I am back – Chapter 24

“I heard you’re from another world.”

The fact that the Hero came from another world was a closely guarded secret, known only to a few of the highest priests within the church.

The reason was deeply religious.

The situation was already desperate. Of course, the kingdom was still holding strong, and there was a little time left.

But humanity’s territory was gradually and unmistakably shrinking under the pressure of the Demon King’s army. While the capital city hadn’t yet felt the full impact, some outlying villages had already disappeared, and local towns were in peril. If the Hero had arrived even a bit later, the situation would have been far more hopeless.

In that context, welcoming a Hero from another world implied that there was no one left in this world to save it.

If a famous knight, warrior, or mage had received the title of Hero, people would have believed in the Hero right away. After all, their pre-existing respect would have only increased.

But this Hero, frankly, looked like just a regular young man to anyone who knew nothing about him.

…Now, I had to make sure to raise this young man into a proper Hero. Since the body was given directly by the Goddess, I could expect rapid growth.

Of course, even if we kept it hidden for now, I would eventually have to reveal where the Hero came from.

If possible, I’d prefer to do that after everything was over, after every situation had ended. Even if it came to light that the Hero was from another world, it would be a minor issue in a situation where he was already highly respected.

“I certainly believe in the Goddess’s insight.”

Pia had faith in the Goddess. Even if her behavior sometimes seemed a tad frivolous and she struggled to carry weight, the Goddess was a good being, and her guidance always led to good.

The one personally chosen and sent by her couldn’t be someone unkind.

“Have you ever heard anything from the Goddess?”

“No.”

She did hear the word “help.” But right after that, it was corrected to “have a conversation before helping.”

“But if we think about it logically, the Hero must be a very good person.”

“Why’s that?”

The Hero, while asking such a question, didn’t sound very certain.

“It’s my own logical conclusion.”

“Logical, you say?”

“Yep, logic.”

Ahem, Pia cleared her throat and laid out her unbeatable argument to the Hero sitting across from her.

“First off, the Goddess surely explained the situation of this world properly to you, right?”

“That’s true.”

I heard later that the Hero had come to this world after a very long conversation with the Goddess.

The Hero willingly said he would help upon hearing that his strength was needed, but he couldn’t understand why the Goddess so readily accepted his offer. She reportedly explained in great detail how the situation was unfavorable, how strong the enemy was, and how terrifying, dangerous, and painful it would be to fight that enemy.

Of course, the Hero patiently listened to all that and nodded once again.

And he came to this world. To save everyone.

<Well, considering he’s the type to sacrifice himself, thinking “if it weren’t me, someone else would definitely act the same way,” it was pretty much predetermined from the start.>

The Goddess later reflected on it that way.

“You probably explained to him how difficult it is to fight in this world and how painful facing the Demon King’s army can be, right?”

“Exactly.”

“After all that explanation, you still decided to come to this world, so you must be kind-hearted.”

“…”

Despite hearing that explanation, the Hero’s expression didn’t quite convey agreement.

“I came here because I heard there’s a reward.”

Of course, the Hero’s statement didn’t change Pia’s thoughts.

“What’s the reward for that?”

“Well….”

The Hero thought for a moment.

“There’s someone I’d like to see again.”

He said that with a bright smile.

“I intend to go back to where I originally lived.”

The condition of “saving the world” for a reward was overly modest. Considering the Goddess’s personality, it wouldn’t end just by returning, but the Hero before me looked satisfied with just that.

“Since I was supposed to be dead and received a new life, that in itself is already a reward.”

Though death could count as a reward for restoring life.

But I can assure you that no one would go through all this hardship to save the world just for a condition of “let me live once more.” They would rather choose to rest in heaven.

“It doesn’t seem like you came down here just for that mediocre reward, does it?”

The Saintess sharply caught that flaw in the logic. True to her upbringing, having engaged with priests and the Bible from a young age, she had a remarkably logical thought process.

In her opinion.

“Be honest. You came here just because you could save the people of this world, didn’t you?”

“…”

The Hero briefly opened his mouth and then clamped it shut. After a moment of thought, he managed a bitter smile.

“It’s not like I could have thought to come down just because I wanted to help. If someone had asked me if I’d help when I had no power, I wouldn’t have come at all. I came because the Goddess said she would grant me the strength to save. Ah, so this strength could be counted as one of the rewards then.”

Many would want to gain such strength.

The Hero added that.

“…”

The Saintess narrowed her eyes at the Hero.

Of course, she had a pure and innocent demeanor. But just because she looked that way didn’t mean the Hero would be scared.

“So you’re saying you came here only looking at the reward without any desire to help this world?”

That was neither an accusation nor suspicion.

Pia had already convinced herself that the Hero would have come to help even without such a reward. She was merely confirming.

“Well….”

Seeing Pia’s expression, the Hero glanced up, appearing somewhat troubled.

There, still shining brilliantly in the sunlight, was the Goddess’s holy image.

“Yes, well, that could be possible.”

In the end, it was the Hero who first admitted it.

“Helping the people of this world must be a joyful thing too. It could definitely be a reward in itself, I suppose.”

Upon hearing the Hero’s words, Pia finally smiled.

“May I ask why you want to help this world?”

“Well….”

The Hero looked up at the Goddess’s image again and slowly opened his mouth.

“Because it’s this kind of world.”

“This kind of world?”

The Hero smiled at Pia’s parrot-like repetition.

“Yes. It’s this kind of world. Because it’s this kind of world….”

And then he continued,

“Because it’s this kind of world, how wonderful would it be if we could help each other and live?”

The Saintess decided to join the Hero’s party.

*

Helping each other live.

It’s easy to say. But it’s incredibly difficult to practice.

Everyone wants to receive help, but there are few who want to give it. No matter how kind a person is, when they hear they have to give what they have away, they inevitably start to think about the disadvantages that might occur if they lack it.

So ultimately, someone wanting to practice the saying “let’s help each other” has to start by helping others rather than asking for help. That way, they become a role model for others, instilling a desire for others to live like them.

The Hero was that kind of person.

Of course, it didn’t seem like he was trying to be a role model in front of others. He just helped people as if he were truly practicing what it meant to say “let’s help each other.”

And Pia could confidently say that the Hero’s actions deeply moved everyone.

Not everyone returned the favor. Some received help from the Hero and secretly fled, while others grumbled about how he came too late.

But neither was he completely ignored by all.

Many followed the Hero. They guarded him as he walked into the most dangerous places without a care and carried supplies.

That was a miracle created by the Hero himself.

“…But.”

That kind of Hero is now gone.

In this world.

In the heart of the capital city, next to the royal castle, there stood a cathedral.

Among all cathedrals, the largest one had been built and expanded several times over the course of hundreds of years, serving as the center of the church.

And in the central worship hall of that cathedral, there was a magnificent stained glass that sparked faith simply by being viewed.

Before it now lay a holy sword that, while melted down, shone brighter than any relic.

As Pia looked at the holy sword illuminating the dim worship hall, she considered one possibility.

The Hero does not exist in this world.

Yes, in this world.

Then—