Defiled Hero Chapter 003

Defiled Hero

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)

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