What does it mean to be a hero?

Through his glass window, the blue moon laid its luminescence on the bed-ridden Keizo.

The Longhorn played with them and he couldn't do anything to protect the princess and himself.

The face of the pleasured demon ran in his mind, sending chills to the injured hero.

Maybe that's why... I'm so happy when I saw Darwyn...

He came like a hero and saved him and the others. He thought that it was Darwyn who should have been the hero, not some other worlders like him.

Yes, Keizo wasn't originally from this world, he was summoned by the goddess of love, by the royal family. It was a top-secret that even the Avellana didn't know.

All she was told was he came from a faraway land. I thought that this world was just like the ones from light novels.

But that couldn't be more different from the reality he was in. Leveling up was a pain and difficult, he had to remember all the incantation and the formation of a magic circle just to cast a simple spell. It's really difficult. He thought.

But he endured all of that, for one simple reason. His harem.

A group of girls who would fawn at anything and everything he does. A dream of every young man in his world. Idiotic as it seems, but that was the reason he didn't run from his title as the hero.

But when he saw Darwyn fighting two demons alone, not for the affection of someone, but for protecting the weak, something about that speaks to his heart.

As if slapping him with the realization of what a hero should be, the low voice of Darwyn echoed to his head. I abandoned the civilians just to escape... I'm really the worse. He thought.

He wanted to clench his fist but he had no power left. He pondered many aspects of his life as he stared back at the still huge moon. Funny, it reminded him of someone who was just silent and big as the moon was.

***

The princess and the knight.

Avellana closed her book as she laid on her bed. Her injuries were not as bad as the hero, but still, she was covered in thick layers of bandages.

Her white hair dispersed on her pillow as it reflected the gentle hue of the moon. Hot air escaped from her mouth. In the book she just read, the knight was peerless when it came to battle, he possessed the heart gold and was ready to fight any evil he encountered without asking for anything.

If she was asked way before she came into this town, if what she had read could be the truth in real life, her answer would be simply no. Well, that was the case if she didn't come into this town.

Her thoughts were hazy, she couldn't think straight, why was that? The books that she loved so much could not help her to clear her mind.

Then she raised her hand and looked at it intently. The memories of her touching Darwyn's hand played inside her head.

“Wha...!” As if trying to drive away a foul smell, she waved her hands with eyes closed. Her face felt hot and her breathing became rough. Her heart tingled in excitement and joy and yet, at the same time, pain.

Even if she wanted to deny it, there was no escape. She was not so innocent that she was not familiar with this feeling. She identified all the symptoms, she had read it many times.

I'm in love with him...

She was a princess, she was destined to be a political tool someday, she would marry a person from another household. Her life will be and should be, that way, as the third princess.

That was why she felt the prickling sensation inside her chest. There was no way the two of them could end up together, only a miracle could do something about her situation.

“What should I do...?”

Tears run down from her white face, sobbing quietly she did. Grasping the blanket that protected her from the cold, she cried throughout the night with nothing but the stars and the moon as a company.

***

The room was dim, the small fire flickered at random times as it provided little light. Sitting on the table, her eyes reflected the moon she was looking at.

Liliana recalled what happened earlier. She was questioned, not just by the hero, but also the nobles of this region. Finally finding the missing daughter of the duke, they called for her parents, and they are coming tomorrow.

There's no escaping it. She rested her cheek on her palm while deep in thought.

This might be the last day of her adventuring. She would go back to her mansion, alone and waiting to be married to some guy he didn't know.

If I'm going to be married, at least do it to someone I'm familiar with. Like Darwy—...! No! No! No! Just what am I thinking!

Shaking her head, she grumbled to herself. “Yes I admit that he's handsome, he's strong and cool too, but that's it...”

Her flushed face gaze to the wide space, she calmed herself looking at the peaceful sky. Anyway, I have to say goodbye to my party tomorrow.

She laughed dryly, finding her situation a bit funny. I have to say goodbye to him too. Her heart stopped beating for a moment when she thought of that.

A jolt of pain ran across her chest. I guess this is really it for me, oh well! She smiled and chuckled like she always does. But if someone saw her now, they would wonder, why would she cry while grinning from ear to ear?

***

The church with the empty seat boasted a statue of a woman holding a scale and a sword, blindfolded as she stands still.

She was Aversia, the goddess and the overseer of law throughout the universe. A man prostrated before her. His burly body threatened to burst through the shirt he wore, his muscles were perfectly chiseled as if master artisan spent his life just to sculpt his body alone.

His body, though serious and eyes closed, was good looking. His hair tied up so that it would not hinder him in some ways.

Darwyn's prayer lasted for an hour and a half before standing up. It was that time again for him. I leveled up.

When adventurers killed enough monsters, something will change inside their bodies. The guild calls it experience points and the process of becoming stronger was called leveling up.

The nostalgia of something growing inside him made Darwyn smile faintly. The last time he leveled up was one and a half years ago.

As you grow stronger, it would be harder to increase your level. That was the reason why D-ranked adventurer was the most common of all.

I have become stronger... But not strong enough. His left arm trembled ever so slightly, the hand that he used to bear the shield wouldn't function normally for at least two days, or at least that was Darwyn concluded.

The attack of the Simidar shook his bone every time, the blow to his head almost made him collapsed in an instant. But I can't afford to do that.

He was the pillar of support to the guild, to this town, to the people around him. He carried not only his name but the name of his goddess.

If he were to fall, then so the things that were contingent to him. He cannot show that he was weakened, not even for a second. With a low grunt, he walked. He didn't wear his usual plate armor, but the cold iron surrounding his heart added one more layer next to the countless ones that existed before it.