Prologue ②
“Haah… Even if you say that, I was just chosen because the Holy Mark appeared and I could draw the Holy Sword, you know?”
“That record remains. However, your soul is not one that should bear the fate of a hero. Even now, as we stand face to face, I can clearly understand that. You are not the hero; the ones chosen by the Saint and the Sage are the true heroes.”
“Haah… So what do you want me to do? If you’re telling me to die for the sin of stealing fate, then I’ll resist with all my might and kill those three over there while I’m at it.”
Isn’t it more important to strip those two of their titles of Saint and Sage first? Not that I have any attachment to being a hero, and the reason I was dragged out from the mountains in the first place was because of this Holy Mark. Where did my will come into play? Please tell me.
“…I will strip you of your title.”
“Excuse me?”
“I will strip you of your qualifications as a hero.”
“Haah… And then?”
“From this moment, this person shall be recognized as the true hero, and you will atone for the sin of having stolen the fate of a hero.”
“Oh? So what do I need to do? Should I go kill the Demon Lord or something?”
“…The power within you. I will strip you of that power, the power that could reshape the laws of this world. Then you must fight and survive with your own strength.”
“Oh, is that all? I thought you were going to tell me to steal a dragon’s heart while it’s still beating or prepare hundreds of liters of mermaid’s blood.”
If it were that simple, it wouldn’t be a problem at all. Finding mermaids or dragons would take time, and as for the Demon Lord, I don’t even know where he is. If I were told to kill him within a year, I’d have to torture an executive to find out.
“Well then, let’s get started. Should I just cut off the arm with the Holy Mark?”
“…Are you not dissatisfied?”
“Not at all. In fact, I feel liberated from those annoying people, so it’s all good. So how do I lose my qualifications as a hero? Should I just throw away the Holy Sword?”
“…Present your hand with the Holy Mark and the Holy Sword.”
“Sure.”
I offer the Holy Sword, which I’ve been carrying on my back for two or three years without drawing, to the angel who is covering herself with four pairs of white wings.
To be honest, I’m tired because the Demon Lord’s Army executive I killed earlier was surprisingly strong. I just want to treat the hole in my side that I’m forcing shut. I wish this would end quickly.
“…I hereby strip Ferno Desire of the Holy Mark and the Holy Sword. From this moment, Ferno Desire shall no longer be a hero.”
“Uwee.”
Oh, the angel’s wings are spreading… Wait, she’s completely naked. Amazing, those depictions of naked angels in ruins aren’t just figments of imagination; they’re actually true. I can’t see any genitalia, and despite her feminine voice, her chest isn’t even developed, so it seems like she’s just a body for manifestation. Still, it feels like I’ve gained something.
From now on, when I see a depiction of a naked angel, I can think, “Ah, this faithfully reproduces the truth.” Conversely, when I see a clothed angel, I might think, “But they’re not actually wearing clothes.” …How long do I have to keep staring at this naked angel? Should I be moved to tears like an artist?
More importantly, the pain from the hole in my side is making me want to cry… Huh? Is something being pulled out of me?
“…It’s over. From this moment on, you are forbidden from claiming to be a hero.”
“…Just claiming?”
“Indeed. It is only your self-proclamation as a hero that is forbidden. The moment you attempt to deceive the people by claiming to be a hero, punishment shall befall you from the heavens.”
“Hmm?”
“Farewell. You shall not meet again.”
“Is that so? I feel like I’ll run into you again someday.”
“…”
Oh, they took the Holy Sword and the orb of light and left with the Saint and the Sage. I’d prefer not to see them again, but somehow, I have this vague feeling that I will.
Well, even if I do encounter them again, our relationship has been severed at this moment, so there’s no need to speak to them or try to get along. If they try to talk to me, I can just ignore them completely, just as they did from the start. I don’t want to get involved if it doesn’t concern me.
Speaking of which, they didn’t say a single word since they arrived here, did they? I thought they might spit out some curses, but they remained silent, as if they were trying to avoid saying anything foolish. Were they really that scared of the angel? She seemed broad-minded enough to brush off their disrespectful attitude without a care… I just don’t get it.
“Oh? They really disappeared completely, huh? And the power that was inside me has been taken away as well. It feels strange since I’ve had that sensation for so long.”
“Are you alright?”
“Hmm? Ah, I’m fine. It seems like they made sure not to put too much strain on me, sensing that I was on the verge of death.”
“I see. Then let’s return; you need treatment.”
“Yeah… Why are you still here?”
“Hmm?”
As the angel vanished and I sensed the absence of what was taken from me, I heard a familiar voice from behind and responded… Suddenly, I remembered that the Holy Knight was one of the chosen companions of the divine. I asked why she hadn’t followed them.
Fana, who had casually beheaded the Demon Lord’s Army executive I had just killed, answered nonchalantly.
“I had no reason to follow them. Unfortunately, I cannot abandon someone I’ve traveled with for five years, shared meals with, and fought alongside, just because they turned out not to be a true companion.”
“…You’re unnecessarily loyal.”
“Is that so? I think it’s normal.”
“It’s loyal, alright. At least the Saint and the Sage, who have traveled with me for five years, betrayed me without a second thought.”
“…Ah, those two. Don’t compare me to those fools who are mad with color and lost in dreams, or the arrogant idiots who think they’re supreme.”
“Well, that’s… fair enough. My bad.”
“Don’t worry about it. If you feel bad, just buy me a new sword or armor.”
“I don’t have any money, so give it up. Besides, there’s nowhere to find anything better than Mithril; go look in a dwarf’s hidden village.”
“Eh…”
“Don’t ‘eh’ me, you fool. Well then, let’s hurry back.”
“Yeah. We need to treat you.”
“If you hadn’t dropped the bag with the potions, I wouldn’t have had to go through this rough treatment.”
“Is it my fault? Wasn’t it that monster by the riverside?”
“You got too close to the river, which was directly opposite our destination, and dropped it when that monster jumped out at you. It’s entirely your fault, you idiot.”
“Umm…”
I walk back home while having a ridiculous conversation with Fana. Our destination is a nearby town, a slightly larger one that houses the duke who rules over this area.
The reason we came to kill the Demon Lord’s Army executive was that the duke had sought our help. After we dealt with the monsters rampaging through the town, he asked us to eliminate the executive who was hiding there, so we took on the job.
The duke wouldn’t feel at ease until I reported that I had successfully killed him, and even though I’m no longer a hero, it’s my duty to report the completion of the request I accepted.
“Ah, and I didn’t like that, so I thought I’d stick with you.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“That so-called true hero. It’s fine if he seems timid; it’s fine if he doesn’t seem to throw himself into battle; it’s even fine that he was chosen by those annoying fools… But I can’t stand the fact that he doesn’t show any will of his own. If he’s going to claim to be a hero and be there, he should at least interrupt the angel and take the Holy Sword from you.”
“Oh? Now that you mention it, they did look a bit tense. Is it really right to be that scared of the angel?”
“Who knows? Unfortunately, I grew up without learning about such things. But I didn’t think they had to be that afraid. I thought she was broad-minded enough to shake hands with someone covered in blood after butchering livestock. Including how she treated you.”
“Well, that’s probably true. If they were pretending to be the chosen ones of the gods, it wouldn’t be a problem to kill them on the spot. If I were in charge, I’d do just that.”
“I feel the same way… So, what’s next?”
“Hmm? For now, I’ll report back, get treated, and then head to the royal capital to report. I need to inform them that I wasn’t a hero and that the man currently with the Saint and the Sage is the true hero bearing the hero’s mission.”
“I see. And after that?”
“Well, I might work as an adventurer to earn some money, and once I’ve earned enough, I could travel to another country or look for a secluded place in the mountains or on an isolated island to retire.”
“I see… How far can I follow you?”
“…Are you planning to come with me?”
“Of course. I don’t think I can remain a knight anymore. When I return, I’ll either be forced into a marriage with some random noble or be appointed as the personal knight of that insufferable princess.”
“Speaking of which, your family is like that… Well, do as you wish. You can follow me as far as you want, but if your family tells you to come back, I’ll return you.”
“If that happens, I’ll have to brace myself… Do you have no intention of taking my virginity?”
“Absolutely not.”
“What!?”
“Don’t give me that! If you do that, I’ll either be executed or forced to be your partner!”
“Isn’t that fine? What’s the problem?”
“I have nothing but problems! I’m just an ordinary person born and raised in the countryside! I don’t know anything about noble customs or etiquette!”
“I’ll teach you!”
“I don’t need that!”
“What!?”