I Secretly Healed the Illness of the Twin Princesses While Wearing a Mask, and Now the Entire Kingdom Is in an Uproar ~Please Stop Trying to Expose the Street Healer~ - Chapter 46

After the punching bag plan presentation ended.

Ridiel was banging her head against the wall, regretting what she had just said.

“Ugh, I’m such an idiot!! Why did I say I’d do something I can’t even do!!”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she was shaking.

I wouldn’t believe this was the same woman who had just boldly stood up to the strongest punching bag in the Hero Division.

But Ridiel was quick to recover.

She stopped banging her head, rubbed her slightly red forehead, and turned back to me.

“I’ve already said it!! Let’s make a plan!!”

“Ah, so you’re going through with it after all.”

“I will never go back on my word!! You’re coming with me, Asuku-kun!! …You will, right? Right!?”

I was curious what she’d do if I refused, but I decided not to test it.

“Yeah, I’ll come. I can’t do much, though.”

“That’s great! Then let’s go meet the vanguard team!!”

We headed to the training grounds.

Many knights, soldiers, and mercenaries were cleaning their weapons or training.

But among them, there was one completely unmotivated group.

Their weapons were old, their armor falling apart, and they didn’t seem interested in anything. Some were even drinking alcohol.

“…Hey, Asuku-kun. Are these the people I’m supposed to lead…”

“Those are them.”

“…No way? Why are they drinking instead of training!?”

I had no answer for that.

Ridiel was determined as she slapped her own cheek and stepped forward to speak.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh? Ah, you must be the weird hero candidate who said you’d lead us.”

“Why are you drinking in the middle of the day?”

“““Pfft, ahahaha!!”””

The vanguard soldiers burst out laughing.

“Ahaha, you say some funny things.”

“We’re going to die soon anyway, right? Then of course we drink!!”

“And chances like this, when people like us, fifth-rank trash, can drink, don’t come often!! You might as well drink until we die!!”

Whoa.

These people weren’t just desperate. They had already given up on living.

No matter how hard Ridiel tried, leading people who had no will to live would be almost impossible…

Just as I was thinking that.

“…Don’t mess with me.”

Ridiel’s voice was quiet in a whisper, but it somehow rang out clearly.

The soldiers frowned at her words.

“Haah, a kid with a safe future like a hero candidate wouldn’t understand how we feel.”

“That’s right. We have no value. If we die, nothing changes.”

“Don’t talk big when you don’t know our suffering.”

Ridiel faced them—

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Huh?”

Her eyes were serious, and her voice was firm and strong. She didn’t look like the girl who had been banging her head on the wall earlier.

“My father was also fifth-rank. That means I was, too.”

“…Huh?”

“He worked every day in dangerous mines. He came home covered in dirt and dust, but he always smiled and said ‘I’m home’ while holding me.”

“S-so what?”

“When I was little, I once asked him something. I didn’t know he was forced to work there. I asked him, ‘Why do you work in a mine where you might die,’ without thinking. Do you know what he said?”

What did he say?

“He said, ‘Because someone has to do this job. But I don’t plan to die. I want to see you grow up.’ And he said it with a smile.”

“““…”””

“Then what about you? Because you’re only fifth-rank? Because you think you have no value, so dying doesn’t matter? Don’t joke with me!!”

Before I realized it, the soldiers had stopped drinking. They were listening to her.

And faint light had returned in their eyes.

“It’s true that the mission given to you is dangerous, and you might die. But I will not allow you to go in planning to die from the start!! Live with all your strength!! That is what will give your lives true value!!”

“E-even if you say that…”

“Y-Yeah, we’re not very strong…”

“No matter what we do…”

The vanguard still hadn’t fully let go of their despair.

Facing them, Ridiel stood tall with full confidence and declared loudly.

“I will be the one leading you! I am the future great hero, Ridiel Leendiel!! As long as I am in command, I will not allow even a single death!!”

Not allowing even one death.

Thinking about it calmly, that was impossible. But when Ridiel said it, it felt like it could really happen.

Maybe this was what people called charisma.

For some reason, when I listened to her words, I felt like I had to do my best too.

There was a little more light in the eyes of the vanguard soldiers now.

◆　◇　◆

“H-hey, Asuku-kun. I have a huge favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“Please give me any advice to complete the mission without anyone dying!! I’m begging you!!”

Ridiel, who had just made a bold speech to the vanguard, was now on the ground as she was bowing and begging.

Where did that charisma go? Now she just looked like a hero’s courage.

“…Why are you asking me for advice?”

“Y-you know, Asuku-kun has a talent for sculpting, right? So I thought, maybe you could also show some amazing strategy as a military advisor.”

“That’s just wishful thinking.”

“Ugh…”

…Still.

“It’s not like I have no ideas.”

“Eh!?”

“There’s someone I know who’s been active in the Empire lately. They go by Nameless.”

“Nameless? I know Faceless. Is he related?”

“No, it’s the same person.”

It was true. It’s not a lie.

If we bring Nameless along with the vanguard and launch a zombie attack, it might just work.

But there was still a problem.

“And then there’s the equipment… Since they’re treated like cannon fodder, they won’t get good weapons or armor. What should we do…?”

“We can make a small varistor or catapult with wood and rope.”

“…Huh? Why!? I thought maybe we could make some weapons, but why can we make siege engines!?”

“I saw the varistor and catapult on the castle wall earlier. I’m not a professional, so they’ll probably break after half a day, but we could make about ten of each in one day.”

“Asuku-kun, can I start calling you Asuku-san from now on? Also, you can just call me Ridiel.”

“That’s not a problem, Ridiel-san.”

The preparations for battle were moving forward step by step.

◇　◇　◇

Afterword

One-Point Story

Author: “Asuku is slowly turning into a convenient character who can do everything… I don’t like it.”

A: “Why not?”

If you thought, “Ridiel has high main-character power,” “She’s not just handy, she’s insanely skilled,” “Why is that bad,” please leave your thoughts, bookmarks, ★ ratings, or reviews.