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Lacking confidence, excessively self-deprecating, and steeped in a sense of inferiority, Adventurer Eric was among the stronger humans out there.

Stronger than your average knight or adventurer—there was no comparison. Of course, a significant part of that strength came from the Hero’s sword.

Still, he wasn’t weak, not by a long shot.

Even if a wyvern or similar raid dragon showed up, as long as he defended himself smartly, he could stall it for quite a while. He might not single-handedly take down a wyvern like the first hero did, but he could hold his ground with some support from others.

In just half a year—merely six months—he had grown that strong, thanks to not only his own ambition but also his unwavering determination.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Galatea.”

The help of others, especially that of the Dragon Priestess, Alice, would be crucial.

It was Alice who taught Hero Eric swordsmanship, who became his sparring partner, and who packed his brain with all sorts of knowledge.

Considering that six months isn’t that long, the Dragon Priestess Alice must have put her all into raising the hero.

And she did all that while juggling various tasks as a Dragon Priestess! She even named her golem Galatea and used it as a training partner for the hero.

Thanks to all he learned from Alice, Hero Eric was able to reach that level of completeness in half a year.

If only he had a bit more time, he might have grown even stronger… hmm. It feels like the time for the hero to step forward is approaching.

The overall situation was tense, balanced like a tightrope.

The Demon King’s forces, including monsters, undead, goblin legions, and even humans seemingly under the dark magic’s control, were advancing steadily.

It wasn’t just random monster rampaging; it was gradually becoming a well-organized military force, yet the lives on this land didn’t succumb weakly.

Priests devoted to the various gods played their part, repelling monsters or returning undead to corpses, and mages devised a variety of spells to help many people according to the circumstances.

Amidst all this progress, the most notable were, surprisingly… the knights.

Knights battling fiercely on the front lines, relying on their armor and weapons, spilling blood in their fights. Excluding their physical power, they didn’t seem to have any remarkable advantages.

It seemed someone had shared new knowledge with them.

That new knowledge was none other than a breathing technique to build magical power within the body through breath.

Similar to the breathing methods of mages, who gathered magical power in their hearts to prepare for swift spellcasting, knights built magical power evenly throughout their bodies to enhance their overall strength and physical resilience.

The key difference in this breathing technique was that it used the gathered magical power not to cast spells but to enhance the body.

Though I felt I shouldn’t know who shared such knowledge, hmm… honestly, did they think I wouldn’t figure it out?

If a wandering knight named Arthur passed it on to other knights, it’s pretty obvious. That Arthur, who had the alias Sword Emperor and earned reverence, for sure.

Taking advantage of his human descent and status as the ancestor god of Romania, Arthur freely traveled the land, extending all sorts of help here and there.

The knight clad in armor resembling a rock that appeared silently on the fierce battlefield. The number of those he saved through his actions was countless.

Interestingly enough, tales surrounding his deeds grew alongside the legends of Talos, the keeper of the underworld, spawning all sorts of stories… but let’s skip that for now.

I’ll bring it up when the opportunity arises.

Returning to the topic, knights who could now wield magical power through their breathing techniques were no longer just mere meat shields; they showcased their prowess as real blades.

By utilizing magical power to strengthen their muscles and enhance their physical resilience, and channeling magical energy into their armor and weapons for reinforcement, their combat power noticeably improved, allowing them to stand up against monsters they previously couldn’t hope to match.

Ah! This is certainly a desirable development! Witnessing progress amid a fierce war!

Oh, and by the way, the breathing techniques used by the knights trickled down to the common folk, slowly being adopted by adventurers. There was even movement to spread it among regular folks for health maintenance.

Such changes in a tense situation may lead to a shift in the overall balance…

“Yep, it seems it’s time for the hero to step out.”

No one else but the hero.

The Dragon Priestess Alice conveyed that determination to me with a resolute expression.

But.

“It still feels insufficient.”

That may be true regarding Eric’s personal strength; but with me accompanying him, how important is Eric’s individual strength, really?

It might sound a bit disheartening for Eric to hear, but I didn’t argue.

Simply put, even if Eric had a thousand of them, they would still be crushed instantly under the barrage of Alice, the Dragon Priestess.

While the Demon King’s army posed a mighty threat to humans… the overwhelming asymmetrical might of the Dragon Priestess ensured our victory was all but assured.

If the Demon King had a proper body to move about, that might change things, but… I don’t think anyone has come close to being worthy of that title yet.

Those who could be considered the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings might be a threat in ordinary circumstances, but if Alice stepped in directly, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Well, if you just step in and smash everything, it would end quite blandly, wouldn’t it?”

“Wouldn’t it?”

“But that way, we wouldn’t build any narrative.”

“Narrative…?”

“Well, it’s our story.”

Let’s call it a narrative in a good way, or a lack of excitement in a bad way.

If it were just a tale of a ridiculously strong Dragon Priestess smashing the Demon King and destroying everything, what’s the difference from a transparent dragon story?

Such things are dull and uninteresting. Events lacking any fluctuations offer no stimulation to onlookers, making the experience feel flat.

In other words—

It’s boring.

That’s what it boils down to.

“Anyway, Eric has built up enough strength to protect himself, so it feels like it’s about time to move. If we defeat the Demon King together, others will acknowledge Eric as a proper hero.”

In the end, I was saying I would go after the Demon King for Eric’s sake.

Before meeting Eric, he had been the sort of child who rarely expressed emotions outwardly, but now he was quite honest about his feelings.

Could this be love?

It’s a feeling I might never understand, even after a lifetime.

“You just want your favorite person to be recognized by others.”

“F-Favorite?!”

Alice was taken aback, denying it vehemently. It was clear she felt pretty embarrassed, even if her face didn’t show it.

“I just wish for Eric to become an admirable hero and bring peace to the world.”

“Sure, sure. That’s what you say.”

I chuckled softly while noticing that Alice’s ear tips were slightly flushed, despite her face showing no signs.

“By the way, are you really planning to go alone? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“You said impossible things don’t exist for a Dragon Priestess. You said I could do anything I set my mind to!”

“True, but I’m not worried about you; I’m a bit concerned about Eric.”

Any mundane monster wouldn’t stand a chance against Eric, but those who could be deemed the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army—those dark knights were a cause for concern.

It would be tough for Eric to take them on, unless he built up some other allies for cooperation.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best to help. And I’ll be helping him, right?”

“That’s… true.”

Though it was a fact that I couldn’t use my powers effectively around Alice… hmm.

Well, it should work out somehow. After all, Alice’s power is on a semi-divine level, with few who could even dream of matching her on the ground.

Unless they’re dragons, no one could possibly handle Alice.

“Alright, I’d prefer to say I want to invest a bit more time in building up Eric’s skills before sending him out. But if your determination is that firm, I have no choice.”

“A bit more time? How long are we talking?”

“Hmm… six months to a year, maybe? I think by then, some results would start showing up in Eric’s abilities.”

Of course, he could grow through real battles as well, but… seeing how Alice put it, it seemed like she intended to cause a quick rampage and return.

“Six months to a year? Way too long! During that time, many lives are being lost on the frontlines! To help them, we need to end the war quickly!”

Well, if we catch the source of the war, it’ll probably end quickly.

But… hmm.

“Well, even if I say various things, what does it matter? You guys are the ones living in this world. Do what you desire.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But be careful. If you only think about your current power, there are hardly any who can match you. However, battles can take unexpected turns. Oh, and don’t forget to prepare your mental defenses.”

“Mental defenses?”

“Remember when I borrowed your body for a moment?”

“You mean when you stole it.”

“Anyway, I borrowed it. Ahem. I found out then that your mind seems to be quite weak. You should protect your mind using magic or carry something that protects it.”

“Hmm… not sure I get it.”

“You didn’t resist me at all when I took your body, right? Other beings might try something similar. So you need to be prepared.”

After my words, Alice thought for a moment and nodded.

“Got it. I might not understand it well, but I’ll look for a method.”

Ultimately, all I could do was offer advice to reduce danger and watch over her.

Well, that’s somewhat enjoyable in its own right, too.

 

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