Chapter 3: The Hero of Table Mountain
Although it became clear that Will had talent for swordsmanship, he was also richly gifted as a healer.
In the spring when I turned five, I ran across the mountain.
Together with my friends, the wolves and bears, I fought against invading monsters.
I stood at the front lines and engaged in battle to protect my companions.
I confronted a monster that had intruded upon Table Mountain, a Green Ogre.
The Green Ogre was a creature with green skin all over its body, a monster that invaded the mountain and devoured the animals of the forest.
No, devouring them was not enough.
It slaughtered defenseless animals, killing far more than necessary to satisfy its sadistic urges.
Such a monster could not be allowed to roam free.
Gripping the mithril dagger Ronin had given me, I moved to eliminate the Green Ogre.
First, the nimble wolf Schultz distracted the ogre and created an opening, then I leapt into its guard and delivered a sweeping strike.
In a single blow, I knocked the rusty sword from its hand, but that was not the end.
The ogre possessed monstrous strength.
It swung its log-like arm, but it was intercepted by the bear Hachi.
Hachi was the strongest creature on the mountain.
While Hachi restrained the enemy, I circled behind it.
Then I thrust the true-silver dagger into its neck.
I showed no hesitation.
The stench of blood reeked from this ogre.
It was proof that it had slaughtered countless living beings.
Groaning, the ogre collapsed.
Thus I won the battle, but when I looked over, I saw blood flowing from Schultz’s back, the wolf who had first distracted the ogre and held its gaze.
It seemed he had taken a blow from the ogre.
I placed my hand on the wounded wolf’s back and cast healing magic.
Schultz’s body glowed green as his wound closed.
“Amazing!”
The animals praised me.
“I learned this from Mother Miria. Mother Miria seems to want me to become a healer.”
The animals all said that would be wonderful, that I should become a healer and protect them.
“Yeah, that sounds good. But Father Ronin seems to want me to become a swordsman.”
“Then why not become both healer and swordsman?”
“That’s true. I think that’s called a paladin.”
“Then your future is as a paladin.”
The wolf Schultz smiled, and I gave a wry smile in return.
“Father Vandal seems to want me to become a mage. Every day he makes me read thick textbooks and history books.”
“Do you dislike studying?”
“No way. I like it just as much as swinging a sword.”
“Then that is troublesome. You will have to master all three, sword, magic, and healing.”
“Yeah.”
“By the way, what would one call someone who has mastered those three?”
I made a troubled face and gestured that I did not know.
“If it were just sword and magic, there is the title magic swordsman, but there is no name for one who has mastered sword, magic, and healing.”
“Hmm, then we shall have to create one.”
“Create it myself? I never thought of that.”
“Indeed. How about the title ‘hero’? It sounds cool, does it not?”
“A hero, huh. …Yeah, that does sound cool. But Father Vandal said heroes are decided at birth. He said they have a birthmark somewhere on their body.”
I looked over my body, but there was no birthmark anywhere.
Still, Schultz spoke without concern.
“A hero is not a profession but a title of honor. My father told me so. One who stands before those weaker than himself and risks his own life to protect them, that spirit is what makes a hero. In other words, Will, you are already a hero. You are the hero of Table Mountain.”
“I see… so that’s how it is. Yeah, then I am the hero of Table Mountain.”
I savored the word hero once more.
Then, filling my lungs to the brim, I shouted,
“I am the hero of Table Mountain!”
My voice echoed to every corner of the mountain.
The Goddess of Healing Miria burned that sight into her memory and let tears spill from her eyes.
She was deeply moved by how splendidly Will had grown.
The Will who had been an infant just the other day had grown into something remarkable.
And he had become a capable user of healing magic.
Will had even mastered the advanced spell Instant Recovery.
Of course, it was Miria who had taught it to him, but she had not expected him to wield it so skillfully at this age.
Will’s talent as a healer might rival that of the legendary saint to whom Miria once imparted healing magic.
No, even that saint had not been able to use Instant Recovery at this age.
That was how extraordinary Will’s talent was.
She looked forward to his future, but Miria had one small concern.
In her eyes was reflected the adorable Will.
“Honestly, Will is just too cute. At this rate, princesses from all over the world might propose to him.”
Will’s appearance was as adorable as that of a young girl.
Not only that, he was stronger and kinder than anyone, a source of pride for Miria.
After transferring Will’s image onto photographic paper, Miria vowed to boast about him at the gathering of gods.
A meeting of healing deities would soon be held.
There, she intended to indulge fully in being an overdoting parent.