This World Needs a Hero

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[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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Hmm…

The two stood silent for a moment, gazing at the fading light.

Both Euphemia and Barun looked lost in their own thoughts.

Breaking the brief silence, it was the Emperor who spoke first.

“It’s time to go back.”

She tucked her silver hair, tousled by the wind, into her robe and turned away.

Towards the entrance where the attendants were waiting.

Barun voiced her subdued observation then.

“It seems the hero has brightened up. Just like old times.”

The Emperor stood tall, turning to look at Barun.

The old woman’s wrinkled eyes still faced where the hero had disappeared.

She looked closely at her eyes to see if she had noticed something, but it didn’t feel that way.

Relieved, the Emperor responded.

“…Brightened up like old times?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Euphemia tilted her head.

“I wonder what makes you think so.”

The old woman burst into a clear laughter as if feeling ageless at the comment.

“Both of you were laughing as you walked out of the cabin.”

Ah.

As the Emperor reflexively touched her own face.

Barun leaned on her staff, continuing in a gentle tone.

“I’ve always thought there was a place more suitable for the hero than the battlefield. Didn’t know it would be the academy though.”

“I don’t think Ted would appreciate that sentiment.”

“He wouldn’t be one to take offense at an old woman’s small observation, Your Majesty.”

Barun imagined Ted Redymer standing at the lectern.

Passing on the strength and wisdom to navigate through these turbulent times to the young successors.

Surely shining brightly.

In the past, everyone was drawn to that light.

Even young heroes would undoubtedly be the same.

…She hoped even the young ghost who had been hiding in the darkness all her life would find that light.

“Sometimes… I imagine the two of you born into a peaceful and tranquil era.”

“That’s an odd imagination.”

After a pause, the Emperor asked again.

“…What do you think?”

“The same. That you two would end up becoming friends after all the fighting.”

Euphemia smirked.

“Mocking the Emperor, Barun, that’s quite irreverent.”

“Please take pity on the old sheep who will soon go to the Lord even if she is not hung on the gallows. Your majesty.”

“…What.”

After showing off her Harlem jokes, the saint again shifted her cloudy eyes to the western sky.

And then she murmured softly.

“I pray for the day when both of you will be freed from all obligations and responsibilities.”

Euphemia murmured quietly, feeling the mingled scent of water and wind.

“Thank you.”

.

.

.

Meanwhile, Felson was fully focused on reinforcement.

“Being able to detect everything isn’t the panacea. Everyone, try sending a detection spell at me just as you learned.”

The children who followed the instructions let out amazed sighs.

“Ohh…”

Felson was clearly there in front of them.

But no matter how far they extended their mana, his presence couldn’t be detected.

“It’s one of the applications of detection, called reverse detection. It captures the mana of the opponent’s detection and disrupts it to conceal their presence. Special agents, like those in the Dark Division, often specialize in this technique.”

In the demonic energy-filled battlefield like the Demonic Realm, it was one of the essential skills for performing operations.

Additional explanations followed.

“As the power and precision of controlling mana grow, the effectiveness of reverse detection becomes even more outstanding.”

Gerald raised his hand eagerly.

“T-then, in a large-scale battle, isn’t detection useless?”

When Felson, who had stopped explaining, looked at him blankly, he flinched and shrank back.

Afraid he would be ridiculed for asking a stupid question.

However, Felson explained in a very gentle tone.

“Not quite. Even if you’re a master of reverse detection, it’s not easy to maintain it during movement or combat. So, always habitualize detection… You should naturally extend it like breathing to immediately detect and respond to unexpected attacks.”

To the unexpectedly kind answer, the boy, who was accustomed to disdain and scorn, melted with emotion.

Other children who had the same question nodded in understanding.

They were fully concentrating on Felson’s reinforcement, and there were several reasons for that.

First and foremost, the reputation of being perfect.

Felson Dietrich was a highly renowned hero among the Dawn Knights.

Some of his achievements were still selling well in bookstores and novels, and his romance story with his wife who transcended status was still occasionally talked about decades later.

Moreover, he was also the father of a fellow classmate (a result of that great romance).

It was inevitable that they would feel close to him in many ways.

His very gentle and kind teaching methods also played a role.

…On a side note,

It was the moment where Ban suddenly realized how his father, who was a guest lecturer, was able to seduce and marry his mother, who was an undergraduate student.

‘He was so strict at home!’

Ban trembled with a slight sense of betrayal…

Felson, who detected his son’s restless mana, deliberately ignored it.

“So, I’ll give you a short break. If anyone wants to ask personal questions, come forward.”

“Me, me, hello! I’m your son’s classmate, Evergreen Solintail!!”

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[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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As he answered the enthusiastic blonde girl who rushed forward with a notebook spread out, Felson also found himself immersed in small reflections.

In fact, the reinforcement he had unexpectedly taken on was a very enjoyable experience for him as well.

He wanted to do it a few more times if given the chance.

‘The level of the children is much higher than expected.’

They seemed stronger than the high school students he taught at the time.

If it were for wartime, they could be polished a little more and put into action.

It might be a testimony to how well the hero had taught them.

Frankly, it was a bit surprising.

‘Did the Leader really teach so well?’

Not every genius is capable of teaching everyone.

In fact, there tends to be gaps in teaching methods due to cognitive differences.

Because their ways of thinking are completely different.

‘So that’s why he was involved in the training of new recruits for the Dawn Knights.’

Of course, the talents of the children were extraordinary, but they would surely fall short compared to Ted Redymer.

There must have been some areas where they fell short.

So, Felson tried to complement those shortcomings whenever he noticed them.

‘…It was unnecessary worry.’

It seemed like the children, who seemed to have risen from the ground up, were closely taught by the practical expert.

All the elements necessary for young geniuses were fully satisfied.

Yet, the flashes of brilliance and individuality were not overlooked either.

So, for Felson, who didn’t have much expectation as a teacher from the hero, it was enough to be surprised.

‘Besides, they’re all so diligent and enthusiastic…!’

There was also plenty of extracurricular fun in the class.

That was natural because Felson was roughly the same age as the children’s parents.

Some of them were directly acquainted with him.

For instance, he was a comrade who had shared the same barracks with Roland Bryce, the father of the handsome boy who looked dazed over there.

Comparing the appearance of acquaintances from their youth with their children was an enjoyable experience.

…They were his son’s friends and comrades, so they were even more special.

‘Let’s see.’

Felson’s gaze gradually turned to Ban surrounded by children in one corner of the classroom.

He would soon be drafted into the vanguard for the East.

A son he may not see for a very long time.

Ban didn’t know, but Felson’s eyes turned to him whenever there was a gap during the class.

‘That boy…’

Felson smiled to the point where wrinkles formed around his eyes.

He immediately realized that his son’s relationship with his classmates was very amicable.

It was a more than willing experience for Felson, who remembered the gloomy boy who used to only go back and forth between the barracks, library, and corner of the room just a few months ago.

Especially when he discovered a few female students who were somewhat distant and glanced at him, his smile intensified threefold.

‘He’s like me.’

He also had an extraordinary popularity in his youth…

‘…Huh?’

It was then that Felson realized that his son’s gaze occasionally wandered to the side even as he chatted with his friends.

It was very fast and discreet, but he couldn’t avoid his father’s watchful eyes.

The red-haired girl sitting by the window at the back.

Her sunlit hair sparkled like brilliant flames.

She was alone in the classroom where everyone else was gathered harmoniously, but it seemed clear that it wasn’t out of dislike.

‘The granddaughter of the Sword Saint… Her name was Leciel.’

She was the only one who seemed to have a talent superior to his son’s.

The overwhelming talent was of a magnitude that even he could not fathom.

‘He has eyes like me, looking at her…’

Unfortunately, the girl’s eyes did not turn towards his son.

She seemed lost in thought, repeatedly scribbling with a pen on one corner of her notebook while looking out the window.

Seeing the drawing on that corner, Felson couldn’t help but secretly sigh deeply.

His son’s talent was truly formidable.

‘He doesn’t resemble me at all.’

He couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

Because he had never failed.

While Felson was contemplating what advice he could give to his son as a life mentor and as a love mentor, a cheerful voice rang in his ears.

“Ban’s father! Hello!”

With cheerful sky-blue hair and cute little horns popping out.

Felson greeted him with surprise.

“Ah, Ms. Evans, would you like to…”

“Would you like to spar with me after the lecture?”

…Is this a failure in etiquette education?

As Felson pondered how to politely decline his son’s friend’s challenge, someone came in.

He blinked his eyes with a puzzled expression several times.

‘He’s already here?’

The hero was smiling faintly, looking at the children from the back window of the classroom.

He was in a position where he could clearly overlook the classroom, although he wasn’t visible to the children sitting in their seats.

‘His expression…’

Even Felson, who had never seen it several times, was struck by the bright face.

His eyes were filled with constant interest and affection.

It was a sight that was very reassuring as a parent and as a teacher…

‘Haha, the members who are obsessed with the leader would be jealous if they saw this.’

Whether he was using reverse detection to conceal his presence, none of the children seemed to know that the hero had come.

When Felson’s eyes met his, the hero quietly placed his index finger on his lips.

‘Secret observation, huh.’

Felson chuckled at the unusual and cute idea.

Then he would have to show his achievements so far.

Clap-

Felson clapped his hands, gathering the scattered attention of the children.

And he took out the prepared items.

It was a blindfold, earplugs, and a bag of marbles.

“So, we’re going to do a simple exercise, is there a student willing to volunteer?”

Someone raised their hand before anyone else.

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[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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