Defiled Hero Chapter 002

Defiled Hero

Adventurer Registration: Thieves and the Guild Receptionist

「What are your plans for today?」 (Receptionist)

There was nobody else inside the guild building except for us two.

I prepared my words and went to the counter right away.

「I would like to register as an adventurer again, and purchase some things.」 (Izayoi)

「Your titles and previous accomplishments will be reset, is that fine?」 (Receptionist)

Personal records are erased after five years if not updated, so that's been done, right? If I said it wasn't fine, would something different happen?

I won't say that. I can't say that.

「Yes, please.」 (Izayoi)

「Then, please fill out this form.」 (Receptionist)

I received a brown piece of paper from the receptionist. The form had spaces for name, age, and race.

That's all that was necessary to register with the guild.

Filling in the blanks, I handed it back to the woman.

Since it's annoying to think of another name, I'll just use Izayoi. I've never used the name Izayoi in this world. Most of the time, I was just referred to as "hero." That's how I was referred to before.

The receptionist looked over the paper, then placed it on a pedestal.

「Now then, please place your hand on this pedestal.」 (Receptionist)

I placed my hand on the pedestal with the paper, and with a *pish* sound, the paper disappeared.

「Adventurer registration is complete. You will start as an F-rank adventurer. Will you be fine without an explanation?」 (Receptionist)

「Yes. Now, this...」 (Izayoi)

I sold the seeds of life and got 4 gold coins, equivalent to 40,000 yen. If only this was enough. This is insufficient for purchasing equipment, but is enough for Astrea.

I don't plan on staying in town for long. I'll leave tomorrow.

All that's left is to collect information.

「There will be an examination for titles tomorrow, what do you think?」 (Receptionist)

Because I reset, there's a need to acquire a new title.

「...Sign me up for the sword examination please.」 (Izayoi)

Guild rank is determined by quest completions and achievements. Titles exemplify one's strength.

From lowest to highest, the titles are 【Beginner】, 【Intermediate】, 【Advanced】, 【Tier 2】, 【Tier 1】, 【King】, 【Emperor】, and【Saint】.

I was ranked S by the guild when I was a hero. My title was 【Emperor】. I should have acquired several others, too.

「Just to verify, have you acquired a title for sword mastery before?」 (Receptionist)

As if I could honestly say Emperor. Even if you counted the various martial art users, few reached Emperor status. Also, there were only two swordmasters back then, including me. If I say that, I'll just be thought of as a braggart.

「...I was 【Tier 1】.」 (Izayoi)

【Tier 1】 adventurers were competent. Few were recognized as 【King】 and higher by the country. There were a lot of 【Tier 1】 adventurers because of the wall between it and 【King】.

「【Tier 1】 swordmaster, understood. At 10 tomorrow morning, please come to the guild for the 【Advanced】 examination.」 (Receptionist)

Parting from the receptionist, I went towards the bar counter. I haven't had a satisfying meal in a few days. Let's go eat.

Given the food shortage, prices were twice what they were before, but it can't be helped.

While diligently studying the menu in hand, a man went out of his way to sit down next to me.

「Hey, kid. Get a bowl for me.」 (???)

He was about 40 years old. Silver light reflected off of his artificial right arm. In my life in my previous world, I've seen dozens of guys like this.

「Hey. I'm not the same as you.」 (Izayoi)

I muttered quietly, not stopping the hand bringing food to my mouth.

「Oh, is that so.」 (40 year old guy)

Not pursuing the bland conversation, I ordered alcohol and began to drink. There doesn't seem to be any resentment. This is a good chance. I'll gather some information then.

「I've changed my mind. Here's a drink, old man. In exchange, some small talk, if you would.」 (Izayoi)

「Small talk? What would you happen to be interested in, boy?」 (40 year old guy)

「...I've been in the mountains for a while. Not sure what's going on in the world right now. Tell me what's happened in the last 5 years. Depending on the information, I'll get you another drink.」 (Izayoi)

「Hmm, the past five years, right, the hero sealed the core of the demon lord, something like that?」 (40 year old guy)

「Yeah, like that. What happened to the hero afterwards?」 (Izayoi)

「If it's the hero, he restrained the demon lord with his holy sword, but in the end his power overflowed and ran wild. Because of that, his master Zenesys had no choice but to kill the hero to stop his uncontrollable rampage. A sad sight to see. It was his master and all.」 (40 year old guy)

The holy sword completely sealed the demon's core. However, master——swordmaster Zenesys suddenly brandished his sword at me.

I was saved by Astrea, and vanished from this world. Zenesys falsified the truth, and now we're here.

「What is Zenesys up to now?」 (Izayoi)

「Swordmaster Zenesys passed the examination, and is the king now.」 (40 year old man)

「...he became king?」 (Izayoi)

「A splendid king too. He even helped out a frontier town like this. The people support him, and he's become an impeccable king.」 (40 year old man)

Zenesys was trusted by the former king. I should have become king when he betrayed me. Becoming the king wasn't the reason for betrayal though.

Then, what was the reason...

「What's wrong, kiddo? You've got an odd expression on your face. You aren't thinking about killing the king or something like that are you? I won't help you with that kind of thing, okay?」(40 year old man)

「It's nothing that dangerous. And besides, I...」 (Izayoi)

The hero ‘me’ died. "Justice," "for the people," such things don't matter anymore.

The foolish ‘me’ is gone.

「That's got nothing to do with me.」 (Izayoi)

Standing up, I pulled a gold coin out of my pocket and placed it on the counter.

「For the two of us.」 (Izayoi)

Saying that, I left the guild.

「Thanks kid. I'm in your debt.」 (40 year old man)

I know what's going on. But what should I do? I can't do anything bad until I revive Astrea.

Returning to the inn, I went to bed in preparation for tomorrow. Falling asleep immediately, I awoke to the complete darkness outside my window.

(Hey, Astrea.) (Izayoi)

No response. Guess it'll take a bit longer.

Closing my eyes and waiting silently on my bed, it began to get noisy outside.

I could begin to hear the sounds of swords clashing and people yelling.

There's conflict in this town, huh. Those troublesome people. There were 15 thieves that could be heard, and 8 town guards opposing them.

They're at a disadvantage. Their boss is quite skilled, too. The guards are outnumbered by the subordinates... but they're also twice as strong as them.

The thieves surrounded the guards in a move to cut them down. Unable to rest well with the noise outside, I got off the bed and headed outside the inn.

「There are thieves and adventurers outside. It's better not to go out there.」 (Inn's Master)

「It's alright. I don't plan to fight.」 (Izayoi)

「Then all the more reason not to go...」 (Inn's Master)

Disregarding the inn's master, I went directly towards the guild. In front of the guild was the receptionist, dressed in her pajamas.

「What're you doing in the middle of the night? In your pajamas no less?」 (Izayoi)

「I'm not doing anything! There's an emergency! I couldn't possibly sleep like this!」 (Receptionist)

「I see... Well, I'm going to go sleep in the guild now.」 (Izayoi)

「Sleep!? You're going to sleep? No, no way...」 (Receptionist)

「It can't be helped. It's noisy at the inn, I can't sleep there.」 (Izayoi)

「Something's wrong! "I see..." As if! You don't understand! 」 (Receptionist)

「Are, are you alright? Calm down.」 (Izayoi)

「Calm down? Calm down, you say? What! You think I'm weird? Do you really? Huh?」 (Receptionist)

It's useless, this woman. She's completely panicked. Until she's calmed down, nothing will get through to her.

「You're not the one at fault.」 (Izayoi)

「Right? Is that right? Yes. So what are you going to do about it?」 (Receptionist)

「Sleep in the guild.」 (Izayoi)

「Ok, that. It's that.」 (Receptionist)

I looked around my surroundings, but nothing's happening. Nothing.

「I'm not saying it's some direction. I'm saying it's you!」 (Receptionist)

Previous Chapter | Chapter List | Next Chapter