In a room within the magnificent Centraris Castle, which was renowned throughout the continent for its grandeur, strength, and beauty, stood a young woman by the window. She had a mature silhouette but was dressed in a white one-piece dress that accentuated her well-toned figure. Her features were sharply defined, enhanced by light makeup, and her fiery crimson hair, more captivating than anything else, waved gently in the breeze that entered through the window.
――This was Eris Philin Centraris.
The second princess of Centraris Kingdom who was famous for her magical skills and stunning looks. Some might even know her as the "Thorn Princess," the one who slew the Demon Lord.
Contrary to her elegant appearance, she was a true hero, having fought alongside the Hero in the previous God-Demon War. Now, there was a guy in the room who spoke eagerly to her.
"Eris-sama, please watch! I, Jack Dusken, will undoubtedly defeat the remnants of the demons!"
Jack, as he introduced himself, was a handsome man in splendid armor with sky-blue hair that reaches his shoulders. His melodious voice could captivate anyone, and he was officially recognized as the Hero of the kingdom.
Normally, Heroes were chosen by the goddess, but when the goddess had not selected a Hero, the kingdom had the tradition of appointing one. After the first God-Demon War ended and a Hero named Yuusuke was no longer among them, the goddess started the second war without choosing a Hero, and Jack was selected by the kingdom.
As the second son of the prestigious Dusken Marquess family, Jack possessed magic skills rivaling even the royal guards at his young age. In addition to his prodigious swordsmanship, he had an array of magic tools funded by the marquess family's wealth, making him one of the kingdom's top combatants.
Jack was not only skilled but also embodied justice, with a charming look that matched his noble lineage. Heroes were supposed to be the people's hope and a beacon of light. In that sense, Jack was the embodiment of what the kingdom sought in a Hero.
"And Eris-sama, if I were to defeat Galeo the Catastrophe, may I have the honor of being your partner at the evening gatherings?"
Jack, who could charm all the women in the kingdom, said with a respectful bow.
"Well..."
While Eris listened to the enticing proposal, she looked out the window with an indifferent expression. Her deep green eyes, tinged with melancholy, gazed at the town square below.
"Perhaps not..."
Disappointed by Eris's unfavorable response, Jack sighed. However, Eris turned her gaze away from the window and faced him.
"No, it's an invitation from Sir Jack, a stalwart of our kingdom. I shall accept."
"Is that true!?"
"Yes, it is only fitting for the royal family to reward a hero who has accomplished great deeds, isn't it?"
Eris replied with a smile as radiant as a blooming flower. Hearing her words, Jack's eyes widened, and he collapsed forward.
"Wha—!?"
Just as Eris expressed her surprise, a calm voice sounded from behind her.
"It's quite audacious of you to say that rewarding a hero is the royal family's duty, Eris."
Ban! Eris turned around in surprise. There was a man sitting at the window where she had been looking out. He wore a black fur coat, and the gap revealed a well-toned, tanned body. Golden rings adorned his wrists and ankles.
His sly, golden eyes peered into Eris's. She knew this man well, and she could never forget him.
"Kougaru!? Why are you here!"
Forgetting about the fallen Jack, Eris ran toward Kougaru with a surprised yet joyful expression.
――Kougaru.
Few knew his name in relation to the great deeds he had done.
Kougarou often referred to himself as Kou, and simultaneously, his alias, 'Mad Beast,' was far more famous. He found meaning in life only through combat, and his madness had even inflicted wounds on the Demon King. He was one of the heroes who stood alongside the Demon King Slayer.
In other words, Kou and Eris had once traveled together with Yuusuke as their comrade.
"Hahaha, just some business to attend to. I stopped by for a little while. ...So, he's the current Hero, huh?"
Seeing Jack still not showing any signs of getting up, Kou inquired.
"Yes, he's Jack Dusken. In fact, weren't you the one who did that? Why bother knocking him out? It would have been easier to escort him through the front gate, wouldn't it?"
"I can't be bothered with such tedious acts. Besides, I wanted to see what the Hero was made of."
Kou shifted his gaze from the fallen Jack to scan the room casually.
"――Besides, I have no interest in being eavesdropped on."
Eris sighed in exasperation at Kou's words.
"Sigh, I didn't sense any of your presence, so it must have been your doing."
"Bodyguards, huh? They did have rather sharp and prying eyes."
"I'm well aware. My brothers assigned them to keep an eye on me."
"I figured as much," Kou chuckled again.
As both of them said, several surveillance personnel were lurking around the room where Jack and Eris were conversing, always keeping an eye on Eris. However, there was no way that the heroes who had survived battles with the Demon King would fail to notice. Eris knew about it and let it slide, while Kou had simply obliterated the interference. That was the only difference.
"You wouldn't happen to have killed them, would you?"
"Come on, what do you take me for? I only knocked them out, along with your Hero here."
"Alright, as long as they're alive..."
"But still, the Hero should train a bit more. With his current skills, he'll die quickly if he faces a titled demon."
Jack had been unable to detect Kou's attack. If he couldn't even handle Kou's ambush, he wouldn't stand a chance against a titled demon.
Sitting down in a nearby chair, Eris spoke with a bitter tone.
"I understand that. But what's needed now is not the strongest Hero but one who's easy to manipulate and popular with the masses. The kingdom won't seriously pit Jack against a titled demon."
"So, he's just a decorative Hero now. Times have certainly changed..."
When they had been fighting the Demon Lord, being a Hero was proof of strength. They were chosen by the goddess, destined to become heroes. Kou and Eris knew that well.
"Yes, my brothers are obsessed with power. And... His Majesty, the king, has kept the Hero's power at bay out of fear. As a result, many seasoned soldiers have retired."
"Besides, it seems the Empire wants humans to kill each other..."
"...You even know about that?"
"If you travel, you pick up a few things."
Kou stopped speaking at that point. The atmosphere around them changed.
"But the God-Demon War hasn't truly ended yet."
"..."
"The Demon Lord and the Hero are gone, but the battle continues. The God-Demon War is undoubtedly still ongoing."
"...Yes."
Naturally, both of them were aware that the Second God-Demon War was happening. It was just that, for some reason, they hadn't been chosen this time.
However, that didn't mean they were not involved. Kou revealed this fact to Eris.
"Eris, you've probably noticed, haven't you? A 'Key' was killed. The system for this God-Demon War is that when a 'Key' dies, it opens a door between the otherworld and this world. With each death, new forces from both the demons and humans can join the battle."
"You don't mean... you're planning to participate in the God-Demon War again?"
In response to Eris's question, Kou snorted.
"I can't just sit out of a battle that determines the fate of humanity. Besides, this time, the battlefield is not in this world."
"So, what are you trying to say?"
"Don't play dumb, Eris. The goddess summoned him from the otherworld. It's hard to believe there are many other worlds."
Eris lowered her gaze at those words and fell silent.
Confronted with the fact she had been avoiding, a faint ache spread from her chest.
It was a cruel possibility mixed with hope and despair.
Kou's words continued.
"This is a piece of advice from a comrade standing shoulder to shoulder, Eris. Sharla is probably already moving to participate in the God-Demon War. You're free to make your own choices, but the chances of you meeting him aren't that abundant."
Unconsciously, Eris had clenched the skirt of her dress in her hands. Various emotions blended together, sinking heavily into her heart.
"...You're surprisingly kind. Has the Mad Beast softened up?"
"Well, looking at that spineless side of you irritates me. Try to maintain a bit more composure in your face."
With that, Kou leaped from the window frame as if he had said all he wanted to. Despite an intruder having entered the castle, there was no sign of commotion. Just as if it had been a dream from the beginning, he disappeared without leaving a trace.
Left alone in the room, Eris sat for a while, then slowly got up, laid Jack on the sofa, and left the room.
"Princess, where are you headed?"
"Just somewhere nearby. Sorry, but could you fetch my hat and coat?"
"Yes, certainly."
A maid accompanying Eris, who happened to pass by, retrieved her hat and coat. Eris left the castle without taking any other attendants with her. She considered them a hindrance, and no one dared to criticize her for her unprincess-like behavior.
Eris's destination was the square in the town below the castle.
"..."
The square she arrived at was bustling with people. Numerous shops lined the square's center, and many people were coming and going.
However, the scene she had come to see wasn't this spectacle. Eris's gaze was directed at a single bronze statue in the center of the square.
Enhanced by magic, the bronze statue gleamed with a silvery luster as it basked in the sunlight.
It was the statue of the previous Hero, who had defeated the Demon King and put an end to the First God-Demon War—a genuine hero. The statue of the previous Hero silently watched over the people.
It showed a brave and heroic knight that anyone would look up to.
But no one passing by knew. No one knew who had been beneath that armor. No one knew what he had felt as he continued to fight.
This statue symbolizes the false glory that surrounds him.
And at the same time,
"Yuusuke..."
It was a silver stake piercing through Eris's heart, accusing her of her sins.
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