The Former Hero, Now a High Schooler, Checks Into a Love Hotel with Riena (2)
“I’m sorry, even I don’t know for certain. Perhaps if I consulted ancient texts at the royal library, I could find a similar case. But if I had to guess, I’d say yes—this was probably the power of Goddess Athena.”
“Yeah, I mean, if I came back looking like I’d aged five years, my parents would’ve freaked. In that sense, being de-aged was a huge help.”
“I’m sure they would have. Imagine—your son suddenly five years older overnight? That would be quite the shock.”
“And it’s not just that—I still have all my Hero skills, and my body’s still in top condition. I basically got the best of both worlds. It’s made life a whole lot easier since I came back.”
Honestly, this restarted high school life was turning out way better than I ever expected.
“Sounds like it was all arranged for your benefit—Goddess Athena’s gift to the Hero who saved the world.”
“She really is the all-knowing, all-powerful Supreme God.”
“Hehe, has our previously nonreligious Hero-sama finally found his faith in Goddess Athena?”
“Eh… not quite. I mean, I guess it’s nice to have a divine figure I can pray to in a pinch now.”
“That’s a little disappointing.”
“Sorry about that, Riena.”
“Not at all. Faith isn’t something that should ever be forced—it has to come from within.”
“Spoken like a true high priestess, Riena. Still saying all the right things, huh?”
“Well, should you ever do feel the stirrings of faith, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’d be honored to guide you from the very beginning. Even a trial run is perfectly acceptable! As the saying goes, you won’t know until you try.”
She says faith must be voluntary, and yet here she is recruiting me anyway.
“Maybe someday, if the mood strikes me.”
I couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle.
“It’s really strange, though. When we parted ways, you were already a full-grown man—your words, your presence… everything about you. So now, seeing this youthful version of you, it feels like I’ve gone back in time.”
“Hearing that from someone who saw me at my most pathetic? Yeah, that’s a little embarrassing.”
The times I complained…
The times I cried, unable to bear the weight…
The times I almost ran from the crushing responsibility of being a Hero…
Through it all, Riena was the only one who ever saw that weaker side of me.
“Hehe… That was my special privilege. While the whole world praised you as the unbeatable, invincible Hero, I alone got a front-row seat to the very human side you tried to hide. Those five years we spent together… they’re a priceless treasure to me.”
“I’m glad, really. Talking with you like this—it’s nostalgic. Feels like the clock really did turn back.”
“Yes… I feel the same. It’s all so nostalgic.”
“Still, it’s a bit weird. I’ve de-aged, but you haven’t changed at all. It’s kinda throwing me off.”
“I used to be three years older than you, but now I’m eight years older. From your perspective, I must seem like a total old lady now.”
“What are you talking about? You’ve always been—and still are—a beautiful older sister-type. If anything, you’ve become even more elegant with age. So don’t worry about that.”
“You really have changed. You’d never say stuff like that so smoothly back when we first met.”
“Compared to the hellish journey to defeat the Demon Lord, giving a genuine compliment to a beautiful woman? That’s easy.”
“Geez… Hero-sama…”
Riena blushed, clearly not displeased by the praise.
We shared a quiet moment then, wrapped in the warmth of old memories.
“Alright, enough reminiscing. Let’s get to the point—what happened? Why are monsters from the other world showing up here? And why are you here, Riena?”
Switching gears, I put on my serious Hero face and finally cut to the chase.