When I said, "You can be a hero," to a child with no talent, he really started to become a hero, so I acted like I knew what I was doing, like I was a wise master. - Chap 27: Three Princesses

Alfred had won, and Eugene was the runner-up. The men’s tournament had ended, but that didn’t mean the event was over. There was still the women’s tournament and an exhibition match featuring the champion and former S-rank adventurer Dododo to look forward to. The women’s game will be held tomorrow, but the men’s exhibition match will happen soon.

“Yu-Eugene, are you o-, okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“No-nothing.”

Despite securing the runner-up position, Eugene’s face showed no signs of happiness. Instead, he seemed twisted in anger.

“I think being the runner-up is impressive.”

“Anything less than winning is losing. Everyone else is a loser.”

“Ah, sorry.”

Eugene seemed so dissatisfied that his face had turned into a state of extreme anger.

“By the way, that Flame Slash you did was cool. Was that also something you learned directly from your master?”

“Yes.”

“What’s your master like?”

“I can’t talk about that.”

“I see… I’m in the same boat, but what’s the principle behind Flame Slash?”

“My master simply slashes to create friction, which causes flames. I mimicked it by imbuing my sword with magic. Sometimes, I start by copying the form.”

“Indeed, the form is important, isn’t it?”

Tessie, Will, and Eugene sat to watch Alfred’s exhibition match.

“Ah, I can’t see, so it’s hard for me to appreciate the exhibition.”

“Eh, ah…”

“Will, this is your cue to laugh.”

“I-I can’t laugh at that.”

“Well, I can understand the exchange of magic through my magic sensing, so I’ll be watching the exhibition anyway.”

Tessie made light of her inability to see, leaving Will with an indescribable expression, unsure whether it was appropriate to laugh.

“Ah, it’s starting.”

Tessie had noticed the rise in magical energy between the champion Alfred and Dododo. Will and Eugene focused their attention on the match, watching intently. To them, Alfred’s movements were practically otherworldly. The fluidity of his magic, the techniques developed by past heroes, and his swordsmanship combined into a nearly perfected form of combat.

“I wonder who’s stronger, Hero Dan or Alfred.” 

Will inadvertently blurted out.

“Idiot, there’s no comparison. It’s Hero Dan.” 

Eugene immediately responded. Will didn’t voice any objections; he also knew it to be accurate.

“It’s a mistake to measure Hero Dan’s strength within the confines of human capabilities,” Eugene continued.

“You’re probably right.”

“Alfred is strong, sure, but he’s strong within human limits. He can’t be used as a standard to measure someone else’s strength.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” 

(Hero Dan… he is beyond what I can comprehend. He said he would watch the match, but where could he be?) Will glanced around, but there was no sign of Hero Dan. Behind him sat a familiar face named Ban, flanked by two women with towels wrapped around their faces to hide their identities. Will couldn’t spot Hero Dan.

(There’s no one wearing an iron mask. He must have blended into the scenery using some unbelievably advanced stealth techniques!!)

Unbeknownst to Will, he didn’t consider the possibility that the very plain-looking man sitting directly behind him, sandwiched between the two women with towel-wrapped faces, could be Hero Dan.

“You can’t beat me… No matter if you’re a former S-rank.”

“You are a worthy successor to a hero’s lineage. But I haven’t lost yet. Even in my old age, I still fight me.”

Alfred projected water from the tip of his sword, which moved like a living serpent, freely soaring around the arena.

(I can’t believe it. To be able to control magic this freely at his age…) Dododo thought as the water repeatedly fended off his spear, which stubbornly clung to him like a cunning snake.

(This is the terrifying power of a hero’s bloodline. But it’s not just that. This boy is seasoned in battle! He probably has a skilled master. Being of royal blood, maybe he has access to specialized training?)

(The magic is likely a legacy of past heroes… Ha, he’s surpassed my expectations. He’s almost like the Hero Dan of old.)

(In the past, I bet everything on my sword. But then, one man shattered my confidence in it. Since then, I’ve switched to using a spear… There’s always someone above you.)

(Hero Dan, if you’re watching, times are changing… The next generation is growing beyond our expectations.)

While being amazed at Alfred’s strength, Dododo desperately clung on. However, it wasn’t enough, and his spear was shattered.

“…So I’ve lost.”

Despite being a former S-rank, he was defeated by the young boy.

“Whoa, seriously?!”

“A former S-rank defeated! This is going to make headlines!”

“Truly worthy of the lineage of past heroes.”

“Is this the new generation?”

The atmosphere in the venue was buzzing. After claiming victory, Alfred gave a bow and exited the arena. Thus, the men’s division of the Warrior Tournament ended.

◆◆

“Hey, Lin-chan.”

“Hmm? What?”

“Wanna go to a hot spring together later? I heard there’s one nearby.”

“Hmm, well, I’m free, so sure.”

“Yay!”

After the match ended, Lin and Sakura parted ways with Ban and walked around.

“I haven’t been to a hot spring in a while.”

“Right?! We should take advantage of this opportunity!”

As Lin and Sakura were walking, someone called out to them.

“Lin, Sakura…”

“Oh, if it isn’t Kaguya.”

“Kaguya-chan, what a coincidence.”

“…Why are you two here?”

The girl had striking features: beautiful short black hair and dazzling blue eyes. It was Kaguya, a martial artist who had traveled the world with Hero Dan.

“We were thinking of going to a hot spring.”

“…Why didn’t you invite me? Are you trying to exclude me?”

“No, no, no, you got it all wrong! We just ran into Lin, so we thought we’d go together, that’s all!”

“That’s right. We weren’t trying to exclude you, Kaguya.”

“Then it’s fine. I thought about going to the hot spring, so let’s go together.”

“Of course!”

The three women decided to go to the hot spring together. Once they entered the women’s changing room, they all started to undress. Just then, they overheard voices from other patrons.

“Today’s tournament winner, Alfred, was so cool! He is royalty!”

“The runner-up, Eugene, was also cool and amazing. Maybe the era of Hero Dan is over.”

“Maybe it’s a new era for heroes.”

Hearing this, Kaguya’s eyes narrowed sharply, but Lin and Sakura calmed her down.

“Something happened today?”

“It was the Warrior Tournament.”

“Oh, they were holding that?”

“Kaguya-chan, you didn’t know?”

“No, I just came to take a bath.”

“Oh, I see.”

All three wrapped towels around themselves and entered the hot spring. After washing themselves, they submerged in the hot water.

“Sigh… By the way, Lin, have you met Hero-kun recently?”

“…Maybe a brief encounter during the Curse King’s incident?”

“I’ve been wanting to ask you that, Lin.”

Sakura, Lin, and Kaguya gathered at one end of the hot spring and chatted. Kaguya, with her expressionless face, leaned in closer to Lin.

“Did you see the Hero’s face? Was there some slip-up?”

“…Who knows? I didn’t see it. As usual, he wore his iron mask.”

“That’s unfortunate… I wanted to see the Hero’s face.”

“So what about you, Sakura? You’re teaching with him, aren’t you?”

“Hmm, even as a teacher, Hero-kun always wears his iron mask… So I haven’t seen his real face.”

“Huh, is that so?” (That means I’m the one who’s the furthest ahead!)

“…Lin, you look pleased.”

“No, not at all!”

Lin quickly patted her grinning face, returning her facial muscles to a more neutral expression.

“So, Sakura, what kind of work do you do with Dan?”

“Uh? Oh, well, we sometimes give performances, teach… and when we have some free time, we eat lunch together?”

“Is that so? Wait, is eating lunch considered work?”

“No, but… we do eat together in the courtyard.”

Lin couldn’t help but think that Sakura might be dangerous. Sakura is naive, believing no one has noticed her feelings for Dan.

“Handmade lunches? Is being a teacher fun?”

“Yes! It’s enjoyable! Hero-kun is so kind; he occasionally helps me prepare materials and even backs me up in class, so it’s not too hard!”

“Hmm, is that so… Well, good for you.”

“Sakura… that’s not fair. I’m jealous. Maybe I should become a teacher?”

“Uh, no, I think it’s too early for you, Kaguya. It’s a lot of work! Maybe later!”

Unconsciously, Sakura felt uneasy about sharing that time with Kaguya and rejected the idea of her becoming a teacher.

“Um, I was wondering… Does Hero-kun have someone he likes?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Me neither.”

Both Lin and Kaguya thought that if they knew that, it would save them a lot of trouble.

“Oh, I see.”

“Why are you asking?”

“Well, um, it’s something that’s been mentioned by my family.”

“Family? Which side of your family? The castle or the noble side?”

“Oh, the castle side.”

When asked which side of the family she was talking about, Sakura mentioned her royal family.

“Speaking of which, all of us are some princesses, right? I’m the Fairy Princess, Sakura is the Lost Princess, and Kaguya is the Moon Princess.”

“The Moon disowns me, so I’m not a princess.”

“Haha, I’m considered dead as a princess anyway.”

“If you’re considered dead, what does your family want from you?”

“Well, actually, my brother, the king, wants me to return.”

Upon hearing that, Lin and Kaguya responded with “Oh,” unsure what the appropriate reaction should be.

“You know that my country was destroyed by the Demon King Satan when I was four, right?”

“Ah, yes. I know, but are you sure you should be saying that?”

“It’s in the past. And now we’re in the process of rebuilding.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s fine.”

“Because we’re rebuilding, we lack resources, and our defenses are thin when monsters or demons attack.”

“That sounds difficult.”

“Sakura, worrying, difficult.”

Lin and Kaguya each offered sympathetic comments.

“I’ve told my kingdom to help out before… but the fairy kingdom has difficulties, too.”

“The Moon doesn’t demand friendship…”

“Oh, no, it’s not about asking for material support or anything. My brother seems to think that if the princess thought to be dead is alive and she marries Hero Dan, that might solve the issue. Other countries would want to be allies and provide aid, knowing the Hero is there. The—That’s a dilemma. Me, m—marrying Hero-kun…, I think it might be something I need to consider. I am technically a princess, but maybe I’m the closest to Hero-kun. It’s—It’s a dilemma, isn’t it?”

“You don’t have to think about it. The fairy kingdom will provide support. I’ll strongly talk to my mother and brother; it won’t be a problem.”

“Yes, the Moon doesn’t demand anything, but if something happens, I’ll go.”

“Eh, w—what happened all of a sudden? Your faces went cold…”

Sakura was taken aback by Lin and Kaguya’s sudden, serious expressions. Kaguya changed the subject to avoid the previous topic.

“How old are you two?”

“Why would you ask something like that?”

“Sakura will soon be 30, Lin is 28… I’m turning 19 this year… I just thought that younger girls are more preferable.”

“…”

Kaguya received cold glares from the two but seemed unconcerned and changed the subject again.

“Sakura, did your bust size increase again?”

“Ah, yes. My shoulders have been aching because of it.”

“I’m also having a hard time. My shoulders are sore.”

“Right? I wonder if there’s anything that can be done about it.”

“…”

While Kaguya and Sakura have larger bust sizes, Lin’s is more modest, causing her to compare hers with theirs involuntarily involuntarily.

“Sore shoulders… It’s tough…”

“I know, right?”

“Yes! My shoulders are sore, too! It’s tough for me as well! Gosh, it’s tough!”

“I think it’s a stretch for Lin to say that line.”

“I envy Lin. You can go from smaller to larger, but you can’t go from larger to smaller. You have more options.”

“Fine, let’s argue then.”

Lin almost unleashed a series of mega spells but held back at the last minute.

(When Dan was worried about being average-looking and I told him that someone as beautiful as me didn’t need to worry about their face… this must’ve been how Dan felt.)

For a while, the women continued their conversation. It was a casual chat about trivial matters—recently found spices they were waiting on, new magical discoveries, and so on. However, each of them was lost in entirely unrelated thoughts.

(Lin and Sakura’s talks make me realize… I’m probably the one leading here. That’s okay, right? Dan wouldn’t mind the age thing. I still look young.)

(I probably have the highest possibility of marrying the Hero. I heard rumors that he doesn’t intend to marry, but he does eat the homemade lunch I make for him! So, I’m making some progress in appealing to him, right?)

(From Lin and Sakura’s conversation, I’m convinced. I have the highest possibility of ending up with the Hero. I’m young, and the other two are almost in their thirties… younger girls are more likely to be favored by heroes. Probably.)