Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented

Clang.

The sound of the lower part of Bae Merong’s armor dropping to the floor.

And then, silence.

Thud.

I sheathed my sword and turned my head.

“Hmm.”

And scratched my face.

There was a green light swirling around the waist area where my sword had sliced through.

I genuinely thought I had dealt a blow, but it seems like I only cut through the armor? The Master’s protective charm remains unharmed. Should I be relieved about that?

Well, I did cut it thinking there was something like that. It’s the most enviable ability for me right now. Speaking of which, the ‘Ancient Hero’ also had a protective charm. If I had one like that now, it would hurt less.

I fiddled with my fingers as I gazed at her back.

“…I won, right?”

Despite the fierce battle of swords just moments ago, I spoke timidly.

If she doesn’t accept the result, then it’ll truly become a named battle. I’ll have to keep hitting until that powerful protective charm breaks.

But this is a spar, isn’t it? I won, right?

“…….”

When Eleanor remained silent, my cheeks began to puff out slightly. She lowered one knee to the ground.

Thud.

And then, her sword was planted on the floor.

From Eleanor’s back, a small voice, barely audible to me, slipped out.

“It’s been 20 years since I’ve held a sword. In that time, I’ve never questioned my family’s swordsmanship, nor my own.”

In a murmured tone, with a flat, emotionless voice, I scooted closer to Eleanor.

“I was called a prodigy. In my mid-twenties, I achieved the title of the youngest Master in the history of the Empire. Swordsmanship was merely a training process to accumulate mana within me. The training criteria of this era was based on how much mana one could accumulate and manifest it as tangible energy.”

She raised her hands, looking up, and let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m not a swordsman but merely a qi master.”

“Eh….”

I gaped in disbelief.

What the heck? Going to the point of self-denial like this, what’s her plan?

Sure, based on this spar, I did defeat her, but if it were a real-life fight to the death, I would need to slice her multiple times to kill Eleanor. To properly penetrate her protective charm, I would have needed to unleash the Hero’s Power.

“Sister, hey, Sister! Hey!”

I shook Eleanor, who had spaced out, and forced her chin up.

Eleanor’s vacant eyes met mine.

I held her face firmly and said resolutely, “How much actual combat experience do you have?”

“Uh?”

“Didn’t you go out of the castle to hunt east monsters in your territory? Since when have you been fighting?”

“Uh, um. Was it when I was nineteen? It’s been around 6 to 7 years.”

“Really? I think I was eleven or twelve. I started fighting for my life back then. I’ve been at it for a year or two longer than you. There were days when I fought dozens of times a day, even all day long. My combat frequency was overwhelmingly higher, right?”

“W-what?”

Eleanor looked flustered. It seems hard for her to grasp that someone who looks so small and innocent has gone through numerous life-and-death battles.

Of course, I had my days of going crazy, too.

There were times when I broke down, lost everything I had accumulated, and was engulfed in the shock of losing my comrades, losing the will to live. Even after returning here, I was trapped in the framework of a game, shackled by stats during weak days.

I smiled brightly.

“You still lack experience and years in the field. As you gain more experience and time, you’ll grow stronger, don’t you think? It seems like it’s time to go through the basics, one by one.”

“…Who are you, really?”

She was utterly confused. Calling me a dead person now, huh?

Fiddle fiddle.

I casually touched her face a little. She didn’t resist. Maybe it was because of the wild wind? Her skin was a bit rough, but she was quite pretty. It reminded me of Sister Melissa with her teal braids. I even placed my hand on her forehead. Hmm, I’m no doctor, but she doesn’t seem to have a fever or any signs of illness.

I didn’t really plan to tell her, but if I left her like this, she might crumble under the mental shock. I’d probably have nightmares thinking that a pillar of the Empire is now a wreck because of me. I needed to convince her of the fact that she lost to someone who shouldn’t lose.

What title should I give myself?

I scratched my face and smiled awkwardly. Then I whispered in her ear,

“Um…. I’m someone from your family, like a comrade of your ancestors?”

Luckily, when I brought Eleanor before the Emperor, it seemed like the story flowed on its own.

Thud!

“Foremother…! Is it truly you, the comrade of the forgotten ancient hero of the Roede family…!”

Eleanor bowed her head before me, showing Ocheonu (ground prostration). I panicked and waved my hands.

“I-I’m not that great of a person…!”

Thud, thud!

Eleanor repeatedly prostrated onto the floor.

Did I save someone who seemed like they’d rather die than live with this self-loathing?

With the Emperor beside us, can she really do this to me?

The Emperor merely smiled. No problem, I guess?

I kept sneaking glances toward the area where the users were gathered. This kind of attention makes me uneasy.

“Sister, get up! Seriously, stop!”

I clung to Eleanor with all my might and pulled her up.

Thump.

Whoosh.

“Ugh.”

Eleanor suddenly stood up and lifted me by reaching under my armpit. My body, which was over 30 cm shorter than hers, was suddenly airborne. Dangling. Strong, that’s impressive.

“You’re so small and cute, but so strong!”

Struggle struggle.

“L-let go! You’re the Foremother, right?”

“Ah, my apologies. I got carried away.”

Eleanor set me down and coughed, her face turning red.

What’s up with this sister?

Melissa used to pick me up like this sometimes back in the day, and here’s a distant descendant doing the same thing?

I also revealed the name of her ancestor to Eleanor.

“Melissa von Roede.”

The name of the forgotten ancient hero of the Roede family was reclaimed by “Eleanor von Roede.”

“Ugh, the name of my lost ancestor… to such a lacking descendant…!”

Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks.

“I told you because I saw potential for future growth. Master Melissa, through a thousand years into Master Eleanor. You must become a great swordsman who doesn’t tarnish the title of Master.”

“If you visit the House of Roede, please do come by our family. All the knights of my family, including myself, would love to receive the Foremother’s guidance.”

“I may be a bit busy, so I can’t stay long, though.”

Eleanor continued to wipe her tears while expressing her gratitude repeatedly as she left the training hall.

“Rain! Why would you do such a dangerous spar without saying a word to your sister…!”

“I’m sorry.”

In front of Chris’s stern expression, I awkwardly twisted my body.

“Haa…. I thought my heart would drop. Of course, I know Rain is strong, but please think of your sister’s feelings, okay?”

Chris quickly lightened up her expression and smiled at me. Her face lifted my spirits as well.

“And.”

Chris suddenly glared at the place where Eleanor had vanished.

“That woman just lifts you without permission? I swear I’ll kill her next time we meet.”

“Ugh.”

Even though the conversation may not have been heard, it seemed she saw the action. It’s a relief she didn’t throw psychic blasts at the stage.

To ensure the well-being of the descendant, I needed to calm Chris’s rage.

I held out my hands to Chris.

“Come on, lift me!”

“Huh?”

“You can also lift me like the Foremother did, right?”

Guh!

Chris’s trembling hands slipped under my armpits.

Whoosh.

“Hehe, Rain did well. The spar today was impressive. Good job, brave one.”

With Chris’s silly excitement, my body was hoisted up.

What’s going on?

With my gaze raised and face flushed, I looked around. I wanted to hide my face, but in this position, that was impossible.

In the meantime, my eyes met Skada’s. Her gaze upon me was also quite intense. Did I show off a lot today? It feels like she’s curious about me. It reminded me of the way Chris used to look at me back in the day.

“Ah, me too, me too!”

Before I knew it, Bae Merong joined in to lift me up.

This brief moment of showing a nice side to the gathering users quickly turned me into a sobbing child again, and I was about to cry.

This is all the descendant’s fault.

I used to be a legendary hero!

*

‘Astria Online’ new expansion pack, ‘Endless Canyon.’

The 30 days announced by the Emperor’s world quest had quickly passed.

Today is the day of the final patch for the expansion pack.

After sending Chris off to work, I found myself sitting on the living room sofa alone when I suddenly checked the time.

10 minutes until the maintenance is done.

Soon, I’ll be able to log into the game.

I couldn’t just sit back and relax. I had received a call from One Games the day after the royal banquet.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Another commercial shoot.”

After the ‘Frozen Lands’ expansion pack, I was set to film the advertisement for this ‘Endless Canyon’ expansion pack as well.

Since I’ll be filming while logged into the game anyway, it’s not tiring, but it’s still bothersome.

But the money deposited into my bank account makes me smile.

With my debts all cleared, any money I earn from now on is just profit. Financial abundance calmed my heart. I could order an expensive meal without needing Chris to treat me. If I save up steadily, I might even achieve the dream of getting a my sweet room right in the middle of Seoul.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, grand music flowed from the TV I had left on by inertia, and the image of a white-haired girl with a smiling face appeared against the backdrop of castle walls.

An advertisement featuring me.

“Hot!”

As I sat there, staring at the ad blankly, my face turned red, and I swiftly turned off the TV.

I still feel embarrassed watching an ad I filmed myself.

Meanwhile, it was already time for the server to open.

Should I check the patch notes first, or should I just log in?

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