Haruto's first morning as "Hero Aurelian" started with disaster.
He woke up sprawled across the silk sheets of the royal guest chamber, drool pooling on the pillow. His hair looked like a crow's nest.
A maid entered quietly with a tray of fruit and tea. The moment she saw him snoring with his mouth wide open, she froze.
"…S-such majesty…" she whispered.
Another maid peeked in. "His sleeping posture… truly befitting a hero!"
Haruto snorted mid-sleep, kicked the blanket off, and rolled onto the floor with a thud.
The maids gasped.
"He… he threw himself to the ground as if rejecting mortal comfort!"
"Such humility!"
Haruto woke with a groan, blinking at their sparkling eyes.
"…Yeah… exactly. Humility. Totally planned."
---Breakfast Disaster
In the grand dining hall, Haruto was presented with a royal feast—golden bread, rare meats, crystal goblets of wine.
He reached for what looked like a harmless fried dumpling.
Crunch. His face twisted.
"…W-what the heck?! This thing's filled with… squishy… slime jelly?!"
The nobles gasped in horror.
"The hero… he consumes slime innards without hesitation!"
"So bold!"
Haruto gagged but forced himself to swallow, tears welling up.
"…D-delicious… yeah… five stars."
Princess Lyria's cheeks flushed.
"To enjoy even the most humble of creatures… such broad tastes… truly admirable."
Haruto clutched his stomach. I'm gonna die before fighting the Demon Lord at this rate…
---First Spar
Sir Garrick raised his training sword.
"Come! Show me the might that will save this kingdom!"
Haruto swung his blade—
And immediately spun in a full circle, losing balance.
"W-WAAAAHHHHH—"
WHAM! He tripped, the Radiant Sword embedding itself into the ground like a flagpole. Haruto landed flat on his back.
The courtyard went dead silent.
Sir Garrick's eyes narrowed… then he slowly nodded.
"…Incredible. Such… unorthodox technique. Truly unpredictable."
The knights cheered.
"Unpredictable! Unstoppable!"
Haruto blinked, still on the ground.
"…Wait, really?"
The knights weren't done with him. Sir Garrick announced a second sparring round in front of the entire castle staff.
Haruto, sweating buckets, decided to copy anime protagonists. He raised the Radiant Sword Luxem with both hands, glaring dramatically.
"Limit… break… ultimate stance!"
He swung with all his might—
And the sword slipped out of his hands, sailing through the air.
CRASH! It smashed through a training dummy, split a stone pillar, and lodged itself into a wall.
Everyone gaped.
Sir Garrick slowly lowered his blade.
"…Speechless… Such overwhelming force that even walls cannot contain him."
The knights erupted in cheers.
"Unmatched!"
"Unparalleled!"
Haruto raised his fist like he meant it.
"…And that was just my warm-up."
Inside: OH CRAP OH CRAP I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF—
--- The Magic Test
"Very well," Garrick continued. "Let us test your magic. Channel your mana into the elemental crystal."
He pointed to a glowing orb on a pedestal.
Haruto gulped. Oh crap. I don't actually know how to use magic…
He pressed his hands to the orb.
"Uh… by the power of anime… and… magical waifu energy… ignite!"
The orb pulsed violently. BOOOOOM!
A column of fire shot into the sky, singeing half the courtyard. Knights were blown off their feet, Garrick's beard was smoking.
Everyone stared, stunned.
"…I-I didn't mean—" Haruto stammered.
Then Garrick dropped to one knee.
"Such raw, uncontrolled power…! Hero, your might is beyond imagination!"
The knights roared again.
"All hail the hero!"
Haruto's eye twitched. Did I just invent anime magic by accident…?
After the fireball explosion, Haruto tried to play it cool.
"Yeah, that's… anime magic. Very advanced. Probably too complex for you guys to understand."
The court mages crowded around him, scribbling furiously on parchment.
"Anime magic… so that is what the ancients spoke of!"
"Unrecorded in grimoires! Heroic sorcery at its peak!"
Haruto grinned nervously. They actually bought it?! This is insane!
Later, Princess Lyria approached shyly with a small, trembling frog in her hands.
"Um… Hero… w-would you be so kind as to bless this creature with your holy aura?"
Haruto leaned back.
"…Wait, you want me to hold a frog?!"
She blinked. "Is… is that not within your divine comfort?"
Haruto, trembling, reached out. The frog croaked. He yelped, flinging it into the air.
Plop! The frog landed perfectly in the royal fountain. A golden ripple spread across the water. The priests gasped.
"It is healed! The frog is blessed!"
"A miracle!"
Haruto wiped his sweaty hands on his tunic.
"…Yeah, I totally meant to do that."
Princess Lyria clasped her hands to her chest, eyes sparkling.
"Truly, you are as noble and kind as the legends say…"
Haruto nearly passed out. She… she actually looks impressed! My first waifu point GET?!
Princess Lyria wasn't done testing his "kindness." She led him to the royal garden, where baby birds had fallen from a nest.
"Hero… would you return them to safety with your divine hands?"
Haruto gulped. Birds are fine. Way better than frogs.
He gently scooped one up—only for it to peck his finger.
"OW!"
The bird fluttered, landing on his head. The others followed, perching on his shoulders, arms, even his sword hilt.
The garden maids clasped their hands.
"…He is loved by the creatures of the sky!"
"Even beasts recognize his greatness!"
Princess Lyria's eyes sparkled like stars.
"…Truly… you are destined."
Haruto forced a smile while his scalp burned from tiny pecks.
"…Haha… yeah… destined for baldness."
--
At midday, the royal priest gathered the court. He opened an ancient scroll, reading aloud:
"The Chosen One shall arrive from beyond the stars. His words, strange yet profound, will ignite the hearts of men."
The priest turned to Haruto.
"Speak to us, Hero. Share with us your sacred wisdom."
Haruto panicked. Crap, think, think! What would an anime MC say?!
He raised a finger dramatically.
"…Believe in the power of friendship… and snacks!"
The hall fell silent. Then—
"Profound!" the priest cried.
"Truly beyond our comprehension!"
"Friendship… and snacks… the two pillars of harmony!"
The crowd bowed. Princess Lyria nearly fainted from admiration.
Haruto grinned smugly. I'm literally just quoting shounen clichés and they're eating it up. I'm unstoppable.
--- The (Overly Dramatic) Departure
By evening, the entire castle gathered to see him off. Nobles wept, knights saluted, peasants showered him with flowers.
The king himself placed a golden mantle around Haruto's shoulders.
"Go forth, Hero Aurelian. Save our world."
Haruto clenched his fist, cape fluttering.
"…Strength! Unity! Prosperity!"
The crowd roared it back, shaking the heavens.
Inside, Haruto was screaming. Did I just invent a national slogan by accident?!
Princess Lyria stepped closer, cheeks pink.
"I… I shall accompany you on this journey. Please… allow me to fight by your side."
Haruto froze.
…Wait. Did I just unlock the first heroine route already?!
He smirked, trying to look cool.
"Sure. Just… uh… don't mind if I scream when frogs show up."
The knights stared in awe.
"Such honesty… such courage…"
And so, with the whole kingdom watching, Haruto set off on his "heroic" journey—his legend already larger than life, despite the fact that he had absolutely no idea what he was doing.