Chapter 11: Unveiling the True Hero!

The Northern Woods were thick with tension as Ryuto and Roland moved through the underbrush, carefully following the tracks of a small band of goblins that had been harassing the nearby villages. The reports had come into the guild that morning, crops raided, livestock stolen, and the occasional traveler attacked on the roads. It wasn't anything too serious, not by adventurer standards, but the presence of goblins was never a good sign.

Ryuto kept his gaze fixed ahead, his mind focused. They had been tracking the goblins for over an hour now, and the closer they got, the more uneasy he felt. Goblins were bad enough, but something told him there was more to this raid than just a band of mischievous creatures.

"I don't like this," Roland muttered beside him, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. "There's something off about this whole thing. Why would goblins be this bold, attacking villages this close to town?"

Ryuto nodded. "I've been thinking the same thing. Goblins usually stick to the deeper parts of the forest. For them to be this close means someone's leading them."

"And not just any goblin," Roland added. "A hobgoblin, I'll bet."

A chill ran down Ryuto's spine at the thought. Hobgoblins were a cut above the regular goblins, larger, stronger, smarter. If one was leading this group, it would explain their unusual behavior.

They moved deeper into the woods, their senses on high alert. Ryuto's heart pounded in his chest, though not just from the threat of goblins. Ever since the incident with the Forest Behemoth, he had been more cautious, more aware of every move he made. Galeth had been keeping a close eye on him, and Ryuto knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

As if on cue, the distant sound of goblin chatter reached their ears. Ryuto raised a hand, signaling for Roland to stop. They crouched low, moving silently through the thick foliage until the goblins came into view.

There they were, six goblins gathered around a small campfire, their shrill voices carrying on the wind. But it wasn't the goblins that caught Ryuto's attention. It was the hulking figure standing behind them, half-hidden in the shadows of the trees.

A hobgoblin.

The creature was massive, easily twice the size of a normal goblin, with green skin covered in scars and muscles bulging under its ragged armor. It held a jagged sword, its eyes scanning the area as if expecting trouble.

"Called it," Roland whispered, his voice barely audible. "What's the plan?"

Ryuto's mind raced. They could take out the regular goblins easily enough, but the hobgoblin was another matter. His magic was powerful, but ever since the Behemoth incident, he had been reluctant to go all out. Using his full strength might draw unwanted attention, especially if Galeth was still watching.

But what choice did he have?

"We need to take out the goblins first," Ryuto whispered. "Then we can focus on the hobgoblin. But be ready, he's not going to go down easy."

Roland nodded, and they moved into position, staying low and out of sight. The goblins were still chattering, oblivious to the danger lurking just beyond the trees.

With a quick motion, Ryuto unleashed a blast of fire toward the campfire, sending flames roaring toward the goblins. The creatures shrieked in panic as the fire engulfed them, their small bodies no match for the magical attack.

But as the fire died down, the hobgoblin roared in fury, its beady eyes locking onto Ryuto and Roland.

"Here we go," Roland muttered, drawing his sword.

The hobgoblin charged at them, its jagged sword raised high. Roland stepped forward to meet the attack, but the hobgoblin's strength was overwhelming. It swung its sword with brutal force, and Roland barely managed to block the blow, stumbling back under the impact.

Ryuto's heart pounded as he watched his friend struggle. There was no time to hold back. He had to act.

Channeling his magic, Ryuto focused on the hobgoblin, gathering power into his hands. Flames crackled around him, growing hotter and more intense by the second.

"Ryuto, now!" Roland shouted, ducking under another swing of the hobgoblin's sword.

With a shout, Ryuto unleashed his magic in a single, concentrated blast of fire. The flames shot forward like a roaring inferno, slamming into the hobgoblin with devastating force.

The creature let out a guttural roar as the fire engulfed it, its armor melting under the heat. In seconds, the hobgoblin was reduced to a pile of smoldering ash, the ground scorched black where it had stood.

Ryuto stood there, panting, the residual heat from his magic still clinging to the air around him. The battle was over, but as the flames died down, a cold realization settled over him.

Someone was watching.

From the edge of the clearing, Galeth Van Holland stepped into view, his expression unreadable.

Ryuto froze the moment he saw Galeth emerge from the trees. The adrenaline from the battle drained away, replaced by a cold, sinking feeling in his gut. He had been careful up until now, always hiding his true strength, always holding back. But this time, with the hobgoblin charging at them, he hadn't had a choice.

And now, Galeth had seen everything.

The legendary adventurer's eyes were sharp, his silver armor gleaming in the afternoon light as he stepped closer. His gaze moved from the charred remains of the hobgoblin to Ryuto, clearly piecing everything together.

"You," Galeth said, his voice calm but laced with tension. "That was no ordinary spell."

Roland, still catching his breath from the fight, shot a quick glance at Ryuto. It was clear from his expression that he, too, realized how bad the situation had just become. Ryuto could feel Roland's silent plea for him to stay quiet, to deny everything.

But Ryuto knew it was too late. The flames that had erupted from him moments ago weren't the work of some beginner magic user. No one could pretend that kind of power was normal.

For a long, tense moment, the three of them stood in silence, Galeth watching, Roland waiting for Ryuto's next move, and Ryuto himself feeling the weight of what he had just unleashed.

Finally, Ryuto exhaled slowly, forcing himself to meet Galeth's gaze. "Yeah," he admitted, his voice low. "That was me."

Galeth didn't react at first, his face still unreadable. Then he stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So, it was you who killed the Forest Behemoth."

It wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact. Ryuto felt his chest tighten. There was no point in denying it now. The truth was out.

"I didn't mean for it to happen," Ryuto said, his voice quiet but steady. "We were in the forest, and the Behemoth attacked us. I… I had to do something. I didn't want to die."

Galeth's expression remained neutral, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes, perhaps understanding, or maybe even admiration. But his voice remained firm.

"You realize what this means, don't you?" Galeth asked. "You've been hiding your true strength all this time. Your magic is powerful, far too powerful for someone your age. And the fact that you've concealed it until now is… concerning."

Ryuto swallowed hard, but he didn't flinch. "I didn't want to draw attention. I didn't ask for this power. I just… I just wanted to live a normal life."

Galeth studied him for a moment longer, then let out a slow breath. "I understand. But this isn't something that can be ignored. You're not a normal kid, Ryuto. And your magic, " He glanced at the smoldering remains of the hobgoblin. ", it's far beyond what most adventurers could ever dream of."

Roland stepped forward, his voice cautious. "Look, Galeth, we didn't mean any harm. Ryuto's been trying to lay low. We didn't think it was a good idea to… you know, make a big deal out of it."

Galeth turned to Roland, nodding slightly. "I understand your friend's concern. But this is beyond just keeping a low profile. Power like this, uncontrolled, unregulated, it's dangerous. The guild needs to know."

Ryuto felt a cold chill run down his spine. He had known this was coming the moment he unleashed his magic, but hearing Galeth confirm it made it all too real. His secret was out, and now there was no going back.

"What happens now?" Ryuto asked, his voice quiet.

Galeth's expression softened slightly. "You come with me to the guild. We'll assess your abilities properly. No more hiding."

Ryuto glanced at Roland, who looked just as worried as he felt. But there was no other option now. If they didn't go with Galeth, it would only raise more suspicion. They couldn't afford to make things worse.

"Alright," Ryuto said, nodding slowly. "Let's go."

The walk back to the adventurers' guild was quiet. Ryuto's mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but none of them brought him any comfort. Roland walked beside him, clearly trying to stay calm, though his nervous glances told Ryuto everything he needed to know, his friend was just as scared as he was.

When they arrived at the guild, the usual hustle and bustle of adventurers preparing for quests filled the large hall. Ryuto could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on him, though whether it was real or imagined, he couldn't be sure. He had always flown under the radar, just another young adventurer in training. But now, all that was about to change.

Galeth led them straight to the guildmaster's office, a stern, gray-haired man named Dolan who had seen more than his share of legendary quests and powerful adventurers.

Dolan's eyes narrowed as they entered. "Galeth, what is this about?"

"This boy," Galeth began, gesturing to Ryuto, "isn't what he seems. His magic is beyond anything we've seen in this town. He killed the Forest Behemoth."

The guildmaster raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Ryuto. "Is that true?"

Ryuto nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

Dolan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "I see. We'll need to confirm that."

He gestured to a large, glowing orb that sat on a pedestal in the corner of the room, the seeing sphere, a magical device used to measure an adventurer's stats and abilities. Ryuto had seen other adventurers use it before, but now, standing in front of it, his stomach twisted in knots. There was no turning back from this.

"Place your hand on the sphere," Dolan instructed.

Ryuto stepped forward, his heart pounding. He hesitated for a moment, then pressed his palm against the cool surface of the sphere.

At first, nothing happened. Then, the orb began to glow brighter and brighter, its light pulsing with increasing intensity. Ryuto felt the magic inside him surge, as if the sphere was pulling it out of him, measuring every ounce of power he possessed.

The glow became blinding, and the room was filled with a humming sound as the sphere struggled to contain the raw magical energy pouring from Ryuto. Suddenly, with a loud crack, the sphere shattered, sending shards of glass flying across the room.

Ryuto stumbled back in shock, his heart racing as the room fell into stunned silence. Galeth and Dolan exchanged a look of disbelief.

Dolan stood slowly, brushing glass off his desk. "Well," he said, his voice calm but laced with awe, "I think that confirms it."

"Oh shit!" Ryuto thought as the realization hit him like a freight train.

The room was still as everyone absorbed what had just happened. The seeing sphere, designed to measure even the most powerful adventurers, lay in shattered pieces across the floor. The glow of magic that had emanated from it had vanished, leaving behind only stunned silence. Ryuto stood there, his hand still trembling from the surge of power that had caused the sphere to explode.

Guildmaster Dolan rubbed his temples, clearly trying to process the situation. "That sphere has been in use for over a decade," he muttered. "It's never… never once shattered like this."

Galeth, still standing beside Ryuto, crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing. "I've seen a lot of powerful magic users in my time, but this… this is something else." He turned to Ryuto, his voice firm but not unkind. "You're not just some talented kid, Ryuto. You're something much more."

Ryuto didn't respond. He was still trying to catch his breath, his mind racing. What did this mean for him now? He had spent so long trying to hide his abilities, to keep his life as normal as possible. But now it was all out in the open, and there was no going back.

Dolan finally spoke again, his tone more serious. "We have no choice but to report this to the King immediately. He needs to know that we have someone with this level of power in our midst."

Ryuto's stomach dropped at the mention of the King. "The King?" he echoed, his voice quieter than he intended. "Why… why would he need to know?"

Dolan leaned forward, his expression grave. "Because magic on this scale can't be ignored, especially by the crown. You're no ordinary adventurer, Ryuto. With this kind of strength, you could change the balance of power in the kingdom, and the King will want to ensure you're on his side."

Ryuto's chest tightened. This was exactly what he had feared. He didn't want to become some tool for the kingdom, some pawn in the royal court's games. He just wanted to live his life, maybe take a few quests here and there, and enjoy his time with his friends. But now, it seemed like those days were over.

Galeth stepped forward, placing a hand on Ryuto's shoulder. "You'll need to go to the capital soon. The King will want to see you in person. This kind of power doesn't go unnoticed."

Ryuto swallowed hard. The capital. Meeting the King. He had always dreamed of going there, but not like this. Not as some prodigy being paraded in front of royalty.

"When will I be summoned?" Ryuto asked, his voice shaky.

Dolan glanced at Galeth, then back at Ryuto. "As soon as we send word. I imagine the summons will come within a few days. You'll need to be ready."

Ryuto sat in his room, staring out the window at the Velclair estate grounds, his mind heavy with the events of the day. The weight of everything was pressing down on him, making it hard to think clearly. He had always known he was different, but he had never imagined it would come to this, being discovered by one of the most powerful adventurers in the kingdom and soon to be summoned by the King himself.

A soft knock at his door broke through his thoughts.

"Ryuto?" Roland's voice came from the other side. "Can I come in?"

Ryuto didn't answer right away. Part of him wanted to be alone, but he knew Roland was just as shaken by everything as he was. "Yeah… come in."

Roland entered the room, his usual carefree expression replaced with one of concern. He sat on the edge of Ryuto's bed, running a hand through his hair. "So… this is happening, huh? You're going to the capital."

Ryuto nodded slowly. "I guess so. I don't have much of a choice."

Roland sighed. "I didn't think it would get this big. I mean, I always knew you had crazy magic, but I thought we could just… I don't know, keep it between us."

"Me too," Ryuto admitted. "But Galeth… he saw everything. And that sphere… I didn't mean to destroy it."

"You were just being yourself," Roland said, trying to comfort him. "It's not like you could help it."

Ryuto appreciated Roland's attempt to lighten the mood, but it didn't make the situation any less daunting. "What if the King decides to use me? Or worse, what if he decides I'm too dangerous?"

"Hey, come on," Roland said, clapping him on the back. "You're not some villain. You've been using your magic to help people. That's gotta count for something."

Ryuto sighed. "I hope you're right."

They sat in silence for a few moments before Roland stood up. "Well, whatever happens, you're not alone in this. Celeste and I have your back. We'll figure it out."

Ryuto offered a small smile. "Thanks, Roland."

The next morning, Ryuto, Roland, and Celeste stood in front of the guild as Galeth prepared to leave. He had delivered his report to the guildmaster, and now it was only a matter of time before the King's summons arrived.

Galeth approached Ryuto, his expression serious but not unfriendly. "I'll be heading to the capital ahead of you, Ryuto. When the summons comes, don't be afraid. The King may be stern, but he values strength. Show him what you can do, and you'll have his respect."

Ryuto nodded, though his nerves hadn't lessened. "What if… what if he doesn't approve?"

Galeth's eyes softened. "You're young, but you have a rare gift. The King will see that. Just be true to yourself."

With that, Galeth mounted his horse, giving them one last nod before riding off toward the capital, leaving Ryuto to face the uncertainty of what was to come.