Episode 4: Friend

After school, in a corner of the training grounds, a lone student was smiling as he opened a magic letter.

Segundo, how’s school? I heard the selection ritual is coming up soon, but no matter the result, come back to the village at least once!
Onii-chan, hurry back! Dad and Mom are waiting for you! Even Najimi-onee-chan is so eager she might marry someone else if you take too long! But don’t worry, if that happens, I’ll be your bride—
H-Hey, Shesta, w-w-what are you saying?! You’re Segundo’s little sister! Ahem, Segundo! Listen up, okay? I’ll wait for you… so make sure you come back! I don’t care if you’re not a Hero, or what class you get, or even if you’re a commoner! So…
But if you become a Hero, I can be your bride too, right? Since Heroes can be with anyone!
Shesta, stop it!

The magic letter, imbued with magic that not only displayed text but also projected the sender’s image, showed two women.
Both were dressed plainly, like village girls, unlike the stylish youths of the capital. Yet their beauty and charm radiated, and the student gazed fondly at the letter projecting their images.

“Heh heh… Najimi… Shesta… Sorry, I lost to Damon again today.”

With brown hair swaying and nostalgic eyes lost in thought, Segundo gave a wry smile.

A top student at the Imperial Knight Academy, he had refined features and was unmatched in academics. Unlike the rugged, masculine Damon, he was slightly smaller in stature. But his combat and magical abilities were second only to Damon among their peers, placing him among the academy’s historically elite. He was expected to surely become a class holder, perhaps even selected as a Hero.

Yet, despite his overflowing talent, he had never once beaten Damon in a fight.

“Guwahahahaha, getting cheered up by your childhood friend and cute little sister, huh? Lame, you gloomy normie!”

“Wha—?! D-Damon!”

Sneaking up behind Segundo, Damon suddenly called out, startling and teasing him.

“That’s your childhood friend, right? Quite the beauty! Nice big boobs too! Your sister’s got small ones, but she’s pretty cute, ain’t she?”

“Damon.”

“Whoa, don’t glare, don’t glare! Even if I become a Hero and get the right to get lovey-dovey with all kinds of girls, I ain’t low enough to go after someone’s girl or family, ya know!”

“Heh heh, right. You’ve already got a ton of women reserving you, don’t you?”

Damon plopped down beside Segundo, laughing.
The academy’s strongest and its number two. To others, they might seem like rivals. But Damon didn’t see it that way, treating Segundo as just a friend.
Segundo, meanwhile, saw Damon as both a goal to surpass and someone whose boldness and personality he oddly clicked with, harboring no ill feelings.

“Guwahahaha, damn right! Just the other day, some local lord brought his gorgeous daughter, begging me to at least give her my seed! Guwahahaha, there ain’t enough of me to go around! But that’s a Hero’s duty, ya know! I nodded and said I’d share it for free! Guwahahahaha!”

The Hero class holder.
In the selection ritual held annually across the world, it’s said only one emerges every five to ten years.
Even in the empire, hailed as the world’s leader, no new Hero has appeared in 20 years.
Thus, being chosen as a Hero class holder guarantees a lifetime of privilege: an unconditional seat among the military’s top brass, immense rewards, and various special rights.
One of those rights was…

“Once you’re a Hero, you’re allowed to have multiple wives and lovers to produce exceptional offspring. Any woman who gets pregnant, along with her family, gets lifelong protection and support from the empire. It’s basically an empire-approved, bang-all-you-want harem life, guaranteed! Everyone’s betting I’ll be the Hero, so they’re all lining up to reserve me—it’s a real hassle!”

This was to ensure as many exceptional descendants as possible, strengthening the empire and humanity’s future.
For commoners, bearing a Hero’s child meant lifelong security. For nobles, it granted immense influence domestically and abroad.
Thus, as the leading Hero candidate, Damon was swarmed by women, nobles, and royalty eager to stake their claim before the selection ritual.

“…But ain’t it the same for you? I’m in a bidding war, but I heard plenty of houses are eyeing you too.”

“Hahaha, I don’t really get that stuff… Besides, I’ve already got someone in my heart. I can’t think about anyone else yet. I just want to become a man who can protect her, my sister, my parents, and our village… That’s enough for me.”

“Tch, so small-time! You’re satisfied just getting lovey-dovey with one hometown fiancée? Boring, Mr. Serious!”

“Oh? But aren’t you the same? Despite all the women and nobles throwing themselves at you, you stubbornly refuse to touch them because of that tavern girl in the capital—”

“Sh-Shut up! That ain’t it! I-I’m just, y’know, following school rules! If I do anything too naughty, I could get suspended or expelled, so I’m staying celibate until I’m a Hero to avoid any scandals! Once it’s all clear, I’ll be banging a different girl every day!”

“But your first would be ‘Liiya’-san from the tavern, right? Even as a commoner, she’s said to be the capital’s greatest beauty.”

“Sh-Sh-Shut it, idiot! Liiya-san is, uh, well, it’s like, y’know, that thing!”

Gone was the usual confident, crude, and boisterous Damon. In his place was a flustered, slightly pathetic guy with a red face.
Segundo laughed, teasing him.

To anyone watching, they didn’t look like Heroes, heroes, or class holders—just ordinary teenage boys in the throes of youth.