Vol 2 Chapter 47 – An Ideal Life, or a Former Comrade?【Vol 2: The Hero of the Fairy Tribe】

Allen held his head in his hands and broke out in a cold sweat because his heart felt way too heavy thinking about Labilia Sigid.

The Queen of the Amazoness tribe was a powerhouse who held the title of the Third Seat of the World Knights, and it seemed she had come to meet Noir.

With Geofried’s presence being the deciding factor, she might already be convinced that the mercenary Noir’s true identity was actually Allen Norsh.

“Labilia is here?! She’s gonna be so happy when she finds out you’re alive, Allen! Let’s go see her, it’s been a while! Come on, Allen!”

Perhaps fully awake now, Leonhardt stood up on the bed and shouted energetically before Allen shook his head from side to side.

“Wait, Leonhardt. I have no intention of meeting her.”

“…Eh, why?!”

As Leonhardt’s eyes went wide, Allen crossed his arms and closed his eyes with a serious expression, and while wearing a grim face on the outside, he was internally letting out a pathetic scream and begging his partner for help.

(What should I do, Asmodeus?! Unlike Leonhardt, Labilia is an active World Knight. If she finds out I’m alive, she’s definitely going to tell me to return to active duty, isn’t she?!)

Immediately after, the voice of his reliable Lightning Annihilation Sword echoed in his brain.

(…Say, Allen. I just thought of something, but you haven’t explained it to Leonhardt yet, have you?)

(Explained what?)

(How you managed to survive the battle with the Demon Lord. And… the true price of using my power.)

(Obviously! I could never, ever admit that the price wasn’t my lifespan, but my libido, and that’s why I survived!)

(In that case, you should just say that you don’t have much time left to live, so you didn’t want to get their hopes up by letting them know you survived. And that you’ve decided to dedicate your remaining, fleeting life to the people that the World Knights cannot save. If you say that, it perfectly aligns with your actions up until now.)

(…I sound like way too much of a saint.)

(Even though in reality, you’re just an idiot whose only desire is to be a NEET.)

(…I’m gonna leave you sheathed and abandoned with blood still on you.)

(Then I will shout at the top of my lungs and expose the fact that you are alive!)

(I am so sorry.)

Having no other ideas, Allen decided to go with that plan even though it might be a painful lie for Leonhardt, who was happier than anyone else about his survival, because if she figured out the true price, the respect she held for him would surely twist into disappointment and contempt.

His reputation would be massively damaged and there was even a chance he would become unable to wield his Brave Skills entirely, so harboring a heavy sense of guilt, Allen put on an act while showing her a fleeting, melancholic smile.

“Leonhardt, you know the price of the Lightning Annihilation Sword, counted among the [Armaments of Great Sin], don’t you? When I fought the Demon Lord, I was fully prepared to die. I somehow managed to defeat him before my lifespan ran out, but the time I have left is not very long. In other words, even if I tell Labilia I’m alive, it will only bring her sorrow all over again. I’m already halfway to being a dead man.”

“I know my own body better than anyone,” Allen continued as Leonhardt’s face contorted in grief before she threw her arms around him.

“…No, I don’t want that! After we finally reunited… to lose you all over again… I couldn’t bear it!!”

“Leonhardt, I came to save you because you were in mortal danger, but originally, I never intended to see you again either. Because meeting like this just means making you grieve twice. That’s why, after the battle with the Demon Lord, I didn’t return to the Empire. I decided to use the rest of my life for the people the World Knights couldn’t save, and went on a journey.”

As Allen lowered his brows and gently stroked Leonhardt’s head, Leon lowered his gaze with a grave expression.

“…Sir Allen, so that was the truth. Now that I think about it, the King of Riguacqua was deeply grateful to the mercenary Noir. He didn’t speak much on the details, but it seems that even after stepping down as a World Knight, you continue to be a hero, Sir Allen.”

“…”

The look of respect, admiration, and deep sorrow in Leon’s eyes was painful to bear, but with this, he had successfully established an excuse not to meet Labilia.

“And that’s how it is, Leon. It truly pains my heart, but I cannot meet Labili—”

“However, Sir Allen. From what I have heard, the problem Labilia-dono is stepping into seems like it will threaten her life.”

“…”

“Looking at Labilia-dono right now, I’m reluctantly reminded of the expressions on the faces of the mayors governing the cities in this country when they were faced with the threat of the Artificial Heroes.”

No, that doesn’t make any sense because even though the Demon Lord was destroyed, was there really still an enemy on the Human Continent capable of making a World Knight feel a threat to her life? Allen felt the urge to hold his head in his hands all over again.

Should he just continue lazing around in the Beast Kingdom without meeting Labilia, or should he cooperate and help with this troublesome mess she was caught up in to prevent whatever would happen to her if he didn’t?

She might not die since Leon’s worries might just be groundless fears, but there was also a very real chance she could die.

“…Leon.”

“Yes?”

“…I’ll meet with Labilia. Call her in.”

Asmodeus’s wryly chuckling voice reached only Allen’s ears.

Fortunately, his true identity wouldn’t be exposed if he used the [Mirror of Phantasm], so Allen renewed his resolve to quickly solve whatever troublesome mess Labilia was involved in and absolutely secure his leisurely, carefree slow life.