Defiled Hero c25

Defiled Hero

Reason to Act

「...Huh? Where is this? What

happened?」 (Lilia)

「Oh, so you've woken. I was

sure you had died, so I was doing preparations for that.」 (Izayoi)

「Preparations!? Stop, please!」 (Lilia)

「Ah, that's right. You were

supposed to live on inside Rigolo. You probably don't want to eat the fat while

you're inside his stomach though.」 (Izayoi)

「That's not the problem!

...Um, what was I doing? I can't remember.」 (Lilia)

「You can't remember, is it.

You said you came here with a request from the guild. Rigolo was surprised when

you suddenly barged your way in, and followed his natural instinct to attack

you.」 (Izayoi)

「Rigolo was surprised, and I

was surprised at his surprised response.」 (Lilia)

「That's right. You were

surprised so you fell down.」 (Reri)

「S, so that's what happened. I

don't remember at all...」 (Lilia)

Lilia was unconscious for

about ten minutes. While Lilia laid on the sofa, we put our clothes on.

「I was surprised when you

suddenly collapsed! But it's good that you seem to be doing fine!」 (Uri)

「...That's right. Now that

your body is alright, I have something to ask of you.」 (Reri)

「You're asking about work, but

who are you two?」 (Lilia)

「I'll explain. These two were

hired by the guildmaster to observe. They were monitoring me on her orders.」 (Izayoi)

「Observe? Did the guildmaster

hire those kinds of people? I didn't know about that at all.」 (Lilia)

「That's right! The existences

of Uri and Reri are secret!」 (Uri)

Lilia seemed slightly

perplexed, but regained her composure.

「So, have you remembered what

the request from the guild was?」 (Izayoi)

「The guild, the guild, what

was it... Ah, that's it. There's an urgent request for you!」 (Lilia)

「How urgent is the request?

Does it absolutely have to be me?」 (Izayoi)

「Rather than it having to be

you, you were nominated. To put it simply, a large number of goblins have come

out of the Geruna Valley! It's an emergency!」 (Lilia)

「Geruna Valley? It's not that

far away, is it?」 (Izayoi)

「That's right! That's why it's

an emergency!」 (Lilia)

I see. So that's why the

forest was how it was today. The other monsters felt the danger approaching and

left the area. Did the goblins in the forest sense that more goblins were

coming?

「What will you do? Is that

reason enough for me to act? ...Who was the one that nominated me?」 (Izayoi)

「The guildmaster. There's a

message too. 『Are you doing well, Izayoi? You're playing around

with the young ones, aren't you? Sorry for having to ask you to do this. Take

care of Lilia while you're at it.』」 (Lilia)

「I didn't ask to be put in

charge of goblin extermination.」 (Izayoi)

「She's basically asking you to

protect the town. I'm sure of it.」 (Lilia)

How irresponsible of the

guildmaster.

「Master! It's work! It's work

from the guildmaster!」 (Uri)

「Reri is already tired from

fighting...」 (Reri)

「I haven't said I'd help yet

though.」 (Izayoi)

Though Uri was eager, Reri

can only fight seriously for 30 seconds because of her condition. I don't know what direction the

goblins are heading, but Geruna Valley is near the town of Broken. At the rate

they're traveling, the goblins will arrive in about half a day.

But, there's no reason for me

to go. I'll fight if this town and my life are in danger, but I don't want to

have to take care of other places.

While I thought, the edge of

my clothes were pulled.

「...Goblin, bad guys? Many?」, Tear asked me with a bit of a sad expression.

「Ah, that's right. Lots of

people will probably be hurt.」 (Izayoi)

「...Feel sorry.」 (Tear)

「For everyone?」 (Izayoi)

「...Yes. But, hero too.」 (Tear)

「The hero? Why the hero?」 (Izayoi)

「But, everyone's smiles, go

away.」 (Tear)

Clutching the picture book,

Tear looked crestfallen. Her ears were similarly flopped down.

「...The hero, for everyone's

happiness, became strong... Ichayoi, why did you, become strong?」 (Tear)

「I, I...」 (Izayoi)

What should I say. As Tear

said, the me from before became strong for everyone's sake. I became strong, I

was betrayed, and then I realized it.

These kinds of things were

useless. All of the effort was wasted. Ever since then, I've not done anything

for anyone else.

It doesn't matter. None of it

matters. They're not pitiable. It's not like I'm pitiable either.

「...Ichayoi, do you want to see,

everyone cry?」 (Tear)

「That's not my hobby.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi, said it. Tear's

crying face, not want to see.」 (Tear)

Raising her face, tears

streamed down Tear's face. She gazed at me with moist eyes.

「...Want to, help them.

Because pitiful.」 (Tear)

Seeing Tear cry out in a

small voice in desperation while shedding tears, I somehow found myself

laughing.

It's almost like the old me

is preaching to me.

Tear looks a lot like the old

me. If I was the old me, I would have said the same thing for sure.

I could only laugh dryly

while thinking about that.

「Hey, Tear. You asked me,

right? Why I became strong?」 (Izayoi)

「...Yes, why?」 (Tear)

「The thing is—— it was for

myself. I became strong for myself. Not for anyone else's sake.」 (Izayoi)

As I said that, Tear's

expression became even worse, and even more tears flowed out as she hung her

head.

「——Well, let's go kill some

goblins.」 (Izayoi)

「......Eh?」 (Tear)

Tear looked up with a

mystified expression, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

「It's not for anyone else's

sake. It's for my sake. I want to do it so I'll do it.」 (Izayoi)

I may have been looking for a

reason all along. A reason to live, a reason to act, and a reason to kill them.

「It's not because I'm helping.

And it's not because I was asked. I'll kill them because they irritate me. For

that reason, I'll use my strength.」 (Izayoi)

I've found my reason. There's

no reason to hesitate.

「I kill those I don't like.

And I kill those that get in my way. That's all.」 (Izayoi)

I'm no longer the hero. I am

burdened with neither hopes nor humanity. I only do what I wish. I'm not a

good-natured person. I only do what I want.

「Therefore, we start by

killing Lilia.」 (Izayoi)

「——Eh?」 (Lilia)

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