The Extra Can't be A Hero

The next day.

Leon and the members of Eldorin began boarding the Solaris House's sleek flying ship, weaving their way through a gauntlet of flashing recording crystals, eager reporters, and awestruck onlookers. Unlike their usual travel by train, this time they had no choice but to avoid the public eye.

Their sudden rise to global fame following the unearthing of El Dorado had turned them into living legends overnight. The world had come to see it with their own eyes: journalists from every major network, rogue scholars chasing the scent of history, and even esteemed dignitaries had gathered near the excavation site, not only to marvel at the discovery but also to meet the heroes who made it happen.

Anticipating the overwhelming reception, the Solaris House had dispatched a high-security flying vessel to extract the team before the situation escalated further. But even with the Knights of Solaris forming a protective perimeter, the air buzzed with overwhelming energy: questions were shouted, drones hovered, and chants rang out from a crowd that had waited hours just to glimpse the heroes.

Exhausted and worn from the ordeal, both physical and emotional, the members of Eldorin climbed aboard with sluggish steps. Their eyes hollow from sleepless nights, they barely acknowledged the ship's opulence.

What would usually inspire awe, a vessel lined with glowing runes, walls that shimmered like sunlight, and seats that floated ever so slightly above the deck, barely registered.

With the heavy groan of fatigue, they collapsed onto the lounge cushions in the central rest area, tuning out the roar of the outside world.

"Never again… I'm never doing this again."

Yeon, the villain who was known in [Bright] as the Witch of Calamity, cursed with complete disgust and anger. Her red hair was dishevelled beyond belief, as her once-bright, icy-blue eyes gleamed with a shadowy light.

Yeon had never been a people person; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone down the route of a villain in a parallel timeline. She hated dealing with crowds the most, and it took everything in her rational mind to prevent herself from freezing all of the noise once and for all.

"Now, now. As members of Eldorin… we're expected to have some degree of public relations."

Verso, the ever-positive inverse warlock, tried to appease the witch in a foul mood. However, Yeon's temper seemed to have reached a breaking point.

"When I meet Amon again, I'm going to send an ice spear through his body. Dealing with people is not under my contract."

"Well…"

Verso scratched his sun-kissed cheek, unsure of how to react. Although they were comrades and fellow mages for that matter, he knew very little of Yeon and her past. All he knew was… if she wished to massacre thousands… she had every ability to do so.

"Don't worry," overhearing their conversation, Leon approached from the end of the line and gave Yeon a gentle smile.

"When we return, Eldorin will be going on a month-long break. You don't have to go on missions. Just take it easy."

"..."

Yeon stared at Leon for a full ten seconds before leaving for her room. Although Leon wasn't as strong or as reliable as Amon, the young Hero had a particular charm and a knack for dealing with people. And through the course of this mission, Leon had proven himself to be a capable leader and a powerful ally. Hence, unknowingly, he had gained the respect of the members of Eldorin.

And of course… Leon's charm wasn't just limited to the members of Eldorin.

"Wow, what a beautiful ship! You're saying that it will fly?! The future sure is amazing!"

A tanned, broad-shouldered spearman stood out starkly among the weary group, not just for his imposing physique, but for his archaic attire that seemed ripped straight from a bygone era.

Clad in timeworn garments and carrying an air of irrepressible vitality, Manon smiled with unrestrained curiosity as he examined every nook and cranny of the flying ship. Unlike the others, fatigue had no hold on him.

While the rest were slumped into their seats, grateful for a moment's peace, Manon wandered the vessel like a wide-eyed child given free rein in a royal palace. He poked at panels, fiddled with runes, and tapped glowing mechanisms with the butt of his spear, muttering in a mix of awe and confusion. Every click and hum of the ship's advanced tech seemed to delight him further.

It didn't take long before the captain, watching with growing alarm from the helm, hurried over and politely asked the ancient warrior to refrain from touching anything else. Manon only chuckled in response, clearly enjoying himself far too much to take the warning to heart.

"You're quite stingy! But, I shall graciously stop myself!"

Manon chortled and made his way back to Leon, who was scratching his lip with a wry smile.

"Manon, please hold yourself back for a while. It shouldn't take too long for us to reach Solfea."

"Bahahaha! I've been waiting for thousands of years; a couple of hours won't bother me much!"

The Sky Spear brushed off Leon's concern, much to the latter's worry. The moment the Sekhmet Empire collapsed with the Clay Emperor's passing, Manon became a free man. And naturally, the first thing he wished to accomplish was the complete eradication of the entity that killed his liege—the Demon Cult.

Taking advantage of that desire, Leon invited Manon to join Eldorin, and the Sky Spear gleefully accepted.

There was some pushback, particularly from those who were unaware of Manon's identity. But it was quickly dispelled after the Sky Spear showed a fraction of his capabilities.

Unknowingly, with Manon's addition, Leon had gathered the final piece of the original Hero's party in [Bright]. And thus, he fulfilled Amon's objective for him, even without realising it.

"Leon, do you have a moment to talk?"

"Hmmm, ah, Bane." Leon cranked his head to the familiar voice and saw the lanky spymaster standing solemnly behind him. Noting that it was important, Leon excused himself and followed Bane to an isolated region of the ship, where the spymaster started to talk.

"Leon, no, Sir Leon… I would like to apologise for my actions."

"Ah…"

Realising what Bane's mournful expression was about, Leon brushed his chin and wore a blank expression. During the mission, if all the members of Eldorin had faithfully followed his orders, things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand so quickly.

Eris dragged Fenric, Gale and Adelia away, only to get kidnapped by Manon. Yeon and the others openly disregarded his orders, causing an unnecessary escalation. And the worst detractor of all… Bane went AWOL and did as he pleased, causing Leon to lose control of his most vital asset in Eldorin… the intelligence wing.

Of course, things worked out well in the end, but that was only through sheer luck and the assistance of Commander Gallahad.

"I'm aware of my transgressions, and I'm… remorseful for my actions."

Bane bit the bottom of his lip and wore an expression as if he had swallowed a bitter pill. Before Amon saved him, Bane Vallen was the leader of the world's foremost intelligence agency. Given his seniority, Bane believed he should have been the one leading this mission, or at the very least, the second-in-command.

But as it turned out, he completely lacked any leadership skills and was overshadowed by a youth nearly half his age.

That was when Bane reflected… without Amon, he was just an elite intelligence asset.

And moving forward… he should act like one.

"I… can't say I'll forget what you've done, but I'll forgive you this time."

Leon beamed and had a firm pat on Bane's shoulder. The weight of the young man's arms on his shoulder felt overwhelming, as if Leon had already transcended into a different plane of existence. And at that moment, Bane realised… Leon was truly the Hero of the world.

"Thank you…"

"Besides, you found intelligence that led us to rescue Gale, Adelia, Fenric and Eris. So, you've redeemed yourself."

"T-that's… Because of that woman called the Herald."

"Ah, right… I forgot about her."

In all the chaos, Leon overlooked the woman who had brought them the information on how to enter El Dorado. She was pivotal to the rescue efforts, but because she didn't appear since, her existence completely slipped their mind.

"By the way, where is she?"

"After the dust settled, she disappeared… like a ghost."

"A ghost, huh?"

Leon frowned, clearly suspicious of the Herald's motives. However, since she did aid them this time, the young hero chose not to be overly harsh. He could always affirm her motives when they met again.

"Keep a lookout for her. We don't have to pressure her, and if she isn't dangerous, we could poach her to our side."

"Understood!"

Taking Leon's order to heart, Bane bowed and left Leon alone to rest. And with the moment of silence, the Hero could finally take some time to reflect on what he'd just experienced.

This was the first time that Leon had acted without Amon's guidance. Like a child sent on their first errand, it felt cathartic for some reason. But at the same time, it felt like a burden he should have always been shouldering.

When the Solaris Founder took over his body, Leon saw the end of his cultivation journey. He saw the peak that he was meant to attain, and deep down, he knew… that his path had been stunted.

Leon hadn't faced enough adversity, enough pressure to grow into the Hero that he was promised to become. Shielded by Amon's guidance, his growth had been restrained and perhaps… stifled.

But now…

"Is that why you've sent me here, Amon? To figure this out myself?"

Leon raised Ascalon as the metal reflected the light of the rising sun. For the first time in his life… Leon truly understood the weight of being a hero, and for the first time in his life, he embraced it.

~~~ End of Book 3 ~~~