Vol 1 Chapter 26 – A-An International Most-Wanted Criminal…?

Every pair of eyes in the room locked onto Al.

Most people would shrink when so many people stare daggers, yet he remained inexplicably unfazed.

What is with this guy…?

“A-an international fugitive…?”

Hannah—whose bust is far too generously endowed—stared in blank disbelief.

Naturally. Just moments ago everyone had been in an uproar over her own wanted notice, and yet who could have predicted that Al—the one doing the accusing—would turn out to be an even bigger deal?

Probably only I knew.

After all, wanted posters pop up for him every so often.

In the middle of this turmoil, Al tilted his head…

“…Who?”

“It was your name, plain as day, Al.”

The fact that he genuinely wasn’t playing dumb made it all the more irritating.

“Look, being internationally wanted’s way worse than what I’ve got. I mean, the whole world sees you as a criminal, right? I’m only wanted in a tiny slice of this country, y’know.”

“Come on now. The fact my boss wants you means you’re already in pretty deep trouble.”

Spica could only give a wry smile at Hannah’s smug little laugh.

It was hard to tell beneath the scattered bits of armor, but her chest probably outclassed even Hannah’s.

Unforgivable. May gravity take it down.

“Still, if we’re talking sheer danger level, he’s probably the winner.”

Spica said that and looked over at Al.

True, there isn’t a soul as completely unhinged as this man.

In all my long life as a Holy Sword, I’ve never seen one.

…How did a monster like him even come to be?

The monster in question looked utterly blank, as though the idea had never crossed his mind.

“Why…? I honestly can’t think of a single reason…”

“You’re kidding, right? Do you have the memory of a chicken?”

Put a hand to your chest and recall everything you’ve done up till now.

You’ve racked up more than enough reasons to be wanted.

Al’s obliviousness is what makes him truly terrifying.

“Uhh, what were the charges again…?”

Spica raised her fingers one by one, ticking them off as she recalled.

“The royal-noble family massacre. The Imperial pleasure-city arson. Attempted overthrow of the Papal State. Instigating the Republic’s slave-liberation war.”

“So he’s an international terrorist?”

Hannah gaped.

I’d have reacted the same if I hadn’t been swung around as the weapon and witnessed it firsthand.

No, every word of it is true…

“So, what’s the real story…?”

“Let’s see…”

Hannah asked, so I paused to think.

It’s not like he committed these century-class crimes just for laughs.

Everything Al did was rooted in his own convictions and ideals.

Of course, normal people couldn’t pull any of it off in the first place.

Take the royal-noble family massacre, for example.

That family was downright sadistic.

They abused their authority to snatch innocent civilians, torturing them slowly to death for sport—so twisted that even a non-human like me recoiled.

Once Al learned of it, he couldn’t restrain himself and turned them into rubble and mush.

[Ooh…]

As for the Imperial incident, it centered around a city built on a massive coliseum.

Criminals were forced to fight other criminals, or savage beasts, or monsters…

Al might have let it slide if that were all, but droves of harmless civilians were being hauled in just for amusement.

So Al went on a rampage and burned the entire city to the ground.

[Eeh…]

The attempted coup in the Papal State never came to fruition.

The Papal State does still exist today.

Still, the internal power structure has likely changed quite a bit.

A revolution almost happened, attempted or not…

“Revolution…”

And the slave-liberation war… well, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

Literally slaves being freed. It was rough…

“You’re insane…”

Hannah stared, dumbfounded.

…Honestly, I’d react the same if I weren’t personally involved.

I’m pretty sure my eyes have gone distant right about now.

…Because I don’t want to remember any of it.

The results were fine—great, even.

But the methods were anything but heroic…

“Those are just the big incidents, right? I mean, you nearly beat one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings half to death just now.”

He also casually kills any bandits we happen across.

“Is that really a crime, though?”

“Indeed. I slay only the wicked.”

“Even if they’re wicked, killing them without due process is still illegal, you know?”

Spica said this with a sunny smile to Al, who nodded with full confidence.

Honestly, it’s amazing she can smile so gently despite knowing everything Al has done.

Maybe she just doesn’t think about it.

She seems to cruise through life.

“You’re getting dismantled by someone whose brain looks all soft and squishy.”

“That’s so mean!”

Spica protested, pouting at Hannah’s remark.

Quit acting all cutesy…

Hannah fixed me with a steady gaze as these thoughts ran through my head.

“…Why is this guy the Hero, again?”

“For the last time! I absolutely do not recognize him as such!”

He’s forcing me to work!

I mean, you can’t normally wield a Holy Sword against its will!

I’m dying to know how we even ended up here!

“…The real trouble is, hatred isn’t the only emotion he inspires.”

“Sure, countries and nobles despise him, but ordinary folks rarely complain of any harm.”

When I muttered that, Spica chimed in.

Al’s deeds are egregious, capital crimes.

Killings, attempted coups—he could be executed a hundred times over and it still wouldn’t cover it.

Yet the fact remains: people have undeniably been saved by what he’s done.

When Al crushes what he deems evil, those oppressed by it end up rescued.

So you can’t label it pure evil across the board.

“…You’re not exactly pure evil, but calling it justice feels wrong too… You’re complicated, you know that?”

“Heh, I’m flattered.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

I envy his imperviousness to sarcasm.

Ordinary humans would at least worry about these things.

I voiced what I was thinking.

“There are even people starting to worship this lunatic—humans make no sense.”

“Wait, what? That’s terrifying…”

Hannah shot me a thoroughly creeped-out look.

N-not me! I mean toward Al!