The Hero’s Disciple Has Returned

Great Magician William, after watching over the unconscious Jade, gave an appropriate explanation when Jade regained consciousness. He described the uninvited guest as an ‘enemy’ for now. That’s because he had received orders from his lord to do so. William also judged this to be right, as there was nothing particularly good about getting friendly with the guild master of 【Dark Moon】.

‘…Well, it didn’t seem like she had only such intentions though…’

Although William had never seen the face behind the veil, he could tell that Madam Rain must be quite beautiful. This was because William’s past was quite colorful until he met Ellie’s mother, so he had developed a special ability to discern how beautiful someone was just from other aspects, even without seeing their face. …It’s not an ability he could boast about anywhere, though. If he told women, he’d receive tremendous stares, and if he told men, he’d receive equally tremendous stares.

Seeing such things

Clearly

His lord…

‘Just looking at it, that’s not the kind of gaze that would come from thinking about Master.’

…Great Magician William had many thoughts about this issue, but he had no intention of saying anything directly. To begin with, he had no right to say anything about that part. He knows well that if he said anything, there’s an overwhelmingly high chance he’d end up in a very bad situation. It’s better for him not to meddle in something he can’t say anything about anyway. As a magician, he placed great importance on individualism and rationalism.

But the important fact doesn’t change.

If there’s a weakness for his lord

It is

None other than her master.

No matter how good his intentions were, no matter how much he did it for his disciple’s sake

There’s no Aura Heart inside him.

That was clearly not a good thing.

‘Certainly, it’s surprising that he can fight by handling ‘natural mana’ in that way… But it’s hard to expect him to remain safe with just that level of power.’

But he couldn’t always watch over him like this and lend a helping hand when the opportunity arose. He was about to fight on the battlefield against the Demon King’s army as part of the hero’s party. It would be best if this secluded place was never discovered and the existence of the master, who was the hero’s weakness itself, was also never known, but unfortunately, the world’s affairs tend to flow in the worst direction rather than the best. Therefore, there could be no such thing as an eternal secret.

That’s why William had to bring up these words.

“I’ll prepare a good place. How about moving there?”

♤♤♤

After regaining consciousness, I was able to hear roughly what the situation was. But it didn’t seem to be the truth.

‘It doesn’t seem like the opponent really approached with any malice after all.’

I think it was an unfortunate incident that occurred because my ability to sense presences became too good due to ‘natural mana’. There’s a possibility that the opponent intended to just observe me, gain some information, and then withdraw. But because I detected their presence first and shot an arrow cautiously, the situation escalated to this point. That was the conclusion I reached.

‘In fact, it might be considered good that I shot the arrow. It would have been possible to read the opponent’s skill level as clearly as sharing weapons.’

But I can’t feel at ease. The words about being Sera’s companion were clearly a lie.

‘They must be an expert from 【Dark Moon】.’

The A-rank mercenary position wasn’t won by gambling. I was a veteran who knew a fair bit about how the underworld worked. To me, Mr. Ras’s lie was too obvious.

“I see.”

But I pretended to believe it while knowing everything. I had no choice. Because I know that showing that I know would only complicate things. For the weak, ignorance is bliss. If you’re weak but know too much, it only makes the situation more tangled and complicated. Knowing this, I pretended not to know. Because I know well that it helps the situation roll along smoothly in many ways.

To me, who was like this, Mr. Ras continued:

“I’ll prepare a good place. How about moving there?”
“……”

I still don’t have the ability to accurately sense the other person’s level like when I had an Aura Heart. But I have senses sharpened by ‘natural mana’, and the weapon of experience etched to my bones from rolling on the battlefield. So even without an Aura Heart, I could sufficiently deduce the other person’s presence through intuition and experience.

For example, I could easily tell that Mr. Ras was disguising himself as young through something like polymorph magic, or that his level was much higher than he claimed.

In other words, it would be rationally correct in many ways to follow his words here. It’s good to follow rational decisions. On the battlefield, the most rational and reasonable person tends to survive well. But this isn’t a battlefield. And this is a ‘sanctuary’. And a ‘place to return to’.

That’s the most important fact at this moment.

“Mr. Ras”
“Yes, Master.”
“Transcendent beings must be lonely, right?”
“…I wouldn’t know.”
“What do you think?”
“…I think they would be lonely.”
“I’m not a transcendent being. But I had risen to the position of master just below that. From my perspective, transcendent beings seemed like they would be extremely lonely.”
“……”

People living in this world say:

If you become a transcendent being, you can have everything.

They say that.

But the transcendent beings I’ve seen all had deficiencies, and because of those deficiencies, they felt terrible thirst. I’ve seen transcendent beings who wildly swing aura and magic on the battlefield trying to somehow quench that thirst, and I’ve had to buy time against them at the risk of my life. That’s why I can say this. From the perspective of those looking up, reaching that high place seems happy because they can’t see it, but from my perspective watching from as close as possible, it doesn’t seem that happy.

Even transcendent beings were like that.

Even transcendent beings were like that.

If that’s the case

What about the hero?

The unique existence in this world, the hero?

The hero who must save the world?

The hero who cannot be forgiven, cannot be accepted, cannot have their value as an existence recognized unless they save the world?

“Mr. Ras, I’m an incompetent master. I’m someone so powerless that I can’t even be of help to my disciple.”
“That can’t be true!”
“Thank you for saying that. But the fact that I’m a burden to my disciple doesn’t change.”
“That’s…”
“I know Mr. Ras’s words are right. I know that’s the rational decision. But someone has to do it. For the hero who has to forcibly shoulder the burden of expectations forcibly placed on them by people… There needs to be at least one person who has the role of being a sanctuary, of waiting for such a hero. I think that’s right.”
“……”
“That’s why I have to wait here. That’s the role I have to take on. Just like how Mr. Ras has taken on the role of protecting our Sera by her side as the hero’s companion.”

Because that was what I, an incompetent master, could do for my disciple

♧♧♧

“What about Master?”
“He’s fine. As you said, I gave him plenty of potions again, so you don’t need to worry.”
“I see, that’s a relief.”

Saying that, Sera smiled. The only time the always expressionless lord’s face relaxed was when she heard news about Jade like this. William couldn’t help but think that not only was the master foolish about the disciple, but conversely, the disciple was also foolish about the master.

“My lord”
“What is it?”
“I told Master that I wanted to guide him to a safe place.”
“……”

William thought he might get hit hard by his lord. It was something he had done arbitrarily without his lord’s permission, so he had prepared for such a response from the beginning. He thought it was absolutely necessary for his lord.

“…I see. And then?”
“He said that even a hero who has to shoulder the heavy burden of saving the world needs a sanctuary.”
“……”
“He also said that it’s right for at least one person to take on the role of waiting for the hero.”
“……”
“I couldn’t find any words to refute that.”

At those words, Sera smiled, tightly hugging the sword Jade had given her and closing her eyes.

Countless regressions

Countless lives

She had seen countless human characters.

Kind people
Wicked people
Good-natured people
Cruel people
Wise people
Foolish people

She had seen truly diverse people.

But among them, no one

Had tried to be her support.

Had tried to be her pillar.

Everyone just tried to pass on the burden of expectations in the name of her being the hero.

Saying that she, as the hero, should be like this

Saying that she, as the hero, should be a convenient tool

Saying that she, as the hero, shouldn’t have human emotions

Saying that as the hero, she must unconditionally fulfill all the hero’s duties

There was no one.

No one tried to see her as a person.

That’s why she couldn’t help but be frustrated, disappointed, and despair.

Because without a supporting pillar, no matter how great one is, they’re bound to tilt and collapse

It was a natural outcome that she had to collapse. Even if she was a hero, without a support, she was bound to collapse.

And now, she had gained a pillar.

The warmest and strongest pillar in this world

“Follow Master’s wishes.”
“I’ll prepare the best plan I can.”
“Thank you.”
“……?!”

William couldn’t help but be surprised. It was the first time he had heard words of gratitude since he started serving her as his lord. William soon smiled gently.

Although he didn’t realize it himself yet, William was also definitely becoming a fool for these master and disciple.