Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 174

Even after their first meeting, Rain and Master Melissa would often visit the headquarters of the human resistance.

The princes hadn’t received detailed explanations from Melissa, but based on the news they heard, it seemed that the Hero's party was targeting demon generals who operated within the central part of the continent.

“An assassin duo, so to speak.”

“With just the two of them, the Hero’s party can’t confront the demon armies head-on. That’ll be our job once the resistance grows stronger.”

The human resistance, headquartered in a secluded mountain valley in central Astria, was gradually gaining strength.

Anyone capable of fighting became a soldier; former high priests of the Holy State served as chaplains, and mages who had once been in hiding joined, along with knights from fallen kingdoms. Even wandering dwarves and elves were beginning to join the cause.

The resistance’s power was still feeble. If a single demon general, let alone a demon commander, attacked, they would be easily overwhelmed. Fortunately, the demon generals had yet to use their full might in central Astria.

“The Holy Maiden of the Supreme Church is preventing the spread of demonic corruption in the central continent.”

“It’s an invisible battle. She’s practically fighting all the commanders by herself.”

“Survivors from the south say that the southern region, where the Demon King’s fortress stands, has turned completely into a demonic realm. The east and west are also in dire conditions.”

“The spread of corruption is slower in the north, but I’ve heard that extreme cold has set in.”

“Yeah. According to a wandering elf, there’s an elven kingdom up there. They must be resisting somehow.”

Clang, clank!

Prince Bern and Prince Leon’s conversation shifted to the sparring match before them.

Flash! Zap, zap!

A small golden light clashed at high speed with a larger blue one. The wielder of the golden light was a silver-haired girl, the Hero, Rain. The small Holy Sword in her hand emitted brilliant golden sword energy, towering well above her petite frame.

The blue light, however, belonged to Melissa, the greatest warrior of humanity. Her sword radiated a calm, yet fiercely burning blue energy, contrasting the wild golden energy that surged from Rain.

Zing!

Melissa’s blue energy shot forward, aiming at Rain’s small figure. Boom! Although Rain moved quickly, she was still struck by several blows. The observing princes were startled by the explosion engulfing Rain, but soon relaxed upon seeing the golden protective barrier around her.

Melissa’s expression turned stern as she scolded her.

“Rain, I told you not to rely on your barrier! If I had used my full power, it would have been broken through instantly!”

“Ugh...!”

Zing!

Rain gritted her teeth and unleashed another wave of golden sword energy. It was powerful, far beyond what one would expect from her small body. In terms of sheer force, it was on par with Melissa’s.

Swoosh.

Melissa’s fluid movements wove through the golden storm. Boom, boom, boom! The mountain clearing was devastated by the clash of power.

Whoosh!

Even the princes, standing at a distance, felt the shockwaves. They squinted and focused intently on the duel’s outcome.

“Is this really a sparring match, not a full-on fight?”

Clang!

Melissa closed the distance in an instant, knocking Rain’s sword away and bringing her blade to Rain’s chest.

Tap.

“Ugh.”

Rain, now unarmed, had tears welling up in her large eyes. Melissa’s face softened as she lifted the girl into a hug.

“I’m sorry, Rain. But we need to review this. When you dodged left against my first strike earlier...”

The sight of Rain, tearful in Melissa’s embrace, tugged at the princes’ hearts.

“Ugh.”

“...What’s wrong, Leon?”

“...Bern, you feel the same, don’t you?”

“Er, well. It’s hard to believe she’s only thirteen. Just one year younger than us.”

“She looks so ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ small and fragile, even though she has incredible power inside her.”

Bern’s thoughts mirrored Leon’s.

According to Melissa, the tiny Hero girl was indeed around their age.

In the harsh reality of Astria, where survival had become a grim joke, even children had to pick up weapons and fight demons.

But Rain—the girl the princes watched—possessed true power, though it was still raw. Under Melissa’s guidance, it would surely become a brilliant blade for humanity.

Still—

“It just doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Yeah.”

Leon nodded at Bern’s words.

There was a difference between knowing someone had to fight and witnessing it firsthand.

A small girl, fighting for humanity.

Risking her life.

---

Step by step.

Slowly, cautiously.

The princes had developed a ritual whenever Rain visited.

They would stand at the edge of the cliff, wind ruffling their hair, watching the silver-haired girl as she gazed out, hidden behind the trees with mouths agape.

“...Leon, why are you here?”

“You come here every time, Bern. I knew you’d be here because Rain visits the headquarters.”

As they exchanged glances, the girl’s gaze turned toward them.

“Come out.”

Clink.

The princes, startled as Rain drew her golden sword, sheepishly stepped out from behind the tree and approached her.

Rain sighed, sheathed her sword, and turned back to the cliff. Bern cleared his throat and spoke.

“Ahem, Rain. Did you know?”

“You’re always there. Stop bothering me.”

Her cold words, spoken without turning around, pierced them like daggers. Leon scratched his head and stammered.

“Ahem, Hero—I mean, Lady Rain. What do you always look at here?”

“...The view.”

Rain’s unexpected answer left the two princes dumbfounded.

Her eyes weren’t the sharp ones she had during battle, nor the longing ones she had when looking at Melissa. Instead, she wore a dreamlike expression as she gazed down at the vast meadow below the cliff.

“This world is beautiful. But there’s a foul air.”

“A foul air...?”

“Does she mean the miasma?”

They whispered, puzzled, but Rain continued as if she hadn’t heard them.

“To live as the girl named Rain, I need to get rid of that foul air first.”

Suddenly, her deep obsidian eyes sharpened. The fierce gaze, contrasting with her cute appearance, was unmistakably the look of a hero. The tearful child they’d seen with Melissa was nowhere to be found.

The princes were awestruck.

Rain.

She looked like an innocent young girl, reacting in ways typical of her age, yet she sometimes exuded an air of maturity.

It was hard not to be captivated by her ever-changing, mysterious charm.

Bern’s heart, caught between concern for humanity’s dire situation and a desire to know this girl better, grew more restless.

“Ahem. You seem to really like Master Melissa. Is she special to you?”

Leon’s jaw dropped at Bern’s sudden question.

Rain, for the first time, smiled slightly at the princes.

Unaware of how their hearts stopped at that smile, she spoke softly.

“She’s a beautiful, amazing sister.”

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“I-I think I’m pretty amazing too, you know?”

Ignoring Leon’s nudge, Bern kept talking to Rain, while Leon waved to get her attention, muttering, “Me too, me too!”

The princes were handsome for their age. Though still youthful, they were tall and had well-kept black and blond hair, marking them as striking young men.

Rain looked at them—

And frowned.

“I don’t like boys.”

---

Despite her words, Rain played the part of a friend to the princes.

“You want to save humanity and become their king?”

Rain chuckled at their ambition.

“Well, do your best.”

Her small, enigmatic presence felt more like that of an older sibling or mentor. The princes, smitten with her, followed Rain’s lead.

Rain occasionally sighed, muttering strange things like, “I can’t believe I’m hanging out with middle schoolers. Well, I guess I’m technically a kid now too? My memories of Earth are getting hazier...”

The princes trained in swordsmanship under Melissa’s guidance alongside Rain and joined her on hikes.

In an era where even young princes were forced to mature quickly due to humanity’s plight, Rain became their little friend.

Rain’s visits to the resistance weren’t daily, but she came at least two or three times a month. With the continent overrun by demons, even the Hero’s party needed a place to rest.

However, the demon leadership would not sit idly by as humanity’s resistance slowly grew.

Despite the divine barriers set up by the chaplains, the resistance one day faced a direct attack from a powerful demon.

The eastern legion commander had come to eradicate the last remnants of humanity.