The Hero Does Not Change
The dilemma was not long in coming. In fact, the answer had been decided long ago.
There is a saying about education being selective and focused. It is not merely a game term.
This is an obvious truth that applies everywhere in the world, no matter where you go.
'I've already decided to invest in Enril. So, I'll go all the way with it.'
Between Rion and Enril, there was something indescribable that words could not explain.
Even if no one in the world, not even Enril herself, knew it.
At least Rion was aware of it, so the synergistic effect would surely manifest.
A hero candidate from the Combat Priest Corps, which the higher-ups expected great things from.
He had wanted to confirm what kind of person she was before deciding.
'If focusing on the "possibility" part, that would be correct. It would be rational.'
But Rion did not do that. If he had, the appearance would not have fit.
Trust is not a mind that changes depending on the situation. Giving it bit by bit does not work.
Just dumping it all at once is good for both the giver and the receiver.
He chose Enril, picked her, engraved his rage at the Tower Master by saving her over and over.
Even though it was basic, he had taught her the mana cultivation technique, and she had successfully settled into it.
That alone was more than enough reason. It overflowed. So, it had to be Enril.
"...What did you just say?"
When he delivered this resolve, the response was naturally bewildered.
Head Instructor Edmond, whose expression had not erased the emotion, continued.
"Rion Instructor. This is not a simple request. The one who came down from above..."
"I am an instructor who came here of my own will, and if things do not go my way, I can quit at any time. Is there any part of what I said that is wrong?"
He was not tied to any position or bloodline in this academy.
Moreover, he was not even a person from this continent. He had been created with a position, but from somewhere else.
So, his being here was entirely his will. That is, quitting was also his will.
"The reason I came here was curiosity and to teach, wasn't it?"
"Yes. But not everyone was curious. I was only curious about what kind of person the true hero is. And I only wanted to teach that person. That is all."
"But isn't it better to meet more candidates? There is no reason to focus only on Enril. It would not be bad to check this one who came this time either."
It was not abandoning Enril; she would still be the hero in the academy.
What he was asking now was simply to focus a little more on the other side than her.
Head Instructor Edmond explained it that way and tried to persuade Rion somehow.
Of course, it was a persuasion that would not work on Rion who had already made a choice.
"The reason I am doing this now is because I recognized the efficiency of the mana cultivation technique. If that is the case, the choice is even more mine. So, I will say it clearly. The person I should focus on teaching right now is Enril, her."
Edmond, the head instructor, pressed his temple as if in pain.
Rion, watching this, was about to offer a negotiation plan.
"However. It is not that I am not taking on the Combat Priest Corps person."
"...What do you mean?"
"I will teach her the mana cultivation technique as well."
Rejecting it outright would naturally bring a large backlash.
He did not want that. He hoped it could be resolved appropriately and smoothly.
And Head Instructor Edmond was in a social position that could make that possible.
"Although it will be busy and tiring, I will try. While teaching Enril as much as possible, I will teach the candidate at a similar level."
"..."
In fact, Head Instructor Edmond probably knew.
That Enril, who had been stagnant for a while, had changed a little this time.
That if done well, she could leap using the past failures as a foothold.
And finally, that she could bring peace back to this land.
But since he knew that might be seen as a limit rather than possibility.
He respected the judgment from above and concluded to focus on the candidate.
Enril could come back to life again, but the candidate might not.
"Unable to help it. After all, only Rion Instructor knows the mana cultivation technique."
"Thank you for understanding."
"I will pass that on. This side instructor still judges that Enril has more possibility. So, while focusing on Enril, I will say that I will teach her at least the minimum mana cultivation training."
Good. If he had not cooperated, I almost would have reported to the higher-ups.
Of course, in front of the master, our beast friends would be as tame as lambs.
"More than that, Rion Instructor."
His business was finished, and he was about to leave the room without hesitation.
Edmond, the head instructor, tapping the table, continued.
"You have great expectations for Enril."
"Well, has she not returned nine times from the Tower where no one has ever returned?"
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And her learning speed is also very fast."
Edmond, the head instructor, gave the same answer again: "Is that so?"
Rion felt something strange there and looked at him silently.
It seemed like he had something to say, but do not beat around the bush.
"Rion Instructor. It is all good, but you have to exclude personal feelings."
"...Eh?"
What is this guy saying now. Personal feelings? Exclude?
"Sometimes that happens. Instructors inevitably maintain a close distance with the students. Because people's hearts cannot be read at all, sometimes they flow in completely unexpected directions."
"Head Instructor?"
"That can sometimes be good, but in the end, only wounds will remain."
"..."
"Ah. This is just a bit of advice in case. Do not take it too much to heart."
Rion stared at him blankly, turned his body, and left the head instructor's office.
This guy is really crazy. What nonsense is he talking about, muttering to himself.
*
A new hero candidate with subtle expectations from above.
From the 'Combat Priest Corps' that received the choice from the Light's Will located in the church.
It seems they are hiding information as much as possible for some reason.
So, only a few people in the academy knew about her existence.
At first, Enril had not heard any reason or news for that.
Still, because she was the hero, the only one who survived from the Tower.
The ones who helped her and saw her as hope secretly conveyed the news.
'The first hero candidate from the Combat Priest Corps, she must be the saintess.'
Never had a hero candidate come out from the Combat Priest Corps until now.
They themselves hoped to fight monsters from the lowest place.
Because they were one of the axes of the anti-monster force, the empire and the church both disliked it.
Above all, the Sacred Relic that picked the hero heading to the Tower did not choose them.
But this time it was different. The Sacred Relic directly called her.
Whether it was because she was selected as the saintess, or there was something else.
At least, it was certain that the saintess from the Combat Priest Corps was coming.
Saintess. One of the two wings of the Helios Order that had settled in the empire.
Originally, a person who would focus only on healing with holy power without combat ability.
A symbol that solidified the position of the church and did not let hope be lost.
However, the saintess that came out this time was different. She was from the Combat Priest Corps.
They said her skill in dealing with monsters was better than that of a regular hunter.
No, the problem was not skill, but that she was overwhelmingly strong, they said?
'They said they received expectations. The first saintess from the Combat Priest Corps. And the first hero candidate. There have been cases where saint or saintess became hero candidates, but from the Combat Priest Corps, it is unique.'
So much so that because of the many field experiences, the academy did not need to be skipped.
No wasting time, send her to the Tower and let the will of the gods be engraved in that chaotic place.
Such opinions came out from time to time, the one who conveyed the news said.
"It was like that, but probably the instructor named Rion who received great help from the hero. It seems they heard that story too. They said if you tell the saintess about the mana cultivation technique, it can increase the possibility."
I see. So that was why. That was why they attached Rion Instructor.
Up to here, it was understandable as Enril.
If they saw her as a limit rather than possibility and thought of someone else.
It would be natural to attach Rion Instructor who suggested the mana cultivation technique to that side.
There would not be any reason for Rion to particularly oppose it.
After all, teach once, if not, take back Enril.
'Yeah. That was what it was...'
Enril recalled the words Head Instructor Edmond had just said earlier.
"Enril's dedicated instructor will continue to be Rion Instructor from now on."
At that moment, she thought she heard wrong. It was a completely unexpected word.
So, when she asked what he meant, the head instructor let out a sigh and said.
"Probably, for Rion Instructor, the hero is only you, Enril."
The one who climbed the Tower nine times but could not defeat the owner at the end.
A hero who returned alive but it was not enough, something lacking.
That was Enril herself. Unconsciously, she thought so too—
"Enril."
When she looked up, Rion was approaching from ahead.
Seeing that figure, Enril opened her mouth unconsciously.
"Why... such..."
Because you believe in me more than I do, so I should be grateful.
Why am I asking questions instead of myself.
At the moment she was about to scold herself and change her words.
"Why? Because I am always with you. I believe in you. To me, the hero is you, Enril."
With a gentle smile, he patted her shoulder.
"You are the only one, my hero. Enril."