This World Needs a Hero

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[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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In conclusion, Evergreen was unharmed.

Of course.

No matter how much he was Ravias, he couldn’t harm her, a student within the Rosenstark.

It was just that the learned fear made her forget this obvious fact.

“Cough, cough.”

Where Luke arrived, a peaceful tea time was unfolding.

“Evergreen might misunderstand something like that. I’m Luke’s father, but at the same time, I’m the leader of the mercenary group he belongs to. Sometimes, even if it hurts, you have to be strict.”

Ravias was trying to reassure Evergreen with such vague words and continue the conversation.

But Luke couldn’t feel reassured at all, seeing that.

It was because he noticed some kind of warning from Ravias.

His father was always like this.

If you don’t obey and do as he wishes, he threatens you.

Until now, Luke had often been swayed by Ravias’s ways.

But…

“Oh, perfect timing. I was asking Evergreen about your school life. She seemed like your closest friend, so I thought I’d ask.”

“…Luke? How did you find out about this place?”

How did he find out?

Luke’s back was sweaty as if he had been searching around the parents’ lodging area.

The boy stood still for a moment, alternating between Ravias’s smiling face and Evergreen’s worried face.

‘It won’t work.’

With a sigh-

Luke silently turned his back and left the place.

.

.

.

The Hero’s counseling office hadn’t been opened in a long time.

Click-

Pia, who had a kind smile, put down the bottle on the table and left the room.

The sound of whiskey pouring into the glass filled with ice.

It was a gift from the Emperor herself.

“Care for a drink?”

“…Don’t you usually offer tea?”

“I think this might be more necessary than tea today.”

Luke chuckled quietly.

“You’re generous.”

The glass was soon emptied.

Almost simultaneously, the tip of Luke’s nose turned slightly red.

The Hero quietly looked at him.

Honestly, he hadn’t expected Luke to come first like this.

‘He doesn’t like to ask for help.’

Luke hesitated.

If he had to describe him over the past year in one word, he would be ‘a self-sufficient student.’

Growing up on his own.

Managing relationships with peers well.

Solving problems on his own.

Thanks to that, he had less stress and less trouble than other kids.

But today, it seemed like that exceptional maturity had left Luke.

“Professor.”

“Yes.”

“…Please help me.”

“Okay.”

Luke’s eyebrows trembled slightly.

“Don’t you want to ask what it is?”

“You’re not the type to make unreasonable requests like Cuculli.”

“Ha ha. My request might be unreasonable in its own way.”

Glug-

The Hero filled the glass.

Luke’s hand reached for it boldly.

“…Do you know about Dellum?”

“I do.”

“I’m planning to confront my father with it.”

The Hero remained silent for a moment.

He just stared at Luke with those dark eyes, as if gauging his determination.

“Dellum is a matter of life and death.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Even if he’s not your biological father, he’s the one who raised you. Is it necessary to be so harsh?”

It wasn’t a criticism of Luke’s moral character.

It was a concern about Luke having to fight with his stepfather.

But Luke clenched the glass tightly with both hands, lowered his head.

“There’s no other way. If not this, my father won’t let go of me.”

The Hero stared at Luke intently.

“…It sounds like you want to quit being a mercenary.”

“Professor, I…”

The intoxication filled the void left by the boy’s maturity.

“I’ve never been happy living as a mercenary.”

“Why?”

“Because I had to sell my beliefs, conscience, and goodwill for money.”

Ethics, morality, whatever, as long as you paid, he had to take on any job.

Luke’s eyes twisted.

‘Just like back then.’

It was a decisive request that made him question his mercenary status.

The content itself was simple.

Escort a wizard to the target location.

With Luke’s help, the wizard arrived safely at a mountain, the target location, where he triggered a landslide, blocking several mountain paths.

And that year.

The horde of monsters that originally attacked the lord’s domain, the client, bypassed and trampled on another domain.

It was a place where the guards and defenses were not properly set up.

As they passed through the ruined… corpse-filled domain, Luke’s heart began to ache.

With a sinking voice, Luke spoke.

“So, I guess I saw that illusion in my dreams. I want to live towards the line I believe in, like you, professor, and receive the respect and praise of others.”

“And Evergreen was also there in various places.”

“…You saw?”

Luke wasn’t unexpectedly ashamed.

Rather, his determination tightened his face into a resolute expression.

“I felt even more ashamed. You know, how righteous she is.”

“You want to stand proudly by her side.”

“Yes. I can’t keep being passive like this.”

…Why wouldn’t he understand at his young age.

Since that day, Luke had properly assessed what outcomes his assignments would bring.

As the gold piled up in the Aureum Mercenary’s warehouse, he never forgot that there were unhappy people.

Listening to those words, the Hero smirked.

“…Better than Ivar.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.”

The Hero raised his whiskey glass.

In fact, Luke’s visit was somewhat welcome.

After inadvertently overhearing Luke and Ravias’s conversation.

It was time to get rid of Ravias from Luke’s life, he was convinced.

Luke was too valuable a person to waste time under such a villain.

“Luke, I’ll ask you one last thing.”

“Yes.”

“If you want, I can help you in a different way. Of course, it won’t be as clean as Dellum, but the burden you have to bear will be much lighter.”

…A moment of hesitation.

Luke slowly shook his head.

“Even Ban and Cuculli… while they received help from those around them, they ultimately overcame it themselves. I have to do the same.”

It was a statement that best showed Luke’s determination.

There was no need to confirm further.

The Hero got to the point.

“How much time do you have?”

“…I think they’ll take me after the parent-invited event.”

“Then Dellum should happen before that. About three weeks should be enough.”

Luke’s face showed signs of anxiety.

Three weeks was too tight to overcome Ravias, the big mountain.

The Hero nodded in agreement, as if agreeing with himself.

“The chances of you defeating Ravias are slim. Even if we set aside the basic combat power difference, your combat style is too similar. Even if you’ve learned some variations from me at the academy, he’ll read you quickly.”

“…I know.”

The one at the pinnacle of mercenaries who survived by skill alone was Ravias.

That’s why his subordinates stuck to him so obediently even though his methods were oppressive and violent.

——————

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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——————

Moreover, he deliberately taught his subordinates his own combat techniques.

‘Insanity’s combat techniques become stronger quickly, but they have clear limits.’

Moreover, as their combat styles became more similar, it became increasingly difficult for Luke to surpass Ravias.

However, in the Hero’s eyes, listing such facts, there was no sign of giving up.

“So how can you, who is at a disadvantage against Ravias, win?”

The moment Luke met the Hero’s confident gaze.

He already realized that the Hero had the answer.

“Yeah, with completely different power… Luke has to fight Ravias through a method he can’t even imagine.”

“Can I develop such power in three weeks?”

“Wrong. It’s not about developing.”

Ooooong-

Golden light rippled in the dark counseling room.

A dagger fell from the void into the air.

Luke looked at it with a puzzled expression.

The handle was so ornate that it wasn’t easy to see…

‘No blade?’

The Hero finished with a faint smile.

“You receive it.”

Luke still looked bewildered and puzzled.

“A transferred assignment from the Mercenary corps… you’re still maintaining the first place.”

“!”

Only then did Luke’s pupils tremble as he realized the true identity of the dagger.

‘A… Medium of Severance?’

He hurriedly responded.

“I believe there’s still time until the score is finalized.”

“Yeah, since I’m giving it in advance, you’ll have to work even harder to maintain first place.”

The Hero shrugged as he drank from his glass.

There was a slight hint of amusement lingering around his lips.

“If not, my dignity would be ridiculously crumpled.”

Luke looked at the dagger on the table with a dazed expression.

How did he interpret that gaze?

The hero spoke calmly.

“You should be able to familiarize yourself with the protection in three weeks. You probably saw how the previous owner used this ability up in the North.”

“……”

Luke thought.

Even if he maintained the top rank in the assignments, giving the Severance in advance like this would lead to unfair treatment.

‘It’s unreasonable.’

If favoritism were shown, the Hero’s image would be greatly tarnished.

Even with a perfect reputation, there would undoubtedly be blemishes.

But the Hero seemed unfazed.

His demeanor stood in stark contrast to Ravias, who didn’t even consider minor losses for Luke’s sake.

“Professor, I…”

Luke bowed deeply, unable to articulate his emotions.

.

.

.

The business was over, but the drinking session continued a little longer.

Trivial stories, various anecdotes about the past and academy life were the topics of conversation.

Luke’s body swayed as if drunk.

Understandable.

He had a weak tolerance to begin with, and he was already on his second bottle of whiskey.

“…I’m going to return to the countryside and marry Evergreen.”

“Sure, sure.”

The Hero supported Luke, who was rambling.

It was at that moment that the boy’s murmurs reached his ears.

“I suddenly had a strange thought.”

…His pronunciation was all over the place.

The boy slapped his cheek as if trying to regain his senses.

The Hero chuckled and asked.

“What thought?”

Luke seemed hesitant for a moment.

“I was thinking… how nice it would have been if you had picked me up…”

That statement stopped the Hero in his tracks.

Luke chuckled awkwardly.

“I could have grown into a better person than I am now.”

The Hero recalled an old memory.

He had said similar words to Ted before.

“If only I had met someone like you from the beginning.”

It was a bitter remark born of the cruel years he had lived as a monster unwelcome anywhere.

To which Ted had responded:

“Even in the brightest light, there are people who close their eyes and turn their backs.”

Eitrobin, Ivar, had been like that.

“But even in the darkest darkness, there are those who chase after faint glimmers of light.”

That’s how he used to be.

That’s what the present Luke was trying to do.

The Hero reached out and gently tapped Luke’s shoulder.

“You’ll become a fine person.”

▼

Understanding of Luke Selsood deepens.

Understanding: 30/100

Comments will be added.

– The One Who Emerged from the Abyss

▲

* * *

With the arrival of all the extreme parents at Rosenstark, led by Lady Solintail, the Sword Master Zion Hiyashin.

So it was on a Monday morning.

.

.

.

The Hero stood at the podium, facing the classroom as usual.

He looked at the children, who seemed much more tense than usual, and the parents at the back of the classroom, their expressions a mix of interest and concern.

A large hand gripped the voice amplification device.

“Now, let’s begin the Extreme Observation Class.”

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[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

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