The Reluctant Hero
Packing up from the knight order barracks didn't take long. There was no one to chat with on the way anyway, and the students who might have taken an interest in him were all getting thrashed by the imperial knights.
Once at the knight order dorms, Ludenberg Lavante first secured Liberra from his room, then stuffed his other belongings into a bag. It was just a change of clothes and some pocket money, nothing more. With his packing done, he crossed his name off the dorm roster and went to find Professor Hainkel Hereis.
Professor Hainkel, who happened to be on a break, took one look at Ludenberg laden with bags and seemed to intuit the situation.
"Heading back to your family?"
"No. I'll be staying at the imperial palace until the joint funeral, then return home after that."
"I see. Fair enough. I half-hoped you'd stick around for more training, but with the empire's top knight—and one of the continent's finest—waiting at home, no need to hold you back."
"...Yes, sir."
"Then we'll meet again at Solemnute Adem."
"Understood, Professor."
Ludenberg hurried back to the imperial city. There was no particular reason. He just felt like he should.
And sure enough, Ashytara Solenute was pacing in front of his room, dressed in priestess robes.
"Tara?"
"You're back? Got all your stuff?"
"Yeah. You... finished your preparations already?"
"Of course. All I have to do is light the altar and sing hymns with the priests from the other orders. I did the rehearsal early. The big stuff's all on Sis anyway."
"Got it. Is that your priestess robe?"
"Oh, this? Got it when I joined the Solem order. What do you think?"
"First time seeing you in one. Suits you."
"Hehe, thanks. You haven't eaten yet, right?"
"No, didn't have time. Huh, guess it's lunchtime now."
"Sis said to eat together."
"Sione? Oh, right—Crown Princess now."
"Eh, she won't care. It's private anyway. The palace doesn't host banquets every day."
"True... Oh, wait a sec."
"Hm? What?"
"Gonna change clothes. Not a knight anymore, so uniform feels off. Plus, this one's been on too long—kinda grimy."
"Oh, yeah."
Ludenberg excused himself from Ashytara, slipped into his room, and changed into casual clothes from his bag.
"Let's go. Sis is waiting."
Leaving Itara Palace, the two headed straight for Sione Palace, where Sione was staying. It had other names originally, but it was now called Sione Palace after the current heir to the throne.
Sione greeted them in the gardens of Sione Palace.
"Come on in. Ludenberg, Tara."
"Hey, Sione."
At Ludenberg's words, Sione's eyes widened. She hadn't expected the ever-stiff academy Ludenberg to call her "sis" again.
"Sis, huh. Been a while since I heard that."
A soft smile played on Sione's lips. Nostalgia, perhaps.
"It's private anyway."
"True enough. Tara, sit. We've got hymns later, so don't stuff yourself."
"Got it."
The three began their meal. As befitted the heir's table, the food was on another level. Dishes even finer than those from the Garden of Repose delighted Ludenberg's palate.
As he focused silently on eating, Ludenberg finished quickly and turned to Sione.
"So, why'd you call me here?"
"Wanted to check if you were okay. Heard you got badly hurt last time—right chest pierced by that Jepita guy."
"Yeah."
"Looks like no issues now. Good."
"Thanks for worrying. But you're busy—you wouldn't summon me just for that. There's more, right?"
"Yes. After the joint funeral, Solemnute Adem reopens in a fortnight. I'm planning to spotlight you then."
"Spotlight?"
"You heard from Tara: on reopening day, you'll get a medal in the grand hall. You know the state of the capital?"
"Everyone's just pretending to be fine. The whole city's forcing some cheer."
"Exactly. Fear of Salvation Cult and erosion beasts striking anytime is creeping in. That fear will poison the whole capital if left unchecked. Times like this call for a reliable hero."
"And you want me as that hero?"
"If needed."
"Too much honor. Too exhausting. Besides, I'm way too young to be called a hero."
Ludenberg knew better than anyone the empty pomp of the "hero" label. A burdensome, tiresome role that would crush him with expectations.
"But considering what you did in this crisis, hero fits you perfectly."
"I just protected a few students and some citizens. And I wouldn't have without Tara."
"A few students and some citizens... Hmm. Really? You took down three high-grade erosion beasts, stopped a Salvation Cult knight. That saved Terra's saintess and kept their order from fracturing."
Sione sipped her tea and continued.
"Without Tara? Maybe. But still... you drew your sword for others. Even for one person, who else deserves 'hero' more than someone charging into death for them?"
"It was circumstantial, forced. Look closer—plenty more deserve it than me. Heroes act by choice."
Ludenberg eyed Sione complexly.
"I... don't welcome attention. It always brings bad ends. Please reconsider, Sione."
"You're scared."
"...Yes. Terrified. Attention's poison—lifts you up on a whim, crushes you on another."
Sione nodded.
"True, it can be scary, poisonous. But not all bad. Don't you want to quash those rumors around you? Silence the irresponsible chatter from strangers?"
"I do. But... not like this. Rumors thrive on ambiguity. It could make me a target for jealousy, spawn worse ones."
"Possible. But it'll gain you supporters too."
"I hate all that. The arbitrary expectations, the duties they pile on."
That was why Ludenberg had shunned mingling at Solemnute Adem, burying himself in solo training.
But.
"Ludenberg."
"Yes."
"You're exceptional. More skilled than anyone I've seen. Talent like yours can't hide forever. You'll draw jealous eyes again soon enough."
Sione half-lidded her golden eyes at him. His genius was too bright to stay dimmed.
"Probably."
"And even without me, others will push you as a hero. Like the Terra order."
"Why would Terra... Oh."
"You saved them—the saintess's life. They can't ignore their benefactor cursed with 'evil fate.' Unacceptable to them. Your wishes? Probably irrelevant. They'll spread positive tales their way, like Tara did at the academy."
"Me?"
Ashytara startled at the sudden callout. She hadn't thought Sione knew.
"Think I wouldn't notice? Rumors about you flipped overnight."
"Ahaha..."
"Sigh."
"That'll be the real problem. You know Terra's style?"
"Flashy. Can't miss it—my family's tied deep with them."
Ludenberg nodded gravely.
"Right. They'll trumpet your deeds lavishly. No malice, but against your will. The weight will crush you more than you think."
"So better to define my actions clearly first?"
"Yes. Terra's propaganda outshines even the palace. Claim your narrative before they run wild—they'll settle seeing you honored properly."
"Hah."
Ludenberg felt a headache coming on. He clutched his head, pondering how to navigate this mess. Without Terra involved, it wouldn't be so tangled.
He felt fresh resentment toward Terra. They weren't bad—just overly zealous for their benefactor. But excessive.
Even if he begged them to stop, they'd agree upfront while secretly compiling hagiographies. The recent prayer rite was proof—overblown rituals he couldn't control.
It stemmed from a maxim of their founding saintess and legendary knight, Orpina Testia: Repay favors and grudges a hundredfold.
Terra folk lacked all flexibility on that point.
Heaven for most, hellish nuisance for Ludenberg.
After agonizing, he had no choice.
"Damn it. Fine."
"Good call. Capital's hero—at least your school life won't be as unfair. Make some friends while you're at it. How's Nadan your only one?"
"Not interested. And Nadan's no friend—just aligned interests. Tara's my only one. No plans for more."
"Sigh. Long road ahead, Tara."
"...Tell me about it."
"What're you two on about?"
"Drop it."
Sione and Ashytara sighed in unison.