Tania issued only one decree and then left Wintergard.
[Finish your business here and co to the East. Make sure to say your goodbyes on the way.]
Most powerful individuals have their own domains.
Notably, Master and Kundel are in charge of the northern region of the Empire, known as Stormblast.
Others, like the Pope and the Sword Saint, are so powerful that they hardly move out of their designated territories.
‘Was it for the balance of power, they said?’
I heard that if a single person moves recklessly, it could lead to war between nations or battles between the powerful.
But Tania is different. Her domain could be anywhere in the Empire.
If I had to guess, it would be the mansion in the East. Officially, it’s a gift from the Emperor to honor Tania’s contributions.
It seed like Tania was calling to the East for the first tour of the Empire after the Hero’s Party had finished their journey.
"No matter what, this is too much."
Tania, like a giant lightning strike, had completely decimated the Hero’s Party.
Although not as strong as the world’s most powerful, the Hero’s Party was made up of talented individuals in their own right. Yet, within a week of her sudden appearance, she obliterated the magical wellspring they had been struggling with for days, with a single spell.
It wasn’t a “handling”; it was an annihilation.
A few hours ago, due to the chaos at the magical wellspring, the Count of Wintergard requested our cooperation.
Since the offensive had ceased, they intended to investigate. As a result, it was confird that all three magical wellsprings had been destroyed.
However, finding the exact spot where Tania had erased it was extrely difficult.
Because, literally, the traces left by the magical wellspring and the monsters were burned away by the lightning.
Due to the imnse gap in power, and Tania’s departure, the mood within the Hero’s Party was close to catastrophic.
Aria, Serelin, and Lafiré did not show up for breakfast, each for their own reasons. Even Niamma, usually cheerful, weakly refused breakfast.
And then, the remaining person.
Knock knock.
He was the one most shocked, and as a result, the one I was most worried about.
On the other hand, if I were to lift him up, he was the one who received such imnse affection that the remaining party mbers couldn’t shake him off easily.
"...Aswell."
It was the hero.
"...Louis. Is sothing wrong?"
"No, it’s just... you didn’t co to breakfast."
Aswell was sitting on the bed, seemingly lost in thought.
Could he have caught a cold? I placed my hand on his forehead, but there was no sign of fever.
"I’m not really hungry today. You all go ahead."
"Everyone else didn’t co either."
"....."
"Is it because of Tania, sis?"
"....."
Aswell didn’t answer. But I understood the aning.
He was the hero.
No matter what hardship ca, he never lost his smile, reassuring his companions and people.
And now, he was downcast.
No, perhaps it was more than that.
Disappointnt? I imagine he was disappointed in himself.
Soone he didn’t know ca and, by sacrificing the Saintess and his own strength, wiped out what he had been struggling with. He must have been disappointed in his own power.
Helplessness.
He probably felt helpless, unable to do anything while she ca and went.
Anger.
He might have felt angry at himself for this.
Despair.
Ultimately, he couldn’t say a word as he reflected on his past.
"Aswell."
"....."
He didn’t speak.
Perhaps he had once been proud of himself.
The hero.
That simple title ca with imnse responsibility and weight, but it also instilled in Aswell an equivalent honor.
A being who fought against powerful monsters and demons, comforting the weak.
That was the hero Aswell knew.
But the power that Tania displayed, and even the power of my master and Kundel before that, surpassed the hero.
Had it happened at different tis, in different places, it might not have been so bad.
But from the northwest to the northeast.
In the long yet brief ti, the huge incidents that had occurred were enough to make the hero feel helpless.
Perhaps that’s why he couldn’t say anything.
"Aswell."
Still, he didn’t respond.
Maybe in his mind, he was replaying what would happen next.
The party, torn apart by Tania. And instead of a journey of training and growth, it felt like endless days of training.
The duties the Hero and his party should have been carrying out had been taken over by powerful individuals, national armies, and guard forces.
Aswell was probably thinking that.
Looking at him, one thought ca to my mind.
I wanted to comfort him.
"Aswell, just a mont."
I took his limp hands in mine.
Then, lifting my hands, I leaned into his chest.
I felt the warmth and firmness of his chest.
I forced his weak hand to wrap around my waist, pulling into an embrace.
It was soft. And warm.
The kind of stability, weight, and warmth that a hero should have.
At the sa ti, it was a feeling that a man couldn’t easily possess.
"Aswell, don’t be too discouraged. Tania... she always had that tone and personality."
"....."
Thump. Thump.
I could hear his heartbeat.
Was it my heartbeat?
No.
It was duller and more powerful.
It was Aswell’s heartbeat.
The addictive sound made bury my face in his chest, and soon I could hear the heartbeat more vividly.
"The strong people in this world are so fickle. How dare they treat the hero and his party so carelessly, right?"
I wanted to feel his heartbeat a bit more, but I reluctantly pulled away my face.
Then, slowly, I lifted my body and t his gaze.
There was light in his eyes, but it was still faint.
But the mont our eyes t, his blue eyes started to regain their natural color.
"...Louis."
"Yes, I’m right here."
I dug into his arms again and held him tightly.
"I... I’m afraid."
"What are you afraid of?"
"That I might create a future where I can’t protect anyone. rkadié, Stormblast, Astraea... there are too many powerful domains I don’t even know about."
The Four Dukes of the Demon Realm.
The Guardian Dragon family of the Empire’s northern region.
And the Imperial Mage Tower.
The ones he spoke of were all considered powerful figures.
The hero, Aswell, was not yet strong enough to face them.
"I see."
"Thinking about that, I start wondering, what was the point of our journey? If Tania Astraea had been there, maybe what happened in Alpares or Lacre would never have happened. I keep imagining that."
"I felt the sa way. When I faced rkadié, I wished my master was there instead of . But I concluded that such thoughts were fleeting."
"...Why?"
I t his gaze again.
"Because that’s the fate we were given."
"..."
"There are many strong people in the world. I’m sure there are those out there who surpass us."
"If that’s the case, shouldn’t they be the ones to handle it? After all, I was just a boy from a remote village. Maybe it wasn’t my place to step in."
"No. It’s not that. Only you can do it."
"...It’s strange. It feels so strange."
"Yes, the world is strange. And things won’t go as we expect in the future either. But Aswell."
"Hmm...?"
"That’s why you’re needed."
"...!"
The hero is not just a title. And not just a soldier or a warrior.
"In the future, the world will beco even more chaotic. Beings like rkadié will appear more often, and more people will get hurt and die."
The hero is a torch.
"At that ti, we will light the way. In this chaotic world, we will be the torch that brings stability and hope to everyone."
A torch is not strong.
The darkness that a torch cannot illuminate will be lit by a stronger fla.
"There are many powerful people. But even they ultimately rely on the Hero’s Party."
Neither the Mage Tower, nor the dragons, nor the Sword Saint, nor the Pope can directly face the Demon Lord. And they cannot enter the Demon Realm.
Only the hero.
Only he, with his Hero’s Party, can reverse this chaotic world.
"Aria, Serelin, Lafiré, Niabella, all of us rely on you. And at the sa ti, I hope you rely on us."
"Louis..."
I slowly buried my face in his shoulder.
"I hope you don’t take Tania’s words too badly. She always spoke that way."
"Yeah..."
"I’m sure they’ll explain it to us once we get to the East. But it might not be anything much."
"Yeah..."
"But I’m sure of one thing. No matter what happens in the East, no matter how things unfold."
"..."
"The Hero’s Party will grow stronger and more solid."
Therefore, the hero should not wallow in helplessness anymore.
I slowly pulled away from his embrace.
Though I felt a pang of regret as the warmth vanished, it was ti to get him out of bed.
"Aswell."
And, with a feeling I didn’t even know I had deep inside ...
I kissed him.
"...Louis?"
"How’s that?"
I placed a brief, gentle kiss on his cheek, a small area, just for a mont, then pulled away.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Th-That’s a punishnt. A punishnt for the hero, who was mumbling and refusing to get up from bed. I-I an... ahhh."
"...Thank you, Louis. I really feel better."
Before I could stop him, Aswell jumped up and hugged . But I guess it worked. Sohow, I had given him a boost.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"I’ll do my best, just like you said. And... no matter what hardships and trials co, I’ll overco them. With all of you."
"Yes, yes."
"And one day, when I’m ready..."
"Ready for what?"
In response to my question, Aswell answered.
"I’ll tell you when the ti cos."
He said this with a kind, gentle smile, his hero’s warmth shining through.
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