The fact that I had obtained the Hero's Title was immediately reported to Father through the teachers.
Right after that, I was summoned by Father and left the academy, returning to the royal castle.
The royal castle, visited after so long.
But my mind was far from stable enough to get sentimental about it.
I somehow calmed my restless heart and went to meet Father.
The place wasn't the audience hall—it was Father's office.
A spacious room, but one cluttered with documents and papers strewn about.
Several people had gathered there.
"Shurein. I'm sorry for calling you out like this."
The moment I entered, Father spoke in a heavy voice.
Even for someone like me who had barely met him a handful of times, I could tell instantly that his voice was heavier than usual.
Much heavier than when he had spoken to me about the Appraisal.
"First, I need you to let me Appraise whether you truly hold the Hero's Title."
"Yes."
In Father's hand was the Appraisal Stone—the same one used during the Appraisal ceremony.
As soon as I answered, an unpleasant sensation like something licking across my entire body washed over me.
This was the same feeling I'd had when I first met the teacher.
It must be the discomfort one feels when subjected to an Appraisal.
"You truly… hold it."
Father's heavy voice.
Immediately after, he covered his face with his hand and began to let out choked sobs.
"
My brother's name escaped Father's lips.
Hearing that, tears welled up in my eyes too, beyond my ability to hold them back.
Any self-restraint telling me "Not here, not now" was shattered effortlessly, and my vision blurred with tears.
Hands gripped my shoulders.
It was the Third Prince—one of my brothers, my immediate elder—Reston-niisama.
He stroked my head and pulled me into a gentle embrace.
I hadn't had many opportunities to meet Reston-niisama either.
But he was an easygoing person, and next to Julius-niisama, he was the brother I got along with best.
My limit was surpassed in an instant.
I clung to Reston-niisama and cried without restraint.
For a while, only the sound of sobbing echoed through the room.
"Father. I understand the grief over Julius. However, we must also think about what comes next. Let us begin the discussion."
Breaking through the oppressive silence, it was the First Prince—our eldest brother, Syrilis-niisama—who spoke.
Honestly, I'm not good with this man.
I've never seen him smile. He always wears a stern expression, completely absorbed in work.
Setting aside our eldest sister, who married off to another country and whom I've never met, I had the gut feeling he was the one sibling I could never get along with.
"Syrilis-nii, Father and Shun are both hurting. Can't you give us a little more time?"
"No, Reston. Syrilis is right."
"But, Father—"
"Don't be stubborn, Reston. This is what Father is saying."
"Syrilis-nii…"
"Enough. As a family, our grief is more than valid. But before we are individuals, we are royalty. As royalty, we must fulfill our duties. The grieving can come afterward."
Father wiped his tears with his sleeve.
His eyes were swollen and bright red, but within them burned a powerful light.
So this is what a king looks like.
Incredible.
I could never pull that off.
"If Shurein has inherited the Hero's Title, then that means Julius is dead."
Father said it—the thing no one had dared to voice clearly—while biting his lip.
Those words made me feel as though Julius-niisama's death had been rammed home all over again.
"Information has arrived that the Demon race army has finally launched its invasion. Though it was kept from Shurein and the public, the word came in. Most likely, Julius lost his life in that battle."
The Demon race army.
I'd heard repeatedly that the Demon race had been growing more active, but so it had finally happened.
Even Julius-niisama couldn't defeat the Demon race army?
"We still haven't received a report on how that battle concluded. I've dispatched a skilled mage capable of spatial magic to confirm, but—"
Right after that, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
"Excuse me."
The person who entered was—I couldn't remember his name, but he was supposed to be one of the generals serving this country.
He walked slowly to the center of the room and dropped to one knee.
"I have a report to deliver. It concerns the war between the Human race and the Demon race."
"Perfect timing. What's the situation?"
"Yes, sir. Detailed information is still unclear, as the situation on the ground is chaotic, but despite devastating losses, they appear to have barely repelled the Demon race army."
"I see. Continue."
"According to current information, several fortresses have fallen. Among them, there are reports that the Kusorion Fortress was destroyed."
"What!? That massive stronghold!?"
"Y-Yes. It's not confirmed yet, however. The battlefield is in complete disarray, and unsubstantiated rumors are flying everywhere. That the Demon race summoned a colossal monster, that it was blown away by an unknown grand spell—there are just rumors and speculation, and it's impossible to tell which information is genuine."
"Hmm. But the report that the Demon race army has retreated—that much is accurate?"
"Yes. I'm certain of that."
"Understood. Good work on the report. Continue gathering information."
"Yes, sir! Then, if you'll excuse me."
The general withdrew.
Father fell into deep thought, brow furrowed, eyes closed.
We brothers waited for Father's next words.
"It seems Julius's death hasn't been confirmed yet."
"That's right. The situation on the ground is still chaotic. What would you like to do?"
"For now, we'll keep both Julius's death and the fact that Shurein is the new Hero hidden."
No one present objected to Father's decision.
I didn't know much about politics myself, and it was probably best not to stick my nose in where it didn't belong.
"We don't yet know whether the Demon race has fully retreated. If we were to carelessly announce that the Hero had died, it would only cause unnecessary panic among the populace. Eventually, the truth will filter in from the battlefield and word of Julius's death will spread—but until then, this matter is to remain strictly confidential."
"Father, what about Shurein going forward?"
"I'm sorry, Shurein, but effective today you will be leaving the academy. At the same time, I need you to prepare so that you can be announced as the new Hero at any moment. Shurein."
"Yes."
"I know you're overwhelmed by all of this, but from now on, you are the Hero. You must carry on Julius's will and stand at the forefront of battle as the hope of the Human race. I know you don't have the resolve for that yet. The window before Julius's death becomes public knowledge is short, but I need you to steel yourself for this."
The hope of the Human race?
Something like that… telling me to suddenly make up my mind about a resolve that enormous…
"Your mind must be in turmoil. You may retire for the day. Get some rest."
Father's voice, gentle with concern.
I'd lean on that kindness for now.
"I'm sorry. I'll take my leave."
My words clipped short, I left the room.
Father's and Reston-niisama's worried eyes.
Syrilis-niisama's cold gaze.
As if to shut them all out, I closed the door.
I had the urge to collapse right there, but I managed to hold myself together and walked away.
Thirty days passed after that.
During that time, I threw myself into private training within the castle.
Since I was the Hero now, I had to become stronger.
That was the official reason—the real one was that if I didn't keep busy, all the thoughts swirling in my head would drown me.
Moving my body helped lighten my mood, at least a little.
From what I'd heard, Julius-niisama's death was being kept secret on a global scale.
Father's gag order was probably a major factor, but perhaps every nation had judged it too dangerous to announce the Hero's death during this unstable period.
On the battlefield itself, it was probably already common knowledge, but at the very least, for this country far removed from the fighting, such rumors seemed unlikely to reach us anytime soon.
The Demon race hadn't attacked again since then.
They'd apparently taken considerable damage in this war too, and the prevailing thought was they'd lie low for a while.
But I couldn't let my guard down.
This was no longer someone else's problem.
The academy seemed unchanged.
I occasionally caught up on things through long-distance conversations with
[How are things over there?]
[No changes, really. There was a bit of confusion after Shun left the academy so suddenly, but that's about it.]
[I see. Say hi to everyone at the academy for me.]
[Of course.]
[Sue. Are you doing well?]
[I'm doing fine.]
[Good. How's your end?]
[Today,
[Yuri was?]
[Yes. I think word of Julius-niisama's death probably reached the church as well.]
[And so they recalled Yuri, the next saint candidate.]
[That's likely it. What happened to the saint who was assigned to Julius-niisama?]
[Nearly all of his companions were wiped out, except for Hylins.]
[…I see.]
[The survivor, Hylins, is apparently returning home soon. I think I'll be able to at least talk with him. I'll ask him about everything then.]
[Yes. If possible, please try to stay out of trouble, okay?]
[Hmm? Well, Father did tell me not to breathe a word about being the Hero until the official announcement. I won't do anything reckless.]
[Good.]
[Don't say stuff like that! Could it be… you were worried about me?]
[Of course I was.]
[Thanks.]
[…You're welcome.]
We had exchanges like this several times.
Hylins was Julius-niisama's childhood friend—a comrade-in-arms who had fought side by side with him.
I'd met him a few times when he was with my brother.
Once Hylins returned, I'd surely be able to learn many things.
Why that brother of mine had died.
Honestly, I couldn't believe that Julius-niisama—who was strong to the point of absurdity—had been taken down so easily.
Had he fallen for a cowardly trap, or had he faced a massive army that even he couldn't handle?
I couldn't imagine him losing in a one-on-one fight.
All of that would surely become clear once Hylins returned.
I drove myself into private training, as though trying to push back the heart that threatened to sink.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Shun inherited the Hero's Title."
"This is the worst."
"Yeah. And there's something fishy going on around the situation. I might not be able to handle it all on my own."
"Understood. I'll return right away."
"Sorry to drag you back when you're busy."
"For the sake of my students, your teacher will give it her all."
"I respect that about you."
"Hmm. I don't think I was supposed to be this kind of hot-blooded character, though."
"Have you reported to
"Already done. If it comes to the worst, we may have to consider hiding Shun among the elves."
"Is that so. That might actually be for the best."
"You're not going to oppose it?"
"Julius-nii is dead. I sure as hell don't want to lose my little brother on top of that. If it comes down to it, I'd rather he be alive even if it means never seeing him again."
"That's right. Let's do everything we can."
"Yeah. Leave it to you."