Hero Helping... Again? (5)

Edited by: Kuro and Lille

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While resting in Linus' arms, Grey closed his eyes to pretend he was resting. In actuality, he was having a conversation with System 225.

[Grey! I can finally get through to you. I'm sorry it took so long.] System 225's voice resounded through Grey's mind. It was a voice that Grey missed. [I was watching you the whole time and it was frustrating that I couldn't get through to you…]

'Eh? You were watching me?'

[Of course! I was granted permission from the Gods, but they said they weren't able to let me talk to you until the time limit was up. I was watching you the entire time, and many times, I thought my heart was going to stop… I am really glad you are okay.]

This reminded him of when System 225 first pulled him out of the Villain System's vicious cycle. System 225 was also there, watching him, but powerless to help. This time though, he was able to come back quickly.

This made his heart warm.

'Thank you for watching over me, System 225… And coming back so quickly.'

System 225 knew what Grey was talking about and couldn't help but tear up. [Don't worry, Grey. You know I will always be by your side. I will always be there to help you…]

{Alright, I understand you two are having a heartwarming reunion but now is not the time.} System 505's voice resounded through his ears. Her voice was still deep and powerful. She seemed to be feeling much better.

Arisa's voice chimed in, {That's right! While we weren't allowed in, we eliminated the traces of the Villain System's virus so you should be able to go through this world without any troubles from here on out. This time, there was a piece of the virus in the masked man's body. That was why he was especially cruel toward you, Grey. His treatment was much worse for you than the other children. The only reason you were able to survive was because you are a Host and you received blessings from the Gods of this world. If you didn't, you would have quickly died.}

No wonder Grey felt like his treatment got progressively worse in comparison to the memories Ren had. Though Ren's treatment was bad, it was nothing compared to what Grey had to endure these few months…

'Good to know that I wasn't imagining things.'

[Yes… The Villain System was especially cruel this time. It wanted to take the opportunity to kill you and then possess your body in this world. Once it destroys this world and all of its Gods and souls, the energy it should get would be large. This is an S-ranked world after all.]

'It's a good thing I survived… Thank the Gods for me, if you can.'

[They can hear you right now, so I'm sure they got your thanks. Also, let me send you the missions for this world… Well, due to the Gods of this world interfering with your missions, it's a bit different.]

'That's fine. Send it my way.'

[Understood. Here are your missions.

[Main Mission: Purify the crystal of the Fallen God.

[Side Mission: Help the Hero defeat the Demon King.

[These are the only missions you have. I wish you the best of luck. This is all we wanted to tell you. You should rest up. We know you are tired.]

'Alright, thank you System 225, and thank you Gods for helping me out. I really appreciate it.'

After that, Grey really could feel himself wanting to sleep. He was exhausted. He was on edge for months. However, he couldn't. He had to make sure Vincent was alright.

"Mr. Curtfield…" Grey softly said, his eyes still closed.

"Yes? Is something wrong?"

"Where is Vincent?"

"Vincent? Well, I heard the kids are already out front. There's five of them there."

It seemed things happened while he was conversing with System 225.

"Don't worry. We are almost there. I had to double-check the other rooms in the basement so it took some time for me to meet up with the others."

"It's okay. Just let me know when we are there…"

Grey was really tired. He couldn't even keep his eyes open. Also, his body hurt a lot. Even though he drank the antidote and got the poison out of his system, his internal organs were still a bit damaged. He would need to get ample amounts of rest for the time being.

When Linus arrived at the front where his other coworkers were, he spotted the group of children huddled around the water mages. The children were getting washed up with them. They also had clean clothes off to the side for them. Who knew when and where they got the clothes…

Linus woke Grey up and put him down near the water mages. He waited for him to get clean and dried before picking him up again.

At his side, Vincent was holding onto his cape wondering. "Mr. Knight, I'm Vincent! Is Ren okay?"

"He is, he's just resting. Why don't I take you to the carriage where you can rest with Ren? He was asking about you earlier, hoping you were okay."

"Okay, then I will protect him!"

"That's a good kid." Linus patted Vincent's head and walked them over to the carriage.

Since they still had to search the mansion, all the kids were put into the carriages while the knights searched the place from top to bottom.

Since Grey's status was higher, he was given his own carriage. Linus did remember how worried he was for Vincent though, so he let Vincent stay in the same carriage as him.

The carriage wasn't the fanciest, but it was large enough for both children to lie on the seats together.

Vincent quickly fell asleep knowing that Grey was just resting.

When Linus saw they were okay, he quickly closed the carriage door and joined the other knights.

After going through the estate once more, it was confirmed that Baron Faxil, the mastermind of this whole ordeal, was injured and not able to move. He would be put on trial for the atrocities he committed.

As for his wife and children, they were abused by him but not as bad as the children who were locked up in the basement and died from the cruel treatment. There would be discussions about whether they should be spared or not.

Later, Baron Faxil would be executed.

During the month after being rescued, the children were able to rest and then their families were found. If they didn't have any family, they were sent to the nearest orphanage.

Vincent was one of the children who didn't have a family. He was an orphan even before he was kidnapped. Grey didn't want to be separated from Vincent though, so he made sure to let everyone know that Vincent would be coming with him whether his family liked it or not.

Since he was the beloved third son of the Hansferd family, everyone complied with his wishes.

They were actually in the neighboring kingdom, Krenya Kingdom. The person who saved Ren, Linus Curtfield, was in Krenya on a military international exchange program. Many other countries sent knights and soldiers to the Krenya Kingdom in an agreement so that the kingdom could remain neutral. They wouldn't pick sides or be at war with other countries. If a country were to enact war on the Krenya Kingdom, all other ally countries would fight to defend it.

That was how Krenya was able to maintain peace.

It took a few weeks to travel to Krenya from Tresna, so Ren was patient.

In the meantime, Ren and Vincent were able to rest and heal as much as they could. There were healers among the knights, but they could not heal everything. Some large and deep scars were left on their bodies.

The two were malnourished and small when they were found. By the end of the month, they had a little bit of meat on their small bones.

*****

Exactly a month after Ren and Vincent were found, they got the news that the Hansferd family was at the mansion.

Linus, the one in charge of them, got the two washed up and dressed. He then escorted them outside to wait at the entrance.

In the distance, a large black carriage with horses and knights surrounding it came into view. Black was the color of the Hansferd family to honor the black dragon that blessed them hundreds of years ago.

Seeing the majestic carriage, Linus and Grey were excited. First, Linus would be relieved of childcare duties. Even though Grey and Vincent were good children, he couldn't do anything that the knights were doing, so it put a little damper on his mood.

As for Grey, he was excited to get the hell out of this country and back with his family in this world. Then he would recover some more and train to beat the Demon King. He had to be strong enough to not only train the Hero of this generation but also be strong enough to stand by his side.

He was sure the original Ren would be so happy to see his family again…

And he should be able to meet God System soon! That was the most important out of all of this. He wondered who his husband was in this world…

The black carriage stopped in front of the long line of knights and servants who were ready to greet them. Grey and Vincent were standing next to Linus who was standing in front of the steps leading into the mansion.

There was nobody in the carriage. All the members of the Hansferd family were on horses that surrounded the carriage. The head of the family, Ren's mother, stepped down from her horse first. The moment she locked eyes with Ren, she knew he was her son.

"Ren…"

His mother, Duke Valintine Hansferd, immediately ran over and brought Grey into a hug. It was a tight hug, but not enough to take the air out of him. It seemed like she was afraid that he would disappear the moment she would let go.

"Mom…"

"My baby… My sweet baby. We looked everywhere for you."

"Hmm… I know." It showed because everyone showed up to pick him up. Plus, they were quick to get to him.

Everyone knew that Duke Hansferd loved her youngest son the most, especially because they looked like two peas in a pod. Her two older sons looked just like their father, which made her a little sad. Like she had them in her stomach for months, went through a painful birthing process, only for them to look like their father? That made her a little unhappy. She loved all her sons though, but everyone knew that Ren was her favorite no doubt.

"Dear, we want to see Ren too." General Hansferd stood behind his wife with their two sons who had gotten off their horses.

He had short black hair and a scar running down the left side of his face. He also had purple eyes to signify that he was related to the royal family of the Tresna Kingdom.

The first son looked exactly like their father, except for the scar. The second son had the same hair and eye color as General Hansferd, just different nose and eye shapes.

"Give me a second. I want to make sure my son is really here and alive."

After a few minutes, Duke Hansferd finally let her husband hug Grey as well. Grey was very patient with his parents and siblings who all wanted to hug him.

Vincent was off to the side, happy for Grey, but also a little sad. He was an orphan.

He could never hug his parents again.