Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 99

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

Chapter 99   King and Saint

The day after they arrived in the desert nation, the Labyrinth Kingdom of Garard.

After taking a night’s rest, Ars and his party went out to buy the supplies needed for their exploration, each going about their own business in the castle town to prepare for their departure in a few days.

“I’ll take all of this finest meat, thanks.”

“W-What!? You? L-Little girl, you can’t possibly pay for all that, can you?”

And here we have one little angel who should never be left alone. Using the substantial funds provided, she buys up meat for a campfire, flaunting the magic tool bag she received from her grandpa, the king of the magical kingdom of Rulans, while puffing out her small chest proudly.

“It’s fine. Even though I look like this, I’m an elite and quite rich. I can eat all of it, you know?”

“Eat all of it, you say…? But that magic bag, could it be…?”

The butcher started to notice something suspicious about the little girl.

Carrying a magic bag that even nobles rarely possess and boldly demanding high-quality meat, this little girl was clearly no ordinary child.

And then he remembered.

There were rumors about the hero’s party being welcomed with great fanfare upon entering the royal capital, which included a particularly confident and brazen little girl among them.

He began to break out in a cold sweat, realizing that this little girl with the sunglasses and the gold medal might be one of the hero’s companions.

Once that impression took hold, there was no doubt in his mind that the little girl before him was someone of great importance.

In any case, to avoid displeasing the hero and his companions, who might be more important than the king, the butcher even considered giving the meat for free.

However, Mermel, who learned the concept of purchasing items during their journey and was taught by King Rulans that anything given should be in recognition of rightful achievements and evaluations, refused the offer.

“No, it won’t do. If I don’t pay properly, the person selling the meat can’t make a living. Grandpa the king taught me a lot, and I understand your feelings. So, here. This is the rightful reward for the finest meat.”

The gold coins she took out were exactly the right amount to pay for the meat she ordered.

Mermel, not entirely sure but feeling that this amount should settle things, handed over the coins. Her intuition was spot on.

“Your calculation is incredibly fast… As expected of the hero’s companion.”

“Hehe, is that so? But if you can’t do at least this much, you can’t be considered a proper lady.”

The fact that she calculated the payment much faster than the butcher could tally the price confirmed for him that this little girl possessed extraordinary abilities despite her appearance.

He couldn’t help but imagine that, if she tried, she could wield great magic and had already fought demons many times before, leading to a somewhat mistaken impression.

But let’s not misunderstand.

This seemingly dangerous little girl, while indeed capable of controlling fire and using the power of the dragon veins, finds calculations a bit challenging and would sometimes consider turning financial documents to ash, making her a very dangerous individual!

However, given Mermel’s growth and experiences, there might now be a chance that she can admit when she doesn’t understand something, so the accuracy of this judgment remains debatable.

And then, at that moment…

“Mermel, so this is where you were. It’s time to go home.”

“Oh, there you are, kid. We’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh, you are!?”

The one who called out to the little angel, who was proudly spouting her newly learned principles, and took her by the hand was none other than the renowned hero Ars, known by everyone in the royal capital. He had been worried because Mermel, who had been buying supplies for the campfire all over the capital, hadn’t returned yet, so he came to find her.

“Oh, it’s the hero and Hades. But I was already prepared, you know? I was just about to head back.”

“Yes, yes. Mermel is always an elite who’s fully prepared. I get it.”

“Hehe.”

Mermel’s bag of tools contained not only the finest meat but also some weeds she received from a girl selling flowers in an alley and a spinning disc she bought from a young man at an unpopular magic tool shop.

To Mermel, the weeds were leaves to wrap the high-quality meat for the campfire, and the spinning disc was meant to be used as a plate.

However, these seemingly frivolous actions of the little angel would later slightly help the people of the royal capital.

The girl who sold weeds as flowers received precious gold coins, which she used to heal her sick mother. Inspired by the kind little girl she met, she learned to be kind to others. This kindness would eventually awaken her talent for holy magic, and a few years later, she would save many residents of the royal capital.

The young man who had his self-made magic tool bought for the first time regained his confidence and, by the following year, had grown into a renowned magic tool craftsman known throughout the capital.

These were the mysterious butterfly effects triggered by Mermel.

Thus, some members of the party acted seriously, some sought out gourmet food, and others stuck close to the hero. Each member of the party purchased what they needed, preparing themselves for the exploration of the ancient ruins in a few days.

◇

“What did you just say… Your Majesty Hared Rune Ria Rulans?”

“Indeed. Let me repeat it. I have recognized the wielder of the Golden Sword as this era’s savior, Hero Ars, Lady Saintess Isha Grace de Calamiera.”

We go back in time slightly to when Ars and his party had just left this country. Saintess Isha, accompanied by the Sword Saint Ein, had an audience with the King of the magical nation of Rulans, shortly after Ars’s departure.

In the audience chamber, apart from a few remaining nobles and some knights guarding the king, the rest of the nobles had already returned to their domains. Essentially, this was an almost unofficial meeting, and the Saintess, representing the Calamiera Holy Kingdom, had been granted an audience at the royal castle for a formal greeting.

The issue arose from what followed. The King of one of the three most powerful nations in the southern continent declared the recognition of Ars as the hero, independently of the Holy Kingdom’s stance. Indeed, it was understood that in the towns and villages they had visited, people had started referring to the blond, blue-eyed boy and his companions as heroes, based on their numerous achievements.

However, Saintess Isha believed that this was merely a nickname given by the people and didn’t expect it to be an official recognition by the King himself.

“Impossible! A hero is someone whom the Goddess of Creation announces, and only then should humanity accept them as a true hero and savior! No matter how powerful they may be…”

“Ha, what nonsense.”

“…What!?”

Isha, deeply infatuated with Ars, believed that irresponsibly calling someone a hero and burdening them with the fate of the world was morally wrong. Sword Saint Ein, who had also been educated about the true nature of a hero, shared this belief, understanding the deep-rooted hero worship in the Holy Kingdom of Calamiera.

However, before the Saintess could finish, the King cut her off, almost scoffing at the words of the young girl. Both Isha and Ein were stunned by this reaction.

Seeing their reactions, the King gave them a look as if to say, “What are you misunderstanding?” and continued to press his point.

“Listen well, Ambassador from the Holy Kingdom. We have no intention of interfering with your doctrines. However…”

King Ruled of Rulans speaks.

What is a hero? Why have legendary heroes gained people’s admiration and loyalty throughout history?

Is it because heroes are born with special powers?

Or because they are heroes capable of defeating great evils like the Demon King or demons?

Or perhaps because the goddess worshiped by the Calamiera Holy Kingdom has ordained them as heroes?

“No. No. No…!! That’s completely off the mark. It’s not like that at all, Saintess… A hero is not defined by their birth or special abilities, nor are they defined by their power to defeat and harm others. A hero is…”

A hero is not a hero simply because they were born as one.

Once, a legendary hero accomplished feats unparalleled by anyone else, and even now, they are revered for their great deeds, remaining in people’s memories as legends…

The courageous deeds of past heroes were aimed at protecting and saving others, and their kindness was their essence…

“Therefore, as a result of their courageous journey… We believe it led to the birth of the greatest hero the world has ever seen, who saved the world a thousand years ago. That’s the legend. That’s why they are heroes, at least that’s what I believe. And that young boy has accomplished just that.”

In the eyes of the king, who spoke as if advising them, there was a warm light, and each word he uttered, heavy with the weight of a long life, touched the heart of the Saintess.

And so, how much time had passed?

As if pondering deeply on the king’s words, the Saintess, who had closed her eyes, lifted her face.

“Indeed. Your Majesty’s words are certainly true… However, if that is the case, then perhaps we should bring that boy, Ars, back to the Holy Kingdom and subject him to trials. A hero is the hope of all humanity. Allowing him to continue his journey with incomplete strength, only to be eventually killed by the great evil he will inevitably encounter, would be a loss for us all.”

The trial of the hero in the Holy Kingdom.

Although what that entails remains unclear, precisely because the Saintess herself acknowledges Ars more than anyone else, she couldn’t let things continue as they were.

Even if he hadn’t been recognized as a hero yet, if they continued on this path, it would only be a matter of time before the demons set their sights on him. No, there was even a possibility that they already had.

That’s why, in order to ensure his safety and prevent him from encountering and being destroyed by great evil before his power is fully realized, they are considering bringing him back to their own country.

“Yes, in terms of crisis management, undoubtedly that would be the case. I understand your concerns.”

“Well then…”

“However, the hero has already set off for the Desert Kingdom. But since his departure was just a few days ago, if you hurry, you can still catch up.”

The king spoke thus, promising to provide guidance on the route to the Desert Kingdom and various equipment suitable for the environment, before bidding farewell to the Saintess and her companions as they left the audience chamber.