Finally, the Hero
Capier had finally become the hero. Thanks to the divine power Frensia lent him, he could temporarily borrow the immense strength of the gigantic Holy Sword. He slew the griffin, but his energy was spent, and he collapsed to the ground.
Thud.
The girl rushed to Capier's side. Lying there, he looked up at Frensia and murmured softly.
"You... met the Goddess."
"You're insane! Is that really important right now? You could actually die like this!"
"Shut up... Now you're finally acting human."
"What do you mean by that?"
She was still shedding tears.
"Now you're showing your real emotions."
"..."
"From now on, don't say things like 'leave me behind' or 'run away.'"
"Be honest. Say you want to live. Everyone wants to live."
Capier gazed at his trembling hands as he spoke.
"I'm the same. I feel fear too. I want to live."
"It's okay to feel fear. As long as you don't cowardly run from it, that's something to be proud of."
"Emotions aren't shameful—they're natural."
The Goddess never grants power to those who aren't desperate.
Just the fact that she'd received the Goddess's power told Capier how desperate her feelings had been. Frensia might not understand why, but his tone had softened ever so slightly.
"Anyway, if you don't express it properly, no one will ever know your heart."
"Cry like this, get angry, speak up actively. From now on."
Frensia nodded through her tears.
"I'll... try..."
"And..."
She wiped her tears, blushing shyly as she spoke.
"Your name... could you tell me your name?"
"Capier."
"I'm Frensia."
At that moment, voices murmuring from afar reached them.
"Over there! I see a massive sword!"
Knights from the kingdom had spotted the enormous form of the Holy Sword and come running.
One knight approached and let out a heavy sigh.
"Wh-what is this..."
There lay the corpse of a gigantic monster, one fallen man, and another kneeling beside him.
"Stand aside."
The captain of the 2nd Knight Order pushed through the bewildered knights and approached Capier.
"Greetings. I am Laterion, captain of the 2nd Knight Order. Are you the hero of the prophecy?"
Instead of answering, Capier raised the Goddess Token to show him.
"...We shall escort you to the kingdom."
───────
Capier and Frensia were transported to the kingdom for treatment. In one corner of the palace, a stern voice echoed.
"Laterion. Is what you say truly accurate?"
"Your Majesty. I stake my life on it—there is not a single falsehood."
"Heh... A hero who hasn't even received baptism wielding a Holy Sword infused with divine power. How could that be possible?"
"If I may presume, it seems the woman at his side was granted power by the Goddess."
"What? Have you investigated her origins?"
"She hails from a fallen noble house. Both parents are deceased."
"I see. For now, keep this from the others."
"As you command."
King Ration sank into thought with a grave expression.
This makes the fifth saintess already.
More and more people were receiving power from the Goddess lately. It should have been cause for joy, but so many chosen in such a short time filled him with unease.
Blessings are always proportionate to trials...
And now, even an irregular hero had appeared.
Traces of battle with a Demon King's army commander. Given the griffin corpse, it was likely Beibaros.
The king pondered the report from the knight captain. In the kingdom's history, had any hero ever defeated an army commander before baptism? Absolutely not.
Once properly baptized, his power will be beyond imagination.
If he can't be controlled, we may need to eliminate him before the baptism...
Of course, that would be like killing the goose that lays golden eggs. But a hero with disaster-level strength who couldn't be reined in would be a curse, not a blessing.
On the flip side, if he could be controlled, he'd be an absurd asset against the Demon King's forces.
I must confirm it myself.
"Someone, attend me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Once the hero has recovered somewhat, bring him here at once."
"As you command."
Step. Step. Step.
Having received treatment from the priests and recovered enough to walk, Capier strode through the grand palace halls. For some reason, dozens—hundreds, even—of knights flanked him.
They're on guard against me.
Clack.
Before the massive doors, the knight captain halted crisply and addressed him.
"You cannot enter armed."
"Remove your weapons, the Goddess Token, and armor before proceeding."
He handed over his gear without protest and entered.
"You've arrived."
Upon seeing the king, he knelt to show respect.
"It is an honor to meet Your Majesty."
"This humble servant has been entrusted by the Goddess with a vital mission and hastened from the Taitaris Continent to the Ellinsier Kingdom."
The king silently observed Capier. He held his posture steady, unflinching, awaiting Ration's words.
Ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty. A full minute passed, yet the man didn't stir.
Hm... Not bad.
"Raise your head."
Only then did he slowly, cautiously lift his gaze.
"As you likely know, I am Ration, king of the Ellinsier Kingdom. I summoned you here because I have questions."
"I shall answer anything with utmost sincerity."
"To the point: once baptized and formally becoming the hero, where will you direct that power?"
"I will slay the Demon King's armies that plague the world and their leader, the Demon King himself."
"I will also use it to protect those who suffer at their hands."
The king spoke as if he'd anticipated it.
"A rote answer. Then let me ask something else."
"Suppose you defeat the Demon King later—what then with that power?"
"If you permit it, I wish to serve as Your Majesty's sword, upholding justice and order in the kingdom."
The king narrowed his eyes and pressed further.
"And if I, who disrupts that justice and order, stood in your way?"
"A sword has no eyes or ears; its direction is decided solely by the hand that wields it."
"Hahaha! I like you, lad."
"I hope those words weren't empty. Past heroes could have used your temperament."
The king laughed, satisfied.
Of course, none of that conversation reflected Capier's true heart. He'd merely tailored his words to avoid offending the king.
If the king strayed into folly, he'd ram the Holy Sword through his neck.
If I'd spoken honestly, he'd have tried to kill me before baptism.
Capier could respond this way because he'd known Ration's nature beforehand.
Just as rumored.
He despised uncertainty and preferred to eliminate what he couldn't control. Yet he kept and exploited what he could thoroughly.
Of course, he wouldn't poke a hornet's nest if it exceeded his power. That was why he hadn't aggressively pursued the current Demon King.
Even now, he only sends knight captains and elites to counter Demon King incursions.
It wasn't wrong. Provoking the Demon King directly would force a desperate response, costing countless lives.
Seems I've convinced him successfully.
Whatever the case, the king was pleased with Capier's answers.
"Hero, you've come this far—why delay the baptism? What say you?"
"It would be my infinite honor."
The king smirked, lips curling.
"You there. Summon the Pontiff and his priests."
The Pontiff and several priests, waiting nearby, hurried forward and knelt at the king's call.
"You summoned us?"
"Bestow baptism upon this valiant hero."
"As you command."
The Pontiff and priests began chanting with many others.
In an instant, a massive magic circle-like pattern formed beneath Capier's feet. It twisted and shifted, soon forming a perfect circle.
A brilliant light enveloped everything momentarily, then seeped into Capier's body, glowing faintly.
Seeing this, the Pontiff, priests, and all present—save the king—bowed their heads and cried out.
"We pay homage to the hero, proxy of the Goddess!"
Thus began the legend of the hero.