My Family in the Novel?

Three days had passed since that memorable morning shared with Aria and Elena. Life resumed its usual rhythm, with my daily training sessions progressing steadily.

Despite still falling short of defeating my instructor in pure swordsmanship, I found solace in the fact that I managed to land a few hits this time around—a significant improvement from my previous dismal performance.

These small victories bolstered my confidence, making each training session more enjoyable.

What made it even better was the addition of Elena, Aria, and Louise to the training sessions.

While they didn't partake in swordsmanship like me, they joined in group combat exercises.

It seemed that the church had plans to incorporate them into my party once I received permission to depart from the holy kingdom.

Although I technically didn't need their permission to leave, I appreciated their efforts in training me and providing the resources needed to prepare for my journey.

Besides, their involvement in my training also served to strengthen my future wives, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Despite the slight restrictions on my actions imposed by the church, I couldn't deny the advantages of their support.

'Aria and Elena always found ways to annoy each other despite the technical threesome we had….?'

Aria and Louise also displayed remarkable synchronization in their formation during training, which took me by surprise.

I had initially anticipated that Louise, being a spirit summoner, might struggle to coordinate her summons with Aria's barrage of spells.

However, it quickly became evident that my concerns were unfounded.

Aria's mastery of magic had skyrocketed, surpassing all expectations. Her proficiency with spells had reached unprecedented levels, likely owing to her innate mana sensitivity and exceptional control.

While the Staff of Estelle undoubtedly played a role in her progress, I noticed that she only utilized its mana buff during training sessions, eschewing any other enhancements it provided.

It was clear that Aria approached our group lessons with utmost seriousness and dedication.

Meanwhile, Elena and I found ourselves naturally complementing each other in battle, just as anticipated.

As the saintess and the hero, our synergy was unparalleled.

Merely being in each other's presence acted as a significant buff; it was as though the very air around us crackled with heightened energy.

Whenever Elena invoked her divine abilities, the effect on both my holy sword and my physical form was nothing short of astonishing.

It was as if I were drawing from an infinite wellspring of divinity, each stroke of my blade imbued with newfound power. And Elena herself possessed an awe-inspiring reservoir of divine energy, perhaps the most potent among our team.

The relic she wielded was a force to be reckoned with, akin to a dormant nuclear weapon awaiting activation.

Even the slightest employment of its power would radiate an aura akin to the sun, capable of scorching all but me, immune as I was to its divine intensity.

However, Aria and Louise often found themselves needing to adjust their strategies whenever Elena unleashed her solar powers, lest they fall victim to its searing wrath.

To manage this immense potential responsibly, we established a rule: Elena would only unleash her sun-inspired abilities when I required an infusion of divine energy, or in dire emergencies.

This arrangement ensured that we could harness her incredible power effectively while minimizing collateral damage to our party and future allies.

Throughout our training journey, there was one thing that really warmed my heart: seeing the girls' bond growing stronger day by day, even without my direct involvement.

It was a relief to witness this, as I had been worrying incessantly about potential conflicts arising from my upcoming marriage to four women.

But now, it seemed those worries were unfounded, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Well, except for the small hurdle of convincing my mom to accept them all, but I was optimistic that we could work through that together.

"It appears that your training is drawing to a close, Sir Hero,"

As I stood before a man dressed in the typical attire of a priest from the Holy Nation, a gentle smile graced his lips as he spoke.

His name escaped me in that moment was it, Jeff? I can't really remember, as I've never been great with names, especially when it comes to older folks. And especially when said older folks seem to have wandering eyes for my fiancées.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at the subtle glances he threw their way. If he wasn't part of the church, I might've given him a piece of my mind then and there.

But for now, I chose to let it slide, since he hadn't crossed any lines beyond just looking from afar. But if he dared to push it further, well, let's just say his visit to the cathedral might end on a much more dramatic note.

"Yeah, well, it did take me almost three weeks just to land a hit on my teacher though," I replied with a hint of self-deprecation.

"You're quite humble, sir hero. I don't think there's a single person out here in the Holy Kingdom whose sword skills are better than Sir Libert's. So the fact that you can land a few hits off of him in just a matter of weeks is the most impressive feat there is. Not even the high-ranking paladins can land a single hit off him," he remarked, a chuckle accompanying his words.

"Is that so...?" I responded casually, accustomed to his talkative nature.

He was always one to engage in conversation, his bald head glinting in the morning daylight.

For the past few days, he had been one of the few priests openly monitoring my progress.

I wasn't sure if it was at the request of someone higher up or if he was simply curious about my training. Either way, it seemed more likely to be the former.

As we made our way towards the grand cathedral, it became apparent that the pope had something important to announce to me.

Although I had a few guesses, considering the information I had provided him, it seemed that the time had come to make a move.

….

Arriving in front of the grand cathedral, as always, I was struck by its imposing and grandiose structure.

The architecture of this place was truly exceptional, a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of those who had built it.

As we entered inside, my eyes were drawn to a figure kneeling in front of the gigantic cross-like altar.

Even from behind, his presence exuded authority and power. I couldn't help but wonder if one naturally acquired such an aura upon becoming the ruler of such a vast country.

"Supreme Pontiff, the hero has arrived!" Jeff's voice rang out, breaking the solemn silence of the cathedral. He bowed deeply before slowly stepping back, still maintaining his respectful posture, until he closed the massive doors behind me with a soft thud.

I walked forward to greet him, a sense of reverence mingling with curiosity within me.

"Good morning, Sir Hero. I hope I didn't ruin your day by calling you here so early," he greeted me with a warm smile.

"Don't worry about that. I tend to wake up early these days," I assured him.

"Hoho, is that because of your lovely ladies or the atmosphere of the kingdom itself?" he teased, a twinkle in his eye.

"Do you really need to know?" I responded, trying to keep the conversation light.

"Hahaha, you really can't take a joke, Sir Hero. Although it may seem like I'm jesting, I genuinely want to forge a closer bond with you," he admitted.

"I think being together with Elena is already quite the close connection, wouldn't you agree?" I replied, hinting at the deep bond I shared with my beloved.

"Indeed..." he nodded, his expression betraying a hint of disappointment. Honestly, I had no desire to form a closer relationship with this old man Bishop Austin, Elena's father might be someone I'd try to get close to, but the Pope was another matter entirely. I preferred our relationship to remain as it was.

"So, what did you call me here for?" I inquired, sensing my eagerness to move the conversation forward.

He sighed, his disappointment evident, but he chuckled softly, acknowledging my efficiency as always.

"Let's take a seat first," he suggested, gesturing towards the pews in the church.

"Sir hero, what are your thoughts on the holy kingdom so far?" the elderly Pope inquired, his voice resonating with curiosity as he looked at the gigantic cross on the altar.

"I thought you wanted to tell me something important?"

"Now, now, there's no need to rush. I just want to hear your opinion," the Pope insisted gently, his eyes fixed on me with a knowing gaze.

I sighed inwardly, realizing he was right. Despite my impatience, I couldn't deny that sharing my thoughts might be worthwhile, especially given the weight of recent events.

What are my thoughts about this whole place huh? In all honesty probably nothing but… I'm sure he wouldn't want that type of direct answer.

"Well, one thing I can say is it's different," I began cautiously.

"What exactly do you mean by the word 'different'?" the Pope prodded, leaning forward with interest.

"Everything," I replied, feeling the weight of my words, honestly what I was about to say was my pure outlook and opinion of this place with a sprinkle of some bullshit.

"From the people to the place to the food to the houses, wherever you go, it's truly different. Even from the rumors about this place from the world outside this holy kingdom. I may not have explored a bunch of countries myself, but one thing I can confirm is that the holy kingdom is unique."

"Unique…. Unique huh? Can I take that as a positive outlook of this country?" the Pope inquired, a hint of hope in his voice.

"I guess so? Why are you asking me about all of this in the first place?" I couldn't help but wonder, feeling a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"We are at turbulent times, sir hero… And you are the hope the world needs right now. I think asking for your opinion for a country I deeply care about is a valid thing, no?" the Pope explained solemnly, his gaze unwavering.

"Is that so…." I murmured, pondering his words. As always, this old pope had a way of saying things without actually saying what he truly meant. Yet, his sincerity was unmistakable.

"I guess the holy kingdom will just have to make do with that for now," he said, his gentle smile belying the gravity of his words.

As he spoke, his hands began to shimmer, a soft glow enveloping them as he brought them together in a quiet clap.

Instantly, a surge of divine energy surrounded us, matching the intensity of Elena's own powers.

With a swift movement, he drew a symbol in the air, murmuring a word under his breath, "SOLA." Like a magician invoking a spell, the divine energy coalesced into a single point before expanding, morphing into a holographic screen reminiscent of the communication cystals we were familiar with.

Before us appeared a scene—an image of a city, or perhaps more accurately, a rural village. But confusion quickly replaced any sense of familiarity as demonic beasts prowled its outskirts.

The scene shifted abruptly, revealing chaos unfolding in a city near the holy kingdom. Explosions rent the air, filling the streets with smoke and panic.

Then, in the blink of an eye, we were transported to the open seas, where a colossal black serpent wreaked havoc, crushing fishing and trading ships with ease.

And still, the scenes shifted and changed, each one more dire than the last, showcasing a world teetering on the brink of calamity.

"For the last couple of weeks, all of these disasters have been happening in the world, sir hero," he explained solemnly, his voice tinged with concern.

Damn, all of the things he showed me actually happened? I could take a few guesses as to where and who did it, but to think that all of those events occurred... And here I thought only the north bore the brunt of destruction.

I guess the presence of the demon lords truly disrupts the balance of the world. If I weren't around to offset it, the goddess would probably have to personally intervene.

"I guess there was a reason you never let me go this entire time…" I mused aloud, a sense of realization dawning upon me.

"We had a few personal reasons to delay your departure, but this was part of it…" the elder explained cryptically. "Demons aren't the only thing you will have to face once you really go out there. Humans, beasts, monsters, and even other intelligent races... Everything will become your enemy if you don't know who's who. Truly, the world is starting to fall into shambles as the advent of the demon king arises."

Indeed, what he said rang true. Throughout all the scenes he had shown me, none of it was ever done by demons alone. Sure, there might be corrupted beasts here and there, but most of the chaos was wrought by human hands themselves.

Attacking peaceful villages and cities to proclaim their allegiance to the demon king that was yet to arrive… Humans truly are the most treacherous beings out there.

Most kings even closed their borders, so international relations are probably at a high strain now.

"For the last few weeks, the Emperor of the Lumenian Empire and I, along with other world leaders, had gathered to make plans and amend what is happening in the world right now. But it seems it isn't enough. The world needs you now, sir hero… if only we hadn't restricted you, maybe the north wouldn't have fallen," he said in a somber tone, his words heavy with regret.

"Sir hero, I believe it's time you went on your journey," he continued, his voice firm yet filled with a sense of urgency.

As if on cue, a new message appeared before me:

[Note: New quest!]

[Mission name: Saving the world]

[The world is under great peril as the advent of the demon king emerges. Demons have swarmed and taken over the northern countries, and villages have been ravaged by his dark followers. The world needs you, sir hero!]

[Do you wish to accept?]

[Yes/No]

Without hesitation, I clicked "Yes."

Seeing as the system screens popped at the perfect timing I wondered if the goddess was watching right now….