Chapter 44

Summary of the previous chapter:

The protagonist, "I did it!! The kill count is iｔ（ｒｙ"

26

From the direction where the Tetrakisk was rampaging, which had just been defeated by Lily, a group of over twenty knights appeared.

There was no time to hide Ayame and Asarina. The knights, who seemed to move with incredible speed despite their full armor, stopped a short distance from us. They spread out to fill the corridor, raised their large shields, and drew their swords, pointing the sharp blades at us.

I recognized the design of their armor. They belonged to the Alliance Knights, the elite of the elite who were assigned to the tree sea and fought monsters daily. As expected, their movements were flawless.

"...What should we do, Master?"

"For now, let's just observe."

In response to Lily, who whispered in my ear, I answered in a low voice. At the same time, I hugged Ayame, who was bristling with caution, and through Pass, I instructed Asarina, who was baring her fangs, to back off.

Even though swords were pointed at us, we shouldn't return hostility so easily.

If we did, we wouldn't be able to explain ourselves.

...But whether we would be allowed to explain ourselves was a delicate matter.

"What's going on, Hero-sama! Please explain! Why are you leading monsters around!"

One of the bloodthirsty knights shouted, but the other knights were so filled with killing intent that they seemed ready to attack at any moment.

Of course, given that the monsters they had been fighting all along were right in front of them, this reaction was understandable. If I hadn't been recognized as a hero in this world, we might have already been in combat.

"Could it be that this monster attack was...!?"

While I had been concerned about this from the beginning, I was also suspected of being the mastermind behind the attack on the fortress. For now, we were only being pointed at with swords, but it was only a matter of time before that changed.

Something had to be done. However...

"Answer me! Depending on your response, even if you are a hero..."

"...Let me tell you, I have nothing to do with this attack. To begin with, I couldn't do something like that."

"Are you trying to play dumb! The fact that you're leading monsters around is proof enough! The exploration team also said it! They said it wasn't something a human would do! Could it be that it was true!"

I had tried to be careful not to provoke them, but the response to my defense was a slightly hysterical shout. It even seemed to have heated them up further, and I couldn't help but squint at their unyielding reaction.

The situation was the worst it could be.

...But in a way, it was a predictable development.

Despite this, I wasn't particularly flustered. I had anticipated this from the moment I decided to reveal my power.

The hostility, the malice, and the disgust directed at me were not unbearable if I braced myself.

And there was one more thing I had anticipated.

It was that proving my innocence in this situation would be extremely difficult.

No matter what I said, it was questionable whether I would be listened to. With their heads filled with fear and anger, any explanation I gave would likely be dismissed outright. I had already tried, and it had been not only ineffective but counterproductive. It was a problem beyond persuasion.

To begin with, they had no concrete evidence to suspect me.

What was needed was trust built over time, something I, who had just arrived at this fortress, lacked.

Perhaps, if it weren't for this situation, I might have tried to clear their misunderstanding over time. However, the current situation did not allow for such leisure.

Persuasion was impossible. But being attacked or restrained was also out of the question, and fighting with someone who misunderstood and pointed a sword at me would be meaningless. In the end, we would both be exhausted and swallowed by the approaching monsters.

So... the only option left was to run.

To break through the knights in front of me, cut through the fortress swarming with monsters, and escape to the tree sea. If we could reach there, we could meet up with Rose and Gerbera. It shouldn't be impossible for just Lily and me, though it was certainly not a favorable bet...

However, one failure was that part of the suspicion seemed to be directed at Kanshi and Kei as well.

While I was growing the parasitic vine Asarina on the back of my left hand and hugging the balloon fox Ayame, if this scene were taken out of context, it would be understandable to see all of us as leading the monsters. In other words, we could be seen as the culprits behind the fortress attack.

I had to clear the misunderstanding at least about Kanshi and Kei.

Fortunately, from the tone of the knights, it seemed they were in contact with the exploration team. If Kanshi and Kei were left in their hands, they would be safe—this was the general plan I decided on.

However, I couldn't put it into action.

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

A shout echoed through the corridor.

I opened my eyes wide. Kanshi, with his eyebrows raised, had stepped forward boldly.

"Attack the fortress? There's no way I would do that!"

"Kanshi-sama...?"

A sense of unease spread among the knights.

Kanshi, who was infatuated with the leader of the Alliance Knights, must have had many opportunities to interact with the knights. Many of them had come to know his character through such interactions. The doubt in their eyes, which had been cast by the swords they held, began to waver as they were directly denied with anger.

"But, even if Kanshi-sama says so, that other person is..."

"Kousuke is the same! He's not that kind of person!"

"That's right!"

Kei, who was still holding onto the hem of my clothes, also spoke up in the conversation between the adults.

"Kousuke isn't that kind of person!"

"Kei..."

Despite her fear of the tense atmosphere, there was a burning determination in the girl's eyes.

She had decided to protect us no matter what. Just a moment ago, I was the one protecting her, but now it was the other way around. Confused by the change in situation, I lost the timing to interject.

A bespectacled classmate and a young girl, both staring down the sturdy knights.

The stalemate was broken by a woman's voice from behind the line of knights.

"Is that voice Kanshi's?"

"It's dangerous, Leader!"

"It's fine. Stand down."

Pushing through the knights who tried to stop her, a tall woman in armor stepped forward.

With her short silver hair and muscular, tall frame, she was the leader of the Alliance Knights, a woman I had met before.

"Leader! You're safe!"

Kanshi, upon confirming her presence, called out with relief.

The woman responded with a shrug, not hiding her affection.

"Kanshi, you too. Are you safe?"

Though her words were few, there was a sense of relief in her voice.

But it was only for a moment. Her sharp eyes focused on me.

"And I believe... you are Kousuke Shima, correct?"

Her gaze was probing. She clearly suspected me.

However, unlike the other knights, she seemed to have the rationality to calmly converse with me. She spoke cautiously.

"You have a rather unusual appearance. It seems you had something to hide."

"...I apologize for that. But there was a need to do so."

"I understand. The favor you have over monsters is indeed peculiar. It's clear that this will lead to trouble, and it already has."

"I'm glad you understand. However, can I correct one thing? I'm not controlling them, and I can't do that."

"So, you're saying you didn't make the monsters attack the fortress?"

She narrowed her eyes, as if trying to read me.

Through our exchange, I could feel the lack of impact. It was clear that my words were not resonating with her.

Looking back and forth between us, Kanshi, with a worried face, spoke up.

"Please believe us, Leader! Kousuke helped us!"

Her eyes wavered for the first time upon hearing this.

It seemed Kanshi had earned the leader's trust. His plea had the power to sway her.

However, it was still not enough.

There was no other indicator for the leader to believe me besides Kanshi's words. Her hesitant words would lack the persuasiveness needed to convince her subordinates.

...So, it was hopeless.

My judgment of the situation was not wrong, and if things continued like this, Lily and I would have to leave this place.

But that didn't happen because of the approaching footsteps from behind.

The sound of armor clinking and footsteps of several people reached my ears.

I turned around with a desire to curse.

I had failed. I should have escaped earlier.

If we were surrounded, it would be difficult to escape. Just like when we were surrounded by monsters earlier, we would have to fight. I didn't want to fight humans, but...

I let out a small voice as I turned around.

"...Ah"

What I saw were several Alliance Knights rushing towards us, and among them was the figure of the 'White Helmet'.

"...Sister?"

Kei muttered.

As the knight removed her white helmet, the face of an elf girl with long blonde hair tied up appeared. Even from a distance, her well-defined features were unmistakably Shiran's.

"What's going on here!"

Shiran, with her white armor stained with the blood of what seemed to be a monster, walked towards us, holding her helmet under her arm. She briefly glanced at the corpse of a knight killed by Fire Fang, her brows furrowing in sadness, but she didn't stop.

"...?"

From Shiran's perspective, she couldn't see my current state, as she was blocked by Kei. It wasn't until she was a few meters away that the situation registered in her blue eyes.

Confusion spread across her well-defined face.

"Kousuke-sama...?"

Her trembling lips called out my name. She was looking back and forth between Asarina on my left hand and Ayame in my arms. Her eyes clearly showed the turmoil in her heart.

...This was the worst possible reunion.

Unconsciously, I clenched my teeth.

I was surprised, confused... and I could predict that the next look she would give me would be one of hostility and the tip of a sword at my waist.

She wasn't a stranger. She was someone I had spoken to, someone I had felt close to and liked. Even if I had resolved myself, the thought of being disliked pained my heart.

But there was nothing I could do about it.

I was the one who led the monsters. I had told Lily last night that I had no intention of giving up on that. There was no lie in that feeling.

If so, this was the result of my own choice.

All I could do was raise my gaze, which I might have lowered, grit my teeth, and see it through to the end. That was all.

"..."

Shiran's gaze shifted from Ayame and Asarina to Kei for a few seconds.

Finally, she looked at me, who was in a position where Kei was clinging to me.

The moment of judgment had arrived. I steeled myself and met her gaze. The straight look in her clear blue eyes. There was no doubt or hostility in them—none at all.

"...Shiran?"

I couldn't help but voice my doubt. A change was happening in front of me.

Whatever she saw in our appearance, the look of confusion on Shiran's face disappeared.

Her hesitant steps became firm.

While the other knights with her stopped, Shiran approached me. She didn't draw her sword or raise her shield, but stood beside me with a natural movement.

Then she turned her resolute gaze to the leader.

"Why are you pointing your sword at Kousuke-sama?"

"...That's sudden."

The leader, slightly taken aback, frowned.

"Can't you see? He's leading monsters."

"So what? Do you think he planned this attack?"

I was surprised and looked at Shiran's well-defined profile.

It was clearly a statement to defend me.

"From what I can tell, Kousuke-sama has been in combat with monsters."

Shiran pointed to the corpse of Fire Fang in the corridor and the blood on my sword.

"If he had brought the monsters into the fortress, he wouldn't be in a situation where he had to fight them."

"That might be true, but..."

The leader frowned thoughtfully but quickly shook her head.

"That alone is a bit weak. The unusual power he possesses is indeed suspicious in this situation. Even if he is a hero, we can't let it go..."

"Whether he is a hero or not is irrelevant."

"...What did you say?"

The leader's eyes widened.

The words Shiran spoke were filled with conviction, which was understandable.

"Kousuke-sama protected Kei. He revealed his hidden power to do so, even though he must have known what would happen. His actions are noble, not evil."

She looked at the leader with a strong gaze and continued.

"Kousuke Shima is a respectable person."

"Shiran..."

These were the words she had said to me just before this happened, right before we parted ways.

Even after knowing my true nature, she repeated the same words.

Surprised, I looked at her, and a small smile appeared on Shiran's lips. It was a charming expression that made me almost lose myself.

"...I never thought you would say something like that."

The leader, just as surprised as I was, seemed to have not expected this from her trusted deputy. She continued in a stunned tone.

"...Whether he is a hero or not is irrelevant, you say?"

"Yes."

Shiran, facing the leader, nodded without hesitation.

Her resolute expression was filled with the determination to persuade the leader.

It was clear that she was genuinely trying to convince her.

"It would be a grave mistake to make Kousuke-sama an enemy. We should join forces with him to break this difficult situation. So..."

But then, the sincere words of persuasion suddenly stopped.

Shiran's well-defined eyebrows furrowed, and a question arose.

"...Leader? Is something wrong?"

The leader, who had been listening to Shiran's words, was shaking her shoulders slightly.

"No, nothing. I see. I see. ...Fufu."

It was clearly an attempt to suppress laughter. It didn't last long. Unable to hold it in any longer, the leader finally burst out laughing.

"I see, I see! You're saying it doesn't matter whether he's a hero or not. You, of all people! This is brilliant!"

It was a laugh filled with genuine amusement.

"...Leader...?"

Shiran, confused, glanced at me.

Even if she had asked for help, I wouldn't have known why the leader started laughing.

However, I could feel the unpleasant atmosphere in the corridor being pushed away by the laughter.

"Fufu. Indeed, Shiran, you're right."

The leader said with a laugh.

"His act of sacrificing himself to help the weak is far from evil. It's also true that it's hard to imagine him losing his position due to his own schemes. There's no reason to doubt him, and with you and Kanshi vouching for him... It seems I was mistaken."

The woman, who had finally stopped laughing, waved her arm.

"Lower your swords! This person is not our enemy!"

The authoritative voice of the woman echoed in our ears.

The knights, upon hearing the order, sheathed their swords with precise movements.

Their actions were decisive, and no one showed any signs of dissatisfaction. The persuasion by Kanshi and Shiran had clearly had an effect, but it was also a testament to her excellent leadership.

"I apologize for the impertinence