The lil creator has some similarities, but look at the reaction the summoned hero has to first Hijiri's face, then again when she covers the boy prince. To have that kind of visceral reaction to that situation which so greatly resembles the time she protected him, I'm gonna feel cheated if it isn't. ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭
Ohhhh, you're right! Didn't even think of that. Although now that you mention it, there's also the reaction he had to Ast saying he protected the prince "because he wanted to". Poor fella looked legit rattled by it.
Although if he IS the kid, I really wonder what the timeline looks like...was he a priest who reincarnated into the kid, or did he grow into a priest because of how she saved him?
I'm thinking that's where the explanations have to iron out the details. All this talk about "blessings" and "curses" and reincarnation and coming back from the dead and gods and whatnot. However, if you go back to the chapter where she dies, you do see the kid arguing with her about how there was no point in saving him--- as if he already knew he'd be fine or survive or something? So maybe he's caught in either a continuous reincarnation loop or has a Phoenix-like immortal body?
The summoned hero is the kid Hijiri died saving in her previous life. Try and convince me otherwise.