“Hah.”
The academy courtyard, adorned with a vibrant array of blossoming flowers. Rosaelyn Wenford strolled about aimlessly, letting out a deep sigh.
At this hour, she would usually be sipping coffee with her best friend Diana at Café Blanc Le Rois.
But for some reason, these days, nothing seemed to captivate her attention.
‘Why do I have no appetite these days?’
Feeling down, her heart ached, and she even struggled to get a good night’s sleep. All these symptoms had persisted since the day she started rehearsing for the role of an actor in [The Hegemon-King Li's Consort] with her junior.
‘…Balthazar.’
Originally, he was merely a friendly junior.
For reasons unknown, he appeared different lately.
His face, beyond merely attractive, seemed almost glorified; his arms and shoulders exuded a reassuring yet comforting vibe with subtle muscles, and a broad, cozy embrace emanated an unexplainable sense of security.
Especially when she recalled that day when they went to see the Vanderbeune theater company’s show and he reflexively pulled her in…
“Heugh.”
Even though she tried to hide her worries from her friend, if she were to explain her current situation to Princess Diana, she would probably have concluded that it was most likely the early symptoms of a serious crush.
Just then…
“Oh, Wenford student! There you are!”
A staff member from the academy rushed toward her with quick steps.
He looked at the somewhat reserved Rosaelyn and said, “Wenford student, could you come to the dean’s office for a moment? The dean has a request for you.”
“Uh, you mean… you want to ask me something…?”
“Isn’t Wenford student known as one of the most diligent students in the academy? Your grading from the professors is at the top tier. That’s why I thought you would be the most suitable for this task.”
Adjusting his scruffy beard, the academy dean continued his explanation while sneaking a glance at a girl in the corner of the office.
“Allow me to introduce. This is Maya, the generation’s candidate for the Sword of Heroes. Starting today, she will be attending Bronde as an international student.”
A new student in a school uniform, sitting with a beautiful sword in her lap, had striking blue hair and yellow eyes—the enchanting half-elf beauty.
“There’s no need to overthink it. You just need to provide some modest help to Maya so she can adjust well to life at the academy. You’ll receive extra credits for this as a volunteer activity, so don’t worry.”
“Um, but isn’t it a bit late to enroll in the academy? Can that even be possible?”
“Didn’t I say? She’s just coming as an international student. If you find that expression odd, you can simply call it an ‘observational visit.’”
“Ah…”
“Besides, she is an officially certified candidate for the Sword of Heroes recognized by the imperial court, right? You can think of it as a special allowance from Bronde. Our motto is that the doors of learning are wide open for everyone.”
Waving his hand lightly while glancing again at the candidate, the dean seemed poised to immediately sign a form for extra credits.
“In any case, I’m counting on you, Wenford student. It shouldn’t be a troublesome task.”
“Yes. Understood, Dean.”
It was a somewhat unexpected request, but if viewed as part of the school’s volunteer activities, it wasn’t necessarily bad.
Since it was just helping someone adapt to group life, it shouldn’t take more than a week at most.
As it happened, with the midterm exams having just concluded, her schedule was relatively free.
Furthermore, if the dean’s words were true, this girl was someone who had been given the Sword of Heroes title, just like Phantom. There would be no reason to pass up an opportunity to build connections with a future hero.
…But could it be that Rosaelyn was mistaken?
For some reason, she felt that the other person didn’t seem entirely unfamiliar.
Those golden pupils were fixated on her.
Though she couldn’t recall exactly when, there was an odd feeling like she had seen this somewhere before.
At that moment, the dean snapped his fingers and turned to the candidate.
“Alright. Then first, please guide Maya to the girls’ dormitory. Show her well, since you are a senior at Bronde, Wenford student.”
“…”
“…”
As Rosaelyn and Maya left the dean’s office for the girls’ dormitory, an awkward silence lingered between them.
In fact, this discomfort wasn’t entirely Rosaelyn’s fault.
With her characteristic blunt personality, Maya replied to any question with terse answers, remaining tight-lipped.
Even the cheerful and lively Rosaelyn found it impossible to maintain a conversation that lasted more than two lines against her.
‘Uncomfortable.’
This was a feeling she hadn’t experienced since her father Sir Wenford returned to politics.
As they climbed the stairs, nearly empty on a holiday, Rosaelyn pursed her lips.
She wanted to resolve this ‘burden’ as quickly as possible and breathe freely again.
In the midst of her thoughts…
“…You.”
“Y-Yes? Oh, uh?”
Maya’s voice caused Rosaelyn to unintentionally respond with honorifics. It was an unconscious pressure stemming from Maya’s status as a candidate for hero.
How absurd was it that a simple observer like Maya didn’t feel any problem in calling her ‘you’ while she felt such pressure?
Maya, who had been staring intently at Rosaelyn, quietly added.
“Wu Hee?”
“Uh? Ahh, you knew?”
Finally understanding the meaning of Maya’s words, Rosaelyn clapped her hands together.
With a somewhat subtle sense of anticipation, she asked, “That’s right. I played Wu Hee during the show of [The Hegemon-King Li's Consort]. Do you like [The Hegemon-King Li's Consort] too?”
“Yeah. I like it.”
Finally!
As they successfully connected through conversation, a bright smile blossomed on Rosaelyn’s face.
This first word she spoke—“Wu Hee”—was surely an indication that she enjoyed Phantom’s plays.
In the choking atmosphere, the thought that a commonality had finally emerged was overwhelmingly joyful.
“Maya, I see you love Phantom’s works, right?”
Riding the wave, Rosaelyn’s eyes sparkled as she attempted to chatter like typical schoolgirls.
“Admiral Lee, Julius Caesar, Chaplin’s Comedy, Exodus, and Dialogues. And don’t forget the newly released Cthulhu Mythos? Of course, I’m a scaredy-cat, so I haven’t seen Cthulhu Mythos, but still…”
“No.”
“Wha-What? You don’t like them?”
“Yeah.”
Once again, the response was quickly spat out in a flat tone.
In fact, there was no emotion or malice in her calm voice.
Consequently, the mood that had just revived quickly cooled down again.
Clearing her throat, Rosaelyn cautiously asked for an explanation.
“Why? Even if the topics differ, all are unprecedented masterpieces. Why do you like [The Hegemon-King Li's Consort] and not the others? They are being recurrently performed as well.”
Maya’s answer was simple.
“Xiang Yu is absent.”
“…Xiang Yu?”
What did Xiang Yu have to do with this?
As Rosaelyn pondered in confusion, Maya lifted her arm and pointed to her chest.
A shiny Orichalcum medal was pinned beside the academy’s emblem.
Pointing to the text inscribed on its surface, Maya declared in a firm voice.
“I’m only interested if it’s about Xiang Yu. That’s why I just like [The Hegemon-King Li's Consort].”
iEvil Equals Cutting, Little Hegemon
i‘Hero of the Sword (Candidate), Maya
“Hmm, Little Hegemon…?”
Putting aside Evil Equals Cutting, what does ‘Little Hegemon’ mean?
“I want to become strong like Xiang Yu. But I won’t walk the path of bloodshed like Xiang Yu.”
Maya explained the term while directing her attention to Rosaelyn’s bewilderment.
“So my master told me. You can emulate Xiang Yu’s strengths while treating his weaknesses as lessons. That’s why I won’t become a Hegemon. Instead, I will be a Little Hegemon who walks a different path from Xiang Yu.”
“M-Master?”
Out of nowhere, who’s this master?
Rosaelyn was bemused, biting her lip slightly as if the conversation didn’t add up.
Though she was a half-elf, the other person was just as human as she was.
So they should be able to understand each other; yet, it felt as if Maya was talking to a wall.
Normally, one would feel a sense of discomfort from someone like Maya and keep a distance.
…But the sweet-hearted Rosaelyn, recognized by her junior Balthazar, felt differently.
‘Really, I’ll have to take good care of her.’
This feeling of anxiety, like leaving a newborn by the waterside.
That’s why Rosaelyn felt she couldn’t possibly ignore Maya.
Maybe helping her adapt might actually take longer than a week, she mused inwardly.
“How about you? Do you like Xiang Yu?”
“Eh?!”
Startled by the sudden question, Rosaelyn’s face turned bright red.
It brought back memories of her playing alongside Balthazar, who played Xiang Yu, in a love scene on stage.
“Ahh, heugh… Um, that…”
As Rosaelyn stuttered like a broken wind-up doll, Maya casually declared.
“I do! I like Xiang Yu.”
“…Ah! Y-Yeah! Me too! I like Xiang Yu!”
Finally catching the meaning of her phrase, Rosaelyn nodded vigorously, stumbling over her words.
Well, the candidate for the Sword of Heroes wouldn’t possibly know who played Xiang Yu.
That was a secret shared only between her, Balthazar, Professor Gabi, and the Geloroushina staff.
Phew, Rosaelyn sighed in relief.
“So you admire Xiang Yu’s strength? The audacity of overpowering everyone with sheer force?”
“Yeah. As Han Xin said, more power is better. The stronger the better.”
“Really?”
“But even if I gain power, I won’t be cruel like Xiang Yu.”
Maya touched the Orichalcum medal hanging proudly on her chest, tracing the inscription with her finger.
“I am the candidate for a hero. Hence, I’ll only defeat the genuinely evil ones. I swore that I would never forgive the evils of this world.”
“…”
Though she had her quirks, somehow Maya’s mindset wasn’t malicious.
Meanwhile, while gazing at the innocent girl, Rosaelyn regained her warm smile.
She began to think that it might not be too hard to get to know her after all.
“Here? This will be your room, Maya.”
Room 503 on the 5th floor of the dormitory, where no roommates had been assigned.
It might be a little lonely, but Rosaelyn pulled out the key to the larger space, saying, “If you get bored, feel free to come to my room. It’s right below at Room 401. Let’s go to the café together and see cute cats and squirrels too.”
“I will. Thanks, Wu Hee.”
“Oh, no. Wu Hee is the name of a character. I’m Rosaelyn Wenford.”
“Rosaelyn, Wenford?”
“That’s right. Just call me Rosaelyn. Got it?”
Rosaelyn spoke as if explaining to a child learning a language for the first time.
And Maya quietly nodded along, staring blankly at her.
Amid such moments, an odd friendship began to blossom between the modern-day Xiang Yu and Wu Hee.
iFlap! iKaok! Kaok!
“Gah?! Wh-What’s that?”
Suddenly, several black feathers fluttered in the hallway. Startled, Rosaelyn squeaked like a bird and took a step back.
Just beside Room 503, a large window was set up in the hallway.
A multicolored parrot had suddenly landed on the railing, its talons extended, with a shimmering necklace around its neck and crumpled scroll firmly clutched in its beak.
“Oh? A messenger bird used for military purposes?”
Being the daughter of Sir Wenford, Rosaelyn could recognize it immediately.
A creature bred through magic to deliver information swiftly on the battlefield.
It bobbed its head, signaling Maya to come forth.
As Maya approached and extended her hand…
Woosh!
Flap!
The bird promptly dropped the letter on her palm and took to the skies.
“What’s going on? Why is a messenger bird here at the academy all of a sudden?”
“A letter just came.”
“A letter…?”
Maya murmured next to a bewildered Rosaelyn.
Staring at the crimson seal on the letter, she remarked, “An emergency letter only a hero candidate can open.”
i<><><><><><>
“Aaah! Cthulhu is coming! The Yellow-Clad King Hastur is competing for the continent’s dominance!”
“Shut up, you idiot.”
“Ehehe.”
After the late-afternoon lecture, I returned to my two-person room.
I was exchanging light words with my roommate Maurice when the conversation turned silly.
“Wow, the influence of the Cthulhu Mythos is truly beyond imagination. I mean, how can a horror play help catch devil-worshipping organizations lurking throughout the empire?”
Maurice chuckled, tapping my shoulder before exclaiming in admiration, “I heard rumors Phantom used the Cthulhu Mythos to deliver a divine warning. Is that true? Did a heavenly revelation really come in a dream?”
“What nonsense. If that had happened, I would have switched to being a clergyman immediately.”
“Hehehe, really? But you can’t become a clergyman, can you? I mean, what about Rosaelyn-senpai and the princess?”
“Shut it.”
Just brushing off the light-hearted banter felt fine.
However, I was honestly taking this situation more seriously than I had been letting on.
No matter how stunning a piece it had been, to think that a single horror play could result in such unexpected repercussions.
It was a wholly different scale of aftermath from what had previously happened.
Suddenly, feeling the weight of the Hero Candidate medal I had hidden next to the half-used Philosopher’s Stone in the drawer weighed heavily.
If misused by someone with ill intentions, it could lead to far-reaching consequences.
‘If I were to play with such a pen, I could potentially cause a terrible outcome as well.’
So I began to feel a strong need to approach the future with more caution.
Not for the sake of contributing to the world nor for lofty moral purposes.
But rather, to prevent this world from plunging into chaos and evilness due to my reincarnation as Balthazar.
‘…Alright.’
Since I had made such a resolution, I decided that my next work should focus on melodrama.
While horror or political plays can bring about evil, touching stories can never yield such outcomes.
Of course, in Korea, melodrama often suffers harsh criticisms of being “tear-jerking.”
But that criticism applies only to the forced, tear-jerking nonsense.
A well-crafted melodrama, on the other hand, can evoke warm emotions and create a touching catharsis.
It can instill feelings of harmony, understanding, and empathy in the audience.
‘Now the key is who to center the melodrama around to achieve that 100% effectiveness.’
Was there a figure with a life so touching that even just hearing about them would swell the chest with emotions?
While lost in such thoughts, I heard…
“Oh, right. Here, take this, Balthazar.”
Maurice suddenly said, pulling something out of his pocket.
“What? A letter? Did the princess send another one?”
“No? It looks like it came from the imperial court.”
Shrugging, Maurice handed a piece of paper to me.
He pointed at the purple seal stamped on the letter and explained.
“Here. It seems it’s structured so that only Phantom, with the Hero Candidate medal, can read it after using it.”
“Really?”
A letter sent with such secrecy that it required the Hero Candidate medal to unlock?
What sort of news was considered important enough to be so protected?
Could it possibly be a top-secret notice regarding the newly established Lovecraft Foundation?
Crinkle!
As I brought the Orichalcum medal closer, the magic wax crumbled easily like flour.
After dusting it off in the communal trash can to avoid messing up the desk, I pulled the letter out.
And as I read the contents within…
“Hmm?”
I couldn’t help but frown in surprise.
“In 3 days, a summons for the heroes’ candidates at the Ezelde Cathedral? There’s an urgent matter to be communicated regarding the safety of the hero’s candidates?”
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