The Cycle of Heroes
Despite crawling all the way to my kennel because she didn't want to go, the young lady ended up heading off to magic school the very next day without a fuss.
“I'll be back soon!”
At least my advice from yesterday seemed to have eased her mind and body—she looked far more at peace.
“Yes, have a safe trip.”
“Yeah, because I'm someone special! A school like that's no big deal!”
She might have swung a bit too far into overconfidence, but as the lady of the Boyd family, that attitude suited her.
“Behave yourself while I'm gone, okay?”
“Don't worry.”
And with that, the young lady finally departed for magic school.
Afterward.
The mansion fell quiet once more.
It's always so peaceful without her around.
This was the mansion's normal state, really. It was just that her presence turned everything into a whirlwind of chaos.
“Hoo...”
With the young lady gone, I headed back to the kennel.
After dealing with her nonstop chatter all night, I hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. Time to catch up.
As I slipped inside, there was Whitey sprawled out on my usual sleeping cushion.
The poor thing had a rough night too, constantly cowering from the young lady. No way it slept easy.
“Let's grab a nap together.”
I gently lifted the sleeping pup and set it beside me, then drifted off.
The next day after the young lady left.
“It's been a while.”
“Ah, yes, it has.”
I finally met up with Eric, my instructor, after some time.
Lessons had paused after I got injured on that sewer mission. Then Eric had his own schedule crop up, so he couldn't make it. Now that he was back, we were resuming.
His classes were always engaging and informative—my favorite time of day. Glad it was back on track.
Besides, in this world where "common sense" sometimes meant the most bizarre nonsense, you had to learn everything you could.
“You know about the Hero, right?”
Yeah, stuff like this.
“...The Hero actually exists?”
“Pardon? Oh, you thought it was just fairy-tale stuff. No, they really exist. And they appear periodically.”
Periodically, even. Great.
As I marveled at yet another "basic" otherworld fact everyone else seemed to know but me,
“You seem pretty interested in this.”
Eric noticed my reaction and wheeled over the blackboard.
“Let me give you a quick rundown.”
With that, he sketched a lumpy outline on the board—the shape of the human continent.
Then he drew a big circle over it. That had to be the Empire.
“We covered the Empire last time, right?”
“Ah, yes...”
I'd heard the lecture before, and plenty from others too.
This kingdom was heavily under the Empire's thumb, after all.
“It's the undisputed strongest nation on the continent. Sure, there's the Magic Continent and the Eastern Continent out there, but around here? Top dog.”
Magic Continent and the East.
Both from the map lessons here. The East felt like my past life's Orient, while the Magic Continent was demonkin territory.
Apparently, demonkin were a whole different race from actual demons. There'd even been a massive war decades ago.
No wonder relations between those continents were pure hostility.
“The Empire's rise owes a lot to the Heroes. They show up periodically and give it a massive boost.”
“How do Heroes appear?”
“Mm, two types.”
Eric wrote two words on the board.
[Oracle]
[Summoning]
“An Oracle is straight from the gods—a Hero they send down. Usually stumbles upon a holy sword and steps into the spotlight.”
“And Summoning...”
“If they don't show up on schedule, the Empire pours insane resources into summoning one.”
“Pardon?”
“Continents are always riddled with threats, and summoned Heroes always rack up legendary feats.”
Eric tapped the board with his chalk.
“Even this teaching tool I'm using? Invented by a Hero a few centuries back.”
“Ah... Where do they get summoned from?”
“Mm, that's top secret Empire stuff.”
Yeah, I can guess.
I wasn't the only one from Earth, huh?
Not that big a deal.
If slum-spawn reincarnators like me existed, why not some golden boy getting palace-summoned?
Lucky bastard. Probably swimming in Empire support, training in luxury.
“Is there a Hero in the Empire right now?”
“The last one's in seclusion. About time for a new one.”
“Ah, so they overlap sometimes?”
“Yep. With the cycle, we've had up to three or four at once before.”
...What kind of factory-line operation is this?
Still, reassuring to have that kind of backup.
Four Heroes? The demonkin didn't stand a chance.
“How did the last Hero appear?”
“Mm, summoned.”
“Oh... Did he invent stuff too?”
“Nah. Records say he preferred roaming the wilds over desk work.”
Playboy type, huh.
Makes sense. Born a golden Hero in a fantasy world? He'd be out thuggin' it up, collecting wives left and right.
Slum dog like me? Guarding the kennel.
“Ever met a Hero?”
More than that—someone from another world. Kinda curious.
Would love a chance to chat one up.
“Nope. Most folks never do. Even the current one's first public appearance was on the battlefield.”
Figured it wouldn't be easy.
In a continent this vast, bumping into a Hero? Slim odds.
Wartime might change that, but honestly, peace keeping Heroes out of sight was preferable.
Anyway.
“You seem really into Heroes, so let me tell you about the great ones from history.”
After that, I soaked up the rest of our first lesson in ages, all about past Heroes.
Once class wrapped.
“How was the lesson?”
“Ah, it was great.”
As I packed my notes, Eric asked.
“Haha, glad to hear it. Was worried after the long break.”
“You always teach so well—no need to fret.”
Didn't peg him for the worrying type.
He always came off brimming with confidence.
Even to a student like me, his skill was obvious.
“Mm, that's high praise.”
“I'm the one benefiting, so no need to thank me.”
“...If only all my students were like you, Lane.”
Students?
Yeah, figured he taught others too.
With skills like his, he'd get hired all over as a pro instructor.
“Got a bit chatty there. Anyway, I'll head out.”
Afterward.
Eric left the parlor we'd used for class.
Huh, even elite teachers have their worries.
Not my business, though.
Smart guy—he'd handle it.
With today's lesson done, I headed straight for the kennel.
“Oh my, look how well you're walking now.”
“Teeth coming in nice, huh?”
Whitey was soaking up all the maids' affection in my absence.
Lucky mutt. Living the dream.
“Oh? Master Lane!”
“Yeah, but I gotta head out right away.”
I'd love to lounge like Whitey, but duty called today.
So I threw on some clothes,
“Oh, then let us fix your hair.”
“...Not necessary.”
“Sit here!”
Only after a quick primp from the maids did I don the mansion-blessed coat and buckle my sword to my hip.
“Whoa... You look just like a knight.”
Knight, huh. If I'd accepted Rowell's offer two years back, maybe.
Would've spared me these carefree mercenary gigs.
“Well, I'm off.”
Keng...
“Take good care of him.”
I handed off the whining Whitey to the maids and left the mansion.
Today was the day Jeban was bringing a mission.
Wonder if he found that new recruit he was after.
Cutting through the upscale shopping district I'd walked with the young lady the other day, I reached the regular merc guild.
Ding—
The guild was rowdy as ever when I stepped in.
“You little shit!!”
“Get over here!”
Crash!
Louder than usual—looked like a brawl was brewing.
A fight?
Excitement stirring, I pushed deeper. Two burly groups faced off.
One side total strangers, the other familiar: Jeban and his crew.
“Pipsqueak sidekick wannabe...”
“Hah, keep talking if you can back it up.”
Jeban stood front and center, glaring down the other leader.
Air thick with tension—one wrong word and it'd explode into a full melee.
Also, new face in Jeban's group.
The recruit? Deep hood, but weapons stood out: spear on back, two swords at the waist.
Bit slender for monster hunting, though.
“Hey.”
I flagged down a guild staffer trembling nearby.
“...Y-yes?”
“Something to drink and a snack, please.”
“R-right now?”
“Yep, right now.”
No time like the present.
They hadn't noticed me slip in quietly.
I dragged over a chair, parked it for a prime view, and settled in.
Let's enjoy the show.
Nothing beats ringside seats to a brawl.