Chapter 38: Another Mino-II?

"How could this be..."

Tank was petrified. Like a naive girl whose affections had been toyed with, he muttered under his breath:

"What about our agreement? What about the understanding you promised me? What about our pact to help old ladies cross the street together? Was it all a lie?"

"I can't tell anymore. I really can't tell..."

He drifted away, looking utterly crestfallen.

拉克 (Lak) watched Tank’s retreating figure and spat on the ground, discreetly.

*Pathetic!!!*

The figure disappeared into the shade of the trees in the distance.

Walking for a long time under the shade, Tank suddenly lifted his head, as if he had realized something: "I see. Chief Lak was telling me to focus on the upcoming Hero Awakening Ceremony... He was giving me a hint!"

"Once I become the Hero, I need only wave my arm, and the countless citizens of the kingdom will become my steadfast shield. Then, I can carry my ideals to fruition; the world will gather in response, and people will follow my cause like shadows following light!"

Tank’s eyes burned with a fierce light, as if a spark had been struck.

He tilted his head back, feeling completely invigorated: "I’ve even thought of the slogan:"

"—When it comes to kings, nobles, and marquesses, are they born of better stock than us!"

If Mino had been by Tank’s side at that moment, he might have said, "Young man, your ideas are dangerous."

And as for the kingdom’s Morning Star, Chief of the Round Tower Ang Lak, after conducting an in-depth assessment of the Hero candidate Tank, he had presciently stifled this great crisis—one that could have plunged the kingdom into turmoil and ignited a brutal war—in the cradle...

"Chief Lak."

Elvin approached Lak and looked at Tank’s departing back, sighing: "Tank is qualified as a Hero candidate, but sometimes his ideas are truly headache-inducing, and he’s a bit too single-minded."

"I really worry that if he becomes the Hero... the first thing he might do is go and behead Duke Morth," Elvin said, half-jokingly and half-anxiously.

Lak’s facial muscles twitched. In a sense, that wouldn't be such a bad way to escape one’s family of origin.

Not wanting to continue that line of conversation, he looked past Elvin: "Is this one also a 'problem child' from the training camp?"

When Elvin arrived this time, he was accompanied by a blonde Hero candidate.

The youth stood in the sunlight, looking fresh and clean. When he saw Lak looking at him, he stepped forward politely and offered a warm, gentle smile.

"Quite the opposite," Elvin explained. "Dane is the most outstanding Hero candidate in the training camp. Although he is still young, the knights and I privately believe that Dane is the most likely candidate to be favored by the Goddess."

Though phrased cryptically, Elvin was undoubtedly revealing that Dane was very likely to be the Hero in the next ceremony.

Dane walked forward with a gentle smile and extended his right hand to Lak:

"Chief Lak, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Dane. Dane Brando."

Elvin continued from the side: "Dane’s parents are commoners, but the talent he has displayed is no less than that of Lord Mino. In fact, several dukes in the kingdom are already considering adopting him as their foster son."

***

Born a commoner, gifted with extraordinary talent, and hardworking to boot... a textbook template for a Hero.

Lak scanned Dane up and down.

Both in his speech and demeanor, the young man gave off the refreshing feeling of a spring breeze. His blonde hair swayed with the wind, and the smile on his face was sacred and radiant. At first glance, he appeared to be an excellent individual with a pure and unblemished soul.

"Chief Lak, you two can talk for a while." Glancing at the time, Elvin said with a hint of apology: "The ceremony will be held after breakfast, and the nobles will all be in attendance... I need to go and maintain order."

"If you need to eat, you can find the other Hero candidates in the cafeteria on the west side of the camp."

Lak nodded reservedly.

Elvin bowed and turned toward the palace terrace.

The Hero candidate training camp was connected to the palace conference room by an observation deck, built to facilitate the inspection of the candidates' training progress.

Dane and Lak were left alone on the grounds.

"Chief Lak, would you be interested in chatting with me?"

Dane’s face wore a perfectly tempered softness. This was undoubtedly a great opportunity to get closer to the Chief of the Round Tower.

Even though Lak was quite old, who knew how many years this "old immortal" had left? For a long time to come, he would remain a core figure in the kingdom.

And as the most promising Hero candidate, the old man would surely hold him in high regard.

Dane chuckled inwardly, about to strike up a conversation, when Lak suddenly spoke:

"Do you smoke?"

Dane was stunned, unable to understand what Lak was asking. After a moment of hesitation, he laughed dismissively and told the truth: "Tobacco is harmful to the body. As a Hero candidate, I don’t wish to leave a bad impression on the citizens."

Lak nodded, his expression blank.

For some reason, Dane sensed a hint of... disappointment from him?

"Then, do you drink?" Lak asked again.

Dane hesitated and shook his head: "I’ll have a glass or two during normal social occasions, but I don’t care for it otherwise."

Dane understood now—this must be Chief Lak’s test of his character and morals. It seemed... the man thought highly of him after all.

Lak then looked at Dane’s blonde hair: "Your blonde hair, it isn't dyed, is it?"

Dane said cheerily, "Of course, it’s natural."

The next moment:

"Then we have nothing to talk about... Farewell."

Lak turned and walked away.

Dane was left standing there, his blonde hair tousled by the wind.

*This... this isn't right, is it?*

***

It took a long time for Dane to process what had happened, and his face filled with astonishment.

As the strongest Hero candidate, even if he didn't become the Hero, he could join the Royal Knights, become a high-level adventurer, or even a King-ranked warrior!

The other man’s attitude was a bit too perfunctory...

"Could it be that he found out?"

A shadow flickered in Dane’s eyes.

The radiant, kindly mask on his face cracked slightly. Dane’s eyes were filled with gloom: "No, there’s no way he could tell. Hmph, at most, it’s just the arrogance of the Chief of the Round Tower."

"They say Hero Mino and Lak share a deep bond. He probably just looks down on me. You foolish old thing!"

"One day, I’ll make you regret this!!!"

Dane muttered to himself, but soon shook his head vigorously and forced his smile back on.

He gripped the greyish-white stone hanging at his chest.

"No, today is the Hero Awakening. I must hide my true nature."

"With this stone, which I heard came from the 'Abyss,' they say even the Goddess cannot see through my true heart. When the time comes... the Hero will surely be me!"

A fiery glint flashed in Dane’s eyes. Although he was also born a commoner, he had long grown tired of that humble, bitter life.

As long as he became the Hero and accepted a noble’s invitation to be adopted, his status and identity would transform instantly.

With fame, power, and status in his hands, what ambition could he not realize?!

Thinking of this, Dane laughed aloud, looking toward the direction Lak had left in with utter contempt.

"You’re just a manual laborer helping to host the ceremony; you decide nothing."

"The Goddess is on my side."

...

Lak walked toward the cafeteria Elvin had mentioned. Recalling Dane from just a moment ago, a look of utter disgust, as if he had stepped in filth, appeared on his face.

Even without his spectacles, he could see that the man was full of "light"—a disgusting "justice-bringer" just like Mino.

Once the ceremony began, the Goddess’s gaze would surely fall upon that Dane.

"The Koor Kingdom is truly lucky. In just a few short years, two heroic, selfless, 'pure' Heroes have appeared one after another."

"But the Hero—is that a position you can just decide to take?"

Rubbing a magic stone ring on his middle finger, Lak smiled coldly:

"If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being so 'good,' Mino Number Two."