Chapter 367
Chapter 367
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 367
Chapter Title: The Next Hero
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"I'm going back," Remia said.
For an elf like her, there was only one place to return to. The great forest that sprawled around the World Tree—the colossal giant that pierced the heavens, the ancestral home of all elves.
"Back to the World Tree?"
"That's the plan. This needs fixing too, after all."
Remia pointed to her waist.
Hanging there was a bow snapped clean in half. A bow crafted from a branch of the World Tree. Remia's cherished bow.
"What? When did it break?"
"If you fire off that many Moonlight Arrows without a break, of course it's going to snap. A bow made from the World Tree's branch is tough, sure, but it's not unbreakable."
"So you're heading to the World Tree just to get that fixed?"
"Nah, not exactly."
Remia beckoned me over.
I followed her around to the back of the carriage, where Kyle was riding inside, fast asleep. The seat across from him was still empty, and Remia gestured toward it as she continued.
"That's Sara's spot. We'll link up with the Royal Guard midway and hand over custody of her. They're providing an escort too."
"...And you're taking these two to the World Tree why?"
"It's the safest place to protect them..."
After a brief pause, Remia went on.
"The World Tree's roots hold a place called the Holy Ground. Only Elf King Orbel can enter the heart of the World Tree, and I plan to help those two recover there."
I'd heard of it before.
They said all the forest's life gathered in the World Tree's roots. I think Cardi had mentioned the Holy Ground...
"They've taken to calling the spot I made their 'Holy Ground' on their own. It's really nothing special. Just the leylines spreading through the forest like spiderwebs, intertwined with the earth's life force..."
I remembered him downplaying it, but it had sounded pretty damn special to me. Anyway, whatever. I tilted my head and asked.
"Isn't that a place only the Elf King can enter? How'd an outsider like you get permission?"
"Someone even higher than Orbel sent a 'letter'."
Someone higher than the Elf King.
There was only one person worthy of that title. My hunch confirmed, I let out a wry chuckle.
"Cardi pulled some strings, huh?"
"Yeah, the great mentor sent a letter. Orbel freaked out and started yelling. Apparently it was the first one in a few hundred years..."
Remia went on with more details, but to sum it up: The Elf King, receiving a letter from his mentor after centuries, mobilized faster than ever.
Saintess Sara.
Hero Kyle Toben.
He'd welcome them as honored guests and grant full access to the Holy Ground until their conditions fully recovered... An unprecedented event in elven history, according to Remia.
"Anyway, that's the deal. Figured I'd get my bow fixed while I'm there."
All in all, it was good news.
I'd been worried about what to do with Kyle and Sara next, but the elves' great forest was trustworthy enough. And with Cardi's letter? Even better.
"Sounds perfect."
I muttered, shooting Remia a sidelong glance.
She wore an expression different from her usual one. Her breathing was different too, her words lighter. It seemed ordinary at first glance... but that very ordinariness was special for this pointy-eared elf.
"So."
That's why I tossed out the question casually.
"What about you?"
A light question, but not an easy one to answer.
Yet Remia replied without hesitation, as if she'd decided long ago.
"Once I drop Sara and Kyle off at the World Tree, I'll come right back here."
She was coming back, Remia said.
"I've still got unfinished business."
"You could retire while you're at it."
"Quitting like this would be a bad look."
Remia shrugged.
"I can't stand by your side just yet."
She glanced inside the carriage.
Then at me. As if looking at something dazzling, she narrowed her eyes and smiled wryly.
"Gotta keep working until those kids wake up. So I can live..."
"Live?"
"...without shame."
I let out a snicker.
"Isn't it a bit late for that?"
"Yeah, can't argue there."
Remia said as she climbed into the carriage.
"See you later."
Next time, on the battlefield.
She muttered as she boarded. I watched her back, chuckling, and called her name.
"Yeah, see you then. Remia."
Remia, not pointy-ears.
Times I called her by name could be counted on one hand, and no one knew that better than her. Remia glanced back with a smirk.
"Yeah, Rani..."
"Stop right there."
I clamped a hand over Remia's mouth as she tried to add the "el." With all the knights watching, this thick-headed elf was...
I waved her off as she nearly caused a scene to the end, then turned to my own path. Everyone heading their separate ways, at their own pace—mine lay ahead too.
First, to the capital.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
The formation and dissolution of the anomalous frontlines.
The massive procession of beasts, and the colossal sword aura spotted by knights beyond the mountains. My journey there, and the earth-shaking impacts that raged through the night.
Official reports emerged on those simultaneous anomalies too. Based on the 'script' hammered out by Destel and Knight Commander Heinkel, countless journalists churned out articles.
"Demon King Appears Once More in the Ruins of Seleph Kingdom, Former Haunt of the Past Demon King."
"The Lord of Ten Thousand Beasts, King of Magical Creatures—the manifestation of humanity's ancient nightmare, known by countless names."
The Demon King had appeared in the ruins of Seleph Kingdom.
"Beasts gathering to follow their master."
"Massive beast outbreak threatens to engulf the capital. Frontlines at risk of collapse."
"Flood of beasts."
And the beasts had flocked to the Demon King.
Just as the wave of beasts threatened to overflow...
"Hero Kyle Toben."
"Steps forth alone to repel the Demon King."
"Humanity's Strongest Swordsman."
Kyle had single-handedly stopped the Demon King.
Articles like that flooded in. Plenty of knights had witnessed the sword strike that shook the earth and tore the sky that day. And in the Seleph ruins, Kyle's sword marks still lingered.
Overwhelming evidence.
Testimonies pouring in.
Knight Commander Heinkel's statements.
All those factors cemented it as fact: Kyle had confronted the Demon King and successfully repelled him.
The Demon King, lord of ten thousand beasts.
The nightmare that had haunted human history for centuries. The calamity deemed impossible to resist—Kyle had repelled it alone. Humanity went wild with excitement, and journalists' fingers flew.
"Humanity's Mightiest Blade Reaches the Cataclysm."
"A Sword that Sliced a Swath Through the Heavens."
"The Supreme Hero, Kyle Toben."
"A Feat Worthy of the Title 'Hero'."
Journalists flaunted their vocabularies, slathering on every superlative in praise of Kyle's achievement. The Demon King repelled, humanity's strongest swordsman claiming yet another legendary feat—the capital buzzed with fervor.
But it didn't last.
"Hero Kyle Toben Falls Into Coma."
"Rescue Op Continues; Lania van Trias of the Ashen Lineage Joins."
"Rescue Succeeds, But Consciousness Lost."
"Long Recovery Expected."
"Kyle Toben's Retirement."
It could have been all good news.
But the bad followed right after.
Kyle Toben had fallen. Humanity's strongest hero was leaving the front lines. Whispers started everywhere.
The three heroes who defined the era.
One dead, another retiring in a coma. Only Destel remained, but he couldn't be a symbol.
The most hero-like hero.
The symbol of victory.
As the heroes with their icons retired, doomsayers reared their heads. But Knight Commander Heinkel wasn't about to let that slide. He announced immediately.
"Birth of a New Hero."
I strolled through the heart of the capital and picked up a newspaper from a stand.
"Inheriting Kyle Toben's Starlight, the Mightiest Hero Emerges. A Hero Already Complete."
"The New Hero's Name..."
I smiled wryly at the massive photo splashed across the front page. Glancing around, passersby had stopped dead, staring at me. I drew eyes walking the capital usually, but not like this.
They alternated between the paper in their hands and me. Under their gazes, I walked on in silence.
With each step, fresh snow crunched underfoot—crisp, crisp—leaving prints. Looking up, snowflakes drifted down. It wasn't a fierce blizzard. Watching them fall, I thought.
Two years since I quit the Hero Party. I'd seen two winters, and this one was ending. When the snow stopped and melted away, spring would come.
The third spring.
Reflecting on the past two years, I kept walking. Soon, familiar tree-lined streets came into view. Pink cherry blossoms blanketed them in spring, but now white snow dressed the path instead.
Crisp, crisp.
I passed the avenue into Aphria Academy. Then stopped at the cafe I'd frequented these two years, grabbing a coffee. As Allen brewed it, he asked casually.
"This your last one?"
"Whoa, Allen, how'd you know?"
"You're not a professor anymore. We aren't supposed to serve outsiders anyway. So, no charge for the coffee."
"Oh? But I collected ten stamps on this coupon thinking I'd use it."
"......"
"Took forever to fill."
"...Hand it over."
I even scored a limited-edition tart.
Sipping coffee and munching tart, I walked on. My final stop: the Dean's office.
"Welcome, Lania."
I knocked and entered; Dean Aaron bowed deeply. His thinning crown was visible, stirring a twinge of guilt.
...Even Sara couldn't fix baldness.
"Come on, drop the formalities."
"Still..."
"It makes me uncomfortable."
I sat on the sofa and continued.
"I'm here because..."
I pulled a paper from my pocket.
I'd written one like it two years ago. Sliding it over, I said.
"Something came up, so I need to step down from my professorship. Sorry for the short notice."
"No need to apologize..."
"I said relax."
"No apologies needed. I saw the papers. You have far more important duties—it's unavoidable."
Despite my words, Dean Aaron kept the formal tone to the end. A bit awkward, but what could I do? That's what being a hero meant.
"Thanks for everything."
I smiled and offered the paper.
It didn't say 'Fuck this, I'm out' or anything crude. Unlike the Hero Party, this place had been different.
Aphria Academy.
Teaching here, I'd learned so much myself. As a professor, I'd gained insights, realizations, lessons aplenty. I owed this place a lot.
"I've learned a ton here."
"Glad I could help."
Dean Aaron nodded with a kindly smile. It could have ended warmly like this, but I had other plans.
"Oh, right, Dean."
I flashed a bright grin.
Sensing something off, he flinched, shoulders twitching—like he remembered every time I smiled like this, trouble followed.
Sorry, but he was spot on.
"Mind if I give one last lecture before I go?"
"Lec...ture?"
Flustered enough to drop formalities, he eyed me warily. Half trust, half doubt on his face.
Sage, wise one, guide.
Heir to the Ashen lineage.
Inheritor of the supreme hero's starlight.
With all those titles dangling, any dean would welcome my lecture with open arms... but my track record gave him pause.
"It's nothing big."
"......"
"Promise."
In the end, I snagged a special lecture slot.
For the students I'd taught. One last lesson for them. I'd pull aside a few I'd marked and give them extra.
...Before things get even busier.
Time to water the seeds I'd sown.
Before charging full speed ahead, a moment to glance back and catch my breath. Kyle had dumped this life on me without asking, after all.
'Plus, Conquest isn't complete yet.'
The time until Conquest finished.
Until I stood as the hero before everyone. I'd spend that short span with the students I'd taught.
"...Anyway."
I smirked, unfolding the paper from my pocket. The half-read news. I eyed the caption under the huge photo.
"Lania van Trias."
My name.
And a word I'd never imagined attached to it.
"Next-Generation Hero, Lania van Trias."
I'd quit the Hero Party.
And become a hero.
Of course, a massive gap lay between quitting and becoming one—countless events in between—but results-wise, those two sentences summed it up.
Quit the Hero Party, became the hero.
What an absurd joke.
Yeah, things were about to get a lot busier.