The Unpleasant Encounter with the Other Hero
Levius spotted the two figures approaching him.
A nun in an elegant robe stood with a figure of incomparable beauty, her black hair and amber eyes catching the light like polished obsidian and sunlit gold. Beside her walked a young man of striking handsomeness—white hair and red eyes that made Levius himself glance twice in private admiration.
He knew them instantly. Who could miss such a pair after the emperor’s earlier introduction?
Levius stepped forward first, voice smooth and polite on the surface.
“Hero Abel, I presume?”
“Ah, it is an honor to meet you, Hero Levius.”
Abel bowed with perfect courtesy.
Levius turned to him. “Which noble house do you claim as your own, Hero?”
“House?” Abel blinked, genuinely confused.
“…So you are not of noble birth?”
“Yes, I am a commoner.”
Abel answered without hesitation.
“Hmm. I see.”
Levius’s tone dropped like ice forming on a pond. The sudden chill made Abel pause, unsettled.
Seeing his reaction, Abel tilted his head. Had he said something wrong? No—there was no offense, merely…
“So we will meet again often, then. I look forward to our continued association.”
“…As do I.”
The moment Levius realized Abel was a commoner, his demeanor shifted like a mask sliding off.
Levius belonged to the noble Grosfeld family of the Minerva Kingdom. Among the aristocracy, he viewed commoners not as people but as disposable tools. Even after becoming a hero, he still kept that old habit in check—yet the knowledge that another hero was a commoner grated more than he cared to admit.
His gaze flicked sideways to the Solaria Church’s Saint standing beside Abel.
*Ooh.*
Even from a distance she had been breathtaking. Up close, the effect was even stronger. Though slightly petite, she was far from tiny, and every inch of her radiated refined elegance.
The completely black hair and amber eyes that would have shimmered like sunlight in any light were absolutely stunning. Levius found himself smiling genuinely as he studied her.
“Saint of the Solaria Church, I believe? Traveling with Hero Abel.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Abel’s reply was met by the Saint stepping forward with graceful poise.
“It is an honor to meet you, Hero Levius. I am Estelle, the faithful servant of the Solaria Goddess.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Saint Estelle.”
She was more beautiful than he had imagined. The thought crossed his mind that he would gladly trade the uninteresting woman he was already bound to for this one.
*What?*
Abel was glaring at Estelle with eyes full of something far from lust—pure, unfiltered anger.
*Is the Saint and I not on good terms?*
Levius found the idea ridiculous. A man who could not even get along with such a radiant Saint? Yet an opportunity had just presented itself.
“Hero Abel, may I speak with you alone for a moment?”
“Huh?”
“Just a moment. Please.”
Abel rolled his eyes at Estelle in obvious reluctance.
“Go ahead, Hero. I’ll wait right here.”
“…Fine.”
Levius and Abel walked to a secluded corner of the courtyard. There, Levius leaned in slightly.
“Hero Abel, it appears you and the Solaria Saint are not on the best of terms?”
“Uh… does it show that much?”
Abel’s vague answer only confirmed Levius’s suspicion. This man clearly had a grievance with the Saint.
“Fate has been kind to me as well. I have the same issue with my own Saint.”
“Oh, really?”
Abel’s curious stare made Levius’s conviction solidify. If a seasoned hero could read the tension so easily, it was clear Abel was not the only one strained.
“I have a cautious proposal to make.”
“What is it?”
“Would you be willing to swap Saints with me? Yours and mine?”
“Huh?”
Abel stared at him in pure bewilderment.
“Even if it’s possible?”
“Of course. No one’s saying it’s easy, but it is no different from exchanging companions.”
Levius was right—technically. The Church might protest, but he had enough influence to smooth things over.
“Hmm…”
Abel looked torn. Then, suddenly, he turned to Levius.
“I don’t think this is something I can decide alone. I’ll ask her and get back to you.”
“Huh?”
Levius’s jaw tightened. What kind of commoner dared speak to him like that?
Abel turned on his heel and strode back to Estelle.
“So… did that conversation go well?”
Estelle greeted him with her usual sunny, innocent smile. Abel asked her directly.
“Saint, Hero Levius asked if swapping with the Saint of the Ludria Church would be okay. Is it?”
“……?”
Abel leaned in. “He said there’s no problem.”
“…….”
Estelle narrowed her eyes, glancing past Abel’s shoulder at Levius. Levius felt a chill crawl down his spine.
*What the—?*
This was no ordinary Saint. This was a hero’s Saint—trained, battle-hardened, already a master of her craft. Elfride was strong, but Levius was considered one of the continent’s top warriors. Yet the Saint looked at him as if he had personally offended her entire bloodline.
“Hero Levius, is this true?”
“…Ah, no, that’s not…”
Levius’s mind raced. He was a hero, for crying out loud. This was the Saint, not some giggling priestess. Why was he stammering?
“I think Hero Abel may have misunderstood.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean, Hero Levius—”
“Oh? I see. In that case, we shall take our leave and greet Hero Elfride instead.”
“…Understood. I look forward to seeing you again.”
Levius had no choice but to let them go.
#
I’m furious. I shot the Saint the most displeased glare I could manage.
“Why are you looking at me with such a villainous expression, Hero? Could it be you’re a pervert~♡”
“I was never looking at you villainously. I was just annoyed.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not mad at you either.”
Then why did you act like you were? That bastard hit me!
“So why did you pretend to understand?”
“Because it was the fastest way. I don’t want you getting on the bad side of other heroes. I guess even heroes can be dense♡”
“…Hm.”
So you did it for me, after all. Fine. I have no choice.
“So are you going to greet Hero Elfride next?”
“Yes, I have to.”
“By the way, is Hero Elfride also from a noble family?”
“Commoner heroes are as rare as the hero you are. In a class-based society, a commoner becoming a hero means you’ve got a long road ahead of you♡”
*Damn it, you dirty aristocrats. I wish I’d been reincarnated as one.*
“Speaking of which, Saint.”
“Yes, you useless hero♡”
“Even if it’s rude to say, wasn’t Hero Levius’s proposal actually beneficial for you too? A stronger partner, after all.”
“……What are you talking about?”
“It’s obvious Levius is stronger than me. Being with someone like him would make you much more comfortable, wouldn’t it?”
“…So you really do prefer the Saint of the Ludria Church.”
“Huh?”
What kind of nonsense was that? How did the conclusion come out like that?
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then why ask me about it at all? Do you think I don’t like you just because you’re a weak hero? Too cocky for someone as weak as you, aren’t you?”
“……No, I was just curious why you wanted to stay beside me.”
The Saint stopped in her tracks.
“Saint?”
“…I said I’d be your friend, didn’t I?”
“Huh?”
“I felt sorry for a hero like you having to be alone. So I decided to stay with you. You’re not hard of hearing, are you?”
What the hell…
*Why is this girl saying such annoyingly cute things?*
The Saint’s lips curved into a mischievous smile as she noticed the bewildered look on my face.
“Of course, you might get tired of me eventually and leave, you useless X-meat hero♡”
“…Understood. I’ll work on it.”
Where the hell did the Saint even learn the word “X-meat”? Did she pick it up from one of those trashy novels?
Soon Elfride appeared in view. She was surrounded by nobles, chatting and laughing.
*Why does she have to be popular and beautiful at the same time?*
She finished her conversation with the nobles and turned her gaze our way.
*Oh, it’s the popular commoner hero!*
“Hero Abel, I presume? I am Elfride Bathory, the Hero of Trust.”
Her voice carried the dignified warmth of true nobility.
“It’s a pleasure. Please call me Elfride.”
She offered her hand.
*Bathory? The name of the infamous Hungarian noblewoman who inspired a string of real murders… I guess the author has taste after all.*
I took her hand and bowed.
“Abel.”
“Commoner, I see.”
“Yes.”
“So you must have much to learn.”
“Embarrassingly true.”
Why, are you trying to tease me too? My guess was completely off. Elfride smiled kindly.
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. As fellow heroes, I shall assist you with all my heart.”
“…I see.”
This is the heroine. Her speech alone is so refreshing. Nothing like the Saint I’m stuck with.
When I voiced my honest admiration, Elfride looked surprised.
“Why?”
“I mean… being helped by someone like you feels unreal.”
“Hmm. But we’ll be seeing each other quite often from now on. It would be best to become accustomed to each other.”
“I understand.”
Conversation was far easier with Elfride than with Levius. He hadn’t even tried to hide his disappointment the second he learned I was commoner-born.
“Speaking of the Holy Sword of Order… it chose a rather picky weapon, didn’t it?”
“Picky? What do you mean?”
“The conditions to awaken the sword’s ego are quite stringent.”
“…Eh?”
This was an ego sword?
“All Holy Swords possess an ego. You didn’t know that?”
“Yes. I was chosen as a hero without knowing anything….”
The original owner might have known, but I had no idea. I hadn’t read any novels.
“So there’s a reason to awaken it?”
“Yes. Only then can the sword reveal its true power.”
“Ah… so Hero Elfride has already awakened her ego?”
“Correct. Unfortunately, the ego of a Holy Sword can only be sensed by the hero it has chosen. There is no way to confirm it with you.”
*So this world really does have ego swords. Interesting.*
“What about Hero Elfride’s ego?”
“It’s very talkative.”
“Huh?”
Elfride frowned slightly. “It’s noisy right now. It’s going on and on about how handsome you are.”
“…Really?”
Handsome? Me?
I wanted to check my reflection immediately. No mirror was in sight, so I’d have to wait.
“Anyway, I look forward to working together, Abel.”
“Yes, Hero Elfride.”
“Please just call me Elfride. No need for the honorific among heroes.”
“Ah, understood.”
Elfride gave a light bow and returned to the nobles waiting for her.
That was the hero. Popular, beautiful, kind personality.
At that moment the Saint poked my side.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
She whispered, “Women are all foxes. Don’t trust anyone but me.”
“???”
You’re the last person I’d trust, you fox.
---
Hero Elfride