The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– The Saintess’s Prophecy (2)

Inside a secluded café.

In a corner seat.

There, I sat facing the Saintess, engaging in conversation.

‘What on earth is happening to me?’

I couldn’t comprehend the current situation at all.

I encountered the Saintess in an alleyway.

To be precise, I had helped her.

And yet-.

“So… Hero-sama…?”

Was it because of that…?

The Saintess called me ‘Hero-sama.’

I couldn’t understand it at all.

Calling *me* ‘Hero-sama’?

In the first place, isn’t the Hero already present?

I remember him being in secluded training in the Heavis Holy Kingdom.

Or perhaps the Saintess mistook me for the Hero because we resemble each other.

But if that were the case, she would have reacted immediately.

Her reaction was too slow for that.

She definitely acted as if this were our first meeting.

I won’t find the answer by thinking alone.

Therefore, I decided to ask the Saintess herself.

“So… you’re saying I’m the Hero?”

“Yes!”

The saint beamed, a smile bright and clear.

Three tails swished back and forth, a flurry of restless energy.

A hero, she said-.

“I don’t think you’re… mistaken.”

“No, you’re correct. Rhea ordained this meeting.”

“Hmm… I see.”

It was hard to believe.

A god ordained a meeting?

If that’s the case-.

“About the hero that should be in Heavis-”

“Your drinks are here.”

The waiter, arriving with our beverages, cut me off.

Only after they left did I ask again.

“What about the hero who should be in the Heavis Theocracy?”

The saint paused mid-sip of her orange juice to answer.

“Ah, there isn’t one. We actually haven’t managed to find the hero yet.”

The saint spoke with a light tone, but the content was grave.

They haven’t found the hero yet?

It was a continent-wide crisis.

‘In five years, the Demon King is supposed to invade…?’

To speak of such a huge secret so casually.

I was so dumbfounded I almost laughed.

‘Well… If what the saint says is true, they’ve found the hero now. If there’s a problem, it’s that the hero is me.’

But am I really the hero?

It was unbelievable.

Of course, if you were to consider the conditions, I did fit the bill.

‘A being from another world with memories of a past life. Whose master is a Sword Saint.’

What a perfect protagonist to make a hero.

But that wasn’t proof I *could* be a hero.

I needed more solid evidence.

“Is there… any proof that I’m the hero?”

“Proof?”

“Yes.”

“There is. You should have a sword-shaped birthmark on your body.”

It was as the saint said.

I did have a sword-shaped birthmark.

On my scapula.

“And look closely,”

The saint murmured.

And then-.

“How is it? Do I seem… different to you?”

“Huh… no?”

“That, then, is proof.”

It was beyond comprehension.

*This* was proof?

The Saint muttered to herself again,

Then took another sip of orange juice and said,

“Just now, to others, I would have appeared human.”

“Pardon?”

“An illusion, you see. It’s useless against a Hero. Their resistance to mental influence is strong, exceedingly so in fact. One who is strong against negative emotions, that is to say, a courageous one. That’s why they are called Heroes.”

Now, understanding dawned.

For all I’d been through up until now.

Come to think of it, I *was* resistant to mental attacks.

I’d always assumed it was simply a talent I possessed.

But it was because I was a Hero?

And also-.

I finally understood why the Saint looked so different to Asia and myself.

‘Ah… wait a moment!’

Asia flashed through my mind.

I was a candidate for Asia’s fiancé.

I had to stay by her side.

To prevent the First Prince’s tyranny.

Which meant-.

‘Perhaps I can’t embark on some adventure to defeat a Demon Lord…?’

A truly difficult situation.

Did that mean I had to take Asia along on my adventure?

But I didn’t want to drag Asia into my problems.

“I understand that I am a Hero. I will accept that. But, uh… do I-“

Need to go on some journey or training to defeat the Demon Lord?

In short, I wanted to ask if I needed to leave Asia’s side.

Or rather, if I had to, I was going to refuse.

“Just a moment…!”

Suddenly, the Saint fell to her knees and began to pray.

*

The Saint continued to watch Arthurs intently.

A Hero-.

The Hero she had been searching for.

Moreover, he was remarkably similar to her ideal type.

Black hair and black eyes, like the first Hero.

Handsome features.

Just watching him was enough to fill her with happiness.

Simply sitting in this café, sharing conversation, brought the Saintess such joy.

It was as if all the hardships she had endured until now were simply vanishing.

So much so that she could barely concentrate on their words.

But then –

‘…Huh?’

From deep within her heart, Divine Power surged.

The Divine Power was moving of its own accord.

There was only one cause for this.

A Prophecy.

And this was the kind of reaction that came when a Prophecy was being delivered with considerable urgency.

The Saintess hastily offered a prayer to receive the Prophecy.

And –

‘…I understand its meaning.’

The Prophecy gifted by Rea.

The Saintess divined its intent.

‘It is saying that if I wish to obtain the Hero now, I must make a bargain.’

Finishing her prayer, the Saintess rose, brushing dust from her knees.

Then, she gazed upon Arthur.

Her expression utterly earnest.

“I shall make a bargain with you, Hero.”

“A bargain, so suddenly?”

“Yes.”

Faced with such an abrupt proposal, Arthur could only offer a bewildered reaction.

A bargain, she says.

He thought it the most outlandish thing.

However –

“It concerns a Prophecy about the woman you must protect.”

“…I accept.”

Arthur did not hesitate.

There was no need for him to deliberate.

“That woman is in danger… Pardon? What did you just say?”

She hadn’t even gotten to the main point, yet he had already agreed.

The Saintess, slightly flustered, repeated her question.

To ensure she had heard him correctly.

“I said I accept the bargain.”

Arthur’s expression was utterly serious.

Arthur considered this a bargain that required no pondering.

Her trading partner was the Saintess.

He did not doubt her Divine Power.

Besides, it was a prophecy divinely given.

He couldn’t possibly be scammed, he reasoned.

Arthurs decided that for the Saintess to wager a trade like this now, something significant must have transpired.

For that reason, he agreed without hesitation.

“Uh… I understand. Then…”

The Saintess shared the prophecy she had just received with Arthurs.

Arthurs listened quietly.

His expression grew darker with each passing word.

“It would be best to depart immediately.”

“Yes.”

Arthurs began heading towards the place the Saintess had told him about.

*

First Prince Nute Detiosque grasped Verdi’s hands in his.

“Your loyalty… I shall certainly repay it someday.”

“I simply did what was necessary.”

Verdi informed the First Prince about what had happened in the administrative office.

The news of Asia’s impending withdrawal.

Hearing this, the First Prince shed tears of gratitude.

It was truly significant news for the First Prince.

He had almost let Asia slip through his fingers.

This prevented such a troublesome situation from arising.

“In that case… we should proceed with the plan we previously established, but advance the timeline.”

“Understood. Leave the preparations to me.”

.

.

.

Inside the Academy.

Asia was bidding farewell to classmates she hadn’t seen in a while.

However…

“Hey, Asia… if this is the last time, wouldn’t you like to attend the party happening today?”

“Party…? Why a party so suddenly?”

Asia couldn’t comprehend the suggestion.

The young lady suggesting the party to her.

She was, like Asia, a daughter of a Count.

But they didn’t have enough of a rapport for her to be suggesting something like this.

“It’s just… since you’re leaving soon. I wanted to get to know you now. And many other kids are coming too. It was a party that was already planned, but think of it as your farewell party.”

“Oh, really? I’m sorry, but…”

Asia was about to decline the offer.

She didn’t particularly enjoy parties.

And a party with people she barely knew, at that.

It was, without doubt, that she expected discomfort.

But—

“Then, I’ll let you know the meeting place separately.”

The other side ended the conversation unilaterally.

Settling her participation as a certainty.

And so, Asia ended up going to the party she couldn’t quite refuse.

However—

‘This is… odd?’

The atmosphere of the party was peculiar.

Besides, there were hardly any people there.

Only three noble young ladies, no more.

One of them was the Earl’s daughter who’d invited Asia in the first place.

The Earl’s daughter approached Asia with a smile.

“I must have mentioned the time too early. I apologize.”

“Ah, I didn’t come to attend the party, but to decline it.”

Asia had come to decline the offer, grateful though she was.

At Asia’s words, the Earl’s daughter visibly panicked.

But she quickly composed herself.

“Is that so? A pity. Still, now that you’re here, how about a drink?”

And she offered Asia a beverage.

Asia was, in fact, feeling parched.

So she accepted the drink, and just as she was about to take a sip—

Screech—

The sound of the front door opening echoed through the silent party hall.

At the entrance to the party.

A man walked in.

Asia forgot all about drinking her beverage and fixed her gaze on the man.

Arthas.

The man who arrived at the party was Arthas.

And Arthas strode directly towards Asia, throwing the glass in her hand away without a second thought.

At the same time, Arthas shouted towards the second floor of the party hall.

To the empty second floor.

“First Prince, come out here this instant!!!”

In this sudden situation, as hard to understand as it was,

Asia could only stare blankly at Arthas.