Chapter 7

Swaying to the rhythm of *kakokakoko*, before long, I was brought to the front of the castle in my undergarments, and the knights escorted me to the audience chamber while still restraining me with their spears.

There, the king and the minister looked displeased.

And then...

"Main!"

Rentei, Mototada, Itsuki, and the other companions had gathered.

And when I called out, Main hid behind Mototada and glared at me.

"What's with that attitude?"

Everyone was glaring at me as if I were the villain.

"Do you really have no recollection of it?"

Mototada stood tall and interrogated me.

What's going on here?

"What do you mean by 'recollection'... Oh!"

Mototada was wearing my chain armor.

"Was it you who messed with my pillow!"

"Who messed with your pillow! I never thought you'd be such a scoundrel!"

"Scoundrel? What are you talking about?"

In response to my question, the audience chamber took on an atmosphere like a courtroom.

"Then, what are the charges against the Shield Hero?"

"Charges? What are you talking about?"

"Ugh... Hig... The Shield Hero, after getting drunk, suddenly burst into my room and forcibly pinned me down."

"Huh?"

"The Shield Hero said, 'It's not even morning yet,' and tried to force himself on me, trying to take off my clothes."

Main, who was behind Mototada, pointed at me while crying and accused me.

"I was so scared... I screamed and barely managed to escape the room and seek help from Motosu-sama."

"Huh?"

What is she talking about?

Last night, after parting ways with Main, I slept soundly and have no recollection of this.

I could only be bewildered by the crying Main.

"What are you talking about? After we finished eating, I just went to sleep in my room."

"Lying! Then why is Main crying so much?"

"Why are you defending Main? And where did you get that chain armor?"

Didn't you just meet yesterday?

"Yeah, I met Main at a bar where she was drinking alone. After drinking together for a while, Main gave me this chain armor as a present."

"Huh?"

It clearly belongs to me.

Of course, there's a possibility that Main bought it with her pocket money, but anyone would be suspicious if my chain armor disappeared and Mototada had it.

Mototada is not worth talking to. I should appeal to the king.

"Right! King! I was robbed of all my possessions except my shield while I was sleeping! Please catch the culprit!"

"Shut up, scoundrel!"

The king ignored my appeal and said,

"Forcing sexual acts on unwilling citizens is an unforgivable act, and if you weren't a hero, you would be executed immediately!"

"That's a misunderstanding! I didn't do it!"

However, everyone in the room had already decided I was guilty and was proceeding with the story.

I could feel my blood run cold.

What is this? What is this? What is this!?

Why am I being slandered for something I didn't do?

When I looked at Main, who was making faces, she stuck out her tongue at me.

At that moment, I realized it.

I glared at Mototada.

I could feel a dark emotion welling up from deep within me.

"You! Did you frame me for a crime to get the preparation money and equipment?"

Pointing at Mototada, I shouted in a volume that surprised even myself.

"Hah! What is a rapist saying?"

While shielding Main from me, Mototada humbly presented himself as a hero who had saved the victim.

"Don't mess with me! You were after my money from the start, weren't you? You planned this to get the equipment of my companions!"

I whispered this to Main, who wanted to join Mototada's group. Because I was the Shield Hero, the loser, I would buy good things for Main. After buying them, you set up this honey trap to take my money and report me as a victim to the castle, planning to eliminate me.

...You really went all out.

To begin with, Main always called me 'Hero-sama' but called Mototada by his name.

What else could be evidence?

Isn't one hero enough in this world?

"To do this to a companion even in a different world, you're scum."

"That's right. I don't have any sympathy for him."

Rentei and Itsuki condemned me without hesitation.

So, you were all in on it from the start. Because I was the Shield, the weak one, you wanted to step on me and make things go your way.

—Disgusting.

You are the most cowardly and despicable people.

Thinking about it, the people of this country never believed me from the start.

I don't care! Why should I protect such people?

Perish! This world.

"Fine, I don't care anymore. Just send me back to my original world, and summon a new Shield Hero!"

Different world? Ha!

Why do I have to feel this way even in a different world?

"Are you running away when things get tough? You're the lowest of the low."

"That's right. Not fulfilling your duties and forcing yourself on a woman..."

"Get out! We can't have a companion like you as a hero!"

I glared at Rentei, Mototada, and Itsuki with the intent to kill.

It was supposed to be a fun different world, but it's all ruined because of these people.

"Come on! Send me back to my original world!"

The king folded his arms and grunted.

"I would like to send back a hero who does such things immediately, but there is no method. The researchers say that a re-summoning can only be done if all the heroes are dead."

"...What?"

"That's... impossible..."

"No, it can't be..."

The three heroes are now panicking.

No way to return to the original world?

"You mean we can't go back like this!"

What a joke!

"What are you holding on for!"

I roughly broke free from the knights' restraints.

"Hey! Are you resisting?"

"I'm not resisting!"

One of the knights punched me.

*Bang!*

It made a good sound, but it didn't hurt at all.

The knight, on the other hand, was holding his arm in pain.

"So? King, what's my punishment?"

I shook my arm to get rid of the numbness and asked.

"...For now, you are still needed as a countermeasure against the waves, so you are not guilty. However... your crimes are already known to the citizens. That is your punishment. Don't think you can get a job in this country."

"Oh, thank you so much!"

In other words, you want me to level up as an adventurer to prepare for the waves.

"You will be summoned for the wave in one month. Even if you are a criminal, you are still the Shield Hero. You cannot escape your duty."

"I understand! I'm weak, so time is precious!"

*Clank...*

Oh, right. I hid my silver coins in my shield as a precaution.

"Here! This is what you wanted!"

I took out the last of my silver coins, 30 in total, and threw them at Mototada's face.

"Hey! What are you doing, you—!"

I could hear Mototada's curses, but I didn't care.

As I left the castle, all the residents on the street were whispering about me.

Really, rumors spread fast.

I was speechless.

Everything looked so ugly.

And thus, I lost my trust and money... everything, and my adventure began in the worst possible way.