What a Hero Should Be, According to a Boy

(Sigh)...

And now you know why Paris has been so down in the dumps lately. He's cute when he's melancholy too, isn't he?

Don't be rude. I'm a god, not a demon.

Nope. Not a thing.

That's what I love about him most. Don't you agree?

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Ugh! Get out of the way, Lord Apollo! (Throwing him like a fuzzy volleyball.)

But whyyy?

...What I'm trying to say is...

There are sooo many amazing heroes at Chaldea, right?

It's intimidating!

You're so cute when you're being openly self-deprecating.

I can't keep going on like this, so I think I better do something about it.

Oh yes, you're cute when you're being analytical, too.

Ugh, I'll never get anywhere if he keeps interrupting...

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Mmmf. It's hard to breathe like this, you know.

Thank you, Master!

Anyway, the problem is... I have no idea what to do about it.

So I thought I'd ask you for help, since you always know just what to do!

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Oh boy, oh boy.

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Asking other heroes for help, huh... Good idea.

Different heroes can have very different opinions depending on the time and place they come from.

Maybe one of them can help Paris find a solution to his problem.

Then again, maybe not.

Come on, Lord Apollo! You're supposed to say something encouraging there!

All right then, let's go see who we can find.

Also, um, Master? I was hoping you could...you know...

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Yay! Thank you, Master!

We can start by just wandering around. Hopefully, we'll run right into someone who can help

Oh, hey Master, hey Paris. What's up?

... ...

Hard pass.

Huh!? Where'd that come from!?

Hmph.

All right, fine. I can tell when I'm not wanted. I'll just make like a tree and leaf then.

Achilles.

Yeah?

Even leaves have a valuable role to play in this world. You shouldn't compare yourself to one.

O-okay.

Leaves have far greater worth than you ever will.

That's it! You're dead, sheep.

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All right, let's try that again!

Yeah!

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This is perfect. There are lots of heroes here. Heck, a whole bunch of them are practically gods.

Let's not even bother with the Greek ones.

I'd also prefer someone friendly and approachable!

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Hm? What's up, Master?

Your timing is perfect; we just finished our meal. Can we help you with something?

Oh, if this is about a simulator battle, I can be ready in no time at

N-nice to meet you, everyone! M-my name's Paris!

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Ahhh, okay. Gotcha.

I don't know how much help I can be with that, but you made the right choice coming to Rama here.

Hahaha, don't be so modest, Lord Beowulf.

All I have going for me is my youth. You're much more qualified to speak about being a hero than I am.

I don't know about that.

I'm a Berserker...so, you know, big picture thinking isn't really my thing.

But if I have to, I guess I can try and talk about what it means to be a hero.

Of course you can.

That said, the cafeteria isn't the best place for this kind of discussion, so let's take it to the simulator.

O-okay!

So, now that we're somewhere a little less confined...

Since I'm the younger...looking of us, why don't I start?

Sure, go for it.

All right, Paris, let me make sure I understand your problem.

As you see it, there are as many great heroes in Chaldea as there are stars in the night sky...

...and you can't help but feel inferior when comparing your accomplishments to theirs.

Y-yes, exactly.

As if starting the Trojan War wasn't bad enough, I went and screwed up a bunch more times afterwards, too!

You feel you have few accomplishments to speak of, and lack the fighting skill many others possess.

Consequently, you're unsure of your purpose here, and feel any number of other heroes could take your place and even do a better job of it.

Does that about cover it?

Yes, it does...

And I mean, it's true, isn't it?

There are Servants who are much better with a bow than me, Servants who are much wiser and smarter than me...

Yes, that's true.

Harsh as this may sound, you're right on all counts.

Ulp.

If you were actually a child, I would break that to you more gently...

...but regardless of your appearance, you are still Paris, the hero, and I know you can handle the truth.

When you get right down to it, the fact is, any one of us could easily be replaced.

O-oh gosh. Are you serious?

Of course.

We've all gathered here in the name of saving humanity.

All of us want nothing more than to fulfill the roles given to us and help accomplish that however we can.

However, we only have so many resources, and of course, Master has his limits as well.

That is why we all have replacements. No... Why we MUST have them.

If I were to fall in battle, then another hero needs to be able to take my place.

If someone else were to fall in battle, I need to be able to do the same.

This is not a marathon we run alone, Paris. It is a relay race, and we are a team working together to save human history.

So in order to pass the relay baton on to Master, the anchor runner...

...we must be prepared to exhaust ourselves in service of that goal.

I, for one, am happy to accept this role.

But if it should happen that I never get a turn, that's perfectly fine.

Yeah... I get it!

Now I see! Okay! That makes a lot of sense! Got it!

All right, easy there, Paris.

That is just my opinion, you understand. And I'll admit I've always been something of a teacher's pet.

So, what do you think about all this, Beowulf?

My turn, huh? Got it.

All right, this is kind of a cliché, but that doesn't make it any less true.

You've probably heard this one before, but: those with power must use it responsibly.

Pretty simple, right? But you still have people pushing back against that idea.

Lots of stuff like, "It's MY power, so I decide how I use it!"

What do you think, Paris? Where do you come down on that debate?

Oh. Well... Um...

It would probably be pretty bad if everyone with power just ran about doing whatever they wanted.

So I guess I do think people with power need to use it responsibly.

Even if doing that only ever brings them hardships?

Huh?

Most heroesnot all of them, but a good numberbecame heroes by risking their lives.

When it comes to slaying dragons, searching for treasure, deceiving someone, fighting a war to bring about peace...

...or even invading another country...

...each offers rewards worth sacrificing your life for, even if they're not always moral ones.

But, sometimes, heroes don't even get that much.

You've heard these kinds of stories too, right?

One hero comes back home from a war, only to be betrayed and murdered by a friend.

Another fights valiantly to protect the weak and helpless, only to end up dead.

The fact is, some heroes lose their battles, and some people who use their power responsibly don't get rewarded for it.

So given all that, don't you think it'd be unfair to take that choice out of people's hands?

Um... Well, uh...

...All right, time's up.

Huh!?

Guess we'll just have to try something else then. Here, Rama, come help me out.

Hmm. Are you going to take a page from Leonidas's book?

Maybe.

If just mindless casting about was enough to figure things out, any idiot could be a hero.

But that one question was enough to make Paris's brain shut down.

So I think what we need here now's a little change of pace.

Yes, I suppose you're right.

All right, Paris, you team up with Master.

... ...

Huh!? Uh, yes, I'm here! What is it!?

Beowulf and I are going to team up to fight you.

Don't worry, this will strictly be training. Maybe some exercise will help you look at things differently.

...Then again, it might not.

U-understood! Thank you for this opportunity!

And thank you for helping me, Master!

Right!

Hehe. Training or not, this will still be a clash between heroes.

Don't expect me to hold back!

Me neither, of course.

Hey, thanks for the kind words. Guess I better show you how tough I am then. Gonna hit you as hard as I can!

U-um, I'd rather you didn't, please...

Yeah. What're you thinking?

I don't care what you do to Master, but you should definitely be pulling your punches against us.

Guess I shouldn't be surprised the Greek god of the sun would be so self-centered...

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Here are the rules. If you manage to knock us down even once, we'll admit defeat...

...and of course, killing is strictly off limits.

All right... Here we come!

(Huff, huff, huff...)

Okay, I think that's enough.

Hmm... So you're still no closer to the answer, huh?

No... If anything...

Yeah?

Trying to puzzle out the solution while fighting a battle at the same time made me feel kind of sick... Guh...

G-gotcha. Guess we should've seen that coming...

It's clear you have a long and difficult road ahead of you, Paris.

Still, from where I stand, it seems you already have your answer.

I-I do!?

The problem is that you still can't see it yourself. In which case...

Yes?

You should try talking to Servants who were never known as heroes.

Fortunately, Chaldea has no shortage of those.

O-okay! That sounds a little scary, but I'll try that next!

Thank you, Rama! Thank you, Beowulf! I'll go look for some Servants like that right now!

Don't mention it.

I'll see you later then, Master. Keep an eye on Paris for us!

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So Rama, since we're already here and all, what do you say we do a little more sparring!?

Sounds good to me. Shall we stick with swords, or try something else?

Something else, huh... Yeah, okay. Could be fun to use a different weapon for a change!

Agreed. Then I think it's time to break out our bows!

Phew!

That was all very instructive...but it feels like the more I talk to other people, the less certain I become.

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Yes, they were.

Some nonhero Servants were very modest, and said they devoted themselves to their training solely for its own sake.

Some of them were more like phantasms. Others were stained with blood.

Some didn't realize how much blood they'd spilled until after the fact. Others just didn't care if they did it in pursuit of their goals.

Some of them were kings who faced their challenges with cold, merciless calculation.

They have not all been known as heroes, but they were all still the picture of one.

I'm sure there must have been people like them back when I was still alive, too.

...I think I'm starting to get it.

Now I know why I'm here, and why I'm exercising what little power I have.

It must be because

So, did you find your answer?

...Yes. I still don't know if it's right, but it's what I arrived at.

I see. Then it sounds like it's time for your final exam.

I'm going to see if you're ready to stand your ground as a hero, or if your Spirit Origin should be put on ice.

It's only right, seeing as I'm your brother and all.

Understood!

I am Paris! I am the child of Troy and Apollo, and brother to the great hero Hektor!

...Here I come!

All right then, let's see what you and Master've got!

Well, Master, since it seems you've been chosen to represent humanity here, I'm counting on you to take care of Paris for me.

His Noble Phantasm should be enough to win this...but of course, Hektor isn't going to make it easy for him to use it.

So it'll be up to you and me to do something about that!

In particular, we'll need to focus on getting rid of any debuffs he casts!

Watch out for those, okay!?

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All right, I think we're done here.

So, tell me. What purpose do you serve here at Chaldea?

Very well. On my name, here is my answer:

None.

...Yeah? And what do you mean by that?

It's only by luck and happenstance that I wound up here.

There were many heroes much stronger than me in the Trojan War.

There were also many who were wiser and more diligent.

I'm sure some of them fought more valorously than anyone, only for their names to be forgotten.

I'll never compare to real heroes like that. All I can hope to be is a substitute.

So for me, I think I do have a responsibility to use my power for the greater good. Not because I've always had power, but because I have it now.

It might not be fair, but that's the way it is. I just have to accept it.

No... Even putting it that way is still giving me an out.

When I say responsibility here, what I mean is...

Whether you decide to run, fight, turn to evil, or stand for justice...

...that choice is a direct result of having power, and you must accept all that comes with it.

That goes for despair, hope, joy, fear... Anything and everything.

So that's what I'm going to do: accept everything.

Every fiber of my heartmy soul is screaming for me to stay here and fight.

Even if nobody else thinks I have any business being here...

...that's what I need to do to fulfill my responsibility!

... ...Hmm.

If that's not what you were expecting, you can go ahead and yell at me...

But I have no intention of changing my opinion!

Hey, come on now. Who do you think this old manI mean, your brother, is, anyway?

If that's what you arrived at, I got no problem.

After all, you're not just repeating what someone else told you. You came up with that yourself, right?

Oh, uh, well, I did get a lot of advice first...

Well of course you did.

There wouldn't be any point in giving you an easy problem you could figure out all on your own, after all.

Anyway, for the time being, I'd say this means you pass.

Thank you, Big Brother!

Great. Now that that's taken care of, let's go find something fun to do, Paris.

Ugh, is having fun all you ever think about, Lord Apollo!? ...But, then again, I guess that's okay.

But first, I want to go around and thank everyone who helped me!

See you later, Master!

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Hope you don't mind him leaving you behind like this, Master.

Anyway, now that all's said and done, I think Paris oughta be a little more useful.

It might've been a bit of a journey to get there, but he did.

So as long as he's able to keep his chin up and not let his past failures hold him back...

...I don't think he'll look too out of place standing by your side.

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Hahaha, hardly.

If he hadn't figured something out, I'd have erased him myself.

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... ...

You know, I thought I had a pretty good poker face...

But I guess since we've known each other so long, it's a lot harder to get anything past you.

...Hm?

Ah.

Hey there, Paris. What's up?

...There's something I've been wanting to say to you for a long time now.

Yeah?

I never actually managed to kill you.

Huh?

I only made that shot because of Lord Apollo and everyone else who helped me.

I might be responsible for your death, but I can't claim credit for it.

...Does that matter?

It does to me.

So, if we ever do end up fighting each other again...

...I want to face and defeat you all on my own.

... ...That so!

All right, if that's what you want, then bring it on. I sure won't be holding back.

Good. ...That's all I wanted to say.

Later, jerkface!

Yeah, yeah.

...Oh, and, uh...

...nks.

What was that?

Oh, shut up!

All right! Here goes nothing!

Hmm. There really are few things that shine as brightly as a soul.

It looks like I won't have to worry about getting bored for some time yet.

Not that there was ever much chance of that with Paris around though!