𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟐: 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏)
Jude was born and raised in a rural village far from the capital city.
There were few young people, and it was a peaceful and uneventful daily life, which Jude enjoyed.
The raspberry pie that his childhood friend Maylene, who loved making snacks, baked for him was truly delicious, and he thought that he would continue to live these unchanging days forever.
That future changed four years ago.
A messenger came from the capital. Suddenly being told to become a hero, I couldn’t comprehend it.
But what I couldn’t understand even more was that my mother was encouraging Maylene to marry another man.
Not only my mother, but Maylene’s parents and even the village chief were pushing her.
Maylene’s heart was greatly swayed by the words of the adults.
I strongly felt that I had to keep her heart with me—yes, that’s what I thought.
“Let’s get married when I come back.”
I wished for her to wrap her soft body around me and wait. Maylene nodded slowly.
Soon after that, we set off for the capital.
Jude, who thought he would spend his whole life in the village, never expected to have an audience with the king.
He thought only about not being disrespectful. That’s all he could think about.
Then, the future plans were explained, and several men were introduced as the hero’s companions. It was nothing but anxiety to entrust my back to someone I just met.
Nevertheless, they were much stronger and wiser than Jude, who had been living leisurely in the countryside.
Jude didn’t possess exceptional magical talent or swordsmanship that could surpass everything. He was only included in the circle of geniuses because he had the potential to become a hero.
So he worked much harder than anyone else.
Still, at first, it was a struggle to keep up with them.
After a year of leaving the village, he built a bond of trust with his comrades and became naturally adept at being a hero.
He still had a long way to go compared to Tyran the wizard, and he was still afraid of fighting monsters. There were nights when he couldn’t sleep, thinking about what would happen if a higher-ranked demon appeared.
Still, he was happy that so many people sought him out, even though he had been just an ordinary villager not long ago.
Among them, the moment that gave Jude the most encouragement was when he happened to see a newspaper article. The names of women who had become apprentice saints were lined up.
Maylene’s name was among them.
How much determination did she need to go to the distant capital city, where she had hardly ever left the village?
Even after a year had passed, he felt like he was in the center of her heart.
“It’s alright after all. Maylene thinks of me.”
Tyran kept telling him to write letters, but Maylene was already like family to him.
They were connected in the depths of their hearts. She believed in him even without writing letters. So, as long as he kept a strong heart, everything would be fine.
The battle against the Demon King, which was thought to be the biggest challenge, ended surprisingly smoothly.
The Demon King had a much younger appearance than Jude had imagined, but just standing in front of him conveyed a strong sense of power. If they had fought against such a demon, it would not have ended well.
If the Demon King had not shown interest in humans and what they created, peace would never have been achieved. In fact, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the human realm had been invaded.
Expressing gratitude to the Demon King’s deep generosity, a contract was formed.
Although it was called peace, it was not a promise to get along. Still, it was grateful to be able to avoid conflicts with the superior race that possessed much greater power than humans.
During their few days of stay, the Demon King seemed to be very fond of Tyran. While Jude and the others were called “Hero” or “Swordsman,” only Tyran was called by his name.
Tyran had kept his interactions with the castle and their travels to a minimum, but he never showed any signs of resistance. He might surprisingly like children.
Once they returned to the capital city, victory parades and homecoming parties were held daily.
The days when he was treated like a “Hero-sama” and praised as a hero were happier than ever before.
Tyran, who was also celebrated as a hero, had a dark expression that was the complete opposite of Jude’s.
“Let me return to work now that the battle against the Demon King is over.”
He had a more exhausted look than when he was on their journey.
Looking at Tyran, Jude realized that he could become a hero, but he could never become a genius.
As proof of the peace treaty with the demons, Tyran was sent to the demon realm.
He can spend the whole day doing his favorite research. It is a suitable place for Tyran, who strives to reach even greater heights, whether he is called a genius or not.
If he is not in the castle, I can forget about my inferiority complex.
I should at least see him off. Thinking that, when I head towards the room, he is already gone.
“If anything happens, call me. That’s just like Tyran.”
He left without telling anyone except Jude. Not even pierced by his icy cold eyes. It’s as if Tyran never cared about them from the beginning.
Since then, Jude has become even more immersed in his role as the “Hero.”
“Hey, Jude, is it okay for you not to come back?”
“I have an audience with the king tonight. I’m invited to the evening gatherings tomorrow and the day after. I don’t have time to go back to the village.”
“You’re keeping your lover waiting, aren’t you? There’s teleportation magic, so at least show your face.”
“I wrote a letter, so it’s fine.”
When he heard that he was given a break as an apprentice saint, he sent a letter.
[I will definitely come back, so please wait for me.]
There was a tea party with the princess, so that’s all he could write.
But Maylene will surely understand. She will wait for me.
If I return to the village where there was hardly any damage from the monsters, I will just become the ordinary Jude again.
Peaceful times are good, but I want to immerse myself in special moments a little longer. I want to continue being a hero.
Just a little longer. Just a little longer…
I can return to the village, I can continue where I left off in those days. But this time is only now.
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