Prologue to the Hero!

NBC:

Thank you for choosing to immerse yourself in this story. If you've made it this far, you already have an idea of what awaits you. I hope you enjoy this journey!

Ykc:

Thank you as well for making The Hero's Son is a Monster a masterclass—just like those you can find on every street corner—both great and relaxing!

What is the nature of deities in relation to good and evil?

This eternal duality has existed since the dawn of all things.

Can evil be quantified, compared to another to determine which is more acceptable? Is it just to endure one evil to eradicate another? If so, who decides? The hero, the gods, or something beyond mortal comprehension?

The hero is the guardian of balance, chosen by the goddess Araneas to lead humanity to victory. But in our era, the hero is not who one might expect. He is the most powerful, but also the most vile.

His name is Iróas, Chreíos Ischyrós, the last human of the hero's bloodline.

A story like those found in ancient tomes begins once more.

"I hope you will follow me closely. I lend you my eyes to observe this world, and I pour my mind into you to write and spread this story across the realms."

This is the birth of an aberrant existence, the sin of intelligent beings.

"Ah, I almost forgot to introduce myself. You may call me by the pseudonym: Narrator Behind the Curtain."

"Why? Because it's cool, of course!"

Just like those nights around a fire, where the voice of a storyteller wove tales upon the wind.

"A good story might begin with 'Once upon a time'; after all, this is a story."

"Once upon a time..."

Notification:

The Crimson Fort is under attack by a wave of monsters. Help us repel them.

Threat Level: C

Reward: 1 Egregore Power. Additional bonuses.

One of the greatest problems of the medieval world was certainly the circulation of information.

Despite the existence of magic and many fantastical elements, delays in communication were largely responsible for numerous problems that could have been solved had the information arrived on time.

In this sense, the hero possessed something extremely useful.

"Oh, great hero Iróas, the king summons you to the palace for an urgent matter."

The hero was in his office, gazing at the status window that only he could see, when he was interrupted by his clerk, the bearer of the royal missive.

A sadistic smile lit up his face; he had already expected the summons after seeing the status window.

The system was undeniably useful, as most crucial information regarding the progress of the world quest was updated instantly.

"This quest comes at the perfect time."

Muttering to himself, he silently observed the messenger—someone who was a devoted follower of the hero.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

In this world, the hero had absolutely no sense of priorities.

He prepared himself slowly, donned light armor, and took a carriage to the castle.

He traveled through the domain he administered—at least on paper; the land resembled 1990s England, but far less developed. Nonetheless, one could say it was the beginning of a modern era.

After leaving his territory, he stepped into a new world, and the transition was quite surprising. It truly felt like traveling through time.

"We have arrived, Lord Chreíos."

Upon exiting the hero's domain, the carriage finally reached the royal palace.

"Good."

The castle itself was a spectacle to behold; after all, such structures symbolized the grandeur of a kingdom, and appearances mattered.

The hero stepped down from the vehicle and entered the palace. After passing through a long corridor, he finally reached a door guarded by two knights.

Once inside the castle, the hero and his attendant arrived at the audience chamber.

Status: Anxious, Admiring

Status: Worried, Anxious

Thanks to the system, the hero had access to basic information about those in front of him—and more importantly, their levels, which the system categorized from E to A for common ranks.

There was a vast difference between each rank.

The two guards saw Chreíos. His personality might not have been well-known internally, but he was an important figure—so much so that his mere presence made anyone unaccustomed to it nervous. He also had a habit of keeping one of his hero's intrinsic skills active.

They carefully avoided his gaze and announced his arrival.

"The hero Chreíos Ischyrós Iróas has arrived!"

The doors opened, and two rows of knights lined up in the audience chamber. Knights clad in jet-black armor, their faces concealed by helmets, even their eyes hidden—giving them an imposing presence.

The hero felt no need to check the status of these black-armored knights; after all, they knew the context.

He walked down the reddish carpet, ignoring everything around him, until he stopped before the king's throne.

Ministers stood on either side, below the royal throne.

The hero's clerk knelt before the king—though the hero himself did not.

"So, I was told you wanted to see me?"

Without any formality, the hero got straight to the point.

"…"

As a hero, he held a special status; he was treated as an equal to royalty—perhaps even more. His summoning from another world meant that the etiquette of this world did not apply to him. However, at this moment, he made no effort to conform, which was a blatant show of disrespect in the eyes of all present.

"Great hero, it is true that I summoned you. We have an urgent matter that we need you to prioritize."

The king, who had authorized the hero's summoning ritual, had to tolerate some of his eccentricities—for the greater good.

The ministers, offended by the hero's behavior, refrained from correcting him. He had grown far too powerful.

"Excuse me!?"

Chreíos kept his condescending tone, fully aware of his superiority. As a political asset, he had become indispensable and intended to take full advantage of the situation.

Status: Cautious, Anxious.

The king had a respectable level, though it didn't work in his favor; the hero avoided causing too much trouble.

"The Crimson Fort is under siege by a wave of monsters. We need your presence on-site. After all, it is one of our kingdom's strategic points, and we cannot afford to lose it—not in this situation."

"Why are you acting this way, Your Majesty!?"

"…Excuse me?" The king was surprised by Chreíos' remark, not understanding what he meant, but he quickly regained his composure, his change in expression barely noticeable.

"Am I not the hero meant to protect the people?" The hero made exaggerated gestures, as if playing a role; everything was unfolding just as he wanted.

"Then, you didn't need to summon me if the situation is so urgent."

One of a hero's greatest strengths is their image, and Chreíos made sure to maintain his. The king understood his words perfectly.

"This is procedure. We cannot send you to the front without information or an escort. Lord Hero, I understand your desire to help the people."

"For each of your actions, you will be rewarded accordingly."

"You are too kind, Your Majesty."

"Very well, we will prepare a unit of knights for this mission."