Trial of Heroes (2)

‘Pairs of two?’

For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard, but judging by the uncomfortable atmosphere around me, I realized I’d heard right.

‘Wait, do we get to pick our partners?’

I quickly scanned the remaining people.

Four had been eliminated, leaving eight of us.

And looking at those who were left…

‘At the very least, I need to avoid two of them.’

The Inquisitor and Teo.

If I got tangled up with those two, it would no doubt get exhausting.

But with eight people, two out of eight, the odds weren’t exactly comforting.

‘Come on, there’s got to be some choice in this, right?’

I gazed quietly at Marvin.

He was watching our reactions, and then he spoke slowly.

“We’ll decide the pairs by a simple drawing.”

That’s not good…

If partners were decided by chance, the element of unpredictability would rise sharply.

“Then, I’ll call your names—please come up one at a time.”

I’d expected there’d be some kind of device or ceremony fitting for the Seven Heroes Convocation, not something as mundane as a drawing.

But as the door opened, what came in was a huge box. It looked pretty shabby, as if someone with zero dexterity had slapped it together.

“For reference, restia made this box herself while you all were taking the trial.”

“Marvin! You didn’t have to say that!”

At Marvin’s calm words, restia, who’d carried in the box, blushed fiercely.

Even among the Seven Heroes, there are clearly things they can’t do.

“First, Ian Sylvest. Please come forward.”

Just as he’d said, Marvin summoned one person at a time.

Each person called went up, reached into the box, and pulled out a small slip of paper.

‘Seems like whatever’s written on those slips decides the pairs…’

I watched closely as Ian returned with his slip.

Gazing at the paper intently suddenly triggered a memory from the profile. The detail written was the number ‘3’.

‘That’s it!’

With this, I could pick the partner I wanted.

I watched keenly as each person returned with a slip in hand.

Of course, even if I could see the profiles, there was still a gamble to it. The slips I could pick from would depend on when I was called.

If I were called last, I’d have no choice at all.

“Clay Vanhart, please come forward.”

Lucky me?

Marvin called my name fifth.

I walked toward the box, checking what slips the others were holding.

‘Of all possibilities, Ian has already teamed up with someone else.’

He was both skilled and familiar, so I’d hoped to pair with him, but it looked like that was out.

The remaining unpaired people didn’t make ideal prospects either.

It would have been nice to go with Rascal, but he hadn’t drawn his slip yet.

But if I aimed for an undrawn slip in hopes of pairing with him, Teo—of all people—was still remaining.

With three people left, as long as I avoided Teo, but with just a one-in-three chance, it felt too risky.

‘In that case…’

I reached out, recalling the location of the desired slip I’d seen in the profile.

“You’re not hesitating at all.”

As I drew the slip I’d planned for, Marvin commented curtly.

‘… Did he notice I knew which slip was which?’

Surely not, but the superhuman abilities of the Seven Heroes made me uneasy for a moment.

But Marvin just looked at me with interest and nothing more.

“Do you have confidence you can win regardless of your partner?”

Thankfully, that wasn’t it.

Relieved, I quickly came up with an excuse.

“It’s not that. I just figured hesitation doesn’t really change anything.”

“Excellent.”

Marvin nodded with admiration in his eyes.

He didn’t seem to regard my answer as an excuse, accepting it readily.

As I returned to my seat, Kisea quietly approached.

“Which number did you get?”

“Secret.”

“Cheater!”

Still, maybe because we’d spent time together, Kisea spoke to me like an old friend.

Sometimes she could be awkward, but moments like this weren’t so bad.

“Now, since everyone’s drawn… please sit next to the person with the matching number.”

With that, the contestants’ eyes glinted with sharp interest.

“Ugh, of all people—”

“Of all? You beastkin brat!”

Already, there was arguing among some of the numbered pairs.

Teo was a prime example.

‘So Rascal and the Inquisitor are on the same team.’

Luckily, Ian ended up with a manageable partner.

“Wow! Clay, we’re in the same group!”

“Yeah. We must really be tied by fate.”

“Right! I kind of felt it would be that way from the beginning!”

It turned out Kisea was my partner.

Upon realizing we’d be teamed up, she brightened with a big smile.

For someone not very social, pairing up with someone she thought of as a friend was surely a relief.

[But if you’re uncomfortable with her, why pick her as your partner?]

‘Uncomfortable or not, she’s a heroine—she can’t be that bad, right?’

[… Not that bad? Her morality seems a little questionable, in my opinion.]

‘Well, everyone’s ambushing each other anyway, so it’s not like she’s the only one.’

If anything, I’d call her clever.

She could be a little unnerving at times, but her methods were always efficient.

‘Most importantly, with her as my partner, this trial is basically a free pass.’

As long as I was careful around Rascal, I figured nothing major would get in my way.

“The next trial is tomorrow, so get to know your partners well until then.”

With that, Marvin left the room with Restia.

A strange awkwardness settled over the group.

‘Looks like this will be easy to get through.’

If the first trial had been any indication, I started thinking maybe this so-called Hero’s Trial wasn’t so tough after all.

That’s what I thought—up until then.

* * *

After the pairings concluded, some headed to the dining hall to stave off their hunger.

That included Kisea and me.

“By the way… there’s only one mage left this time.”

“Looks that way.”

I saw the mage eating together with Ian a little ways off.

He looked uncomfortable—and probably because his partner was Ian.

It looked like they were trying to bond over a meal, but Ian’s short responses made it difficult to read him.

‘To be honest, it looks like he’s going to get knocked out next.’

His skills were decent—7th class—but, unfortunately for him, the weakest one here.

Ian was excellent too, but compared to Rascal or Kisea, he was lacking.

[But Ian’s a monster in his own right. Wasn’t he supposed to be Fabian’s rival?]

‘Maybe that didn’t count the heroine.’

I didn’t know the details.

“Greetings, sir Clay.”

At that moment, someone came over and took a seat next to me.

Here, people didn’t talk about nobility, so it sounded almost familiar.

Of course, I couldn’t return the warmth.

“What business does the Holy Knight of Setram have with me…?”

The Inquisitor, the man who had watched me intently all this time, was the one speaking.

“Haha, you’re very cautious. I simply want to be on friendly terms with you, sir Clay. Ah! By the way, my name is Jerta.”

Jerta.

That was the guy’s name.

Full name: Jerta Akern. The second-ranked Inquisitor of the Kingdom of Setram.

He was an advanced-rank Swordmaster, armed with powerful holy magic.

I’d checked his profile several times, but having him actually speak to me was deeply unpleasant.

“Ah, yes. Sir Jerta.”

“Hmm, you seem very wary of me. May I ask why?”

Grancesia responded quickly in my head to his words.

[Watch every word you say.]

‘I know.’

He wasn’t an Inquisitor for nothing.

He was clearly trying to get something out of me.

“I’m just a bit shy around new people.”

“I don’t really think that’s all there is to it…”

“I don’t easily strike up conversation with others, for that reason.”

In fact, since coming here, I hadn’t approached anyone unprompted.

Perhaps a few times—the rest were mostly interactions with Kisea.

“Hm, I see. In any case, I’ve wanted to meet you. You’re the hero who repelled the demonkin in the war, and the renowned wielder of the Divine Sword—your reputation is known across the continent.”

“That’s all exaggerated.”

“I hear there’s even a popular novel about the Divine Sword these days.”

He was clearly referring to the novel I’d written, starring Fabian.

I asked Jerta nonchalantly.

“Have you read it?”

“M-me? Ah, I have, but… it’s just some silly fantasy. The Divine Sword, fine—but a calamity? Ridiculous. If there really was a calamity, god Altair would have issued an oracle.”

Just as I expected.

Sure, I’d expected that reaction, but…

‘Excuse me? Silly fantasy?’

Hearing my own novel dismissed to my face was infuriating.

[Since when are you a creator, anyway?]

‘Guess I got attached to it without realizing.’

At Grancesia’s amused words, I suppressed my irritation.

“I’ve also heard you’re the one claiming to have defeated a so-called calamity. Is that true?”

It sounded like he wanted me to agree with him.

Honestly, I wanted to—but since I didn’t know what his handler wanted, I simply shook my head.

“I’m not sure.”

“I was told it was Sir Clay who first spread the rumor of a calamity?”

“I only said so because His Majesty of the great empire said so first.”

Setram Kingdom, where the main base of the Altair Order was located.

Setram wielded considerable physical and political strength across the continent, owing to the power of the Order.

But no matter how powerful, they still couldn’t compare to the true hegemon of the continent: the Asktalin Empire.

Setram, for now, would want to avoid a conflict with the Empire.

As expected, when I mentioned the imperial emperor, jerta’s demeanor shifted ever so slightly.

“… I see. Understood.”

“Yes. Well, it’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Ah, sir Clay. You’re familiar with Priest Michelle, aren’t you?”

I froze as I started to rise.

“He’s the benefactor who healed me.”

“Recently, priest Michelle was placed under house arrest at the Atell Family’s residence after repeated petitions. Something to do with the Saintess’s remains… Do you have any idea what that could be about?”

I almost reacted, but managed to answer calmly thanks to my now well-practiced poker face.

“No, I have no idea.”

With not a hint of agitation, I replied, and Jerta’s eyes narrowed.

Sensing his gaze, I slowly turned my back on him.

Kisea, as if feeling the chill, quietly followed after me.

‘Something to do with the Saintess’s remains?’

And Michelle, placed under house arrest.

This was not something to be taken lightly.

[To dare touch the Atell Family! Is the pontiff’s power really that great now?]

‘In Setram, the pontiff is treated as a living god.’

[A living god? The pontiff? Hah!]

Grancesia spat her disapproval, voice trembling with anger.

Of course—her descendant was being treated unjustly.

‘Setram, huh…’

Grancesia had once advised not to reveal anything to the Order if possible.

She’d seemed oddly uneasy at the time, but now, seeing what had happened with the Inquisitor and Michelle, it was clear her caution had been right.

‘Looks like I’ve been underestimated.’

Jerta’s words and demeanor made me chuckle.

His confidence that he could eliminate me at any time, should I become inconvenient, shone through.

‘I wonder how long you’ll be able to say that.’

At least for now, I had no plans to deal with him.

Yes, for now, that is.

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