Heroes in Turbulent Times
Kyle chewed over the words the Saintess had just spoken and looked at her.
"What? A hero?"
"Yes, Sir Hero."
"No, what part of me looks like one?"
How could a man covered head to toe in chunks of blood and flesh be called a hero? Kyle shrugged as if he couldn't understand. The Saintess, however, shook her head firmly.
"That blood and flesh belongs to a demon. Therefore, anyone who returns drenched in it deserves to be called a hero. How could it be wrong for me to address you as such?"
"Well, I just killed a demon or two..."
"A demon is an opponent even a Master must risk their life against. It is certainly not something a hero who has not yet finished growing could handle. If you fought such a being with your life on the line and managed to drive it back, then you more than deserve the title of hero."
It had been easier than expected... Kyle scratched his cheek as he thought this. The Saintess seemed to believe he had risked his life in a desperate struggle to defeat the demon. In reality, that wasn't the case. The demon had not fully descended, and its body lacked reason. It was no different from a beast moving on pure instinct. And no matter how strong a mindless beast might be, it would ultimately be hunted by a hunter. If he had to put it into words, this demon hunt had been closer to a hunt than a battle or a bloodbath.
"But hey, if I accept being called a hero, do I get anything good out of it?"
"...Pardon?"
"Like, any title effects or benefits?"
The Saintess personally bestowing the title would mean an official position from the Holy Kingdom. There was no way there wouldn't be some benefits to being officially recognized as a hero by the nation. Kyle looked at the Saintess, expecting perks similar to the Medal of Honor. The Saintess broke into a cold sweat at his mercenary attitude.
"...Before that, may I ask your name?"
"Kyle. Kyle Meyer."
"Kyle Meyer... Hmm, I believe this is—"
"My father."
"I see. Sir Hero."
The Saintess smiled lightly, lifting the corners of her mouth with both hands. "You asked what you would receive upon being granted the title of hero, correct?"
"Yeah."
"How about my smile?"
"...What?"
Unable to figure out how to respond to her action, Kyle stared stiffly at the Saintess for a moment. Sensing his expression hardening, the Saintess burst into laughter and naturally lowered the corners of her mouth. Feeling the atmosphere turning awkward, Kyle tried to lighten the mood with a joke.
"How about letting me touch your chest instead?"
"...Excuse me? W-well, as the Saintess, that would be a bit..."
"...No, it was a joke."
The conversation between them came to a halt. Not knowing what to do with the awkward silence, Kyle simply held out his hand. The Saintess, realizing he meant to shake hands and part ways, covered her chest with one hand and grasped his with the other. The moment their hands touched, she flinched as she felt Aura flowing through her hand like lightning.
"—W-wait a moment, Sir Hero. How old are you this year?"
Sensing something strange, the Saintess immediately asked for his age. Kyle answered as if wondering why she was asking.
"Fifteen."
"F-fifteen?"
At those words, the Saintess began scrutinizing Kyle's face in disbelief. He did indeed look young for his age. Yet at the same time, it was hard to believe. She recalled the wave of Aura she had felt when holding his hand—the unfathomable tide. That was not a power a mere teenager should possess. She knew very well what people with such power were called.
Master...
It wasn't unheard of for someone in their teens to possess power on par with a Master. After all, the Saintess herself had gained strength equivalent to a Master at the age of five, chosen by God. Even now, after nearly ten years, her holy power hadn't changed much—only her faith and the speed at which she recited prayers had increased. But that was an exception. Cases like hers were extremely rare. Moreover, Kyle's power was neither holy power granted by divine selection nor an innate Force ability.
"Hmm... Sir Hero. If you're fifteen, are you attending the Academy?"
"Yeah, well. Dairos Academy."
"I see. Understood."
The Saintess started to turn away, then carefully pulled Kyle's hand and began gently scratching the back of it. Kyle watched her, wondering what she was doing, when he suddenly stopped at the sight of a golden cross engraved on the back of his hand.
"This is..."
"You asked earlier if there were any benefits to becoming a hero, didn't you?"
The Saintess tapped the cross on the back of his hand. The golden cross tattoo glowed brightly and began blessing Kyle's body. He looked down at the cross, feeling his physical abilities become even stronger than when reinforced with Aura.
"This is the Stigma I bestow. If you channel Aura into this cross, it will lend you its power whenever you desire."
"The tattoo's a bit much, though."
"...It won't be visible normally, so it should be fine."
The Saintess, looking slightly embarrassed, stepped back and smiled brightly at him, clasping her hands together in a prayer pose.
"—Once again, thank you. For stopping the demon before it could cause greater harm."
"I only did what I had to do."
"You did what needed to be done, not because it was right. If the result was right, then it deserves praise."
The Saintess smiled and spoke while looking at Kyle. After one final greeting, she returned to her unit and rode toward the city to erase any remaining traces of the demon, undead, or black magic within.
Kyle watched her disappear, then turned toward the Count.
"Let's head back now."
"Uh, yeah. We should..."
The Count, who had been watching the exchange between Kyle and the Saintess from right beside them, looked at his son with a troubled expression before giving the order to return.
* * *
The ruined territory of Etalin. The holy knights began purifying the city by exorcising the remaining undead and lingering spirits that had not yet departed. Yet they all knew full well what would become of this city. A city contaminated by the blood and flesh of a demon. This city, destroyed by a black mage, would likely be completely wiped away without leaving a single speck behind. Since the demon's flesh had flowed through the sewers, the sewers themselves would have to be overturned and purified. The cost would all be billed to the Empire and become revenue for the Holy Kingdom.
"Judging by the scenery, it must have been a beautiful city..."
The Saintess expressed her regret as she lent a hand in cleaning the city. Every time she swung her mace filled with holy power, entire five-story buildings collapsed. The dust and particles that rose were prevented from scattering by divine authority and remained on the ground. As the city's cleanup was nearing its end, the Saintess stopped upon seeing a holy knight approaching her.
"Saintess. I have something to ask."
"Yes, go ahead."
"What were you discussing with that man earlier? From what I heard, it seemed rather disrespectful..."
"Were you eavesdropping? How irreverent."
"My apologies. Your voices were loud enough to be heard."
The holy knight pointed out that the Saintess herself had mentioned something about her chest or offering her body. Hearing this, the Saintess turned her head slightly and responded with silence.
"Saintess?"
"...It was sexual harassment."
"I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry."
"Yes, well. I think so too. It wasn't serious."
The Saintess swung her mace again, smashing another building, and recalled Kyle's face.
"Sir Knight. Do you know the saying that every era has its counterpart?"
"Yes. In turbulent times, heroes are born, and trials come to those heroes."
"Well, the order is closer to the chicken or the egg, so setting that aside... Ultimately, it means heroes are figures prepared for the trials that will come."
Heroes are born in turbulent times. However, the clergy interpret it differently. No matter the difficulty, God sends someone who can resolve it.
"But what if there is someone who, no matter how you look at them, seems absurd? Someone you can't help but believe will become a hero. How should we think of that?"
"Saintess, what do you mean...?"
"It's like this. A trial so harsh that it requires a genius who becomes a Master in their teens will arrive."
A situation will arise where the world needs Kyle Meyer. This was a kind of divine revelation.
"We should prepare as well."
Trials are coming. Trials so fearsome that they will require a hero the likes of which history has never seen.