Chapter 85
After a long time, Erica returned to the Portlet Family Home.
The person who welcomed her the most was her Mother. As soon as she saw Erica, she began asking about her recent activities without taking a breath.
Had she really not gotten hurt from the Bishop Caliculea?
How much had she grown?
Was she having any difficulties lately?
What was her relationship with Vargan like, and so on.
Erica answered each question in detail, making sure not to unsettle her Mother.
Sometimes her Mother’s excessive care was a bit annoying, but her gratitude overshadowed any irritation she felt.
After greeting the Head of Household Father, Erica could finally enter her room after finishing a few chores.
It felt even more chaotic coming home than when she left the Academia, but perhaps that was just her imagination.
Upon stepping into her room, the most striking feature was the large bed.
Although the items not found in the Academia were all high-end goods and she felt no lack, naturally, there was a sense of nostalgia that brought both longing and comfort.
Furniture adorned with burgundy patterns and bulbs imbued with mana softly lit the interior.
In many ways, familiarity quickly approached her, but on the pure white wide bed, the plush dolls that had supported her since childhood were strikingly welcome.
Now, Erica thought she had grown too much to play with or hug those dolls, so she hadn’t taken any of them back to the Academia.
Yet every time she saw the empty bed in the Academia, she thought of those dolls.
“…….”
Erica quietly surveyed her surroundings.
She checked whether the door was fully closed, ensuring no sound could escape.
“…Have you been well?”
Even though she knew no one was there, her voice was cautious.
Then, she stealthily climbed onto the bed and flopped her small body down.
As the plush mattress reacted, the comforting smell of blankets arose. Enjoying that sensation for a moment, Erica looked up to face the dolls.
She took in each one with her eyes.
Though she had said they were well preserved, some of them showed signs of wear. She had heard countless times to toss them, but those dolls had bravely survived every challenge.
“…….”
A little further away, as if in a separate space, there was one black cat plush doll.
The cat was dressed, featuring a pocket on its belly for storing small items.
Seeing that doll, Erica, who had been feeling a small happiness, suddenly felt her gaze cool. A subtle sense of discomfort washed over her, as if looking at her fiancé.
Erica’s gaze turns icy, as if she were looking at her fiancé, a faint displeasure flickering in her eyes.
That doll was a gift from the Schugenhartz family on Erica’s eleventh birthday. Crafted on order from a famous artisan, it was more expensive than most jewelry.
… I didn’t realize it as a child, but now I see that its expression is rather annoying.
What was there to be so happy about receiving something like that?
She couldn’t sleep for about three days after receiving it, anxious that the doll might disappear. … It’s a hard truth to accept.
“Schugenhartz…”
Erica’s eyes narrow as she calls out her fiancé’s name.
It’s not a voice of longing but one laced with suspicion. Looking at the doll brings forth recent thoughts about him.
Erica felt a question arise within her.
While it may seem like his personality had suddenly changed, there was another primary reason.
‘It fits a bit too perfectly.’
Erica had seen and heard it directly.
He had brought Alicia from the countryside, someone who had no connections to the hero.
During this final exam, he had worn a ring that amplified mana, as if he knew the Cardinal’s power would activate, and had triggered it early.
No matter how many angles she considered and prepared for, could it truly be possible for everything to fit together like a puzzle?
“What the heck are you, anyway?”
Picking up the cat doll, Erica asked it directly.
There was no answer, and the doll’s expression remained infuriatingly smug.
Erica slammed her fist into the doll’s head.
One hit wasn’t enough. She hit it three more times.
Although it was an ominous object she wanted to throw away immediately, she kept it out of concern for her family’s perception.
After staring at the doll for a while, Erica reached into its pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.
It was a crumpled letter, pieced together from several torn fragments.
For the first time in a while, Erica unfolded the paper and began reading the words. With each movement of her eyes, the weight of sadness began to sink in like rain soaking through clothes.
The paper she had no choice but to keep inside the doll—
It was a letter exchanged with Vargan before their engagement, which had been violently ripped apart.
She couldn’t throw this away either, which was the only reason she still held onto it. There was no other reason. Not the slightest bit… none. Nothing.
Really, nothing.
She repeated that to herself.
*
“Vargan, what kind of object is it that you cherish so much?”
“… Finn, just sit still and focus on your training without worrying about it.”
Vargan placed the blue mana stone into the handkerchief-shaped familiar, White, that had been silently watching.
That radiant stone was the last gift Erica had given him during their childhood.
“… I want to do that, too, but we’re almost there. We need to get ready to disembark.”
Vargan and Finn were inside the wagon.
They were just about to arrive at the rendezvous point to join Helion’s team.
Vargan took in the view outside the window.
Just as he said, two figures appeared outside. One was waving to greet them.
“You arrived early.”
“It’s because Lord Vargan’s wagon is so luxurious.”
“……”
Vargan gazed steadily at Finn.
He wasn’t trying to nitpick, but Finn misunderstood him. Rubbing the back of his head, he realized his mistake and bit his dry lips, showing a courtesy he normally wouldn’t have.
He bit his dry lips but showed politeness.
“What wrong have I done this time? If so, I apologize.”
“Finn, I’m talking about you.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve calmed down quite a bit.”
The words that slipped out of Vargan’s mouth were unexpected. Finn, who thought he would be scolded, tilted his head, recalling his recent actions.
“Oh… really?”
“Yeah, now it feels like we can finally have a conversation.”
“That’s a relief.”
Clunk—.
Just as their conversation ended, the wagon came to a stop. The accompanying servant got up first to open the door, and Vargan and Finn stepped outside.
As Vargan continued his movements, he casually mentioned, “You’ll gain a lot during this mentoring period.”
There may not have been any particular intent behind it, but Finn took his words to heart. It felt like advice directed at him.
“You must gain something.”
*
At the meeting point, two figures were waiting for us.
Helion was not visible. They said he was out collecting information in the city with the rest of the group.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Gaon.”
The first to introduce himself was the youngest member of Helion’s team.
I shook his outstretched hand. Even though he was younger and still a student rather than a hero, he didn’t treat me with any disdain.
“I’m Canella. I’m the only woman in Helion’s team.”
A woman wearing a necklace adorned with mana stones spoke in a bright voice, pointing with her finger and narrowing her eyes at the person in front of her.
“So… you must be Finn… right?”
“Ah, yes, nice to meet you. I am Toylen Troa Finn.”
“Then this is Vargan.”
I also casually introduced myself, and after confirming the two of us, Canella nodded and began to lead the way.
As she walked, she explained the members of Helion’s team one by one.
“You obviously know about Helion, so let’s skip that… There’s a guy named Kshanoll and an older man named Canthurman. Neither of them is bad, but they’re a bit unique compared to us, so just keep that in mind.”
Since both were familiar figures, I casually listened to Canella’s information, comparing it to what I already knew. There wasn’t anything new. Their personalities seemed to match what I had heard.
After all, we’d be meeting them face to face soon. It would be more efficient to confirm things later.
“Both are students at the Academia, so you probably already know, but not all the hero team members are of the same age, right? They range from their 20s to 50s. So if you see a muscular older guy instead of a hero, don’t be surprised.”
Canella chuckled softly, recalling one of her team members.
Usually, when you read comics or novels about heroes fighting evil, it’s easy to imagine young characters; however, the reality here was a bit different.
Those ranked 10th or higher in the Hero Ranking had an average age exceeding 50, and they weren’t weak at all.
They were individuals who had intensely trained their bodies. The effects of aging wouldn’t truly become a hindrance for them for a long time.
Canella pointed to Gaon, the only member in his 20s among their team, saying, “He’s 23 and the youngest. There’s not much of a difference in age between you guys. Doesn’t he look young?”
“Canella… first impressions are crucial. What if you lock in an image of being easy-going like that? You’re in your late 20s too, so aren’t you similar to me?”
“Hey, little guy. Already trying to crawl up to big sis, huh?”
Kanilla shrugged while playfully tussling with Gaon. Her message was crystal clear.
“In the end, age is just a number for a hero.”
For heroes, race, status, age, education—none of that matters. Whether you graduated from the Hero Training Academy or became a hero through some special course, there’s no discrimination.
Sure, some alumni express camaraderie, but they don’t form factions. It’s strictly prohibited and there’s a basic atmosphere that discourages discrimination.
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I may not have much experience, but I can share the basics,” Gaon said, his eyes eager for queries.
This expression reminded me of a senior who, excited to have someone new under their wing, tries to be helpful.
What a perfect opportunity! Kanilla had been rambling about things I already knew, and now I had a chance to ask something worthwhile without hesitation.
“What’s the mission this time?”
The Central Church, which could be considered the hub of all churches, serves various regions with its own hero teams. Helion’s team has been dispatched under the authority of the Central Church, located in the center of the continent.
The mission came from the Central Church, signaling an incident that needs to be addressed.
Normally, it involves capturing a bishop-level Altife, but this time it’s different. No, it has to be different.
“I was going to tell you when we arrived, but um… it might be a bit different from what you’re thinking,” Kanilla said, scratching her cheek sheepishly after exchanging glances with Gaon. Their response seemed lukewarm.
“Have you heard of ‘Frikkanrisk’?”
“Frikkanrisk? Are you talking about that divine beast belonging to the dragon race?”
Finn looked somewhat flustered. It was an unexpected name.
That creature isn’t Altife. It’s similar to the ancient dragon that remains as a skeleton in Academia—different subspecies, but one name from its lineage among dragons.
It’s one of the apex predators at the top of the monster hierarchy.
“Our mission this time is to hunt Frikkanrisk. Sorry, but at this timing, we’ve been assigned this deadly task. And it doesn’t even relate to Altife.”
Generally, dragons are creatures of extraordinary strength, far surpassing bishops.
So, this task is definitely not your average mission.
Kanilla is even more worried about this than about Altife.
I gave her a reassuring smile to ease her worries.
“It’s fine. Being a hero isn’t just about hunting Altife.”
“Well, that’s a relief…”
It has no ties to Altife. It’s not about hunting bishops or archbishops.
That’s true. The mission assigned by the church, unrelated to the archbishop ‘Ami’ I’m aiming for in this episode, is the hunt for the dragon Frikkanrisk.
“From the moment I decided to follow Helion, I was prepared to endure risks like this.”
Altife is not involved.
At least, not in terms of the ‘mission’.
