Chapter 44

While the titanium struck by other participants was only slightly dented or bent, the titanium struck by Ariel was completely turned to dust.

Therefore, the winner is Ariel.

No one had any complaints about this.

The audience, as well as the eliminated participants, accepted the result cleanly and sent congratulatory applause to Ariel.

Seeing this, Bagran thought to himself.

‘I’m sorry for doubting you, Father…’

The fact that the Mithril Alloy Shield shattered under Ariel’s fist wasn’t because Father didn’t make the shield properly.

It’s just that Ariel is strong. Strong enough to turn titanium into dust with a light chop of her hand.

With Ariel’s strength, no matter what shield was brought, the result would likely be the same.

Thinking this, Bagran felt relieved. Father’s craftsmanship wasn’t flawed after all.

“Bagran.”

Hearing the voice beside him, Bagran turned his gaze. Ariel had approached him without him noticing.

Ariel was holding the Mithril Alloy Shield she had won as the prize for the Bare-Handed Destruction Contest.

“Ariel, congratulations on your victory. You’re incredibly strong! I was really surprised… huh?”

Bagran stopped speaking and tilted his head in confusion.

Because Ariel suddenly handed the Mithril Alloy Shield to Bagran.

“Wh-why are you giving this to me?”

“Take it.”

“Huh…?”

Bagran, who received the shield, had a bewildered expression.

“This… you won this as the prize, Ariel.”

“I don’t need it.”

“……”

Bagran silently stared at the Mithril Alloy Shield.

As expected of a prize, it was quite an expensive item, and selling it would surely fetch a lot of money.

But saying she didn’t need it, that’s a lie.

Even if elves are a race without greed, there was no reason for her to just give this to Bagran.

‘Could it be that she feels sorry for breaking my shield… Oh, then did she participate in the Bare-Handed Destruction Contest just to give this shield to me…?!’

Bagran bit his lip and looked at Ariel. The corners of his eyes were gradually turning red.

To think she participated in the contest just to give him a shield, how could such a kind elf exist in the world!

“Th-thank you, Ariel…”

Of course, the shield given by Ariel couldn’t replace the shield filled with memories of his father.

But from now on, it would become a very precious item for Bagran.

“Thank you so much…”

Bagran hugged the shield and began to shed tears.

And Ariel patted his back again, comforting him.

*

After winning the Bare-Handed Destruction Contest, Ariel became a celebrity in the Dwarf Mountain Range.

Whenever she walked down the street, dwarves would surround her and talk to her, even requesting handshakes and autographs.

“I thought elves were just delicate and fragile, but Ariel is different! Ariel is a really tough elf!”

Usually, elves would scold dwarves for destroying nature, but Ariel was not like that.

In fact, Ariel took the lead in destroying nature.

She made huge holes in the mines to make it easier for dwarves to mine. Even with her bare hands.

“Wow!”

“Hooray for Ariel!”

The dwarves praised Ariel as a hero, and some even seriously considered proposing to her.

Not that Ariel would accept, of course.

Anyway, Ariel spent a few peaceful and happy days in the Dwarf Mountain Range.

As Ariel had thought, dwarves were a race with bushy beards, short stature, and thick limbs.

While this might not be the most aesthetically pleasing proportion, Ariel found it quite endearing.

Even in real life, they somehow felt like characters.

During their stay in the Dwarf Mountain Range, Ariel’s group stayed at Bagran’s house.

At first, Rakia and Roo were cold towards Bagran, but before they knew it, they had become quite close.

Roo naturally became friendly after drinking together, and Rakia, seeing how kindly Ariel treated Bagran, tried to behave similarly.

About a week after Ariel’s group had been staying in the Dwarf Mountain Range, Bagran brought up an interesting topic during a meal.

“By the way, have you guys heard? The humans are selecting a new hero this time.”

“A new hero?”

Roo made a puzzled expression.

“Why are they selecting a new hero? The war with the demons is already over.”

“It’s not over yet. It’s quiet now, but the demons could start a war again at any time. That’s why they need a hero. Just the fact that a hero exists will keep the demons from moving recklessly.”

“Hmm, I see.”

It was a peaceful era now.

Here and there, demons caused trouble or conflicts between races occurred, but no major wars broke out.

But as history has shown, peace doesn’t last forever.

The demons will eventually wage war again to dominate the continent.

The reason they’re not moving now is because they lost a lot of power in the war.

Once they recover their strength, they will attack other races to realize their ambitions again.

To prevent or at least delay that, a hero was absolutely necessary.

“It’s been quite a while since the last hero died.”

The last hero, Leonhardt.

He played a significant role in the war against the demons.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the current peace is thanks to the hero, Leonhardt.

A brave warrior and the hero chosen by the gods, Leonhardt took the heads of countless demons and died a heroic death.

People erected his statue and created a memorial day to honor him to this day, but that doesn’t bring peace.

The time has come to select a new hero.

“But the method of selecting the hero is interesting.”

Bagran said while chewing his food.

“There’s a sword left by the last hero, and it’s said to be a sword bestowed by the gods. Its name is Excalibur. Anyway, if you can pull it out, you’re recognized as the hero. Of course, this only applies to humans.”

Since the continent was formed, heroes have always come from among humans.

No matter how strong other races are, even if they’re superior beings like dragons, they are never chosen as heroes.

The hero has always been a human.

“Probably because of their short lifespan. Think about it, if a hero came from a long-lived race like elves or dwarfs, that hero would live for a very long time with the power of the gods, and if they ever used that power for evil, the continent would fall into great chaos.”

“Is that so?”

In response to Bagran’s words, Roo just scratched the back of her neck.

It was a plausible argument, but it didn’t really resonate with fairies.

From a fairy’s perspective, it didn’t matter who or which race became the hero. Fairies have never been involved in wars.

The country where fairies live is impossible to enter unless you’re a fairy.

It’s impossible for other races to invade.

So as long as fairies don’t voluntarily come out, they don’t care how the continent operates.

That’s why fairies are carefree.

If a fairy became a hero, that fairy hero would likely do nothing for the continent.

They would just drink and go around looking at flowers.

Of course, this is also irrelevant.

After all, fairies can’t be chosen as heroes or pull out Excalibur.

“Anyway, the ceremony to pull out Excalibur, the event to select the hero, will be held soon. In the nearest human city, Goldcastle.”

“Really?”

Rakia was the most interested in Bagran’s story.

“That, I want to try it! I want to try pulling out Excalibur!”

Rakia had heard stories about the hero’s sword, Excalibur, from her mother when she was young.

Her mother also said that Excalibur was a sword only allowed to humans.

No matter how strong a dragon is or how superior a being, they can’t pull out Excalibur.

But despite that, Rakia wanted to give it a try.

Really, you can’t pull it out? Even if you’re a dragon, you can’t pull out a mere sword?

No way, that can’t be.

There’s a type of personality in the world that wants to try something even more when told they can’t, and that’s exactly Rakia.

Rakia looked at Ariel.

“Ariel, can we go try that? I want to try pulling out Excalibur. I feel like I can do it!”

Then she started seriously pondering to herself.

“Huh, but if I really pull it out, do I become the hero? What do I have to do as a hero? Defeat the demons…?”

Listening to Rakia muttering, Ariel slowly stood up.

Rakia was the most excited about the story of the hero’s sword, Excalibur, but in truth, Ariel’s heart was also racing.

Ariel was the same as Rakia.

She also wanted to see Excalibur in person and try pulling it out.

There was no reason to hesitate.

She had already been thinking it was time to move on.

No matter how much she liked the dwarves, she couldn’t stay here forever.

Ariel’s goal was adventure, and staying in one place for too long wasn’t an adventure.

“Let’s go.”

Ariel softly said to her companions.

“To where the hero’s sword is.”