Editor : Amethyst00



As befits her title as the "Witch of Flame," Reina charged at Leo with such fury she looked ready to breathe fire, causing a commotion.

Of course, Leo easily evaded her attacks.

"Huff… huff…!"

Reina bent over, hands on her knees, panting heavily.

"Just one hit… Just let me give you one good flick on the head…!"

As she pleaded in a desperate voice, Leo let out a light sigh and stepped toward her.

"Just once. Go ahead."

Reina's eyes lit up. She raised her fist—

Thunk!

—and gave Leo a light bop on the head.

It was a far cry from the fiery storm she'd seemed about to unleash just moments earlier.

"This little punk thinks he's clever."

Reina grumbled, brushing off her palm, while Leo simply shrugged.

Watching from a short distance away, Rune blinked in surprise.

'That guy? Letting someone hit him that easily?'

Sure, Leo's words had been rather rude for a first meeting. But still, he wasn't the type to quietly accept something like that.

'And the Witch of Flame is acting strange too.'

Reina Zerdinger, the Witch of Flame—an elite hero of the knight class, boasting overwhelming skill and a long list of accomplishments.

As a student of Seiren, Rune had met her a few times. Since Reina had ties with Ellen Lunda—the head of the Lunda family and a teacher at Seiren, as well as Lunia's father—they had even fought together during expeditions into the Hero's World.

So Rune had built up a decent rapport with her.

Reina was bold, brash, and charismatic—a likeable person. But once she got angry, her fury flared up like literal flame.

That she'd let Leo off with just a flick to the head, even after hearing something that would justify her rage, was shocking.

'Doesn't seem like she held back out of exhaustion…'

Rune knew Reina had a tenacious personality, which made it clear she had decided to go easy on Leo.

"You let it go with just a flick? That's not like you, Reina."

As Rune approached and spoke, Reina crossed her arms and smiled.

"Well, he's the student council president's boyfriend. I can't rough him up too much."

"I still think you went too easy on him. And for the record, this guy is incredibly annoying. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if you socked him right in the face."

Rune half-joked, half-seriously.

"I considered it."

Reina glanced sidelong at Leo— Then smirked and messed up his hair.

"He is annoying, yeah. But weirdly, I don't dislike him. His eyes are full of attitude, but that's kind of cute in its own way."

Leo, expression flat, looked at her and said, "Maybe it's just because I'm around the age of your son. I probably remind you of one."

"You little punk, you wanna die? Is that something you say to an old spinster who's never even held a guy's hand?!"

Reina grabbed Leo's hair and growled in a low, menacing voice. Leo just chuckled.

"It's not like there was anyone who met your standards anyway."

Reina tilted her head.

"That's strange. You talk like you know me. Have we met before?"

"Maybe."

Leo shrugged. Reina narrowed her eyes and studied his face seriously.

After a long stare, she said, "You're probably popular with the girls, huh?"

"Okay, okay, break it up, you two."

At that moment, Rune slid between them.

Reina looked at her and smiled brightly.

"Don't worry, Student Council President. He's not my type, and besides, there's too much of an age gap."

Crossing her arms, Reina added with a teasing smirk,

"And most importantly, he's your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend."

At Rune's reply, Reina raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Then what are you two?"

"I'm going to seduce him. Starting now."

"……"

Reina scratched her head.

"Am I just getting old or something? Kids these days are so bold."

'We're actually older than you.'

Rune muttered to herself.

"I'm on my way to see the Marquess of Plov. You two are heading there too, right? Let's go together."

"Sure."

Rune nodded, and the three of them began walking side by side.

"Now that I think about it, why didn't Lunia, Eiran, and Carl come along?"

Rune tilted her head and glanced back. Leo replied, "They're probably keeping the Delad nobles busy for us. So you don't get dragged into annoying business."

"Right…"

Rune scratched her head.

There had been a bit of a commotion when they arrived, but still—this was an official visit to Delad. She couldn't just ignore their hospitality.

And if her right and left hands—Lunia and Eiran—were out there smoothing things over with the nobles, that would help save face.

"Good grief. A nation experiencing an incident possibly tied to the Primordial Evil, and its nobles are nothing but power-hungry fools trying to climb the social ladder."

Reina clicked her tongue.

She too had been beset by Delad's nobles from the moment she arrived, and it had been a massive headache.

If it were up to her, she'd have swept them all away with fire. But unfortunately, she was here as both the representative of the Zerdinger family and of the Lordren Empire, tasked with investigating the incident.

'Not like I'm young enough to go around raising hell like I used to…'

She smacked her lips.

'Is there even a decent man around anywhere?'

As the thought passed through her mind, Reina glanced at Leo.

'Now that I look… his eyes… kind of resemble mine?'

No wonder he had felt oddly familiar.

'Hmph… If I'd gotten married earlier, I might've had a kid about his or Celia's age.'

Thinking it was a silly thought, Reina smiled and said,

"Well, since we're in the Plov territory, we'll have to meet the lord of the land. But if the Delad nobles are anything to go by, I'm not expecting much."

"No need to worry about that. The Marquess of Plov is a decent man."

"Oh? You seem to know a lot."

"I heard he's well respected by his people. The reason he didn't greet us in person is because he's busy dealing with the chaos in the territory."

"Hm? At least he sounds like he's got his head on straight."

Reina smiled slightly.

A short while later—

Leo arrived at the familiar door to the Marquess of Plov's office.

A knight standing guard asked Reina,

"What business do you have here?"

"I'm Reina Zerdinger, sent from the Lordren Empire. And this is Rune Orweny, Student Council President of Seiren."

"G-Gasp?!"

The knight inhaled sharply at the appearance of two heavyweights.

Reina Zerdinger—renowned even among current-generation heroes—and Rune Orweny, considered not just a rising star but possibly the strongest archmage alive.

The knight, stunned at the arrival of two people he'd never dreamed of meeting in his lifetime, stammered out a response.

"I-I'll inform the lord of your visit. Please wait a moment."

He then knocked on the door and stepped inside.

"Well trained."

"More than that—he seems to really respect his lord."

Rune and Reina muttered to each other as they watched the knight's demeanor.

There are many strong knights in the world…

Knights who truly serve and care for their lords are rare.

Because that means the lord must genuinely treat the knight with sincerity.

"…Even if it's a different worldline. A father is still a father."

Leo glanced sideways at Reina.

The reason Dade and Reina never married, and he himself was never born—

It was probably because Reina had never lost her power.

She had become a hero, steadily and surely.

And that meant she never had a chance to meet Dade.

Naturally, being on the battlefield as a hero, she likely never had time to meet a man either.

Even in Leo's original worldline, Reina was someone upright and honorable.

Though she may have lost her power, she walked the path she had chosen to the very end.

Why had someone like Reina, who could've easily become the lady of a more powerful household, chosen Dade?

It was because Dade's character was second to none.

As a lord, he always thought of his people.

It sounds easy, but it's not something a person—just another human being—can do effortlessly.

"All the more since Father is just an ordinary man."

He wasn't born with the qualities of a hero.

He was simply endlessly kind and upright.

People joked that Reina hadn't married because of her personality, half in jest, half in truth—but more than that, it was likely she had never met someone who matched her standards.

As Leo stared at the door—

The office door opened.

Revealed beyond it was a simple office interior.

To Leo, it was a familiar scene.

And standing there to greet the three of them was Dade.

"I welcome the great hero of Lordren and the Student Council President of Seiren. I am Dade Plov, though I may be unworthy, I serve as the lord of this land."

As the elder, Reina stepped forward and answered on behalf of the group.

"A pleasure to meet you, Marquess Plov. I'm Reina Zerdinger, dispatched on behalf of Lordren to investigate the recent incident."

"Ah. I'd heard you were rather imposing… but to see such a delicate and beautiful woman instead, I must admit I'm quite surprised."

"Ohohoho. Well, I am quite beautiful."

Reina covered her mouth and laughed gracefully at Dade's words.

Because she could feel his words came not from flattery or pretense, but genuine sincerity.

'A good man.'

She knew it instantly.

There are plenty of bad nobles in the world.

But while bad ones are many, good nobles also exist.

Reina had met a fair number of those good nobles.

Still, Dade's first impression left a strong mark.

A gentle and soft expression.

A warm atmosphere.

"Like a spring breeze," she thought.

Feeling a subtle sense of fondness from Dade's first impression, Reina continued the conversation.

"You've kept detailed records of the eyewitness reports from the townsfolk."

"Yes. It's an extremely important matter, after all."

A shadow fell over Dade's face.

"I just hope nothing worse comes of this…"

"If that's the worry, you don't need to be. We're here to resolve it."

Rune spoke in a calm, reassuring tone.

"You're dependable."

Dade gave a warm smile.

Rune smiled softly in return as she looked at him.

"He really is a good person. This is the man who's supposed to be Leo's father, huh?"

Rune had already heard what kind of life Leo Plov had led.

She studied Dade carefully.

When it came to reading people, none could match Lysinas among the great heroes.

And for good reason—her insight had once saved a world on the brink of destruction.

But Rune, too, had gained her own eye for seeing through others after countless experiences.

And in Rune's eyes, Dade was a good person.

'A good person…'

Rune murmured inwardly.

'So there really are people like this living in this world.'

As Rune gazed absentmindedly at Dade—

Leo was deep in thought.

'Lysinas once staked everything for people like my father.'

Kind, gentle people.

Those who lived ordinary lives but could warm those around them.

They might not have the power to greatly influence the world—but they could guide it in the right direction, even just a little.

Leo took a sip of the tea served for guests.

'People think it's powerful heroes who lead the world.'

He set his teacup down and looked at Dade.

'But that's only half true.'

In the past, Leo had shouldered the world's hopes as its final great hero.

Not because he wanted to.

He had simply taken on the wishes and burdens of his friends.

But in the final battle, the moment he thought, "We can't win,"

—it wasn't just memories of his comrades that came to mind.

All the people he'd met and parted with throughout his life.

People he had formed connections with even in the cesspool that was the Age of Disaster.

It wasn't special memories that surfaced.

Just everyday kindnesses he'd been shown.

Warm, ordinary gestures from a normal life.

"When I thought I'd failed… oddly enough, those memories gave me strength."

The hope that the world could have more people like that.

Even after his reincarnation, Leo hadn't understood why those memories had surfaced at that moment.

But now, through Dade, he realized the reason.

"It's also why Lysinas tried to save the world without asking for anything in return."

So many people had unknowingly shaped his life.

And to repay their kindness—to protect them—he had tried to save the world.

"Thanks to Father, I came to understand Lysinas' heart."

A hero is someone who represents good, ordinary people.

Someone who, influenced by them, tries to lead the world to a better place.

"Even I was influenced, and ended up saving the world."

From the bonds he'd formed with fellow heroes…

To the kindness of strangers whose names he never knew…

Just knowing someone like Dade existed made Leo feel that maybe all the pain of his past life had been worth it.

And the reason he hadn't rushed off to the place where Erebos had resurrected—

Was exactly this.

"I wanted Luna to meet Father."

To Leo, Luna was still trapped in the past.

And not just Luna.

"Aaron too… and Lysinas…"

Aaron, whom he met right after arriving.

Lysinas, whom he met indirectly through the students of Lumene.

"Maybe even Dweno."

Leo closed his eyes.

They were all trapped in the past.

No—more precisely, they might still be stuck in the moment of their own deaths… the time when they had no choice but to pass their burdens onto him.

"It's probably guilt."

They must have blamed themselves for forcing that weight and pain onto him.

They were like family—he understood them better than anyone.

Though they were incredibly strong in spirit…

They were still flesh-and-blood beings.

"You can tell just by looking at Aaron, Luna… and even Lysinas."

Even now, they couldn't properly see the brilliant young gems—the hero candidates—right in front of them.

There's no way they could have truly seen the world they had saved.

Leo glanced at Rune.

She was staring at Dade in a daze, as if possessed.

"Forget that nonsense about saving the world for my sake. I'm not going to save the world for your sake either."

Leo turned to look out the window.

"I'll save the world… for myself."