I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 92 : A Son, A little brother.

"What is happening here?"

Dark black hair. A white shirt, layered under a black coat.

And on that coat—

A single number.

03.

It was Envy. The head of Frostheart household Jenna Frostheart. My Master.

He was frozen, sweat dripping down his forehead as he lowered his head.

"Cat got your tongue?" Envy asked once again.

Trembling, the man finally answered. "N-No… it was… it was her fault."

He tried to point at the woman he had been abusing, but he couldn't—his hands were frozen in ice.

It was a pathetic display.

"What a clown." I laughed.

His life was over.

Because my master never let these matters go easily.

House Frostheart—the only noble house in Frostvile Kingdom I trusted.

Maybe because its head was none other than my master.

"M-Madam Envy… Y-You got it all w-wrong," the man stammered, desperation leaking into his voice. "I just lightly pushed her away, but maybe… I exerted—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

Because Envy let out a deep sigh.

"Haaaaahhh…"

And with it, the man lost half his lifespan.

She unsheathed her blade.

The tip pressed against the man's hand—the very hand he had used to grip the woman's hair.

"N-No… please! Forgive me—"

SPRUTT!

A clean sweep.

His hand was severed from its root.

A display of power.

A spat over his four-digit authority.

"AGGGGHHHHH!"

His scream pierced the air.

Envy slid her blade back into its sheath and turned away.

"I am ashamed to call myself a hero."

Envy has always been like this.

Among the few nobles who didn't care about status.

She treated everyone equally.

And maybe…

That's the reason why I—and a handful of others—still had a little faith in heroes.

Because heroes like her were what the world needed.

She walked toward the woman, who still stood tall.

The fire in her eyes had dimmed—but it hadn't disappeared completely.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

She clapped.

Slow. She moved to the women.

Each sound of her steps echoed.

Everyone watched.

"To stand as you do, after everything… it is an act of defiance."

Envy's voice carried respect towards that woman, who didn't waver at the man's pressure.

"And a powerful one at that." She added.

The crowd was silent. Then, the cheers erupted.

They clapped, shouted, and praised her name.

Because that was what a true hero deserved. Envy deserved it all.

I watched it all unfold.

She stood there, she didn't even move. My Master.

I took pride in following her, in calling her 'Master'. And that would never change.

The guards arrived, dragging the pathetic excuse of a hero away from the ground. He didn't even struggle.

I didn't bother to throw a glance at him.

At the exit, I flashed my ID to the guard. He barely glanced at it before stepping aside, letting me past.

I walked past him, my steps were slow, my mind was heavy with all those things, which just happened a moment ago.

Heroes?

Hah. What a joke.

'Now, now, don't make that face.'

Sera's voice rang in my head. Her attempt to calm me down.

I exhaled heavily.

"Haaaaaahhh..."

I needed to clear my mind.

I didn't want them to see me like this.

'Smile. Just for now.' I told myself that.

I pushed through the crowd, my eyes darting left and right. Searching for them.

Where are they?

I just wanted to go home.

To see them. To sit at the dinner table and eat the food my mother prepared. To take a night stroll with my father. To tease Elise like I always did.

Just thinking about it eased the weight on my chest.

But as I walked further, my steps slowed.

They weren't here.

"Maybe they didn't come for m—"

I stopped mid sentence.

There they were.

My parents stood just a few feet away, talking to Elise.

My father held my mother's hand.

But when my eyes landed on her face...

A lump formed in my throat.

Her lips were chapped.

Dark circles under her eyes.

Her figure… thinner than before.

As if she hadn't eaten properly in days.

I was so close. Just two steps away.

Elise was the first to notice me.

"Look, Mom! He's here!" she cried, tugging at our mother's sleeve.

My mother, who had been dazed just moments ago, jerked to life. Her hands shot up to her mouth, her eyes were trembling, on the brink of tears.

"Zane...! My baby!"

I was wrong about her. I thought she was weak. I underestimated her.

I forgot, she was a mother, who had waited—for an entire week—for her son's return.

Because the moment she saw me, she moved with blinding speed.

Before I even had time to react—

"Ooooffffff!" I let out a light cry.

Something squeezed into me, nearly knocking the breath out of my lungs.

I felt warmth.

Her arms wrapped around me, locking me in an embrace.

"M-Mother... I— I can't breat—ooofff!"

She squeezed me even more tightly.

So tightly that I nearly lost all the air in my lungs.

Former Rank 1 Hero? That title meant nothing in front of her.

In front of my mother, I was helpless.

...Seriously, was she secretly a Single Ranker?

For five whole minutes, she refused to let go of me.

Then, finally, she released me—just enough to cup my face, her fingers brushing through my hair.

Her gaze softened, but with worried eyes she asked.

"Are you hurt anywhere? Are you okay? Did you get injured? Let me take a look."

Her hands stretched my face, her fingers moved to unbutton my shirt.

"Mother, stop!" I yelped, my face burning with embarrassment as I swatted her hands away.

People were staring at us.

But she didn't care.

I shook my head, dusted off my arms, and exhaled.

"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine."

To prove it, I did a full 360-degree spin, flashing a grin.

My father folded his arms.

"Are you really okay?"

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I met his gaze and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Yup. Never been better."

It was a lie.

My mind was pounding with everything—gods, authorities... and a ghost possessing me.

'Rude!' Sera scoffed.

I ignored her.

"Zane." Elise spoke this time.

Her voice was quiet.

When I looked at her, she was smiling.

But it was fake. I can tell.

She always did this in front of me. Pretending. She was an expert.

"Elise...?"

Before I knew it, my body moved on its own.

My arms wrapped around her.

She buried her face into my shoulder.

Her shoulders trembled.

She broke.

Her cries filled the air, unrestrained.

I held her tighter.

"I—I thought…sniff… I lost you once again."

"I'm fine, sis... I won't ever leave you. I promise."

End of Chapter.