Defiled Hero c3

Defiled

Hero

Power

Overwhelming

「What are you saying?」 (Izayoi)

What's with this woman. isn't

she too worked up over this? If she's this terrified when thieves attack, she

fails as a guild receptionist.

「You fail as an adventurer!」

(Receptionist)

「...But I didn't say anything.」(Izayoi)

「That's how you look!」

(Receptionist)

「I get it. What's the right

thing to do? Enlighten me.」 (Izayoi)

「Isn't defeating the thieves the

obvious answer!? You're an adventurer, right? You registered yesterday, right?

You were an adventurer in the past, right? You were a 【Tier 1】

swordmaster, right? Then please go fight.」 (Receptionist)

The barrage of questions and

shoulder strap on her exposing camisole sliding off bothered me.

This woman smells the same as

Astrea.

「...There's no merit to me

beating up the thieves.」 (Izayoi)

「That's what you think? There is

merit. There's a bounty of 50 gold coins on Rogules, the leader of the thieves.」

(Receptionist)

「...I'm not hard-pressed for

money, nor do I plan to have issues relating to money.」 (Izayoi)

「Can't be helped then. I'll use

my strongest card.」 (Lilia)

As she said that, the

atmosphere coming from her suddenly changed, and she put on a serious

expression.

She bent her body forward, and with

upturned eyes, brought her chest closer.

「If you defeat the thieves, I'll

grant you the privilege of going on a date with me for a day,」 she said

in a sweet, amorous voice. (Receptionist)

「Wake me when the examination

time comes. Good night.」 (Izayoi)

I walked right past her, still

in her pose.

「Wha- I'll double the reward!」 she called out to me. (Receptionist)

「I said, I'm not in need of

money.」 (Izayoi)

「Please help! There are few

adventurers here on the frontier as it is, and if the Airona fruit grove that's

the specialty of this area is destroyed, people will start to leave... and

that'll be the end!」 (Receptionist)

Where did her cheerful

appearance from earlier go? Tears started to gradually well up in her eyes as

she grabbed my shoulders while shaking feebly, and began to plead for my help.

Being honest from the start is

good. There's the exhausted me, and the defenders on the verge of collapse.

「Is there anyone beside me

that'll go to those that are fighting?」 (Izayoi)

「There's nobody else. All of the

knights returned yesterday. There really isn't anyone else. You're the

strongest one here.」 (Receptionist)

「I reset my title, though.」 (Izayoi)

「If you defeat the thieves for

us, I'll negotiate to have you move past 【Tier 1】. I'll

even give you a recommendation for the 【King】 test...」

(Receptionist)

「...【Tier 1】 is fine.」 (Izayoi)

Turning on my heel, I went back

past the receptionist.

「Then, shall we go fight? ...Um,

do you have a weapon?」 (Receptionist)

Without a weapon, much less

armor, I’m only worried about getting my clothes dirty.

Stopping in place, I faced

forward, and called out,

「...Local procurement.」 (Izayoi)

「Local... procurement?」

(Receptionist)

The sound of the fighting in

front of the storehouse resounded throughout the town. There were no defenders

left with the will to fight.

I'm the only one left.

She said the name of the

thieves’ boss was Rogules, huh.

Thrusting his blade into a

fallen adventurer, Rogules finished them off.

「Hey, wait up.」 (Izayoi)

「Aah? Who're you? Planning to

fight back? And you're unarmed too, don't make me laugh!」 (Rogules)

At his insult, his subordinates

began to laugh.

I was tempted to laugh as well,

causing my face to become less tense.

The ‘me’ from before would

knock these guys down and teach them a lesson. I was a heroic hero. I'm not

like that anymore.

「Hey, what's wrong? Too scared

to move? Do you think you're a hero or something?」 (Rogules)

I was foolish and stupid

before.

「Can you let the other guys go?

I'll keep you company.」 (Izayoi)

「Making yourself into a

scapegoat to save the others? Gahaha! That's good, that's good. Run away, you

fools!」 (Rogules)

Rogules took some distance from

the adventurer he had stuck his sword into.

His subordinates released the

captured adventurers one by one.

The uninjured adventurers

released by Rogules gave a warning.

「...Unlike his subordinates,

Rogules is dangerous. You should think twice about throwing away your life.」

(Adventurer)

「Sorry to say, but I have no

intention of dying. I'd be thankful if I could get a sword, though...」 (Izayoi)

An adventurer handed me a

sword.

「Can I get the sheath too?」 (Izayoi)

「The sheath? Is that necessary?

...I don't know about that, but here you go.」

(Adventurer)

Receiving the sheath as well, I

stepped away from the adventurers.

I quietly sheathed the sword.

「You got a sword, so what's the

point in putting it in the sheath? What're you planning to do? Beg for your

life? Are you scared to stand alone against all of us?」 (Rogules)

Surrounded by the subordinates,

Rogules came close from the front. Although the encirclement was good at

placing Rogules in the front and center, to me it was just an invitation to

their deaths.

Well, at least it saves me some

trouble. Holding the sheath in my left hand, and shoving my right hand into my

pocket, I maintained a composed appearance.

「That's right. Being alone

against 15 of you is quite hard. But it's not a problem. I'll keep you company—」 (Izayoi)

In that moment, as if on cue,

the subordinates disappeared.

Without doing anything, a

strong wind began to blow, kicking up the dirt and sending it into the air.

Rogules showed no hint of

understanding what was to come.

I paid no heed to the 14

subordinates. The one I need to defeat is...

「...you, alone.」 (Izayoi)

Gathering excessive power, I

drew the sword.

「Wha!?」

(Rogulues)

Facing no resistance, the sword

met Rogules' neck.

Gathering the energy within my

body, I scored the earth, and calmed the wind. Shrouded by a dust cloud, I took

Rogules' back and silently returned the sword to the sheath.

His head parted from his body,

spurting blood as it fell towards the earth. Caught up in the moment, I lost

sight of my goal for a second.

Kneeing the body, the slightly

overdue sound of Rogules hitting the ground could be heard.

Wrapped in silence, everyone

became stiff.

Cutting through the silence, I

announced, 「You guys acted as you pleased. I killed your boss, do you think

you can beat me?」 (Izayoi)

Unsure what had just happened,

the subordinates with frightened expressions came to a single conclusion.

「Re, retreat!」

(Subordinates)

On that signal, they all turned

to run.

「Was, wasn't that amazing!? I

didn't think you could possibly beat them!」

(Receptionist)

The guild receptionist ran over

to me.

「Hey… Did you really ask me that

while thinking I was going to be killed?」 (Izayoi)

「Ah, no, it was all according to

plan!」 (Receptionist)

Could've fooled me. I was a bit

impatient, and even though there was no chance of me losing, this receptionist

should be disqualified as a human being.

「You're the worst for not

helping earlier, even though you had the power to do so!」

(Receptionist)

「...But I didn't say anything.」 (Izayoi)

「What's what your eyes are

saying!」 (Receptionist)

The residents that had been

waiting for help came out one by one, and begun to praise me. Isn't this

disgraceful? If you understand, then get a hint.

Returning the borrowed sword to

the adventurer, I quickly left for the inn as if running away.

「Ha... Now that I've done

something troublesome, I better leave town, huh?」 (Izayoi)

『"Troublesome" you

say, did something bad happen?』 (Astrea)

(Astrea. Are you awake?)

(Izayoi)

『I just woke up. So, what

happened?』 (Astrea)

(Nothing happened. Rather, how

are you doing?) (Izayoi)

『Ah, is Izayoi worried about

Astrea-chan!? The grown-up Astrea-chan has understood that she has become an

important existence!』 (Astrea)

(Well, I guess so. Whether

you're here or not, it doesn't really matter... Really, it would be fine if you

slept forever.) (Izayoi)

『Praising me then insulting me!

How cruel. Izayoi is mean. I can feel it!』 (Astrea)

Before, I didn't understand

Astrea's actions at all, but this year, I've understood just how much of a

pervert she's become. I vaguely understood that from some time ago though.

(Astrea. Any new information?)

(Izayoi)

『Nope. I tried talking to the

fairies, but no response.』 (Astrea)

(No response? What's the meaning

of that?) (Izayoi)

Astrea is one of the highest

ranking fairies. Governing good and justice, she has regeneration and

purification powers. She used to possess the holy sword before, but she's

possessing my body right now, and because I don't have any magic power, she

can't use any strong magic.

『Astrea-chan might not have

enough power, but it's still odd. More than just not getting a response, I

can't feel the fairies' power.』 (Astrea)

(...Are they dead?) (Izayoi)

『It's possible. Compared to five

years ago, the amount of magic power in this world has decreased.』 (Astrea)

(The core of the demon lord was

sealed, so it was supposed to have gotten better, but it's actually getting

worse... is it.) (Izayoi)

The state of the world has

declined. It's not impossible to think someone is doing it intentionally. Power

to move the world, power to change the world. ...the demon lord's core. And

Astrea's former host, the sacred sword.

They're probably in Zenesys'

hands right now.

『Something has to be done... but

what to do? Izayoi?』 Astrea consulted me.

The world's reduced magic

power, and the missing presence of the fairies.

What is Zenesys doing? ...no,

that doesn't matter.

(...Where is the nearest

fairy?) (Izayoi)

『Allele-chan, the Reyl Lake

water fairy is the closest.』 (Astrea)

We're currently in Arona, on

the southeast edge of the central Asian continent. Reyl Lake is half a day away

by the fast royal carriage.

(Got it. Let's go see what they're up to.) (Izayoi)

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