Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Change (1)
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A very spacious conference room.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, I took the seat of honor.
I was already being treated like the Hero.
It wasn't without a sense of pressure, but this was how it would be from now on.
If this was something I'd have to deal with continuously, I needed to get used to it as quickly as possible.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Everyone was cautiously watching me, trying to read my expression.
Before doing anything else, I needed to ease their anxiety.
“Are you perhaps still dwelling on what happened back then?”
“……”
The time I acted like a degenerate out of despair.
It could be considered this body's only misstep.
Expulsion had been all but certain, but I somehow managed to survive through improvisation.
Comparing it to now, the feeling is quite novel.
I'd clawed my way up from the very bottom to finally become the Hero.
Even I, who had merely been transmigrated, found it astonishing.
The impressions of others had to be even more profound.
-Ah, the student who was branded a problem child became the Hero!
-We need to stay calm. It's not like we committed a crime, right?
-That's right. We just handled it according to the school rules. If anything, we were lenient.
-Still, if he wanted to make an issue of it, he certainly could…
My senses had become even sharper and more sensitive.
It felt as if I could hear the voices in their minds vividly.
I smiled warmly and spoke in a gentle tone.
“That wasn't anyone's fault. It was simply due to my own lack of virtue. I should take this opportunity to apologize. I am sorry for all the trouble I've caused.”
“───!!”
A wave of astonishment rippled through them in an instant.
The faculty members' reactions varied.
Some waved their hands dismissively, as if to say, "What are you talking about?"
Others nodded in admiration, as if thinking, "There's a reason he was chosen as the Hero."
Hmm, this should be enough, right?
If it were something I had actually done, it might be different.
But since I had only inherited Jace's karma, I didn't want to drag it out.
“Now, let's get to the main point. It is projected that a large-scale invasion by the Demon King's Army will occur soon.”
“───??”
“I have no concrete evidence… but my senses as the Hero are sounding an alarm.”
I just blurted it out. Who would dare ignore the words of the Hero?
The difference between having the Hero's authority and not was immense.
No one doubted my words.
After all, a great war had invariably followed the birth of every Hero.
“It would be wise for everyone to prepare themselves. I will take the lead, but your assistance is also crucial. If I may share my personal thoughts…”
Push the students harder.
They must become stronger to survive.
This place isn't safe either. We must prepare for an attack from the Demon King's Army.
I conveyed these points, paraphrased in Jace's style of speech.
As the tension mounted, I delivered the final blow.
“It's possible that a spy from the Demon King's Army is already hiding among us. I urge you all to be especially vigilant.”
I'll have to skip the event where I deal with the spy.
It seemed the flow of events had been twisted by my transmigration into this body.
I'll be busy with various things from now on, so I'll leave it to them.
“This may sound a bit arrogant, but this is my resolve: to finally defeat the Demon King and create a peaceful world… If you trust in me, I will make it happen.”
“……”
Was it because my sincerity was conveyed so clearly?
One and all, they showed a solemn reverence.
“As you all know, two Heroes have been born in this generation. It may be the goddess's will, but I believe it is also the result of your brilliant education.”
“───!!”
Ahem, surely not…
Isn't that a bit of a stretch?
Still, thanks for saying so!
A bashful atmosphere, tinged with that sentiment, spread through the room.
Yeah. Even I think that was excessive lip service.
Well, what's good is good. There was no harm in earning their favor.
“Thanks to you, I have formed bonds with wonderful comrades. I declare that together, we will overcome any trial.”
Finishing my speech, I gave a slight bow.
As if on cue, the faculty began to applaud.
Meanwhile, the men in black suits pulled out handkerchiefs, their eyes welling up.
How can he be so magnificent and admirable?
Our efforts were not in vain!
They were overcome with emotion, as if they had raised him well themselves.
“……”
I had a lot I wanted to say, but I forced myself to ignore them.
Just dealing with those nuisances would be a defeat in itself.
Anyway.
In a single day, I had achieved the magnificent feat of taking partial control of the academy.
I needed to ride this momentum and bring the other Hero candidates into the fold.
* * *
Gazes of envy came from all around.
It had always been like this to some extent, but it became much more pronounced after I became the Hero.
“I never thought it would happen, but he really became the Hero…”
“He truly has it all. I wish I could live like that…”
“Well, is it really that surprising? With Jace, we can rest easy.”
The most popular guy in the academy—that was me.
Just as I was enjoying the students' reactions, Aruru popped out.
“Are you done now?”
If you're done, hurry up and play with me. I've been waiting this whole time!
Her demeanor conveyed that sentiment, and as always, the girl's attitude was consistent.
It meant she always liked me for who I was, which brought a smile to my face.
No, wait a minute…
My little cutie, where did you get that?
I could tell just by the shape of her mouth.
She was clearly rolling a piece of candy around in her mouth.
It was an item you couldn't get at the academy.
It could only be obtained through special channels in a few major cities.
In the original story, candy significantly raised Aruru's affection level.
It wasn't urgent, so I'd planned to get some for her eventually, but that chance had been snatched away.
“Mm, I just happened to get it. Want one?”
It seemed she had no intention of telling me.
Well, it wasn't that important, so it didn't matter.
Her affection was already so high that I was worried about the future.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
Could she have been swayed by someone's sweet talk?
Given a beastkin's ability to judge character, she wouldn't have fallen for some shady old man…
I tried questioning her sternly, just in case.
But the fox beastkin simply dismissed it as a secret.
“Not telling. A woman is more attractive when she has many secrets.”
“……”
Hmm, something's definitely strange here.
Her attempt to hide something was a bit suspicious, but this wasn't the time to press the issue.
“Congratulations on becoming the Hero.”
“You'll accept our challenge now, won't you?”
Baken and Crow.
The two Hero candidates were openly burning with fighting spirit.
Alright, alright. Stop pestering me! I'll fight you!
Not only had I obtained the Holy Sword, but I had also acquired Luciel's trait.
I should take this opportunity to fully unleash the Power of Overlap.
I wonder if secret techniques can be overlapped too. If so, they won't even be able to pick up their bones.
Not that it's my problem.
Those idiots who only know how to fight are so sturdy, they might just endure it.
After some careful calculation, I accepted their challenge.
The outcome hardly needs to be mentioned.
I won easily, but I didn't feel particularly refreshed.
“Kuh, that was intense… This is exactly what I wanted!”
“The Hero's strength is truly incredible… It was a good fight.”
“……”
They were half-dead.
Despite being brutally beaten, they looked rather pleased.
I just couldn't comprehend their mental state.
I was afraid that if I kept hanging around them, I might catch whatever they had.
They won't challenge me for a while now, right?
After I defeat them three or four more times, they should submit.
Perhaps because many students were watching.
A series of messages appeared, indicating my fame had risen.
[Fame +100] [Fame +200]
[Current Rank: Novice 450/10000]
I need to raise my rank to unlock the Hero's exclusive skills.
Just by attending the event in the imperial capital, I expected to gain a lot.
With the princess there, I anticipated reaching it quickly.
I thought of her for a moment. I wonder if she's arrived by now?
Since we're bound by a common destiny, in a way.
I can only hope that things go well for her.
* * *
Esterize tried to calm her excited heart.
She had lived like a commoner for a long time, but at her core, she was a noble princess.
She couldn't show such an unseemly side to her retainers.
It was her duty to display the dignity of royalty with pride.
“Sir Aron, please summon everyone immediately.”
The Duchy of Bayern.
It was one of the few territories that had escaped the ravages of war.
A blessing in disguise, perhaps.
The lord of this land had no choice but to support Esterize.
She was the only blood relative of the daughter he had married into the royal family… his granddaughter.
Her maternal grandfather had lost both his daughter and son in the war.
The girl's heart ached whenever she saw his wrinkled face.
He had gathered the surviving nobles and taken on all sorts of tasks until now.
He had laid the minimum groundwork to rebuild the kingdom in her stead.
Even with all that effort, it was far from enough, but things were about to change.
If they proceeded with their plans under the authority of the Hero, a glimmer of hope could be seen.
Her retainers gathered one by one.
Finally, the Duke of Bayern entered.
Esterize stood before the assembly and declared proudly.
“It's been a while. This time, I've brought good news.”
At the girl's declaration that she was about to make a momentous announcement,
a few of the quicker nobles clenched their fists, feeling that the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.
“Princess, do you mean…?”
“Yes. I have achieved the purpose for which I entered the Hero Academy.”
“───!!”
One and all, their eyes widened.
Esterize couldn't contain her excitement at their reaction.
Soon, the Holy Sword materialized in her hand.
Befitting the symbol of the Hero, it radiated a brilliant light.
“Ah, so this is…”
“Such an overwhelming presence… It is undoubtedly the Holy Sword.”
Astonishment turned to elation.
The Holy Sword was so sacred that even an ordinary person could recognize it at a glance.
“As you can see, I have become the master of the Holy Sword.”
How long she had yearned for this moment.
The girl barely suppressed the surge of emotion welling up inside her.
With this, the possibility of rebuilding the kingdom had increased tenfold.
It was still only 10%, but compared to the previous 1%, it was a world of difference.
A wish that had been virtually impossible had finally taken a tangible form.
“However, a slight anomaly has occurred. It's minor, if you can call it that…”
The nobles were bewildered. Now that she was the Hero, what could possibly be the problem?
The sight of the princess scratching her cheek sheepishly was hard to comprehend…
“Actually, I was the second one chosen.”
“───??”
“Meaning, there are two Heroes in this generation.”
“───!!”
Suddenly, chaos erupted.
It was so unexpected that they were temporarily rendered speechless.
A moment later, the commander of the knightly order managed to speak.
“The first one… Who is the first one?”
Jace Crodain.
Esterize calmly stated his name.
“Hmm, the heir to the Crodain Family…”
“There's nothing strange about that. In fact, it feels quite natural…”
The retainers quickly composed themselves.
It was slightly disappointing that she wasn't the *one and only*, but one of two.
Still, it didn't change the fact that she had accomplished something incredible.
What kind of being was the Hero?
To put it simply, the strongest human in the world.
The girl's efforts had finally brought about a miracle.
Most cheered, while some shed tears of joy.
“…At last, there is hope!”
“I feel that everything will go well from now on.”
They were already swept up in the feeling of having achieved their great cause.
Esterize smiled brightly and delivered another piece of good news.
“I should add that Jace is an irreplaceable comrade. We are very close.”
“I see… So you anticipated all of this. Truly brilliant diplomacy!”
“───??”
Aaah, that's not it…
I was just lucky!
The girl winced inwardly, but she figured a small misunderstanding like this was fine.
“Ah, to think she would grow so splendidly… I can now die without regrets.”
The Duke of Bayern showed his respects to the princess.
She was his granddaughter by relation, but he needed to set an example to highlight her new status.
He could rest easy now.
By becoming the Hero, hadn't she proven her worth?
Even without doing anything, her subordinates would now follow her willingly.
Furthermore, she had matured to the point where one could no longer call her a girl.
She had come to possess a beauty that surpassed even that of her mother.
If she rebuilt the kingdom, she would become a queen more magnificent than any other.
“Duke Bayern, please refrain from such words. Our great cause has only just begun; we still have a long way to go. That means I need the strength of everyone, including you.”
Even after becoming the Hero, she was the same.
Instead of putting on airs, she used her unique charm to foster unity.
The royal family may have vanished, but the dignity of royalty lived on.
A newly rising hope.
It was impossible not to be captivated by the existence of that noble girl.
Many things were expected to change from now on.
As her retainers dreamed of a glorious future, Esterize thought of a certain man.
‘Jace…’
He had understood her situation and shown her consideration.
Thanks to him, she was able to share this joy with everyone here today.
Her heart grew more and more fond.
It felt as if his kindness was seeping into her heart.
Esterize took a deep breath.
Now that she was the Hero, it was fine to reveal the identity she had hidden.
Furthermore, someday…
The day would come when she would confess these fiercely churning emotions.
Until then, she had to be a source of strength for Jace. The girl strengthened her resolve once more.