Side Story - Hero Candidates

“Hmmmmmm…”

In the queen’s guest room near Cordelia’s chambers, the one groaning loudly was Hina — also known as Elrina. When Cordelia returned after finishing the morning meeting, Elrina was sunk into the sofa groaning to herself.

“What’s wrong?”

When Cordelia spoke, Elrina’s face brightened.

“I’ve been waiting, Kana-chan! I wanted to ask you something.”

“Ask me something?”

Glancing over, papers with drawings of someone were scattered across the table. Next to the figure was the name “Isaac.”

“Right! This world had lots of ‘heroes,’ remember?”

Cordelia nodded.

“Lakisen Flowers” was an otome game famous for constantly adding heroes — one new hero every month according to her memory.

“The last I remember, there were about twenty. By now…”

Twelve a year, over several years…

Cordelia shuddered imagining it.

“…There must be so many now. We never know when we might run into a hero candidate.”

Many heroes possessed distinctive abilities — like the recent kidnapping incident caused by one of them.

“Exactly! That’s why…”

Elrina clenched her fist and looked at Cordelia seriously.

“I want to memorize every face and name so we’ll recognize them immediately!”

“I see… that’s very wise!”

Given how hero candidates tended to cause incidents, knowing their identities beforehand would help response and prevention.

Elrina puffed her chest proudly.

“Right? But there’s one problem.”

She clasped her hands pleadingly.

“Hina can’t remember boys’ faces well. Help me make the list, Kana-chan.”

Her watery eyes stared at Cordelia.

“El… you said ‘Hina’ again.”

“Ah! Sorry!”

Cordelia laughed.

Recently Elrina called herself “I,” but in pleading mode she unconsciously reverted to “Hina.”

After laughing softly, Cordelia sat beside her.

“Alright. Let’s make it together. After all, only we two can make this list.”

Elrina hugged her happily.

“Let’s start. You already summarized these?”

“Yep!”

Each sheet had information.

“First, Prince Isaac.”

Cordelia picked the top page.

‘Isaac Eforl: Crown Prince. Water magic user. Likes sweets. Powerful attacker despite water magic.’

(…There’s something written smaller below.)

She read:

‘Expressionless, bad at emotions. Kana-chan’s husband (future). Looks jealous when I cling to Kana-chan.’

Cordelia burst out laughing.

“What?”

“N-nothing!”

(So El thought this?)

Other sheets had similar notes.

‘Jean: genius knight, fire magic. Used to be quiet but now noisy with me. Nagging sister-in-law.’

(Nagging sister-in-law!?)

She trembled holding laughter.

‘Sphida: newspaper president & reporter. Magic eyes? Calls me kitten and suspicious, but grants requests.’

(She’s immune to men and prefers serious types like Isaac… yet still makes requests.)

Flipping pages:

‘Kentonis: newspaper owner. Cool older man. Swordmaster despite no magic.’

(I didn’t know!)

Cordelia had spent all resources on Isaac in the game, so Elrina knew more.

‘Next…’

‘Eyelashes: muscle eyelashes’

“Pfft!!!”

She couldn’t hold it anymore. Elrina grimaced.

“Why did they add muscle eyelashes!? I’d never choose him!”

“So Samuel really was a hero!?”

“April Fools addition that became real!”

“The developers were playful…”

They continued listing heroes.

“The kitchen chef was one too, right?”

“Oh yeah, the handsome one!”

“His cooking is amazing.”

“And the bakery boy too — the kid route.”

“Seriously!?”

That was Jack, whom Cordelia saved from the fire.

“Later another kid route was added — saved in the fire event.”

(Wait — that means I triggered his route!?)

Cordelia paled.

“Lakisen Flowers… terrifying! We must finish the list!”

They continued.

—Hours later.

“What is this…?”

Isaac entered, confused at the paper piles. Cordelia was exhausted while Elrina looked refreshed.

“We listed hero candidates!”

“Hero candidates…”

“Yes, knowing beforehand helps response.”

“I see. May I read?”

“Of course.”

As Isaac read, Elrina muttered loudly:

“They were supposed to be my boyfriends… but they could also become Kana-chan’s, right?”

Isaac’s shoulder twitched.

“I’ve already chosen Isaac-sama.”

“But you’re not married yet?”

“Th-that’s true—!”

Then Isaac spoke softly.

“…I see.”

He smiled — but his eyes did not.

“Then this is a list of dangerous individuals to eliminate. I’ll have intelligence handle it.”

“W-WAIT!!! You’re planning something dangerous!?”

“Nothing much. Just temporary imprisonment.”

“That’s extreme!”

Cordelia hurriedly stopped him while Elrina laughed happily behind them.