116 – Qualifications of a Hero – 1

“The Empire?”

“Indeed. I would like to recommend you as a Hero.”

Gi-jun let out a low groan at the words that came from Fatum.

Of course, it was something he had expected to some extent, but…

“Why are you saying such a thing at this of all times?”

“I have already roughly estimated your capabilities. However, because your inclination is excessively defensive, I was somewhat worried about whether you would be able to perform actively as a Hero, but…”

It was clear that this arrogant lizard had not yet properly tasted Gi-jun’s Moonlight Blood Fangs.

After all, when dealing with the Tsukumogami, he had smashed the enemy in a single blow with Shield Bash without even the chance to show off Moonlight Blood Fangs.

The examiner, who did not know how sharp Gi-jun’s shield could be, continued with a serious expression.

“However, seeing the companions you have brought along, I was able to be certain. From the Cait Sith, the magician, and the spirit summoner, to the adversaries of darkness. You are fully qualified as a leader.”

Gi-jun, who flinched for a moment at the word ‘spirit summoner,’ realized that it referred to Tilla, not himself, and wore a bitter smile.

Fatum, who misunderstood the meaning of his smile, hurriedly continued.

“Relying on one’s companions is not shameful in the least. Rather, leading party members with diverse personalities without any problems can also be said to be a qualification of a Hero.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“With them, you will be able to perform fully as a Hero, and once you are officially recognized by the Tyrannus Empire as a Hero representing the Light Faction, your future activities will become much easier.”

Besides that, there was the fact that the entire civilization to which the Hero belonged could be respected on the Leta continent, or the tax benefits one could receive when becoming a Hero as a summoned person, and so on.

Fatum, who had maintained a taciturn attitude when they first met, was now rattling off the benefits of becoming a Hero as if he were possessed by a home shopping host.

It was certainly a story that made him nod along automatically, but—after pondering for a moment, Gi-jun shook his head.

Fatum, frowning, let out a faint sigh and asked.

“Is the name of Hero too heavy?”

“For now, yes. I haven’t been on the Leta continent for long. My foundation is weak. As you said, my own strength is lacking. Whatever the case, it’s too early.”

Just looking at Fatum, one could tell how grand the position of a Hero was.

Although it was partly because the blood of the imperial family flowed through his veins, Lectus, who was nominally the crown prince of a kingdom, personally escorting him was one thing, and except for Gi-jun’s party who were not well-versed in Leta’s affairs, didn’t everyone else fall flat on their faces before Fatum at the mere mention of the word ‘Hero’?

Since Fatum himself went so far as to say he would suppress the Magic Tower, it was only natural.

‘In terms of carrying out his own will without yielding to external pressure, a Hero like Fatum might indeed deserve to be called a superhuman. But that is only when one has the ability to handle the aftermath.’

Gi-jun did not particularly agree with the saying that great power came with great responsibility, but he knew very well that great responsibility came with great danger.

For him, who was still lacking in protecting himself and his companions, this was the reason the name of Hero felt heavy.

“…Strange. I feel a relaxed ease unique to those who have adapted to Leta from you, though.”

Even so, Fatum nodded, as if saying it couldn’t be helped if Gi-jun himself felt lacking.

However, that did not mean he would quietly back down either.

“My mind remains unchanged. Among the candidates I have seen so far, you are the most worthy of the name of Hero. I feel the fate of an adversary of darkness from you.”

Perhaps this was referring to the title Gi-jun held, ‘The Last Hero.’

“So, even if it is not right now, I hope you will make a decision as soon as possible.”

“Is there a reason you are in a hurry?”

“…”

At the question asked without much thought, Fatum seemed slightly agitated.

However, he soon calmed his expression, nodded heavily, and spoke.

“You will know soon.”

Gi-jun exchanged messenger IDs with Fatum, signaling his intention to seriously consider the position of a Hero.

His Letok ID was [75th Hero of Light].

“Alright, then… Gin, Lora.”

“Yes, Jun-nim.”

“Did you call?”

At the call of Gi-jun, who turned around after finishing his conversation with Fatum, Gin and Lora stood up from their seats as if they had been waiting.

Since all the conversations that had taken place at the table so far were heavy and important, the way they had shrunk back, unable to hold their heads up properly, was a little cute.

“Let me see your skills. Or would it be better to rest a bit first?”

“No!”

Gin replied, his two ears perking up.

“We have rested enough, and… now, when we are overflowing with energy after eating Jun-nim’s cooking, seems best.”

“I want to show you my skills, too.”

Lora also spoke in a spirited voice.

The sword she wore at her waist now seemed to suit her quite well, bringing a smile to Gi-jun’s lips as he looked at her.

“Alright, let’s spar right away to help digest the food.”

As Gi-jun, Gin, and Lora moved to the training ground in the villa’s basement, not only Tilla but also Fatum naturally followed behind them.

He thought they were just going to watch, but surprisingly, as soon as they stepped onto the wide floor, the two of them widened their distance and started keeping each other in check.

“Are you two sparring as well?”

“Yeah, I’m curious about the Hero’s skills.”

“Because she seems exceptionally strong even among the Hero’s companions.”

One was the Hero of Light, and the other was a powerhouse for whom it wouldn’t be strange to step into the legendary realm at any moment.

As the saying went that the strong recognized one another, Gi-jun was simply dumbfounded as he watched the two immediately enter a spar as if they had made a promise beforehand.

The training ground quickly heated up with the heat emitted by Tilla and the aura unleashed by Fatum.

He was trying to check the progress of the growing kids, but this feeling of giants over several meters tall measuring their heights and mocking each other right next to them was simply too much.

“…Let’s ignore them and start as well.”

“We’ll begin immediately!”

Gin, aiming his shotgun at Gi-jun without any hesitation, poured out three slug rounds simultaneously.

One could tell that his speed in aiming, his aim, his skill in firing at the gaps in breathing, and even the bullet velocity that had accelerated under the influence of mana had all grown exponentially.

—Crash!

However, the speed was slightly lacking to overcome Gi-jun’s reaction speed, and the power was slightly lacking to pierce his shield, which had turned into divine iron.

“Hup!”

At that moment, without missing the opening created by Gin, Lora immediately charged at Gi-jun.

Digging into the momentary blind spot that was inevitably created by the shield’s movement, the way she nimbly drew her sword and slashed was quite chilling.

—Clang! Clan-clang!

Her attack did not end with just a single block.

She rapidly moved the hand holding her sword, unleashing a storm of strikes from both sides that forced Gi-jun to deploy both of his shields.

Had she applied Ishtar’s Blessing to herself to boost her abilities?

The red blood power running along the blade harmonized with Lora’s holy power, emitting a sinister radiance.

‘Mmm, as expected, Lora has gotten faster too. Furthermore, perhaps because she has lost her hesitation to shed blood, she has become much bolder. Since her recovery rate is good, this is the wiser approach.’

Gi-jun paid attention to Gin’s movements even while constantly deflecting her attacks.

Although he did not know how Gin had been taught, Gin had learned how to use the Shadow Tracking that Ruthven used, but because he was not very proficient, he had only practiced it alone until now.

However, having gone through real combat, he now seemed quite adept at using the ability.

While he was held up by Lora, Gin, who had moved stealthily through the shadows, fired a pistol bullet aiming at Gi-jun’s opening!

“Kya!”

“Ack!”

Gi-jun twisted his body as if he had been waiting for it.

Gin’s bullet embedded itself in the thigh of Lora, who had been attacking with power behind her sword only to suddenly lose Gi-jun’s movement and lean forward.

Gi-jun lightly swung his shield to push away Lora, whose chest was momentarily left wide open, and then threw his shield, striking the head of Gin, who had frozen in shock at the fact that Lora was injured by his own bullet.

“You guys, planning a strategy in advance and viciously digging only into my openings is good, but…”

Gi-jun shrugged his shoulders as he looked alternately at Lora, who had dropped her sword and sat looking at her wound, and Gin, who was spread-eagled on the floor after being directly hit by Flash Throw.

“It’s not good to move too strictly according to plan either. Lora, you were guiding your attack just now to make it difficult for me to defend the back of my knees, weren’t you?”

“Yes…”

Lora nodded, pulling out the bullet embedded in her thigh without letting out a single groan.

“Then that was basically the same as promising that Gin would attack there. Once the opponent reads your intentions, it’s over. Moreover, Gin, it’s not good to lose your focus immediately just because of a single mistake.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry…”

“Still, you did well. It was quite sharp and quite fast. Gin’s Shadow Tracking was also excellent, and especially Lora, you have completely gotten used to close-quarters combat now.”

Although he had criticized them plenty, it was true that Gin and Lora’s abilities had grown.

Honestly, before this, both of them had felt awkward, as if they were wearing clothes that didn’t fit, but now they had no such feeling.

They must have built up their basic abilities through sparring with Gi-jun and Tilla, and established their own combat styles by undergoing real battles in dungeons.

However, it couldn’t be helped that their shortcomings were still noticeable.

“But you guys can’t be satisfied with this kind of report card, right?”

“Huh? I… Ah, yes!”

“Of course!”

Lora, whose expression had relaxed just from receiving a word of praise, soon shook her head vigorously and replied in a loud voice.

Gin, who had been depressed for a reason different from what Gi-jun had expected, also replied in kind after seeing Lora’s reaction.

“Good, then let’s start again. Before that.”

Gi-jun threw a pistol he pulled from his coat to Gin.

Gin, who caught it with both hands, checked the item’s information and widened his eyes.

The Unique-Plus grade pistol, Bastitas.

It was a masterpiece no less than the pistol Ruthven had passed down, and it was also an item imbued with a deep karma, having been wielded by the vampire hunter Krat van Helsing.

Although it was not the original, depending on how Gin handled it in the future, it could easily surpass the original.

“Jun-nim, this is…”

“Practice dual wielding pistols as well. It won’t be bad.”

“…Understood!”

Unlike Gin, who replied with a deeply moved expression, Lora puffed her cheeks slightly as she watched.

When Gi-jun cast his gaze on her, she put on an innocent face as if nothing had happened, stood up, and then—

grabbing the hem of her nun’s habit, she ripped it to make the side slit even deeper.

“Lora?”

“It was just uncomfortable to move in. Let’s start the spar, Jun-nim.”

“Al… Alright.”

Gi-jun could not ask any further.

However, he resolved to give Lora a present next time.

* * *

Ji-hye was well aware that she was an outstanding magician.

She was confident that, at least among those who swaggered around playing magician in the tutorial channel where one million and one Earthlings were summoned, she was the most outstanding.

To become a magician, one did not just have to be smart.

The sense to accept mana and manipulate it smoothly was important, and the ability to translate intuition into feasible magic theory was also crucial.

“How can this be…! This is a revolution! To think a magician of humble human origin with shallow experience possesses such a deep understanding of the mana circuit!”

“Watch your words, Professor. She is walking the path of a High Human. She must not be treated like other humans.”

However, she had not expected there would be people who would value her so highly.

She had expected even less that they would make such a fuss over the Rare-grade mana circuit she had created.

“Do you have any intention of disclosing all of this, Ji-hye?”

It was a table where she sat facing the magicians of the Magic Tower.

Leisurely stroking Nabinya, who was disguised as a normal cat and loafing on her lap, Ji-hye tried exceedingly hard not to let it show that she was flustered.

Because the magicians’ reaction was so different from what she had expected, she needed some time to organize her thoughts.

“Mmm.”

In fact, it had felt a bit awkward to enter the Magic Tower empty-handed, so she had brought the structural diagram of the mana circuit she had completed herself, hoping to prove that she possessed at least the minimum qualifications.

Seeing how every single one of the Magic Tower’s magicians was astonished, she began to think that it might be a bit of a waste to hand it over so easily.

“Of course, I intend to disclose it, but the truth is, I haven’t been on the Leta continent for long, so I don’t know much about the Magic Tower. I would like to stay here for a few days and take some time to judge whether it is appropriate to entrust myself to this place. Would that be alright?”

“Mmm, as for our Magic Tower—”

“Of course that is possible!”

Although there were those who thought it was a rather arrogant attitude for a newcomer, the common mana circuit for close-range classes that Ji-hye had brought was outstanding enough to excuse such arrogance.

Rather than exposing all her cards right away, one’s leverage was bound to be stronger when the other party still wanted something from them, so Ji-hye’s gamble could be considered a perfect success.

“Then let us guide you through the Magic Tower, Ji-hye. I hope it pleases you.”

“Please take good care of me.”

Ji-hye gave an ambiguous smile to the magicians bowing to her and followed them to enter the Magic Tower.

Fortunately, it did not seem like this uncomfortable infiltration mission would last very long.

—Sigh, this is hopeless. The stench of rot is so overwhelming that I don’t even know where to begin.

Surprisingly, the interior of the Animo Magic Tower had completely devolved into a black magician’s workshop, without even any need for Nabinya to go search.