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“You can laugh if you want.”

“If we were somewhere else, I might have laughed at you for still holding onto that dream. But Ian, I asked you a serious question here, and you answered knowing that. So how could I take it lightly? Besides, it’s not as far-fetched as wanting to be a warrior, is it?”

He’s right. Becoming a hero could be achieved through one’s talent or effort, but a warrior can only be chosen by the Sovereign.

So, becoming a warrior is practically impossible. Who knows?

Maybe if someone becomes incredibly strong, defeats an Outer God or an Apostle, the Sovereign might appoint them as a warrior.

“But becoming a hero isn’t exactly easy either.”

“I know.”

“You need to gain a lot of experience, improve your skills, earn a reputation, and you need a fair bit of luck. But you haven’t achieved any of that yet.”

Ian scoffed.

“How many people have achieved all that in their teens?”

“They do exist.”

“Sure, they exist. But you’re not seriously going to bring up the ‘Pillars’ as an example, are you?”

The Pillars refer to the seven individuals who support the world.

From birth, they were exceptional, writing stories that bordered on myth, and they are considered heroes among heroes, revered by everyone. Dior couldn’t continue speaking.

“Are you comparing me to them? Honestly, that’s a bit much, don’t you think? Or are you telling me to give up?”

Dior scratched his head.

“I just meant you should try harder than you are now. And I wanted to show you there are other paths.”

“Other paths?”

“Not everyone who fights the threats of the Outer Sea in dangerous places can be considered a hero. Those who train talent in the rear, supply goods, distribute them appropriately, or even earn funds… those people can also be considered indispensable heroes. Of course, if you’re not the best in that field or don’t have outstanding abilities, you might just be a nobody. But that’s the same for any path you choose.”

“……”

“Ian, you can take any path you want. You’re the third son of the Berger family. If you tell Father, you could join an academy or even take charge of a merchant group under our family. You don’t have to risk your life and stain your hands with blood like our elder brother or me. So, think carefully….”

“No.”

Ian interrupted Dior.

“I know you’re saying this because you’re worried about me, but unfortunately, the kind of hero I want to be is a bit different.”

“What kind of hero do you want to be?”

At Dior’s question, Ian recalled what he had experienced right before his return.

In the final battle against the Outer God, all he could do was stand against the oncoming monsters.

The reason was simple. He was weak. That was the best he could do. But he couldn’t even accomplish that simple task.

If the same situation arose again, he didn’t want to just stand by and watch. He wanted to stand beside them, or even in front of them.

“A hero who can protect those by my side, no matter what.”

So that they wouldn’t die meaninglessly like last time. They were not people who should have died in such a place, in such a way.

To do that, he had to become stronger. That was Ian’s goal and dream, and being a hero was just a means to prove it.

“…It’s a difficult path. But if that’s what you wish, then it can’t be helped. I’ll support you. Let me know if you need my help.”

Dior glanced at the incense burner, then lit another cigarette.

“I’ll head back to the carriage first. You can stay a bit longer if you’d like.”

As Dior passed by, he patted Ian on the shoulder, and Ian nodded in acknowledgment.

Left alone, Ian thought about how fortunate he was to have such a good relationship with his brothers, something his mother often emphasized.

– “Get along well with each other.”

Perhaps because of this, the bond between the brothers was stronger than in any other family.

Honestly, sibling rivalry that ends in bloodshed is quite common in noble society, and the Berger family was no exception.

Even their father had experienced intense conflict and strife with his siblings.

Though it’s said he resolved it with overwhelming talent and strength, no one could deny that a lot of blood had been shed in the process.

‘We might have ended up the same way.’

Fortunately, the only one who desired the position of family head was the eldest brother, Verdan.

‘Not that I was ever interested…’

Dior had also given up on the idea early on, saying he didn’t want the headache of leadership.

Because of that, there was no need to fight, and despite having little interaction, the brothers maintained a close bond.

Ian stared at the smoldering cigarette for a moment before kneeling in front of the gravestone.

He placed his fingers on the words “Beloved Three Sons” engraved on the tombstone and slowly channeled his mana into it.

At first, nothing happened, but after a moment, the letters faintly glowed, and with a clicking sound, the inscription slid back, revealing a small hidden compartment.

Inside were three mana stones.

“…So it was true.”

Ian had learned about this mechanism from a letter his eldest brother had sent him before his return.

‘Of course, he’s not the type to lie about something like this.’

Ian gazed at the three mana stones in his hand.

They were of the 5th grade.

Not the rarest, but not something commonly found either. Especially in his current state, stuck at Level 2, these were more precious than gold and silver.

If he could absorb all three and fully integrate them, he might be able to skip straight to Level 4 in a short time.

The temptation was strong, but he knew it would be greedy.

If his elder or younger brothers had found these, they would have shared them without hesitation. They cared deeply for their siblings.

Ian exhaled slowly and looked at the gravestone.

“Thank you. I’ll put them to good use. And… I’ll be back.”

With that, he left the Garden of Rest.

“You’re back?”

Dior, who had been sitting in the carriage with his arms crossed and eyes closed, spoke as soon as Ian climbed in.

Ian leaned back in his seat and replied, “Yeah. And here, take this.”

“What’s this? Did you buy something?”

Even as he spoke, Dior remembered that there were no shops around here.

Without thinking much, he held out his hand, and to his surprise, Ian handed him a mana stone.

“…What is this?”

For a moment, Dior blinked, thinking he had seen wrong, but it didn’t change.

Rolling in his palm was a mana stone. And not just any mana stone—a high-grade one that was hard to come by.

Dior was startled.

“How did you—no, where did you get this?”

“From Mother’s gravestone.”

Ian added a brief explanation.

Dior, wanting to verify it himself, abruptly opened the carriage door and stepped out, returning after a short while with a slightly agitated voice.

“Was there a letter or anything else inside?”

“Just the three mana stones.”

“…I see.”

Dior kept fidgeting with the mana stone in his hand for a long time. From the moment the carriage departed until they returned to Lampus, he remained silent. Just as he was about to retire to his room, Dior called out.

“Ian.”

“Yeah?”

“…Thank you.”

He held up the mana stone that he had been gripping tightly since they left the Garden of Rest.

Ian nodded and then headed to his room.

—

A group of knights clad in black armor rode into the castle through the wide-open gates. Their appearance was both dignified and commanding.

The people waiting on the streets cheered, and petals that had been prepared in advance were scattered from the windows of the surrounding buildings.

“Long live the Black Spear Knights!”

Someone shouted, and the crowd quickly echoed the sentiment.

In the eastern part of the El Carda Empire, the Red Spear Knights were well-known, but the true elite were the Black Spear Knights, also from the Berger family.

It made sense—these knights were superior to the Red Spear Knights in every aspect, be it popularity or skill, and they were often assigned the most dangerous missions.

This recent deployment was no exception, as they were sent to exterminate the dangerous creatures of the Outer Sea, which posed a significant threat.

The results of their mission followed quietly in a carriage behind the knights, further increasing the crowd’s cheers.

The leader of the Black Spear Knights, Granod Berger, known as a “Perfected One” at Level 7, and the head of the Berger family, led the procession from the front. Despite the glorious scene, his expression remained calm and composed.

It no longer thrilled him as it did the first time he stood in this position. He had grown accustomed to it. However, that didn’t mean he felt nothing—he still enjoyed it. After all, there’s no one in the world who dislikes being praised. Even the noble dragon race doesn’t mind being revered.

Slowly guiding his horse along the path, he arrived at the inner castle of the grand city of Ruth.

At the main gate, his son, Verdan Berger, was there with his retainers to greet him.

Granod glanced to the side. The vice-captain, following slightly behind, noticed his gaze.

“Damian.”

“Yes, Captain?”

“Take command of the unit.”

As always, the vice-captain would manage things well on his own.

He would also handle the processing of the byproducts from the creatures they had hunted during the expedition. Granod would later review the report.

Granod dismounted. Verdan immediately began to bow, likely to express relief at his safe return. However, Granod raised his hand to stop him. He hadn’t endured enough hardship to deserve such words.

The black armor covering his body shimmered and was absorbed into the magic tool—a weapon ring—on his finger, leaving him in a simple outfit in the blink of an eye. He headed inside, with only Verdan quietly following behind.

“Do you have anything to report?”

“Yes, I do.”

Granod frowned slightly.

“Go on.”

“Ian returned from the villa yesterday morning.”

“It wasn’t of his own will, was it?”

“Dior sent his men to bring him back.”

“…Dior brought Ian back? For what reason?”

“He said he couldn’t let Ian waste any more time. He mentioned that as his brother, he wanted to make something of him. That’s what he told me.”

“A pointless endeavor.”

Verdan flinched at his father’s indifference, even though his son had returned after several years. He had somewhat expected this reaction, but seeing his father’s cold demeanor in person was still unsettling. Nevertheless, he continued calmly.

“But on his way back to the main house, Ian witnessed a Level 4 or 5 Outer Gate opening in front of the village of Dioble. He immediately responded and exterminated the Hyolang pack that emerged from it.”

Hyolang were tricky creatures, not to be underestimated. Though they were considered weaker among monsters, they originated from the Outer Sea, making them formidable opponents.

“Hyolang? Who were the dispatched personnel?”

“Mael and Mari of the 4th unit of the Red Spear Knights, who became full members last month.”

“Mael and Mari… They’re from the Viscount Rondria family, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right. They reported that as soon as Ian encountered the Outer Gate, he shot arrows, reducing the Hyolang numbers by half before they could even engage.”

“Hmm.”

Granod found Mael and Mari’s testimony questionable. Perhaps they were trying to share the credit with Ian because he was the third son of the Berger family, hoping something would trickle down to them.

“The interesting part is that when Mael and Mari recognized the Outer Gate, they intended to retreat for Ian’s safety. However, Ian insisted that they shouldn’t do so and stepped forward. They claimed they had no choice but to follow him to protect him.”

“……”

“And shortly after the Outer Gate was dealt with, a Dark Mage appeared, and they engaged and killed him.”

“How many appeared?”

“Just one.”

———