The Heavenly Hero Returns

Chapter 5: A Brother's Denial

Tobias stared at you, mouth slightly open, expression torn between disbelief and something else—something deeper.

Discomfort? Confusion?

He stepped forward, then stopped, as if reconsidering. His grip on his sword remained loose at his side, untouched throughout the entire fight. He wasn't even panting.

Because he hadn't needed to do anything.

"…Jessica." His voice was uncharacteristically quiet. "That… what was that?"

You blinked at him, still catching your breath. The muscles in your legs and back were burning. The sheer explosiveness of your movements—especially that last pivot—had pushed your body to the limit. It had felt right at the time, but now that the adrenaline was fading, the aftermath was settling in.

The aches. The slight trembling in your fingers.

This body isn't used to that yet.

But you simply straightened, stretching slightly to ease the tension.

"I was fighting," you said. "What do you mean?"

Tobias's brow furrowed. His disbelief didn't fade.

"Fighting?" He exhaled sharply. "Jessica, you were untalented. I could beat you blindfolded just a year ago, and now you're—" He gestured vaguely at the battlefield. "You weren't just fighting, you were…"

He trailed off.

You weren't sure how to describe it either.

Before he could say anything else, he took two steps forward—then pulled you into a hug.

Not a playful shove. Not a half-hearted pat on the shoulder.

A full, tight embrace.

You almost lashed out on instinct, your body tensing at the unexpected contact. Your arms reflexively came up, pressing against his chest, caught between you two.

You had a split-second thought of breaking free, maybe twisting out of his grip as a flex—

But you stopped yourself.

Your arms were now awkwardly pinned between your bodies, muscles still aching from exertion.

Tobias muttered, "I don't care how or why. Just don't die, idiot."

You didn't respond immediately.

He was ignoring what had just happened.

Not questioning it. Not pressing you for an answer.

As if, by rejecting the impossibility of it all, he could make it acceptable in his head.

Eventually, he pulled away, his hands lingering on your shoulders before he gave a small shake of his head, regaining his usual expression. "We'll talk later. Right now, we need to—"

"Oi."

The vanguard's voice cut through the moment.

The adventurers had regrouped, standing a few feet away. The fire mage, arms crossed, still looked deeply unsettled.

The vanguard gave you a long, considering look before speaking again.

"What the hell was that?"

You blinked. "What was what?"

"The pups and piglets—" The fire mage's eyes narrowed. "They listened to you."

Tobias turned toward them, confused.

The vanguard continued, tone slow and deliberate. "Young beasts don't just obey verbal commands. Especially not from random humans in the middle of a frenzy."

You frowned. "They weren't attacking yet. I just told them to back off."

"That's not normal."

You shifted uncomfortably, but before you could respond, the fire mage gestured toward the dead mother wolf.

"And that pivot maneuver—what was that?"

Your confusion only deepened. "It was… a reflex?"

The adventurers exchanged glances.

"…Reflex?" the fire mage repeated. "That wasn't just a reflex. That was either stupidly well-trained or something else entirely."

Their stares were rude.

You narrowed your eyes. "Why does it matter?"

The vanguard exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Because that wasn't normal."

Tobias, still beside you, finally crossed his arms, his expression slipping back into arrogance. "You're adventurers, not scholars. What does it matter how she fights?"

The vanguard studied him for a moment, then let out a short chuckle. "Guess it doesn't, huh?"

The conversation didn't continue much longer after that. The adventurers, while still wary, eventually returned to their work, making sure the remaining beasts had truly fled and tending to their injured healer.

Tobias stayed at your side, eyes lingering on you as if still trying to process everything.

And you?

You were left with one thought.

That was a little too much effort for a bunch of dumb animals