The Second Salvation Myth of a Retired Regressed Hero

[…]

[That sixth sword was akin to the son of the twelfth sword your father used until his final days. If you wield it, he would be overjoyed.]

Silence fell upon the gallery, only the occasional sounds of awe from Sophie and Eloah engrossed in admiring the swords breaking the stillness.

Brudhild, who had been shedding tears while gazing at the blade, wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

After closing and reopening his eyes upon hearing his father’s will, they were now brimming with intense resolve.

[…Nevertheless, I shall refrain from using this sword for now.]

[Pardon?]

He walked over and returned the sixth sword to its original rack.

[The sublime transcendence my father had dreamed of – I shall make it a reality for him.]

[…]

[And on the day I can open that lock with my own hands, fulfilling my father’s wish…]

Brudhild’s fists trembled.

[Wielding a sword from this collection, I shall march onto the frontlines. To visit my father’s grave, likely petrified by now.]

Doyun watched Brudhild’s back as she stared at the swords.

He sensed the telepathic voice ringing in his mind grow clearer – the mana imbued within had changed.

Willpower propels mana. One’s mana control is greatly influenced by their own willpower.

And just now, Brudhild’s willpower had strengthened.

‘The time required for her to learn Manifest Sword has been shortened.’

Doyun nodded with satisfaction at witnessing his ‘niece’s’ growth.

+++

The group returned to the World Tree guild house by carriage.

After disembarking, Doyun unsheathed Jupiter from its scabbard.

“Woah… the sword has quite a, how should I put it… pristine color?”

Sophie marveled at Jupiter’s appearance.

The ninth sword Jupiter in the Sword Saint Buske’s collection, with 98% of its volume composed of empty aerosol pores filled with air, emanated a translucent hue tinged with a faint azure beyond its blade.

No, as Sophie said, rather than transparent, it was pristine like a mountain stream’s waters.

“It’s just like the color of the sky.”

Doyun nodded, raising Jupiter overhead to block the sun with its blade. The crystalline blade allowed sunlight to pass through unobstructed, nearly invisible like a fragment of the sky itself.

“That’s why it’s named Jupiter, meaning ‘sky’, I’ve heard.”

“Its name and appearance are both exquisitely beautiful…”

With a rapturous gaze befitting a sensitive young lady, Sophie admired Jupiter’s blade.

“I was so surprised. I never expected you to gift Doyun one of the collection swords, Hero… Is it really okay for me to receive this?”

“It merely signifies the Alliance’s high hopes for the title of Boss Monster Killer. While you and Disciple Doyun may not fully understand, Boss Monster Killers were truly the pillars of our Alliance.”

Eloah smoothly fabricated an excuse for Sophie.

“And above all, this isn’t a permanent handover, but a long-term loan.”

With that explanation, Sophie seemed to accept it, nodding her head.

As Eloah said, they would publicly treat it as an extended loan. An excuse to justify Brudhild’s actions to outsiders.

The group met up with Millaine, who had come to greet them.

“You’ve returned, Master.”

“Yes.”

In the presence of the guards and Sophie, Eloah responded curtly.

As they entered the building together, Millaine briefly reported to Eloah while walking,

“The Lockenmeyer countermeasures meeting is being delayed.”

“…The Lion King still hasn’t responded?”

“Yes.”

Doyun listened attentively to their conversation, as it concerned him too – Millaine was intentionally including him.

The recent Lockenmeyer ambush had been quite an anomalous case.

Firstly, its intent was unclear.

While the timing suggested a response to Haineken’s coup, why specifically target Lockenmeyer made no sense – even if occupied, it held no meaning without first dealing with the Lion King’s Muspelheim.

Even if the simple goal was to inflict economic damage on the Alliance, it seemed odd.

The ambushing troops had been too elite to be mere expendable pawns, despite their few numbers – none other than Satan’s imp forces, no less.

And crucially, those imp troops had been abnormally powerful.

The ambush raised many questions from various angles, prompting the Alliance to convene an emergency countermeasures meeting.

Such meetings summoning all the continent’s Heroes had occurred several times over the past 70 years, always swiftly held due to their urgency.

But unprecedentedly, this meeting was being delayed – by none other than the Lion King himself.

“Just what reason could that geezer have for being unable to attend?”

Eloah shook her head, equally baffled.

The Lion King’s refusal to participate had been utterly unexpected.

The bravest king. The most righteous king. The Alliance’s pillar. The Alliance’s shield. Even called the Alliance’s king – he valued the Alliance above all else and was the most devoted to war among them. Convening such meetings had always fallen to him, with Muspelheim as the default venue.

Yet this time, the Lion King had declared his non-attendance.

“The Lion King still hasn’t responded. Instead, Haineken has come forward to represent him.”

“Hm? Haineken? Why is he suddenly involved?”

At the familiar name, Doyun’s interest was piqued.

“The Lion King and Haineken’s special relationship is well-known – the lion and tiger, senior and junior.”

“Sure, but it’s so abrupt. Why isn’t the Lion King making the announcement himself instead of having Haineken represent him? Come, let’s hear it. What’s the reason for his absence?”

“Well… he cannot disclose the reason.”

“What?”

Eloah frowned.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“While unable to reveal the reason, he has requested understanding, stating it is for the Alliance’s sake. The meeting must also be held elsewhere, not Muspelheim.”

“Well, I can’t exactly refuse if it’s for the Alliance’s sake… but it’s just so unexpected.”

Eloah shook her head perplexedly.

Of course, if the Lion King himself claimed it was for the Alliance’s benefit, it likely was.

But the secrecy from everyone except his closest aide Haineken raised curiosity about just what this matter entailed.

“Well, I suppose that settles it. The venue will be undecided for now?”

“It likely won’t be the Holy Kingdom or the Crown Prince’s Labyrinth, right?”

“Probably not. With such an unprecedented situation and Haineken frantically occupied, it may take a week at least.”

After pondering briefly, Eloah turned to Doyun.

“Did you hear that, Disciple Han Doyun? Due to the meeting delay, your attendance will have to be decided later.”

“That is fine with me.”

Doyun replied.

As the prime contributor who had directly ‘fought’ the imps in the recent ambush, Doyun was the sole person who could make that claim – his attendance may very well be requested at the meeting.

As a result, the week had become unexpectedly free time for him. But Doyun didn’t mind – he would simply dedicate it all to training.

However, Eloah brought up another matter.

“That being said, a temporary team has been assigned for Disciple Sophie’s training curriculum. How about taking a short expedition together this week?”

“An expedition?”

“Yes. While training is an essential element for growth, in terms of systemic progression, real combat experience is most efficient.”

Millaine chimed in,

“Routine minor investigation expeditions. It would be an apt opportunity to get acquainted with your temporary teammates while learning practical fieldwork.”

“Very well, I shall do so.”

“Okay, I’ll make the arrangements! Oh, and since your teammates don’t know you’re the Boss Monster Killer this intake, please keep that in mind?”

“Understood.”

Within the World Tree guild itself, few were aware of the Boss Monster Killer’s identity this intake.

Millaine and Eloah had decided to maintain silence on the matter, as many – including Skeletonia, the World Tree, and others – were concerned for Doyun’s safety after the Cradle incident.

“And… while any special achievements on-site are distributed proportionally based on contribution, the baseline expedition rewards follow a 1/N split principle. So unfortunately, there may be resentful views towards suddenly having Disciple Doyun included for educational purposes within the team… I’ll make sure to emphasize this, but please understand…!”

“Hmm… I can see that happening. Have no concerns. I shall avoid any conflicts.”

“Thank you!”

Reassured by Doyun’s words, Millaine felt her worries dissipate. For some reason, he exuded a uniquely reassuring aura.

“Ah, come to think of it.”

As if recalling something, Doyun opened his mouth after hearing Millaine’s concerns.

“Perhaps I can provide them some benefit as well.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

Doyun accessed his innate trait details from his status window.

[First Guild Master]
.
.
.
Your comrades will strive to stand by your side. The growth rate of those under your command increases by 10%.

Your comrades, inspired by your presence, will bring forth their own unseen potential. The potential of those under your command increases by 10%.
.
.
.

“I have an innate trait that increases the growth rate and potential of those under my command by 10% each. If I’m officially assigned as the team leader through paperwork formalities, perhaps this could apply…”

Midway through his explanation upon meeting Millaine’s gaze, Doyun trailed off.

Millaine had her eyes wide open and mouth slightly agape, clearly unable to fully comprehend his words.

“Vice-Master?”

“Um… Doyun… Di, did you just say…”

“About my trait. While 10% may seem a small amount…”

Millaine no longer heard Doyun’s following words, her mind frantically operating at immense speeds like a calculator.

Eloah was in a similar state, still struggling to understand if the Hero had misspoken.

Only Sophie, oblivious to the weight of Doyun’s words, and Doyun himself looked at the two with puzzled expressions.

‘10%…?’

A flat 10% adjustment to both growth rate and potential?

Ding.

Millaine’s mental calculations finished processing.

“…So if we test assigning you as the official team leader through paperwork loopholes… Vice-Master? Were you listening to me…”

“KYAAAHHHH!! OUR BLEEESSSSSEEED LUCKY STAAAARRRR!!”

Millaine flung herself at Doyun, embracing him tightly.