Chapter 8: Rumour

Deep in the night, with the sun long set and the moon high in the sky.

At a corner table in the adventurers’ guild of a remote village, a woman with hair like blazing fire, Fiona, sat alone, nursing a beer.

She set down her empty mug and sighed softly.

“Haaah… Time sure flies…”

It truly felt like the blink of an eye.

It seemed like just yesterday that she first met that young, frail boy who was too scared to move in front of a single goblin on the street, but eight years had already passed.

At first, she had only intended to help him a little out of pity.

But the boy far exceeded her expectations.

Less than a month after they met, he single-handedly took down a rare monster species and earned his adventurer’s plaque.

Then, in just three years, at the age of thirteen, he achieved Silver-grade.

If it weren’t for that infernal, devoted love of his, he might have gone to the city long ago and broken the record for the youngest Gold-grade adventurer.

His Silver-grade achievement was certainly almost on par with the youngest record in history.

Considering his tremendous growth rate, couldn’t he have broken the Gold-grade record?

“Tsk… No, in the first place, if that girl Irene hadn’t been around, he probably wouldn’t have even looked at becoming an adventurer…”

Fiona gave a bitter smile.

No matter how much she was his childhood friend and first love, how could someone be so devoted?

He was a stubborn one, if anything.

For the past eight years, he hadn’t rested a single day, dedicating himself to requests and training.

All for one girl.

“Well… thanks to him, I got busy too, though. Hic! Ah, damn it… I’m drunk again.”

Fiona hiccuped unknowingly and put down her empty mug.

It had already been over two years since that damn disciple of hers left for the capital.

So why was she still here, moping and thinking about him?

Fiona couldn’t understand it herself.

“Haaah… I don’t know, I don’t know! This is all because of that damn disciple!”

Originally, she had wanted a quiet life.

She had achieved wealth and fame as a Gold-grade adventurer at a young age, but she grew tired of being treated like a s*ave by the nobles in the capital and had abandoned everything to come down to this rural village.

She had planned to live a quiet life, occasionally taking on small requests.

But because of that one damn brat, all her plans had gone awry.

“Haaah… What a damn brat… And yet… I’m quite envious too…”

Fiona was genuinely envious of the girl named Irene, the object of Logan’s pure love.

If she had someone by her side who looked only at her and devoted everything to her like that…

“I wouldn’t be sitting here in this damn guild corner, drinking alone… Uhehehe…”

Once he had saved up a certain amount of money, Logan left for the imperial capital with Irene.

It was to help Irene’s magical talent blossom, to enroll her in the Magic Tower Academy, the empire’s top magic educational institution.

Through occasional letters, it was said that Irene had truly proven herself to be a once-in-a-generation genius.

The Magic Tower also highly valued her talent and spared no support or scholarships.

Then he could have lived a little more comfortably.

But that damn disciple of hers, for the sake of wanting to do even better for Irene, and not wanting to fall behind her, seemed to have thrown himself into even more dangerous requests and pushed himself relentlessly.

According to the news relayed by the guild branch master, he had finally achieved Gold-grade adventurer status last year at the age of seventeen.

“You damn brat…! That’s enough now, so hurry up and marry that girl…! If you don’t, I’ll… hic…!”

‘…Before I pounce on you myself.’

“Ah, is this too shameless? No matter what, the age difference… Uhehehe…”

Fiona was muttering such nonsensical jokes and about to bring the mug to her lips again.

“Everyone! There’s trouble! Big trouble!”

A young guild staff member who burst through the guild doors shouted urgently.

His face was pale.

“……?”

Not only Fiona, who was drinking alone, but also the few remaining adventurers and staff members, all turned their gazes towards him.

In the silence, the staff member delivered the unbelievable news in a trembling voice.

“The-the Demon Lord…! Demon Lord Belzegor is said to have been resurrected!!”

Thud!

Fiona’s beer mug slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, its contents spilling everywhere.

The cold beer soaked Fiona’s clothes, but she didn’t even have the leisure to feel it.

‘…That damn disciple.’

Just when she thought he had finally achieved Gold-grade and could live a stable life.

Just when she thought he would soon marry Irene and live happily.

It seemed his turbulent life was only just beginning.

Fiona let out a deep sigh, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

---

On a weekend afternoon, at a quiet cafe near the Imperial Magic Tower Academy.

Logan was sitting across from Irene after a long time.

Irene, seated by the sunlit window, looked much more mature and beautiful than three years ago.

Her life at the Magic Tower and consistent magic training had added an air of confidence and dignity to her.

“Logan… I’m really fine now. Don’t push yourself too hard because of me. It would be better for you to take more care of yourself now.”

Irene said softly but firmly, looking at the heavy pouch of gold coins Logan had gently pushed across the table.

In the past, she had taken his help for granted, but now the situation was a little different.

Her outstanding talent and beautiful appearance at the Magic Tower Academy attracted much attention, but at the same time, unfavorable rumors about her relationship with Logan also followed.

A woman with outstanding talent but parasitic on a man, lacking self-reliance.

A villainess who exploited her kind and capable childhood friend.

And so on.

They were malicious gossips spread by classmates envious of her, but they had considerably wounded Irene’s pride.

However, Logan, as if completely unfazed by such rumors, smiled gently and pushed the gold coin pouch back towards Irene.

“It’s alright, Irene. I’m managing myself well, so don’t worry. And even if you receive a scholarship from the Magic Tower…”

“You still need a lot of money to buy magic ingredients or grimoires, right? And there will be many other expenses in daily life.”

“B-but Logan…”

Irene still hesitated.

Logan wasn’t wrong.

The Magic Tower’s support was limited to tuition and basic research aid, and the costs for personal research, training, and increasing social activities and appearance management were always tight.

She wanted to be recognized not only for her magical skills but also for her appearance, so she spent a considerable amount of money on clothes, accessories, and cosmetics.

Without his support, it would be difficult to maintain her current level of research and lifestyle.

Logan, as if reading her mind, or perhaps knowing about those rumors himself, looked at her with affectionate eyes and said.

“Irene, don’t worry about what anyone around you says. They’re all just jealous of you. Your dazzling talent… and…”

“And…?”

Irene asked Logan, who was trailing off, with curious eyes.

“You’re…”

“I’m…?”

“……Much prettier than other people. That’s why everyone is jealous.”

Logan said, blushing slightly and looking embarrassed.

At his sincere compliment, Irene’s eyes widened for a moment, then she couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

“Aww~ Logan, really! What was that~”

Although she teased him playfully, the unpleasant rumors that had troubled Irene’s mind vanished like melting snow with that one word from Logan.

A warm and sweet feeling welled up from deep within her heart.

Indeed, Logan was still looking only at her, unchangingly.

Eventually, Irene decided to accept his sincerity.

“Always… thank you, Logan…”

“Mm-hmm…”

Logan smiled softly.

Just as the two were about to catch up after a long time, sharing news about their lives at the Magic Tower and adventure stories, and spend some peaceful time together.

Just then.

“Breaking news! Breaking news!”

A student who rushed into the cafe, panting, shouted.

In his hand was an emergency bulletin that seemed to have just arrived.

The gazes of everyone in the cafe, including Logan and Irene, turned towards him.

And at the shocking news that came from the student’s mouth, the two of them could only freeze on the spot.

“The Demon Lord! Demon Lord Belzegor…! Is said to have been resurrected after hundreds of years!!!”

---

The resurrection of Demon Lord Belzegor.

The shadow of the Demon Lord, cast once more after hundreds of years, instantly plunged the empire, no, the entire continent, into chaos and terror.

People accustomed to peace were shaken by the news of the sudden disaster, and ominous signs heralding the appearance of the

Demon Lord’s army began to appear in various places.

However, humanity was not entirely powerless.

There were forces that had prepared for the Demon Lord’s return for many long years, and at their center was the Church, which upheld the Goddess’s oracle, honed divine power, and had elected Saintesses for generations.

The central square of Arcadia, the imperial capital.

Sera, revered as the Saintess of the current era, appeared before the anxious citizens and believers.

Her pink hair shone dazzlingly under the sunlight, and her pink eyes held a benevolent smile.

Her beauty and sacred aura made the gathered crowd momentarily forget their anxiety.

“Ah! My beloved citizens of the Empire! Please do not be afraid!”

Sera’s clear and melodious voice resonated throughout the square.

Her voice seemed to contain a mysterious power that reassured people.

“Demon Lord Belzegor is undoubtedly an evil and powerful being, but the blessing of our merciful Goddess is with us!”

“Waaaaah—!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

“We have our Saintess!”

“The Church will protect us!”

“Yes! And the Goddess must have surely chosen a Hero!”

“That’s right! Saintess. The Goddess has given a revelation about the new Hero, hasn’t she? Right? Saintess!”

At the last cry, Sera smiled benevolently and sacredly at the crowd and nodded.

“Yes, of course! Absolutely! The Goddess has already chosen the great Hero who will save this world!”

At her confident answer, the square was once again filled with enthusiastic cheers.

Sera briefly offered more words of blessing and prayers to the crowd, then slowly descended from the dais.

The people, who had been trembling in fear of the Demon Lord’s resurrection, gained courage and hope through her speech and returned to their daily lives with brighter expressions.

Left alone, Sera watched the retreating figures of the people and a meaningful smile, different from before, played on her lips.

And then, in a voice so small that no one could hear, she murmured softly.

“Yes… As for who the Hero is… the Goddess has told me very, ve~ry well… Huhu…”