The boy was nothing.
Hailing from a hometown unknown, with parents equally obscure, he was but a child who barely survived by rummaging through garbage in the village’s forgotten corners.
All he possessed were tattered rags discarded by someone—a truly penniless child.
A mere orphan who could collapse and die one day without raising an eyebrow.
But then, into this boy’s brief life stepped a turning point: a pilgrim from the Temple of Life.
Travelers who roamed this world to spread the sanctity of all life.
The healers who praised the name of the Beautiful Goddess of Life and cared for other beings.
Perhaps it was only natural that such a small, withered child would catch their eyes.
And so, the pilgrims took him in. For nurturing orphans without a home was also an act in service to life.
Especially since some of those pilgrims themselves had once been orphans taken in the same way.
Thus, the boy began to wander the world alongside the pilgrims.
—
The boy thought.
Why was the world so merciless?
If people helped each other just a little, wouldn’t the world be a better place to live?
If they gave up just a bit and tried to understand each other even more, wouldn’t the world become a kinder place?
But people didn’t do that.
Watching them fight over limited resources, envy their neighbors, and live greedily, the boy couldn’t comprehend it.
Or rather, it was the people who couldn’t understand the boy.
For the boy’s innate goodness didn’t fit into this age at all.
In fact, the boy might as well have been a heretic of this era.
Still, thanks to being taken in by the pilgrims of the Temple of Life, his goodness remained unbroken.
And so, while serving as an attendant to the pilgrims on their journeys…
“Find and let them grasp the sword. Thus shall they become a hero wielding the sword to protect humanity.”
This divine oracle from the goddess reached every pilgrim.
Though the boy hadn’t heard the voice himself, it proclaimed that someone destined to wield the goddess’s sword must be found, and the pilgrims rejoiced.
In the past, there were those who could directly converse with the Mother of Life, but those days were long gone.
Therefore, this oracle from the goddess excited everyone in the Temple of Life immensely.
“There’s a new sword inside the temple!”
“Could this be the goddess’s own blade?!”
“Spread the news! The goddess’s sword is here!”
“The one who draws this sword will become the goddess’s chosen hero!”
The news spread like wildfire.
Pilgrims scattered across the world quickly relayed the message, and soon the world buzzed with excitement over the goddess’s sword.
For a year, those with leisure flocked to the main temple of the Temple of Life, each attempting to draw the sword.
And every single one failed.
Some muttered that it was strange how countless individuals had all failed.
That perhaps the goddess intended for the sword to remain undrawn.
Others claimed that the right person simply hadn’t arrived yet.
Somewhere out there, the one meant to draw the sword had yet to come.
And then there were those filled with resentment, claiming the sword was nothing but a deception by the goddess.
That she had created monsters and made the sword to pit humans against them.
Of course, the last individual received a beating, his arms broken, and was driven away. That he escaped alive was likely the Temple of Life’s final act of mercy.
Anyway, when no one dared approach the sword for fear of embarrassment, the boy stepped forward before the blade that many had already tried and failed to draw.
Thanks to following the pilgrims of the Temple of Life, he no longer starved—but he never ate his fill either, leaving him rail-thin. As the boy approached the sword, the onlookers began to mock him.
“How does a frail child who can’t snap a twig think they can draw that sword?”
“Just let him try. It’s probably childish foolishness.”
“Looks like one of the orphans the pilgrims picked up. Letting him dream isn’t really a problem, right?”
Ignoring the adults’ harsh words, the boy stood before the sword.
His heart held nothing but curiosity.
What was this sword crafted by the goddess like?
Was the rumor about granting wishes true?
And what about the rumor about marrying the goddess… surely it was nonsense, but if it were real, could he actually meet the Goddess of Life face-to-face?
With these thoughts, the boy grasped the hilt of the sword—and—
Clunk.
The sword didn’t budge.
Of course, it was expected. Strong adults couldn’t draw it, so how could a weakling like him?
Clearly, the person worthy of this sword would be someone strong and impressive—not a frail child like him.
Still, the boy gave it one last try—and—
Clunk.
Sssshhhrrrriiiinnnngggg.
The sword moved. The chains holding it unraveled, and the greatsword embedded in the rock came free.
The boy couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
He didn’t understand why the sword was coming loose.
As the massive blade slowly revealed itself, silence enveloped the crowd.
Their eyes widened in shock, having witnessed something incomprehensible.
The sword that hadn’t budged for a year had been drawn by this tiny child.
“You, you! Hand over that sword!!”
“Money! I’ll pay anything! Sell me that sword!!”
“Hmph! How dare you!!! I am Orcus, the Second Prince of the Arcad Kingdom! Surrender the sword, and I might spare your life!”
It was only natural for the crowd’s attention to shift to the boy.
Unknowingly stepping back a pace, the boy watched as the people advanced toward him.
Their faces twisted in near madness, losing all reason and becoming beasts. The boy began to feel afraid, fearing these people who looked ready to devour him.
And then, salvation came.
“Enough.”
Out of nowhere appeared a silver-haired girl with horns atop her head.
—
I sighed softly at the sight of greed-distorted eyes.
Human greed knows no end, and repeating the same mistakes… Well, that’s not what matters now.
Anyway, I don’t intend to push our newly-chosen hero into human-hating despair, so stopping this fight seems wise.
I’d considered pairing the hero with a dragon or one of the children from the Temple of Life, but since this is the first hero… Though it’s a bit bothersome, I’ll take personal responsibility for guiding him.
A human lifespan is merely several decades. Even if I’m busy, making time for this should be manageable.
So then…
“Enough.”
I revealed myself.
“To those unworthy, this sword is unreachable. Others, give up and step back.”
My low warning caused the humans’ steps to pause momentarily. Their gazes focused entirely on me. What? Never seen a horned girl before?
But that pause was fleeting. My appearance wasn’t enough to stop them. Of course not. A sword crafted by a god holds value enough to cloud any human’s judgment.
So I clicked my tongue lightly.
“Come stand behind me.”
“Yes, yes sir!”
I hid the boy behind me and addressed those approaching.
“If you retreat now, we’ll consider this incident null and void. Your rudeness, your insolence, your mistakes, your faults—all forgiven. But—”
I casually flicked my right hand, and an invisible slash carved a long line into the stone floor.
“Cross this line, and prepare yourselves.”
My cold words briefly halted the humans’ advance.
“Beastman…?”
“No, female beastmen don’t have horns like those…”
“Then maybe a male?”
“Aaah noooo!!!”
“Wait, with that kind of beauty, maybe it could still be male?”
Possible?!
I forcibly suppressed the rising anger and spoke through gritted teeth.
“I am the representative of the Goddess of Life. I’ve come to guide the one chosen by the sword. So the rest of you, step aside.”
At my words, the humans slowly retreated. No matter how blinded they may be, if someone claims to be the goddess’s representative, would any fool dare attack?
“Move! Move! You weaklings!!”
…There was a time when I believed that too…
“The Second Prince of the Arcad Kingdom, Orcus, commands you! Surrender that sword immediately! In return, I might spare your life!!”
Well, here’s our fool. And not just any fool—a prince of Arcad Kingdom, currently the most powerful among human nations, acting like this. Dire future for the kingdom indeed.
I sighed softly.
“Hooh. Claiming to be the goddess’s representative, eh? Quite beautiful! Very well! Hand over both the sword and the girl to me! Refuse, and you’ll face the might of the Arcad Kingdom! Temples full of weak pilgrims will fall in a single night!”
Over the line. Seriously, I want to obliterate everything right here, but this is in front of my first hero. Still a child; I don’t want him seeing such violence.
Taking a deep breath, I calmed my rage and spoke calmly.
“Idiotic brat with zero manners. Did your parents teach you nothing?”
Oops.
