Vol 1 Chapter 40 – I Smell a Whiff of Evil?

Al arrived in the city where the Hero’s Council was being held, along with Ruru. Or rather, he just tagged along without permission.

Is he some kind of creepy stalker?

And yet, Al didn’t enter the venue with Ruru, instead wandering through the city streets.

Seriously, if that was his plan, why did he even bother coming? Well, it’s not like I thought an outsider could get into the Hero’s Council, but with this guy, I figured he’d try to force his way in…

“So, why didn’t you go to the meeting with Ruru?”

“A hero is supposed to make a late entrance.”

“I really don’t think a guy who shows up late to a meeting can be a hero…”

The reason was so ridiculous I felt like crying. He’s just some lunatic who’s deluded himself into thinking he’s a hero…

How could my instincts have possibly mistaken someone like this for a person with a heart of justice and goodness…?

“Still, I thought a frontier city like this would be grim, but it’s surprisingly peaceful.”

“That’s a good thing.”

The marketplace was quite lively. Maybe the reality was different, but there were a lot of smiling faces.

Just now, as we were having some simple fruit wrapped up at a stall, the shopkeeper struck up a conversation.

“Hm? Are you folks new to this city?”

“Yeah. But we’ll be coming every year from now on.”

No, we won’t. Al just casually enrolled himself among the heroes.

What in the world is going on with this guy’s psyche…?

For a moment, the shopkeeper looked puzzled, as if wondering what on earth he was talking about, but he quickly switched back to a smile. What a pro.

“Huh? Well, if you like it that much, I’m happy to hear it as a resident. This city’s economy is basically built on tourism, after all.”

“Tourism?”

“Yeah. See, this is the closest city to the border between human and demon territory. From here, you can get a safe look at the demon lands. Perfect for sightseeing, right?”

The shopkeeper pointed toward the city’s high ground. Squinting, I could see a large crowd of people gathered there. They were looking at the demon territory.

Even though humans and demons were far from friends and had fought wars for the survival of their species, they sure did some bold things. I would never do that. Hmph. Humans really do like danger.

“Humans…? Well, yeah, I guess. It’s a little risky, but it’s completely safe. It’s not like we’re in the middle of a major war right now, either.”

They’ve certainly grown soft from the peace… The era when I was unwillingly brandished as a Holy Sword was smack in the middle of a brutal war, so it strikes me even more.

Well, as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter to me whether the humans or the demons are wiped out. They can do as they please. As long as they don’t drag me into it!

“But there are still skirmishes, aren’t there? You’re not afraid?”

“If this were a normal city, I’d be scared too. But this city is absolutely safe.”

He didn’t seem to feel a shred of anxiety, which I found strange.

“Why?”

“Because every year, the heroes grace us with their presence. And not just one, all of them! There’s no way the Demon Lord’s army would attack a place like this. They’d just get beaten back, and that would be the end of it!”

Ahhh, I thought, understanding now. I see, the hero deterrent.

It’s partly that the heroes are strong, but since I don’t know them, I recall the power of each Holy Sword I do know. Honestly, if even a child could fully wield a Holy Sword, they could probably defeat a trained warrior with ease.

A city where five of these mighty forces gather at the same time. The demons have suffered immense losses in their battles with heroes, so they understand that fear better than anyone.

So, the shopkeeper saying this city is safe isn’t necessarily wrong.

In response to the shopkeeper’s words, Al nodded.

“Hmph, that’s right.”

“He’s probably not talking about you.”

In his mind, he’s always a hero. Can’t be helped… Actually, it can be helped! Stop it!

“Oh, right. If you guys are travelers, you should be careful. I heard there’s some psycho going around lately, bludgeoning people indiscriminately with a sword that has a giant rock stuck to it.”

………

I was at a loss for words as the shopkeeper spoke with concern. I mean, this is… I have a really strong feeling I know who he’s talking about… Could the culprit be the man standing right next to me?

“How terrible… I had no idea such a person existed… If it comes to it, I’ll deal with him myself.”

“!?”

It’s a joke, right? You’re saying that as a joke, right!? You’re saying it with such a serious expression, so don’t tell me you’re being serious!?

“Ooh, I like your spirit! We’re counting on you!”

And with that, we said goodbye to the shopkeeper.

As I looked at Al with skeptical eyes, he turned to me and nodded emphatically.

“You heard him, my beloved sword. As soon as we find that scoundrel, we’ll kill him.”

“Are you going to commit suicide!?”

Don’t be so hasty!… Wait? Now that I think about it, if Al dies, does that mean I can go back to my shut-in NEET life? …Alright, Al! Disembowel yourself this instant!

“Hm, this is delicious. As expected, they’re far superior to us when it comes to entertainment. It would be much better to use them than to destroy them. I’ll have to suggest it… And maybe I should buy some for him, too. He’s been so mopey, it’s gross.”

A woman who was passing by muttered that to herself. It was just a soliloquy, nothing to pay any mind to.

But, as a Holy Sword, I can tell. That’s a demon, through and through. Many demons look no different from humans, so it’s hard to tell at a glance. Ahhh… it’s a pain, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut.

But just as I thought that, Al stopped dead in his tracks. Ah, this is bad…

sniff. sniff sniff

He was twitching his nose, sniffing the air. Ew, gross…

As I stared at him, completely put off, he was glaring at the back of the demon who had just passed by.

“I smell a whiff of evil?”

“Ugh…”

So gross…