"How was your night, Lord Veyil Nas?" Seated at the dining table, Eliyi spread a slice of bread thickly with butter before respectfully offering it to the elven grand duke, Veyil Nas.
"Not bad..." Veyil Nas combed his long golden hair, his mismatched eyes gazing toward the roses that had just bloomed in the courtyard. His slender, fair hands accepted the bread handed to him by the merchant Eliyi.
White cream smeared his pale lips, and the maids responsible for waking Veyil Nas had already prepared hot towels to wipe the stains from the grand duke's face.
"Although he performed well last night... I don't think he can drive back the undead monsters outside the city by himself..." Veyil Nas held out his right hand, and the maids hurriedly began arranging the grand duke's appearance for the day.
One lavish garment after another was taken from the enormous wardrobe, while gems of every color were brought out from their cases for the grand duke to choose from.
"Emeralds aren't suitable for today's occasion. Yellow crystal is too tacky..." Veyil Nas commented on every gem the maids presented.
"I know that Tiadam, a mere bandit, has no ability to drive back the monsters either. But he is, after all, a descendant of the Hero." Eliyi's merchant instincts stirred once more. "Just imagine it: a hero sponsored by you, saving a crumbling ancient city in his very first appearance. Tens of thousands of undead monsters cut down with a single strike, while the rescued masses offer him wreaths and olive branches, shouting the Hero's name. What a magnificent sight that would be."
"Mhm..." Veyil Nas nodded at the clothes in the maid's hands. "This one..."
Eliyi pressed on while the iron was hot. "Once Tiadam gains the Hero's name, then under the pretext of the Hero's campaign against the Demon King, you, Lord Veyil Nas, will be able to return to Dimil Riago openly and honorably with the help of the Northern Old Gods. You will never have to remain in this city cursed by the Rosakavin Curse again. You will be able to take deep breaths of fresh air and never need to guard against sudden monster attacks again. You can..."
"Wait~ What did you just say?" Having changed into his clothes, Veyil Nas turned to look at Eliyi. "I didn't catch that. Could you say it again?"
"Of course..." Eliyi began. "This time, the one driving back the monsters will be you..."
"Fine, I understand—"
Before Eliyi could finish, Veyil Nas interrupted him. The golden-haired, odd-eyed elven noble stood before the mirror, twirling in his long dress. "As for the details of the Hero driving back the monsters outside the city, please discuss them with Teacher Dilanna. I have matters more important than speaking with you right now..."
"May I ask, then, what your business... is..."
"Hm? Does a mere human have the right to inquire about my affairs?" Veyil Nas disdainfully glanced at Eliyi's reflection in the mirror. "Dilanna's room is at the end of the hall to the right after you leave... You may get lost now—"
"In that case—" Eliyi removed his hat and respectfully bowed to Lord Veyil Nas. "Then I shall not disturb your..." His voice had also taken on a strange, mysterious quality.
"Strange..." Veyil Nas turned around, only to find that Eliyi had already left the room. "...Was it... just my imagination... Why did that merchant seem different for a moment?"
The bright corridor was filled with birdsong and flowers. As the residence of an elven grand duke, it was barely acceptable. Towering trees intertwined to form the railings and canopy overhead, mandrake flowers and stranglevines climbed along the railings, and pale brown roses slowly blossomed in the sunlight.
"A rich man's residence really is nice..." Tiadam sat sideways atop a railing made of vines, his left arm resting against the trunk of a great tree. Sunlight struck his red hair, reflecting faint orange streaks. Tiadam took a deep breath of the air in the courtyard. It was sweet, fragrant, peaceful, and relaxing.
"I really wish I could live somewhere like this for the rest of my life." Tiadam sighed from the bottom of his heart.
"Um..." Unlike the relaxed Tiadam, Denolan was quite worried. "The Forest Elves said... someone was waiting for us here. Is that person the master of this residence? They're not going to try something again, are they...? I always feel like they have bad intentions..."
"Brother, you're overthinking it—" Tiadam said breezily. "Those Forest Elves are actually pretty nice. They're just a little willful and mischievous sometimes. If you get the chance to spend more time with them, you'll understand."
"Uh... R-really...?" Denolan asked doubtfully.
"You'll know once you try—" Tiadam gave Denolan a thumbs-up.
"Seeing how relaxed you two are puts my mind at ease..." Dilanna was pushed down the corridor by Eliyi. The silver strands of the mage's hair bore the marks of time, yet despite her age, she remained full of vigor beneath the sunlight. Her kindly appearance made her seem like a holy mother blessing the world.
"M-Mage..." Denolan hurriedly stood when he saw Dilanna arrive.
"Oh~ So it was you..." Tiadam's face showed disdain. "So you arranged all of this... Archmage Dilanna..."
Tiadam shakily rose from the ground. "Is this also your property?"
"Please don't misunderstand—" Dilanna smiled at Denolan. "I am not the owner of this residence. I am merely a guest invited by him."
"The person you mean is..." Denolan asked.
"Grand Duke Veyil Nas." Eliyi's expression was perfectly natural, without the slightest abnormality. "Lady Dilanna, Lord Veyil Nas, and I held a very friendly discussion regarding Refined Dragonblood. Lady Dilanna will be fully responsible for refining the Dragon Blood, while Lord Veyil Nas will provide her with an endless supply of materials. As for the two of you... you will promote our product under the name of Heroes."
"H-Heroes..." Denolan looked at Tiadam suspiciously. "You're actually a Hero?"
"I'm not a Hero..." Tiadam leaned against the tree trunk. "I'm only a descendant of the Hero. I just have the blood of the First Hero flowing through me..."
"Then Ocast is..."
"My cousin." Tiadam's expression grew complicated. "We're relatives, but I don't have the slightest liking for that brat."
"Since you're a descendant of the Hero... does that mean... we're going to defeat the remaining two Demon Kings..." Denolan said.
"Defeating Demon Kings is still far away. Your most urgent task now is—saving Canfor, which is surrounded by undead monsters." Eliyi got straight to the point. "As long as the two of you win this first battle of driving back the monsters, leave everything afterward to us."
"Uh... But those monsters..." Denolan did not know how to put it. "Are the two of us supposed to deal with them alone? Will you... be nearby..."
"No—" Eliyi declared loudly. "From the Forest Elves to the Red Daggers, from mages and witches to martyrs, not a single person in all of Canfor will help you—"
"Then... Isn't that just sending us... to our deaths..." Denolan's eyes turned hollow. "Those are monsters! We're just ordinary people! How could we possibly deal with them?! Are you people insane—making us go die!"
"It is not sending you to your deaths, but... tempering you..." Dilanna's true nature slowly revealed itself. "To be Heroes, you must have the resolve to face death and the ability to shoulder everything alone. If you cannot even deal with monsters like these... what reason do we have to sponsor you?"
"B-But they aren't one or two monsters... There are groups of them, groups!" Denolan's voice trembled, bordering on hysteria. "And... and what if the two of us fail... You..."
"We will leave Canfor through a teleportation array," Archmage Dilanna said. "But the residents of Canfor's Lower District will become the undead monsters' first course. Then the Lower District residents will become monsters and attack the ordinary residents of the Upper District, the Red Dagger Guild, and the lower clergy of the Ouston Church. Finally, they will come for the witches and mages who fail to escape in time..."
"What do you mean..." Denolan fell to his knees. "You..."
"It means... the lives of everyone in Canfor are entirely in your hands..." Eliyi's smile became sinister and terrifying. "The human upper nobility led by Lord Yetara and the Forest Elves led by Grand Duke Veyil Nas will leave Canfor the moment the undead monsters breach the miracle known as the Holy Wall. If you fail, the remaining humans will become food for the undead monsters, which will then plague other cities until they are purified or the world is destroyed."
"Then..."
"What else do you wish to ask, Denolan?" Eliyi slowly approached the kneeling man. "Do you want to ask why we are placing the lives of an entire city, Canfor, upon the shoulders of a single Hero?"
"Because it is worth it—" Archmage Dilanna said kindly. "Heroes are unique beings in this world. To produce Heroes, create Heroes, and temper Heroes, even the lives of hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people are worth sacrificing... Because only Heroes can wield the Holy Sword..."
"C-Crazy..." Denolan roared. "How can one Hero be more important than hundreds of thousands of lives?!"
"As expected... there is no explaining this to a country child like you..." Dilanna looked at Tiadam, who stood silently to the side. "What about you, child... Do you intend to become a Hero?"
"Come on—" Tiadam gave a bitter laugh before standing up from the railing. "Do I have any other choice now? Other than wiping out those disgusting undead monsters, what else can I do?"
"B-But..." Denolan, still kneeling on the ground, could not help saying, "We're only ordinary people..."
"What ordinary people?" Tiadam viciously kicked Denolan in the butt. "I'm a Hero now—a Hero who saves the world. Don't lump me in with mortals."
"But..." Denolan wanted to say more, but Tiadam grabbed him.
"I was originally hoping you'd carry me back, but... no choice. I'll take the loss and carry you back." Tiadam slung the trembling Denolan over his left shoulder. "Kid, you'll be following me from now on. You can't be this cowardly. A few undead monsters scared your legs weak? When it comes time to defeat the Demon King, won't you be scared to death?"
"But... are you sure you can drive back those undead monsters..."
"I'm sure—" Tiadam shouted. This courageous voice no longer seemed meant for Denolan, Eliyi, or Dilanna. It came from the depths of his heart. He was singing, roaring, accepting the burden of being a Hero before the world and before himself.
"Really...?" Denolan asked again.
"Really! Really!"
"Really—"
"Really—because I am a Hero!" Tiadam shouted.
Before you continue