I Should Have Been the Hero (2)
The boy named Zarco Monzor was one of Dain's peers. They'd lived in the same village their whole lives, yet Dain didn't know much about him. Among the fewer than ten children their age—boys and girls combined—Zarco was the only one who never quite fit in. His parents worked far from the village, so the adults pitied him and looked after him in small ways. Velika, Dain's mother, had been one of those who helped.
When Zarco's name was called, the only word that echoed in Dain's mind was why?
Zarco had never shown any talent for combat. The Zarco in Dain's memory was a scrawny boy who could barely swing a wooden sword. That was all.
“Z-Zarco?” someone whispered.
Then the entire crowd began to murmur. In the midst of it, Lilias tapped the platform sharply, silencing them once more.
“Saintess Cerestia and Hero Zarco. Would you please step forward?”
Through the still-bewildered crowd, the two walked out with heavy steps. The ever-beautiful Ceres stood beside the gaunt, slouching Zarco. The contrast was striking.
“Lord Serdan, here are the Hero and the Saintess.”
Serdan approached the pair slowly. With trembling hands, he took Zarco's and Ceres's hands in his own. Soon his whole body began to shake violently, accompanied by a deep groan.
“O-ohhh… These are this era’s Hero and Saintess. The new Hero and Saintess!”
The old man’s cry pierced the silent crowd. At first, a few small claps rang out in the stillness. Then the sound grew, spreading like a wave as more people joined in.
Serdan gazed at them with reverence. Lilias wore a satisfied smile. The villagers cheered for the new Hero and Saintess in response. Not one of them looked at Dain.
Only the new Saintess stared at him with a worried expression.
He walked without direction. The scenery around him barely registered. His mind was consumed by a single question.
His swordsmanship, stamina, and physique were all superior. In a moment of ugly spite, Dain even thought his looks were better too.
By the time the sky had grown dark, he realized where he was. The hill path leading away from the village. The twilight meadow was so beautiful it felt wrong for someone like him to be standing in it.
“Dain! Dain!”
It was the village chief calling him from afar. The old man staggered over, breathing hard for a long time before he could speak.
“I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“…What is it?”
“Well, I was thinking… why don’t you set out on the journey with the Hero?”
The chief’s words sank in slowly.
“You’re the finest swordsman in the village. I spoke with Lady Lilias, and we both agreed it would be best if you accompanied them.”
“I…”
“I know. I can see it on your face. How could I not? I won’t force you to say it out loud. But the crisis facing our world isn’t something the Hero can overcome alone. Every Hero who has ever saved the world did so with the help of others.”
Dain said nothing. His thoughts were still too tangled to sort out.
“I’d be grateful if you joined them, but if you need time, I can wait. Just give me your answer soon, Dain.”
With that, the chief turned his hunched back toward the village and left.
Dain stared up at the completely darkened sky. Just yesterday at this hour, he had imagined himself standing beside Ceres. Today, that dream had shattered completely. Only misery soaked through him.
On the way back, he saw a familiar house. Ceres’s home—the one that had made his heart race every time he passed it. Her mother, Elesia, was standing in front of the door and called out to him.
“Oh, Dain.”
Cerestia’s beauty clearly came from her. It was hard to believe this woman had a fully grown daughter—she still looked so youthful. As Elesia approached with a light smile, wearing simple clothes, Dain hated himself for noticing how her chest—larger even than Ceres’s—strained against the fabric.
He quickly lowered his head. Elesia took his hand gently, still treating him like a child.
“What’s wrong with your face? Did something happen?”
“N-no… Where’s Ceres?”
“She’s in her room. Has been for a while.”
Ceres probably hadn’t expected this either. The thought that his own shattered expectations might have hurt her made Dain bite his lip.
“I overheard a little of what the chief said earlier. Dain, are you going with them?”
“Ah, that’s…”
Elesia let out a sigh of relief, pressing a hand to her chest.
“Oh, thank goodness! You have no idea how worried I’ve been. Being the Saintess’s mother is harder on the heart than I imagined. But if you’re going with her, I can finally breathe easier.”
Before he could say he was still thinking about it, Elesia continued. Her face was so genuinely relieved that he couldn’t bring himself to tell her no.
“I can’t even imagine how difficult the journey will be. Still, if you’re with her, I’ll feel much better.”
“Ah…”
She took both of Dain’s large hands in hers and said earnestly,
“Please take good care of my daughter… of Ceres, Dain.”
He would go. It didn’t matter anymore that he wasn’t the Hero. On that dangerous path to face the Demon King, he would protect her.
Before he knew it, the misery had faded, replaced by a surge of determination.
When he reached his house, moving quickly now, he stopped short.
“Huh.”
It was Zarco.
How long had it been since he’d really looked at Zarco’s face? The eyes visible between strands of long, curly hair that nearly covered them could only be described as gloomy. Zarco seemed equally surprised to see him and froze. An awkward silence stretched between them.
“Uh, hey.”
“Yeah.”
Dain spoke first, but that was all. After several more seconds of silence,
“So… you.”
Zarco was the one who spoke next.
“You’re coming too, right?”
That single short question twisted Dain’s stomach again. He didn’t know why, but blood rushed to his head. For a moment he imagined himself lunging forward and punching the Hero square in the face.
But the image vanished as soon as he remembered Elesia’s face—how she had held his hands and asked him to look after her daughter.
“Yeah. The chief told me to.”
“…I see.”
“Mhm.”
Dain forced a smile so the anger wouldn’t show on his face, but his fists were clenched so tightly they had turned white.
“Take care of me, Zarco.”
“…You too.”
Zarco walked away. Only after Dain took a deep breath to calm his chaotic mind did the question finally surface: Why was he coming out of our house?
Velika, Dain’s mother, had always had a soft spot for Zarco whenever he was alone. Having seen many war orphans during her time as a knight, it was only natural for her.
When Dain opened the door and stepped inside, Velika jumped in surprise.
“Oh, you’re back.”
“Yeah. I saw Zarco leaving. What did he say?”
“Nothing much. Just… thank you for looking after him all this time.”
“Hmm.”
Dain dropped heavily into a chair at the table. Seeing the two teacups still sitting there, he tried to think better of Zarco. The guy rubbed him the wrong way, but he was this generation’s Hero. As someone born in the Hero’s Village, Dain knew better than anyone how precious a Hero was. He kept reminding himself of that, trying to convince himself.
“You’re going with them, right?”
“Yes.”
“Does it hurt? Not being chosen as the Hero?”
“Haha, a little. I’m trying not to let it bother me.”
“Everything you worked so hard for has meaning. Your efforts weren’t wasted. You know that, right?”
“Mom, you don’t have to comfort me. But… thank you.”
“Hehe, alright.”
The next morning, Dain was summoned to the chief’s house. Inside, Lilias, the new Hero, and the new Saintess were waiting for him. While Zarco immediately turned his face away, Ceres gave him a small nod in greeting. After an awkward smile, Dain sat down in front of Lilias.
“Dain Lucanel, I hear you’re the village’s greatest swordsman. Perfect.”
“I’m not sure I’d call myself the greatest, but thank you.”
“Hehe, how modest.”
Her expression was gentle, but her eyes were carefully studying him.
“The royal mages have deciphered the structure of this generation’s Authorities. I called you here because I thought you should hear this as well. Now, allow me to explain the Authorities of Zarco and Ceres.”
Authority. That was what made a Hero a true Hero. The unique powers granted only to the Hero and Saintess—powers that could not be replicated by mana or divine energy—were what made them the most important people in the world.
Lilias presented an elegant longsword with sharp, ornate decorations from a luxurious case, placing it before Zarco.
“This is the Hero’s Sword. When facing demons, the light that blooms from this blade can cut down any demonic being. You may test it if you wish, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It will place an enormous strain on your stamina, Zarco. You’ll simply have to grow used to it.”
Zarco drew the Hero’s Sword from its case and gripped it. Its very presence proved it was the one and only blade permitted solely to the Hero.
“As for the Saintess’s Authority…”
Lilias hesitated for a moment. She closed her eyes, paused, then slowly opened her mouth.
“It is a healing ability. However, it is rather… special.”
Ceres tilted her head, looking at Lilias.
“This Authority does not require prayer. It manifests through direct physical contact. That means holding hands… or perhaps even an embrace. A certain amount of surface contact may be necessary.”
Ceres’s cheeks gradually turned red.
“Unfortunately, due to the structure of the Authority, traditional healing prayers cannot be used. However, contact with the Hero should produce recovery effects beyond imagination.”
At those words, Ceres lowered her head in clear disappointment. Healing prayers had been the field she was most passionate about, and she had been confident in her ability. She shook her head briefly to shake off the regret and focused on Lilias’s next words.
“Finally, Dain and Ceres, you both already know this, but—”
Lilias briefly lowered her gaze.
“The performance of an Authority is directly tied to the Hero’s mental strength. If the Hero falters, so does the Saintess. If negative thoughts damage his emotions, the Authority could weaken permanently. Please keep this in mind, both of you.”
It was something they had heard so often since childhood that their ears had grown calloused from it.
“…I’ll have to do well, then.”
Zarco, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke. As Dain felt a strange discomfort, he thought he saw the corner of Lilias’s mouth twitch upward slightly.
“Good. Then please depart at once for Siko Village to the east.”