Vol 1 Chapter 37 – Ego【Vol 1 – Spoiled Princess Arc】

“Hurry!! If they escape and regroup, we’ll be the ones to die!!”

Next to Biriel, his aide brandished a sword as he spurred the men on.

His private soldiers were mostly misfits and criminals who couldn’t make it under other nobles.

That made them accustomed to rough work, and since they lacked the lofty spirit of knights, they were incredibly convenient to have as subordinates.

However, among them were a few townspeople who had been forced into the private army against their will, though their numbers were small.

In particular, those with high magic aptitude were forcibly taken from their families and pressed into service, turning their power against the royals against their will.

The reason some private soldiers wore ferocious smiles while others had grim expressions at the thought of turning their blades on royalty was due to these circumstances.

“No, there’s no need to rush them. At this rate, we’ll definitely catch up.”

“Huh…?”

Biriel stopped his aide.

That sly, wicked grin was proof he was thinking of something dangerous.

“There’s a narrow path made of rock walls just ahead. It’ll be impossible for them to gallop their horses at full speed like they have been. We’ll catch them there and collapse the walls with a magic attack. That way, we’ll slaughter them all, along with those annoying escort knights.”

“Ooh…!!”

The aide looked at Biriel with something like admiration.

It was at that moment, just as he wore a prideful smirk…

KRA-KOOM!

…that a massive sound erupted, and before their eyes, the rock wall crumbled into a pile of rubble.

“Wha-wha-wha-whaaaaaaat!?”

“Lord Biriel! W-What is this…!?”

Biriel and his private soldiers were stunned.

The very rock wall they had planned to destroy was collapsing on its own.

“Tch!! Are they trying to buy time? But it’s not a very big collapse. We can clear this away quickly, and a few men should be able to get through. Hurry!”

“Sir!!”

Their earlier composure was gone, but it wasn’t as if their prey had completely escaped.

An explosion of that size meant they should be able to catch up in no time.

And so, when Biriel and his men arrived at the rock wall, a single man stood blocking their path.

“You are…”

“It’s been a while, Biriel.”

The man stood alone with his back to the rubble, a faint smile on his face.

Biriel knew him as the one called the Altruistic Charity Hero.

“You! That’s disrespectful to Lord Biriel!!”

“It’s fine.”

Biriel silenced the aide who was shouting at Erik and looked at him.

From what he could see, there was no one else left.

There was nowhere to hide, so it truly must have been just him.

“I see now. You were used as a decoy, weren’t you?”

“…”

Erik didn’t answer.

That gave Biriel his conviction.

“I see. It is indeed a rational idea. When retreating, leaving a rearguard to slow the enemy’s pursuit is something any army would do. But…”

Biriel laughed with an ugly smirk.

“You’re no soldier, are you? And yet they left you behind. How pitiful.”

He chuckled deep in his throat.

“And as if to say you’re not allowed to escape, your path of retreat has been sealed. Bwahahahaha! Isn’t that just tragic! I’ve never seen a man so pitiful, so deserving of sympathy!!”

An order to face this many private soldiers all alone—how cruel could it be?

If Biriel had been given that order, he would have refused with all his might.

“Prince Orace shows such a kind face to the people, but his true nature is no different from mine! No, you were Princess Debora’s Knight of Fealty, weren’t you? Kukuku, what rotten luck.”

Biriel, who had disliked Orace for being so popular with the citizens, now felt a sense of kinship if he was a man similar to himself.

Perhaps, even if he invaded the Royal Capital, he could spare him.

“How about it, Erik? You don’t want to go through this, do you? You don’t want to be lynched by hundreds of men and die, do you? Then come to my side. Work for me, fight for me. If you do, I will at least spare your life.”

Biriel held out a hand with a smirk.

He believed he could make use of Erik.

According to the report, he had heard that Erik had protected the princess even while escaping the ‘Beginner-Slayer’s Chamber’ and being poisoned by bandits.

His high combat endurance and loyalty were attractive to Biriel.

Furthermore, Erik was held in high regard and favor by the citizens as the Altruistic Charity Hero.

If he could get Erik on his side, his own reputation would rise in tandem.

That was the thought behind his proposal.

And Erik had to take this hand.

Because if he didn’t, he would be beaten to a pulp and lynched by the burly private soldiers.

One man versus several hundred. It was an insurmountable difference in strength.

If that one man were a hero whose name was etched in history, the story might be different, but Erik was a former farmer who had never been trained.

He did not have the power to overcome this disparity.

That is why Erik had to take Biriel’s hand; it was his only option.

…But.

“Heh.”

Erik smiled fearlessly.

Biriel, who had extended his hand, the private soldiers, and the townspeople who had been forcibly incorporated into their ranks were all surprised.

“Biriel, you seem to be mistaken. My standing here is not at the command of Prince Orace, let alone Princess Debora. I am remaining here because I myself volunteered.”

“What…?”

They had been in a running battle just now, so he must have known that a force far greater than his own was closing in.

So why would he willingly leap into a place of certain death?

“…Fuhah! Don’t tell me you intend to die for the royal family? How foolish. Even if you do, they’ll forget all about you in a year.”

“You’re mistaken about that as well, Biriel.”

“What did you say?”

He thought this was just another knight-like man willing to risk life and limb for the royals, something he couldn’t comprehend.

But Erik denied that as well.

“This isn’t for Princess Debora’s sake. This is entirely for my own sake.”

――――――!!

Even Biriel and the private soldiers listening understood that these were not words forced upon him by anyone, but words that came from his own heart.

That was why they were stunned.

To willingly throw away one’s life for someone else.

Even knights, if ordered, could probably give their lives for the royal family or the nation.

There were surely those among them who were that noble and loyal.

But was there anyone who could do so while calling it for their own sake, calling it ego?

To die for something, to die for someone.

Without that kind of justification, one cannot so easily throw away their life.

“This is… the Hero-sama…”

A girl, one of the townspeople forcibly integrated into the private army by Biriel, murmured as she gazed at him with adoration.

The Altruistic Charity Hero. She finally understood the meaning behind the name the citizens called him with both affection and reverence.

“Th-This guy is…!!”

On the other hand, Biriel and most of his private soldiers were terrified of Erik.

To them, Erik did not appear to be a virtuous hero of great benevolence like the girl saw.

――――――Berserker.

The reporter had described Erik as such, and now, for the first time, Biriel acknowledged it.

He was far too different.

To them, Erik was a completely incomprehensible being.

And that which cannot be understood, instills fear in humans.

In other words, Erik’s very existence evoked terror in them.

“As proof, look at this rubble. I created this with my magic. This means that until you defeat me, this rubble will not disappear.”

“…Hey, you. Is that true?”

“Y-Yes. Indeed, that rubble contains the Hero-sama’s mana…”

As Erik proudly indicated the rubble, Biriel asked the girl standing nearby.

Her high aptitude for magic had been discovered, and he had forcibly made her join his private army.

Because of that, she could tell that Erik’s mana was indeed imbued within the rubble.

“I don’t understand. You truly are an anomaly. You’re eerie. You’re creepy.”

“Heh…”

A shudder ran through Erik’s body at Biriel’s words.

“But this is no time to be standing around! Kill that berserker at once, remove that annoying rubble, and chase after the royals!!”

“Ooooooooohh!!”

Following Biriel’s command, the private soldiers ferociously charged at Erik.

He smiled happily and drew his sword.