Aster Evans beheaded the last Minotaur.

Thud!

Stepping on the body of the headless bull, he took a deep breath and calmed his ragged breathing.

"...Right! The barrier...!"

He had been almost in a trance while facing the Minotaur, so he hadn't had time to worry about the barrier.

Since the Minotaur had drawn all the attention, he didn't think the barrier would have been breached already, but...

"Huh?"

Beyond that, the barrier was excessively intact.

The number of monsters outside had significantly decreased, and even those remaining couldn't even touch the barrier, dying from arrows and stones.

"With the Minotaur dead, do you think the monsters would want to attack the barrier?"

In the meantime, Nimue approached him.

"How's the sword?"

"Ah, thank you. It was a truly excellent sword. I'll return it..."

"Huh? Wait a minute!"

Aster lifted Excalibur with both hands and respectfully offered it to Nimue.

As soon as Nimue received it, Aster's legs gave way, and he collapsed.

"Oh, uh?"

"You idiot! That's what happens when you carelessly let go of the sword!"

Nimue quickly returned the sword to Aster.

"Excalibur makes the user's mana nearly infinite, but it doesn't replenish stamina or mental strength. Thanks to the inexhaustible mana, it's easy to mistake your condition for being at its peak, but your body is already sufficiently exhausted. If you let go of Excalibur now, the backlash from your depleted body will suddenly hit you."

Only then did Aster realize that his hands, no, his entire body was trembling.

"I, I see."

"And since I gave you Excalibur, don't even think about returning it."

"..."

At those words, Aster stared at the Excalibur he had received again for a moment.

"...This was Excalibur?"

"You really just figured that out now!"

Aster, now sitting, looked at Excalibur with curiosity, his eyes sparkling like a child's.

Sighing, Nimue waved her hand lightly.

"Whoa?"

Aster felt his body gently lift while still seated.

Looking down, he saw a mass of water that had risen beneath him, guiding him like a wave in a certain direction.

Unconsciously, he touched his clothes where they came into contact with the water, but they weren't wet. It was a strange phenomenon.

"Stay like that for a while. Excalibur also helps the user recover their own mana. Just wait a bit, and your mana will return to normal, and then your body will feel better too."

"Th, thank you."

"Express your gratitude to the person you're about to meet. I'm just doing what they asked."

"The person I'm about to meet?"

As Nimue guided Aster with the wave, she directed her gaze towards the forest ahead.

"Yes, the Archmage also has something to tell you."

* * *

Since Aster hadn't recognized Excalibur, naturally, he didn't recognize Merlin either.

Of course, after hearing Nimue's explanation and realizing it was Merlin, his eyes widened once again.

For some reason, he seemed even more surprised than when he found out about Excalibur, which made Nimue feel a bit smug.

"Then, these people..."

Aster looked around.

The Manggot personnel were bound by tree branches. Among them, Aster saw Notker, whom he had fought before the Minotaur.

"They are being detained. Deciding their fate is not my responsibility."

"I see."

"There's a more important matter at hand than what to do with them right now."

Merlin's aged eyes turned towards Aster.

There was neither warmth nor coldness in them, making Aster feel a bit chills.

"Aster Evans, the one who will become humanity's hero. You must have known your role for a long time, haven't you?"

"...That was arrogance. Now, I believe my friend, Frondier, is more..."

"No."

Merlin shook his head.

"Frondier is not a hero. He cannot become one."

"...Why? If this war is won, Frondier will have played the biggest role."

"Of course, that's true. I'm not denying his strength or character. Frondier de Roach is strong. And he is just. I'm not saying otherwise."

However, Merlin began to speak as he spread his hand. Mana gathered on his palm, swelling like mist and floating above them like a balloon.

"A hero is someone who leads the most people."

The balloon Merlin created depicted a single figure. It was a blond man, standing bravely and righteously with a sword in hand. He resembled Aster Evans in some ways.

"Remember. This is the image of King Arthur."

"...!"

"King Arthur strove to walk the righteous path more than anyone, but more importantly, countless people followed him. A hero's influence in garnering the support of the vast majority is more crucial than their individual abilities. They must lead the immense current that will change the fate of humanity to be called a hero."

The word 'hero' that Aster had heard since childhood.

Many people praised him for having the qualities of a hero, but...

In reality, being a hero was a painful thing.

Carrying the weight of many people on his back, walking a path where no one could offer a definitive answer.

So, while most people praised Aster, encouraged him, and sang songs as if he were already a hero, most of it was pushing him forward and shirking responsibility.

In this continent where elements of destruction were scattered everywhere, the existence of a 'hero' was absolutely necessary, but no one wanted to be one.

The idea of Aster becoming a hero was more of a 'hope' than a 'belief.'

However, in that space, only Frondier...

Frondier believed more than anyone else that Aster Evans had the qualifications to be a hero.

"Frondier helped you become a hero."

"...!"

He distanced himself from Aster to allow him to grow, using their distance as an opportunity for growth without interference.

He encountered Excalibur before Aster and arranged for Merlin to guide him.

Aster now understood all of these steps.

"Do you know chess?"

"Ch, chess?"

"In chess, there is a piece called a 'pawn.'"

"Th, that's right."

"And when a pawn reaches the end of the enemy's territory, something interesting happens."

At those words, Aster's eyes widened.

Promotion.

When a pawn reaches the end of the enemy's territory, it can be promoted to any piece except a king or another pawn.

"He is not a hero, but rather a pawn that raises heroes. He is simply the strongest pawn in the world."

Frondier was literally at the end of the enemy's territory.

It was time for someone to become a hero.

"Now it's your turn to help Frondier."

"...Me, now?"

"Frondier is currently fighting a devil. He will face a great crisis. He will be thrown into a question that he must overcome on his own, without anyone's help. The fight against a devil is not a contest of strength. It is a confrontation of existence."

"...If it's a question he must overcome on his own, how can I help Frondier?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot tell you the method."

Merlin's words, which could be seen as irresponsible.

However, Aster didn't question them and instead thought deeply.

Merlin had already conveyed everything he could. Aster knew that.

──The hints are all within him...

─Aster, I have a favor to ask.

─You're the only one who can lead them.

─I couldn't be there for them when it mattered. When Constel was attacked, and during the field trip. I was too caught up in my own desires to look around me.

─I can't do it.

"...!"

Aster raised his head.

When he arrived at the barrier after hearing those words from Frondier, he was puzzled.

With everyone separated, who was he supposed to lead?

In this scattered situation, what meaning did the title of leader hold?

Now, Aster understood why Frondier had said those things.

"...I can't do it alone."

Seeing the conviction in Aster's eyes after hearing his murmur, Merlin smiled gently.

"Let's go to the north side of the barrier. It's not far from here."

"But you said you couldn't tell me the method!"

"Oh my, did I say that? Please forget it."

Merlin's nonchalant words.

Aster smiled and, after greeting him and Nimue, started running.

Despite the battle having just ended, he ran at an astonishing speed. Even with Excalibur, it was a remarkable recovery.

Watching his back, Merlin, as if having accomplished everything, wore a relieved expression.

"Don't worry."

He sent a quiet word of encouragement to Aster, who still had the body of a boy.

"Frondier is already calling for you."