Quit The Hero Party

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EP.535 I’m Quitting the Hero Party (完)

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I woke up to the sound of chirping birds.

I thought I had slept on the sofa, but when I opened my eyes, I was in my bed. Looking out the window, the sun was just rising. Checking the clock, it was six in the morning.

···Wait, six in the morning?

I blinked in confusion.

I thought maybe the clock was broken, so I hit it a couple of times, but in my inefficient attempt, the clock made a crack sound and shattered into pieces.

“······.”

I stared back and forth between the broken clock and the window.

Something was off. I felt like I had taken a nap when the sun was high in the sky, so why was it six in the morning? How many hours did I waste sleeping?

The first thought that came to mind was, “What a waste of time.”

The next thought was, “I’m hungry.”

I sat on the edge of the bed dazed, then stretched widely and got up. Opening the door, I found my master sitting there, sipping coffee and reading a newspaper.

“You’re awake.”

My master chuckled lightly.

“You slept so well that I could have carried you away without you noticing. I moved you to your bed because you wouldn’t wake up, and even then, you refused to budge. You must have been really tired.”

“Was I?”

“Indeed.”

I didn’t think I was that tired.

I sat awkwardly on the chair opposite my master, and as soon as I sat down, my master lightly snapped their fingers.

Shereek.

Dishes were laid out in order, and kitchen utensils began to move on their own with clink clank sounds. Master, skilled in everyday magic, made breakfast in an instant.

“Eat up. You must be hungry.”

“Thank you.”

Sandwiches and coffee.

Enjoying a warm breakfast made with freshly baked bread, I chatted with my master about acquaintances, future plans, and other random bits of life.

After breakfast, I returned to my room.

With the morning sun shining lazily, I sat in my chair and brushed back my hair. A new day had begun. Since my speech was in a few days, I didn’t particularly have anything to do today. Should I go see Destel perform? Or maybe tease Kalt while he works?

As I pondered what to do today, something caught my eye in a corner.

A book. The moment I laid eyes on the manuscript-bound book, my hand that had been brushing my hair froze. My breath, which had been light, suddenly felt heavier. Ah, so you were here. I smiled faintly and reached for it.

The Life of a Hero.

Author: Galahal.

The book I picked up felt heavy.

Heavy enough that there was a time I kept it at a distance. Seeing Galahal’s name always led me to question my own life, making it impossible for me to even open the book.

The greatest hero of all, Galahal.

He taught me and enabled me to move forward, but he left me behind and forged ahead. Reflecting on this impossibly faraway figure, I gazed at the book in my hands.

Swish.

I softly brushed off the dust piled on the book.

Holding the book, I let out a bittersweet smile. I still mourn Galahal’s death. Even if he was satisfied with his own life, those left behind felt only longing for someone who had departed.

Swish.

I cautiously opened the book.

There was a time I struggled just to open this book, but not anymore. Exhaling deeply, I began to read the book left behind by Galahal once more.

Passing through countless tales of heroes.

I faced that sentence again.

“My story ends here.”

“I hope you fill in the next chapter.”

Staring at that sentence, I let my gaze drift.

In the next page was a blank page with my name written on it. Other than my name, nothing else was written there, making Galahal’s one book indeed incomplete (未完).

A blank page with my name inscribed.

It felt as if that empty space was asking me a question. How do you plan to live from now on? And I had an obligation to answer that question.

I couldn’t leave this book incomplete forever.

Smirking to myself.

I gripped the quill pen.

Then I began to write on the blank page. To engrave the word Fin onto the novel he left behind.

“Humans are not perfect.”

“That’s why humans lean on each other and move forward. It’s too lonely to walk alone.”

“Ah, yes. Today is the day. The retirement ceremony.”

“Yes, my last duty as a hero.”

“Come here. Let me adjust your outfit.”

Master smiled as he neatly straightened my hero costume and tidied my collar.

“I’ll watch from the front row. Give a great speech.”

“Yes, Master.”

Waving goodbye to my master, I left the mansion.

Today, on the final day of the festival, I would officially retire from my position as a hero. I took steps to fulfill my last duty as a hero.

“No matter how exceptional one may be, it doesn’t differ much. For instance, heroes are like that.”

Stepping outside the mansion, they were waiting for me. Kyle, dressed in a hero’s outfit for the first time in a while, Destel looking sharp today, and Chloe standing between them, waving nervously at me.

“They must be models for others, standing before everyone, and always being right. Heroes must be those kinds of beings.”

“Heroes must always be perfect.”

“But they too are human. Just ordinary humans who cannot be perfect alone. Sometimes they waver, sometimes they want to rest, and sometimes they hesitate.”

Getting into the carriage prepared by the royal castle, we headed toward the busy festival streets. Getting off the carriage in the middle of the street, we marched through the cheers of the crowd.

“I too am the same.”

After a long march, I climbed up onto the platform. The other heroes followed my lead. There were no amplifying devices on the platform. It wasn’t necessary.

I wrapped my voice in mana.

As I opened my mouth, a hush fell over the once bustling surroundings. Facing the countless gazes staring at me and those listening closely to my voice, I smiled.

“I am Rania van Trias, the hero.”

“I am Rania van Trias, a human.”

“I may be a stranger to you, but you are already familiar with me. You must have seen many newspaper articles about me. Is there anyone who doesn’t recognize my face? No one, I suppose?”

Laughter erupted in the square.

In this light atmosphere, I continued my speech.

“The reason I stand here is that, as the representative of humanity, I have a story to tell you all.”

“The reason I’m writing this is that I have a story to share with you, who are reading this.”

I exhaled deeply.

“I believe many of you are aware of the fact that our star has disappeared. There may be many confused people too. What you all are worried about is probably true.”

The star has vanished.

“The star disappeared the moment the Demon Lord was defeated, leaving behind a message that they were no longer needed by humanity and embarking on a long journey. Although hints of their presence may remain, those too will soon disappear.”

Murmurs filled the air.

Many were holding their breath at the revelation of the star’s disappearance, realizing the rumor was true and falling into chaos. There were far too many, but I continued speaking.

“The star accepted it in the end.”

Accepted what?

“That humanity’s childhood has come to an end.”

The end of humanity’s long childhood.

I spoke about the reason behind the star’s disappearance and the world that would change from now on. Though the murmuring didn’t stop, the more I spoke, the more people began to nod slowly.

The world would change, but…

It wouldn’t change that drastically.

Whether living the same life as yesterday or adapting to a changed world, it didn’t matter how one lived. There was no correct answer. As long as everyone lived their own lives diligently, then all of it would be correct.

“I am.”

But for those still lost.

For those unsure of what to do, I slowly opened my mouth.

“I think I’ll talk about myself for a moment.”

“I’ll share my life with you.”

“You may know me as the perfect hero, a superhuman, a stalwart figure. That’s how you probably view me. And I’ve worked hard to be someone everyone could depend on.”

“I lived in a rush.”

“Chasing responsibilities, duties, symbols, and missions.”

“I contemplated what a hero should be and sacrificed my own life to repay those who bled for me. That’s how I lived.”

“There came a day when I looked back on my life and sighed. How harsh I lived. How can a person live like this? Is this any way for a human to live? Those thoughts crossed my mind. That’s when I realized.”

“I tried so hard to appear perfect.”

“Aha, I’m just a human after all.”

“No matter how much I try to become a symbol, no matter how much I strive to be perfect, I’m just an imperfect human.”

“I’m really not that perfect of a person.”

I smiled slyly as I said it.

“Honestly, I dislike battlefields too. It’s full of blood, screams, and every breath I take feels suffocating.”

Laughing, I spoke my truth.

“I love to drink coffee and eat desserts. Do you know that ‘Allen’s Coffee Shop’ at the Apuria Academy? I wanted to drink their coffee so badly that I once sent my subordinates to fetch some for me from the battlefield, but it just didn’t taste right. What a pity.”

I opened up about my life.

“I also enjoy reading newspaper articles featuring my exploits. Wow, the writers these days are really good. I’ve even collected newspapers. It’s quite enjoyable to catch up on things while on the battlefield.”

“It felt good once acknowledged.”

“Relying on those things, I’ve managed to survive.”

Or perhaps.

“I could say I’ve endured. No one can deny the battlefield is a tough place.”

“Realizing I couldn’t be perfect, I began to pay attention to my surroundings. If I couldn’t be perfect alone, then I needed to seek help.”

“In addition to the support that sent me to the battlefield, the cheers that welcomed me each time I returned to the capital, and my comrades who fought alongside me, the knights who protected the places where I couldn’t reach… thanks to all those countless people, I managed to make it this far.”

“I received help.”

“I sought assistance.”

“I relied on many and many to reach here.”

“I have survived a day.”

“A day, then another day, and slowly I arrived at this point. Looking back, it might have been long, or it could have been short. Yet, to me, it was incredibly long.”

“Sounds a bit trivial? So small? Living through it all, I learned that’s how it goes.”

I smiled a bit.

“Even if the star disappears, even if the world changes… there’s not much difference in what you or I have to do.”

In the end, that’s it.

“If things are tough, we’ll drink and chat with comrades; if we can’t manage alone, we’ll call on friends and give it a try together; and if that doesn’t work, we’ll ask others for help… and that’s how we’ll keep living together.”

I said with a smile.

“That’s simply who people are.”

I spread my arms wide.

“Even if the star has disappeared, it’s still okay to raise your prayers to the sky when things get tough. It’s possible someone might still be listening to your voice from far away. But it’s also nice to look around you.”

I gazed behind me, to the sides, and ahead.

There were those who had sustained my life. Comrades, disciples, my master, and friends.

“Humans are human because they live together with others.”

I smiled at those looking at me.

“Thank you, for everything.”

Because you were here, I stand here.

“Now, I wish to retire.”

“I plan to conclude my long life as a hero.”

The final part of my speech.

Next to me stood Kyle, Destel, and Chloe.

“In this changed world, humanity no longer needs a representative. We wish to lay down the heavy burden of being heroes and live among you as ordinary people.”

With that, I concluded my speech.

Amid cheers, Empress Ayla stepped onto the platform, and with a brief speech and the award ceremony, the retirement of the heroes came to a close.

I had completed my last duty as a hero.

After stepping down from the platform, we changed our clothes and made plans to meet at the tavern before parting ways for a moment.

“I’ll finish being a hero and live as an ordinary human. A human who doesn’t need to act perfect. No longer needing to run from something.”

Returning home, I took off my hero outfit.

“Not a symbol, nor anything else.”

Letting my tied-up hair down.

Throwing away my gloves.

Choosing comfortable shoes instead of military boots.

“Just an ordinary person.”

“I suppose I’ll live as Rania. I have plenty of days ahead of me. Really plenty.”

Having laid down everything that symbolized my time as a hero, I stood in front of a mirror in light clothing. Not bad. Just as I was about to head outside the mansion.

“So, I plan to retire.”

Suddenly, I glanced at the book spread out on my desk. It was a novel I had been writing just before participating in the retirement ceremony. Though it was more like a memoir than a novel, nonetheless.

But I should finish it before I go.

With a light heart, I sat in the chair.

The novel was left with only the last sentence unwritten, and I sat at my desk, picking up the quill to erase the letter that meant “incomplete (未)” from the unfinished novel left behind by Galahal.

“To put it a little more lightly.”

While thinking about it during my speech, I realized there was no better final line than this. I moved the quill to include the last sentence of the novel.

“I’m quitting the hero party.”

Fin.