Vol 1 Chapter 20 – Let’s Just Go With That【Vol 1: The Beastkin Hero Arc】

Having finished distributing the recovery potions to all the villagers, Allen cut the fan service reasonably short.

Thanks to the goodwill of the village chief, Eamon, he was allowed to borrow a vacant house in the village, so he changed locations.

The villagers were currently filled with gratitude and deep emotion at being able to meet the Hero, Allen.

However, as time passed and they calmed down, they would surely wonder why he was alive. And why he wasn’t returning to the Empire if he was alive.

He needed to come up with an excuse immediately.

Without even a moment to rejoice over the feeling of a bed for the first time in over a month, Allen brainstormed one hundred and thirty-two conversation patterns with Asmodeus.

Partway through, Branford came to apologize. He said it was because of all the incredibly disrespectful behavior he had shown up until now.

When Allen told him that he didn’t mind for the time being,

“As expected of Allen-sama! I thank you for your generous heart! Should you need anything, please command me immediately!”

Placing one hand on his chest and performing a knight’s salute, immense respect and admiration could be felt radiating from Branford’s eyes.

There wasn’t a single shred of distrust toward Allen for not returning to his job as a World Knight.

“Then, for starters, keep your voice down.”

“Understood! Everyone, Allen-sama desires silence! Refrain from making a ruckus for a while!!”

He ran around the village spreading the word while shouting just like that.

…No, it’s you. I was talking to you.

But thanks to that, he bought some time.

That vacant house near the watchtower was a standard single-story wooden building, apparently originally built for someone taking up the recruited guard position.

Therefore, it was newly built and looked quite comfortable to live in.

He had seen gorgeously resplendent castles countless times, but being inside a simple and modest house put his mind at ease.

Having had no time to properly rest since subjugating the Demon Lord, Allen fell sound asleep in bed that day, using the little-girl-formed Asmodeus as a hug pillow.

And then, the next day arrived.

“…What’s wrong, everyone?”

In front of the vacant house where Allen was staying, the village children had gathered. About twenty of them, ranging from three years old at the youngest to fifteen or sixteen at the oldest.

“U-Um… Yesterday…”

“The sword… Um, t-teach…”

“Y-Yeah. Before you leave right away…”

“”…U-Um…””

The children looked up at him with upturned eyes, endlessly fidgeting.

When Allen briefly glanced around, the adults—who seemed to be their parents—made eye contact and were all bowing their heads repeatedly from afar. One old woman mixed in among them was shedding tears while offering a prayer.

What is that? It’s scary.

(Allen. Yesterday, you were being badgered by that shaved-headed brat over there to teach him swordplay, weren’t you? It’s probably that. He’s holding a wooden stick, too.)

(…Eh, so soon? They were missing arms and legs just yesterday, you know?)

(It just means children are that energetic. To think they’d slip right past your one hundred and thirty-two conversation patterns. They truly are unpredictable.)

Asmodeus’s voice echoed directly in his brain. She was currently sheathed at his waist, still in her sword form.

Allen dropped to one knee and met the gaze of the ten-year-old-looking shaved-headed boy at the very front.

“…Do you want me to teach you swordplay, by any chance?”

“…! Yeah! Ah, yes! T-That’s right!”

The boy’s smile burst radiantly.

The other children also leaned forward, shouting one after another.

“I-I want to use one thousand eighty-eight consecutive slashes too! Sir!!”

A timid-looking boy with a bowl cut badgered him with sparkling eyes.

“One thousand eighty-eight consecutive slashes! How can we use it?!”

“It was so cool, wasn’t it? One thousand eighty-eight consecutive slashes.”

I wish they’d stop chanting it so much. It makes me anxious, like I’m being made fun of.

“Yeah, I couldn’t see it, but it was amazing! The lightning went bzzzt, and even though Allen-sama didn’t move a single step, the demon got chopped all to pieces!”

Yet another child pushed their way through and grabbed Allen’s clothes with a tight squeeze.

“Hold on, you boys! Allen-sama is busy! My papa and mama said so!! Allen-sama is going to help people in trouble just like our village. He doesn’t have time to teach you the sword!”

A young girl with reddish-brown hair tied in twin tails, which suited her competitive, slanted eyes, cut in between Allen and the boys.

“Shut up, Raiha! That’s why we just want him to play with us at least once before that!”

“Yeah! My dad said we’ll never get an opportunity like this again!”

It developed into an argument between the boys and the girls. The person in question, Allen, was inwardly tilting his head in confusion.

(…Eh, going to help people in trouble? No, what are you talking about? I’m not going, you know? How did things end up flowing in that direction?)

However, that speculation spreading through the village was, honestly, quite convenient for Allen.

Now that his true identity was exposed, he could no longer settle down in this village.

He had no idea how or why it had spread, but if they were misunderstanding things on their own, he wouldn’t have to explain himself.

I guess I’ll just play along here.

“—To think my intentions had been seen through.”

Feigning mild surprise, Allen gazed off into the distance with a philosophical expression. At that single sentence, the adults—who had been watching the children’s antics in a panic—nodded with knowing looks.

“A-As I thought…”

“What Branford said was correct…”

“…Let us be the only ones to remember it… The existence of a true Hero who willingly discarded his position as a World Knight.”

“Allen-sama…”

For some reason, the parents began to shed tears. Allen reached the absolute pinnacle of bewilderment, but he could no longer turn back.

Inside his brain, Asmodeus was holding her stomach and laughing, but he ignored her.

Unable to endure the awkwardness any longer, Allen decided to play with the children in the open field on the outskirts of the village.

“Everyone, calm down.”

With that single sentence, the children, who were on the verge of a fight, grew quiet.

“It’s fine, I’m not leaving the village right away. I can even teach you the sword.”

The boys’ group rejoiced so much they jumped into the air.

“And, I can do other things too.”

Allen then patted the head of the girl called Raiha, who was puffing out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. While smiling gently.

“If there’s anything you want me to do, don’t hold back. Just say the word.”

“…!”

In an instant, Raiha’s eyes widened, and her face flushed bright red all the way to her ears. Pushing aside the girl who had frozen stiff, the other girls also swarmed him.

“A-Allen-sama… P-Please pat my head too!”

“Allen-shama. Marys wants uppies…”

The villagers affectionately watched the sight of Allen as his right hand was pulled by the young boys and his left hand by the young girls and toddlers.

A far cry from his days as a World Knight when he only traveled back and forth across battlefields, Allen would end up spending a peaceful time.

For just a very, very brief moment.