The Tale of the Teapot Hero’s Revenge Chapter 1 - The story of the Hero ended even before it began

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Chapter 1

The story of the Hero ended even before it began

 

 

"Congratulations, Kyrie Minaret. It may come as a surprise, but you have been chosen as a hero."

The official from the castle who informed me of this had a smiling face like a mask.

The hero must have achieved a splendid heroic death in the recent battle against the demon army. And now, it seemed that power has been passed down to me.

Today is my birthday, and I've received quite an unexpected gift.

 

A hero was an individual chosen by the gods. The hero was bestowed with extraordinary power and a special ability called the [Gift]. Even as a simple village girl, I am well aware of such matters.

I also knew that the Deltilard Kingdom had initiated a war against the demons, using the power of the hero to expand the kingdom’s territory. The previous heroes, both my immediate predecessor and the one before that, died in such a worthless war.

I am certain that I would also meet the same fate. The tearful faces of my mother and sister bidding me farewell told that story.

‘Even if I say I don't want to, the outcome will likely be my death.’

Unfortunately, only death also awaits if the tyrant Brutogyu was defied, even for a hero. That much was certain.

As the hero, I bid farewell to the village with twenty villagers in total, and I set off on my journey. The small village where I was born and raised gradually shrunk. To ensure I never forget, I imprinted the village in my eyes one last time.

And so I, someone who had never even held a sword, was taken away to the castle in a luxurious carriage.

 

***

 

I was secretly escorted to the castle. They then dressed me in beautiful clothes, and finally, was guided to the audience chamber.

It seemed they want to examine the [Gift] bestowed upon the new hero. 

While I wallow on my nervousness, I passed through the splendid doors and entered the audience chamber. On both sides, there were rows of important-looking individuals. They were probably nobles, but I didn’t know any of them.

"...Hero, please proceed to the front of the throne."

Prompted by the knight, I walked on the soft red carpet.

The chamber’s ceiling was high, and the walls and pillars were pristine, but if I keep looking around too much, I might attract some stern gazes.

I was made to walk all the way to the front of the throne and instructed to kneel on one knee. I waited like that for a few minutes, and my knelt leg was getting a bit tired.

Drums then resounded, and the king made his entrance. He had a neat black crew cut and a splendid beard, and his muscles were well-defined. Brutogyu Hades Deltilard, the man who had seized control of half the continent in a single generation. He was called a tyrant due to his forceful invasions.

One of the aides he brought with him was a slightly chubby middle-aged man with a gentle expression, and he was wearing a cloak.

He must be a minister, people like him were always ministers.

The other person was probably a woman. She had a hood on, so I could only see her mouth, but her physique seemed feminine. And she seemed to be holding some kind of crystal ball.

"Lower your face, you are being disrespectful"

"Yes!"

I was suddenly yelled at by the gentle-looking minister when I stared. His small eyes widened suddenly, and he shouted in a high-pitched voice. I quickly lowered my head in a fluster.

People are not always what they seem, right?

"It's fine, now raise your head, hero."

"Yes!"

I lifted my head as instructed. The king stared at my face intently and nodded as if confirming something.

"...At first glance, she’s just a village girl. Judas, are you certain there is no mistake?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. There is no mistake."

"I see. Knowing you, there should be no mistake."

Indeed, I am just a village girl. Yet, I am forced to fight for the country, a mere village girl.

Sigh, I want to go home...

"Hero, you’re allowed to introduce yourself. Speak."

"Yes! I'm Kyrie Minaret, hailing from Ribo village. I'm sixteen years old!"

The minister was recording my statement on paper. It's the profile of the hero, so it might important.

"Alright, understood. Then, Judas, determine her [Gift]."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

The woman called Judas offers prayers to the crystal ball.

She must be an oracle, someone who had the power to hear the voice of Enpyreo, the being called God, and convey it to human beings.

I've heard that they have to undergo considerable training to become one.

"...I can see it. This person's [Gift] is—"

Tension ran through the audience room. After all, the [Gift] was the essence of the hero's strength. The more powerful it was, the easier the wars would become.

"It is… [Boiling]."

"Bo-boiling...?"

I unintentionally let out a voice. I hurriedly covered my mouth, bowed my head, and remained still.

‘Boiling, what was that? Like when water boils and bubbles up, right?’

It sounded very weak, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. Even the nobles seem restless.

"Hmm, we can't judge solely based on the name. We shall move to the Knight Order's training grounds to assess you."

With a single command from the king, the audience is interrupted. I was then escorted by a knight to the Knight Order's training grounds.

***

The king and the nobles watched from a distance.

What kind of punishment is this?

"...Sigh, nothing is happening at all."

"Hero, let your inner impulse well up and release your hidden power."

"Even if you say so..."

The burly knight gave me advice, but no matter how much I swing the sword, nothing happened. Although it seemed to be a common occurrence for inexperienced heroes like me to not know what they could do, it's still awkward…

"Sigh, I'm tired..."

I'm sweating profusely, my arms were heavy and tingling.

I didn't realize swords could be this heavy…

"Good job, here's some water."

"Thank you very much."

The knight gave me a cup of water. It was refreshing and delicious, truly befitting a water from the royal palace. With my thirst quenched, I’d give this a little more effort.

‘Um, let my inner impulse well up...?’

While holding the cup, I repeated the advice I received in my head, and I felt like I grasped something. Power welled up from deep within my heart. From my chest, through my arms, something hot burst out from my hand.

Bokoboko bokobokocch.

"...Huh?"

It's hot. The cup was hot. Or rather, the contents of the cup was hot. Steam rose from the water, and it's bubbling with foam.

"It's boiling...?"

Could it be that this is it? Is my [Gift] the ability to boil water? Is that all?

Seeing this, the atmosphere in the training ground was completely opposite to what was in the cup. It was cold. There were smirks from the nobles, and whispers of "Hot Water Hero," and gossip behind my back. The king left the scene as if he had given up, and the audience was concluded.

By the next day, rumors about me had spread throughout the castle. It's embarrassing. It's so embarrassing that it felt like steam could come out of my face.

Even when I'm in my room, the maids couldn’t help but burst into laughter from the fact that I could boil cold tea by myself.

But there was also something good.

"Hero, you may return to your hometown."

The king declared personally, announcing my retirement from the front lines.

Well, what could I do. I was just a village girl with the ability to boil water. Sending me all the way to the distant front lines would be of no use and I would only be a hindrance.

It seemed that if a hero wishes to give up their power, they could pass it on to someone else. 

Honestly, I was happy about this. I didn't have to fight. I could return to the village and live my life as usual. Even if the nobles laughed at me and I was glared at by the minister with intense eyes, I was unharmed. It's much better than dying. I felt like crying a little.

And so, I was sent back to my hometown, to Ribo Village, in a luxurious carriage just like when I left, achieving an early triumph.

It's quite embarrassing, but with this, my everyday life would return to normal.

The story of me as a hero had a ended even before it began.

***

***read at novelworldtranslations.blogspot.com***

In the king's chamber, Minister Gustav confronts the king. The topic was about the hero, Kyrie.

"Why did you send that little girl back to the village? If the hero doesn't die, a new hero won't be born. You should know that well!"

"I know. And Minister, it's a confidential matter. Don't raise your voice like that."

"I-I apologize. It's just my nature."

The king was well aware of the minister's character. Despite his quick temper, the man was capable. So even though he’s a little rude, the king wouldn't kill him.

"Think about it. If the hero were killed within the castle, it would unsettle the hearts of my vassals. Dealing with the aftermath of the culprit would be a hassle."

"Y-Yes, indeed..."

"An attack inside the carriage on the return journey would be bad as well. That is the royal carriage, and if it's known that it was attacked by the people, it would damage my authority."

"Then what should we do? Without the hero, our army will be at a disadvantage..."

Sitting deeply on the throne, playing with his beard with his fingers, the king revealed a cruel smile.

"Don't worry, Minister. I have a good idea."

"And what might that be?"

"Even if a small village with a population of about twenty is attacked and completely wiped out by bandits, it won't have any impact on our country, will it?"

"I see... Very well, I will make the necessary arrangements."

With a sly grin on his face, the minister left the room. 

Now everything was flawless.
If the hero died, a new hero would soon be born.

The war was in the favor of the kingdom, and the day was approaching when the kingdom would crush the demon territory and have it under control.

The king's interest had already moved away from Kyrie and shifted to the next hero who had yet to be seen.

------------

TL's note:

The last update from Mayonaize Shrimp is August 15, 2021, so no one will mind if I translate this novel, right?

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