Chapter 2: The Man Called Hero Dan
To force the role of hero upon him, or rather, to train the next generation’s successor, I was training Will in a place called Ishi Village.
“Hey, your stance is full of openings.”
“Yes!”
“Your head is full of openings too.”
“Yes!”
“Your whole body is full of openings.”
“Y-yes!”
After sparring with him for a while, I realized he literally has no talent.
Well, he apparently trained for seven years using fake sword technique books written by my imposters. He’s picked up some bad habits too.
“U-um…”
“What is it?”
“I-I heard that no one has ever seen the hero-sama’s true face… is it really true that no one…”
“Ah, that matter. It’s true that even my former party members have never seen my face.”
“Y-you don’t reveal it to anyone, do you?”
“Rather than ‘don’t reveal,’ it would be more accurate to say ‘can’t reveal.'”
“I-I see… so that’s how it is.” (He must be hiding his information to keep his identity secret and prevent his family from being taken hostage!)
As I stood there with my arms crossed, playing the role of a master from behind, Will approached me after drinking some water. Ah, that matter…
It’s true that almost no one knows my real face. Why? Because I’m plain-looking and it bothers me, and since I’m surrounded by handsome guys, I feel self-conscious and ended up wearing this iron mask.
Will also wears an iron mask, so I thought he might be plain like me, but he’s actually a pretty decent-looking guy with black hair and black eyes. There are so many good-looking people in this world. It makes me feel even more self-conscious.
At first, I thought living the same way as in my previous life would be boring, so I played the “haughty” character… but there was another reason. I liked a fairy girl who was a magic user in our party, and I was doing it to appeal to her.
However, I wore the iron mask to hide my plain face, yet I was playing the haughty character, so I couldn’t show my true face anymore. Only handsome guys are allowed to be haughty.
Just remembering how uncomfortable I felt in the party makes me depressed. It was a four-person party, but I was basically alone.
“I see. U-um, could you increase my training time?”
“That’s not possible. Once every seven days is the limit. I’m not free either.”
“Right, I’m sorry for asking the impossible.”
Ah, that’s also impossible. There are other hero successor candidates besides you. I plan to train them by allocating roughly one person per week for seven days. I can’t bend this rule.
“No, your enthusiasm isn’t bad. Is there anything else you want to say?”
“Um, how old are you, hero-sama?”
“Why do you want to know that?”
I’m 30, you know? I’m at the age where my parents are seriously telling me to get married. In this world, I’m completely stepping into late marriage territory and am considered a leftover.
After that, I thoroughly beat up Will from morning. But it’s not over yet—I’m going to drill you hard. I don’t expect much talent, but since I said I’d take care of you, I need to be somewhat responsible.
And I, the hero, am not free. Today is Will’s training, but…
Tomorrow, as the hero, I have to give a speech at the Knight Training Academy.
It’s really bothersome… Even though I defeated the demon king and received lots of money as a reward from the king—enough to play around for a lifetime—I’m still being worked to death.
“I’ll come listen to hero-sama’s speech too.”
Please don’t come.
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In this world, there probably isn’t a single person who hasn’t heard the name of Hero Dan. A living legend, the strongest hero in history, an extraordinary existence.
A warrior with countless aliases, standing at the apex in a world where many diverse races exist. Overwhelming strength, and above all, achievements.
Especially the era he lived in was the time when the most demon kings in history appeared. He ran through that era, maintaining peace. The number of demon kings Hero Dan defeated far exceeds any other hero.
Such a man had companions. Mainly four people.
First, a fairy magic user. Rinrin Frontier. Called both “Sage” and “Child of God,” she’s a genius magic user. She’s 27 years old and was the first member Hero Dan met in his hero party.
Second, Sakura Alretia. A swordsman with the alias “Conquering Swordsman.” The Alretia family name is special even within the Trelvarner Kingdom. It’s one of the special bloodlines called the “Four Great Noble Houses.”
She’s said to have suddenly appeared while Hero Dan and Rinrin were traveling and joined the party.
Third is Kaguya. A martial artist with the alias “Light Fist.”
Fourth is Elizabeth. She belongs to a race called the spirit folk and is said to possess special abilities.
Now, let’s talk about Rinrin Frontier among them.
The meeting between Hero Dan and her was the worst.
On one side, a man wearing an iron mask playing a haughty character. On the other, an incredibly sharp tsundere beauty. Moreover, she was royalty of the fairy race. She was even called a tomboy princess.
The two met by chance and, as if guided by fate, got into a fight. They somehow ended up forming a party together.
When the party was formed, Hero Dan was the weakest, while Rinrin Frontier was a magic genius.
The overwhelming presence she radiated versus the shabby Dan. Initially, many voices called for dissolving this mismatched party.
However, Dan worked hard and rose to become a hero. And Rinrin was easily captivated by his earnest figure and fell in love.
—I’m having a dream. Of those days so far ahead they couldn’t be seen. So far behind they couldn’t be seen. Before I knew it, they were so far ahead they couldn’t be seen. Those turbulent days.
Rinrin Frontier woke up on her bed. She drowsily sat up. Her beautiful golden hair swayed. Her beautiful, bright blue eyes were still sleepily vacant.
She changed from her nightgown and tidied her appearance. She’s royalty, the second princess of the fairy race. She pays attention to her appearance.
Dressed in a red dress, she fixed her hair, washed her face, and finished brushing her teeth. She entered a large room that only royalty could enter. There, a woman with similar features was elegantly drinking tea.
“Mama, good morning.”
“I’ve told you to call me Mother… Anyway, Rin, when are you going to marry the hero?”
When her mother said this, Rinrin openly frowned. She turned away with a huff and refused to meet her mother’s eyes.
“I’m planning to marry Dan…”
“You’ve been saying that for over ten years… I would support you if you could marry Hero Dan. But Rin, I haven’t heard any talk of your relationship progressing for over ten years.”
“W-we’re taking it slow. But we’re steadily progressing, so we’ll get engaged this year… probably.”
“Probably, huh. Hero Dan—that man is literally at the top of the ecosystem. From when he defeated Demon King Satan until today, many nobles and royalty were apparently planning to propose marriage.”
“So it seems. But Dan wears an iron mask and doesn’t show his true face. No one knows where his house is either. So in the end, no one could actually propose.”
“A secretive man. What an odd fellow.”
“Dan deliberately doesn’t show his true face to prevent danger from reaching his family. He’s a smart man who hides information and doesn’t show his hand.”
“Hohoho, a man without gaps. Having power, wealth, and fame yet never becoming haughty—it’s natural he’s called the strongest in history.”
Rinrin and her mother talk about Hero Dan. Even she, who had traveled with the hero for many years, didn’t know the fact that the hero wore an iron mask because he was troubled by being plain-looking.
“A man like that probably has dozens of women around him.”
“No way. Absolutely not.”
“His fortune is said to equal half the world’s money.”
Rinrin quickly denies that Dan has any specific partner. Watching this, her mother laughed softly and narrowed her eyes slightly.
(That said, if Hero Dan marries Rin, our country, the fairy nation of Frontier, could control world affairs. Even if a new demon king appears, that man would crush them like twisting a baby’s arm. If there’s a man who can defeat demon kings, other countries will want the hero’s help and become friendly to our nation. Well, if they can get married, that is. Rin is also at a good age. All my other sons and daughters are married. What should I do? As royalty, not marrying anywhere or taking a husband is difficult. If Hero Dan would marry her, there would be no problem, but well, I wonder…)
She looked at her daughter Rinrin with a troubled expression. She stretched and stood up nonchalantly.
“I have plans, so I’m going.”
“I see.”
“There’s a speech in the royal capital Trelvarner.”
“Again. That country really loves it—speeches to show off the hero’s authority.”
“Dan’s coming too. He’ll probably confess to me there.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I can do it!”
Rinrin said this and left the room. Left alone in the room, the mother sipped her tea while thinking deeply about her daughter’s future.
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