The Extra Can't be A Hero

Amon's recovery was slated to take another two weeks, but that didn't mean he could remain idle. From his hospital bed, he summoned Leon to his side to get a debrief directly from his mouth. Knowing the situation, Leon brought Ellahan and Manon along. Ellahan to help heal Amon if he needs further treatment, and Manon to formally introduce him to Amon.

Of course, Amon knew that Manon was the Sky Spear and was well aware of his capabilities. But, he couldn't let it show.

Therefore, when they first met in person, Amon pretended to be nonchalant about Manon.

And that laid the bedrock for a massive misunderstanding.

'That youth… is he human?'

Amon's cold, golden eyes seemed to pierce through his very existence. Even though he was severely wounded and bedridden, the atmosphere of an expert couldn't be hidden. No, there was something different about him… almost divine.

Ever since the battle against Abomination, something ethereal had been stirring within Amon's soul. Amon was blissfully unaware of that fact, but those who were sensitive to mana could never mistake it. Naturally, Yue was aware of it, but she didn't think to share it. Not yet, at least.

Never one to hold his words, Manon asked directly.

"Young man… Are you human?"

"How rude," Yue scoffed from the side, clearly displeased by Manon's rough question. "You can see clearly that my husband is the pinnacle of humanity!"

"Yue, keep quiet."

Amon silenced the hissing cat by his side and glanced right at Manon. His lazy glare was enough to make the Sky Spear, one of the most powerful existences on the planet, gulp in apprehension.

"To answer your question, yes, I am human."

"Then… why do you feel so… odd?"

"Odd?"

"I don't know, I can't put it into words but…"

Manon didn't feel like he was face-to-face with a human. Instead, the soft pressure that Amon was exuding was similar to that of a more familiar existence, one that stood higher than everyone else.

'It's like I'm facing His Majesty himself. That girl too, she's hiding her presence, but I can feel she's something ascendant. No wonder a powerhouse like Leon would serve under them.'

Having one existence that equalled the Clay Emperor in presence was nothing short of extraordinary, but two? It was clear that the place Leon had dragged him into wasn't for the weak.

"I don't know what you're implying, but I'm most definitely human."

"BAHAHAHA, it's fine then! Let's leave it at that!"

Joyful that his future place was secured, Manon left the hospital ward with a jolly smile. Ellahan, realising that there was nothing else for her to do, bowed hurriedly before excusing herself as well. She could tell that Amon wished to speak with Leon in private, and there was no way she could leave the ignorant and boisterous Manon alone in the Solaris House.

"Manon, the Sky Spear… He's eccentric, but he'll serve you well. I will give you exclusive command over him."

There was no need for any induction programme or ceremony. As long as Amon wished it, Manon was going to be a full member of Eldorin. And since he was initially part of the Hero's party, it made the most sense to leave him under Leon's care.

"You've worked hard, Leon."

"Thank you!"

Leon paused for a moment, thinking of the best words to say. However, he decided it was best to consult Amon on the question that pressed him the most.

"The Solaris Founder, you say? He took over your body to fight against the Clay Emperor?"

"More precisely, the Clay Emperor's guards. But, yes. It seems that Ascalon can call upon the souls of its past users. That's how the Solaris Founder awakened and helped us."

"Fascinating…"

Let alone Leon, Amon was amazed by this new function he'd never heard of before in [Bright].

[Bright] was an incomplete series, one that Amon never got the chance to read the ending. The books only reached the Fourth Calamity, so it wasn't strange that there were still many details left out that Amon was unaware of.

"Can you summon him out again?"

"Unfortunately, no… I tried many times, but I think there must be a catalyst for him to awaken. For instance, if I were pushed to the extremes…"

If Ascalon had a function that activated a trump card whenever its user was in a life-or-death scenario, it made complete sense. After all, it wouldn't want the Hero to perish before he had completed his duty.

"We can test it in the future," Amon stroked his chin, clearly amused by the new information. "Ah, such a shame. As much as I would love to test it out, we have pressing matters to attend to."

Amon tapped his finger on the bed, and like a faithful and capable secretary, Yue brought over a binder. Amon flipped through the pages before handing it over to Leon.

"T-This is!"

"Your father, Lucas Solaris… He's seeking our help."

Before Amon found the Sword Saint, he was visited by Lucas Solaris, and they shared a beer. Amon recounted the encounter to Leon, who listened quietly while flipping through the file that Amon provided.

"While the Solaris House denounced him for going missing, we will exonerate his name. After all, everything that he had done was to save the world."

"... is this true?"

"We have every reason to believe so."

"Then… There's no time to waste!"

Now that Leon knew where his parents were, he would do everything in his power to save them, even if it meant breaking protocol and leaving Eldorin altogether.

"I agree with your sentiment, but I can't leave just yet. My injuries are far from healed."

"A-Ah, yes. I'm sorry."

In Leon's eyes, Amon had always been a superhuman who could do no wrong. He'd imagined that by now, Amon would have recovered and would be ready to eradicate anything that stood in his way. And usually, that would be the case. But…

'The matter of the Sword Saint must be greater than reported… There's no way Amon would have received such a tremendous injury otherwise.'

Since Amon was injured, Yue was responsible for reporting the mission logs. She didn't bother to report the whole story and only gave a vague account of how the Demon Cult summoned a Demon and Amon repelled it. But given the circumstances, there was no way that a mere Demon could have injured Amon this horrendously.

"That said, we can't be idle either. I should be healed up in a week or two. By then, make sure you're prepared."

"This mission… how many of us are going?"

"Ideally, I would have brought all of Eldorin. But, we don't have that luxury anymore."

The moment Eldorin uncovered El Dorado and repelled a Demon Cult's Apostle, their value skyrocketed. Now, the entire Hyades Republic was aware of their exploits, many calling them the modern-day hero party. And to a certain extent, it was true.

The Hero of this generation was currently in Eldorin, and they had amassed a wealth of talent most organisations could only dream of.

But with fame came scrutiny.

The High Council believed that while Eldorin's actions were for the benefit of the realm, it was also a volatile Knight Order that could go rogue at any moment. The Solaris House was one thing, but having a team of misfits that possessed the power to level a city… it scared the High Council, which was all about control.

While Eldoring was under the Solaris House, they had members from an array of superpowers. Ellahan from the Holy Church, Johann from the Amaris House, Venya from the former mercenary, Yeon, the fallen Witch of Oblivion. And an array of super talents that could threaten the delicate balance of the Hyades Republic.

Therefore, they requested Eldorin to make an appearance in the capital. On the surface, they were going to be commended and awarded for their achievements. But truthfully, the High Council was going to investigate and examine if they were a threat to the Republic.

And if they were… the High Council would do everything in their power to disband Eldorin.

Naturally, neither Amon nor the Solaris House would like to see their hard work go to waste. So, their hands were tied… at least for the moment.

"Grandpa Alrock is negotiating with the High Council on Eldorin's direction. While we doubt we will face any issues, it's also a fact that I can't mobilise all of them so easily anymore. At least until this whole farce is over."

"I see… So who will be joining this mission?"

"Just the three of us here."

Amon's finger circled the room, and Leon's eyes widened.

"Will that be enough? Just the three of us?"

"It's enough."

While the Second Calamity was unquestionably dangerous, it could be mitigated. Truthfully, just Leon alone would have been sufficient. But Amon and Yue needed to be there to guide him through the dangers and prevent any unforeseen circumstances from arising.

"It's also a personal matter for you, so bringing outsiders may not be that good of an idea either."

While saving Leon's parents and preventing the Second Calamity was a noble deed, there was no need to endanger the lives of those who weren't involved. And also… no one truly wants their dirty laundry to be aired out for the world to see.

"I see… If that's the case!"

Pumped up with adrenaline, Leon's eyes fired up. His long-held dream of reuniting with his family was finally drawing near, and to top it all off, he was going to follow Amon into battle.

There was no greater motivation for the young Hero.

And as Amon saw his glistening blue eyes, his heart felt a pang of regret. While he did give Leon a file, Amon left out some very crucial details—details that would make Leon suffer.

'I'm sorry, Leon… this time, you will have to do all the heavy lifting.'

Blissfully unaware of his torturous fate, Leon continued to pump his fist in the air, all while Amon glanced away with guilt.