Vol 1 Chapter 14 – Is there such a guy as Alvarado?

Al looked at me with a completely blank expression.
He really doesn’t understand people at all, does he—this guy.
A monster who can’t grasp a human heart.
And yet he possesses that overwhelming sense of justice and goodness that drew me in so strongly.
…Isn’t that all kinds of messed up?

“Well, anyway. My resolve will never waver. I’ll continue fighting until every evil that plagues this world is wiped out. I believe that, in turn, this will lead to saving innocent people like Rasha.”
“……”

Rasha’s face…
Ah, this girl is hopeless.
Obviously it’s too late. Plainly and definitively obvious.

“Ah! Stop, stop it! Seriously, quit saying unnecessary stuff! And I mean, what about me!?!”
“Gyaa gyaa”
Hannah made a huge fuss.
Has she always had such an entertaining personality?
It doesn’t appear to be romantic or lustful feelings toward Rasha, but she does seem to have some special feeling for her that she doesn’t have for others.
And so, the idea of her taking an interest in any other man is utterly unforgivable.
Hannah really is just cute…

“You give off a slight whiff of evil.”
“You really say the most outrageous things, right in front of him. It’s not like that――――――”
I furrowed my brows at Al’s all-too-direct remark.
I honestly couldn’t care less if a human gets hurt or dies—be my guest—but if Al earns someone’s ire, the chance that I’ll be forced into a fight skyrockets, and I’d like to prevent that at all costs.
Besides, evil…
And that hilarious, big-breasted, crazy chick couldn’t possibly pull something like that…

“W-wh-wh-what are you talking about? I seriously don’t understand anything you’re saying. Cut the weird talk or I’ll kill you!”
“……”
Wow, this is unbelievable.

“Guruguru”
Her eyes were spinning, sweat pouring like a waterfall, and her body shook uncontrollably…
What, seriously? Hannah, seriously?!

“Th-there’s a criminal here. Al, let’s get out of here. It’s dangerous.”
“I haven’t done anything that bad! …Probably.”
He’s definitely done at least that much, and objectively, he may have done even more.
What is this guy? What on earth has he done?

“Well, Hannah can wait.”
“Huh? You’re going to kill her later? I’d really rather you didn’t.”
“First, the noble.”
“Ah, the one who threatened to kill him… That’s an extremely serious criminal, you know? Are you aware of that?”
Ignoring Hannah, Al turned his murderous intent toward the noble—the lord ruling this village.
Trying to kill a noble alone—even just an attempt—is a grave crime that surely demands execution.
But he’s not the sort of guy who’d be stopped by such deterrents.
I couldn’t help but feel completely drained.
I really don’t want to fight…

“Maybe there was some reason they couldn’t come for support. If that’s the case, killing is out of the question. That would be going too far. Maybe just breaking an arm or so.”
Isn’t that going a bit too far…?
I wondered.

“But if there’s no reason, or if the reason is truly wicked…”
Al fell silent for a moment, then gave me a sweet smile.
“Then, well… so be it.”
“That’s definitely the face of someone about to kill.”
“That’s brutal…”
“Koso koso”
Hannah and I trembled quietly.
I didn’t say anything to Rasha.
She probably wouldn’t hear any of it anyway.

◆

Hannah was muttering to herself in front of her workshop, which sat a little apart from where the villagers lived.
For the record, it’s not because she couldn’t form such a close relationship with anyone except Rasha that she lives apart. Definitely not.
She wasn’t born and raised in this village; she moved here from outside.
It was natural she felt alienated in a village where most people had known each other since birth.
Then again, she hasn’t really tried to fit in herself, so it hasn’t done much damage.

“Seriously, what is Rasha’s taste in men…? I’ll never understand that.”
“Punpun”
Hannah fumed.
All her most important—or rather, her only—best friend’s feelings have lately been directed entirely toward Al.
And she was none too pleased about that.
She thought Rasha could at least play with her more, or pay a little more attention…

“No, I do appreciate that guy too, you know? If he hadn’t saved me, I’d be dead too.”
Of course, she wasn’t unfairly disliking Al.
He helped her when she was fighting demons, and more importantly, he saved Rasha, who would’ve lost her life to something vile otherwise.
Honestly, there’s nothing about him that would inspire hatred.
That is, if only Rasha didn’t keep getting enchanted by Al.

“But that doesn’t mean you should fall for him so easily!”
Of course, Rasha never actually said she was in love.
But from the outside, it was plain to see.
Why would that adorable Rasha fall for a self-proclaimed hero who throws moral sense out the window?

“I just don’t get it. Ah, my Rasha won’t be mine alone anymore… Even though she’s my only friend…”
Hannah lamented.
She feared her only friend would be taken away.
She lifted her head and turned her gaze swiftly toward—

“So, who the heck are you? Listening to someone’s anguished cries—that’s quite a hobby you’ve got. Pervert?”
“I haven’t done anything that would earn me the title of pervert.”

The one who responded easily to Hannah’s question was a man of the demon race.
He was Ludrick, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

“Damn, another demon… I don’t have good memories of those guys… And you look even stronger than the last one…”
“That one was my subordinate. True enough, if we fought, I’d be stronger than him.”
“This is the worst… Retribution? How annoying…”

Hannah dropped her shoulders in defeat.
She’s not the combat type.
She can’t move quickly, nor does she have the strength to knock someone unconscious.
Let alone shrug off multiple lightning strikes that would be lethal to a human and then casually swing around a bludgeon called a sword.
Still, this is near her workshop, and she has a few tricks up her sleeve.
Last time, since we were far from her workshop, she could only manage to bring a doll.

“Well, if I can, I’d be willing to give her some revenge, but that’s not all. I’m the type who finds that kind of thing a hassle too.”
Somehow, Ludrick sensed that about her.
Because there was no trace of fear in Hannah.
After all, she’s just human. He could probably crush her with sheer force… but…

“So, lazybones, what do you want?”
“I was asked by a business associate. Also, for personal reasons.”
“What is it?”
At Hannah’s words, the formidable air Ludrick had exuded collapsed.
Breaking into a cold sweat and with a pale face,

“Koso koso,” he began whispering in a hushed tone.
“――――――Is there someone named Alvarado?”
“Yeah, he’s here.”
“Noooo…”
Ludrick let out a cry like a very fragile little animal.