I Became a Hero With a Lot of Experience - Chapter 45



45 – 045: Golden Sun

“Is this…?”

The frontline greeted us with sharp rebukes, perhaps cautioning against infiltrating the adjacent front or making a significant detour to strike the rear.

As we advanced, soldiers guarding the rear tried to halt us, but thanks to the knights, we smoothly entered without further procedures.

“That’s a warrior… (Experience Points: 8)”

A murmuring voice comes from behind.

The murmur quickly spreads to others, like a wave of words, riding the air on both sides.

It hasn’t been more than 5 minutes since arriving at the Northern Front, but it didn’t seem like it would take long for my name to spread.

“It seems the commander is currently absent. Would you like to survey the front line first? (Experience Points: 5)”

“Yeah, might as well.”

I wasn’t particularly tired, and I was curious about the atmosphere on the front line.

The grumbling behind me, if any, wasn’t audible.

It seemed the ragged group behind me felt the same way.

Ras seemed a bit disappointed at the mention of having no master, but that wasn’t my concern.

As we entered and received guidance from the knight, I was inspecting each facility.

“Injured soldier, enemy.”

“…Yes. (Experience Points: 5)”

When asked lightly by a soldier with bandages, the knight shook his head and sighed.

Few injured soldiers.

This was good news to be happy about, but at the same time, it was news not to be happy about.

Few injured meant that there hadn’t been battles for a long time.

Knowing what that fact implied, the soldiers couldn’t hide the tension that couldn’t be concealed in their faces.

Resting is good, but if harsh trials come as soon as one rests, it’s no different from torture.

Just imagining how many demons might have risen during this rest, the soldiers couldn’t help but tremble.

Even while maintaining their weapons, the slight trembling in their hands hinted at their fear.

“Hey, who’s that? (Experience Points: 3)”

Perhaps to momentarily forget that fear, the soldiers looked at the newcomer with more curiosity than caution.

Acting confidently here meant that this person wasn’t a spy or intruder; it was pure curiosity.

“They say he’s a hero… (Experience Points: 10)”

The murmur lasted only briefly; a knight from afar casually revealed the identity.

What followed was not silence and curiosity but a gaze filled with expectation, a burden named anticipation.

As in fairy tales or legends, there was hope in their eyes that this hero might end this war.

However, it seemed I fell short of their expectations, as one soldier, seeing the modest stature of Baram, scoffed and said with a mocking tone,

“What kind of hero goes around saying those things? (Experience Points: 4)”

“What.”

The sudden halt of my legs at the mere babbling of an ignorable commoner—why did that happen?

It must have been because the wish in those words seemed to die down, making my head drop involuntarily.

When I came to my senses, I found myself glaring at the soldier who had scoffed at the wish.

Perhaps my anger transmitted to him, for in an instant, the soldier flinched, but just as swiftly straightened his posture, as if he hadn’t recklessly survived until now.

Then, rising from his seat, he met my eyes squarely.

The sanctimonious attitude, devoid of any remorse, ignited a sacred fury throughout my being.

“Ha-ahh!”

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As the simmering sacred fury unwittingly transformed into a small breath, the soldier’s foolish defiance crumbled instantly.

“W-what?! (Experience Points: 4)”

“That human just spewed fire from his mouth… (Experience Points: 6)”

Not only the uncouth but also the merciless ones began to retreat in the face of the holy power that showed no mercy.

A knight, belatedly realizing the gravity of the situation amid the hostile ambiance, hurriedly approached, trying to dissuade me.

“I will deal with their insolence later!! Please, calm your anger for now!! (Experience Points: 5)”

He was a knight who had observed me practicing the Virgin’s Breath during our journey.

Knowing better than anyone the power of the Virgin’s Breath, the knight trembled at the mere sight of a small flame.

“P-please…!! (Experience Points: 5)”

The knight, half-kneeling, pleaded once more.

As not just the knight but even the squires stepped forward to contain themselves, I, regaining some composure, turned my head forward and continued onward.

“T-thank you… (Experience Points: 5)”

“Thankful or not, is this all there is to it?”

“…There’s still an area left where I’ve gathered healers from the village for the soldiers. (Experience Points: 5)”

“I’ve seen enough. Then let’s start unloading…”

It was when I was about to unpack and rest for a while at our lodging.

A messenger came running from afar.

The messenger, seemingly cheerful, approached the knight and whispered something to him.

“Um… Are you at the command center right now? (Experience Points: 5)”

“Yes! I’m waiting for the hero!! (Experience Points: 2)”

“Hero, it seems the commander has returned. The commander wishes to meet the hero; if it’s alright with you… (Experience Points: 5)”

“It’s fine; tell them I’ll go.”

Not particularly fatigued, and curious about who this Sword of the Kingdom really was, I found myself intrigued.

As I received the knight’s guidance and headed towards the command post, Las’s complexion began to darken.

“We’re almost there now.”

Every time the knight said so on the way to the command post, Las’s expression grew even darker, and the reason could be roughly guessed without asking.

Not chosen as a hero, and having shown such disgrace in the royal capital, there was no face left to meet the master.

Like a child waiting for scolding, Las’s shoulders slumped, but there was no sympathy.

The command post we soon arrived at was set up under a magnificent tent with golden embroidery at the edge, distinct from the tents in other areas.

Entering and receiving salutes from knights who seemed elite at a glance, what awaited us there was…

“You’ve come. (Experience Acquisition: □□□)”

The first thing that caught the eye was golden hair.

It wasn’t well-groomed or indicative of maintenance, but a strong vitality could be felt.

Beneath such hair, sharp features were etched on brown skin exuding a sense of health, as if expressing one’s character.

“Uh, ugh…!!”

“What’s wrong with that kid? (Experience Acquisition: 213 people)”

＜Experience Acquisition: 213 people＞

Despite being beautiful at a glance, an unforgivable number of sins was engraved upon this good-looking appearance.

As nausea surged, the upper body involuntarily leaned forward.

This sensation, similar to when the Goddess of Love spoke during that night’s call, was felt again.

To emit the fragrance of a raggedy toilet bowl with the body of a mortal like the goddess, is this the power of the Kingdom’s Number One Sword?

“Uwaaah!!!”

Irresistible cleaning power pushed vomit up, pouring down from the throat along with golden breath.

“What the hell?! Why is this kid suddenly throwing up…!! That, that’s…!! (Experience Acquisition: 213 people)”

What poured out was not just vomit.

Along with vomit, the golden breath gushed out, flickering in the mouth, making its presence known.

“Virgin Breath!!! (Experience Acquisition: 17 people)”

“Virgin, what? (Experience Acquisition: 213 people)”

“There’s no time to explain!! Breath!! Dodge it!!!! (Experience Acquisition: 17 people)”

“Tch!! (Experience Acquisition: 213 people)”

Realizing that there was no time to listen to explanations with the survival instinct of a non-virgin, the Kingdom’s Number One Sword, along with disciples and advisors, quickly left the tent.

Following them, as the cleaning fairies rushed out, I could finally relax and expel the breath I had been holding.

“Virgin Breath!!!”

The golden radiance, initially seeming to fill the ground, transformed into a towering column of fire that soared upward without spreading sideways.

Everyone on the front line would have witnessed it that day.

A single beam of light illuminated the cloudy sky, tainted by the marks of a non-virgin.

*****

“What is that lunatic?”

When Claire first heard the news that Las hadn’t been chosen as a hero, she wasn’t particularly bothered.

Even when she later heard of an unambiguous defeat without any room for excuses.

After all, what Las aimed for could be considered the pinnacle of heroism.

Failing to be chosen as a hero, losing to a hero—these were not things one could call shameful.

Having spent a long time together as a teacher, Claire could see through Las’s abilities clearly.

Unfortunately, Las had talent, but it wasn’t at a level that could be called the best.

Perhaps, after a long period of training and practical experience, he could reach the level of a master, but reaching the strongest was out of the question.

It was Claire’s cruel yet rational assessment.

However…

“Losing to a lunatic like that?”

Once she actually saw what kind of person the hero was, the thought that it would never change began to gnaw at her.

For some reason, on top of suddenly vomiting, there was also the fact that this scum couldn’t properly control his divine power.

That was the hero Claire briefly glimpsed.

No matter how much of a hero he was, Claire couldn’t just overlook the fact that her disciple lost to such an immature individual.

Glaring at Las with eyes that seemed to say, “Try explaining yourself or making an excuse,” Las sighed and said,

“…Don’t let your guard down.”

“What?”

“That’s just my speculation, but it seems that the teacher is an extraordinary non-virgin, and for a moment, emotions intensified, causing a lapse in the control of divine power. Look.”

Without waiting for a response, Claire reflexively looked at the column of fire Las pointed to.

“The flames are shooting up without spreading to the sides. It’s probably because the hero is in control that the flames spread in such an unnatural shape.”

“….”

It was certainly as he said.

She hadn’t noticed, shocked and confused by the sudden vomiting and unexpected breath attack, but if she couldn’t properly handle divine power, she wouldn’t be able to regulate it in such a way.

“Well, that’s true… But what did you just say to me? ‘Non-virgin,’ what?”

“…You can find out about that if you have a word with the hero. Looks like the column of fire is starting to subside. Now, let’s go.”

Led by Rass, at the heart of the tent transformed into a makeshift medical area, a warrior was tidying himself up.

“…!!”

Discovering Claire, the warrior covered his nose and mouth, moving away.

Just as Claire was about to voice her dissatisfaction at being avoided, Rass interjected as if playing a move.

“Sir, this is the overall commander of this front, and my mentor, Claire de Elliott.”

“V-Virgins are not allowed! Execution! Forbidden!!!”

“Yes, of course not. But please calm down for now.”

“Ugh! Damn, even a chicken coop smells better than this.”

“…….”

From that brief exchange, Claire could vaguely infer what kind of person the warrior was.