Chapter 10: The Hero King’s Concern

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Hero King's Concern

A week passed swiftly, and the entrance exam for Hero Academy was set to begin in the Luminous Forest.

This forest separated the cities from another forest, known as the Forbidden Forest.

The Luminous Forest enveloped nearly every part of the seven great cities, effectively concealing the Forbidden Forest from anyone's reach.

The Forbidden Forest earned its name due to its perilous nature, being home to a multitude of the most dangerous wild beasts and monsters of all shapes and sizes.

Additionally, numerous strange and unsettling occurrences were rumored to have taken place there, instilling fear in the hearts of the people.

Many who ventured into the Forbidden Forest for unknown reasons never returned, and those who did were irrevocably broken, their wills shattered.

They spoke of witnessing indescribably horrific things.

Some even claimed to have seen ghosts, though such claims were never substantiated.

However, the mental and emotional wreckage of those who returned was undeniably real.

If ghosts weren't the cause, something else certainly was.

Thugs who attempted to exploit the isolation of the Forbidden Forest met grisly fates, often found dead with their throats inexplicably slashed.

These and many other tales contributed to the forest's infamous and forbidden reputation.

Ironically, Hero Academy was situated somewhere between the Luminous Forest and the Forbidden Forest.

However, the entrance exam was to be held in the heart of the Luminous Forest, several kilometers away from the Forbidden Forest.

"The academy sure chose a hell of a place for the entrance exam, didn't they?" Sasha remarked as they reached the area designated for the exam.

"Isn't this unusual?" Tasha asked, glancing at her grandfather, Jin Tatsuya.

"It is unusual," Jin replied. "If I know them well, they probably made this year's exam particularly challenging."

"Why?" Sam inquired.

"Why? Because of you and those kids who managed to conjure Apex level phenomena. You conjured a transcendent level one, and they must be curious. This is an excellent opportunity to assess your talents," Jin explained.

When they arrived at the exam site, they saw a building structure reserved for the Academy officials and five noble leaders.

[Incoming communication from the user titled 'The Hero King']

[Do you accept?]

'The Hero King wants to communicate with me now?' Sam thought, instinctively looking towards where the Hero King was seated before accepting the communication.

Their eyes met.

[The Hero King: How was my gift? Did you like it?]

"It was great, Your Majesty," Sam replied through the system's communication interface.

[The Hero King: Don't be too formal, just speak naturally. I know that you wield magic.]

"You... you do?"

[The Hero King: Don't be surprised. And don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I actually contacted you to discuss something else.]

"What would that be, Your Majesty?"

[The Hero King: I have concerns regarding the safety of my daughter at the academy. It would ease my mind greatly if you could keep an eye on her.]

"This..." Sam hesitated. He wanted to decline, but it was the Hero King asking.

The Asuna clan and the Tatsuya clan had always had a good relationship, and he didn't want to jeopardize that by refusing.

After much thought, he replied, "I will do it, but I want to know why she needs someone to watch over her. Isn't the academy one of the safest places?"

[The Hero King: You are correct. I'm not worried about external threats. It's the internal ones that concern me. Many want her dead, and they might have people inside the academy as students. The academy does not interfere in student matters unless it leads to death. You understand what I'm getting at, don't you?]

"Yes..." Sam understood that the academy would not intervene in conflicts between students unless it resulted in death, meaning anything short of absolute death could occur.

[The Hero King: From this moment on, you are to be my daughter's protector.]

"I don't understand why you're choosing me. Why not someone else?"

[The Hero King: It's because of our clans. We are relatives and have a long history together. While other clans seem loyal, I cannot be certain of their true intentions.]

Sam closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "I will protect your daughter, Your Majesty."

[The Hero King: Good. And don't worry, you will have help.]