Chapter 19 

The Hero Izumi (2)

“I will follow you.”

Cedric responded immediately when I said I would go to Jikuk.

“I’m counting on you.”

I didn’t try to stop him.

After all, Cedric was officially commissioned to be my escort, and unlike the protagonist who saves the world just by standing still, I’m the villain who’ll detonate a nuclear bomb if left alone.

I can’t take my eyes off him for even a second.

‘We met earlier than I expected.’

Originally, Cedric appears in response to a request from the temple, inviting him to join the Hero’s party. That was supposed to happen about a month after Izumi settles into the temple.

The reason he’s shown up so early is because of the appearance of a “Saint” — something that didn’t exist in the original story.

I glanced over at Cedric.

He was carrying a lot on his back.

“Um… Sir Cedric?”

“Yes.”

What is all that on your back?

Are you going on a Mount Everest hike?

—I couldn’t say that out loud.

Right now, I’m blind.

I can’t even see what he’s carrying.

So instead, I pretended to stumble and reached out a hand, hoping to “accidentally” touch his luggage and act like I noticed something.

Take this, my sneak attack!

“Please be careful.”

…And it failed gloriously.

Without even a flicker of surprise, Cedric caught me. His hands were gentle, like handling a precious treasure.

“…Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Why am I so annoyed by this?

When he was younger, he used to be cute and chubby, but grown-up Cedric is just no fun at all. On top of that, he’s a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment.

‘Still, this is a good opportunity.’

The group going to retrieve the Hero consists of me, Cedric, and a few others, including Mars and Amy.

Which means I’ll be in the same carriage as Cedric—and I’ll use that time to provoke him as much as possible.

I need certainty.

Certainty that he’ll never betray the protagonist. That he’ll save the world, even if I die.

Why worry about what happens after I die?

‘Because you never know.’

Even if Justinas dies, the quest might continue.

Cedric is someone I “saved,” so if he saves the world, it might be enough to fulfill the quest conditions.

Or I could just fake my death again, like I’ve done the past ten years (not that it was really intentional).

Either way, preparing for every outcome is the true spirit of a grad student. If you want to be your professor’s footstool, this much is required.

“Big sis! Hurry, come this way.”

But my grand plans were about to be derailed by Amy.

“…Hm?”

“Don’t tell me you were planning to ride in the same carriage with that gloomy man?”

Amy grabbed my arm and glared suspiciously at Cedric.

Despite the open hostility, Cedric didn’t seem affected in the slightest. He blinked slowly and said,

“I’m the Saint’s escort. Of course I should ride with her.”

“Ugh.”

“Unless you plan to personally guard the Saint?”

With those skinny arms?

The unspoken jab made Amy’s face flush bright red.

“What did you just say?!”

“Hmph.”

“Wow, sis! Just look at this guy! He’s seriously the worst!”

“Shall we go, Saint?”

Leaving the fuming Amy behind, Cedric took my hand. That was the final straw.

“Hey!!”

Cedric didn’t respond.

His complete lack of reaction—like he was wearing earplugs—only made things more awkward for me. Thankfully, Mars stepped in to calm his daughter down.

“Settle down, Amy.”

“But Father—!”

“The man is right. And besides, the carriage is small enough as it is.”

Amy still looked dissatisfied, but she managed to swallow her anger thanks to her father’s calm rebuke. I turned to her and smiled.

“Don’t worry so much. Sir Cedric is a good person.”

“That’s just because you see the world through rose-colored glasses.”

Grumbling, Amy climbed into the following carriage. Mars, still beside me, turned to Cedric.

“Then I leave the Saint in your care.”

“Of course.”

Cedric gave a curt nod.

…Hmm. Yeah, I guess he does come off as kind of rude when he’s dealing with people other than me. If I disappear again someday, he might just say, “I’ll blow up the world,” and start developing a bomb.

I lightly tugged on Cedric’s sleeve, and he immediately turned his head toward me.

“My lady?”

His expression was stoic, but his eyes were gentle.

“Sir Cedric, please try to be kind to others as well.”

“…That is…”

“If you do, others will come to like you too. Don’t you think?”

Mars, caught off guard by the sudden question, blinked for a moment, then nodded.

“She’s right.”

“See?”

Cedric seemed lost in thought after hearing that.

…Is it not working?

That’s not good.

I had planned to gradually correct his behavior over time.

“If I win others over… will that help you, Saint?”

“Pardon?”

“Then I will do it.”

Now it was my turn to blink (metaphorically—since I’m blind).

‘Wait, is this okay?’

It’s obvious he likes me, but his willingness to be nice to others only if it benefits me felt… a little off.

‘Still, it’s better than him being rude to everyone except me… right?’

Right?

Meanwhile

Izumi was deep in thought.

“Save the world?”

The cause of his distress was none other than his quest.

From the moment he grasped the sword that fell from the sky, a blue window would blink into view whenever he wished.

Relying on memories of anime he’d watched in his past life, he’d tried shouting things like “Status!” or “Open shop!” in a loud voice, but nothing changed. The only thing he had was that single, simple quest window.

“What the heck am I supposed to do with this?!”

“Save the world,” out of nowhere, with no hints or directions.

All he had was the Holy City.

He stroked the sacred, pale-white sword. Whenever he did, the name from his past life came back to him.

Yūshi (勇士). Hero.

‘In fantasy worlds, saving the world usually means defeating the Demon King.’

The Hero who defeats the Demon King.

It’s such a classic cliché that it’s hardly used anymore—but traditional RPGs still loved it.

Usually, it’s a normal village boy who suddenly gets chosen by the gods to go on a journey. His companions are a silver-haired Saint, an elf archer, a prickly assassin, an icy beauty mage, and a big, loyal warrior.

…Wait. A Saint?

“There is a Saint.”

Even as a layabout noble, you still hear rumors if you live among the upper class.

He recalled something his father had said recently.

“His Majesty the King has ordered that anyone who wants to emigrate to Aegis be allowed to go. It’s a baffling decision. It would be better to join forces with Aqua and stop the population from leaving.”

“Why do people want to emigrate?”

“Because of the Saint. Those who witness her miracles can no longer remain skeptics.”

“A Saint!”

Izumi leapt to his feet.

‘If there’s a Saint, then there must be a Hero too.’

It’s only natural.

Hero and Saint.

They’re practically a packaged deal in RPGs.

You might have a game with just a Hero, but never one with just a Saint. If there’s a Saint, a Hero is bound to appear sooner or later.

Until now, it had all seemed like someone else’s story. But with a quest like this—and a sword that practically screamed “Holy Sword”—he couldn’t help but get excited. He swallowed his anxiety.

[Main Quest]
Save the world.
Progress: 0%
Reward: Return

He was currently at the mansion of Baron Polly, where he was born and raised.

That “Return” likely meant return to Earth.

He didn’t know if he could go back in his dead body, but it didn’t matter. Even if he couldn’t be Izumi Yuushi again—

He’d take this body.

As long as he could return to Earth.

“…I’ve made up my mind.”

He said, his face resolute.

“I’m going to Aegis.”

Following the classic formula, the Holy Nation was probably expecting a prophesied Hero to appear. All he had to do was prove to the Pope and the Saint that he was the chosen one.

And the proof?

Holy Comet.

The sword he held, which glowed faintly the moment he touched it.

‘No one would deny this is a Holy Sword.’

He was never particularly religious, but the divine aura pouring from this blade was unmistakable.

‘I’ll tell Father and Mother.’

He was setting out on an adventure.

For the first time since reincarnation, Izumi’s heart began to race. It was the joy of finding a purpose—and the hope of returning home.

He dashed from his room to the great hall, where his parents were.

“Father, Mother!”

Your son is going to become a Hero!

—or at least, that’s what he meant to say.

But when he saw the priests standing in front of the mansion, he froze. His father, noticing him, quickly spoke.

“That’s my son!”

“Dad?”

What the heck is going on?

Just as Izumi stood there, dumbfounded from brain overload, the woman standing with her back to him turned around.

“So, this is the one.”

“…!”

The moment Izumi saw her, he froze stiff.

Dazzling silver hair.

A rosary around her neck.

A chaste robe that covered her entire body.

But above all, her radiant smile and stunning beauty captivated him.

The moment he saw her, he knew.

“The Saint…?”

“Yes. I am the Saint.”

Even her smile felt holy.

Izumi’s eyes trembled. The brightness of his expression faded into a dazed, awestruck stupor.

The Saint approached him.

“Mr. Izumi Polly.”

She reached out her hand.

Even the white glove covering it felt noble.

A voice like divine grace whispered in his ear.

“We need your help. Please come with us.”

There was no hesitation.

Izumi bowed deeply.

“I will.”

Thus, a Hero was born.