After the official announcement of Sertia’s death, the new headmaster of the Academy was Albert.
Albert himself didn’t seem too thrilled about it, but there weren’t any suitable candidates available.
Unlike Sertia, who fundamentally pursued protection and peace, Albert was a more proactive human. It wasn’t his original nature; it was likely due to the recent loss of his master.
Immediately after taking on the headmaster position, Albert devised a plan to defeat the Demon King’s army this time.
Ding-ding! “Formation of the new Hero Party!”
The three legendary superhumans who had once defeated the Demon King.
Creating that in this generation was Albert’s goal. More accurately, it was something Sertia had pursued before her death.
Albert recalled the words Sertia had once said.
“I don’t think I’m outstanding or particularly talented compared to others. I also don’t believe that the next generation of humans will have less talent than I do.”
“What does that mean?”
“There will be suitable candidates for the new Hero Party. Individuals who are even more talented than me.”
At that time, he thought it was nonsense.
Objectively, Sertia was superior to others. No, it was beyond mere superiority.
She was the strongest human in history, aside from the former hero. A result born from an unparalleled talent combined with countless experiences and efforts; at least that’s what Albert believed.
Therefore, not everyone could become like Sertia. He believed no human with greater talent existed.
To be more honest, even now, he might still think that way. The awe he felt from his master was at a level that could not be seen by merely looking up.
But still.
“I believe.”
Sertia said she believed in the talents of the next generation.
If that was the case, then he, who had to carry on her wishes, could not doubt her words.
If she believed, Albert would believe too.
Thus, having become the headmaster, he immediately supported the formation of the new Hero Party.
Whether it was asking Reina to take Sera as a guide professor or contacting the Central Church to bring the Saint Klana to the Academy, those were his authorities.
Albert was preparing to quickly train them for field duties.
And.
“Ariel.”
“Yes?”
Now that he believed the preparations were sufficient, Albert summoned Ariel to the headmaster’s office.
“Do you remember what I mentioned last time?”
“If you’re talking about the formation of the Hero Party and the field mission, I remember.”
“Then it seems the time has come to decide. You’re already aware of what I’m about to say.”
“……”
“Please select someone to accompany us on this journey with your own insight. We will defeat the remaining Demon King’s army and finally end this war.”
Dum-ba-dum! If the star had blossomed, then the gaze of the stars would have manifested too.
In that case, Ariel’s ability to see people would be far more accurate than his.
In fact, the individuals standing next to him already seemed predetermined.
First, Sera.
She looked ordinary but had instantaneous attack power that could rival the Academy’s professors.
And above all, her bravery shown in a battle where she could have easily died was an incredible talent that could be immediately put into practical duties.
She was a girl capable of charging forward alone when everyone else was scared. Albert held that trait in high regard.
She was someone who could fully fulfill her role even if thrown into real combat at that moment.
Then Klana.
No need for explanation.
Born as a Saint, she was already ahead of the pack from the starting line.
While she might have lacked experience at the moment, her holy power would shine when facing demons.
Klana showed strengths in defense and support but also had excellent offensive capabilities against demons.
Though it wasn’t stated out loud, Ariel would surely be aware that within the Academy, there were only those two to consider while searching for comrades.
But Ariel said.
“No. I won’t make the selection.”
She directly contradicted Albert’s words.
Albert adjusted his glasses. His sharp gaze turned toward Ariel.
“The most important thing is your own will. It’s not something I can decide recklessly. I will take in those who stand by me by their own volition.”
“What if no one offers to support you…?”
“Then I will stand on the battlefield alone. There should be no hero party that forces anyone.”
“Is that so.”
While embarking on a journey with a hero might sound romantic to some, the reality wasn’t so beautiful.
It was a bloody battlefield. Even if it was called the continent’s top educational institution, they were ultimately students. Nobody in their right mind would voluntarily choose to go meet death.
Ariel understood that fact all too well.
Knowing it all too well, she was rather hesitant to lead others into such a cruel place.
It was the path to hell.
She was born a hero, so she stepped forward with a sense of duty and responsibility, but others didn’t have that. Born as ordinary humans, they had no obligation or responsibility to save the world.
“I will stand on the battlefield, even alone.”
This was a responsibility she had to bear, and Ariel was stating it that way.
To that, Albert solemnly nodded.
“If that is your intention.”
After that, a heavy silence lingered. Neither Albert nor Ariel spoke.
“If you have nothing more to say, I will take my leave.”
Just as Ariel was about to leave, unable to endure the silence any longer, Albert held her back for a moment.
“I have something for you.”
A treasure found in Sertia’s room after her death.
Albert handed over a sword shimmering with a golden light to Ariel. It looked like anything but an ordinary item at first glance.
There was no way it belonged to Sertia, the true Mage, so its original owner must have been the former hero Elion.
“That is…?”
“Sertia said to give you that sword if she were to die.”
It was somewhat old, but it would still be usable. After all, it was the sword imbued with the star of the hero.
Ariel took the sword with a complicated expression. She felt the weight of responsibility as the next generation’s hero being passed down.
*
Having awakened the power of the stars, Ariel was no longer someone who could stay at the Academy.
His strength had already surpassed that of the active professors. There was nothing more they could teach him at the Academy.
Therefore, he decided to stand on the battlefield at a young age, according to a hero’s duty. The news spread quickly, and all the students in the Academy came to know.
However, even after quite some time had passed, not one person stepped forward to stand beside him.
That was only natural.
For most of them, life was far more precious than the glory that could be obtained as part of the Hero Party. Besides, not many had the qualifications to stand beside him in the first place.
The Academy’s students were forced to objectively prove their worth, whether they wanted to or not.
Through grades, they would hate knowing their ranks among their classmates.
If someone above them showed fear, that fear would spread.
Before they even attempted to challenge him, their will was broken; it was a harsh reality.
As Ariel was preparing to head into battle alone, a moment came when the people of the Academy understood what kind of person he was.
They knew he was someone who would fulfill his responsibilities even if he had to do it alone, someone who would bear the weight alone rather than drawing attention to it.
While caring for the sword given to him by Albert.
“……”
A day had passed.
“I’m here.”
Sera came to him.
“I-I’m here too.”
Not long after, Klana also arrived.
Sera couldn’t let Ariel go alone; despite having no family and growing up in an orphanage, Ariel was like family to her.
She had simply received the news late due to her training in a secluded area, but she rushed in as soon as she heard.
Klana was delayed from her own pondering, but she too had to step into the battlefield someday, even if she wasn’t part of the Hero Party.
As Ariel bore the weight of the hero’s duty, Klana also had something similar waiting for her.
So after much thought, she decided to go alongside him, just as Sister Head had said.
Thus, the three-member party was formed.
It seemed like the new Hero Party was formed by those three individuals, as many predicted, by giving them the power of choice instead of Ariel choosing.
And then.
“Can I join as well?”
Another figure wished to join the Hero Party.
With long, flowing silver hair and red eyes.
“……”
It was Iria.
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