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“Count. I oppose. We cannot enroll her.”

At that voice, Wendy faintly opened her eyes.

Her body was lying on a sofa.

Upon closer inspection, it was the university chancellor’s office.

“Ugh…”

For some reason, her body felt sluggish.

As if all the energy in her body had drained away.

Then, voices of people came from beyond the sofa where she was lying.

“What’s the basis?”

“She is beyond our school’s capacity.”

“Beyond capacity?”

“If the Hero attends school, it will only cause confusion among the students.”

Hero…?

Who?

“Count. Think about it. Only the Hero can use magic of all attributes. If your servant uses such magic, the school, no, this country will be turned upside down!”

Your servant.

At those words, her eyes shot open.

Wendy hugged her shoulders.

Am I the Hero…?

Wendy was confused.

Hero.

She had heard of it before.

A being who appears when the world is in dire crisis and saves it.

It wasn’t something recorded in history.

Just a story passed down by word of mouth.

About a thousand years ago, before the Meikhael Empire was founded, a woman claiming to be the Hero appeared in a certain country.

At first, people didn’t believe her.

But the moment they saw her magic, they had no choice but to acknowledge her.

She could wield all attribute magics, something only a hero could do.

It was something only a god could achieve.

Impossible without divine blessing.

A thousand years have passed since then, but no one who could wield all attributes like the Hero has appeared.

Wendy pondered deeply.

She was poor.

She had never learned magic.

She was too busy trying to survive.

Naturally, she had never shown her magic to anyone.

No… just once.

She had shown it.

On that day of severe drought, when she prayed beside her brother.

Her prayer brought rain to the parched land.

Thinking back, it wasn’t the heavens answering her prayer.

It was probably magic.

But since then, she had been reluctant to use magic.

Because her brother left due to her magic.

And today, for the first time in her life, she had unleashed her full magical power.

When she summoned a massive golem, Myohail had muttered something strange.

“You, are you of the Hero’s bloodline?”

If that’s what he said to me…

Hero’s bloodline.

Does that mean I’m a descendant of the Hero?

Do I have to become the Hero…?

Wendy’s small body trembled.

‘I’m scared…’

I’m not as brave as the Hero.

I don’t have the guts to save the world.

I don’t have the ability.

I’m just a servant of the Count’s household.

I don’t have the confidence to fight monsters as the Hero.

I don’t have the confidence to lead people.

I don’t have the confidence to save comrades.

I don’t have the confidence to defeat the Demon Lord.

Wendy had to lower her shoulders.

Because she was afraid of the life she would have to live as the Hero.

‘Count…’

Wendy suddenly wondered what he would think.

If he knew I was the Hero, what would he do?

‘I still want to stay by your side…’

Even if it’s the Count, would he want to keep me, the Hero, by his side?

Could he keep me by his side?

Would the heavens… fate… allow it?

Then, Tristan spoke.

“That could be fun.”

“This is no joke! More importantly, Count, did you know? That she is the Hero?”

“I knew.”

Wendy’s shoulders twitched.

He knew?

Tristan spoke as if it were nothing.

At his calm demeanor, Chancellor Mondri spoke in an excited voice.

“Then why didn’t you say anything? The appearance of the Hero is a significant event. It’s evidence that a crisis has come to this world.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“We must inform the Imperial Family immediately! And we must conscript soldiers and contact foreign nations to check if the Demon Lord has appeared!”

The implication was clear.

That I, as the Hero, must participate in the war.

At the bleak reality, Wendy wanted to cover her ears.

But Tristan spoke.

“She is my servant.”

Wendy couldn’t see Tristan’s expression, but she could guess what face he was making.

Undoubtedly, he would speak with the arrogant face of a noble.

“Whether she’s the Hero or not, she is my servant. Mine. So I will do as I please. Don’t interfere.”

“Interfere? Count. The Hero is not an object!”

“Treating her as an object is rather your doing, isn’t it?”

“Huh? What on earth…”

Tristan spoke.

“If you inform the Imperial Family of the Hero’s appearance, from that moment on, she will live solely to save the world.”

“That’s only natural. The Hero is originally such a being.”

“The Hero is not a convenient tool to save the world.”

‘…!’

At those words, Wendy’s shoulders twitched greatly.

“Even if she’s the Hero, all she can do is use all attribute magics. Do you think that alone can save the world from crisis?”

“Th-that’s…”

“The Hero is just a person. Her becoming the Hero doesn’t change much. The Hero is merely a symbol.”

“But if this becomes known, His Majesty the Emperor and the ministers will want her!”

Wendy listened with bated breath.

She was anxious about what Tristan would answer.

And his answer surpassed her expectations.

“Even if the Imperial Family wants her. They cannot take her from me. Even if it’s… His Majesty the Emperor.”

‘Gasp…!’

Wendy quickly covered her mouth to prevent any sound from escaping.

It was a very Count-like answer.

No, an answer only he could give in this country.

Though it was a possessive statement, strangely, Wendy didn’t dislike it.

Her feelings were odd.

It was the first time.

Her small chest had never throbbed so violently.

“Count…! You are making a very disrespectful statement! This could be considered treason-!”

“Enough, Mondri.”

A deep voice intervened between the two.

It was Myohail, the cat.

“Master…”

“I intend to admit her to this school.”

“!?”

Myohail spoke in a slow but clear voice.

“She passed the exam. She even defeated me, the Sage.”

“Th-that’s because you went easy on her, right? At a glance, it was just a big, incomplete golem. You held back at the end…”

“No need for lame excuses. A loss is a loss. I lost, and the little lady won.”

“That’s…”

Mondri trailed off, clearly dissatisfied.

Unexpected words came from Myohail’s mouth.

“I also agree with the Count. She has no awareness of being the Hero, and above all, she’s too young. I won’t stand by and watch her being handed over to the Imperial Family.”

Unexpectedly, Myohail also sided with Tristan.

Effectively, it was 2:1.

In the end, Mondri had to raise the white flag.

“Sigh… If Master insists so much, I have no choice but to concede.”

“What are you conceding? You lost.”

“Ah, really! Master, I’m not a child anymore. I’m over 70, an old man. Please treat me with some respect.”

“Brat, I’m older than your great-great-grandfather’s great-great-grandfather. What respect are you talking about?”

“No, Master, you’re older than my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. That’s only natural!”

“Quiet.”

The two bickered.

Then, Tristan spoke.

“So Wendy is admitted to this school?”

“Yes. I, Myohail, guarantee it. However, I hope her status as the Hero remains hidden while she attends school.”

“Hmm.”

His voice had softened.

Only then did Wendy’s heart settle.

Thank goodness.

She passed the exam.

She could remain in the Count’s household.

She could still stay by his side.

‘But… I’m so sleepy.’

Wendy didn’t know, but the intense use of magic had made her drowsy.

She thought it was due to the release of tension and wrapped herself in the coat she was wearing.

It was big.

It was tailored for the large Tristan, so for Wendy, it was like a blanket.

Even stretching out her legs, there was still space.

In that vast space, Wendy fidgeted and then succumbed to deep sleep.

 

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