Demon Lord's Reincarnation

The two holy maidens and even Galius were confused as to why Valdel would refuse them. This was an offer to become something akin to a hero, with the blessings of the Gods. Any other person even Kings and Emperors would not pass the chance to become a chosen warrior of deities. Especially if they were offered such beautiful maidens as a bonus. Also not accepting both their offers might offend the two holy temples. 

In the human kingdoms aside from the high-level empires, the next powerful force would be the temples of the Gods and Goddesses. Offending them like this wasn't a wise choice. 

"Valdel this is a chance only given to a select few. You shouldn't decide so hastily." Galius looked at Valdel trying to guess what the boy was thinking. 

Valdel shook his head and answered, "No matter what, my decision wouldn't change."

"WHY?" The two holy maidens who were at odds since they appeared spoke in unison. "Are you not picking me because you are afraid of her?!" The two holy maidens spoke in unison and pointed at each other. Once they were done talking they glared at each other. 

They wanted to berate each other but stopped themselves wanting to hear Valdel's answer. The reason Valdel didn't choose either of them might have been because he was afraid of offending the other party which he didn't pick. Valdel then opened his mouth to answer the holy maidens' question. 

Rachel and Natasha were so sure that Valdel was going to say what they wanted to hear, they were already ready with a counter reply. Yet the words that came out of Valdel's mouth was something no one expected to hear. 

"I declined your offers because I want to be a true hero." Valdel proclaimed proudly to the three others in the room. Hearing Valdel's answer just made the three of them even more confused. 

"If you want to be a hero then why decline their offer? Becoming the chosen warrior of one of the holy temples will grant you the title of hero." Galius asked with a new look of interest in his eyes. 

Valdel hearing what Galius said shook his head once more, and with his handsome face smiled a bright smile. When the two holy maidens saw Valdel smiling they could feel their hearts beating faster. 

"I don't want such a title given to me like that. I want to gain the title of a true hero, by merit, not because I was chosen like some random fruit in the market. I want to be a hero that could save everyone, a hero that vanquishes evil, a hero that the people would love. If I joined one of the temples, then I would naturally become bound by that group, and the other temples would find it difficult to approach and ask for help." Valdel said this because of the observation he made watching Rachel and Natasha. 

"I don't want to be bound within a single organization, I want to be free." 

The three could now finally understand what Valdel was talking about, but then Galius continued to speak to Valdel in a rather serious tone. 

"Valdel you do understand that if you graduate and become a knight, you would be bound to serve the kingdom, or to be more specific you'll be bound to serve the crown, whoever wears it will be your master. Truth be told if your dream is to become a true hero like you said, becoming a knight of the kingdom isn't really the way to go. What I'm about to say might run counter to my true beliefs, but because I expect great thing from you I need to tell you that, a knight might sound very gallant and noble in the eyes of commoners, but the truth is a knight is simply a higher ranking thug. Of course, I would love to raise children into real upstanding knights, that don't just follow the king's orders but think for themselves as to what is right and wrong... But as of now the truth of the matter is the current knights, and the next generation knights are as I say, just a bunch of thugs for the king, or to put it nicely they are the king's sword and shield. They are nothing more than the weapons of royalty." 

Galius as the principal of the knight academy felt a bit bad as he was explaining the truth to Valdel. When he was young he too dreamt to become the ideal knight, but his ideals and the reality of an ideal knight were vastly different. To honor and protect the people was not the main duty of a knight, it was to honor and protect the king.

"If you really wish to become a hero to all, then joining one of the temples is a better bet." The two holy maidens hearing Galius advertise their temples made them smile. 

The moment Valdel heard this he couldn't help but laugh. "Of course I know all that. My friend already explained that to me before I joined, but he also told me of a way to break free from the rules after becoming a knight. Not only that he promised me that he would make me into the greatest hero to have ever existed. If it was anybody else, I would never believe them if they told me this, but since he was the one who told me this, then I fully believe it. That friend of mine has never let me down, he has always fulfilled his promises not once has he failed." 

Galius could immediately guess who that friend was since he already met him and he was really a boy that could possibly do all that he claimed to do. On the other hand, the holy maidens were very curious as to who could make someone like Valdel who was superbly talented to believe him this much. When they were about to ask who this friend was, someone, burst into the room. 

The holy maidens and Galius were about to reprimand the newcomer, but before they could speak the person he came in shouted an urgent message. 

"An undead army is approaching!"