Chapter 480: [The Perfect Hero]
A [Perfect Hero] is never truly perfect.
In his unconscious state, Aubrey felt an intense and mystical sensation surge through his very core.
The world around him seemed to plunge into absolute silence as he sensed his soul threatening to be torn from his body alongside that crushing boulder.
His internal organs convulsed with violent tremors while even his bones wailed in anguish.
This devastating force seemed poised to annihilate him entirely—searing pain rapidly spreading through his limbs during those silent moments, nearly dragging him into complete oblivion.
When that massive projectile came hurtling toward them, he'd possessed every opportunity to evade it.
A simple sidestep would have spared him this current torment.
Yet when the nearby civilians froze in paralyzing terror, Aubrey—as the First Prince—instinctively hurled himself toward that deadly boulder.
That single act of sacrifice had catastrophic consequences.
Though the rock's trajectory shifted by mere degrees, his own condition proved equally dire.
Organs displaced, bones shattered.
Waves of excruciating agony assaulted his body repeatedly, each surge more intense than the last.
Attempting to block such a terrifying assault with mere flesh and blood was simply beyond mortal capability.
Aubrey gazed upward at the moonlit fissure torn through the cloud cover, lost in quiet contemplation.
His remaining consciousness grew increasingly hazy, his entire being seeming to drift away from this world.
Yet he harbored no regret—no remorse whatsoever.
Because he had at least fulfilled what the title of "hero" demanded.
Even if imperfectly.
...
"Cough... cough..."
What was that sound?
Through his stupor, the First Prince detected faint coughing echoing in his ears.
He suddenly snapped his eyes open in the darkness, jolting awake.
But the instant his vision cleared, he beheld several grotesque purple flowers with writhing green stem-appendages.
Those bloated blossoms gaped their maws wide—thick pink lips parting to reveal rows of razor-sharp white fangs arranged within their abyss-like mouths.
A purple, blade-like tongue extended from each cavity, twisting and undulating through the air as viscous saliva dripped between their teeth.
Witnessing these creatures before his eyes, the First Prince's forehead instantly beaded with cold sweat, his eyes widening in absolute horror.
What manner of nightmarish monsters were these?
Watching these carnivorous flowers continuously approach his face, the First Prince's mind went completely blank.
Just as terror began overwhelming him, a familiar voice rang out nearby:
"There—he's saved."
What?
Hearing those words, the First Prince felt a wave of confusion and quickly sat upright.
The moment he rose, he suddenly realized his body seemed to have miraculously recovered.
Though his internal organs still felt somewhat displaced—creating an uncomfortable sensation—he had somehow mysteriously returned from death's threshold.
Glancing up, he spotted Cocotte clapping her hands nearby, as though she'd just completed some trivial task.
Sensing the surrounding environment possessed an unnaturally eerie quiet, the First Prince instinctively surveyed his surroundings.
His gaze swept across the square, discovering every resident's eyes focused intently upon him.
Instantly, the profound silence blanketing the square became overwhelmingly apparent, penetrating deep into the First Prince's heart.
The entire plaza no longer resembled its former pristine condition.
The surrounding earth had split apart, earth-brown rocks and debris scattered everywhere.
Cutting through the square's center stretched a deep ravine, its clear trajectory extending far into the distance—so remote that one could barely discern where it ended.
At the ravine's terminus, fallen stones lay more densely clustered while an iron spear stood deeply embedded in the earth.
Looking skyward, he observed the massive fissure rent through the heavens above.
Everything that had just transpired—surely it hadn't been a dream?
The scene preceding his loss of consciousness matched his current surroundings with startling accuracy.
Just as shock overwhelmed him, an itching sensation arose from his arm.
The First Prince felt discomfort and instinctively moved to scratch the irritation.
But at that moment, Cocotte—who had been observing from nearby—suddenly spoke:
"Don't touch it carelessly, or you'll forfeit your life."
"Uh...?"
Upon hearing this warning, the First Prince gently lowered his head to examine the itchy area.
The root system of that carnivorous flower which had approached earlier was actually embedded within his flesh.
As though planted directly into his body, becoming an integral part of his blood and tissue.
"Allow it to remain and grow temporarily. This organism possesses extraordinary vitality and can sustain your life force."
Cocotte, seated upon her cloud, explained to the First Prince:
"The remainder depends upon your recovery rate. Quickly, perhaps several days—slowly, potentially several months—then it can be safely removed."
"But remember to water it regularly."
"Should this creature wither, your life will essentially be forfeit as well."
As a fifth-tier mage, employing magic to rescue someone from death's door posed no significant challenge for Cocotte.
Particularly for a spellcaster like herself who specialized in nature magic—she need only devise methods to slightly enhance another's life force for complete restoration.
"...Thank you."
His legs once again supported his weight as he shakily rose to his feet.
Glancing downward.
The substantial armor piece that had protected his chest had vanished entirely, leaving only jagged, uneven gaps.
As he stood upright once more, quietly surveying the square around him.
The First Prince remained motionless, his gaze sweeping across the plaza.
Countless civilians' stares converged upon him, their expressions revealing complex, indescribable emotions.
The First Prince's attention lingered on their faces as those once-bright eyes dimmed with renewed despair.
In the end, he—this so-called "perfect hero"—had still failed to meet their expectations.
That airborne boulder could have been effortlessly deflected by any truly powerful individual.
Yet he had appeared so pathetically disheveled, nearly perishing from that single devastating blow.
It was nothing more than a mantis attempting to halt a speeding chariot.
Contemplating this reality, the First Prince couldn't suppress a bitter smile.
The common people must now see clearly that he was merely a prince possessing impressive appearance but lacking any substantial ability.
Surely they seethed with righteous anger.
This supposedly perfect hero they'd believed so mighty—exposed as a fraud by a single stone.
The First Prince steeled himself to face their accusations, prepared to bear whatever condemnation awaited.
Yet this prospect also brought him a sense of relief.
At least he would no longer need to maintain his facade...
As he lowered his head in self-deprecating laughter, he suddenly sensed someone approaching.
Looking up, he recognized the family he'd just rescued from beneath the boulder.
The woman wept openly while her two children continued trembling, clutching desperately at their mother's garments.
The man stepped directly before the First Prince, his expression grave, his demeanor solemn.
The First Prince drew a deep breath, bracing himself for the incoming torrent of angry rebuke.
But the man's actions defied all expectations.
He extended both hands, firmly grasping the First Prince's own.
"Though I've already expressed this sentiment, I must repeat it once more..."
"Your Highness, I once held nothing but contempt for the word 'hero,' yet now—you have completely transformed my understanding."
"You are a genuine hero."
These words reached the First Prince's ears with crystal clarity.
He stared wide-eyed, lips slightly parted, standing frozen like a carved statue.
What?
The First Prince could scarcely believe what this man had declared.
He gazed incredulously at the unwavering figure before him.
Within the other's eyes, the First Prince witnessed absolute, unshakeable recognition.
One by one, people assumed respectful stances, directing gazes brimming with reverence and trust toward the First Prince.
As though he remained the perfect hero dwelling within their hearts.
While the crowd surrounded the First Prince, Cocotte had quietly guided her floating cloud to where Aubrey sat upon the stone steps.
Her attention focused on Aubrey as she inquired:
"Aubrey, did you know all along that this son of yours lacked true power?"
Cocotte's gaze drifted downward toward the steps below.
Those civilians encircled the First Prince exactly as before, remaining generous with their praise and admiration.
Following the crisis's resolution, the crowd displayed no particular gratitude toward Aubrey, who had eliminated the rock giant.
They treated his intervention as entirely natural and expected.
As though their emperor should instinctively act to safeguard them.
Conversely, they expressed profound respect and worship for the First Prince who had courageously stepped forward.
Yet from another perspective, this reaction seemed perfectly reasonable.
Aubrey had remained invincible throughout the empire for countless years—his overwhelming power was deeply ingrained in popular consciousness.
Destroying a stone construct was merely routine business.
But this prince...
While treating the First Prince earlier, after embedding that carnivorous flower into his body, Cocotte had made a startling discovery.
The First Prince was simply an ordinary mortal marginally stronger than common citizens.
He possessed no genuine magical ability—only a suit of reasonably durable golden armor.
Without that protective gear, he would have perished beneath that boulder long ago.
Upon this revelation, Cocotte felt utterly astounded.
Aubrey had fathered two sons and one daughter.
The most exceptional was undoubtedly his daughter Aurelianne.
Her talents commanded even Cocotte's praise and acknowledgment.
The Second Prince's capacity to conspire with demons—regardless of methodology—also demonstrated his extraordinary nature.
How could the situation prove so dire regarding the First Prince? Essentially no different from any commoner.
Could it be... the First Prince wasn't Aubrey's biological offspring?
Ah, no wonder Aubrey had dispatched his eldest son to the frontier—mystery solved.
But when Cocotte voiced such speculation, Aubrey merely smiled faintly:
"He remains the only child who failed to inherit my magical talents."
"However, he alone inherited my character."
Popular wisdom held that Aubrey was the prince most resembling his father.
Because he had truly achieved the status of a genuine [Hero].
With his mortal frame, he had defended the empire's most perilous frontier for over a decade, directly confronting magical beasts.
Protecting imperial citizens from rampaging monster invasions.
They fully embraced this prince's [Heroic] identity, regardless of any promotional campaigns involved.
At minimum, he had genuinely risen to defend his people during moments of crisis.
At that moment, Aubrey also directed his attention toward the square.
The First Prince unconsciously raised his head, meeting his father's gaze.
In that instant, the First Prince clearly perceived satisfaction and approval directed at him for the very first time in his father-emperor's eyes.
Aubrey could hardly trust his own vision.
He stood motionless, staring into Aubrey's benevolent eyes, terrified this might prove mere illusion.
One glance, two glances, three glances.
He continued confirming until finally certain—this represented genuine recognition from his father-emperor.
Aubrey's inner joy radiated from every feature as those eyes originally filled with surprise now blazed with delighted illumination.
In this moment, he couldn't help feeling as though all his sacrifices had finally received their due reward.
Observing this scene between father and son, Cocotte no longer found their dynamic puzzling.
Her attention shifted away from Aubrey, settling upon the deep chasm extending countless miles across the distant landscape.
That rock giant had collapsed completely, its shattered remains scattered across the terrain.
Yet Cocotte's focus remained fixed upon the spear deeply embedded in the earth, her mind churning with uncertainty.
One matter had consistently eluded her understanding.
Why had that rock giant suddenly ceased all movement, becoming utterly motionless?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/BZDXG - Unlock a HUGE stash of advance chapters now!
Dive deeper into the story ahead of everyone else!