A small crowd had gathered near the church.
Today was a special day—one that would be remembered by the townspeople for years to come. They had come together to witness a ceremony honoring the hero of their town. And to the surprise of many, that hero was the youngest member of the Stronghart family.
Arthur, just seven years old, had awakened his mana core not long ago. Yet somehow, this little boy had managed to save hundreds of lives.
No one had seen him defeat the troll with their own eyes. But according to Conrad's testimony, Arthur had been the one who brought down the massive beast. Some found it hard to believe—how could a child face a monster powerful enough to threaten the whole town and survive?
Still, no one tried to convince the doubters. Those who had seen Arthur charge straight into danger and return alive—and victorious—stood here today to honor him.
In front of the church, a small stage had been built. Around a hundred people filled the space before it, their eyes filled with curiosity and awe.
Arthur was standing among the crowd for now, his father's hand resting warmly on his shoulder.
Kevin stood beside him, quietly looking around. Just seeing the size of the crowd said enough about what his younger brother had achieved.
"With those skills and such sharp mana control... he could've been one of the canon characters," Kevin thought, a flicker of confusion in his heart. "But why haven't I heard of him in the novel?"
It didn't add up. Arthur was the same age as the main characters, and his abilities were already amazing. Naturally, he should've entered the same academy as them.
So what went wrong?
Did something happen that kept him from reaching the academy? Or worse... did he make it, only to be brushed aside as cannon fodder? But with such talent, that just didn't make sense.
"Is this a sign... that something terrible is coming for our family?" Kevin's chest tightened at the thought.
Maybe he was overthinking. Maybe everything would be fine. But even so, he had to be ready—for anything. If he wanted to protect his family, he couldn't afford to leave any possibility unchecked.
"What happened, sweetie?"
Kevin blinked, snapped out of his thoughts by the gentle touch of his mother's hand on his head. Her voice was soft, full of warmth.
He looked up at her, then glanced around to see his father and Arthur also watching him with curious eyes.
Wiping the slight frown off his face, Kevin forced a silly smile and said, "I was just thinking about lunch. Wondering when we'll get back and eat."
His father let out a hearty chuckle. "Just a little longer, Kevin. You can't miss your brother's moment of glory."
At those words, Arthur rolled his eyes dramatically, which made their parents burst into quiet giggles.
Kevin laughed too, feeling the warmth of their bond wrap around him like a blanket. Yeah… this is what happiness looks like. A real family.
"May I have your attention, please?"
The calm, composed voice came from the stage. The crowd turned their gaze forward to see the head priest standing tall, hands neatly tucked behind his back, a gentle smile on his face.
A hush fell over the gathering.
The priest, Bowman, slowly swept his gaze across the people before his eyes settled on the family of four near the front.
He met Aston's eyes and the two men exchanged a respectful nod.
Then, with a solemn expression, Bowman began, "A few days ago, our town faced a tragedy we were not prepared for. We lost lives… we lost loved ones. And that day carved a scar into this town—one that time alone might never heal."
The silence that followed was absolute.
His words brought back memories that many tried to forget. The demons that had appeared that day… their horrifying presence still echoed in the hearts of the townsfolk. Sleep had become a rare gift for many families. Some had even started taking turns staying awake through the night, keeping watch like soldiers, just to feel a little safer.
Yes, the scar was real. And just as the priest said, it was one that might never truly fade.
Virelle gently held her husband's hand, feeling the slight tremble in his grip. He was struggling to keep his emotions in check as the priest spoke.
Even now, he carried the weight of that day heavily on his shoulders. No matter how many times others told him it wasn't his fault, he still blamed himself for what happened. Just like the pain etched into the hearts of the townspeople, his guilt refused to fade.
After a brief pause, the priest continued, his voice steady and full of warmth.
"When every ounce of hope seemed to vanish… a small light appeared on the horizon. A little boy—who, like any child his age, should have been hiding from the demons—chose to step forward. He reminded us that true warriors aren't always made through years of training. Some are simply born that way—destined to rise above, to shine like the polestar… guiding others even in the darkest of nights."
The crowd stirred with emotion. Smiles spread across faces, and soft cheers rippled through the gathering.
As Bowman said, no one had expected such courage to come from someone so young. While children his age play with wooden swords and dream of being heroes, this boy has become one.
With no fear in his eyes, he had stepped into the chaos. He had walked the battlefield like a warrior twice—no, five times—his age. He faced the demonic beasts head-on, cutting through them and saving lives without hesitation.
A proud, gentle smile appeared on Bowman's face as he raised a hand and said, "Please step onto the stage, my brave child."
No name was needed.
Everyone in the town—and many even beyond it—knew exactly who he meant.
The seven-year-old miracle.
The child who faced death came back with victory.
Arthur Stronghart.
Arthur stepped onto the stage and approached the Priest.
Bowman gestured toward the nun behind him and she brought a small box to him.
Opening the box he took out a golden badge from inside before leaning towards Arthur.
Pinning the medal to his chest, he said, "Thank you for saving me and us that night."
Arthur gave a firm nod before the Priest got back up and said, "Please extend your appreciation with a round of applause for this young warrior."
The audience burst into applause. Their faces were full of smiles and fondness. For them, Arthur was like a young kid in the town until a few days ago. But now, he has become something more profound.
A protector.
Arthur looked at his family and found his mother's eyes moistened as she looked at her child fondly. Aston had his arms crossed as he flashed a proud smile.
He might not have craved appreciation or praise in his past life—but now, seeing so many people acknowledge his efforts, and watching the quiet pride blooming in his parents' eyes because of it… it made Arthur feel warm. It wasn't the applause that mattered to him. It was the peace those moments gave his family.
Soon Bowman turned towards Arthur, once the noises died, and asked, "Is there anything you would like to ask for, Arthur? Any reward you wish to have?"
Arthur didn't think twice before asking, "Priest Mathew came to heal me a few weeks ago and took my mother's necklace as a payment. I want that back."
Bowman was momentarily stunned and Mathew was quite anxious upon hearing that.
However, the head Priest didn't make the little wait for long before assuring him, "It will be delivered to your father's office by this evening."
Arthur nodded—this much was hefty enough for a reward.
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A/N:- Hope you are enjoying the story so far.