Mangnani?
"Mother's Touch."
-Saaah...
The moment Lib High Priest murmured those words, a golden energy enveloped my shattered hand.
In the blink of an eye, my hand returned to normal, and I offered him my thanks.
"Thank you, High Priest. I was just wondering what to do about it."
"This is nothing at all. More than that, the brother standing before the Hero looks even more impressive to me."
"Hahaha..."
As I chatted back and forth with Lib High Priest, time slipped away before I knew it. The changing room door opened, and Ariana appeared.
Ariana, now freshly washed and changed into her saintess robes, looked even more holy than before her bath.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, let's head back—oh? Brother...?"
"Ah! I pay my respects to the goddess's most radiant child, Saintess Ariana Astraea!"
Lib High Priest hurriedly clasped his hands together and bowed to Ariana, who returned the greeting with a bright, innocent smile.
"You're the High Priest in charge of the Hero. You've had your hands full."
"N-no! The Hero is currently quite lost, so as one who believes in the goddess, I must guide him onto the righteous path!"
"Hee hee. May the grace of the gods be with you."
"M-may the grace of the gods be with you."
After their brief exchange, Lib High Priest followed behind Ariana and me as we walked side by side.
Before long, we ran into the Hero again. The moment he spotted us, he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Ariana! There you are! Come on, let's go together!"
He reached out for her as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but of course, I blocked him.
Where do you think you're touching so casually?
"Hero, the Saintess has a packed schedule and is very busy."
"What the hell! What do you have so much to do?!"
"The Saintess is scheduled to visit Clover Orphanage, Cat Orphanage, Pure Orphanage, and Well Orphanage. After that, she'll have lunch. Then, she'll offer a short prayer for the victims of the Monster Wave and visit the Holy Knight training grounds to pray for the knights' safety. Finally, she'll prepare to depart for the Empire."
A schedule packed to the brim.
Sorry, Hero, but the Saintess has no time to rest.
Especially no time to fool around with you.
Stunned by the overflowing itinerary, the Hero gaped at me.
Then he cautiously asked me.
"...Those orphanages. Do you really have to go? The orphan brats are probably fine with the nuns taking care of them."
No matter how you sliced it, that wasn't something the Hero should say.
"...Did you say 'orphan brats'?"
"Yeah! Once you've taken in the orphan brats, that's it. Why fuss over them more?"
"...That doesn't sound like something a Hero would say."
"What?"
-Thud.
My hand, heavy with armor, clamped onto the Hero's shoulder.
"Hero, though I'm not that old, allow me to offer some advice that might help you in life."
-Crunch...!
Strength flowed into the hand gripping his shoulder.
"You possess tremendous power—the ability to save lives or take them—and authority."
Confusion clouded the Hero's eyes.
He must be wondering why I was suddenly saying this.
But I had to say it.
"Hero. With great power comes great responsibility. You are the divine apostle chosen directly by the goddess watching over us from above. That's why everyone respects you."
But.
"Yet you keep acting in ways far removed from what a Hero should be. This not only tarnishes your own name but also the goddess who chose you. And we of the Holy Kingdom are prepared to step in at any moment if you cross the line."
In the game, if you try to climb the Demon King's Tree, a secret Holy Knight order dispatched by the Holy Kingdom called the 'Eclipse Sword' appears, triggering a sudden battle.
"To be frank, Hero, you're at a crossroads right now. Will you become a Hero who brings hope to all and earns their respect? Or will you keep living like a spoiled brat and die without saving the world?"
I released his shoulder and dropped to one knee.
A sincere show of respect.
To the speechless Hero, I pleaded with all my heart.
"Please, let me believe in you as the Hero."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Please, let me believe in you as the Hero."
Those were the words spoken by the Saintess's direct Holy Knight to the Hero, Ruin.
It was a grim warning and, at the same time, a desperate plea.
Twisted as he was, Ruin wasn't so dull that he couldn't understand. He had grasped the meaning long ago but couldn't easily open his mouth.
'A mere Holy Knight lecturing me?'
From his arrogant perspective, it was rebellion—a lowly Holy Knight daring to advise the great Hero.
'Great power comes with great responsibility... Why is he pleading so earnestly...?'
It was also bewilderment at the heartfelt plea from a man who seemed so steadfast.
Neither the best nor the worst, Ruin hesitated for a long while before finally forcing his mouth open.
"Hey."
A Hero is always upright.
Harboring that thought in his mind, Ruin spoke to the Holy Knight before him.
"You. Let's have a match."
A match with him, the Hero.
"To see if you're qualified to lecture me."
If he, the goddess-chosen Hero, lost, it might mean the Holy Knight was right.
Twisted as he was, he had never once doubted the goddess.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"You. Let's have a match."
Those were the words the so-called Hero directed at me, a mere Holy Knight.
'I'm screwed.'
Thinking he was finally giving in to his rotten nature and trying to kill me, I looked up.
'His eyes...?'
Contrary to my expectations, the Hero's face held no sneer or arrogance—just an uncomfortable expression.
"Hero! Is is still new to being a Holy Knight—"
"It's fine, Saintess."
I stopped Ariana from stepping in to defend me and stood to face Ruin.
"Very well, Hero. I accept."
"Is...!"
To the worried Ariana, I left words of reassurance.
"It's okay. The goddess watches over us."
I meant it.
Even if, once upon a time, I thought I heard "the last" from the goddess herself.
For just a moment, I thought maybe—just maybe—the Hero could be redeemed.
If I refused his challenge here, the chance might never come again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Are you sure about this? If you're not careful, even my healing might not prevent lasting injuries."
"I'm fine, High Priest Lib. Let's begin."
Lib High Priest looked at me like I was marching to my death.
Somehow ending up as the referee, he seemed to wish I'd back out right then.
Sorry, but for the Hero's redemption, I couldn't retreat.
"Haa... God, please let no great harm come..."
Lib High Priest sighed and offered a prayer, then squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.
"Begin!"
-Shing!
With a chilling ring, the Hero drew his sword from its sheath.
Unlike me, who had already gripped my shotel and shield beforehand, it was an arrogant, lazy move.
"I'm the Hero. I'm not wrong."
-Hummm!
"!!"
The wave of Holy Power surging from the Hero's body made me stagger, losing my balance for a moment.
-Boom!
In that instant, a roar echoed as the Hero appeared before me.
I swiftly raised my shield, infusing it with Holy Power to brace for the impact.
-Kreeeech...!
A horrific screech rang out where his sword met my shield, the shock transmitting through. I immediately used my leg to trip his.
"!! What the fu—"
Unlike me, experienced in back-alley brawls, the Hero easily exposed an opening to such a trick.
I slammed my shield down toward him.
"Hup...!"
But my shield was effortlessly blocked by his left hand. He then swung his sword at the arm holding it.
'Let it go.'
Since he was gripping the shield with full force, I released it without hesitation and leaped back.
-Whoosh!
I barely dodged his sword, but in exchange, my shield was now his.
The Hero lifted it with his left hand, flashing a wicked grin.
"What now that your shield's in my hand? One hit and you're done for?"
Silent, I charged straight at him.
Confident, he raised the shield infused with Holy Power to block, and I swung my shotel right at it.
"You idi—"
-Swipe.
"Wha—?!"
The shield slipped from his hand, hooked by the shotel.
To the panicked man, I offered one piece of advice.
"The shotel is a weapon designed to disarm shields."
Satisfied with a smile, I swung the shotel at him as he panicked without his shield.
-Stab.