Departure
Departure
Clang—!
"Put more strength into your waist and brace yourself!"
"Kugh!"
Klang—!
"If you get pushed back here, it's over. At times like this, twist the angle of your blade to break your opponent's balance."
"Ugh!"
Two men were clashing with real swords in the training ground.
"Let's call it here for today. You worked hard, Hero-nim."
"You too, Carlson-ssi."
The Knight Commander extended his hand to Jun, who had been pushed to the ground.
Jun took the Knight Commander's hand, stood up, and shook it.
"Hero-nim, please take a short rest. In 30 minutes, we'll move to the Mage Tower. Wipe your sweat with this towel."
"Thank you, Sophia."
Leaving the hero wiping his sweat, the Knight Commander departed the training ground.
"I've come to have an audience with His Majesty."
A massive stone door ornately carved.
""Lord Carlson, Knight Commander, enters!""
Kugugugu.
The door opened.
The Knight Commander knelt before the king and bowed his head.
"Sir Carlson. Raise your head."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"So, what brings you here?"
"I wish to report that the Hero-nim's skill has reached a certain level."
"Is that so? In your judgment, do you think it's acceptable to reveal the hero to the people?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I'll take that into consideration."
"I am deeply grateful for your grace."
As the Knight Commander withdrew, Beer II spoke to his vassal.
"What is the hero's next schedule?"
"Lessons at the Mage Tower, Your Majesty."
"As soon as the hero's education is complete, summon the Tower Master to the royal presence."
"I shall obey."
'His growth is faster than I thought. I never doubted the Goddess-nim's will, but I suppose a hero is a hero.'
The king felt that the stronger the hero became, the more solid his own power grew, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
And since even the Tower Master's opinion affirmed announcing the hero's existence, his spirits soared to the sky.
"Prepare the hero's welcome ceremony very grandly!"
From that day on, rumors that a hero had been summoned spread to the ends of the continent.
Naturally, the hero at the center of it all.
The news also reached Jun's ears.
"Is that true?"
"Yes. His Majesty said he would hold an unprecedented and magnificent festival."
"Ha... What's that about."
"Hero-nim. Is something worrying you?"
"You ask if I'm worried? Of course I am. Didn't you see me this morning, Sophia? Getting utterly defeated by the Knight Commander?"
"This is something the Knight Commander-nim and the Tower Master-nim both agreed upon."
Jun was dumbfounded.
"What on earth did they see to...?"
No matter how he thought about it, he was indeed lacking.
He was weaker than the Commander and the Tower Master, but still strong enough? Most people wouldn't stand a chance against him?
That kind of comfort was useless.
The reason a hero exists is to defeat the Demon King.
If there was already enough fighting power to deal with the Demon King, what meaning did a hero have?
It was absolutely incomprehensible.
But if he had to guess—if they thought the Commander and the knights protect the king and kingdom, and the hero is a disposable asset that can be sent off on a distant campaign...
"Is that why they 'summon'?"
A human with no ties to this world.
Then they wouldn't care whether he lived or died.
If he grew fast and died, they could just summon another one.
Jun stared blankly at Sophia.
Was he just being paranoid?
Or if this wasn't paranoia...
Did Sophia also think of the 'hero' that way?
As he trapped himself in such thoughts, before he knew it, the grand festival called the welcome ceremony had begun.
"Hero-nim, there's still time before you are introduced. So!"
Sophia placed a wig on Im Jun.
"How about enjoying the festival together?"
After roughly draping a couple's cloak over him, she took Jun's hand and stepped out onto the streets.
"Wow... This is the first time I've seen such a grand festival! What was it like where the Hero-nim lived?"
"Well... I don't really remember."
Jun didn't remember well.
Still, he knew enough to realize this scale was not small.
Was it a last supper?
A feeling of being somewhat entertained.
The betrayal lodged deep in his chest.
Seeing Sophia, who usually didn't laugh much, giggling wasn't all that bad.
With a restless heart, Jun forced a stiff smile.
"Hero-nim, it's time to return."
**
"My beloved people of Glacius. You have endured well amidst the encroaching anxiety!"
""Wooaaaaahhh!!!""
"The Goddess has heard our frail prayers! Today, the fruit of that prayer, the hero, has descended upon us by the Goddess's will! The hero! 'Im Jun'!!!!"
""Beer! Beer! Beer!""
Jun waved his hand from the castle balcony where everyone could see him.
""Wooaaahhh!!! Jun! Jun! Jun!""
The people cheered vehemently for Jun.
**
Bang—!
Pubeong—!
The sound of fireworks rang out.
In the dark room, Sophia opened her mouth.
"Hero-nim. Did you enjoy the welcome ceremony?"
The hero was silently staring out the window.
"It seemed too grand. I wonder if it was necessary to go this far."
Since the hero felt he was a disposable item, he didn't see the need for all this.
"Hero-nim. I understand well what you're worried about, but this much is necessary so the people can fully feel the majesty of the Hero-nim and our Glacius Kingdom. On the contrary, if we downplay ourselves when we have the power, the people will doubt our strength."
"..."
"... For now, I will convey your opinion, Hero-nim. Then, please rest well."
Creak—Thump.
The massive room door closed.
Im Jun looked down at the crowd enjoying the festival welcoming him.
The people seemed genuinely joyful.
"I'm a hero..."
The hero let out a snicker.
People called him that, but as time passed, Jun felt the word 'hero' become more distant.
Bbappam~!
The day of departure.
A large crowd gathered once again to see the hero's procession.
It was an event that doubled as a military review, showcasing the kingdom's might.
The people cheered.
"... In accordance with the will of Goddess Glacius, we seek to vanquish evil. Bless the hero, the knights, the mages, and the priests gathered here today..."
The High Priest's benediction continued.
"All troops! Depart!!!"
Bbabbam bbarabaram—!
Dung dung dung!
The procession began to move forward slowly.
Flower petals were scattered, and the hero Jun smiled brightly, waving left and right.
Until they passed the distant castle gate.
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 will take at least two years."
"I understand."
Jun barely swallowed a sigh that threatened to burst out.
How many more times would he have to repeat this spectacle?
Clop-clop, clop-clop.
As if knowing Jun's frustrated heart, the horse silently moved forward.
**
"Table 3! Two mains! One Racol!"
"Okay! Table 10 going out first!"
The busy Marie Restaurant.
Cheol-min had somehow ended up working in the kitchen.
Was he talented at cooking?
Dishes came out swiftly, and customer reviews were all positive.
Marie had long acknowledged Cheol-min.
"Shouldn't we change the name to Cheol-min Restaurant now? Ohohoho!"
Even some regulars said things like that.
Break time.
"Phew... It's hot."
Cheol-min wiped the sweat streaming down.
"Good work, Min. Have a drink."
Elin smiled sweetly and handed him cool ice water.
"I don't want to retire yet, but I've been completely pushed aside by Min!"
Marie playfully grumbled at Cheol-min.
"Haha. Still, Marie-ssi, I can't catch up to you yet."
"Huhuhu. You're good with words. Then shall I show off my skills for the first time in a while?"
"Ah! Let me do it!"
"Forget it! You set the table with Elin. You've been cooking all day. If I make lunch once in a while, my skills won't get rusty."
"That's true. Then I'll leave it to you."
It had already been over a year since Cheol-min started working at the restaurant.
At the very least, in Miran Village, he had become a recognized chef.
"What's today's menu?"
"Thomas-ssi, you're here? Marie-ssi said she'd show off her skills for the first time in a while."
"What? I think Cheol-min's cooking tastes better!"
"What? Then don't eat it!"
""Hahahahaha!""
And he had truly become like family with the Carters.
"Thank you for the meal. I'll go do some shopping in the afternoon. There are a few things we're running low on."
Cheol-min dipped the dishes in the sink.
Hearing that, Elin hastily finished her meal.
"Mmm! I'll go with you!"
"Then we'll be off."
Jingle—.
Thomas and Marie fixed their gaze on the door where the two had left.
"When are those two going to get married?"
"They'll figure it out themselves. They're adults, so let's not meddle."
"I want to see my grandkids soon~."
"No speeding things up!"
Even in their absence, the table bloomed with laughter over stories about Cheol-min and Elin.
"Hmm hmm~."
Elin hummed a tune.
"What's so good?"
"Just~. Because we're on a date~. What are we missing?"
"First, 'Jagam' and 'Jiga'. Also, a few spices are running low, so I just want to buy enough for immediate use."
Elin hooked her arm through Cheol-min's and looked up at him.
"Did I get something on me?"
"Hmm. No!"
"What's that about?"
The two were simply happy.
And they probably didn't know, but around them, they were already a very famous couple.
Everyone said they'd become an incredibly loving married couple.
"Cheol-min! You two on a date?"
"Sort of. I need a few afternoon ingredients, so I'm picking them up on the way."
"Aha! What do you need?"
"Could you deliver two boxes of Jagam to the shop?"
"Okay! Anything else?"
"One box of Jiga, and give me a small discount?"
"Hahahaha! Since you're a regular customer, I'll give you special treatment!"
"Thanks! I'll drop by again next time."
"Sure! Have a good date~!"
The two roamed the market.
"We bought everything. What time is it?"
"About 30 minutes left until the afternoon shift at the shop."
"Yeah? Then shall we grab some tea before heading back?"
"Sure~. Let's get a dessert too!"
They went into a tea house and took a short break.
Just then, they heard a conversation from the next table.
"...When do you think the Hero-nim will come to our village?"
"Well, it'll probably take some time, don't you think?"
"It's been almost half a year since he left Glass, so I wish he'd come soon~."
"I know~. It's unfair being a village stuck in a corner at times like this~!"
"I just want to see the tall, handsome Hero-nim once~. I wonder if he has a girlfriend? Even if it's as a concubine, I wish he'd be with me~."
A story about the hero.
Cheol-min remembered the fireworks at the welcome ceremony.
That was really nice back then.
But how is a hero chosen?
Curiosity arose.
"Elin, when the hero comes to the village later, shall we go watch together?"
"Yeah, sounds good!"
"But I'm curious about something."
"What is it?"
Elin sipped her tea and listened attentively.
"Do you know what kind of person becomes a hero?"
"A hero? Min, do you want to become a hero?"
"What? No. Just curious."
"Hehe. Just kidding. Well... I've heard stories before."
Elin took a sip of tea and pondered, searching her memory.
"Mmm! They said he was summoned."
"Summoned? By magic?"
"Right. They said they bring him from another world."
"Another... world?"
All kinds of thoughts raced through Cheol-min's mind.
Could it be from Earth?
That was the moment a reason arose to see the hero.