Vol 1 Chapter 26 – Becoming a Hero No Matter How Hard He Tries【Vol 1: The Beastkin Hero Arc】

As they drew closer to the town, the blizzard gradually began to settle.

Though Geofried seemed rather dissatisfied, the conspicuous dragon was asked to go back to sleep inside Boyo-chan’s body. Allen then arrived at the town with Asmodeus.

Of course, the weird townsman who had been camping on the snowy mountain was still slung over Allen’s shoulder and remained completely unconscious.

Allen found himself thinking something highly inappropriate. If he just never woke up, I wouldn’t have to worry about him asking about Geofried.

“What’s with this tragic atmosphere?”

Immediately upon arriving in the town, Allen’s eyes widened beneath his mask.

“…Dad… Dad…!”

“Stay well, Ian. I’ve decided to stay in town and fight. You have to protect your mother, so take good care of her. Listen to what she says and be a good boy. Stop being a picky eater, eat everything, and grow up big and strong.”

“Dear…”

“Lirica, I love you. Take care of Ian for me.”

In front of a house, a deer-kin couple embraced their child while sobbing. The man, sporting twisted horns growing from his head, seemed incredibly reluctant to say goodbye.

And it wasn’t just that one household. In fact, it was safe to say the same scene was playing out for every resident living in the town. They were carrying as much luggage as they could bear while reluctantly parting with their family members.

“Everyone! It’s almost time! Those evacuating to the royal capital, gather at my estate! My wife will lead the way!”

A great bear-kin man shouted from nearby. He wore what looked like a warm, thick navy-blue uniform with a nightstick tucked into his waist. He was likely a member of the town’s vigilante corps, as the other members were also completely dedicated to guiding the evacuation.

Judging from the situation, the small children, women, and elderly beast-kin were trying to leave the town for some reason. Meanwhile, those remaining behind were the robust individuals, primarily the vigilante corps.

The situation felt like they were marching into a losing battle imbued with a tragic resolve.

“Could it be that the Empire’s army is swarming this town?”

Allen asked Asmodeus as he unceremoniously walked right into the town.

“…Hmm. I don’t see an army anywhere, though.”

“Right?”

“Hey, human!! What are you doing?! Stop right there!!”

Naturally, the vigilante members guiding the evacuation noticed him in surprise and immediately stopped his advance.

The duo of a suspicious masked figure and a little girl in a gothic dress stood out terribly. If almost all the town’s residents hadn’t been in the middle of emotional farewells with their families, they would have been stopped much sooner.

The high-pitched sound of a whistle echoed, and in the blink of an eye, the vigilante corps gathered around them.

“An Imperial soldier?!”

“No, I don’t know!!”

“Just who the hell are you?!”

Allen was entirely surrounded by beast-kin wearing expressions that showed they had come prepared for death. However, they noticed something strange almost as soon as they surrounded him.

The young man who had declared he would destroy the town a few hours ago—the Empire’s weapon—was slung haphazardly over Allen’s shoulder with the whites of his eyes showing.

Allen, for his part, explained the situation to show he wasn’t an enemy.

“Wait, I’m not an enemy. I am human, but I have no connection to the Empire. My name is Noir, and I work as a mercenary. This is my little sister, Ardie.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

“…I’ve come to lend my strength to the Beast Kingdom and participate in this war as a volunteer soldier. Please don’t be so guarded.”

He planned to add that he had rescued one of the townspeople stranded on the dangerous snowy mountain as a little gift. Just as he was about to continue with his explanation, Allen realized the young man slung over his shoulder was about to regain consciousness.

Why now of all times?

Or rather, since he had knocked him out using Asmodeus’s power, the man normally should have stayed unconscious for about a day. There was no way he should be waking up after only an hour.

The man’s eyelids fluttered as his lips began to move. Right before he could speak, Allen drove a fist into the young man’s stomach and plunged his consciousness into darkness once more.

“…That just now was, well, you know.”

Even if it was because he didn’t want his identity exposed, Allen was agonizing over how to excuse punching a townsperson. Just then—

“W-What in the world… He took down that terrifying man with a single punch…”

“…He completely overwhelmed him. Is he… an ally…?”

“…It’s a miracle. I can’t believe it…”

“Does this mean… we’re saved?”

Dripping with cold sweat, Allen was utterly confused as every single member of the vigilante corps stared at him with tears streaming down their faces.

Perhaps sensing something strange about the dead-silent vigilantes, the townspeople exchanging tearful goodbyes also began to gather. Upon seeing Allen, everyone froze.

The children passionately hugged their fathers who had planned to stay behind in the town. The wives broke down crying while the elderly let out sighs of relief as if their lifespans had been extended. Amidst the freezing sky, they were all enveloped in sudden joy.

(…What is this? What’s going on?)

(Hmm, beats me.)

Allen and Asmodeus could do nothing but share their confusion.

“It’s certain you aren’t an Imperial soldier. Everyone, lower your weapons. We must not be disrespectful any longer. Even among humans, there are those who will side with us. And it’s Noir-sama, no less. For someone of your caliber to…”

The well-built great bear-kin man, who seemed to be the leader of the vigilante corps, lowered his thick eyebrows. His eyes welled with tears as he deeply bowed his head.

“…No, I haven’t done anything impressive enough to be called ‘sama’.”

Allen had merely rescued one of the town’s residents. Well, not exactly ‘rescued’—he had just knocked the guy out with no questions asked because his own identity was about to be exposed.

But still, he felt the young man camping out on a snowy mountain at a time like this was also somewhat at fault.

“To say you haven’t done anything impressive after defeating the Empire’s new weapon capable of destroying an entire town…”

“Could his true strength rival even Leonhardt-sama—a World Knight?”

“…To think such a fierce warrior was hidden away in the countryside…”

For some reason, an atmosphere of even deeper admiration began to ooze from the crowd.

The great bear-kin man continued.

“No, from our perspective, it is more than impressive enough. You defeated the Empire’s new weapon, the Artificial Hero, and saved an entire town, and the lives of all of us living here.”

“…?”

An Artificial Hero? What’s that?

“After the Empire’s statement, these weapons have been sent to twelve towns in Eugrasia so far, and three of them have been annihilated. Leonhardt-sama made it in time for five of them, and His Majesty the Beast King headed out to three others and managed to handle them. However, since neither of them could make it to this town in time, we had just split into those who would fight and those who would evacuate to the royal capital.”

As he listened to the explanation, Allen realized that many of the residents were glaring with hatred at the young man slung over his shoulder.

(This guy is the Empire’s new weapon… an Artificial Hero?)

(…It seems so. He wasn’t a normal person at all.)

(Does that mean he attacked all by himself? What an idiot.)

(Well, I suppose he was just that strong…)

(…I kinda feel bad. I knocked him out without even giving him a chance to use his power…)

Just how strong had he actually been?

“Thanks to you, the town has escaped crisis. Thank you so much. First, please allow me to introduce you to the chief of this town. He is currently in a meeting with His Majesty and the chiefs of the other towns. If someone of your caliber is willing to ally with us, we should be able to save the other towns currently in danger as well!”

“…”

Stared at by countless eyes harboring hope and expectations, Allen had no other choice but to nod.

“…Understood. I came here originally as a volunteer soldier anyway. I’ll do everything in my power.”

In his mind, however, he was desperately holding his head in his hands and wondering how things had ended up like this.

He had many acquaintances in the Beast Kingdom. Allen’s true intention had been to help Leonhardt from the shadows without taking much overt action.

Moreover, the mercenary Noir was merely another persona Allen had created in order to live a peaceful life of seclusion. Now, he dreaded the absolute certainty that his fame as Noir was about to skyrocket as well.