“The hero will be visiting this street soon, so everyone make way!”
About two months had passed since the leader of the rebels was captured by .
I was spending my ti touring the empire, carrying out the orders given by the Imperial Family.
Though it was rely participating in parades and making appearances, it was still aningful to the public who needed hope.
“Is that the famous hero?”
“Yeah, I heard he defeated a demon officer and a red knight.”
“Both of them are dangerous foes.”
“No wonder the Imperial Family is supporting him.”
As my reputation grew, the procession of carriages following lengthened, and I could feel the people’s opinions of becoming increasingly positive.
Despite the unfavorable deeds of past heroes, the evaluations were generally positive.
This was likely because, unlike those who were chosen as heroes based solely on their abilities, I was recognized as a hero based on my achievents.
“Thanks to you, things have gotten better. Now we won’t be attacked by the undead when we go on expeditions.”
“Co to think of it, there have been fewer undead attacks lately, haven’t there?”
“Their forces have been halved, so we can’t consider the undead a threat to humanity anymore.”
“Now, if we can deal with the Demon Army and the Furry Tribe, things will be like they used to be…”
The tangible results achieved this way, combined with the Imperial Family’s direct promotion, created an unprecedented level of impact.
The hope created by all these factors inspired the crowd, leading to enthusiastic cheers wherever I went.
“Stay strong, Hero Woo Hyo-sung!”
“You are our hope!”
“Woo Hyo~! Woo Hyoooooo~!!”
…If only I didn’t have to hear that damn “Woo Hyo” chant.
Damn it, my ability is to imprint my na, so why do they all call that?
-Swoosh!
At that mont, a small shadow shot out from the crowd, cutting through the air and quickly flying towards .
No, I sensed the threat before I could even react visually.
Since I perceived it so quickly, responding wasn’t difficult.
-Smash!
Despite that, I didn’t dodge; I gathered my mana to block the attack.
It didn’t hurt, but it was enough to cause discomfort.
A soldier who belatedly noticed the situation urgently called out to , and soon the soldiers in the procession began to gather around one by one.
“Hero! Are you okay?!”
“…Yes, I’m fine.”
The well-ford procession stopped, and the cheering crowd beca chaotic as they realized what had happened.
Concerned that the atmosphere would worsen further, I casually brushed off the stone-struck part of my head and smiled nonchalantly.
“I’m sorry for the delayed response. Let’s continue.”
“No, we can’t let the person who attacked you go unpunished. We will imdiately find and bring them to you…”
“Please, hold on.”
I endured the insult not because I was tolerant of malice directed at .
Suppressing it would only cause greater resistance and confusion later.
“We have to endure so of it. Not everyone will welco what I’ve done.”
Over the past two months, I’ve painfully realized that a hero must not only receive the crowd’s cheers but also their hatred.
The rebel organization Nihil.
Known as revolutionaries resisting the empire’s corruption, they were now said to have been established by so nobles seeking to replace the power structure.
Naturally, the nobles known to have cooperated with them were scheduled to be purged soon.
The reason for the cold reaction was that a rebellion focused on profit rather than a cause could not gain the support of the people.
After all, if neither side was appealing, the general sentint was that the current leadership was better.
“Hero Woo Hyo-sung, an imperial decree has been issued to you. Stop your activities and listen!”
Of course, so say the rebels were falsely accused and publicly condemned, but regardless of the actual suspicions, I just focused on carrying out the tasks at hand.
Whether Nihil was truly a clean organization, whether oppressing them to increase support for the Imperial Family was the right thing…
Such discussions about causes or good and evil felt too distant to , and more than anything, I had realized all too well that what we see isn’t the entirety of the world.
I couldn’t even imagine that the leader of Nihil was a puppet created by the Crown Prince. How could I rashly take sides in such a situation?
“The succession ceremony for the next heir to the empire, Crown Prince Orion Seis, is in six months. During this ti, we need to minimize the threats to the empire by conducting large-scale subjugation operations in the territories and frontier areas.”
So, let’s forget what we can’t understand and focus on one thing.
Like that person who gave up their life to give this opportunity.
And like the Crown Prince who pushed to move forward without rebuke, even though I betrayed them.
“You are deed most suitable for the following task. Under the support and guidance of the Imperial Family, you are ordered to embark on a six-month subjugation expedition!”
As I was steeling my resolve, I bowed my head and responded to the imperial envoy and representative of the Crown Prince, who gave the order.
“…I will comply.”
Get stronger, seize power, and imprint my presence on everyone in the empire…
To do that, I had to follow the imperial decree. This thought beca stronger due to Airi’s words when I returned ho two months ago.
‘I… It’s been two months.’
‘Two months? What do you an?’
‘…Ah, the baby.’
Yes, Airi was pregnant now.
At first, it didn’t seem real, but as Airi’s belly grew, the reality gradually set in.
Naturally, as soone responsible for her, I couldn’t help but feel strongly that I shouldn’t be satisfied with the present for her sake.
Separate from that, I also wondered if things would really be okay like this.
“…Is this really okay?”
Honestly, it felt quite sudden.
Even though we’ve had a consistent relationship since we got together, and each ti we got carried away by the mood, we didn’t bother with contraception… In retrospect, it wouldn’t have been strange for her to get pregnant at any ti, but aside from that…
Originally, we both had feelings for each other, but there was so much to consider that we tried to avoid crossing that line.
Those feelings were still there, so Airi seed unprepared at the ti, appearing restless.
Can I really accept becoming her husband and the father of a child like this?
“Uh, hero, we’ve arrived…”
At that mont, the space shook with a rattling sound.
My gaze quickly turned to the coachman’s seat of the carriage I was riding in, belatedly realizing the reality.
“Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Should I call for a cleric now…?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing. Excuse .”
Yes, today’s schedule ended here.
As always, I greeted the coachman who had brought ho and took a mont to look up at the front gate of my residence.
A grand mansion that exuded magnificence at a glance.
Compared to the first house we arranged, it differed greatly in size and internal structure in every way.
Naturally, it was a house arranged directly by the Crown Prince of the empire.
“…No matter how many tis I see it, I can’t get used to this house.”
Of course, as a hero representing the empire, it wouldn’t do to stay in a shabby place, especially since Airi wasn’t alone and needed rest.
If it was a place to stay at ease, this place was much better than the previous house.
Even so, there was sothing to worry about… Yes, it was that a large-scale expedition had just been scheduled.
The succession ceremony would begin in six months, and if I spent that ti traveling through the territories and frontier areas, I’d be away from her.
Can leaving her before childbirth be considered a man’s duty?
“…I guess I need to discuss it first.”
Whatever it was, I needed to inform Airi and the family first.
With the imperial decree in hand, I passed through the gate, crossed the garden, and opened the front door to step inside.
And just as I was about to greet them, a loud crashing sound echoed.
On high alert, I quickly ran towards the source of the sound, manifesting a weapon in my hand.
What is that sound? Could it be the remnants of the rebel army attacking the mansion?
“…Airi Haven.”
No, it wasn’t an attack. It was rilyn.
For Airi, it might have felt the sa, but still.
“rilyn, what are you doing, showing up after so long?”
Airi was crouched on the sofa.
Her eyes, filled with wariness towards rilyn in front of her, were as if she were protecting her belly with her hands.
“What do you an, what am I doing? Do you really not know?”
And I could imdiately understand why.
Over the past two months, rilyn, who had been out of contact, had changed so much that she now showed hostility towards Airi.
“Do you know how lonely I’ve been since you announced your pregnancy? Every ti he ca ho, you monopolized Woo Hyo-sung’s little ti, leaving alone…! And now you’re smug, thinking you’ll get his love and attention for another six months!”
“…I’ve never been smug. And rilyn, you know we couldn’t help it.”
“Couldn’t help it? What’s ‘couldn’t help it’? Are you bragging about getting pregnant after doing it every day for 365 days?!!!”
“Stop saying such vulgar things!”
“Your swollen belly is the very proof of vulgarity!”
-Rumble, rumble, rumble.
A nacing aura began to rise from rilyn.
Airi tensed up, her expression hardening, and rilyn clenched her fists tightly.
“I’ve tolerated it and watched until now, but I can’t stand seeing Woo Hyo-sung being toyed with by a lustful monster anymore!”
“Dragging it out will only make it more painful, so just quietly stick your belly out here and take my special barrage! Ora ora ora ora!!”
rilyn began to charge with a shout.
Her clenched fists soon beca a flurry of punches aid at Airi’s belly.
“Stop!!”
At that mont, Tashian’s sudden and powerful intervention sent rilyn sprawling on the floor.
-Thud!
This had been a routine occurrence for the past two months.
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