The sun had not yet risen when the army arrived.
Dozens of carriages, knights in silver armor, and the crimson banners of the Varellis Empire fluttered under the moonlight. At their head rode Duke Alden Ardenthal, his expression a mixture of fury and dread.
"Find him," he ordered, voice cold but trembling slightly. "Search every tree, every shadow. If that beast harmed even a strand of his hair—"
The soldiers fanned out across the forest — until one of them cried out, "Your Grace! Here!"
The Duke spurred his horse forward.
And then he saw it.
The trees were shattered, the ground scorched with mana burns. In the center of the devastation lay the corpse of the Minotaur, cleaved and burned through the chest — its black blood soaking into the dirt.
And standing atop that monstrous body…
was Sho.
His clothes were torn, his skin smeared with blood and dust, his breathing shallow — but his eyes, though faintly dimmed, still held that quiet fire.
For a long, stunned moment, no one spoke.
A soldier whispered, "By the gods… he killed it. Alone?"
Another dropped his spear in disbelief.
The Duke dismounted, his boots crunching over broken stone as he approached his son.
"Sho…"
Sho turned his head slowly, voice hoarse but calm.
"Father... you came fast."
Then, before Alden could speak, Sho's knees buckled. The Duke lunged forward, catching him before he hit the ground.
"Sho!"
The boy's eyes fluttered shut — the exhaustion, blood loss, and mana recoil finally claiming him.
"Get a healer!" the Duke barked, cradling his unconscious son. "Now!"
As the soldiers hurried to obey, Alden looked down at Sho's hand — faint traces of blue mana still flickered around his fingers.
> He fought this… thing alone. Without weapons.
My son... just what have you become?
---
☀ Three Days Later
The faint scent of herbs filled the room. Sho's eyes blinked open, vision swimming before settling on the soft ceiling of his chamber.
A dull ache pulsed through his body — the kind of pain that reminded him he was still alive. He tried to sit up, and a voice cried out.
"My lord! You're awake!"
It was Mira, one of the household maids. She rushed to his side, nearly dropping the tray she carried. "You've been asleep for three days! I'll fetch the Duke right away!"
Sho rubbed his temple. "Three days…?"
He could still remember the last image before darkness — his father's face, the moonlight, the Minotaur's roar.
Moments later, the door opened. Duke Alden Ardenthal entered, his usual stern composure softened by visible relief.
"You stubborn boy," he said, voice steady but warm. "Do you have any idea what you've done to this household?"
Sho looked down, unsure how to respond. "...I didn't mean to worry anyone. I just couldn't let it reach the capital."
The Duke exhaled slowly, walking closer and placing a firm hand on Sho's shoulder. "You didn't just stop it, Sho. You saved the capital. That monster could've killed hundreds before the knights even mobilized."
He hesitated, then smiled faintly — pride flickering through his tone.
"The entire empire knows your name now."
Sho blinked. "What do you mean?"
Alden gestured toward the table beside him. A folded newspaper lay there. Sho reached for it, still sluggish.
Across the front page, bold letters declared:
---
"Young Heir Slays A+ Rank Monster — The Hero of the Capital!"
By decree of the Royal Council, Sho Ardenthal is hereby recognized for preventing a potential catastrophe within the borders of Varellis.
---
Below it, an artist's sketch — a rough but striking image of him standing over the slain Minotaur, the moonlight behind him.
Sho stared for a moment, then gave a soft, dry laugh.
> Hero, huh… that's new.
He handed the paper back, shaking his head. "They make it sound cleaner than it was."
Alden chuckled. "History often does. Still… I'm proud of you, son. Not because of the fame, but because you acted when others would've hesitated."
Sho was silent for a moment. "...Thanks, Father."
The Duke nodded and turned toward the door. "Rest for now. The royal court may summon you soon. Her Highness herself asked about your condition."
Sho raised an eyebrow. "The princess did?"
"Yes. She seemed quite… concerned."
After his father left, Sho leaned back against the pillows, eyes half-lidded.
> Concerned, huh?
That resonance again — I felt it when I used that pulse.
If she's connected to it, maybe she felt it too.
He stared at the faint sunlight slipping through the curtains.
> Light and dark… maybe that's what we are.
She shines. I destroy. And somehow, the world needs both.
The system flickered faintly before his eyes, almost as if responding to his thoughts.
---
[System Notification]
> Resonance increased: 9%
New Trait Acquired: "Silent Resolve."
Effect: Resistance to Fear and Mana Distortion increased.
---
Sho smiled faintly and closed his eyes.
> The world's getting louder with each step I take.
Let's see where it leads me next.
---