This World Needs a Hero - Chapter 118

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Chapter 118

The hero closed the door and turned away.

The first visit to the isolation ward.

It was clean and well-organized, but there was a prison-like feeling somewhere.

He called the trembling boy who couldn’t do anything in front of the bed.

“Lucas.”

The gaze that had been stuck to the floor slowly turned upward.

The hero realized how much a person’s impression is influenced by their gaze.

As his confident gaze disappeared, he looked completely different, or at least different from before.

Even if that wasn’t the case, he looked different from before.

Almost half of his face was swollen to almost twice its normal size.

But Lucas showed no sign of injustice, pain, or anger about his current miserable appearance.

What could be seen on his pale face were fear, anxiety, and guilt.

“P-Professor. I…”

The boy couldn’t continue his words.

Uh, uh…

Lucas burst into tears like a child.

It was the kind of crying that bursts out because one doesn’t know what to do.

“……”

The Duke’s prostation was unexpected, but the hero had expected this reaction.

All of his classmates were on the verge of being executed by his hands.

His soul had almost been captured by Monma.

He had even seen his father kneeling.

His own situation was unclear.

Even if he avoided whatever punishment now, it was clear that he would be labeled as a ‘collaborator’ for the rest of his life.

No matter how arrogant and imposing he was, it was a situation where anyone would collapse.

Uh, uh-

Lucas couldn’t approach the hero, he just clung to the bed and sobbed.

Between sobs, he repeated words of crying and apology.

“I-I didn’t know. I-I didn’t know it would turn out like this, Professor. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

…Yeah, he probably didn’t know.

How could he have known that those influenced by Enoch would purposely approach and feed ‘dream droplets’?

The pride that had been eroded during the semester was probably Enoch’s tempting prey.

‘….’

Even without the Duke pointing it out, the hero felt some responsibility.

But it was also a clear fact that Lucas had ultimately fallen into the trap.

Until the sobbing subsided, the hero prepared the words to say to Lucas.

“Lucas.”

“…Yes.”

“You can’t stay in the extreme and Rosenstark any longer.”

“…But.”

As if not tolerating dissent, the hero’s eyes sank.

Lucas’s hand holding the bed seemed to weaken.

“…Kuh, yes. I understand.”

“Do you remember mentioning the ‘Nubes Salon incident’ to Ban frequently?”

For a moment, Lucas’s expression stiffened.

It was because he realized how unreasonable and malicious the torment had been.

“Now you probably know that such incidents don’t happen just because of someone’s mistake.”

Seeing his pale face, there was no need for a response.

Regret and sorrow.

…That was it.

To someone who feels guilty, the possibility of change is open.

Then, a short sigh filled with frustration and regret followed.

“Do you think I let you go?”

“……”

The hesitant boy opened his mouth.

“D-Did you not let me go?”

His voice trembled and broke.

“You were only interested in a few, and frankly, you ignored the rest.”

The hero shook his head.

…No.

Lucas Wellington.

The advantages as a prosecutor were fast speed, the ability to catch the opponent’s flaws in an instant, and a high level of mana reserves.

“But due to the habit of using tricks and the lack of strength and the imbalance of the body, the destructive power of the sword technique is low.”

“The biggest problem is that the feet are slow compared to the fast hands.”

Training for lower body agility and strength.

It is necessary to perform diagonal and asymmetric exercises before and after swordsmanship training.

“If overall strength increases in the future, it would be effective to switch to a heavier weapon.”

All the feedback written on the documents that Lucas had not properly read and had stuck in the drawer were there.

Lucas opened and closed his mouth several times, but his tongue seemed like a stone and didn’t move.

The hero’s calm words continued.

“I won’t deny that I gave more benefits to those who showed good results. I know that the sight may have been hurtful.”

…It couldn’t be helped.

His goal was not to conduct fair classes, but to nurture hero candidates.

“But I have no intention of taking away the opportunity for my students to learn. I already said that you won’t regret choosing me as your professor, unlike other professors.”

“……”

Lucas understood why the hero had just explained in such detail.

This… was the final lesson.

Tears started to fall from Lucas’s eyes again.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

The hero stood up.

Lucas, who was afraid to look, couldn’t lift his head to see what expression the hero had.

“It’s going to be tough from now on. Resentment and hatred may enter your heart.”

Tuk-

The hero reached out and lightly grabbed Lucas’s shoulder, who had shrunk.

“I believe you can handle those emotions correctly now.”

“Ah….”

Only now could the boy look at his teacher with a dazed expression.

Eyes that were warm with genuine support, which he had never seen before.

…No, that’s not true.

Perhaps he had always been looked at with such eyes.

“P-Professor….”

“Stay healthy.”

The boy stared blankly at the departing figure of his teacher.
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Outside the hospital room, the Duke was still waiting for him.

After a brief greeting.

As the hero headed towards the library, he suddenly recalled the illusion of Lucas that Monma had shown.

…The fantasy of establishing himself as a hero candidate with overwhelming achievements in class.

▼
Understanding of Lucas Wellington deepens.
Understanding level: 4/100 -> 7/100
▲

The hero looked at the comment that suddenly appeared in front of him.

‘Will there be a day when this understanding level comes in handy?’

…It was uncertain.
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Lucas left a letter for Ban and left Rosenstark, a story that happened some time later.

* * *

To cut to the chase, I did not see ‘Memories of the First Era Part II’ that day.

[Closed temporarily due to internal organization and repair]

It was a notice attached to the entrance of the Library of Memories.

I tried opening the door with the key just in case, but only an empty space appeared.

The antique bookshelves and the librarian were nowhere to be found.

I immediately went to Yussi.

“Oh, if it’s Rosalyn, they probably took it away for regular inspection. It’ll take about three days, I guess?”

It turned out to be Rosalyn’s regular maintenance period, despite her human appearance, she was a ‘magical creature’ that had been around for centuries.

…If I had known, I would have gone straight away.

‘I should come back and read it.’

The first part of the memories ended with the scene where Zero was about to persuade the mysterious ‘him’.

I was curious about what events would unfold afterward, but waiting for three days without any information was not an option.

Not only the Emperor but also someone special was waiting for me in the capital.

Being late was not acceptable.

I prepared to leave immediately.
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It was closer to dawn than morning.

The quiet correctional facility, seemingly still asleep.

The cold that was vivid until recently had greatly diminished.

It must be a sign that summer is approaching.

I checked my belongings and stood in front of the side gate.

The gentle dawn breeze swept past my forehead.

…Even though I told them not to come out.

“Professor, take care!”

“Merian and I will somehow manage, so you should come back soon!”

“The leader seems to spend more time outside the academy than inside. Don’t make the kid suffer too much and come back safely.”

The number of people seeing me off seems to be increasing.

One by one, Pia, Yussi, Noubelmag, and….

I looked at an unexpected figure.

“I’ll follow you soon. If the opportunity arises, I might see you at the capital.”

Felson.

Even though it was early, he looked like he had just come back from somewhere with a neat appearance.

“I thought you had already gone back.”

“Her Majesty asked me to stay a little longer.”

Whether the command was very welcome or not, a faint smile appeared on Felson’s face.

“It seems that Her Majesty is worried about you leaving Rosenstark in such an unstable time.”

Perhaps Euphemia’s intention was not only that.

‘…Vacation.’

She probably gave a few leisurely days as a reward to her subordinate who had fought without rest.

Shaking hands with Felson, I said to him.

“If this was going to be the case, I should have asked you for some reinforcement.”

He, the original creator of the Detection technique, would have been the best person to look after the children’s detection training.

At my regretful words, Felson smiled faintly.

“Noubelmag was complaining already. He said, ‘How can you fill such a long reinforcement time with just equipment explanations.’”

It meant he would help.

I shook his offered hand lightly.

“…Thank you.”

“Not at all. I was curious about what kind of friends my son had made. Well, your students will probably be excellent in their own way. Anyway, don’t worry and come back safely.”

Was this because good colleagues are hard to come by?

One by one, as they gathered, they became more trustworthy and reliable.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Approaching –

Yussi came from behind the building with a horse, it was that moment.

“Ta-da! Hero, look here.”

It was a familiar ‘horse.’

Whether it recognized me or not, it vigorously shook its elegant mane and neighed energetically.

“Ted. You’ve seen him before, remember? You should take good care of him again this time.”

“……”

“……?”

I lowered my head.

Everyone fell into silence in the suddenly changed atmosphere.

Yussi, who was tilting her head in confusion at the static atmosphere, soon realized her mistake and abruptly dropped the reins.

“Ah, Hero….”

“Uh-huh-huh-huh!”

A cruel laughter burst out as large as it could be.

The guards, who were watching from a distance with curious eyes on what heroes would talk about, were startled by the sudden change in the atmosphere.

Of course, Noubelmag and Felson started joking without caring at all.

“Oh, sneaky Yussi. Did you name the horse ‘Ted’ by any chance?”

“Uh-huh-huh-huh, it’s a horse with a splendid name.”

“Well, the black ones are similar, right?”

“Leader, hurry up and get on the horse.”

“Evil ones of the capital, be nervous. The ‘Teds’ are coming!”

…Before the honor of the Dawn Knights was shaken, I quickly got on Ted.

“Dieeeee….”

Yussi’s scream, the sound of impact, and the exaggerated scream slowly faded away.

The faces of Pia and the guards, who were watching with an expression of confusion, as well as Noubelmag and Felson, disappeared soon.

‘Why are there no normal people in the Dawn Knights?’

Thinking such thoughts for a moment, my body shivered with a sense of foreboding.

Just a moment ago, I felt the same sensation…

No, it couldn’t be.

I shook my head vigorously.

And I ran towards where Nyhill was waiting.
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…That’s the story up to a little while ago.

Nyhill and I, after a peaceful journey, were on the verge of entering the capital.

In the moment when the tall walls of the capital were visible in the distance.

One comment came up in front of my eyes.

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…The forge has become a little stronger.
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