The morning after Kazuki completed his first official Rank B quest, he awoke to the sound of cheering.
And horns.
And fireworks.
And—
"WAKE UP, NATIONAL HERO!!"
Kazuki flailed out of bed, tripped over Smile (who jiggled indignantly), and faceplanted into a velvet banner someone had inexplicably hung across his window.
The words on the banner shimmered with mana:
"ALL HAIL KAZUKI, DEFENDER OF TENSHIKA!"
He groaned. "Did I… do something again?"
✦
Ten Minutes Earlier – Outside the Capital Walls
A massive mana-beast—taller than the palace, covered in plated bark and burning leaves—lurched out of the forest, roaring so loudly it cracked glass.
Guards panicked. Mages scrambled. Aurelis unsheathed his sword with perfect form.
And then—
From a window above the gate—
Kazuki sneezed.
Violently.
With a sudden spark of wild mana, a chaotic pulse flew from his body and struck a support pillar… which collapsed into a catapult… which triggered a forgotten siege rune… which hurled a boulder directly into the beast's skull.
BONK.
The mana-beast fell over like a crushed melon.
Dead.
Completely by accident.
A moment of silence passed.
Then the people of Tenshika erupted in thunderous applause.
✦
Now – The Hero's Parade (???)
Kazuki stood on a float made of glitter, banana pastries, and what might have been marshmallow scaffolding. He wore a flower crown and looked very confused.
Tala sat on his shoulder, chewing gum angrily.
Senzou coiled around the float's edge with regal flair. "You vaporized an apex predator with a sneeze. I am impressed."
"I didn't mean to do that," Kazuki muttered.
Yukimaru barked and chased floating mana balloons.
Smile jiggled happily, now wearing a cape with "#1 HERO" stitched in sequins.
People threw confetti and shouted his name.
Aurelis, watching from a nearby roof, glowered darkly. His sword hummed with repressed jealousy.
"Again…" he hissed. "Again, he steals the glory with clumsiness."
✦
Elsewhere, in a Fancy Tea Room
The princess of Tenshika, Hiyori, delicately sipped her tea as a scout reported the event.
She raised an eyebrow.
"A sneeze?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And he didn't even realize?"
"No, Your Highness."
"…He's either an idiot, a genius, or a divine glitch."
She smiled fondly.
"I think he might be all three."
✦
Back at the Guild
Later that night, Kazuki sat at a round table with his companions, finally out of parade clothes.
"I don't want to be a hero," he said, munching on skewered beef. "I just want to explore and eat cool stuff."
"You're too late," Tala muttered. "They're naming a sword style after you. 'The Windblown Sniff Slash.'"
Senzou sipped snake wine. "I was royalty before this, but even I've never had a float made of sweets."
Smile jiggled excitedly.
Oro, the tiny owl, dropped a letter on the table.
Kazuki blinked. "What's that?"
"It's an invitation," said Oro. "From the High Guild of Yamataki. You've been selected for the 'Rising Stars' summit."
"Sounds fancy."
"It is. Only elite adventurers and nobles attend."
Kazuki frowned. "Will there be snacks?"
✦
Elsewhere… A Storm Brews
Far from the laughter and lights of Tenshika, a figure stood in a darkened field.
Aurelis.
His sword gleamed under the moonlight.
"They cheer for him," he muttered. "The fool. The chaotic miracle."
He slashed at a training dummy—perfect form, perfect arc, clean slice.
"I train. I suffer. I follow the code. And still…"
He crushed a mana crystal in his palm.
"I will prove myself. I will surpass that accident-prone anomaly… even if I must face him directly."
In the shadows, a cloaked figure approached.
"You wish to outshine the Glitchborn Hero?"
Aurelis narrowed his eyes. "I wish to surpass him."
The figure grinned.
"Then come. We have a proposition."
✦
System Notification – Title Earned!
[National Hero of Tenshika]
‣ Status: Confused
‣ Benefits: Free pastries in most bakeries
‣ Drawbacks: Everyone expects you to save them now
Companions' Reactions:
– Tala: "This is why we can't have normal days."
– Senzou: "I request a float next time. With jewels."
– Smile: (Jiggles happily, unaware of politics)
– Yukimaru: [howls heroically]