"...What exactly are you expecting from me?"

The world's hero who defeated the Evil God all by himself. Even so, he seeks no status or honor, traveling the lands to slay monsters and help the people.

With his handsome blond hair, blue eyes, and a tall 189cm frame, he possesses overwhelming combat power, capable of handling almost any weapon freely. Yet, he is a man of few words who usually speaks only when necessary.

For some reason, this man has ended up having to choose a partner.

What's more, four candidates appeared who actually met the strict conditions he set himself.

What awaits the bewildered Alec is not just monster hunting and helping people. What kind of relationship will he build with those he travels with?

Beyond facing him as a hero, what lies ahead when facing him as a man—?

"Why don't you give this weapon a try?"

Red hair and golden eyes. A cheerful, frank, and reliable big-sister type weaponsmith.

Jill doesn't just want to make strong weapons. The optimal shape differs depending on the person using it. With that philosophy, she began making custom weapons, eventually prototyping not just swords, but spears, scythes, halberds, and even morning stars.

There is just one problem.

—She doesn't have enough people to test them.

That's when she set her sights on the Hero Alec, who can handle almost any weapon.

"If you'll use my weapons, this trip is worth my time."

Her eyes sparkle whenever weapons are mentioned, and she'll readily maintain the other candidates' weapons if asked.

She's hearty, caring, and dependable. However, where her gaze is fixed, it isn't love—at least for now.

What she seeks is—the ultimate field tester.

"Tell me a little more about that monster. For about three more hours."

Black hair and brown eyes. A Court Mage and former knight with a dignified presence.

Her right arm can no longer hold a sword due to a monster attack. Yet, she is an indomitable woman who never gave up, relearning magic from scratch to become a Court Mage.

She hates monsters. That is exactly why she seeks to know the enemy and deal with them appropriately.

From that conviction, she researches monster ecology, and when she learns of a rare trait, she becomes talkative to a degree unimaginable from her usual dignified self.

And Alec, who has faced numerous monsters including the battle with the Evil God, is—the ultimate research material for her.

"You've seen many monsters, haven't you?"

By traveling together, she can hear precious knowledge directly. Plus, as a former knight, she can watch Alec's swordsmanship up close.

Her reason for becoming a suitor candidate is perfectly rational.

However, the sparkle in her eyes when faced with a rare monster can hardly be called rational.

"Sir Hero, shall we turn this town into a tourist attraction?"

Pink hair and blue eyes. However, those eyes are rarely ever open.

A petite traveling merchant who never lets her gentle smile fade. As the daughter of the leader of the "Migratory Birds" merchant guild and an excellent merchant herself, she has one great ambition.

—Launching the Hero Brand.

The town the Hero visited. The inn the Hero stayed at. The dish the Hero praised. Statues, fountains, and murals of the Hero. And, Hero Cookies.

"There's no reason not to use the fame of the Hero who defeated the Evil God."

She churns out plans one after another with such a smooth smile that it seems somewhat suspicious.

However, at the root of it is a wish for people to travel between towns again, for business to return, and for scarred regions to regain their vitality.

She asks for cooperation not just from Alec himself, but from the other candidates as well.

"I'm sure this is a profitable story for all of you too, isn't it?"

What she wants isn't a lover. Right now, she just wants—the ultimate advertising pillar: the most famous Hero in the world.