Vivian sniffled with tears right up until the moment she left the abbey.
She seemed to keep fretting over leaving the children behind.
Glancing back repeatedly at the kids who had come out to the main gate, bawling their eyes out to see her off, Vivian followed after me.
Partway there, that girl named Emma came dashing out the main gate and bowed deeply to me.
The same kid who had charged at the guard captain, yelling that she'd protect Vivian.
'Thank you so much for saving us—!'
Vivian gave Emma one last tight hug before reluctantly departing.
Petra's expression as she saw her off was just as heartbreaking as the children's.
When I first brought those kids here, she had only smiled warmly.
But ever since hearing I'd been exiled, her face had stayed grim.
My own expression probably wasn't much better.
'Managers' Guild...'
An organization that hadn't existed in the previous timeline.
And even in this timeline, I'd been so busy with the 1st Hero Party that I hadn't known much about their inner workings.
Only recently had I heard the name, and today was the first time I'd gotten a full explanation.
For them to be a group born because of me...
I recalled what Petra had told me earlier.
'It's not just the 1st Hero Party that's famous. You tried to hide behind the name Philip, but there were people who sought to use that name.'
'The story of how you selected vagrants no better than strays and raised them into members of the 1st Hero Party was an epic saga as captivating as any myth of heroes.'
'Those managers gathered, idolizing you and vowing to carry on your will by caring for heroes. At the center of it all is a woman named Penny, or so I've heard.'
Penny.
I hadn't expected to hear that name again here.
Word was, she was the guild master representing the Managers' Guild.
The one who had rallied managers with my story and built up real power.
The Managers' Guild had formed two years ago.
Back then, it was just people who saw the name Philip, thought it meant money and fame, and banded together to imitate it.
But a year ago, Penny showed up and used Philip's fame to expand the guild on a massive scale.
Lately, she'd supposedly left, saying she wanted to support the 1st Hero Party that Philip managed.
'Penny, you little...'
I hadn't realized it was this bad.
'Is she an idiot?'
Publicly, Philip was the real deal, and I was just a stand-in proxy.
So kicking Ian out wouldn't change a damn thing.
Yet Penny had been popping up now and then for the past year, trying to push me aside.
I had no idea why she hated me so much.
A year ago, I'd tipped off the 1st Party kids about a hidden piece dungeon, and that's where they said they'd rescued her.
Apparently, she'd gotten separated and stranded alone in there.
That timing lined up perfectly with when Penny started expanding the Managers' Guild.
Anyway, since she was gunning for my spot, I figured she must know my secret identity—but I didn't sweat it.
No one would believe her even if she blabbed.
But she really didn't know?
And behind my back, she'd turned the name Philip into some near-mythic hero without me even realizing?
'This chick's a riot...'
Now I finally understood why the Arke Village chief had recognized me on sight.
I wasn't that famous to begin with, and it was damn near impossible for a random village head to link a seal to the existence of 'Philip' just like that.
Who'd have thought there was this kind of backstory.
Let's think this through.
She snatches the rotten-personality 1st Hero Party right out from under me.
Behind the scenes, she pumps up the value of my name.
Up front, she'll drag in some arrow-sponge nobodies to buy time.
Meanwhile, I'll grab Vivian and others to build a proper party.
...So what the hell has Penny been doing all this time?
It was so absurd I couldn't help but laugh.
Honestly, I was a bit salty about her stealing the 1st Party, and hyping up the name Philip didn't really benefit me anyway.
But it was kinda funny, too.
As I let out a hollow chuckle, I realized Vivian wasn't keeping up, so I turned back.
"Vivian?"
Way off in the distance, Vivian had stopped dead, staring blankly up at a bulletin board.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Walking behind Ian, Vivian came to an abrupt halt.
Her gaze locked onto one spot, rooting her feet in place.
A bulletin board.
A facility where people posted talk about heroes.
Dozens of papers were plastered across the front of a massive wooden panel.
Crowds of people gathered around, reading this and that.
"Whoa, they say the 1st Hero Party's established a defensive line?"
"This is the first real progress in the war against the demonkin, right?"
"Looks like we can finally see some hope in this war..."
Most of it was chatter about the 1st Hero Party.
Some were talking while eyeing the portraits pinned at the very top.
"Every time I come here, it's a feast for the eyes... I'd kill to see Sylvia in person just once."
"Honestly, Beatrice is hotter."
"You guys are clueless. Aria, all wrapped up under that nun's habit—that's the real treasure."
People gonna people, huh.
Ever since Philip turned the hero parties into idols, every kind of talk came out.
Still, the board itself didn't have that kind of stuff.
It got screened by local bigwigs before posting, filtering out the junk.
If anything insulting about the 1st Hero Party went up, I'd send Kati to handle it.
We'd made examples out of a few to ensure it never happened again.
After that, no vulgar crap showed up on the boards.
The surrounding noise just buzzed in Vivian's ears.
She simply stared vacantly up at Sylvia's portrait at the very top.
'...I'm jealous.'
Back when she was an aspirant.
She'd pass this place every time, steeling her resolve.
Telling herself she wanted to grow like Sylvia and protect people.
She'd posted words of praise and support here, even fought off detractors.
Now, having run away and come crawling back.
She wasn't sure if she even deserved to harbor that hope from back then anymore.
'Someone like me... can I really do this...?'
Today, Sylvia's portrait felt higher than ever.
"Vivian?"
Ian, who had been ahead, turned back and called her name.
She'd been lost in thought and hadn't kept up.
"Ah... sorry."
Ian, standing beside her now, glanced up at the board too.
"You've seen Sylvia in person, right, Ian?"
"More than I ever wanted to."
"I see... Do you think I could ever make it up there someday?"
Only a handful of parties got portraits on the board.
And the 1st Hero Party dominated it alone.
Ian was undoubtedly a capable manager who'd handled the 1st Party.
Vivian wasn't confident she measured up enough to satisfy him.
"I'll get you up there."
Ian said it matter-of-factly.
"Huh?"
She whipped her head to the side in surprise, but he just met her eyes with his usual listless, unflappable face.
His tone was as flat as his expression.
But to Vivian, those words were anything but casual.
"It's my job."
Getting on that board?
No big deal, his nonchalant tone implied.
It wasn't about her growing to climb up there—it was him certain he'd raise her there himself.
His indifferent attitude screamed, Of course it'll happen, so what's to worry about?
Vivian couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"...Yeah. I'll believe you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After promising Vivian, we hit the road again.
The stare from Kati trailing behind felt kinda prickly...
Kati had always teased me a bit.
But since I left the hero party, it had gotten worse.
Was I imagining it...?
"Such a sinful man. You mustn't toy with a woman's heart so carelessly."
"Cut the crap."
*
The training center came into view in the distance.
I eyed it closely to see how much it'd changed.
It had transformed a lot compared to before.
Back then, it was just a few shabby, squat wooden buildings in a row.
The wide training ground out front kicked up sand everywhere.
Now, there were five hefty stone buildings right up front.
Another five behind them.
The training ground was still dirt, but it looked well-maintained and tidy.
Hundreds of people were scattered around.
Some training in groups, others in classes.
Yeah, when power and money get involved, things change.
It really felt like a proper, organized training center now.
"Was it like this even when you were here, Vivian?"
"Seems even bigger than back then. I left about half a year ago."
As we approached the entrance, two armed guys eyed us.
Private security, maybe?
Used to be basically public grounds—drunk homeless dudes would wander in and crap everywhere.
Environment's improved big time.
"What business do you have here?"
"Here for training."
"Are you with the Managers' Guild?"
"Nope."
They exchanged a quick glance.
"Would you like help with the guild registration process?"
Their stiff faces softened into friendly smiles.
Sales pitch grins.
Rejecting might get annoying, so better play it smooth.
"This is my first gig, actually, and we came from pretty far—I'm beat. If you could just tell me where to sign up, I'll handle it later."
They beamed at the positive response and pointed to a building.
Damn, strong sense of belonging.
"Guild members get discounts on training center use, so we recommend signing up ASAP."
"Thanks for the info."
I gave a perfunctory smile and nod back.
My subspatial pouch was stuffed with cash.
No need to join just for a discount.
Plus, affiliating anywhere cramps your style and gets annoying.
Once past the entrance, I asked Vivian,
"You trained here, so did you take any classes?"
"No. I, uh, didn't have the money..."
"Expensive, huh?"
"Too much for me... Talented aspirants sometimes get managers to front the cash. They pay it back later. But nothing like that ever happened for someone like me..."
Managers front money for aspirants, raise them up, then get repaid.
Agencies invest in trainees, debut them, recoup costs.
I'd made them idols, sure.
But copying modern idol infrastructure and systems too...?
Aspirant numbers exploding several times over was spot-on similar.
This felt kinda weird.
Was it all my influence?
This guild was Penny's creation, after all.
We entered the central building, and the first floor was a spacious lobby.
High-end with elegant solid wood and soft lighting from magic stones.
Practically like a modern hotel.
The receptionist gave a businesslike greeting.
I ignored the class pitches and guild pushes, rented two rooms with private baths.
No clue how long we'd stay, so I went with 90 days.
The clerk handed over two keys.
"Head to rooms 302 and 303."
I took the keys and started up, then paused.
Something to check before heading up.
"Vivian. You can go alone, right?"
"Wh-why?"
"Curious how the classes work."
"Ah... In that case, I-I'll go by myself..."
Was it that scary?
Training should build her confidence and toughen her personality.
I handed her both keys and stepped outside.
Mercy and Kati kept following me.
"What's the point of watching? Nothing there could match your teaching anyway."
"Can't hurt to check."
If the classes were legit and useful for Vivian.
If there was something I couldn't teach her.
Hell, I'd pay to get her in on it.
Managers' Guild or whatever—didn't matter if it grew Vivian.
With that resolve, I focused on the sounds drifting from the training grounds.
Various noises separated into threads, flowing into my ears.
Didn't take long to reach a verdict.
'...Nothing special.'
Mostly stuff anyone could spout in theory.
No need to pay for that crap to teach Vivian.
"Hm? Already heading back?"
"Heard it all."
"I'm dying to know what you've done to those ears of yours. Hard to believe anything comes through clearly..."
Once a superhuman body hits a certain level, it comes naturally.
No good way to explain it every time, so I just shrugged.
"So, what'd you think?"
"Eh. Waste of money."
"Knew it."
Shouldn't have sent Vivian up first for nothing.
Eh, nothing's gonna happen in the room.
No more to check, so straight to the lodging.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As Vivian climbed the stairs, her breath grew labored.
Her legs trembled like jelly, threatening to send her tumbling backward any second.
This self-run training center.
The place that had crushed her dreams of growth.
Now she was back.
Seeing the center again made her heart race.
This could be a fresh start.
Maybe she'd face a version of herself totally different from her past.
That hope flickered.
Even if she wasn't Sylvia.
Even if Ian wasn't Philip.
Still, their meeting was special in its own way.
No rule said she couldn't grow as much as they had.
That hope shattered the moment she parted from Ian.
Precisely when he asked if she could go up alone.
Being here without Ian, in this nightmare-filled place—it terrified her.
As she climbed.
Vivian felt like a child tossed into the void.
The resolve to trust Ian felt like a lie.
Vivian without Ian was just the same old loser.
Still, she kept going.
To repay the Ian who believed in her.
Gripping her shaking legs to meet his expectations.
Climbing these stairs wasn't the way to repay him, obviously.
But failing even this would mean she'd never live up to what he saw in her.
With every step, daggers from the past flew at her.
The sneering fellow aspirants.
The manager who'd snapped her neck back to reality.
'You're no Sylvia.'
Finally reaching the third floor, there he was—the manager who'd shoved her into the abyss.
A hallucination?
Was exhaustion making her see things?
Her heart pounded for a whole different reason now.
Her breathing grew ragged.
And the hallucination spoke.
"Vivian?"
The ghost from her memories had stepped into reality.
It wasn't fake.
That manager was really standing right there.