The Hero Doesn't Hold Back
“Welcome, Hero!”
An old man with a long white beard clasped my hand tightly as he spoke. Behind me stood knights in pristine silver armor, gripping their spears like statues lining both sides. It was quite the spectacle, I suppose, but it barely moved me.
It was all just fuss over a beast cub that had turned into a unicorn, a creature from legend. Ah, of course, the fact that I beat Jena might have played a tiny role too.
“As one chosen by the goddess, you carry yourself with true dignity.”
“Ah, yes.”
I gave a half-hearted reply, staring at the old man gripping my hand with his gnarled, tree-trunk-like fingers. Antonio Valsalva. The man before me was the current Pope—and the old fool who’d later be ousted by the Saintess.
Still spouting cryptic nonsense no one understands.
The Antonio I remembered was an incompetent Pope, but he was the most priestly person in the entire Gaiana Church. Even when the greedy Saintess pushed him out of his position later, all he said was, “The goddess must have her reasons.”
By then, I knew exactly how much of a piece of trash the goddess was, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth. What right did I have to invalidate the life he’d lived?
Anyway, this transparent welcome ceremony was Antonio’s way of saying he wouldn’t let some punk riding a unicorn steal the show.
Yeah, right. As if you guys didn’t orchestrate the whole unicorn thing.
I smirked at the four stern-faced priests seated behind him. The four High Priests who assisted the Pope. Unlike Antonio, they were incredibly ambitious and actually competent.
No wonder I’d always thought the Gaiana Church’s internal power struggles were dirtier and uglier than even the imperial court’s.
These four greedy old bastards were eyeing me, drooling over how to exploit me.
“The Pope is holding onto such a young man for too long.”
“Indeed. Coming from Kalein Village, he must be overwhelmed already.”
Unable to contain their greed, the High Priests started conversing loudly enough for the Pope to hear. They were usually at each other’s throats, but when it came to embarrassing the Pope, they showed unbelievable unity.
“Ahem, forgive my rudeness. I’ve kept the Hero here too long in my senility. These behind me are the High Priests of the Gaiana Church, each handling vital duties. They’ll have more to discuss with you than I.”
The Pope forced a smile as he introduced me to them. Even an incompetent, powerless Pope didn’t need to stoop that low. But Antonio’s life motto was “go with the flow.” Having lived a similar life in my first run, I couldn’t help but find his attitude frustrating.
“Ah, Phillion here. I handle the church’s finances.”
“I’m Marsius. Heard you’ve gotten close to our Holy Knight Order captain?”
“Carpa, in charge of discipline. The prophecy calls you Hero, but verification isn’t complete.”
“Thomas. You’ll head to the imperial palace soon, so prepare yourself.”
I silently watched the old men approaching me with their ulterior motives. As they introduced themselves: one fat pig stuffing his face with church funds; one cowardly geezer overseeing the church’s military; one hypocrite who preached rules but broke them all behind closed doors; and one spineless worm so obsessed with self-preservation he couldn’t tell if he served the church or the emperor.
In short, all four were utter trash, not worth remembering.
For example, these four had elevated Raksha-born Marian as Saintess, yet hounded her origins the moment she gained too much power.
I stared at the four High Priests, who assumed I’d bow to them. They figured a country bumpkin Hero would be awed by this lavish welcome and cowed into submission—especially since even the Pope danced to their tune.
“Don’t just stand there frozen. Answer us, Hero.”
“Yes, no one here will harm you, so relax.”
I burst out laughing at the four High Priests chattering away. Misinterpreting my laugh, the old priests flashed what they thought were kindly smiles. But I had no intention of tolerating their fake benevolence for long.
“Fuck, your house is running real smooth, huh? High Priests shitting on the Pope? You senile? Got dementia? At least hide your shit properly?”
The four priests showed a rainbow of reactions to my words—far more genuine than their previous facades.
**
“That bastard, isn’t he a lunatic? He really the Hero?”
Marian sighed as she watched High Priest Thomas throw a tantrum. She’d never thought he was ordinary, but even she hadn’t expected him to spew such madness at his first meeting with the High Priests.
“Y-yes... He matches the prophecy. We confirmed his miraculous regenerative ability too.”
“Hah! You think I don’t know that, and that’s why I’m pissed?!”
Thomas hurled a nearby glass of water, yelling again. It was unfair for Marian, who’d only answered his question, but she was used to his outbursts and just wore a “here we go again” face.
She’d sided with Thomas among the four because he was the most reasonable to talk to.
“And that lunatic’s cozy with Jena too, right?”
“...Yes.”
“What the hell have you been doing? We pushed you because of the prophecy, and now that bitch steals the credit?”
Marian bowed her head under Thomas’s interrogation. One of his spies in the Holy Knight Order must have reported it. It was true she and the Hero weren’t as close as Jena, leaving her no excuse.
“Th-that’s...”
For a moment, she considered telling Thomas the truth about the Hero and Jena. But she decided to hide it. Thomas would surely order her to seduce the Hero just like Jena.
Marian, you’re from Raksha, right? No way a whorehouse slut loses to a duke’s daughter in bed, huh?
She could already picture his sneering face. Thomas had been one of the High Priests to crown her Saintess, yet he viewed her Raksha origins through the most colored lenses.
It’s impossible. I could never do that!
Marian shook her head, recalling what she’d seen between the Hero and Jena. Thomas glared at her in disgust.
“No excuses. Marian, unless you want to crawl back to Raksha, make it right.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Marian trembled at his threatening tone. This was a High Priest who effectively ruled the Gaiana Church. Crossing him was worse than any rift with Holy Knight Captain Jena.
With his power, even a Saintess like her could be tossed back into Raksha’s brothels.
Returning there was worse than death.
“What should I do?”
“Simple. Tomorrow, get the Hero to the imperial palace, no matter what.”
Marian swallowed hard at Thomas’s uncompromising words. She had no confidence the Hero would listen.
But she had no other choice. She had to try—and act confident.
“Leave it to me. I’ll make it happen.”
“Good. Last chance, Marian.”
Marian nodded and rose from her seat.
**
In the temple corridor, Marian walked toward the Hero’s quarters with a determined expression. But unlike what she’d told Thomas, she wasn’t confident at all.
The Hero had seemed reasonable enough on the unicorn, but his display before the Pope marked him as a true madman.
No one else would hurl curses at High Priests inside Gaiana Church headquarters. Even the emperor maintained good relations with them, never deliberately antagonizing.
Sigh... How do I convince him?
Lost in thought, Marian arrived at the Hero’s room. And then—
“Hiiing! Y-Yes, Hero! Faster! Hiiing!”
She heard Jena’s voice from inside—along with that bizarre, familiar neighing.
You crazy bitch! This is a temple! Blasphemy! Execution! Burning! Just burn to death, you perverted horse-fucking freaks!
Marian wanted to scream it, but she was in no position to.