Power
Overwhelming
「What are you saying?」 (Izayoi)
What's with this woman. isn't
she too worked up over this? If she's this terrified when thieves attack, she
fails as a guild receptionist.
「You fail as an adventurer!」
(Receptionist)
「...But I didn't say anything.」(Izayoi)
「That's how you look!」
(Receptionist)
「I get it. What's the right
thing to do? Enlighten me.」 (Izayoi)
「Isn't defeating the thieves the
obvious answer!? You're an adventurer, right? You registered yesterday, right?
You were an adventurer in the past, right? You were a 【Tier 1】
swordmaster, right? Then please go fight.」 (Receptionist)
The barrage of questions and
shoulder strap on her exposing camisole sliding off bothered me.
This woman smells the same as
Astrea.
「...There's no merit to me
beating up the thieves.」 (Izayoi)
「That's what you think? There is
merit. There's a bounty of 50 gold coins on Rogules, the leader of the thieves.」
(Receptionist)
「...I'm not hard-pressed for
money, nor do I plan to have issues relating to money.」 (Izayoi)
「Can't be helped then. I'll use
my strongest card.」 (Lilia)
As she said that, the
atmosphere coming from her suddenly changed, and she put on a serious
expression.
She bent her body forward, and with
upturned eyes, brought her chest closer.
「If you defeat the thieves, I'll
grant you the privilege of going on a date with me for a day,」 she said
in a sweet, amorous voice. (Receptionist)
「Wake me when the examination
time comes. Good night.」 (Izayoi)
I walked right past her, still
in her pose.
「Wha- I'll double the reward!」 she called out to me. (Receptionist)
「I said, I'm not in need of
money.」 (Izayoi)
「Please help! There are few
adventurers here on the frontier as it is, and if the Airona fruit grove that's
the specialty of this area is destroyed, people will start to leave... and
that'll be the end!」 (Receptionist)
Where did her cheerful
appearance from earlier go? Tears started to gradually well up in her eyes as
she grabbed my shoulders while shaking feebly, and began to plead for my help.
Being honest from the start is
good. There's the exhausted me, and the defenders on the verge of collapse.
「Is there anyone beside me
that'll go to those that are fighting?」 (Izayoi)
「There's nobody else. All of the
knights returned yesterday. There really isn't anyone else. You're the
strongest one here.」 (Receptionist)
「I reset my title, though.」 (Izayoi)
「If you defeat the thieves for
us, I'll negotiate to have you move past 【Tier 1】. I'll
even give you a recommendation for the 【King】 test...」
(Receptionist)
「...【Tier 1】 is fine.」 (Izayoi)
Turning on my heel, I went back
past the receptionist.
「Then, shall we go fight? ...Um,
do you have a weapon?」 (Receptionist)
Without a weapon, much less
armor, I’m only worried about getting my clothes dirty.
Stopping in place, I faced
forward, and called out,
「...Local procurement.」 (Izayoi)
「Local... procurement?」
(Receptionist)
The sound of the fighting in
front of the storehouse resounded throughout the town. There were no defenders
left with the will to fight.
I'm the only one left.
She said the name of the
thieves’ boss was Rogules, huh.
Thrusting his blade into a
fallen adventurer, Rogules finished them off.
「Hey, wait up.」 (Izayoi)
「Aah? Who're you? Planning to
fight back? And you're unarmed too, don't make me laugh!」 (Rogules)
At his insult, his subordinates
began to laugh.
I was tempted to laugh as well,
causing my face to become less tense.
The ‘me’ from before would
knock these guys down and teach them a lesson. I was a heroic hero. I'm not
like that anymore.
「Hey, what's wrong? Too scared
to move? Do you think you're a hero or something?」 (Rogules)
I was foolish and stupid
before.
「Can you let the other guys go?
I'll keep you company.」 (Izayoi)
「Making yourself into a
scapegoat to save the others? Gahaha! That's good, that's good. Run away, you
fools!」 (Rogules)
Rogules took some distance from
the adventurer he had stuck his sword into.
His subordinates released the
captured adventurers one by one.
The uninjured adventurers
released by Rogules gave a warning.
「...Unlike his subordinates,
Rogules is dangerous. You should think twice about throwing away your life.」
(Adventurer)
「Sorry to say, but I have no
intention of dying. I'd be thankful if I could get a sword, though...」 (Izayoi)
An adventurer handed me a
sword.
「Can I get the sheath too?」 (Izayoi)
「The sheath? Is that necessary?
...I don't know about that, but here you go.」
(Adventurer)
Receiving the sheath as well, I
stepped away from the adventurers.
I quietly sheathed the sword.
「You got a sword, so what's the
point in putting it in the sheath? What're you planning to do? Beg for your
life? Are you scared to stand alone against all of us?」 (Rogules)
Surrounded by the subordinates,
Rogules came close from the front. Although the encirclement was good at
placing Rogules in the front and center, to me it was just an invitation to
their deaths.
Well, at least it saves me some
trouble. Holding the sheath in my left hand, and shoving my right hand into my
pocket, I maintained a composed appearance.
「That's right. Being alone
against 15 of you is quite hard. But it's not a problem. I'll keep you company—」 (Izayoi)
In that moment, as if on cue,
the subordinates disappeared.
Without doing anything, a
strong wind began to blow, kicking up the dirt and sending it into the air.
Rogules showed no hint of
understanding what was to come.
I paid no heed to the 14
subordinates. The one I need to defeat is...
「...you, alone.」 (Izayoi)
Gathering excessive power, I
drew the sword.
「Wha!?」
(Rogulues)
Facing no resistance, the sword
met Rogules' neck.
Gathering the energy within my
body, I scored the earth, and calmed the wind. Shrouded by a dust cloud, I took
Rogules' back and silently returned the sword to the sheath.
His head parted from his body,
spurting blood as it fell towards the earth. Caught up in the moment, I lost
sight of my goal for a second.
Kneeing the body, the slightly
overdue sound of Rogules hitting the ground could be heard.
Wrapped in silence, everyone
became stiff.
Cutting through the silence, I
announced, 「You guys acted as you pleased. I killed your boss, do you think
you can beat me?」 (Izayoi)
Unsure what had just happened,
the subordinates with frightened expressions came to a single conclusion.
「Re, retreat!」
(Subordinates)
On that signal, they all turned
to run.
「Was, wasn't that amazing!? I
didn't think you could possibly beat them!」
(Receptionist)
The guild receptionist ran over
to me.
「Hey… Did you really ask me that
while thinking I was going to be killed?」 (Izayoi)
「Ah, no, it was all according to
plan!」 (Receptionist)
Could've fooled me. I was a bit
impatient, and even though there was no chance of me losing, this receptionist
should be disqualified as a human being.
「You're the worst for not
helping earlier, even though you had the power to do so!」
(Receptionist)
「...But I didn't say anything.」 (Izayoi)
「What's what your eyes are
saying!」 (Receptionist)
The residents that had been
waiting for help came out one by one, and begun to praise me. Isn't this
disgraceful? If you understand, then get a hint.
Returning the borrowed sword to
the adventurer, I quickly left for the inn as if running away.
「Ha... Now that I've done
something troublesome, I better leave town, huh?」 (Izayoi)
『"Troublesome" you
say, did something bad happen?』 (Astrea)
(Astrea. Are you awake?)
(Izayoi)
『I just woke up. So, what
happened?』 (Astrea)
(Nothing happened. Rather, how
are you doing?) (Izayoi)
『Ah, is Izayoi worried about
Astrea-chan!? The grown-up Astrea-chan has understood that she has become an
important existence!』 (Astrea)
(Well, I guess so. Whether
you're here or not, it doesn't really matter... Really, it would be fine if you
slept forever.) (Izayoi)
『Praising me then insulting me!
How cruel. Izayoi is mean. I can feel it!』 (Astrea)
Before, I didn't understand
Astrea's actions at all, but this year, I've understood just how much of a
pervert she's become. I vaguely understood that from some time ago though.
(Astrea. Any new information?)
(Izayoi)
『Nope. I tried talking to the
fairies, but no response.』 (Astrea)
(No response? What's the meaning
of that?) (Izayoi)
Astrea is one of the highest
ranking fairies. Governing good and justice, she has regeneration and
purification powers. She used to possess the holy sword before, but she's
possessing my body right now, and because I don't have any magic power, she
can't use any strong magic.
『Astrea-chan might not have
enough power, but it's still odd. More than just not getting a response, I
can't feel the fairies' power.』 (Astrea)
(...Are they dead?) (Izayoi)
『It's possible. Compared to five
years ago, the amount of magic power in this world has decreased.』 (Astrea)
(The core of the demon lord was
sealed, so it was supposed to have gotten better, but it's actually getting
worse... is it.) (Izayoi)
The state of the world has
declined. It's not impossible to think someone is doing it intentionally. Power
to move the world, power to change the world. ...the demon lord's core. And
Astrea's former host, the sacred sword.
They're probably in Zenesys'
hands right now.
『Something has to be done... but
what to do? Izayoi?』 Astrea consulted me.
The world's reduced magic
power, and the missing presence of the fairies.
What is Zenesys doing? ...no,
that doesn't matter.
(...Where is the nearest
fairy?) (Izayoi)
『Allele-chan, the Reyl Lake
water fairy is the closest.』 (Astrea)
We're currently in Arona, on
the southeast edge of the central Asian continent. Reyl Lake is half a day away
by the fast royal carriage.
(Got it. Let's go see what they're up to.) (Izayoi)