Vol 1 Chapter 45 – Huh? What About the Murder-fest?

For some reason, the air went completely still, the tension locking everyone in place.

A hush fell.

I love this kind of unbearable awkwardness.

I especially love it when people scramble around, racking their brains trying to salvage the situation, only for nothing to improve.

On the other hand, I hate it when it involves me or I get dragged into it.

I just want to be a spectator, looking down from on high.

Al, the female Hero, and Rayphia.

It was a three-way standoff.

Incidentally, Rayphia looked like she was about to die.

It seemed she’d been in the middle of a battle with the female Hero, and Al, of course, was planning to butcher her, so she was basically fighting two-on-one. Hilarious.

huff, huff…!

As I was thinking that, I heard ragged breathing.

It was Ruru, drenched in sweat and panting, her shoulders heaving.

“Well, well, you managed to catch up.”

“You shouldn’t… underestimate a cat beastkin, nya… hack, cough, cough!!”

“You look like you’re on death’s door…”

Well, she certainly was nimble.

If it hadn’t been her, she probably wouldn’t have been able to keep up with Al’s high-speed movement.

In fact, it looks like the other Hero couldn’t keep up.

Ruru stared at Al and the female Hero facing off and was horrified.

“Wait, ahh?! A highly volatile substance just met another highly volatile substance!”

“There’s a Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly King right there, you know?”

“I’m more worried about two toxic chemicals mixing than I am about her, nya!”

“Fair enough.”

I can tell just from the atmosphere.

That female Hero is seriously bad news.

If I hadn’t met Al, even I might have been intimidated.

She’s just radiating that kind of dangerous vibe.

Though, of course, no one is more dangerous than my idiot.

“Still, that Hero seems pretty out there…”

“Among this generation’s heroes, Antares is, without a doubt, the most dangerous one. She doesn’t listen to people, she kills on her own authority, and her mental fortitude is insane…”

Ruru, looking utterly exhausted, gave off the vibe of a middle manager.

It’s not like she has any reason to be responsible for that female Hero, but she probably just can’t leave her be.

I get the feeling she’s the type who always draws the short straw.

And besides, that list of traits she just rattled off…

“…Those traits sound awfully familiar.”

They all apply to Al.

So they’re two peas in a pod.

“…You think it’ll be okay? Two headstrong people like that are bound to clash, right?”

“Is that woman strong?”

“Insanely strong. The collateral damage from a skirmish between her and Alvarado would probably kill the Heavenly King.”

“Hoh…”

I have yet to see a human who can trade blows with Al on even terms.

Even when I don’t let him use my power at all, he just swings me around, rubble and all, and bludgeons his opponents to death.

If I let him use my power, he’s practically unstoppable.

He can easily dispose of a member of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings, who are individually strong enough to destroy a small country.

And here is someone who might be able to fight such an Al.

What’s more, she might even be able to kill him.

…My eyes began to sparkle with hope.

“This is perfect.”

“This is the worst! The absolute worst! The collateral damage from their skirmish will wipe a city off the map!”

I don’t care if one or two human cities get destroyed.

I don’t mind at all, so please, fight to the death.

“For someone who calls herself a freewheeling, selfish Hero, you’re absolutely the type to get stuck with the short end of the stick.”

“From a common-sense standpoint, it’s not okay for innocent people to die in a fight between Heroes…!”

She feels like she has to do it because no one else will, even though someone has to.

…She could just abandon it all and run, but she can’t, can she.

She really was worthy of being chosen by a Holy Sword.

“I, for one, welcome this. If Al dies, I’ll be set free. I want them to go at it with everything they’ve got…!”

“If he gets pushed that far, I think you’ll get dragged into the fight with all you’ve got too, nya.”

“…”

Her words made sense, and I found myself nodding in agreement.

Hmm, so my life is in danger too?

I see, I see…

“I’ll just have to manage it… so that doesn’t happen…!”

“Why are you the Holy Sword, nya?”

How should I know? It’s not like I wanted to become a Holy Sword.

If there’s some other weapon that wants to take my place, I’ll gladly switch with them.

“Well now, demon. The fact that you ran from me means you are evil. I shall cut off your limbs and send your head to the Demon Lord’s castle.”

“This is just wrong! A Hero shouldn’t be like this! What are the Holy Sword’s selection criteria…?!”

Al was slowly inching toward Rayphia. Is this a public nuisance?

Also, I didn’t choose Al.

I’m just being forcibly exploited against my will.

It was then that I finally noticed something was wrong with the female Hero… Antares.

“Ah, ahh…”

She swayed unsteadily, letting out a small moan.

Her long, magnificent, rolled golden hair trembled.

And then…

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

“Eek…”

A scream.

It was a voice packed with intense emotion, echoing high into the sky.

Ruru, next to me, was genuinely terrified, and Rayphia was already crying.

Can’t blame them. It’s seriously scary.

However, my heart trembled with joy.

Because! If Al and Antares clash!

There is a one-in-a-million, one-in-a-billion chance that I will be set free!

“Ooh! Here it comes! My chance at freedom is finally here!!”

“Don’t be happy about this! I’m telling you, if these two clash, the collateral damage will be astronomical!!”

With that, Ruru readied her Holy Sword.

“I will not… let them fight…!”

Ruru’s face was set with resolve.

She’s terrified of both Al and Antares, and she fully understands their strength, yet she’s willing to throw herself into danger for the sake of the people.

…Isn’t she a truly hero-like Hero?

The sword she’s using is a lucky one.

…Why am I being used by someone like THAT?!

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

Antares charged forward with ferocious intensity!

She tore up the ground as she ran.

In her eyes, the great evil known as the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings was no longer reflected at all.

The only one in her sight was Al.

She was so fast that Ruru, who had been trying to stop them, couldn’t even get between them.

And finally, the two of them clashed…!

“Masterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I’ve finally found youuuuuuuuuu!!”

“Hmph, Ann. You’ve grown into a fine woman.”