Chapter 90

The next day.

Yesterday, I returned to the inn, soaked in the hot spring, and had a good rest.

I feel like my body is getting lighter, bit by bit. I also went to the Japanese-style hot spring that Kage mentioned.

It was a mix of Japanese and Chinese styles...

With things like Chinese-style umbrellas, the Kaminarimon, and shoji screens, it felt like a fake Japanese bath made by foreigners.

I don’t mean to complain, but I’ve become curious about what kind of country the East is. In both good and bad ways.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Please go safely.”

“It’s Ritsuka today, right... I don’t think he’ll do anything like Motokatsu, but be careful.”

There’s a possibility that he’s a quiet pervert.

Cool guys often end up chasing after girls’ butts.

The type who doesn’t help guys but only helps girls.

To be honest, I don’t know anything about him. He’s the type who would listen to you if you were honest about hurting someone...

In my mind, Ritsuka is a self-proclaimed cool guy who admires being a hero.

“Okay.”

“Go safely.”

On the way to Ritsuka’s group’s room.

“...It feels kind of pointless.”

I complain to Kage about the personnel exchange.

I understand the queen’s reasoning, but the stress can’t be ignored.

“Yes, it does. Why did the queen propose the personnel exchange? If there were no problems before, it would be fine to continue as is.”

“You... Despite serving the queen for a long time, you don’t understand. I agree, but there are a few possibilities.”

“Why?”

“Are you guys also doing background checks?”

“You figured it out.”

“Given that queen, she probably has you do whatever she thinks of.”

Objective observation has its limits.

“You guys can tell me about the other heroes’ actions, but you can’t explain the differences like Raphatalia can.”

It’s difficult to distinguish the real information from the clutter.

“Even if you collect information about the heroes, you’re missing the crucial point. You can’t understand which materials make the heroes strong, right?”

Where and what materials did they absorb into their weapons?

In that mess, can you understand the difference from me?

Kage probably works in a group, and different people are observing. As a result, the collected information is cluttered.

It’s not just a written report; you need to hear the real voices to make it meaningful.

There are things that only someone with a hero’s weapon can understand. You need to exchange information for that. It’s also a way to verify the information. Considering their secretive nature, they’re likely to lie if not verified.

They probably hide special things that only they have.

But since they won’t easily talk, we have to investigate ourselves.

“That’s understandable. I’ve become the Shield Hero’s exclusive, but I haven’t been with him for that long.”

“Yeah, it’s understandable. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Moreover... an important point is that companions tend to be influenced by one hero’s values.

Raphatalia, for example, is objecting to Motokatsu’s policies. I think the same applies to Motokatsu’s companions.

However, a personnel exchange can broaden their perspectives.

It can show them that there are different ways to fight, like the other heroes.

It didn’t work out with the bitch, and the first girl was completely cold, so her perspective was broad. But from the second girl’s perspective, I probably seemed abnormal. However, if I fight with Ritsuka and Itsuki, they should understand to some extent.

They seem similar to the bitch... but they need to understand at least that much to survive.

If they complain, it’s over.

“And the queen probably wants the companions to see other heroes’ battles to instill a sense of crisis.”

“Sense of crisis? I think being with a hero means always being in danger.”

“On the contrary. Heroes are knowledgeable about the world. They avoid places where they might encounter stronger enemies.”

“I see... That’s a valid point.”

They usually level up steadily, so they might lack a sense of crisis.

They follow a game-like hero who only fights winnable battles, so the tension is low.

Another possibility is that they feel they are in a privileged class.

They might be receiving special treatment just for being a hero’s companion.

Of course, heroes are not perfect and have been in critical situations a few times.

They’ve survived by luck, but their companions probably feel safe.

The three heroes are all confident.

Those who felt a sense of crisis in Motokatsu’s party have already left.

“Perhaps the companions can barely understand the differences between heroes, even if only slightly. This could also be to foster camaraderie.”

“I understand. I’ve been told to resolve any conflicts that arise.”

From the perspective of Melromarc and the world, the heroes should get along.

It’s no good if they lose to the waves due to internal conflicts. They already don’t get along well. I don’t want to get along, but I understand the need for cooperation.

Even the pope couldn’t defeat the waves with just us.

In the future, cooperation will be crucial. After the island event, they will be dispatched to other countries, but they will still fight the waves together.

However, the opportunities to talk will decrease.

I welcome this, but considering the waves... I can’t be selfish.

Even if I dislike them, we need to cooperate since we’re in the same organization.

By the way... How do you get everyone in the world to participate in the waves?

Do the waves concentrate around Melromarc, where the heroes were summoned?

This is something I need to ask the queen.

Most likely, Kage will report the results of the personnel exchange.

Or they might point out the flaws to the secretive heroes.

More likely, the purpose of this is mutual understanding through the heroes’ companions.

Like, ‘That hero is good at guiding people’ or ‘I lack something that I can learn from a trusted companion’...

They might not listen if it’s from a superior. It’s faster if they understand it themselves.

Or they might simply see it as a recruitment opportunity.

Motokatsu tried to recruit my companions with his own methods.

Ritsuka and Itsuki might also try to recruit.

In their case, they might try to raise companions from scratch...

Like, ‘If subhumans and monsters can get that strong, I can too.’

However, this theory has a major contradiction.

They should have gotten stronger, but they didn’t. This means that in the game they played, subhumans and monsters didn’t get that strong...

Maybe they didn’t try or didn’t know?

I don’t know.

In any case, it feels like the queen’s goal is to improve all the heroes.

She intends to favor me, but from a world perspective, it’s a problem if the other heroes are weak.

This is a compromise.

She’s not just having Kage investigate; she’s also having us investigate to ensure the results.

It’s not an either-or situation.

The personnel exchange might seem pointless, but it could be a bait to make information gathering easier.

They’re gathering under the pretext of activation, and the heroes are assembled.

...Am I overthinking it?

I might be overthinking it, but I’ll keep this in mind when I work with Ritsuka and Itsuki’s party.

If nothing happens, it’s fine, but if something does, it will be a big loss.

“This is the room where the Sword Hero’s companions are staying.”

I reached the room where Ritsuka’s companions were staying while lost in thought.

“Ah.”

I nodded and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

This time, I got a proper response. It’s a big difference from Motokatsu’s place.

I opened the door and went in.

“Welcome, Shield Hero.”

“Oh...”

Compared to last time, it’s a letdown.

Ritsuka’s group has 4 people.

One more than Motokatsu’s group. But since they were originally 5, one must have left.

It’s reasonable to assume there was a member change.

“I’m sure you know, but due to the personnel exchange, I’ll be working with you from today to tomorrow. I’m the Shield Hero, Iwagami Masahumi.”

Three of them are familiar from the first day, and one is new?

“Nice to meet you, Shield Hero.”

“Yeah.”

Everyone is polite.

But these guys... They were reluctant to join my group and hid behind Ritsuka.

I won’t forget that.

I can’t let my guard down or trust them.

“I apologize for my behavior earlier.”

“Huh?”

The representative, a warrior I think, bowed to me.

“Given the presence of the King of Melromarc, I couldn’t predict the consequences of supporting the Shield Hero.”

The others followed suit and bowed.

“You might think it’s convenient, but I ask for your guidance for the next two days.”

“Okay.”

It’s a bit of a letdown that they’re so humble.

From past experiences, I suspect there’s something hidden.

“Shall we depart immediately?”

“Sure.”

Despite everything, the conversation is quick.

It’s a relief since Motokatsu’s group was different.

“Where should we level up?”

The mage at the back asked as if it were obvious.

“...What?”