NOVEL WEB Chapter 22 - Hero
Scene 022: Hero
Wendy slowly opened her eyes. She was lying on a sofa. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be the university president’s office where she had been before. It seemed she had fainted. It was no wonder her body felt so sluggish, as though all the energy had drained from her.
She could hear voices beyond the sofa where she lay.
“Count, I must protest. We cannot allow her entry.”
“And what is your reason?” the Count replied calmly.
“She is beyond our capacity.”
“Beyond your capacity?”
“If the Hero is allowed to attend, it will only cause confusion among the students.”
“Hero…? Who?”
“Count, think about it. The only person who can wield all elemental magic is the Hero. If your servant starts using that power, it won’t just disrupt the school; the entire country could fall into chaos!”
At those words, Wendy’s eyes shot wide open. Your servant. She wrapped her arms around herself. Me… a Hero?
Wendy felt overwhelmed. A hero. She had heard about it in stories: someone who appears in times of crisis to save the world. It wasn’t a confirmed story, just a fairy tale passed down from generation to generation. About a thousand years ago, before the Mekhael Empire was founded, a woman claiming to be a hero had appeared in a kingdom now lost to history. At first, no one believed her, but once they saw her magic, they had no choice but to accept her.
She could wield all forms of elemental magic. Even mastering just one element made a mage a hero, but controlling all elements was something only the gods could do. Without divine blessing, it was impossible. In the thousand years since then, no one had ever appeared who could wield all elements like the Hero.
Wendy’s thoughts raced. She had always been poor, never learned magic—too busy struggling to survive. Naturally, she had never shown anyone her magic. No… that’s not true.
There was one time. On the day of that terrible drought, when she prayed beside her brother. Her prayer had brought rain to the parched earth. In retrospect, it wasn’t the heavens that had answered her—it must have been magic. But after that day, She had avoided using magic since it had driven her brother away.
Today, for the first time in her life, she had unleashed her full power. Then she remembered that when she summoned that enormous golem, Myohail had murmured something strange: “Could it be… you’re of the Hero’s bloodline?”
The Hero’s bloodline. Could it be that she was a descendant of the Hero? Did she have to become the Hero?
Wendy’s small body trembled. She was afraid. She wasn’t brave like a Hero. She didn’t have the guts to save the world or the power to fight monsters, nor the confidence to lead or the courage to defeat the Demon King. She was just a servant in the Count’s house. She didn’t have what it took to be a Hero.
Her shoulders shook. She was terrified of the life that came with being a Hero.
The Count… She suddenly wondered what he would think. If he knew she was the hero, what would he do? She… only wanted to stay by the Count’s side… But even if he is the Count, would he want her by his side if she were the hero? Could he? Would fate allow it?
At that moment, Tristan spoke up, his tone light. “Now that would be interesting.”
“This is no laughing matter!” Mondri, the headmaster, snapped. “Count, did you know? That she’s the Hero?”
“I knew,” Tristan replied, completely unconcerned.
Wendy flinched. He knew?
Mondri raised his voice, shocked at Tristan’s nonchalance. “Then why didn’t you say anything? The appearance of a Hero is a serious matter. It’s proof that this world is facing a crisis!”
“I’ve heard as much,” Tristan said.
“We must inform the Imperial family immediately! We need to recruit soldiers and contact foreign nations to check if the Demon King has appeared!”
The meaning behind his words was clear.
Wendy wanted to block out the harsh reality, cover her ears, and hear no more, but before she could do so, Tristan’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“She is my servant.”
Although Wendy couldn’t see Tristan’s face, she could easily imagine the expression he would have: that smug look he always wore.
“Whether she’s a hero or not, she is still my servant. She belongs to me. So I will do as I see fit. Don’t interfere.”
“Don’t interfere? Count, a hero is not an object!”
“Aren’t you the one treating her like one?”
“W-What? What are you even talking about…?”
Tristan’s tone didn’t waver as he continued. “If you report her to the Imperial Court as a hero, from that moment on, her only purpose will be to save the world.”
“That’s exactly how it should be. That’s what being a hero means.”
“A hero isn’t some tool made just to save the world.”
Wendy’s shoulders flinched at his words.
‘…!’
“All a hero can do is use magic of all elements. Do you really think that alone is enough to save the world from crisis?”
“Well, that’s…”
“A hero is just a person. The fact that she is one doesn’t change much. A hero is nothing more than a symbol.”
“But… once this gets out, Her Majesty and the ministers will demand her!” Mondri exclaimed, panic rising in his voice.
Wendy held her breath, anxiously awaiting Tristan’s reply.
And when he spoke, his words surpassed her expectations.
“Even if the Imperial Court wants her, they will not be able to take her from me. Not even Her Majesty can change that.”
‘Gasp…!’ Wendy quickly covered her mouth to stifle the sound. It was such a Tristan-like response.
No, it was an answer that only someone like him in this country could give.
His voice was filled with possessiveness, as though he would let nothing be taken from him. Yet, strangely, Wendy didn’t dislike hearing those words.
She felt… odd.
Her heart pounded in a way it never had before.
“Count…! What you just said is highly disrespectful! It could even be considered treason!”
“That’s enough, Mondri.”
A deep voice interrupted them. It came from a man—or rather, a cat—Myohail.
“Master….”
“I plan to accept her.”
“What!?”
Myohail spoke slowly but firmly. “She passed the exam. Didn’t she even defeat me, a sage?”
“T-That’s because you went easy on her! It was obvious the golem was incomplete. You held back at the end….”
“Excuses won’t change anything. A loss is a loss. I lost, and the young lady won.”
“Ugh…” Mondri trailed off, clearly displeased.
Then Myohail added something unexpected.
“I also agree with the Count. She hasn’t fully realized her role as a hero yet, and she’s still too young. I won’t just stand by and watch her be handed over to the Imperial Court.”
Wendy blinked in surprise. Even Myohail was siding with Tristan.
Now it was essentially two against one.
In the end, Mondri conceded with a sigh.
“Haa… If Master insists, then I have no choice but to yield.”
“Yield? You’ve already lost.”
“Oh, come on! Master, I’m not a child anymore. I’m over seventy. Please treat me according to my age.”
“You brat, I’m older than your great-great-grandfather’s great-great-grandfather. Don’t talk to me about age.”
“No, Master, you’re the great-great-grandfather of my great-great-grandfather’s great-great-grandfather’s great-great-grandfather’s great-great-grandfather! Of course, it’s only natural!”
“Quiet.”
The two bickered.
Finally, Tristan interrupted. “So, Wendy’s been accepted?”
“Yes. I, Myohail, guarantee it. But if possible, I’d prefer it if her identity as a hero were kept hidden while she attends.”
His voice softened considerably.
Finally, Wendy let out a sigh of relief, calming her racing heart.
Thank goodness.
She’d passed the exam.
She could stay at the Count’s estate.
She could still stay by his side.
‘But… I’m so tired…’
Wendy didn’t realize that sleep was overtaking her.
She thought it was simply the tension leaving her body, so she wrapped herself in the coat she had on.. It was large, as it belonged to the tall Tristan, and on her, it felt like a blanket.
Even with her legs stretched out, the coat covered her completely.
In that spacious and cozy embrace, Wendy shifted a little before surrendering to a deep and peaceful sleep.