I Failed to Be a Hero, So I Became the God of Three Realms

The city of Kaidonia, the capital of the Papal State, was an awe-inspiring sight. The towering spires of the Holy Cathedral pierced the sky, surrounded by grand marble structures and peaceful gardens. The streets bustled with pilgrims, travelers, and clergy alike. It was a place that radiated an almost divine presence, and yet, beneath its holy exterior, something darker had stirred.

As the party made their way through the city, the air grew tense. Word of the S-class dungeon had spread, and the usual serene atmosphere of the city seemed to be tinged with a growing sense of fear. Monsters—ranging from lowly beasts to powerful demons—had begun to spill out of the dungeon, wreaking havoc on nearby villages. The Papal State, known for its unwavering faith and strength, had called upon the best of the best to deal with the crisis. That meant them.

They were led to the Holy Cathedral, where they were greeted by the Pope herself—Lady Luminous Valentine. The moment they entered the grand chamber, a chilling sensation filled the air. The large, ornate doors creaked closed behind them, and all eyes turned to the figure standing at the altar.

Lady Luminous was as regal as one would expect from the head of the Papal State. Her white robes shimmered in the light, and her long, platinum-blonde hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of light. She stood with an air of both authority and grace, her presence commanding without ever needing to raise her voice.

However, as the group approached, something strange caught Hanae's attention. The Pope didn't look at any of them—not at Tatsuya, Reiji, or even herself. Her gaze remained fixed forward, as if she were gazing into the distance. But then, as if sensing something, her eyes slowly shifted to Riona.

Hanae felt her breath catch in her throat. There was something strange in the air, something unspoken that seemed to pass between the two women. A subtle exchange, one that felt more like recognition than mere acquaintance.

For a brief moment, their eyes locked.

And then, the strangest thing happened: Lady Luminous' expression softened, just slightly, as if a memory was resurfacing. Hanae couldn't explain it, but the atmosphere seemed to shift, as if the two shared some unspoken understanding.

"Long time no see," Hanae could have sworn she heard in her mind, though the Pope never spoke. The words weren't directed at her, but at Riona. It felt almost like a silent greeting—one between two who shared a history, a bond that no one else could understand.

A chill ran down Hanae's spine. What did that mean? She didn't know, but she had an overwhelming feeling that she had just witnessed something profound. Something that revealed a truth about Riona, something hidden beneath the surface.

She glanced at Riona, who didn't seem fazed by the Pope's gaze. If anything, she appeared composed, even neutral. But Hanae could feel it—the subtle shift in her energy. Whatever that exchange had been, it wasn't normal. And it had everything to do with Riona.

Lady Luminous finally broke the silence. "Ah, so you are the brave adventurers sent by the guild." Her voice was calm, soothing, yet powerful. "I am Luminous Valentine, Pope of the Papal State. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Tatsuya stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "It is an honor to meet you, Lady Luminous. We are here to aid you in any way we can."

The Pope smiled warmly, but Hanae couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more behind that smile, something that had yet to be revealed.

"As I'm sure you've heard," Lady Luminous continued, her tone shifting slightly, "we've been dealing with an outburst of monsters from the S-class dungeon. The creatures we've encountered are unlike anything we've faced before. Demons, beasts, and ferocious monsters have emerged, and they've been wreaking havoc on our lands. We've tried to contain them, but... they are too numerous."

The room grew heavy with the weight of the task at hand. Tatsuya, ever the strategist, nodded. "We'll find the source of this disturbance and eliminate it."

Lady Luminous turned to Riona then, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than was necessary. "I'm certain you will," she said softly, as if she knew something more. But the moment passed, and she moved on to brief the group on the specifics of the task.

As she spoke, Hanae's thoughts were elsewhere. Her mind kept replaying the moment when the Pope's eyes met Riona's. The unspoken connection between them was undeniable. Whatever history they shared, it was clear that Riona wasn't just some ordinary adventurer—there was far more to her than met the eye.

The rest of the briefing passed in a blur for Hanae. All she could think about was the strange sensation she felt when the Pope and Riona exchanged that silent acknowledgment. And now, more than ever, she knew that there were secrets lurking beneath the surface—secrets that Riona was clearly hiding from everyone.

As the meeting came to an end, Lady Luminous offered a final word of advice. "Be cautious," she warned, her tone suddenly grave. "The source of this disturbance is not a simple monster or demon. It is something far older, far more dangerous. And it knows you're coming."

With that ominous note, the group was dismissed, and they left the Holy Cathedral, the weight of their mission settling on their shoulders.

But for Hanae, the real mystery was just beginning. Whatever Riona's connection to the Pope was, it was far deeper than she could have imagined. And she intended to find out what that truth was, no matter where it led her.

The team heads deeper into the dungeon, battling through level after level of demons. The place is chaotic and dangerous, as expected, but they're making good progress. They're systematically clearing the floors—each one filled with monsters, traps, and occasional ambushes—but none are as formidable as the Demon Generals that await them on the 10th floor.

As they reach the final floor, things take a darker turn. The party starts to suspect they're dealing with a Demonic Corridor, given the connection to the Demons' Realm they read about in the legends. But no one can anticipate the severity of the situation when they're suddenly ambushed by the Demon Generals, guardians of the core.

The battle is brutal. Their party members are quickly overpowered by the ferocity of the Demon Generals, leaving only Hanae, Alfred, and Riona standing. While the others are heavily injured and rendered unconscious, Hanae begins healing them, doing her best to keep the group alive.

Riona and Alfred, however, don't stop. They press forward, slaughtering one Demon General after another, the battlefield transforming into a chaotic dance of death.

Hanae is focused on healing her teammates, but something catches her attention.

Riona's eyes—they're changing. First, they shift from human eyes to something otherworldly. Something demonic. Hanae remembers a legend she'd read long ago, describing the eyes of the Demon Empress. The legends said the Demon Empress' eyes were unlike any other—a mix of power and darkness.

And in that moment, Riona's eyes match that description perfectly.

But the strange transformations don't stop there.

Riona's eyes change again, this time shifting into the eyes of a Draconic Empress—an impossible power radiates from her. Hanae feels a sense of awe and fear but can do nothing but watch as Riona effortlessly slaughters the remaining Demon Generals.

As the battle progresses, the Demon Lord himself arrives. The Demon Lord is a terrifying being—his slash alone is strong enough to shatter the thick walls of the dungeon. The very air seems to tremble as the Demon Lord attacks, but to everyone's shock, Riona remains unharmed.

The Demon Lord advances with a sinister grin, ready to finish off the group, but Riona steps forward calmly, almost serenely. Without hesitation, she uses the same Purification Spell she'd supposedly used in the dungeon before. But this time, the magic is different. The Demon Lord dies instantly, and as the magic envelops him, he is consumed, vanishing in an instant.

Without giving a second thought, Riona turns to the Core and destroys it with a single strike. The Demonic Corridor begins to crumble and collapse, and in an instant, the group is teleported out of the dungeon. The Demonic Corridor vanishes, leaving nothing behind.

Hanae is left speechless, trying to comprehend what just transpired. Her friend, Riona, is no longer just a mysterious person. There's something far greater, far more terrifying, at play. Riona isn't just a normal adventurer or even someone with extraordinary abilities—she's a force beyond comprehension, and that scares Hanae.

She looks around at the group, still shaken by the events. Tatsuya, Reiji, and the others are coming to their senses, still unaware of the true scope of what happened. Hanae debates whether or not to tell them the truth of what she saw. But she knows deep down that she can't. Not yet. Not now.

If she told them about Riona's transformation and the terrifying power she displayed, there would be chaos. They would have questions—questions that she can't even answer herself.

So Hanae makes the choice: She stays silent. For the sake of their friendship, she decides to keep this truth to herself for now. What she witnessed doesn't make sense, but some truths are better left buried. For now, all that matters is that they succeeded. The Demonic Corridor was closed, and the threat was eliminated.

Once outside, the group takes a moment to rest. They've just completed an impossible mission, and this is their first S-class job as A-class adventurers. They've officially made it. But Hanae feels uneasy. The secrets she now knows are heavy. How will she deal with them? How will the group react when the truth about Riona eventually comes to light?

After the success of their mission, the group heads back towards the Papal State to bid their farewells. The journey was long and filled with danger, but now, the team can finally rest a little, knowing they completed the mission. As they reach the Papal State's gates, the Pope herself, Lady Luminous Valentine, comes to see them off. There's a certain solemnity in the air as she stands before them, her eyes betraying a hidden meaning that Hanae can't quite decipher.

Once again, Hanae catches a glimpse of the strange glare between Riona and the Pope. It's intense and heavy, like they're speaking some silent language only they can understand. Then, as they prepare to leave, Lady Luminous smiles faintly at Riona, her voice steady but carrying an emotion that feels far too familiar.

"See you again," she says, the words laced with an unfamiliar weight.

Hanae can't help but feel like she's witnessing something far bigger than just a simple farewell. Riona only nods in acknowledgment, but to Hanae, it feels like the two of them shared a moment that goes beyond words—something deeply personal, something she'll never fully understand.

With that, they leave the Papal State behind, heading back toward the Kingdom's Capital. But as they travel, something unexpected happens.

Upon their return to the Capital, the Adventurer's Guild calls them in for an official meeting. They're ushered into a large, formal room filled with guild officers. The air is thick with anticipation, and the moment they step inside, they know something's off.

One of the guild officers steps forward, a serious expression on his face. He begins to speak, explaining that their mission has been ranked up due to the incredible threats they faced.

It turns out, the Demon General that appeared during their previous A-class escort mission was the first sign that their capabilities were far beyond what was expected. The Demon General's appearance was what triggered the escalation of the quest, ranking it up to S-class. Now, with the appearance of a Demon Lord during their current mission, the guild has no choice but to rank them up again. The quest was officially classified as SS-class, and because of this, the guild has decided to level them up.

But it doesn't stop there.

The guild informs them that both the Pope and the Draconic Empress have personally made formal requests supporting their advancement. Their influence is undeniable, and their support has made this level-up possible.

In short, the team has earned it.

The moment the announcement is made, the room falls silent. The weight of what has just been said sinks in. They are now officially S-class adventurers. The same rank held by the most powerful and legendary figures in the Adventurer's Guild. The same rank that marks them as the elite, capable of handling the most dangerous quests and threats in the world.

For a brief moment, they all just stand there, processing what this means. The weight of the responsibility, the expectations, the new doors this opens for them.

The guild officer congratulates them, but their minds are already elsewhere, thinking about the future. Now that they've leveled up, the stakes have gotten much higher. But they've earned it.

As the guild meeting ends, the reality of their new rank settles in. They've come so far, but the journey is far from over. With their newfound S-class status, the team knows that greater challenges lie ahead. The room buzzes with excitement, but as the officers finish their congratulations, a new, more daunting task awaits them.

The quest that looms on the horizon isn't just about proving their strength—it's about survival. They've heard whispers of a massive SS-class dungeon, located deep within the Empire of Valtheria. It's a place that only the bravest—and most powerful—adventurers dare approach.

Riona, Alfred, Hanae, and the rest of the team exchange glances. The weight of the news hangs in the air, but they know what they must do. If they are to stand a chance against the Demon Empress Nyx, the ruler of the Demonic Realm, they must first conquer this dungeon.

"Looks like we have no choice," Riona says, her tone firm as ever, eyes glinting with resolve. "If we want to defeat Nyx, we need to prove ourselves even further. This dungeon will be our first step."

Hanae nods in agreement, though a sense of unease stirs within her. The SS-class dungeon is notorious, filled with unimaginable dangers and beasts. But she's no longer the unsure girl she once was. She's been pushed beyond her limits, and so has everyone else in the group.

"We'll head to Valtheria tomorrow," Alfred chimes in, his usual cocky grin replaced by a determined expression. "Let's show them what we're made of."