Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Hero
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Count. I oppose this. We cannot admit her.
At that voice, Wendy slowly opened her eyes.
Her body was laid out on a sofa.
Looking closely, it was the university presidents office.
No wonder her body felt so languid.
As if all the energy inside her had been completely drained.
At that moment, voices came from beyond the sofa where she lay.
Whats your reasoning?
She is beyond what our school can handle.
Beyond what we can handle?
If the Hero attends our school, it will only cause chaos among the students.
Hero...?
Who?
Count. Think about it. Only the Hero can wield magic of all attributes. If your maid uses such magic, the schoolno, the entire nationwill be thrown into uproar!
Your maid.
The moment she heard that, her eyes snapped wide open.
Wendy hugged her shoulders.
Me... a Hero...?
Wendy was confused.
Hero.
She had heard of it before.
The one who suddenly appears when the world is in dire crisis and saves it.
It wasnt something recorded in history or documents.
Just a tale passed down from mouth to mouth among the common folk.
It was from about a thousand years ago, before the Meikahel Empire was even founded.
In one of the nations that existed on this land, a woman claiming to be the Hero appeared.
At first, no one believed her.
But the moment people witnessed her magic, they had no choice but to acknowledge her.
She could wield every attribute of magicsomething even one of which would make someone a hero.
It was something only a god could do.
Impossible without the blessing of the gods.
A thousand years had passed since then, but no one who could wield all attributes like the Hero had appeared.
Wendy thought deeply.
She had been poor.
She had never learned magic.
She had been too busy just trying to survive.
Naturally, she had never shown her magic to anyone.
No... exactly once.
She had shown it.
That day of extreme drought, praying beside her brother.
Her prayer brought rain to the parched land.
Thinking back, it hadnt been the heavens answering her prayer.
It had probably been magic.
But after that, she had been reluctant to use magic again.
Because her magic had made her brother leave.
And today, she had unleashed her magic at full power for the first time in her life.
When she summoned the massive golem, Myohail had muttered something strange.
-Youre of the Heros bloodline, arent you.
If that was what he had said to me...
Heros bloodline.
Did that mean she was a descendant of the Hero?
Did she have to become the Hero...?
Wendys small body trembled.
Scary...
She wasnt brave like the Hero.
She didnt have the guts to save the world.
She didnt have the ability to do so.
She was just a maid in the counts household.
She lacked the confidence to fight monsters as a Hero.
She lacked the confidence to lead people.
She lacked the confidence to save comrades.
She lacked the confidence to defeat the Demon King.
Wendys shoulders slumped.
She was afraid of a life where she had to live as a Hero.
Count...
Suddenly, Wendy wondered what he thought.
If he knew she was the Hero, what would he do?
...
I... still want to stay by the Counts side...
Even if it was the Count, would he want to keep a Hero like her by his side?
Could he even keep her by his side?
Would heaven... fate... allow it?
At that moment, Tristan spoke.
That sounds amusing.
This isnt a joke! More importantly, Count, did you know? That shes the Hero?
I knew.
Wendys shoulders twitched.
He knew?
Tristan spoke as if it were no big deal.
At his nonchalant attitude, President Mondri said in an agitated voice.
Then why didnt you say anything? The appearance of the Hero is a major event. Its proof that a crisis is approaching this world.
So Ive heard.
We must report this to the imperial court immediately! We need to conscript soldiers and contact foreign nations to check if the Demon King has appeared!
The implications were clear.
It meant she had to participate in the war as the Hero.
Faced with this grim reality, Wendy wanted to cover her ears.
But Tristan said.
She is my maid.
Wendy couldnt see Tristans expression, but she could imagine what it looked like.
No doubt he was speaking with the arrogant face of a noble.
Hero or not, she is my maid. She is mine. I will do with her as I please. Do not interfere.
Interfere? Count, the Hero is not an object!
Arent you the one treating her like an object?
Pardon? What do you...
Tristan said.
If you inform the imperial court of the Heros appearance, from that moment on, she will live solely to save the world.
Thats only natural. Thats what a Hero is.
The Hero is not a convenient tool to save the world.
...!
At those words, Wendys shoulders jerked sharply.
Even a Hero is just a person who can use all-attribute magic. Do you think that alone can save the world from crisis?
W-Well...
A Hero is just a person. Her becoming the Hero wont change much. A Hero is ultimately nothing more than a symbol.
B-But if word gets out, the Emperor or the ministers will want her!
Wendy listened in silence, holding her breath.
She was anxious about what answer Tristan would give.
And his response exceeded her expectations.
Even if the imperial court wants her, they wont take her from me. Not even... if its His Imperial Majesty.
Gasp...!
Wendy quickly covered her mouth to keep any sound from escaping.
It was an answer worthy of Count Tristan.
No, the only one in this nation who could say it.
It was a declaration full of possessive desire not to yield anything, but strangely, Wendy didnt dislike it.
She felt strange.
It was the first time.
The first time her small chest had pounded so fiercely.
Count...! What you just said is extremely irreverent! It could even be considered high treason!
Enough, Mondri.
The voice that intervened between the two was that of a man with a deep voiceor rather... the cat Myohail.
Master...
I intend to admit her to this school.
!?
Myohail spoke in his slow but deliberate tone.
She passed the exam. She even defeated me, a sage.
S-Surely Master went easy on her? At a glance, it was just a big, incomplete golem. You held back at the end...
No need for pathetic excuses. A loss is a loss. I lost, and the little miss won.
Thats
Mondri trailed off in dissatisfaction.
Unexpected words came from Myohails mouth.
Moreover, I agree with the Count. She hasnt even awakened to her role as Hero, and above all, shes too young. I wont stand by and let her be handed over to the imperial court either.
Unexpectedly, Myohail had sided with Tristan.
Effectively a 2:1 situation.
In the end, Mondri raised the white flag.
Sigh... If Master says so much, this disciple has no choice but to yield.
What do you mean yield? You lost.
Ah, really! Master, Im not a child anymore. Im an old man over seventy. Give me some respect for my age.
You brat, Im older than your great-great-grandfathers great-great-grandfather. What respect?
No, Master, youre my great-great-grandfathers great-great-grandfathers great-great-grandfathers great-great-grandfather! Of course!
Quiet.
The two bickered.
At that moment, Tristan spoke.
So, Wendy has been accepted into this school?
Yes. I, Myohail, guarantee it. However, if possible, Id prefer to keep her identity as the Hero hidden while she attends.
A much softer tone now.
Only then did Wendy stroke her calmed chest.
Thank goodness.
She had passed the exam.
She could stay in the counts household.
She could still be by his side.
But... so sleepy...
Wendy didnt know it, but the intense use of mana had brought on overwhelming drowsiness.
Thinking it was just the tension releasing, she wrapped herself in the coat she was wearing.
It enveloped her.
Sized for the large-framed Tristan, it was like a blanket to Wendy.
Even stretching out her legs left extra space.
In that vast space, Wendy curled up and surrendered to deep slumber.