Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 113

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

Chapter 113   Gate of Trials

The low-class demon, who was welcomed as a demonic deity in a different world, had been informed of the truth of the world by the Goddess of Creation for some time.

After a month-long journey, Ars and his group made their way to the imperial capital of the Calamiera Church.

“Squee! Look, it’s Saint Isha-sama!”

“Hey, Vice Commander of the Royal Guard, and Sword Saint Ein-sama are here too!”

“And who’s that red-haired girl? Could she be the hero we found during our travels?”

Perhaps it’s because they were originally popular figures in the western continent as the saint and the sword saint, but the fact that the two returned after several months of departure inevitably led to the assumption that they had found the hero.

As a result, the commotion gradually grew, with the knight order completely guarding the returning saintesses and even erecting barricades, leading to a situation that required such measures.

“Wow. You’re really popular here, aren’t you? Not as much as me in the demon realm, but coming back to the Church makes me realize you’re a saint.”

“Oh, spare me your sarcasm. I’m genuinely dedicated to my duties as a saint! And why on earth are you being mistaken for the hero? I just can’t wrap my head around it!”

While Hades meant it as a genuine compliment, it seems they couldn’t quite accept each other’s words straightforwardly due to being rivals vying for Ars’s attention. By the way, the reason why Ars, who is originally the hero, isn’t recognized as such by the people of the church is because he already has a considerable level of recognition in this imperial capital.

Just as someone who has always thought of him as “not the hero” would not exclaim “Who’s that?” even if he returned with the saintess due to preconceptions. Ever since he was five years old, Ars has been active in martial arts tournaments and has been close friends with Saint Isha and Sword Saint Ein, making this particularly evident.

“Huh? Who cares about that stuff? It’s just a bunch of clueless bystanders making noise. Don’t let it get to you, Saint-sama. That’s why you’re not growing any, you know?”

“Isn’t that the same for you!?”

“Huh? Are you saying… my chest is like a cliff?! You’ve got some nerve!”

“No one’s saying that! And besides, the one who seems to be most concerned about their chest is you…”

Seeing Hades clutching her chest and turning red in the face after receiving such a savage boomerang, Saint Isha couldn’t help but soften her gaze towards her, feeling a little sorry for the pitiful girl.

Apparently not pleased with such rivalry, Hades let out a grumble and then snuggled up to her boyfriend, Ars, seeking comfort.

Truly the princess of the underworld, her methods were so underhanded. Whenever she found herself at a disadvantage, she would dive into his boyfriend’s chest, skillfully seeking solace and comfort. It was incredibly effective on the saintess!

“Haha… I don’t judge women based on the size of their chests, you know? Cheer up, Hades. There, there.”

“U-umm… ‘there, there’ is, is cheating…”

But with Ars’s unexpectedly indulgent response, the princess of the underworld, now with her mind turned to mush, collapsed her face in a blissful expression, and turned her face away so she wouldn’t be seen.

The saintess Isha and Hades, both mentally shattered in a single blow. This round goes to a draw.

As they made their way towards the royal castle, engaging in occasional petty catfights, the group finally arrived at the Pope’s residence to undergo the hero’s trials.

◇

In the private chamber of the Pope, located at the top of Calamiera Castle, the four of them reported their journey’s experiences from the perspective of the saintess, as officially the status of the hero in the church was still undetermined. They took a moment to catch their breath.

Despite being figures at the apex of this country, they had all crossed paths countless times since childhood, except for Hades.

While there was no disrespect, there was still a level of tension where they could relax their shoulders.

Besides the Pope, the Sword Saint Ein’s father, who was practically the number two figure in this country, also stood by. However, upon seeing his returned son and his companions, a natural smile spread across his face.

And it seemed the same sentiment extended to the royal guards protecting the Pope. To the saintess and the Sword Saint, who had identified the hero and deemed them worthy of undergoing trials, everyone proudly stood tall.

“Well done on your return, my daughter… No, Saint Isha. I’ve heard most of the story from the Knight of Swift Horse. It seems you’ve safely found the hero. Though, I never expected our nation’s ally, Lord Kakyu’s son, Ars, to be that hero… This must be the fate that draws heroes and saints together. It seems the legends were indeed true…”

Muttering the legend of the hero and the saint under his breath, the Pope was now half-convinced that Ars was indeed the legendary hero.

Fourteen years ago, he received a prophecy stating that a hero was born around the same time as the saintess. Now, he felt strongly that this prophecy was finally coming true.

In addition to the feat of defeating the Four Heavenly Kings, they received a message from the distant kingdom of Rulans praising Ars for saving various people across the southern continent.

From this, the Pope had no doubt about Ars’s character, strength, and the serendipitous connections with his companions, guided by destiny.

“Your Holiness, if I may be so bold. Now that Her Highness and my son have returned with achievements, before rumors in the city take a turn for the worse, would it not be wise to subject him to the trials?” spoke the Captain of the Holy Knights.

The rumors heading in a negative direction implied that speculation was spreading before the birth of the hero Ars, and before misinformation could spread, the Pope should make an official announcement.

“Hmm… Indeed, that’s a good idea. Let’s leave the discussions for later and focus on the trials for now. Now, let us proceed, all of you, follow me.”

With that, the Pope led the way out of the room. However, the four of them, who had no information about what the trials entailed or what they were supposed to do, exchanged somewhat puzzled looks.

It seemed they were headed to the underground of Calamiera Castle, but they were unsure of what to expect down there.

Even Saint Isha, the Pope’s own daughter, felt perplexed by this and decided to voice her question.

“Um, Father… Where exactly are we?”

“There’s no need to be nervous, Ars. If you are indeed the true hero, the mechanism here will naturally lead to your success… However, even I, as the Pope, am not permitted to intervene in this trial. Or rather, I cannot.”

With a light mutter, the Pope gestured for them to look, and before them lay a vast ceremonial hall.

The most prominent feature was a square altar-like structure, adorned with a golden magic circle, reminiscent of an arena ring. And at the center of the altar was something resembling a “gate.”

Most of those present had no idea what this represented, but only one person, Hades, the prince of the underworld and a specialist in magic beyond human comprehension, understood the concept.

“Huh? What’s with this ridiculously huge teleportation gate?”

The answer was indeed a teleportation gate.

It was an artifact of teleportation, something legendary and impossible to reproduce with human magic technology. Moreover, this altar not only facilitated teleportation but also functioned as a “gate” with specified directions.

For anyone knowledgeable about magic, the implications of this were staggering. If this “gate” could be activated, it would enable unlimited movement to specific locations, without restrictions on the number of people.

The Pope seemed intrigued by such interpretations.

Turning his gaze to Hades, who had arrived at the same conclusion as the legends passed down in the Church, the Pope directed a look of astonishment.

Because this altar was precisely what the Church had been safeguarding in its truest sense, and it could be said to be the very reason for the founding of this nation.

The ability to awaken the hero, the strongest guardian of humanity, and activate it when the time comes, had been the core of the Church’s existence.

Of course, based on this faith, the abundance of those who received blessings from the gods, such as priests, holy knights, or saintesses, could also be considered significant support. However, the primary reason undoubtedly lay in the existence of this teleportation gate.

Yet, just as the saintess was unaware of the legend of the teleportation gate, this information was a closely guarded secret known only to certain individuals within the church or perhaps even to kings of other nations.

“Oh… You understand this, Lady Hades? This is surprising. Indeed, as a specialist in magic, it’s no wonder you’re part of the hero’s group. Despite looking about fifteen, could it be that you’re from a special long-lived species?”

“Huh? Oh, um… Yeah, something like that. A-anyway, let’s activate the teleportation gate quickly. After all, only the power of the hero can activate it, right? And that golden magic feels similar to Ars’s power.”

To avoid revealing too much about herself and potentially being discovered as a demon, Hades quickly changes the subject and tries to divert attention.

However, her words were reasonable, so the Pope nods in agreement. Without further ado, he directs Ars, who is about to undergo the trial, towards the center.

Ars, enveloped in a golden aura, stands upon the magic circle drawn with golden magic.

The power of the key Brave Engine finally leads him to the legendary “Hero’s Trial” as described in the legends.