The Hero Finally Appears
In the reverse harem romance fantasy world of the Continental Academy, the male leads come in all shapes and sizes. In terms of power and authority, the Emperor and the Grand Duke of the North are the most prominent.
Others might be tribal chiefs of different races or even a Saint. And when it comes to raw strength, the Hero is impossible to leave out.
“The Hero, you say.”
For over ten years, the title had never once been mentioned. Cain had even wondered if the guy had died screaming somewhere. If so, good riddance. Don’t you dare take my demons away from me. That was what he had thought before completely forgetting about it.
‘So this was when he was supposed to show up.’
The Hero. One of the most likely male leads had finally made his entrance. The kind of bastard who would throw his own comrades into a meat grinder to save the female protagonist. The one who would compete with the Saint to see who was more obsessed with love.
“Cain. Calm down. Okay? Just calm down.”
“?”
But why was this prince acting like this?
“I know. It must seem ridiculous. You’re probably furious. After all, you’ve spent over ten years slaughtering demons, yet the Holy Kingdom never gave you any grand title.
Even the name ‘God’s Right Hand’ wasn’t officially bestowed by them. I find this whole situation incredibly unpleasant as well.”
“…”
“But there’s a reason for it. That Hero bastard can wield both mana and holy power. You know how difficult that is, right? The two forces have completely different natures, so using them together is incredibly hard. Practically impossible. Yet that Hero does it like it’s nothing!”
“Your Highness?”
“So just let it slide for now. Please? If it really bothers you, I’ll ask the Holy Kingdom to grant you a more impressive title. Just… please don’t go causing trouble all the way in the Holy Kingdom, alright?”
It seemed there had been a misunderstanding. Cain didn’t care in the slightest. In fact, if they had tried to give him the Hero title, he would have told them to fuck off.
What was a Hero, anyway? It was a shackle that meant you had to sacrifice yourself to protect others. Even if you were betrayed, abandoned, or subjected to all kinds of atrocities, you could never respond with evil words or deeds.
‘Are you insane? You want me to accept that? Even if they offered, I wouldn’t take it.’
If he became the Hero, he wouldn’t be able to slaughter demons to his heart’s content. He’d have to stand around protecting things instead of attacking.
There could be a demon right in front of him, and he’d be forced to do nothing. To Cain, the title of Hero was nothing but a fancy piece of trash.
“Your Highness.”
“Is that still not enough? Should I get down on my knees and beg?”
“It’s fine.”
“Please just hold back. If you cause another incident… Huh? What did you say?”
“I really am fine. I have no interest in such a title.”
Really? Thank goodness! Hehe! There was no way Wilhelm would be that stupid. He rolled his eyes, carefully reading Cain’s expression. After saying something like that, Cain might suddenly decide he was angry after all.
“More importantly, I’d like to know more about the situation at the time.”
Could another High Demon appear? It was the Hero, after all. The Hero was supposed to face suitable trials. Think of it like a job change quest. Was there any way to subtly steal that demon for himself?
Demons. He wanted to kill more demons. More. He wanted to kill even more. He had already killed some today, but he still wanted to kill more!
“There have been no reports of additional High Demons appearing.”
“Ah.”
“The one that showed up this time was the first in half a year. Two appearing at once is already shocking enough.”
Wilhelm’s words weren’t wrong.
“The alliance believes the High Demons have essentially been wiped out. If only fewer than a hundred have appeared in over ten years of fighting, it means there weren’t many to begin with. And the war situation wasn’t relaxed enough for us to hold any back.”
“You do realize that kind of thinking is called letting your guard down, right?”
If Wilhelm was about to say that no more High Demons would appear, Cain would make him regret being alive. Wilhelm knew exactly what Cain was thinking.
“The only time I will declare that we have won this war is when you, Cain, stand before me and say it’s all over. Until then, I will never let my guard down.”
“Our prince has grown so well. I’m tearing up.”
Cain even let out fake sobs as if he were truly moved. ‘My eyes are watering because the places you beat me still hurt, you bastard.’
The merciless violence that had been carved into his soul over just three days. Wilhelm never, ever wanted to get hit by Cain again. He would rather fight the demons than go through that.
“Your Highness. Then will the Hero also be coming to the Continental Academy?”
“Why are you suddenly asking that?”
“I’m curious.”
“…”
The word ‘please’ was practically written in Wilhelm’s eyes. We promised you would hold back on diplomatic issues, didn’t we? The Hero isn’t even from the Empire. Please don’t do this. It’s already exhausting enough dealing with Kasen. If the Holy Kingdom gets involved too, it’ll be a nightmare.
“Don’t worry. It’s not like I’d chase after him, demand he hand over my High Demon, and hang him upside down, right?”
“Isn’t that exactly what you just confessed to wanting to do?”
“You want me to actually do it?”
“I’m sorry.”
Wilhelm answered quickly before Cain’s head could tilt any further. Yes, the Hero was also scheduled to enroll at the Continental Academy. He was the only knight who could handle both mana and holy power.
He was an important figure not only during the war but even after it ended. The Holy Kingdom hadn’t given him the title of Hero for nothing. It was their way of marking their territory first and telling others not to eye him greedily.
‘So they’re all really gathering at the academy.’
The Empire’s princes. The Margrave. The prince from Kasen. The Saint from the Holy Kingdom. And now even the Hero who had received God’s blessing.
“What about the other races?”
“We haven’t received a definite answer yet, but they’ll probably come. As members of the alliance, they wouldn’t want to fall behind.”
That meant more male members of the other races would be joining. It was the perfect reverse harem. There were already five confirmed male leads. With the addition of the non-human ones, the number would only grow.
‘This isn’t Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.’
At least the seven dwarves didn’t fight each other. These men were going to beat the living hell out of one another. Not for the throne, not for glory or honor, but solely to claim the female lead. Just one person—Estelle.
“This is such bullshit.”
“What did you say, Cain?”
“Just get back to work, Your Highness.”
“Yes. Sorry.”
The moment Cain raised his fist, Wilhelm apologized immediately.
With enrollment at the Continental Academy right around the corner…
“…”
Estelle was still lying motionless in bed. She hadn’t been injured anywhere, nor had she suffered any shock. Her limbs were perfectly fine. She had admitted it herself. Yet the reason she couldn’t move an inch and remained bedridden was—
“You must take absolute rest, Estelle!”
“But I really am fine. So…”
“That mad dog Cain swung you around in front of a High Demon! How terrified you must have been! How scared! Don’t say a word. I understand everything.”
“…”
To be honest, she hadn’t even had time to feel scared. She had simply been swung around in a daze. By the time fear started to creep in, the situation was already over. The moment the blazing mana gathered in Cain’s hand, the High Demon’s body had been sliced clean in two.
Knock knock—
“Your Highness. The Empire’s Third Prince has come to visit.”
“Tell him to go back. Estelle is tired.”
This was the Empire. The Empire’s Third Prince, Arhen, had come. Yet Prinz was trying to send him away. Thanks to that, Estelle felt even more awkward.
“Um, Prince Prinz. This would be the third time already. Isn’t it a bit much to keep turning him away?”
“He’s using a sick visit as an excuse to bother you. That’s why I’m blocking him.”
“I’m really okay with it. If this damages the relationship between Kasen and the Empire, I’d feel terribly sorry.”
“Estelle…!”
After going through something so terrible, her body and mind must be exhausted, yet here she was, still worrying about the kingdom. What a kind heart.
‘She truly lacks nothing to become queen.’
Deciding to put his rosy future plans on hold for now, Prinz yielded to Estelle’s opinion.
“Tell the prince he may enter, but he must leave all his escorts behind and come alone.”
“Your Highness?”
“If he doesn’t like it, tell him to go back. This is a patient’s room.”
Despite Estelle’s concerns, Prinz was full of confidence.
“There’s no need to worry, Estelle. Although Kasen is called a kingdom, it is an incredibly powerful nation. The Empire would never dare look down on us, so we can afford to be this firm.”
In truth, they couldn’t. This wasn’t Kasen; it was Eferd, land belonging to the Empire. Telling an imperial prince to leave was something that could spark a diplomatic dispute. The reason Prinz was acting this way was simple.
‘I cannot show any weakness in front of Estelle.’
The Empire’s Third Prince Arhen. The Empire’s Margrave Evan. Those imperial bastards who were constantly eyeing Estelle. As the prince of Estelle’s motherland, Kasen, he would absolutely show a dignified front.
“Estelle!”
Arhen really had left all his escorts behind. He approached Estelle’s side with an extremely bright smile.
“…”
Prinz glared at the sight with clear displeasure.
“I heard what happened. That mad dog again…! Haah. I’ll apologize on his behalf.”
“No! Your Highness, please don’t. How could a mere noble lady from another country receive an apology from the Empire’s prince?”
“Then should I drag the person in question here and make him apologize?”
“You speak as if something impossible is possible.”
As if he could even control Cain. What apology? Arhen, who had guessed the meaning behind Prinz’s words, turned his body.
“You were right there at the scene, yet you let Estelle get caught up in such a thing. And you think you have the right to speak?”
“What did you just say?”
The atmosphere between the two grew hostile in an instant. At this rate, it might really cause conflict between their nations.
“Ah! Y-Your Highness! I heard you’re also enrolling at the academy!”
Estelle quickly tried to change the subject. Would the two men really step away from each other?
“Ah, yes. Estelle. I plan to join the Knight Division.”
Arhen answered with a bright smile, without a second of hesitation.
‘Originally I was going to apply for the Administrative Division, but…’
The Empire still hadn’t chosen a crown prince. Applying to the Administrative Division at a time like this could cause misunderstandings.
‘Besides, the Knight Division makes it easier to show off a cool side.’
He already knew Prinz was entering the Knight Division. Arhen intended to crush him there. He would teach that arrogant country bumpkin from Kasen a lesson. He would monopolize Estelle’s attention after she witnessed the real deal. There could be no more perfect opportunity.
Arhen smiled at Prinz. The funny thing was, Prinz was thinking exactly the same thing.
Knock knock—
“Um, Your Highness. The Holy Kingdom’s Saint Liberio has come to visit…”
Since they had already let Arhen in, there was no longer any excuse to refuse. With Estelle’s permission, Liberio entered shortly after.
“My brothers and sisters.”
Liberio made the sign of the cross as he walked past Arhen and Prinz. It was blatant disregard. Both men’s faces hardened coldly.
“Sister Estelle. I’m glad to see you appear unharmed.”
“Yes, Saint. There were no injuries to begin with.”
“Still, please refrain from moving your body recklessly. I was so shocked when I heard the news.”
Liberio glanced briefly at Prinz standing beside her. The question ‘What exactly were you doing, brother?’ seemed to echo in Prinz’s ears.
“Brother Arhen, you were here as well.”
“Do you have something to say?”
“After the appearance of the High Demon, the Holy Kingdom has decided to send additional personnel to the academy out of concern for its safety.”
The Holy Kingdom had already dispatched priests and paladins. They were a great help in protecting the academy. Yet they were sending even more people?
“Who is coming that warrants this?”
“The Commander of the Holy Knights.”
“…!!”
“?!”
Both Arhen and Prinz were greatly shocked. The Holy Knights were the strongest military force possessed by the Holy Kingdom.
Their commander was the sharpest blade of that order. His duty was to protect the Holy Kingdom and the Pope. So why on earth was the commander coming to the academy?
“I made a special request. There was the party raid incident, and now a High Demon has appeared again.
The Holy Kingdom has always thoroughly blocked the demons, but the academy is a newly established place, isn’t it? There may be gaps we don’t yet know about, so we wish to prepare thoroughly.”
That was the appropriate reason he put forward, but the real reason Liberio had called for the Holy Knight Commander was different.
‘How dare they do that to Sister Estelle… I cannot simply let this slide. God will understand.’
It wasn’t widely known, but the Holy Knight Commander’s strength was close to the strongest.
On top of that, he had recently recruited the newly appeared Hero. Two clubs to train the mad dog. That was Liberio’s true intention.