A few decades had passed since the activation of the World-Wide Monitoring System and the establishment of the Hero System. During this time, the landscape of the Cardinal World had begun to shift significantly. Humans, feeling the silent, overwhelming pressure of the Demon Lord Guy and the growing threat of high-level monsters roaming the wildlands, had started to gather in larger groups. They sought safety in numbers, leading to the formation of many nascent kingdoms across the continents. However, despite the rise of human civilization, the "True Hero" that Veldanava sought—the one who could truly stand as a pillar for humanity—had yet to appear.
Veldanava, true to his word, had taken it upon himself to find his student. He spent months and years at a time descending to the Cardinal World, discarding his divine radiance for the humble appearance of a traveling merchant. He had visited dozens of kingdoms, vetting potential candidates. Some possessed great talent but lacked the heart; others possessed a pure heart but lacked the spiritual "vessel" to contain the Hero's Egg. For Veldanava, talent was rare, but the selfless conviction to carry the hope of all humanity was even rarer.
"I'm telling you, Sir Veldanava, I have a lot of work back at the Palace," Origin grumbled, his hands gripping the leather reins of a horse-drawn carriage as it jostled over uneven roots.
"Nonsense, Origin!" Veldanava laughed, leaning back against a crate of "rare ores." These were actually low-grade magic stones Origin had created for the disguise—stones that were still of high enough quality to forge exceptional swords and armor for any blacksmith. "If you stay cooped up in that lab any longer, you'll get rusty. Besides, don't forget you agreed to help me whenever I want. Just look at the scenery!"
Origin sighed, watching the dusty road wind through the dense forests. It was quite a sight—the Creator of the Multiverse and his lead subordinate Origin traveling as common merchants. Origin had been dragged along to act as the "driver," while Veldanava played the role of the charismatic rich merchant. To keep up appearances, Origin had used a sub-skill of his Ultimate Skill to create the ores and enough gold to fund their "business," essentially becoming the financier for the God's road trip.
"Our next stop is a small place," Veldanava said, his tone becoming a bit more serious. "The Kingdom of Nasca. It's a small nation, currently squeezed between several larger nations. They rely heavily on trade to survive. I want to see if there is anyone worthy there; otherwise, we might have to wait another ten years before making another trip to look for a suitable candidate."
Origin's ears perked up. Nasca. He knew that name well. In the future, the Nasca Namrium Ulmeria United Eastern Empire would become a global superpower with a military force that could challenge the world. But right now, it was just a struggling, small kingdom. More importantly, this was the birthplace of Rudra Nam Ul Nasca—the man who would become Humanity's First Hero, the Heroic Emperor, the student of Veldanava, and eventually, the eternal rival and best friend of Guy. In the future, those two would literally turn the entire world into their personal chessboard for their game.
As the carriage rolled through the modest gates of the Nasca capital, Origin took in the surroundings. It wasn't as majestic as the Heavenly Palace or as imposing as Guy's fortress. It was a lived-in city, filled with the smell of coal, the rhythmic clanging of blacksmiths, and the hurried footsteps of people trying to make a living and survive.
"Ores for sale! Rare minerals from the western peaks!" Veldanava shouted with practiced ease, flashing a winning smile at a passing guard.
Origin leaned over. "Sir, are you enjoying this role a bit too much?"
"It's research, Origin! Research! I am trying to see how humans live and mingle. After all, only when you stay among them can you truly understand their nature," Veldanava winked.
They set up their stall in the central market. While Veldanava handled the haggling, Origin used his heightened senses to scan the area. The magicules of the city were thin and low, as expected for a human settlement, but he felt a specific point of high-density energy coming from the direction of the royal villa.
Just then, a skirmish broke out in the market. A group of bandits had cornered an elderly couple, forcing them to hand over their money and gold. "Pay up, or we'll smash this stall to splinters!" the lead bandit roared.
Many onlookers stepped back, watching in silence but taking no action. Origin sighed internally, thinking that no matter the era, humans often remained the same—unwilling to help unless the fire reached their own doorstep. Veldanava watched silently as well, his eyes narrowed as he waited to see if anyone would intervene.
Just as the bandits pushed the old couple to the ground, a young man stepped forward. He had medium-length golden-blonde hair and bright blue eyes, with a striking face that looked like a blend of different ethnic heritages.
"I strolled into the kingdom to catch some criminals if they committed any crime... who would have thought I could find them so easily?" the young man said coolly with a smile on his face.
When the crowd saw him, they immediately bowed. The bandits froze. "Soldiers, catch those bandits!" the boy commanded.
Responding to his call, a squad of soldiers emerged from the shadows of the alleyways. "Yes, Prince Rudra!" they shouted in unison.
Origin watched with intense interest. So, that's Rudra. Veldanava remained quiet, his gaze fixed on the boy as if reading the very texture of his soul. This boy will do, but let's observe him longer, Veldanava thought.
Rudra didn't just leave after the arrest. He stepped forward and personally helped the elderly couple stand up.
"Are you alright?" Rudra asked. The couple thanked him profusely, their voices trembling.
"No problem," Rudra replied with a firm but gentle expression. "This is what I should do. After all, you are the people of this kingdom. Protecting you is my duty."
He then signaled to a soldier, handing the couple a few gold coins from his own pouch. "Take this as compensation for the damages."
After ensuring the market was secure, Rudra returned to the palace with his retinue. Veldanava turned to Origin as the crowd began to disperse.
"So, what do you think about him?" Veldanava asked, his eyes shimmering with a hint of excitement he hadn't shown in years.
Origin watched the golden-haired prince disappear through the palace gates. "Well, I think he's okay. But talent and kindness are one thing... Let's observe him more."
Veldanava smiled, looking toward the palace. "You will not be able to escape from doing my work so easily, Origin. I think we've found our candidate."
"Yes, I know it," Origin replied. "But we have to observe him more, so we'll have to stay in this kingdom for a longer time."
Veldanava chuckled. "Oh yes, we can stay here as merchants."
A few days passed. Origin and Veldanava stayed in the kingdom to increase their reputation as traders while also asking the civilians about their thoughts on Prince Rudra. They received many answers, though most were consistent: "Prince Rudra? He is very kind," "He is gentle," "He is nice to us." One foreigner even commented, "I am from a different kingdom; I have seen many royals treat commoners as trash, but he is one of the few who actually care about the people."
After meeting back up, Veldanava spoke with certainty. "Origin, I have decided. I will take Rudra as my student. He is completely worthy of it."
Origin nodded. "Then we have to enter the palace to meet him properly. We can get in as merchants wanting to offer our rare resources to the crown. The King will definitely treat us with the respect such treasures deserve."
Veldanava nodded, a playful yet divine glint in his eyes. "A sound plan. Let's see how the Prince reacts to this when we meet him face-to-face.
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Author's Note- Hey guy's I have have uploaded another chapter. But I see this chapter was uploaded fast but I hope you like it after many times I have not able to find the correct information to write but I hope you like this chapter.
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