Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Heroes Grow While Fighting - 1
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Kaild's party was riding high on momentum.
They had obtained the hero's sword from the tomb of the fourth hero, Padania Brook.
It was already an unprecedented feat, but Kaild wasn't satisfied.
Just as written in the "public notice," he informed the Empire that this sword was fake.
The Empire's top mages and scholars swarmed the blade, and in the end, they all agreed it was made of a different material from the recorded hero's sword.
There were all sorts of complicated processes along the way, but skipping the details, thanks to this achievement, Kaild was granted an audience with the Emperor, the master of the Empire.
It was the first time since the second hero, Repia Odgar, that a mere commoner had met the Emperor—history in the making.
The Emperor spoke in a heavy voice.
"I have concluded that the sword in Padania's tomb is a fake. It matches your claim."
"I am honored, Your Majesty."
"How exactly did you know this?"
Kaild didn't, of course, reply that it said so in the "public notice."
"It wasn't something hidden—it was just a feeling I couldn't put into words."
"Hmm. Heroes of ancient times all had aspects humans couldn't comprehend. This seems no different."
The Emperor's words were tantamount to indirectly acknowledging Kaild as a hero.
Just as the corner of Kaild's mouth began to twitch upward.
"However, I've heard some strange rumors lately."
"What rumors, Your Majesty...?"
"There's a name ringing in my ears from the northern Empire. Maide Mohan. He's a mere mercenary, but they say he's racking up astonishing feats one after another."
Kaild's face stiffened for a moment.
Unaware or uncaring of his reaction, the Emperor continued slowly.
"If a hero has appeared, the Demon King will emerge soon enough. Heaven's gods will surely issue an oracle. When that happens, we'll naturally know who's real."
"......"
"I'm telling you this because I personally favor you."
"It is an honor, Your Majesty."
"Until the oracle comes, we won't announce that the sword is fake. With the fifth Demon King looming, I want to avoid unnecessary chaos."
Kaild merely nodded silently.
The Emperor leaned back in his chair and said.
"Go now. Do what you must."
"......"
"Show proof that you are the true hero."
Kaild bowed deeply and withdrew.
Waiting outside the throne room were Serein, Risel, and Ophens.
They asked what meaningful conversation he'd had with the Emperor, but instead of answering, Kaild glanced at Ophens and spoke.
"The Emperor mentioned a man named Maide."
He hoped for even a slight change in Ophens's expression, but as expected, his face remained utterly impassive.
Serein said.
"Maide? That guy who's been famous up north lately?"
"Yeah."
"Gallivanting around... Ahem. I've heard he's been doing things that help the Empire, but I didn't think even Your Majesty would know the name."
"......"
"Still, no need to worry too much, right? The hero's already decided to be you, Mr. Kaild. Lighten up."
At Serein's probing words, Kaild consciously stroked his face.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts.
'Serein's right. He couldn't interfere at all in this fake hero's sword incident.'
Maide probably didn't even know the sword was fake.
He'd already missed one of the core events on the "path to becoming a hero."
And besides.
Kaild glanced at the air.
It read:
[Next quest. Cure the illness afflicting the lord of Dronoir Territory.]
[The lord of Dronoir is a great noble who shone during the Four Demon Kings' descent.]
[Treating the lord will make him a staunch patron in the future.]
The previous public notice quest had been to claim the fake hero's sword and inform the Emperor.
Now that it was cleared, a new quest had appeared right away.
A guide to becoming a hero.
'I just have to follow this. No need to overthink.'
He relaxed his expression and said.
"Yeah, Serein. Thanks."
"No problem."
"You all worked hard this time. And sorry to follow that up right away like this, but we need to move out soon."
The silent Ophens spoke.
"Where to this time?"
"Dronoir Territory..."
That was when it happened.
Kaild gaped at the unbelievable sight before him.
Crackle.
Red lines began slashing through the public notice that had been floating there moments ago!
This was the first such anomaly since he'd seen the public notice.
'W-what the hell?'
The public notice struck through the existing quest entirely, then wrote new text below.
[Emergency quest. Stop the natural disaster in Tetra Territory.]
[Warning. You will encounter Maide Mohan.]
[Note. Maide Mohan is about to surpass your fame.]
Kaild's mind raced.
The public notice was issuing an emergency quest and cautioning about Maide.
It even said Maide's fame was nearly catching up to his.
In that moment, Kaild made one resolution.
'I have to kill him.'
Maide had to die.
Just like Bion Kunze.
Hiding his agitation, he scrutinized the public notice once more.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Plans changed. We're going to Tetra Territory."
Ophens's eyebrow twitched.
"Tetra Territory is north from here."
"Yeah. Centrally located on the continent as a whole."
"Hmm. Mind if I ask what you'll be doing there?"
"There'll be a natural disaster in Tetra Territory. I have to stop it."
He'd learn the specifics upon arrival.
The public notice would update, as always.
He hesitated, then added.
"And this is just a hunch, but Maide might head to Tetra Territory too."
"......!"
"Our first encounter. Everyone, steel yourselves."
They all nodded.
Kaild looked at one woman among them and said.
"Your role will be crucial this time, Risel."
Risel. Risel Vaint.
Kaild's first companion, and naturally the hero he'd spent the most time with.
Her eyes gleamed as she nodded.
"Anything. As much as needed."
I set Tetra Territory as our next destination.
And informed everyone.
Neril asked.
"What's supposed to happen there?"
"Hmm. I suspect some big disaster soon. Common folk are always the most vulnerable to natural calamities, past or present. Helping them will skyrocket my fame."
"Always wondered, but how do you know this stuff?"
"Heaven's god told me."
Jenia bristled at that.
"You can't just borrow the gods' name like that. What if they get offended and skip the oracle? Not my problem. They're pretty petty."
I'd accept it from anyone else, but not from a delinquent believer like you.
Adwin raised his hand then.
"Yes, student Adwin."
"Yes, teacher. Isn't Tetra Territory south from here?"
"Correct."
"So, doesn't that bring us closer to that fake hero Kaild's area of activity?"
"Good question. You truly grasp one thing and understand ten."
"Uh, that doesn't feel like a compliment..."
Trail chimed in.
[Adwin hit the nail on the head. Kaild's aiming for hero too, so he won't pass up a natural disaster event. Especially since he can see that 'path to becoming a hero.']
'No need to worry.'
[Oh?]
'His next stop is Dronoir Territory.'
It was before I joined his party in my previous regression, but piecing together later info, I could map Kaild's full path.
Around this time, he'd probably gone to Dronoir to cure the lord's rare disease.
It was a big deal.
The Dronoir lord came from a family that shone during the Four Demon Kings' descent, and success here would net Kaild massive material and moral support.
That was when it happened.
My communication orb suddenly lit up.
I excused myself from the waiting Adwin and pulled it out.
-Maide.
"Ophens. Doing well?"
Everyone crowded around the orb at the familiar voice.
Even though the carriage was cramped enough for all to hear.
Heads together, Ophens's voice came through.
-Not really. Kaild's been working me to the bone.
"Sounds like you successfully claimed the fake hero's sword."
-Yeah. And today, Kaild even had an audience with the Emperor.
The sheer shock in that short sentence hit us.
Jenia muttered in a slightly queasy voice.
"First since the second hero Repia. A commoner meeting the Emperor."
-Pheasant lady. Doing okay?
"I've been meaning to ask—what's with the pheasant...?"
-Anyway, the Emperor seems to like Kaild a lot. Got rewards bigger than the sum of all our past quests. Sell 'em, and three generations set.
Enviable.
No, that's not it.
"So? Kaild's next target?"
I figured it'd be "Dronoir Territory," of course.
But Ophens's response was unexpected.
-He said Tetra Territory.
"......!"
-And he mentioned your next stop might be there too. Told everyone to brace for a possible encounter. Was his guess right?
Neril, Jenia, and Adwin looked at me curiously.
I'd just set Tetra as our destination moments ago.
I swallowed hard repeatedly.
'Changed from before the regression?'
Back then, Kaild had definitely headed to Dronoir around this time.
Trail said.
[Your deductions were spot on. He noticed via that 'path to becoming a hero.' Can't let you steal more fame.]
'Hmm.'
[What now? We'll run into them if we go.]
Instead of answering, I checked the screen.
On the continent map, the north half was mine, the south half Kaild's.
Fame standings:
[Maide Mohan: 30,760]
[Kaild Wake: 35,540]
I'd planned to overtake him with the Reyners Territory business last time.
But exposing the fake sword must've had huge impact—he still held a solid lead.
'Not a hopeless gap like before, though.'
Kaild was coming to Tetra, bracing for me.
If I backed off now, no chance to surpass his fame later.
Time to land a blow here.
I steeled my resolve and said.
"I'm going to Tetra too. See you there, Ophens."
-Hmm. Finally.
He sounded expectant as he continued.
-I acknowledge you're better than Kaild from the other day, but he's still no pushover. Be careful.
"Thanks for the advice. When we meet in Tetra, we're strangers."
-I know that much.
"Good. See you soon."
Click.
Communication cut.
Neril crossed her arms, intrigued.
"Finally get to see that pesky Kaild's mug. Gonna kill him?"
"Your true colors show."
"Not asking the Unyielding Sword Emperor to break his no-kill rule. I can handle it quietly—no hit to your fame."
"Appreciate it, but impossible."
Neril frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Literally. Even I can't predict the outcome easily against him."
"......"
The weight of my words must've landed; Neril, Jenia, even Adwin's eyes widened.
They probably saw me as 'invincible' or something.
I shrugged.
"Guy I'm competing with for the hero spot. Wouldn't be fun if it was easy."
"No need for fun."
"Anyway, table dealing with Kaild. Focus on Tetra's issue first."
"Tell us what's happening there. Disaster, sure, but what kind?"
I paused, then answered.
"A massive earthquake."