
“I shall obey your command.”
‘He is growing faster than expected. It is not that I doubted the goddess’s will, but I suppose a Hero truly is a Hero.’
Thinking that the stronger the Hero became, the firmer his own authority would grow, the king’s lips curled upward.
And when even the Magic Tower Master gave a positive opinion on proclaiming the Hero’s existence, his shoulders soared to the heavens.
“Prepare the Hero’s welcoming ceremony on the grandest possible scale!”
From that day onward, the rumor that the Hero had been summoned spread to the ends of the continent.
Naturally, the Hero at the center of it all—
the news reached Jun’s ears as well.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. His Majesty said he would hold an unprecedentedly grand festival.”
“Ha… What is that supposed to mean?”
“Hero. Is there something worrying you?”
“You’re asking if I’m worried? Of course I am. Didn’t you see it this morning too, Sophia? How miserably I lost to the knight commander?”
“This is something both the knight commander and the Tower Master agreed to.”
Jun was dumbfounded.
“What on earth did they see to make them think that…?”
No matter how he thought about it, he was clearly lacking.
Even if he was weaker than the commander and the Tower Master, he was still strong enough?
Most people wouldn’t even be able to touch the Hero?
Such consolation was useless.
The reason a Hero existed was to defeat the Demon King.
If there was already fighting strength capable of facing the Demon King, then what meaning was there in the Hero?
There was no way he could understand it.
If he were to make one guess, it would be that they were there to protect the king and the kingdom, while the Hero was a consumable good who could be sent far away on campaign.
“So that’s why they ‘summon’ one?”
A human with no connection whatsoever to this world.
In that case, whether he died or not, it wouldn’t matter to them.
Since he grew quickly, if he died, they could simply summon another.
Jun stared silently at Sophia.
Was he being paranoid?
If not—if this delusion was not a delusion—
did Sophia also think of the “Hero” that way?
As he bound himself with such thoughts, the grand festival known as the welcoming ceremony finally raised its curtain.
“Hero, there is still some time before you are introduced. So!”
Sophia placed a wig on Im Jun’s head.
“How about enjoying the festival together for a bit?”
After roughly draping matching couple cloaks over them, she took Im Jun’s hand and stepped out into the streets.
“Wow… I’ve never seen a festival this grand before. What was it like where you lived, Hero?”
“I’m not sure…”
Jun couldn’t remember very well.
Even so, he knew well enough that a scale like this was by no means small.
Was this the Last Supper?
A feeling of enjoyment, in its own way.
A sense of betrayal lodged deep inside his chest.
The sight of Sophia, who rarely smiled, giggling brightly was not too bad.
With his heart in turmoil, Jun forced a stiff smile.
“Hero, it is time to return now.”
###
“Beloved people of Glacius! You have endured well until now amid the anxiety creeping upon us!”
““Waaaaaaaah!!!””
“The goddess has heard our frail prayers! Today, the fruit of those prayers—the Hero—has descended upon us by the will of the goddess! The Hero! ‘Im Jun’!!!!”
““Beer! Beer! Beer!””
Jun waved from the castle balcony, where he could look down upon everyone.
““Waaaaaaaaah!!! Jun! Jun! Jun!””
The people cheered fiercely toward Jun.
###
Bang—!
Baboom—!
The sound of fireworks rang out.
In the dark room, Sophia opened her mouth.
“Hero. Did the welcoming ceremony please you?”
The Hero was quietly gazing out the window.
“It seems far too grand. I wonder if there was any need to go this far.”
Because the Hero felt himself to be a consumable good, he could not sense what need there was to do all this for him.
“Hero. I understand very well what it is you are worried about, but only by doing this much can the people fully feel the majesty of both you and our Kingdom of Glacius. Rather, if we were to lower ourselves when we are capable of such a display, the people would doubt our strength.”
“…”
“…For now, I will convey your opinion, Hero. Then please rest comfortably.”
Creeeak— thud.
The enormous door to the room closed.
Im Jun looked down at the crowds enjoying the festival welcoming him.
The people looked utterly delighted.
“Me, a Hero…”
The Hero gave a faint snort of laughter.
People called him that, but as time passed, Jun felt the word “Hero” growing more distant.
Bba-bbam~!
The day of departure.
Once again, a great crowd gathered to see the Hero’s procession.
It was an occasion that doubled as a military parade, displaying the majesty of the kingdom.
The people cheered.
“…As we seek to destroy evil by the will of the goddess Glacian, bless the Hero, knights, mages, and priests gathered here today…”
The high priest’s congratulatory address continued.
“All forces! March!!!”
Bba-bam, bbarabaram—!
Boom, boom, boom!
The procession slowly began moving forward.
As flower petals scattered through the air, Jun, the Hero, smiled brightly and waved left and right.
Until they passed through the city gate in the distance.
People saw them off even outside the castle.
“Sophia, how long did you say this expedition would take?”
“To visit every village and reach the Demon King’s Castle, it will take at least two years.”
“I understand.”
Jun barely swallowed the sigh that threatened to burst out.
How many more times would he have to repeat this farce?
Clop, clop.
As if knowing nothing of Jun’s stifled heart, the horse silently moved forward.
###
“Table three! Two mains! One racol!”
“Okay! Table ten goes out first!”
Mari Restaurant was bustling.
Before he knew it, Cheolmin had even made his way into the kitchen.
Had he possessed a talent for cooking?
Dishes went out smoothly, and the customers were full of praise.
Mari had acknowledged Cheolmin long ago.
“Shouldn’t we change the name to Cheolmin Restaurant now? Ohohoho!”
There were even regulars who said things like that.
Break time.
“Whew… It’s hot.”
Cheolmin wiped away the sweat running down his face.
“You worked hard, Min. Have a drink.”
Ellin smiled bashfully and handed him a glass of cold ice water.
“I didn’t want to retire just yet. But I’ve been pushed out by Min, so I’m completely finished now!”
Mari grumbled at Cheolmin playfully.
“Haha. Even so, Ms. Mari, I still can’t catch up to you.”
“Huhuhu. You certainly know how to talk. Then shall I show off my skills for the first time in a while?”
“Ah! I’ll do it!”
“No way! Go set the table with Ellin. You’ve been cooking all day. I need to at least make lunch so my own skills don’t go rusty.”
“That’s true. Then I’ll leave it to you.”
It had already been over a year since Cheolmin began working at the restaurant.
At least in the village of Miran, he had become recognized as a proper chef.
“What’s on the menu today?”
“Mr. Thomas, you’re here? Ms. Mari says she’s going to show off her skills for the first time in a while.”
“What? I think Cholmin’s cooking tastes better!”
“What did you say? Then you don’t get to eat!”
““Hahahahaha!””
And he seemed to have truly become family with the Carter household.
“Thank you for the meal. Then I’ll go do the afternoon shopping. We’re short on a few things.”
Cheolmin placed the dishes in the sink.
Hearing that, Ellin hurriedly finished her meal.
“Mmph! I’m going too!”
“Then we’ll be back.”
Jingle—.
Thomas and Mari fixed their gazes for a moment on the door through which the two had left.
“When are those two getting married?”
“They’ll handle it themselves. They’re both adults, so let’s not meddle for no reason.”
“I want to see grandchildren soon~.”
“No shotgun weddings!”
Even after Cheolmin and Ellin left, the table blossomed with laughter as the two talked about them.
“Hmhmhm~.”
Ellin hummed.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?”
“Just because~. We’re on a date together~. What are we short on?”
“First, ‘jagam’ and ‘jiga.’ We’re out of a few spices too, so I’m going to buy just enough to use right away.”
Ellin linked her arm through Cheolmin’s and looked up at him.
“Is there something on my face?”
“Hmhm. No!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
The two of them were simply happy.
And though they did not know it, the two of them were already a very famous couple among those around them.
People said that if they got married, they would become an incredibly affectionate couple.
“Cheolmin! Are you two on a date?”
“Something like that. We’re a little short on ingredients for the afternoon, so we came to pick some up.”
“Aha! What do you need?”
“Could you deliver two boxes of jagam to the shop?”
“Okay! Anything else you need?”
“One box of jiga, and maybe a small discount?”
“Hahahaha! Since you’re a regular, I’ll give you special treatment!”
“Thank you! I’ll stop by again next time.”
“Sure! Enjoy your date~!”
The two wandered around the market like that.
“We’ve bought everything we need. What time is it now?”
“There are about thirty minutes left before the afternoon shift at the shop.”
“Really? Then shall we have some tea before going back?”
“Sounds good~. Let’s eat a dessert too!”
The two entered a teahouse and took a brief rest.
Just then, they heard a conversation from the next table.
“…When will the Hero come to our village?”
“Who knows? It’ll probably take some time, won’t it?”
“It’s already been almost half a year since he left Glass. I wish he’d hurry up and come~.”
“I know~. At times like this, it feels so unfair that our village is stuck out in the corner~!”
“I want to see the tall, handsome Hero just once~. I wonder if he has a lover? I’d even be fine with being a concubine, so I wish he’d see me too~.”
A conversation about the Hero.
Cheolmin remembered the fireworks from the welcoming ceremony.
It had been really nice back then.
But how was the Hero chosen?
Curiosity arose in him.
“Ellin, when the Hero comes to the village later, shall we go see him together?”
“Yeah, sure!”
“But there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
Ellin sipped her tea and listened closely.
“Do you know what kind of person becomes the Hero?”
“The Hero? Min, do you want to become the Hero?”
“What? No. I’m just curious.”
“Hehe. I was joking. Let’s see… I think I heard about it before.”
Ellin sipped her tea and carefully searched her memory.
“Mm! They said he’s summoned.”
“Summoned? By magic?”
“Right. They said he’s brought from another world.”
“Another… world?”
All sorts of thoughts flashed through Cheolmin’s mind.
Could he possibly be from Earth?
It was the moment he gained a reason why he had to see the Hero.