Vol 1 Chapter 17 – How Dare You Talk to My Kid Like That!

“I smell a villain.”

With that declaration, Al suddenly bolted.

Honestly, I didn’t want to follow him one bit, but since that idiot was clutching my true body, I got dragged along.

Hurry up and let me go!

And anyway, what does a villain even smell like!? What kind of scent is that!?

What kind of nose can sniff that out like a dog!?

I had plenty to complain about, but Al was moving so fast I couldn’t.

I’m pretty sure snot and tears and who-knows-what were flying off my face…

Thank goodness no one was around to see.

If anyone had, I would’ve had to kill them.

The Holy Sword must never be witnessed in such disgrace.

“Hmmm…”

Where Al finally stopped, there were faces I knew and faces I didn’t.

For example, Hannah was hiding inside a building, peeking from the window.

I know her.

I didn’t know the man and woman who looked like they’d been locked in fierce combat.

They gave off a considerable aura, but Al still felt more dangerous.

…Why is the Hero the one giving off the scariest vibe? I don’t get it.

And there was another familiar face besides those two, but I wasn’t going near that.

Absolute hassle.

So don’t you dare start talking to me either, you lousy Holy Sword.

“If anything, the stench of evil is stronger on you. I sense a selfish, egocentric viciousness, but you’re not past the point of no return.”

“Aren’t you being terribly rude? Am I allowed to get angry?”

The woman’s temple bulged with veins. “Piki-piki”

Her anger was palpable—why did a total stranger get to say all that to her?

She plainly wanted to whack him with the flat of her Holy Sword, but Al’s clearly abnormal aura made her hesitate.

“E-excuse me… may I ask something…?”

“You were so cocky a minute ago, nya… What happened to the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings?”

“Shut up.”

The demon—Keith—was absolutely furious.

I wondered what attitude he’d had before this.

“What is it? Tell me, and take it as a souvenir for the afterlife.”

“There shouldn’t be a Hero who says lines like that…”

I’ve never heard a Hero talk about “souvenirs for the afterlife.”

Neither the humans who wielded me, nor those who wielded other Holy Swords, ever said that.

So how can this guy claim to have a heart of good and justice…?

“You’re… not the real thing, are you…?”

Keith asked timidly.

…Real thing? Real what?

Does he mean a real idiot?

If so, that’s accurate.

Still, Al nodded grandly, satisfied.

“Oh, I’m the genuine Hero.”

“H-hiiii!?”

No, he is NOT a genuine Hero!

I absolutely refuse to acknowledge him!

“No, you’re not an authentic Hero,”

The denial came not from me but from the cat-beastkin Hero, Ruru, who looked utterly baffled.

Al froze, stunned that the rejection came from that direction.

“…Eh, why?”

“Well, because…”

Ah, she’s really going to say it.

Wearing a blank look, Ruru continued while staring at Al.

“There are only five Heroes in any era. Including me, all five for this generation have already shown up, nya.”

“W-what…?”

“You went on and on about Heroes and didn’t even know that…?”

Watching Al take his biggest hit yet, I felt a little delighted.

Yes!

◆

So, what exactly are the requirements to be acknowledged as a Hero?

Does a nation pick someone convenient, call them a Hero, and exploit them?

Or is it someone brave, righteous, and full of compassion?

Perhaps it’s bestowed on someone who accomplishes a feat no ordinary person could?

Those ideas aren’t entirely wrong, but they’re not the decisive requirement.

Then what kind of person is chosen as a Hero?

The answer is absurdly simple.

Anyone chosen by a Holy Sword and able to wield it is called a Hero.

Thus, neither strength nor birth nor past life matters at all.

If the sword recognizes you and you can swing it, you’re a Hero, whoever you are.

“Holy Swords like people with hearts of justice and virtue, so without that you basically can’t use one. Even if you’re weak, holding a Holy Sword lets you wield tremendous power, so it doesn’t matter how scrawny you were.”

Therefore, the stereotypical image people have usually does get chosen.

Righteous and strong—that’s a Hero.

…Al isn’t wrong. Not wrong, but still…

“Hmph. Then I, chosen by my Beloved Sword, am also a Hero…”

“I never chose you.”

I only wavered for a moment.

I haven’t accepted him at all yet.

“That makes no sense, nya. There are only five Holy Swords in the world, so only five Heroes. We just found the last one, so the roster’s full. That makes you a fake Hero.”

“A fake… Hero…?”

“Gaan” Al reeled in shock.

I’d never seen anything hit him this hard.

After all those blood-soaked battles, the first blow that lands is psychological?

“A f-fake? Are you really… really not Alvarado?”

Keith asked fearfully.

No, Al is Al, but…

“If that’s the case… then there’s no reason for me to be af—uh, cautious.”

Keith muttered as though convincing himself.

Even from his aura alone he seemed strong, so why was he so scared of Al?

…Well, I guess I get it.

He once beat a man to death with rubble stuck to a Holy Sword.

“There’s no way a delusional human who thinks he’s a Hero can beat me, one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings!”

Keith’s blade flashed. “Gira”

He declared it with conviction.

I nodded along.

Exactly—my kid is hopelessly delusional.

…Did he say Four Heavenly Kings? Why is such a big shot here?

“Anyone dumb enough to impersonate that psycho Alvarado must have no brains. Death will be easier. Sit still and I’ll kill you quick—I hate hassle.”

“……”

I’d been nodding at Keith’s words, but my nodding stopped cold.

Isn’t that going a bit far?

Why should some nobody get to trash-talk my idiot like that?

It’s not like I like Al or anything…

I was dragged out against my will, so him taking a little damage is fine.

But he is still my owner.

Having him slagged off this badly… rubs me the wrong way.

I can bad-mouth him, but you can’t.

“……”

A glance showed Hannah, still peeking from the workshop window, looking annoyed.

She rebels against Al whenever Rasha’s involved, but he did save her life.

She probably feels it’s wrong for him to be insulted like this.

Phew… honestly.

I hate this, but I’ll make a special exception.

“…Al.”

“…Yeah?”

He looked truly downhearted.

A rare sight—kind of funny… no, cute… no, pitiful.

So I stepped a little closer.

“Just this once. Just this once, okay?”

This part is really important.

I hammer it in again and again.

“I’ll sorta… just sorta-kinda acknowledge you as a Hero.”

“……”

Al blinked wide.

Me acknowledging him as a Hero—

Means letting him use my Holy Sword power.

For this moment only, he’ll be a real Hero.

“So go blast that guy.”

“…Hmph, if my Beloved Sword desires it, I have no choice.”

“Don’t call me your Beloved Sword.”

That point is non-negotiable.

I glared at Al, but the elated idiot didn’t even notice.

He was moping a minute ago—what a simpleton…

“I am the Hero. And the Demon Lord’s Heavenly King is pure evil. I’ll mince you right here.”

“Look, I don’t want people thinking all Heroes are like this. Could you stop calling yourself one, nya?”

Ruru twisted her face in genuine disgust.

A Hero talking about mincing enemies is, yeah, bad.

But still…

“How dare you talk to my kid like that!”

“Eh!? You were smiling while he was being insulted, and now you’re angry? Make up your mind, nya!”

Only I’m allowed to bad-mouth Al!

“Looking away will get you killed!”

I was focused on yelling at Ruru when Keith lunged at Al.

His shadow suddenly formed into spears that attacked from every direction.

Impressive—an incredibly powerful technique.

“Thanks for the warning, great villain.”

But none of the attacks reached him.

Not against the Hero I’d acknowledged—even if only a little.

“But I don’t need it.”

The power of the Holy Sword was unleashed.