Episode 3
“Aren’t I the only hero?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know~?”
Of course, I didn’t know. I haven’t read the novel, and you didn’t tell me, you idiot… I wanted to say that, but I couldn’t, so I just nodded.
The Saintess laughed lightly and replied.
“Pfft, should I teach you~?”
“Yes.”
“Up to five heroes can appear in a single generation. Right now, including you, there are three. You didn’t even know that? You really don’t know much~♡”
“…You’re right.”
I sighed inwardly. I couldn’t get mad because, after all, she meant no harm.
If she had any ill intentions, she wouldn’t have acted for my sake.
She deliberately lured monsters to a place where I could handle them, healed me whenever I got hurt, and never showed it, but constantly healing someone who gets hurt this often must be exhausting.
So, if only she could fix that tone of hers…
“Today, in the capital, there’s a Regular Reporting Meeting for the heroes. It’s called a meeting, but it’s really more of a social gathering for heroes and nobles to bond.”
“I see.”
I answered without much thought, and the Saintess tilted her head and said,
“But how much do you know about noble etiquette, Hero~?”
“How would I know something like that?”
“Eh~ So you don’t know anything?”
“Yes.”
I’m not even from this world, how would I know? And it seems like this body was originally a commoner too.
“Pfft, then you’ll just embarrass yourself if you go like that. How silly♡”
“…What’s there to embarrass? Can’t I just go, fill a seat, and come back?”
Hearing my question, the Saintess flashed her usual smug smile.
“You’re not seriously thinking that, are you~? Even if you’re silly, I didn’t think you’d think that. Oh, is the Hero really that much of a fool who can’t even think?”
“……”
Damn it.
Before entering the capital, I was taught some essential etiquette by the Saintess. The most basic greetings, how to eat at parties, and what to watch out for as a hero.
“Don’t get too involved with the nobles?”
Didn’t she just say it was a place to bond with nobles? I questioned the contradiction in her words. The Saintess just chuckled and gave me a sly look.
“Asking something so obvious, the Hero really can’t think for themselves, can they~♡”
“…What’s so obvious?”
“You’re a new hero, unlike the others, so you don’t know what nobles are like, right? There are many sly people who’d take advantage of someone as naive as you.”
So that’s why. She was looking out for my safety. I get that she cares about me, but…
“Remember what I told you. Don’t be a fool and forget it~♡”
“Yes, I understand.”
If only she could fix that tone.
#
The Hero Regular Reporting Meeting. A gathering where the current generation of heroes report their deeds and receive praise for their achievements. It was also a place where they could receive appropriate rewards based on their accomplishments.
The location of the Regular Reporting Meeting changed each time. Even though they had a common enemy in the Demon King, the interests between nations didn’t disappear.
The nations united to fight the Demon King took turns hosting the Regular Reporting Meeting, and this time it was the Mars Empire’s turn, the nation where Abel’s village was located.
The Regular Reporting Meeting was like a grand international banquet, so the Mars Empire prepared diligently for this event.
Especially since there had been no heroes from their empire before, the fact that a new hero had emerged from their nation made them prepare even harder.
Upon arriving in the capital, Abel and Estelle walked through the streets to reach the Imperial Palace. The capital of the Mars Empire, Trakia, had a massive road stretching from the city gates to the Imperial Palace.
The people of the empire called this road Triumph Road. It was named so because heroes returning victorious from war always walked this road to enter the Imperial Palace.
“Now, let’s see if the silly Hero forgot anything~?”
“…What?”
“You didn’t forget what I warned you about, did you?”
“Don’t get involved with nobles, right?”
“I’m glad you remember. Though, if you couldn’t even remember that, you’d be worse than a flea~♡”
Estelle smiled smugly with a sly grin. Seeing her, Abel sighed.
“…I remember that much, Saintess.”
“I see. Maybe I underestimated you too much.”
What’s with her? Abel looked at Estelle with a puzzled expression. She then chuckled lightly and said,
“Then let’s check if you remember all the etiquette I taught you~?”
“…Uh, yes.”
Abel’s voice was much less confident than before. Seeing this, Estelle quickly asked,
“How do you greet someone?”
“I’m Abel, the hero from Daisy Village. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Ah~♡ Hero, that’s wrong. You can’t even remember something so simple… Maybe a goldfish has a better memory than you~.”
“…What’s wrong?”
Estelle raised her index finger and brought it close to his face.
“Silly~♡ Don’t you know something so basic? You mixed up the order of the greeting~.”
“Ah.”
Abel finally realized his mistake. Estelle was pleased with his reaction.
‘Cute.’
“You should say ‘Nice to meet you’ first, then introduce yourself. It’s so obvious, yet you didn’t know. Do you not interact with people often~?”
“That’s not it…”
“Well, I guess I have no choice~♡ I’ll specially consider you as my friend.”
“Huh?”
Abel looked bewildered. Estelle, seeing his reaction, gave him a slightly dissatisfied look.
“What’s with that look? Are you not happy? I, the Saintess of the Solaria Church, am offering to be your friend. You should be honored.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
“Hehe, that’s right. Since you’re a fool worse than a goldfish and can barely beat a Kobold, I’ll help you a lot as your friend~♡”
Before they knew it, they had reached the end of the road. Abel and Estelle stood before the entrance of the Imperial Palace.
“Where are you from?”
At the Imperial Guard’s question, Estelle placed her hand on her chest and said,
“I am Estelle, the Saintess of the Solaria Church. And this is the newly chosen hero, Abel.”
Her beautiful and holy presence left the guards momentarily dazed. Then, snapping back to attention, one of the guards politely apologized.
“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t recognize you. Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”
Estelle gave a smile as if to say, “I’m the Saint,” and entered through the door opened by the slightly blushing guard. Seeing this, Abel thought…
‘Damn it. She only acts like a jerk to me.’
He was cursing Estelle in his mind.
#
“Wow, it’s huge.”
The sheer size of the banquet hall was enough to make his earlier bad mood vanish.
Honestly, he had never seen such a grand banquet hall before, so it felt quite fascinating. As he was marveling, the Saint next to him chuckled.
“Hehe, is this your first time seeing a banquet hall like this, Hero?”
“Of course.”
This body was originally just a commoner. How could he have ever been to such a place before?
“But don’t act too amazed. People might run away if you look too much like a country bumpkin.”
“…Yeah.”
Ugh, if only I could shut her mouth. Why does she always act like she’s helping me but then talk like this…?
Still, the only reason I can tolerate it is because she looks pretty even with that sassy expression. Her beauty, which seems to prove she’s the heroine of a novel, makes it bearable.
…But is she really the heroine? I haven’t read the novel, so I don’t know. But the title is ‘The Saint and the Hero’s Journey,’ so she must be the heroine, right?
“Of course, even if everyone else runs away, I won’t, so don’t worry~♡”
“Thanks for that.”
But contrary to the Saint’s concern, when they entered the banquet hall, the nobles only glanced their way briefly and didn’t approach.
“Saint, no one’s coming over.”
“Hero, you really need to stop being so dense. I’m starting to doubt if you’re even human~♡ Are you sure you’re not a monkey~?”
“Huh?”
“Of course, they don’t know you’re the Hero yet. Once it’s announced, most of them will change their attitudes, so be careful. Got it?”
“…Yeah.”
Damn, how was I supposed to know?
If what the Saint says is true, they’ll announce that I’m the Hero here, which means I’ll get a lot of attention.
‘I don’t like that.’
Come to think of it, the Saint mentioned there are other Heroes too. Who are they? I’d rather the attention go to them.
“Saint.”
“Yes, Monkey Hero~?”
“I’m not a monkey….”
“Then are you a chimpanzee~♡ Or a gorilla?”
“…That’s not the point. Who are the other Heroes?”
“Oh my. You actually asked a meaningful question for once.”
The Saint looked around and pointed to someone.
“See that man over there with short red hair? Oh, can your pathetic eyes even see him~?”
“…I can see him.”
“That’s a relief♡ That’s Levius, the Hero from the Minerva Kingdom.”
“Where’s the Minerva Kingdom?”
“Really, Hero, you don’t know anything. Is it not just your strength that’s lacking, but your intelligence too?”
Damn, of course I don’t know. I haven’t read the novel.
The Saint looked at me and her eyes curved. Why does she keep smirking like that? Does she think I’ll be happy just because she’s pretty?
…Damn, why is it so effective?
“The Minerva Kingdom is a country east of the Mars Empire. It shares a border with the Empire, so they have active exchanges. It’s surprising you don’t know that. You really are a chimpanzee~♡”
“…Thanks for telling me.”
Levius, the Hero from the Minerva Kingdom. Even from a distance, he looked cool and manly. Completely different from me.
‘…Come to think of it, I haven’t even properly looked at my own face since I got here.’
I hadn’t paid attention to it. Well, what does my face matter? I’ll check it out later.
What caught my eye more was the beautiful woman next to Levius. Not because of her looks, but because her outfit was similar to the Saint’s.
“So, if there are multiple Heroes, are there multiple Saints too?”
“You seem a bit smarter than a chimpanzee. That’s right, each Order has one Saint♡”
“Then you must be….”
“The Saint of the Solaria Order, who serves the Sun God Solaria.”
“And who is the Saint over there?”
When I pointed to the woman next to Levius, the Saint’s expression stiffened for a moment.
“Saint?”
“…Hero, you’re not interested in her, are you?”
“Huh? No, I was just curious….”
Why the sudden seriousness? It startled me. When I said no, the Saint relaxed and returned to her usual tone.
“I see~. Well, even if you’re a trashy, pathetic Hero, you’re not a monkey who’d go after another woman already~♡”
Why does every conversation end with her insulting me? Still, she answered my question.
“The Saint with Levius is from the Rudria Order, which serves the Wind Goddess.”
“I see….”
But why didn’t she tell me her name? When I looked puzzled, the Saint asked as if wondering if I had more questions.
“What’s wrong, Hero~?”
“…Nothing.”
I feel like I shouldn’t ask. Just a hunch.
By the way, it seems the other Hero hasn’t arrived yet. The Saint only pointed out Levius to me.
Just then, a woman with dazzling golden hair entered the banquet hall. Wow, she’s beautiful. Golden hair and blue eyes, like a heroine from a novel…
‘…No way, right?’
People who noticed her exclaimed in admiration and approached her.
“It’s an honor to have you grace us with your presence.”
“I simply came where I was needed.”
Nobles bowed and scraped before her. She must be someone important.
As I watched in awe, the Saint pointed her out to me.
“That’s Elfride, the Hero from the Vesta Kingdom.”
