Hero King Chapter 10 (Patreon)

Here is Chapter 10 of Hero King!! To celebrate the start of this series, the first ten chapters will be available to all Patrons throughout all the Patreon pages owned by Re:Library.

In the future, early chapters of Hero King will be available at Musubii.

___________________________________________________________

Chapter 10 - Inglis, 6 Years Old

Inglis had become six years old now.

On this day, before she headed out, Inglis gazed outside through the window in the living room of the manor.

Rain poured down from the sky of a valley a little farther away.

Far from being ordinary, this rain sparkled with a prismatic hue.

Prism Flow——This was the phenomenon that birthed Magic Stone Beasts, or so it was said.

When showered by it, the natural flora and fauna turned into magic stone beasts and attacked people.

Although, it seemed like it didn’t have any effect on people——

Still, the livestock might turn into magic stone beasts if it fell upon a city, and thus its arrival was highly alerted.

They said a beautiful rose had its thorns; this rain was much less the same.

It was indeed a breathtaking sight, but it was an abomination for the people.

——For Inglis, it was a scene that made her blood boil and her heart leap.

By all means, she hoped it to produce a strong magic stone beast worthy to be defeated by her.

Training with Raphael and Ryuk was good and all, but it would be best if her opponent was genuinely trying to take her life.

Magic Stone Beasts held no compassion for human life. They were, indeed, the ideal foe.

*Pour more! Come closer! Give me more opponents to practice with!*

In contrast to Inglis and her happy thoughts, Selena looked dejected.

「How awful, what an ill omen— Even though today is the girls’ baptism day….」 

The plan today was to receive their Rune, which was indispensable for one to operate the Artifacts, an essential tool used to defeat magic stone beasts.

Those were the rule for them, not her——Since Inglis herself was an exception to this rule.

Certainly, ordinary metal weaponry couldn’t injure magic stone beasts.

In fact, Inglis confirmed it first hand. It was a few months back when Prism Flow fell near the city, which enabled her to test a few things.

At the same time, she also learned that, as the Divine Knight, she could defeat magic stone beasts with ether-infused techniques.

Either way, with Inglis as the sole exception, apparently Artifacts were an absolute must for securing a living area on grounds where Prism Flow fell, and Runes to operate those Artifacts were just as important. 

Runes are divided into four categories; Lower Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, and Special Grade Runes. The stronger the Rune is, the stronger the Artifacts one can wield.

It was said that people who owned Special Grade Rune like Raphael was akin to a one-man army.

Apparently, the strongest magic stone beasts capable of leveling the whole country could only be stopped by the holder of Special Grade Runes like him.

Their key role was to prevent a national crisis involving the lives of millions.

One could see just how much Irina treasured Raphael from how overprotective she was.

「Rune, huh…」 

With her eyes still gazing out the window, Inglis murmured.

For the Divine Knight that she was, she needed no such thing.

Rather, if she did receive a Special Grade Rune like Raphael, the people’s expectation for her would skyrocket and she would be obligated to respond to them.

Just one look at Raphael and anyone would understand.

His figure when he earnestly made an effort to respond to their callings was very noble. 

Even so, Inglis had taken that path in her previous life, as the Hero King Inglis.

In her current life as Inglis Eux, she would live only to master her martial arts.

There was no need to add her burden. It would be troublesome.

That was why, in contrast, she was afraid to receive the Special Grade Rune. Anything was fine, as long as it wasn’t the Special Grade one.

「Listen, Inglis——」 

Inglis was hugged by her mother Selena.

「Mother? What’s wrong?」 

「It’s imprudent to say this right before your baptism, but… mom doesn’t want you to get a Special Grade Rune. I feel like, it would bind you to live only for the people and die only for the people. It’s not that different than being confined.」

「How strange, mother. I also think that I’m fine with anything except a Special Grade Rune.」

「Really!? You seem to take a great interest in battles, so I thought you’d wish for even stronger power——」 

「Well, I guess that’s true, but… I don’t want a power that will tie my freedom.」 

「I-, is that so? Then, when you’re baptized, just pray in your heart that you don’t want Special Grade Rune, okay? If so, I’m sure the gods will hear you.」 

「I understand. I will do so.」 

「Good girl. Then, let’s depart.」 

Her hand linked to her mother, Inglis went to the castle where the baptism would take place.