Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 104

Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~

Chapter 104   Confluence

Some time had passed since the defeat of a Four Heavenly Kings.

No, perhaps it was some time after the Mermel army, which was about to plunge the world into chaos, had vanished.

Hades, who should have been captured by the clown, quietly appeared out of nowhere.

It could be surmised that the clown had achieved some sort of goal with the defeat of the Four Heavenly Kings, and thus his business with her, the crown princess of the demon world, was over. But the truth could only be confirmed by hearing it from her directly.

But now, more importantly, despite being advised by Gaius, Ars, whose heart was in turmoil over his beloved being kidnapped, acted on impulse.

“Hades!”

“Ah, Ars! D-don’t just hug me all of a sudden… My face feels so hot…”

She probably felt a sense of guilt for not being able to help at the crucial moment. When she showed her face to her companions, she looked away with an embarrassed expression, but that guilty feeling seemed to vanish in an instant under the force of her lover’s embrace.

In fact, as Ars continued to hold her without letting go, her heart began to race more and more, and her face grew increasingly red.

Her expression, with even her ears turning bright red, was that of a girl in love, and with her eyes moist, she seemed to be debating whether to return the embrace of her boyfriend or not.

Meanwhile, above the two of them, the real Mermel, who had caught up to them at some point, was flapping her wings and saying with a grin, “This is youth, isn’t it?”

◇

“…W-What did you say? Is that true?”

“Yes. There is no evidence apart from their own claims, but their power undoubtedly surpassed that of high-level demons, incomparable by any measure.”

The setting was the audience chamber of the palace, the heart of the Kingdom of Garard. The hero’s party was reporting the outcome of the recent turmoil. King Garard was in utter disbelief as he heard the fact that such a formidable entity as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army—a monster capable of single-handedly destroying an entire nation—had been involved.

And it was no wonder. Not only was the power to annihilate an entire country terrifying, but also the fact that such a monster could infiltrate without being detected spoke to the overall might of the demons, a power far beyond that of humans.

It was fortunate that the heroes, who possessed the strength to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings, were present. Had they been delayed or if the demons had attacked after the heroes had left the kingdom, the nation would have stood no chance.

King Garard, though not exceptionally brilliant, was far from foolish. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he had much to ponder regarding this incident.

“This is the power of the hero, said to be humanity’s greatest hope… To defeat the Four Heavenly Kings without any notable damage is a realm of strength beyond my imagination as a mere king. Indeed, you are worthy of the legends.”

Despite his lingering fears, he could not detain those with a mission to save the world. Thus, as a reward for saving the kingdom from the demon threat, King Garard declared that the Labyrinth Kingdom of Garard would, regardless of any treaties made with other nations, offer its full support from now on, no matter what happens.

This act was significant enough to warrant such a response. From the king’s personal perspective, he was willing to place even his own life on the line if it meant supporting them.

To King Garard, protecting and prospering his kingdom was his very purpose. Forming a bond of friendship with the hero’s party equated to securing the strongest defense. In this era plagued by demon threats, he deemed it a connection worth risking his life for.

Knowing that he was not exceptionally brilliant as a king, he could remain humble and carefully consider the moves he needed to make, embodying the wisdom of knowing one’s own limitations—truly a wise king.

“Well done, Hero Ars. However, I must inform you of something, though I regret having to do so right after you’ve resolved this turmoil.”

With these words, King Garard glanced to the corner of the audience chamber. Among the gathered nobles and knights, a familiar face to Ars and his companions stepped forward.

“Would it be better if you explained this matter, Saint Isha?”

“No, that won’t be necessary, King Garard. …And it has been a while, Lord Ars.”

The ones who appeared were none other than Saint Isha Grace de Calamiera and Sword Saint Ein Kruger, both of whom were supposed to be in the religious nation on the human continent.

Ars and Gaius were pleasantly surprised by their arrival, while Amanda reacted with a “Who is this?” expression, and Hades displayed a blatant “Ugh…” look of rivalry and intimidation. There was also a hint of being taken aback mixed in.

Mermel, who had met the saint on a past journey, waved nostalgically and proudly displayed her angelic gold medal, her personal badge of honor. Although the gold medal was a treasured possession for her, the two were puzzled by its sudden presentation, awkwardly smiling and more shocked to see the young girl they once intended to make a maid standing before them.

“Y-You are Princess Isha and Sir Ein…! Why are you here?”

“Wow, following Ars all the way here? Even I’m surprised by this…”

Feeling a slight sense of crisis, Hades moved closer to her boyfriend, showing off their affection with a “He’s mine” stance. Naturally, this had a profound effect on the saint.

“Ugh…! Y-You…!”

“Please calm down, my lady. This is an official setting.”

“Ah!? T-That’s right. O-hohoho. Phew, I’m much calmer now.”

Though she almost lost her temper, the Sword Saint’s words brought her back to her senses, and she began her explanation.

First, representing the Calamiera Church, which acts to save humanity from demons, she thanked them for defeating a powerful demon believed to be one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Next, she explained why they were there: their journey aimed not only to save humanity from the demon threat but also to find the hero.

“And though it is a very sudden request… Lord Ars, as a candidate for the hero of this generation, we would like you to undergo a trial in the Church.”

Although this was framed as a request, it was nearly compulsory. The Church of Calamiera possessed deeper knowledge about heroes than any other nation. More importantly, the foundation of the Church as a religious state was backed by genuine miracles from the gods. Consequently, their crisis management was meticulous.

The Church’s authority on the human continent was formidable, owing to several factors: their exclusive Holy Knight Order, the divine mandate to recognize the birth of heroes and saints, and their unique abilities bestowed by the gods.

To prevent the potential downfall of a hero who had not undergone the trial, the Church had special techniques that only they could provide. This was acknowledged by the kings of various nations, who understood the necessity of ensuring the hero’s preparedness, even if it meant traveling across the sea.

Even if Ars were deemed unsuitable as a hero after the trial, the Church would not change their attitude towards him. They honored him because they recognized his past achievements and believed he could be a savior.

However, the trial was essential. It was a necessary step to confirm his status, even though he was almost certainly the real deal.

“What do you think, Hero Ars?”

“Yes. I will definitely undertake the trial. It seems to be the most direct path at the moment.”

With a resolute nod to King Garard’s inquiry, Ars decided that the Church of Calamiera would be his next destination.