Convalescence, and Spring
"My back... it's a man's life..."
"Can't even hold one slender little girl and you're whining like this?"
"It was from a high place..."
Hyacinth groaned from his bed, while Larirure Larirarion, who would've died without him, sliced jerky at his bedside. They say booze and meat are best for injuries, but Hyacinth wailed for potions instead—what kind of alcohol could he drink while in this much pain? Larirure silently fed him a thick slab, knife-cut and shoved straight into his mouth.
We'd returned to our base once more. It really felt like we were maliciously dragged into incidents every damn place we went. At this rate, I half expected someone to quip, like in those mystery novels I'd read back home, "People drop dead wherever you show up, huh?" It wasn't every time, but in her long, long adventurer's life, she'd never had events explode like this in under a year.
'A Maou Candidate...'
Her friend of twenty years, clutching a Maou power as a Maou Candidate... The shock was so huge it felt unreal. And after getting back to base, the invitation included a check for her entire withdrawn fortune. A single line: Come see if you're curious why I gave it to you. But since our situations were reversed when she got the letter, I couldn't fathom why she'd handed her whole fortune to me. The note itself just had her usual lines: "[Giant Knight] is done—come see it. Quit boozing alone and reading those smutty novels."
"[Giant Knight] is complete—come see it. Quit drinking alone and reading those erotic novels."
My troubled heart wouldn't settle.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
Larirure answered Noksu's question with a weary face. The shocking news of a Maou Candidate's emergence had, naturally, thrown the Adventurer's Union and guilds into chaos. You couldn't spot them externally, and Kesera Sera Sera had been a technician in the Default Kingdom for over ten years. She'd hidden her power without a hint, meaning others like her could be blended into the Trust Union, lurking anywhere. New guidelines went out to receptionists, notices to adventurers. Of course, it didn't change that you still couldn't tell by looks.
At least her face, race, and name were out, so they were investigating her close associates—including Larirure. Luckily, Noksu was handling it, and since the Union leader knew she was the hero's comrade above all, they kept the personal investigation light to avoid stressing her out.
And so, everyday life returned after the big incident.
Radamu needed convalescence—his legs wrecked from skill backlash. Without constant priestly healing plus [Potions], one leg might be ruined for good. Luckily, Mortis could restore his severed shoulder and ear. The Union leader's secretary had delivered a whole crate of top-grade potions, wishing him well, along with a report on whatever mess she'd been in. Facing this new threat of a Maou Candidate, the secretary offered full support from the Union if needed.
And... the kingdoms already had some intel? The Default Kingdom sent thanks too—from the king himself. He'd meet the princess if Radamu wanted, and offered aid anytime. That was the opener; the rest praised the hero, lamented never meeting him, and begged for an autograph to fill the pages.
The princess wishes to meet. We shall arrange it anytime you desire.
Should you need support, ask freely.
[Praise for the hero... longing to meet... autograph plea...]
"So, could I hear the story?"
Mortis set her head beside her, asking me seriously. The Maou Candidate was one thing, but a new hero wielding the hero's dark sword, white robe fluttering—and her calling him "hero." Not light stuff to brush off. She glared with narrowed eyes, as if finally understanding why Pansinjeon sent her: pressure building.
"...It's weak sauce, hard to believe, and could cause issues, but yeah. Your guess is right, Mortis. I'm the hero summoned by the goddess."
"Keep it from Aunt Noksu. Got it?"
No shock at "real hero" or nods of understanding—she demanded absolute secrecy from everyone here, even under knife-point, especially from Noksu. If she knew, who knew what she'd do to the hero? Even Dullahan Mortis shuddered at her neck, terrified.
"She's collected hero stuff for nearly triple my lifetime... 300 years of obsessive hero fandom."
"...Ah... So if she saw the real hero?"
"I couldn't handle it. She's heading straight to the Default Kingdom post-Larirure's check for that autograph."
Her drive left us breathless. 300 years? How old was Noksu? You couldn't tell from looks.
Mortis moved on: during his absence, let's talk more... starting with who else knew.
"Me—I knew from the start, so I tagged along. Even posed as the hero's wife once."
Riko spoke first—better skip that last bit. He'd given his remaining arm to Circe that day, no reason to follow anymore, but as party comrades, he'd stick till told to go. Needed periodic Circe contact, witch power for Maou fights—he even justified staying to me.
"Uh... me too... I smelled Succubus Lord on you..."
Shock—Leona knew too. She fidgeted anxiously, asking:
"Um... Radamu... my surname's Dice now... does that mean I inherit the hero's name?"
"Probably."
Leona nodded, unable to voice how royal names paled... She got it not at all. Adopted or not, he'd never disown her; she'd etch into history as the hero's eldest daughter.
'Ramp up training.' Cold sweat beaded as she resolved again not to burden him.
"Eh... I kinda figured? Saw you summon the [Bopal Weapon]? Blessings don't drop like that even for humans... But asking 'hero?' outright? I'd get called crazy, so I held back."
Po'runga had suspected but kept it secret. ...Never summoned publicly, but yeah, missing [Bopal Weapon] existence was weirder.
"Plus, aiming to nab the Maou? Kinda tips it off."
Damn—we'd blabbed it around. Mortis re-requested silence, sighed deep, insisted on Pansinjeon soon.
"Got the invite to bring you, but I was too lax. Hero escort? Hurry—gods might oracle your path."
Sent because gods planned hero oracles; she self-blamed sloth, urged post-talk visit—even piggyback if legs hurt. Uncharacteristically pushy.
"Can take it slow...? Goddess chats sometimes—no need rush to Pansinjeon."
"Goddess oracles you direct?"
"See her face occasionally... Pansinjeon can wait."
"????"
Blank incomprehension. Direct god chats? She hyperventilated lightly, stammered "S-so divine power's huge..." coughed. No goddess rush? No hurry—go when ready. She dabbed endless sweat, teary-eyed.
"...Why me for this huge secret...? Hero... other priests, paladins exist..."
Why her for casual behavior? Depressed Mortis. Noksu called her; gods tagged along for hero peek? Goddess would've said if critical.
"Bro's the hero?"
Noksu bolted post-autograph hunt—"No time pamper you!" camera in hand. Upstairs with two, revealed hero status. Proved with [Bopal Weapon].
Hyacinth'd glimpsed but unsure—"Nighttime!" shrieked girlishly. Sorry, I scratched head.
"Grab Maou!"—manly goal, didn't know real hero. He wailed till breathless.
"...Wait, I'm in the hero party now?"
"Yep."
"Bro, you serious 'bout my sis? Dead serious."
"Calm down."
"But hero!! Lick your toes if needed!"
"Where's blue wolf pride?!"
"Now?! Hero!!!"
Pain-faking faker leaped bed, knelt, begged lifelong company—Po'runga, Mortis smacked him off. Leona KO'd jaw for calm.
...9-year-old thug-life, Hyacinth?
"Wait wait wait—wait."
Larirure panted, lost. Po'runga shoved booze for calm—"Bullshit!" bottle slammed. Panic-gripped bangs, eyed our hands, denied reality.
"Ah, got it. Alcohol psychosis—I'm hospitalized, all hallucination."
"Reality."
"No way. 27 years, called hopeless dwarf spinster—no real dates. Guy no-prep confesses, I accept—he's pretty-boy human hero? Po'runga, sane? Author'd get punched!"
"Snap out, Larirure—real."
"Parents meet spring! 'My boyfriend's hero' intro? Info overload—brain lag!"
"You seemed down—got ring gift."
"Weird—no booze today—dream?"
Eyes glazed, unhinged—Po'runga turned teary, couldn't watch. Mortis hand on shoulder: too shocked, ease or she'll crack. Riko runes stabilized calm/protect.
Light returned; she sighed relief.
"...Accept reality. Friend has Maou power, tried burning world... Psycho ranted world-burn, but precious few friends... Paid my bar tabs."
"You corrupt her?"
"Shut it, lizard. Clingy 'cause Radamu's hero. Greedy trash!"
"Cuss me in!"
"Shameless cold reptile!"
Why no quiet days? Mortis mace-whacked crowns—quiet... dead? Alive, groaning.
Calmed, Larirure took ring from Radamu's hand.
"Hm... red ruby ring... Yeah, dwarves romanticize. Dragon's Ruby unique gem—pricey, unobtainable. Miners confess near lava zones. Eternal glow, burning love—grand meaning. How'd you know ruby, Radamu?"
"That's Dragon's Ruby."
"Please, sis'll cardiac... Planned pillar hubby, I'd earn/feed—but reversed! Like old dwarf?!"
"Uh..."
"See?!"
"Marriage fine, kids... leisurely?"
Thud—clutched heart, tumbled bed. Mortis mace-heal; blood-spat, wailed: No! Daily pretty face, love words—can't bear! Confessed, partied, clung—all me, but marry this dwarf...? Ring slipped on, instantly meek.
"Not Dullahan me saying, but... pitiable..."
"You're young... Don't get our anxiety! Larirure! Limits?! Big families now! You got two moms!"
Her two moms—newsflash. Hyacinth two dads; mine zero—fair?
"Mmm... Humans? No Trust Union law limit... Usually four min?"
"Yeah, knew Dullahan paladin—five wives..."
"More? Dad had twelve? Deynos only?"
"Our race... super poly... too many count."
"Mom... nine-ish?"
Common sense crumbling.
Larirure: humans polygamous baseline, heroes different. Captain Eagle triple-digits... shocking.
"Hundred-wife big family fine? Can provide."
Dwarf-generous, shouldered: marry, peace, reclaim fields, farm leisurely retirement.
Leona: sibling names chore. Hyacinth: fewer than thought. Po'runga: first-come line!
...Warm vibe nice, but I'd only glimpsed Maou Candidate—unresolved. Why plan 100 wives already? My say?
"Men as wives too, hero? Letter to Witches' Island."
No ally here. This world's morals—total mess.