Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 269

Chapter 269 Chapter 63.1 - Divergence

What does it mean to be a hero?

A child once wondered. At the age when the children followed their peers on the streets while playing, his mind was filled with such questions.

Why? One would ask. After all, even if the child wanted to be a hero, for what reason those thoughts were implemented into his head?

Was it natural? Was it his innate desire or his very being that was selfless?

The answer would certainly vary from person to person and maybe even evolve with the exploration of the science.

But for the boy, his desire came from his dreams.

Standing in the middle of the battlefield…Against countless different beings that he deemed as his enemies….

Behind him, his comrades, standing proud of their choices…..

It was the scene he continuously saw in his dreams….

But what were those dreams about? Was the person standing in front of everyone with a spear himself?

That would be cool.

That was certainly true. In the eyes of that young kid, the man who swept through enemies looked incredibly cool.

Cooler than anything else in this world.

However, the reason why the man looked cool in the eyes of the boy wasn't because he was flashy and destroyed his enemies efficiently.

After all, not all the time, that man faced the enemies.

The reason was the fact that the man always pushed himself to the limits, so much so that the people standing behind him would never suffer.

Maybe he himself had suffered, or maybe not.

He knew what it meant to suffer. He was gentle yet firm. Whenever he was in front of the enemy, he didn't hesitate, but he never lost his gentleness.

Even faced with betrayals or harsh words, the man never stopped.

He was injured, and his body was tattered. Yet he still kept moving forward.

But at the end of the day, the boy knew one thing. The fact that that person he saw in his dreams was the hero.

The boy admired the hero in his dreams for his selflessness and commitment to protect others.

Amidst the echoes of clashing swords, he found the embodiment of his aspirations and a symbol of strength in character and determination.

And what was this boy's name?

"Ethan." The voice called out, pulling the young child with wavy blue hair and shining eyes from his thoughts. He turned to find his older brother, a mirror image with the same captivating eyes and similar features.

"Ah, brother."

"What are you doing here?"

"I was just thinking about heroes."

His brother chuckled, ruffling Ethan's hair affectionately. "Heroes, huh? What brought that up?"

Ethan's eyes gleamed with excitement as he recounted his dreams and the heroic figure that dominated them. "I dream about this amazing hero, you know? He stands in the middle of battles, protecting everyone behind him."

Hearing this, his brother couldn't help but smile a little, as if reminiscing about his childhood.

"No matter how beaten up he gets, he never gives up. He's strong, kind, and determined."

However, as Ethan's enthusiastic words echoed, a subtle change swept over his brother's face. The playful glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by a more serious and contemplative expression. His features, once softened by affection, became stern and guarded.

"Ethan," his brother began, his tone more measured, "heroes are admirable, but the world out there isn't as pure as the dreams in your head."

Ethan looked up at his brother, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What do you mean, brother?"

His brother sighed a hint of weight in his words. "In real life, battles are not just about protecting others. They involve sacrifice, tough choices, and consequences that aren't always clear-cut. It's not always about being the strongest or the most determined. Sometimes, it's about making hard decisions for the greater good."

Ethan's excitement began to wane, replaced by a somber realization. "But, I want to be like the hero in my dreams. The one who never gives up."

His brother placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "And you can, Ethan. But being a hero means facing the harsh realities of the world. It means understanding that sometimes, protecting others comes with a price. You have to be strong, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. It's a heavy burden to carry."

Ethan absorbed his brother's words, the echoes of clashing swords in his dreams now carrying a weight he hadn't considered before.

The world his brother spoke of seemed more complex, less black and white than the heroic tales he envisioned.

"Remember, Ethan," his brother continued, "true strength lies in wisdom, in making choices that are for the greater good, even if they are difficult. It's not always about standing in the middle of a battlefield; it's about knowing when to fight and when to find other ways to protect."

However, no matter who said those words, how could a child who had yet to experience the world himself understand all those things just from a bunch of words?

Even if he had absorbed some of them in his end, at the end of the day, he continued to see that dream again and again…..

*******

But then again, does the world operate in the way people wish?