Avangarde Castle Town – Central Street
The wide street bustling with people and the orderly rows of trees felt incredibly nostalgic. It was as if I was experiencing it all for the first time again. Back then, it was just before the Avangarde Festival, but this moment felt fresh regardless. Before coming here, I had stopped by Queemil and enjoyed a meal at Zenbei after a long time, and the familiar taste brought me comfort. When I visited Cynthia’s shop, she generously gifted me a large amount of Royal Jelly, and Kurinka was in high spirits, which made me happy. Still, I wouldn’t mind having a piece for myself.
More than that, in that town, we were treated like legends, with the A-Rank adventurers from Queemil being talked about grandly. It was more embarrassing than anything else. Neither of us was born in that town, and it felt strange to be labeled as such. However, if I hadn’t gone to that town, I wouldn’t have reunited with Kurinka, so in that sense, it might be considered the town of beginnings.
When we entered the Adventurer’s Guild, the adventurers who had mocked me back then shrank away, avoiding eye contact and disappearing from the scene. It was a relief; it was easier than dealing with them directly.
“Well then, shall we prepare? First, portable food and…”
“Of course, it’s food again. Well, it’s Kurinka after all.”
“Food is essential for everything! There’s even a term for it: ‘food siege.’ There are countries that lost wars due to lack of supplies, you know? Not everyone can fight for a year without eating like you, Lua-chan!”
I knew that going a year without food was impossible, but I wondered what kind of existence I had become in Kurinka’s eyes. Sure, there might be monsters that could do that, but I was human. No, maybe if I really tried, I could manage it. Not that I wanted to.
“The Great Garnis Glacier is a place so cold that even ordinary monsters can’t survive. No matter how much you prepare, everything—water and food—will freeze, and in the end, even humans will freeze. Kukuku.”
“So, if it comes down to it, I can just eat the frozen Shin?”
“Gyaah!”
I had joked, but in an instant, Shin had flown away, disappearing from sight. He would probably return after a while, so I wasn’t too concerned. Still, there was no need for him to run away like that.
“Hey, hey, how about we try this thing we got from Genia?”
“That? Well, I appreciate the gift, but I’m not too keen on it. The idea of peeking into someone’s information… I wouldn’t like it if it were me.”
“Then should we not do it?”
“…Let’s do it secretly.”
Kurinka hesitated with the leveling device, now renamed the Detect Ring. The name ‘leveling’ had been so unpopular among developers that it was changed, and Genia had generously handed this bracelet to us. Genia had been so desperate to push for the original name that it had scared me a little, but I preferred this name.
“Point it at someone, and this small screen will display a humanoid green line… Oh, it’s working!”
【Mike Lv: 1 Class: None HP: 11】
A name I didn’t recognize appeared. Who is this?
“Maybe it’s that person over there…”
He was a young man walking down the street, not an adventurer. Of course, I didn’t know him. It seemed that when you pointed it at someone, their information would automatically display. He didn’t seem to have any combat experience, which meant he was at level 1. I understood the level, but how did it display the name too?
“It seems like information collected by ALEX is registered in here, and it pulls it out… Scary!”
“But there’s no way it has the names of everyone in this town. Even in the Kingdom of Metallica, that’s impossible.”
“…Then shall we try it on that child?”
This time, I pointed it at a child playing happily by the roadside. The silhouette of the child formed a line, and what appeared was:
【Toi Lv: 1 Class: None HP: 4】
“…Let’s head to the Adventurer’s Guild.”
Having tasted the unfathomable terror of the Kingdom of Metallica, I decided to forget it all and try the Detect Ring at the Adventurer’s Guild. We were so captivated by this device that we almost forgot to stock up on food.
Avangarde Kingdom – Adventurer’s Guild
Even the last time I came here, I was the center of attention, so I braced myself for it again. Being mocked was infuriating, but I found it embarrassing to be stared at too; I realized I had a troublesome personality. Still, it was better than experiencing the humiliation of not being able to write.
Suddenly, a scene that blew away those thoughts unfolded before me. A crowd had gathered inside the spacious Adventurer’s Guild. There had been crowds around interesting street performances in the Royal Capital of Kashiram, but I never expected to see something like that here.
“Hey, you! I don’t care if you’re a hero or whatever, but there are certain manners adventurers should follow!”
“Isn’t it a bit exaggerated to get worked up over bumping shoulders? I did apologize, after all.”
“I don’t feel any sincerity from you!”
A rough-looking uncle adventurer kicked a nearby pillar with all his might. Facing off against such a ruffian was Aleid. He always had a condescending posture, but one of the girls with him looked somewhat frightened. Wait, there were two girls with him!
“Lua-chan, isn’t that… the so-called hero?”
“Yeah, he’s the one wielding the Hero’s Sword that I couldn’t handle. It looks like a fight is brewing, but I wonder if that uncle will be okay? Kurinka, can you check?”
Kurinka pointed the Detect Ring at the uncle adventurer. Just like with Mike and the child Toi, the lines formed around the uncle’s figure, and what appeared was:
【Demacia Lv: 38 Class: High Lancer Rank: B HP: 304】
“Even though he’s B-Rank, he’s at level 38. He’s quite the veteran.”
“Being confident is good, but he’s picked the wrong opponent…”
Still, compared to the first time I met him, he seemed different somehow. I remembered him as being much more arrogant and despicable, but today he seemed oddly subdued. Normally, someone like him would likely cause a bigger ruckus when confronted.
“Well then, I need to settle the materials from the Floor Monsters I hunted. I don’t have time to deal with you.”
“If that’s the case, you should just ignore me…”
Demacia’s bravado faltered, and his gaze fixated on one point. He looked as if he might break into a cold sweat as he stared at Aleid’s Adventurer Card.
【Aleid Lv: 999 Class: Hero Rank: S】
“S-S Rank?!”
That was surprising enough, but more than that, it was the level. No matter how many times I rubbed my eyes and checked, there were three nines lined up. In the chaotic guild, not a single person remained calm. Some pulled out their own Adventurer Cards to confirm, while others looked on in disbelief. I figured that after knowing my abilities, Bottom and the others would believe it, but it was hard to find anyone who would accept a level like that.
Aleid didn’t flaunt his superiority or mock Demacia; instead, he wore a serious expression. Something felt off; he should have been more arrogant in a situation like this.
“Got it? I’m busy, so step aside.”
“U-uh…”
Aleid pushed Demacia aside and headed toward the guild counter, turning his bag upside down to spread out what he had. Horns, claws, and what appeared to be gems sparkled on the counter, materials presumably obtained from monsters. Everyone gasped in awe at the sight. I didn’t quite understand, but it seemed to be something extraordinary.
“W-What is this…?”
“These are all the items for the request. I’ll leave the big ones for tomorrow.”
“Yes! Then I will process your payment!”
“Hey, isn’t that the antenna of a Mist Stalker?”
“And there are claws that look like they belong to a Raging Chief…”
Aleid listened to those comments as if they were nothing, but in reality, it was different. He was confronting the fact that he had hunted strong monsters, showcasing the difference in their standings. Showing his Adventurer Card earlier wasn’t to silence anyone; it was merely a boast. I wasn’t sure, but I felt like he would do something like that.
“Truly the hero…”
“He’s recognized personally by the king, after all.”
“Heh… Roin, Kude, let’s splurge on dinner tonight.”
“R-Really?!”
“Hmph, do as you please…”
The pink-haired girl jumped up and down in excitement, while the girl with long black hair pretended to be indifferent but was closely following Aleid. The way she dramatically swayed her cape was somewhat irritating.
“H-Hero! Please form a party with us next time! No, please do!”
“Hero, if you have the strength to defeat the Mist Stalker in Mist Village, I have a request!”
“The pack of Wolfangs has been getting active lately!”
“Hero! Hero!”
A crowd quickly surrounded Aleid. Men and women alike turned their gazes toward him, captivated by his presence. At that moment, Aleid grinned in a way that sent chills down my spine. I understood the meaning behind that smile, knowing his true nature all too well. It was as if he had already noticed us, and with a triumphant squint, he cast a smile in our direction.
“Well, well, I’d love to entertain you all, but I don’t want you to misunderstand—I’m not ignoring you. However, I have a lot on my plate. The Neo Demon Lord Army is growing stronger by the day. While we stand here, they’re likely wreaking havoc across the world. So, I really must be on my way…”
“Are you saying you’re going to defeat the Demon Lord?!”
“That’s right. First, I plan to strike the Garden of Beasts soon. The Demon Lord is terrifyingly strong, so we need to weaken their forces.”
“The Garden of Beasts?! Are you really going there with just you and the Hero?!”
“Of course. I’m here to protect everyone’s smiles.”
I found myself growing increasingly irritated by his insincerity. Kurinka sighed repeatedly, and I felt utterly drained. Was he really planning to head to the Garden of Beasts?
“Um, Hero, this…”
“Oh, Royal Jelly? Is it really okay for me to receive something so precious?”
“It’s fine! After all, you’re risking your life to restore peace…”
“I see… That makes me happy. Thank you.”
“Ahhh! Hero, you’re always so soft on the girls!”
The girl adventurer who had given Aleid the Royal Jelly was blushing, while her party members wore expressions of displeasure. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. If Kurinka were to blush and offer Aleid Royal Jelly, I would probably lose my mind. It was absolutely unthinkable, but those people had likely been a close-knit party before Aleid showed up.
Aleid was a presence that could shatter even the strongest of bonds. No, it was the Hero who held that power. The trust and admiration for the Hero were evident in this exchange. While we had stepped away for just a moment, he had effortlessly captured everyone’s hearts.
Yet, what puzzled me was that the existence of the Hero was supposed to be a secret. The fact that he was walking around so openly was troubling.
“Alright, let’s go. Roin, Kude…”
It was at that moment, as we brushed past each other, that I felt an immense pressure on my waist as Aleid tried to pass by me.
“Ugh!”
Aleid nearly fell to his knees, and a blinding light erupted.
“Whoa!”
A dark, swirling mist emanated from me.
“What the?!”
“What’s happening?! Is it a monster attack?!”
The mist swirled and intertwined, as if trying to assert dominance over one another. Patterns formed like a vortex, spinning against the guild’s ceiling.
“Lua-chan! Th-that!”
I realized, at Kurinka’s shout, that something was amiss with Disballade, sheathed at my waist. Black mist was seeping from the hilt, binding me in a suffocating grip.
“Di-Disballade… What’s wrong with you?”
“Hey, you stupid sword! Calm down!”
It was only then that I understood. The swirling patterns represented a long-sought rivalry. I should have recognized it sooner; Aleid’s Hero’s Sword and my Disballade were opposites. Disballade was a cursed sword forged to counter heroes and humans. After all these years, they had finally crossed paths.
The sword I had wielded so easily was now rebelling against me. It seemed to despise the Hero’s Sword, even resisting its own master. The black mist surged, threatening to overflow. If this continued, something catastrophic could happen—not just to us, but to everyone present. I was the only one who could do something about it. After all, I was the master of Disballade.
“This… enough already!!!”
A roar erupted from the depths of my being. I would shake off the sword’s control; I was its master. I wouldn’t allow it to act on its own.
“…Whoa!”
I honestly didn’t know if my intimidation would reach Disballade. Just as Aleid let out a foolish sound, the black mist dispersed beautifully, gradually dissolving into the air. The mist that had overflowed from the hilt began to settle down.
And just like that, the room returned to its original state, as if nothing had happened. The adventurers who had drawn their weapons remained frozen, staring at the ceiling, their breaths heavy.
“Phew, what a handful…”
I had underestimated this sword. I needed to recognize that this was a dangerous weapon imbued with the resentment of the Demon Race.
“W-what was that just now…?”
“Hahaha! Everyone, were you surprised? Just a little performance!”
Aleid clapped his hands, redirecting everyone’s attention to himself. Even as two other girls fainted, I wondered what he was planning.
“A tremendous monster appeared, but there’s no need to worry anymore. I, Aleid, took care of it.”
“A monster?! That was it?!”
“Yes, it seems that as the Demon Lord Army grows stronger, the monsters are becoming increasingly wicked.”
“No way… This is worse than I expected.”
“That’s why I’m here. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
His words resonated strongly with everyone, a testament to the trust he had built. No one doubted his outrageous claims. My achievements had all been overshadowed by him. What monster? He had been the one to panic and make a fool of himself.
“So, as long as the Hero is here, we’re safe?”
“Exactly! After all, he’s Level 999!”
“Haha! When you think about it, with a level that high, there’s nothing to fear!”
“Right! Even the Demon Lord isn’t scary!”
With a flourish of his cape, Aleid strode out of the guild, raising a hand as if to say farewell. This was too much; I couldn’t accept it.
“Kurinka, point the Detect Ring at him!”
“Huh? Why? His level is already…”
“I need to confirm whether he’s the real deal!”
Aleid’s figure, complete with his cape, was outlined in green, and information quickly appeared.
【Aleid Level: 9999 Class: Hero Rank: S HP: 72730】
“Wh-what?!”
“This must be broken.”
It couldn’t be true, but voicing that thought brought me a momentary sense of relief. Just a fleeting moment.
◆ Shin Report ◆
I almost got eaten.
When that wild beast said it, it didn’t sound like a joke.
They’re closing in on the Demon Lord’s domain, surpassing the Garnis representative.
As the highest-ranking member of the Demon Lord Army, I must stop them at all costs.
First, I need to gather some herbs that induce sleep and add them to their drinks.
No, if that were enough to make them sleep, they would have been taken care of long ago.
Well, for now, I’ll just observe the situation.
But more importantly, that foolish hero was the real deal.
Finally, the monster of Rua’s affection has appeared.
But still, Rua should be stronger.
But…
But this Shin is certain.
Rua is stronger! Stronger!
Hehe, I’m sharp today, heh.
So Rua won’t experience any shock.
That’s just a facade, a mere illusion.
Rua is stronger!
But why is Shin so stubbornly following Rua?
Lately, Shin seems to be quite tired.
Even the highest-ranking members need to rest.
I’ll head to the inn first and claim a fluffy bed for myself.
Zzz…