Although Yuto had already met Iskandar and Gilgamesh, two kings who had left famous names in human history, he still felt amazed when he heard the name of the man in front of him.
Heracles.
That was the name of a legendary hero known almost everywhere.
Among the many heroes of Greek mythology, his name was without doubt one of the most famous.
He was a "great hero" who stood above other heroes.
A hero among heroes.
Whether it was because of the great things he had done, or because of the kind of person he was, he fully deserved to be called a great hero.
Everyone in the restaurant was surprised by Heracles.
Even in the world of dragons, Heracles was known as a brave, fearless man with terrifying strength.
Yuto served him grilled meat and mead.
However, the way Heracles ate did not really match his rough and powerful appearance.
Yuto had thought he would eat in a wild, messy way.
But to his surprise, Heracles ate in a rather refined manner.
He was not as elegant as young ladies who had been trained in proper etiquette, but his manners were already very good.
Even while sitting, his huge body was still taller than everyone else in the restaurant.
And even while eating, he did not remove the lion helmet on his head.
When Heracles had first entered the restaurant, Yuto had been surprised by how detailed and beautiful that lion helmet was.
Now that he knew who Heracles was, he was no longer surprised.
The reason the lion helmet looked so real and detailed was simple.
It had been made from the head of a real lion.
The child of the giant Typhon—The Nemean Lion.
The target of Heracles's first labor.
After Heracles killed the Nemean Lion, he used its body to make his lion armor.
"This is an extremely delicious dish! I never ate anything this good in Greece."
Heracles finished all the grilled meat with a bright and satisfied expression.
His huge hand, as large as a palm-leaf fan, held a cup filled with mead.
Even the large cup Yuto had specially bought looked small in his hand.
After speaking, he drank the whole cup in one go.
"Thank you for the compliment."
Yuto smiled calmly as he spoke to him.
Heracles also showed a simple and honest smile.
"I originally thought that beyond that door would be another trial from the gods. I never expected it to be a restaurant."
Heracles's voice was bright and straightforward.
Just from his voice, it was easy to tell that he was an open and honest person.
Hearing his words, Yuto could not help smiling.
While Yuto spoke with him, Erina and the others nearby were also watching Heracles.
They whispered among themselves.
"So this is the great hero from Greek mythology... He really does look close to the stories."
"With that kind of body... killing a lion sounds pretty believable..."
"Even in our world, Heracles is very famous."
"Mm~ mm~ That's right~"
"Eh—then what is he like in Tohru's world?"
"Mm... He's almost like a war god. He's also our enemy! If we ran into him, he would be very troublesome."
"His image is surprisingly similar in every world..."
The four girls quietly talked among themselves.
As for Heracles, Rimuru had already started asking him about the Twelve Labors.
The Twelve Labors of Heracles were stories many people had heard in different ways when they were children.
Especially for boys, this kind of heroic journey was very attractive.
"Of course. Which labor do you want to hear about?"
Heracles agreed to Rimuru's request very easily.
Rimuru immediately bounced twice in delight.
"Can you tell all of them?"
After asking that, he seemed a little embarrassed.
"All right!"
Heracles nodded, then began telling the story of his Twelve Labors.
Yuto also listened very seriously.
Although he had read the story of the Twelve Labors when he was very young, hearing it directly from the person who had done them was a completely different experience.
Heracles began from the first labor.
When he spoke about wrestling the great lion, hunting the Hydra, chasing the hind, and subduing the boar, his expression became bright and passionate.
Even though those dangerous events had happened a long time ago, they clearly still left a deep impression on him.
When he mentioned cleaning the stables, however, his expression became very helpless, as if he did not even want to remember it.
Everyone listened seriously as Heracles told those myth-like stories.
The man-eating birds...
The bull...
The golden apples...
One dangerous and exciting story after another came from the great hero's mouth.
His expression also changed as he spoke.
Gradually, he reached the final labor among the Twelve Labors.
That was the cunning king's final demand.
He wanted Heracles to go to the underworld and bring back Cerberus.
Cerberus was the guard dog of the underworld and no ordinary human could approach it.
Its body was wrapped in the deathly air of the underworld. Anyone who stood before it would find it almost impossible to leave alive.
Even ordinary heroes could only beg before Cerberus, or rely on sleep drugs to avoid fighting it.
"Cerberus's teeth were very sharp. Even the Nemean Lion could not compare to it. The deathly air around its body was also more troublesome than the Hydra's poison breath."
"But luckily, I was a little stronger than it. After I knocked it unconscious, I carried it back to the human world."
Heracles said it very simply, but Yuto could not help smiling inwardly.
Knocking out the three-headed hound of hell as a human hero... that was not simple at all.
In Greek mythology, Heracles seemed to be the only one who had done that.
"After I completed those twelve labors, Hermes gave me a..."
Just as Heracles was about to continue telling what happened afterward, the restaurant door opened.
Standing at the entrance was a delicate and adorable little girl with white hair.
She wore white pajamas, and her red eyes looked empty.
Her long white hair fell loosely around her, like gathered snow.
She stood there and looked into the restaurant with surprise and loneliness on her face.
When she saw Heracles's back, her pupils shrank slightly.
It was as if she had seen something impossible!
"Ber... Berserker?"
The little girl tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.
...
When the little girl said "Berserker," everyone in the restaurant was confused.
None of them had met this little girl before, so naturally, they did not connect that name to themselves.
Because of that, Yuto and the others all looked toward Heracles.
Heracles also showed a strange and confused expression.
His broad, bear-like back slowly turned around.
When he saw the white-haired little girl standing at the entrance, doubt appeared in his eyes.
But under that doubt, there was also a faint trace of disbelief.
"Berserker? Are you calling me?"
Even when Heracles asked a question, his loud voice did not become much softer.
Although his face was partly covered in shadow beneath the lion's head, his features could still be seen clearly.
His eyes were sharp and full of spirit, and his roughly trimmed stubble gave him a strong, mature look.
When the girl at the entrance saw Heracles's face, the confusion on her face quickly turned into joy.
"Berserker!"
The little girl happily walked toward Heracles.
Standing in front of the great hero, her body looked like a tiny sparrow.
Just one of Heracles's thighs was almost as thick as her whole body.
She raised her head and looked up at Heracles beneath the lion's head.
Her eyes were full of joy and surprise!
Heracles frowned.
In his memories, which were filled with countless dangers, there had never been this little girl before him.
He was certain that he did not know her.
But... she knew him.
"Sorry. I am not this Berserker you speak of. My name is Heracles."
Heracles explained seriously to the little girl.
The little girl's eyes flickered like glowing rubies.
But in that gaze, there were many complicated emotions.
After a short silence, the little girl seemed to let something go.
She also seemed to clearly understand something as a relieved look appeared in her eyes.
The corner of her mouth gently curved into a cute and beautiful smile.
"I understand.... Heracles, my name is Illya." Illya spoke softly.
Her voice was like the first bird singing in spring.
There was a strange calm in her words, one that made people feel a little complicated inside.
Although Heracles still looked somewhat confused, he nodded.
Even though he did not know the girl in front of him, for some unknown reason... he felt strangely close to her.
That strange closeness seemed to have crossed many years and many worlds, carrying a weight that was hard to explain.
Perhaps Heracles himself had not noticed it yet.
But his eyes, which were usually as firm as stone, had already softened.
"This Berserker you mentioned... does he look very much like me?"
Heracles could not help asking.
Illya smiled softly.
Her small body looked like a lonely butterfly dancing over an empty land.
Although she was smiling, she gave off a deep sense of loneliness and sadness.
That feeling made everyone in the restaurant feel pity for her.
Heracles's brows furrowed even more.
Although he did not know Illya, for some reason, when he saw that expression on her face, anger rose in his heart.
Without realizing it, the great hero clenched his fist.
"Mm. Heracles and Berserker are very similar..." Illya spoke with a light smile.
Heracles nodded slightly.
"If he resembles me so much, then I would like to meet this Berserker." Heracles spoke calmly.
Light appeared in Illya's eyes, and a small smile curved at the corner of her mouth.
"If possible, I can introduce Berserker to Heracles."
Her words made Heracles nod quietly.
Although he was curious, this was still his first time meeting Illya.
It was better to stay calm.
Yuto had been quietly watching the conversation between Heracles and Illya the whole time.
Although Illya's behavior just now had left him very confused, from an outsider's view, Illya and Heracles actually looked strangely natural together.
Their difference in size was clearly huge.
Yet for some reason, looking at them gave people the feeling of a father and daughter.
"Um... Illya, would you like something to eat?"
Yuto took the initiative to ask.
Illya shook her head.
"Thank you onii-san, but I already ate dinner earlier, so I'm not hungry right now."
Illya was very polite.
Although she was only wearing pajamas, the manners she showed made her look like a little princess in formal clothes.
Yuto nodded lightly and did not ask further.
He could tell.
Right now, Illya was clearly more interested in Heracles.
"Heracles, can you tell me your story?"
When Illya asked, Heracles nodded.
And so he began telling his story again, including the Twelve Labors he had already told earlier.
But this time, his tone was much gentler.
It was like he was telling his own daughter about her proud and glorious father.
Illya listened to Heracles's story with wonder and joy in her eyes.
"Heracles really is an amazing hero..."
Illya's words carried a depth that made Yuto think.
She clearly looked no older than a little girl, yet she gave off the feeling of someone much more mature.
"I only completed the tasks I was supposed to complete. It is nothing amazing."
Heracles gently shook his head.
"That's not true. Heracles protected many people from those monsters and helped many weak people too. Heracles is a hero, an amazing hero!"
Illya raised a finger and spoke with a little dissatisfaction, but there was also pride in her voice.
Heracles froze slightly, then a helpless smile appeared on his face.
"Say what you like."
Faced with Illya's words, he chose to go along with her.
"Hehe~~"
Illya smiled a little proudly.
Her smile was beautiful, but it also carried a lonely feeling, like a crescent moon hanging at the edge of the night sky.
After laughing for a few moments, Illya's expression suddenly became a little conflicted and low.
"Hey... Bers... Heracles... would you protect me?"
Illya looked up at Heracles as if she was pleading with him.
There was expectation in her eyes, but also nervousness.
Heracles fell silent for a moment.
He did not know Illya.
He was also certain that Illya was not someone from his world.
He did not understand why Illya would suddenly ask this.
But still...
"I will."
Yes.
He would.
Even if he did not know her.
Even if he was still confused.
Was protecting the weak not what a hero should do?
He was Heracles!
He would never allow an innocent, weak person to be bullied before his eyes.
That was the principle he followed.
And...
When facing Illya...
He felt a strange compassion that even he could not explain.
He was willing to protect her with his life.
"Thank you, Heracles!" Illya smiled happily.
This time, her smile was much warmer than before.
It was like flowers blooming after spring finally arrived~