Chapter 26

First update of the day.

In the morning in the capital city.

After hearing the dungeon exploration strategy at the Adventurers' Guild, I was running while pulling Lirisia by the hand.

My cloak and Lirisia's white nun's habit were flapping wildly.

—Because we were about to be bombarded with party invitations from all the members.

We ran, avoiding people and carriages, turned several corners, and finally slowed down.

Lirisia and I walked on the cobblestone road, slightly out of breath.

Especially Lirisia's abundant silver hair was disheveled, falling onto her smiling cheeks.

"Phew, it seems we had quite an ordeal."

"Hehe. It's because Master is so amazing!"

"You seem happy about it?"

"Yes! I'm also happy that everyone finally understands how amazing Master is!"

"It's enough that Lirisia recognizes me. I only believe in Lirisia."

"Thank you, Master!"

Blushing, she clung to me with a coquettish voice, her large chest brimming with joy.

Feeling quite good, I turned my attention to the paper I received at the reception.

"Well, the mission is... as expected, we're transporting goods. Specifically, from the capital to the entrance of the eastern dungeon."

"There are no thieves or explorers in the party, and we haven't even entered a dungeon before."

"Exactly as I thought. It seems we can do things our own way."

"Yes. Let's do our best for Kou-chan... but Master, there's one thing I'm concerned about."

Lirisia looked up at me with a worried expression.

"What is it?"

"Did something happen with that hero, Marius?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, Master's expression hardened after he appeared... He didn't seem like a hero at all."

"There was something. I might have been framed by Marius and lost my position as a hero."

"Really! Such a thing! Then you should file a complaint..."

Lirisia's violet eyes widened in shock.

However, I shook my head, my black hair moving weakly.

"It's impossible. There's no evidence, and it's nearly impossible for a civilian to sue a hero."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, heroes have direct authority from the king and immense investigative powers. If a hero suspects someone, they can search their home without a warrant, and if they judge that someone is attacking them, they can kill on the spot."

"Such immense power... Then if you tried to file a complaint..."

"You'd be killed for harboring resentment over losing your position as a hero. If the complaint were true, you'd definitely be silenced."

"To think someone like that could become a hero..."

Lirisia lowered her eyes sadly.

I stroked her silver hair to comfort her.

"That's why don't worry about it. Besides, I met Lirisia because I lost my position."

"Yes— I'm also happy to have met Master!"

"I don't intend to be a hero anymore. If he wants to be a hero, let him. I'll just live my life as I please, with Lirisia."

Besides, our living environment isn't even set up yet, so I don't really care about Marius.

Exposing his misconduct without being noticed by a hero would probably take decades.

—So, it can be a long-term project.

If a hero is corrupt, who knows what they might do in the future.

It's for my sake, but also for the people, so I should consider investigating Marius.

Lirisia clung to my arm.

"I'll be with you no matter what, Master!"

"Then, let's have an early lunch."

"Yes!"

Lirisia and I walked through the capital, leaning on each other.

We had an early lunch at an open terrace. It cost us 300 goats for the two of us.

Our total funds: 44 large gold coins, 30 gold coins, 11 large silver coins, 25 silver coins.

4,713,500 goats.

◇ ◇ ◇

In the archive room inside the castle.

The female nun was reading through the documents, her blue hair swaying. She had a notebook in front of her.

"On this day, one A-rank Vampire Lord and six B-rank Vampires were defeated... but the report says only three Vampires!? This says two Greed Bears, but the report says only one. ...The numbers are underreported!"

The female nun had been keeping notes in her notebook about the days, the number of defeats, and expenses when she participated in the hero party.

She would report to the Archbishop later.

She put her finger to her chin, thinking.

—Is this harassment against Alec? Or is it happening to everyone?

Next, the female nun checked the number of defeats for the hero candidates.

One person's numbers were more than double.

It was Marius.

The decrease in Alec's numbers had been added to Marius.

The female nun's eyes widened in shock.

"Manipulating the number of defeats!? To frame Alec like this—! I must report this to the Archbishop immediately—"

The female nun stood up but quickly sat back down.

"No... a few discrepancies could be due to mistakes by the person writing the report or the person reporting it. It hasn't happened to anyone other than Alec and Marius, and it's strange that it only goes one way. ...I should gather all the records from the church branches and investigate first."

She began copying the reports.

"Marius's defeated monsters: C, D, A, B, D, C, C, A, B, C, A, D, D, B... Alec's: A, B, B, A, B, B, A, B, A, B, B, B... Huh?"

The female nun reread the documents.

—Only A and B ranks!? Almost no C ranks or lower.

There are a few, but they are all animal types like wolves, boars, tigers, and bears.

Wait, something's even stranger.

The female nun noticed a pattern and stood up.

She searched for and opened another document. It was a very old document.

She read through it, moving to the next, and then to the more recent years.

After reading through to the latest year, she trembled in shock.

"For the past 30 years... no S-rank or higher has appeared... Could it be... Could it be...! This country has done something terrible!?"

The female nun clutched the documents to her chest and stood there in shock.

Thank you for the bookmarks and ☆ ratings!

12th place in the daily ranking! Another highest position update. Thank you.

I wonder how high it will go. I want it to go higher, but I'm also feeling the strain of the ranking update.

But I'll keep updating.

Next chapter will be updated in the afternoon

→ 27. The Supply Transport Mission