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“You… were a Hero?”

Even though he had realized the man’s identity, Ian’s words came out informal. Some might consider it disrespectful, but the man didn’t seem to mind. He neither pointed it out nor denied the fact that he was a Hero. Instead, he gave a calm nod.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Sigel, serving under the Second Lord, Dandeot, the Guardian.”

Hero, Sigel.

How could Ian not know that name? If you were to ask a passerby to name the first of the twelve Heroes that came to mind, eight out of ten, or maybe even eighty out of a hundred, would say Sigel. Ian was no exception.

Sigel was famous for wandering the continent, hunting down beasts.

What was particularly remarkable was that he worked alone, without any companions, and the number of beasts he had exterminated had long passed the triple digits.

It was no wonder people called him the Beast Slayer.

Of course, that was all before Ian’s regression. Still, even now, Ian couldn’t hide the admiration in his eyes.

A Hero—just that title alone commanded respect. They were humanity’s hope, the light in the darkness.

“It’s an honor.”

“An honor?”

“I’ve wanted to meet you at least once for a long time.”

Only after his regression had such an opportunity finally come.

Surely, this must be how someone feels when they meet their idol. Ian couldn’t stop the smile of joy from creeping onto his face.

“Me? Or the Hero?”

“You.”

Sigel’s previously stoic face darkened slightly. It was a subtle change, but Ian noticed it immediately.

“You know about me?”

“I’ve heard stories. Since you’re a Hero around my age, I was naturally curious.”

“That’s surprising. I think I understand how you felt earlier. But unlike you, there shouldn’t be much known about me, especially in this region.”

Ian nodded in agreement.

“You’re right, there isn’t much known. But your selection as a Hero was quite famous. Out of all the contenders, you were said to be the most honest, the most skilled—”

“And the lowest born.”

Ian blinked, surprised at the bitterness in Sigel’s voice. He continued speaking, his tone filled with a quiet resignation.

“…I was a slave.”

That wasn’t too shocking to Ian, as he had already known. Later, someone jealous of Sigel’s fame would maliciously spread this information, making it an open secret.

Still, hearing such a heavy confession only minutes into meeting him was disorienting.

At a loss for words, Ian could only stare, while Sigel’s face remained expressionless.

“I was also the son of a traitor.”

“Uh, right. Why are you telling me this now, exactly?”

“I’m telling you not to see meeting me as an honor. I’m not as great as you think. And it’s better for you to know now so you won’t be too disappointed later when you learn about who I really am.”

Ian’s expression soured. It wasn’t the fact that Sigel had been a slave that bothered him, but rather his gloomy attitude. And Ian realized something.

“I think I get it.”

“…Get what?”

“It looks to me like you revealed your past to someone you trusted, and they either looked down on you or were disgusted. That must’ve been recent, too. Now you’re pushing people away the moment you meet them, trying to keep your distance. I could be wrong, but how close am I?”

Heroes were supposed to be strong not only in body but also in mind. Seeing him like this, though, it seemed that wasn’t always the case.

Well, it was still an early age to be mature. The title of Hero had likely concealed his true nature, but in the end, they were human like everyone else.

“Still, that was an unnecessary concern. Status? It means nothing to me.”

“For a noble, isn’t status everything?”

Sigel squatted down to meet Ian’s eye level, as if inviting him to elaborate. His eyes were cold and unreadable, but the atmosphere was tense—like he might swing his sword if he didn’t like the answer.

Ian spoke slowly.

“For some, it might be everything. But in other words, for some, it’s nothing. I can confidently say I fall into the latter.”

“How so?”

“You might not believe me, but I’ve experienced rock bottom. You were a slave who became a Hero, right? I was a noble who ended up in a situation not too different from a slave. I’ve done all kinds of work, learned all sorts of things. Because of that, I can say this.”

“…Ho.”

Sigel hadn’t heard anything like this before. He was suspicious of Ian’s words, but then quickly dismissed the doubt.

Ian’s eyes held no trace of falsehood; they were steady and proud.

“Of course, status does play a role in judging someone. Opportunities come easier to those in better circumstances, and they can use those opportunities to grow stronger. But that doesn’t make it absolute. There are all kinds of people in the world.”

“……”

“If you’re a gem, you won’t lose your shine just because you’re in the dirt. You’re only hidden.”

“And how do you know whether I’m a gem or just a stone?”

“You dig it out and see.”

“Hah.”

Sigel let out a short laugh.

“Interesting. Then tell me—am I a gem or a stone in your eyes?”

“To me, you’re a gem. You saved me, after all.”

“And if someone sees me as a stone?”

“Then they’re a fool who doesn’t know how to recognize a gem. Sigel, maybe you were a slave before, but now you’re a Hero chosen by the Lord. I don’t know what’s making you so downcast, but have some confidence. I’m not the only one—most people wouldn’t care that you used to be a slave.”

“Even if I’m the son of a traitor?”

“You’re still a Hero, beyond that.”

“And if I weren’t a Hero?”

“Then it would come down to your attitude and actions. Whether you become a gem or a stone is up to you, not anyone else.”

Sigel nodded slowly.

“Is that so? I hadn’t thought about it that way. To think I’d find comfort in a place like this.”

“I didn’t expect it either. I didn’t think this was how a conversation with a Hero would go.”

“If I’ve made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

Sigel reached into his coat, rummaging through his pocket, before pulling something out.

“Here. Take it.”

Ian instinctively held out his hand. Something light fell into his palm.

Looking at it, he saw a small model of a sword.

It was about the length of two finger joints, and the craftsmanship was impeccable, especially the hilt and guard, which were intricately detailed.

On the blade, the name “Sigel” and the number 1 were engraved, and a faint holy aura radiated from it.

Ian’s eyes widened in surprise.

This…

“It’s called the Golden Crest. It’s something awarded by the Temple to those who’ve made great contributions, or as a token of gratitude when a Hero owes a personal debt. Try channeling your mana into it—just a little will do.”

Following his instructions, Ian channeled a small amount of mana, and the sword began to glow with a soft, radiant light.

“Ah.”

“Now that it’s fully yours, it will only respond to your mana. I’ll report to the Temple that it has been granted to you. Therefore, be careful not to transfer it to others or lose it.”

“Does it have any other effects besides shining?”

Previously, Ian had received a similar token from a Hero before his regression, but he hadn’t been given detailed information about it. Fortunately, it seemed that Sigel was well-informed about such tokens.

“The token itself is almost like a sacred artifact. It should be able to ward off minor illnesses. Unless deliberately damaged, it’s unlikely to break easily. However, its true significance lies more in what it represents. By displaying it, everyone associated with the Temple will treat you with the proper respect. Moreover, it will help you acquire better weapons.”

“The Demium Workshop operated by the Inoria Foundation. Right?”

“…I’m amazed. Few know about that.”

“I visited there recently, hoping to purchase artifacts. But I was chased away because I didn’t have the qualifications. I didn’t expect to meet one of the qualification requirements so quickly.”

Ian attached the token to his cloak. Its color was conspicuous, but it was of more use worn than kept in a pocket.

“Ugh.”

At that moment, Angelo stirred, groaning and twitching.

Ian sighed and stood up. Although he was still tired, he felt he had rested enough.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Ah… Sir Ian.”

Angelo tried to stand, wincing as he clutched his side.

When he saw the head of the Baphomet, which was lying severed, he flinched but then looked relieved and apologetic.

“I’m sorry. I came to help, but I ended up being a hindrance.”

“Thanks to your blessing, it was manageable. How are you feeling? Can you move?”

“Please, give me a moment.”

Angelo began channeling holy power to heal himself. Though it took some time, he soon managed to stand.

“Shall we return to the village now?”

“No. Before heading to the village, there’s another place we need to visit.”

Angelo looked at Sigel with puzzled eyes.

“And this person is?”

“This is Hero Sigel. He serves the Second Lord.”

“Eh? Then…! The one who defeated the Baphomet is—”

“No. That wasn’t me, it was Ian. I arrived after he had already defeated the beast.”

“I-I see.”

Angelo seemed unable to hide his excitement at meeting a Hero.

He looked like he wanted to say something but refrained, taking a step back and keeping silent.

“Where exactly are we going?”

“Even though the Baphomet is dead, it’s not over yet. Follow me.”

As they followed Sigel, they arrived at a small mountain connected to the forest, which concealed a hidden cave.

There was nothing particularly special about it. It looked like a place where a bear might hibernate for the winter.

But as Sigel drew his sword from his waist and swung it through the air, the atmosphere changed dramatically.

An evil aura began to pour out of the cave as if it had been unleashed.

“Isn’t this dangerous?”

It was visible even before feeling it on the skin. Thick darkness was crawling out of the cave. Ian, tense, asked Sigel about it, who shook his head.

“If there was a master here, it might be.”

So this was the Baphomet’s lair. Sigel waved his hand, and a golden light enveloped Ian and Angelo.

Indeed, this was the divine power befitting a Hero. Comparing it to Angelo’s blessing, it felt dramatically different.

“Go ahead.”

Sigel led the way into the cave.

Ian followed behind, trying to create light with fire, but it wasn’t necessary.

The divine light emanating from Sigel was dispelling the darkness. As a result, the tentacle-like darkness couldn’t approach. Instead, it writhed and seemed to scream in pain before vanishing when it came into contact with the light.

Despite this strange sight, Sigel did not stop his stride.

The cave was much deeper than expected. Fortunately, the passage was wide enough for three people to walk side by side and high enough that they didn’t have to bend over.

However, the strong, foul smell was unpleasant.

“Ugh…!”

Unable to endure any longer, Angelo turned around and retched.

“There’s a common trait among magical beasts. Do you know what it is?”

Perhaps disliking the awkward silence, Sigel initiated conversation. After a brief pause, Ian answered.

“They make their lairs in secret places, prepare altars, and offer sacrifices to external powers.”

“You’re confident.”

“Is it wrong?”

“No, it’s correct. Therefore, you need to find and destroy their lair. Otherwise, you can’t say it’s over.”

How kind of him to explain all this.

Although Ian already knew this, he appreciated that Sigel was attentive. Such information wasn’t widely known yet.

“And if we leave it?”

“It would likely be used as a stronghold for a dark sorcerer or become a nest for magical creatures. They’re adept at finding such hidden places.”

“…I see.”

“Once you’ve calmed down, let’s continue. We’re almost there.”

———-