Chapter: 619
Hearing that I had to wear this as a penalty for losing a bet, I let out a sigh of relief.
Adding another pervert to my already bizarre circle of friends would be dreadful.
Especially if they had a hobby for cross-dressing.
Wait, isn’t this person better than that clumsy fox?
Aside from being hard to look at, they wouldn’t cause me any harm.
“So, it was just the price of losing a bet? What a relief! I was a bit scared, you know! If I had thought it was just me, that would have been sad!”
“Do you think I’m insane enough to see you like that?!”
“Is it just a difference in taste? Well, that’s good too!”
“No, I’ve told you so many times, it’s not!”
“Why get mad? Did I say something weird?”
Is that saying about innocent naivety fitting for this moment?
Even with Garad clutching the back of his neck, trying not to lose it, the Hero just kept smiling brightly.
“That’s why eventually everyone gave up.”
The old man, the main culprit behind this situation, watched the two argue with delight before stepping in.
“Alright, you two, let’s cool it or this will never end.”
“This is all your fault to begin with!”
“Fair point. Garad’s tastes aren’t something we need to debate right now.”
“I wore this because I wanted to! That’s not it!”
Ignoring Garad’s shout, the old man sighed dramatically as if trying to make a point before sitting across from the Hero.
“Let’s wrap this up. You’ve already admitted this is meaningless.”
“I know that. The next generation Hero made it clear with that small body. But to quit now would be tough. As I mentioned, I am the seal itself.”
“If you disappear, what’s inside will be released, huh?”
“More or less.”
Ugh. So everything I just did was completely pointless?
That brat made the previous generation’s Hero a joke, and now I’m just left here standing tall!
Hey! Pathetic God! You instigated this mess, don’t just sit there!
You’re the one who made it happen!
What’s the way forward?! So I send a message?!
– Ding!
[Quest Cleared!]
[You have successfully made the former Hero feel humiliation!]
No! Hey! Do I really sound like the bad guy here?! You did this!
[Please choose your method of receiving your reward.]
[1. Receive it directly.]
[2. Pay the victim compensation.]
Isn’t it weird to call them a “victim”?
I was the one who took the first hit!
What I did was purely self-defense!
As I fumed thinking about punching the pathetic God, I wiped my face and selected option 2. That’s what the pathetic God would want too.
Though I felt a twinge of wanting to choose option 1 to mess with him even more, it might just backfire on me.
[Reward distribution in progress!]
As the message appeared, gasps of admiration came from the adults around me. Judging by their now relaxed faces, the reward probably solved their troubles.
But why am I kept in the dark? I worked hard for this quest, shouldn’t I be notified?! I need to know what’s going on to feel accomplished!
“It seems all I did so far wasn’t entirely in vain.”
As the Hero smiled with a hollow voice, Garad whimpered with a tone full of venom.
“Well, it doesn’t change the fact you did something dumb.”
“It’s not like I’ve just started acting foolish.”
“It’s been hundreds of years since then! You should correct it already.”
“If I could fix it, I would have ages ago.”
The chuckling Hero slowly rose and nodded at me.
“I really appreciate it. Not only did you take on my burden, but you’ve also done me a favor. I would love to give you everything, but right now it’s impossible.”
“Let’s just skip that part. I’d feel gross accepting the leavings of a loser.”
“Really? I thought I’d offer you something useful right away.”
Tilting his head, the Hero reached out, and a hazy, mist-like orb rested in his palm.
“It’s one of the blessings I had. No matter the injury or curse, it grants you more strength than you originally possessed for a brief time.”
Body debuff removal. Full recovery of magic, divinity, and stamina. Stat increase.
“Of course, there’s a price. It only postpones the burden on your body.”
Instead, once the skill’s duration ends, a temporary debuff leaves you immobilized.
“Such blessings should ideally not be used, but you don’t have that luxury. You’ll face many hardships ahead. This blessing will assist you then.”
Only experiencing the backlash firsthand reveals how bad it could be, but theoretically, it sounds alright.
Not just being a game-changer but also likely ways to create several variables.
Considering the dire situations I’d end up in during big fights, this skill could be quite useful.
…The fact that I can’t help but acknowledge the usefulness of this skill is the real tragedy. When would I get to live without a care in the world?
“But you say you won’t need it?”
“Doesn’t a Hero have to ask three times before someone accepts? I can’t tell if you’re a Hero or a beast.”
As I snatched what the Hero held, a stream of smoke flowed into my body.
– Ding!
[You have acquired the ‘Hero’s Will’ skill!]
Hero’s Will? Isn’t that a name more suited for a comeback move?
Just as I thought it sounded unnecessarily grand, I flinched at another notification sound.
[The ‘Hero’s Will’ reacts to the fragment of the Hero’s soul.]
[Various sub-skills related to mental attributes acknowledge the Hero’s will.]
[The Power of Acceptance embraces everything.]
[‘Hero’s Will’ transforms into ‘Hero’.]
Hero…?
Unconsciously using an emotional skill, I saw a few more blue windows appear before me.
[A title given to one who takes on the role of salvation.]
[The worse the situation, your physical abilities increase.]
[You get stronger against evil.]
[Your luck increases when doing good deeds.]
[Resistance to curses rises.]
[Magic resistance rises.]
[Mental strength increases significantly.]
[Gains goodwill from others.]
[Some of the skills apply to your companions.]
[Accelerates the growth of companions.]
[Hope supports you.]
There’s nothing but beneficial information in this long explanation compared to any skill I’ve received before.
Haha. I’ve been walking in the Hero’s footsteps; now I’ve practically become a Hero sanctioned by a god.
Is it okay to be called the Mesugaki Hero? Well, I can’t change that now, can I?
– Ding!
Oh? What’s this now? Is there still more to give?
[You failed to resist the Mesugaki skill.]
…
But I’m a Hero!
With the grand title of one who takes on the role of salvation!
So why am I turning into a pathetic one in front of a Mesugaki?!
Help me out here!
What’s this supposed to mean? I shouldn’t be backing down in front of a brat!
“Well then, we’ll take our leave now.”
While I grumbled towards the uniquely pathetic Hero, the old man grabbed the back of my neck.
My body floating up landed on his shoulder, and although I shot him a glare, he didn’t care one bit.
“Take care now.”
“Huh? Garad. Are you thinking of sticking around here?”
“I can’t just leave this idiot alone.”
“I’m fine.”
“I’m not! You idiot!”
The old man quietly observed Garad and nodded.
“See you later.”
“I’ll make you wear this pathetic outfit next time.”
“Is that your hobby? Is that why you suggested the bet?”
“Really!? Garad. You!”
“No! It’s not! It’s not!”
Waving goodbye to the wildly flailing Garad and the giggling Hero, the two gave me a synchronized salute.
The faces of the two left behind in the long endless darkness looked brighter and more hopeful than those bathed in sunlight.
*
Even after Lucy left the mansion, Arthur stayed with the Alrn family.
If he returned to the palace, he felt he’d never see the outside again.
Benedict, excited, welcomed him warmly, saying Lucy’s friends were always welcome. Thanks to that, Arthur could spend some relaxing time in Alrn.
– Is it really relaxing? There are sounds of people dying both day and night outside?
“Humans are animals of adaptation, aren’t they?”
If it was the lamentation of the knights, he had heard it plenty during the winter training last year.
Even if he engraves it in his ears again, it wouldn’t be bothersome.
It brings a sense of superiority instead.
While others grovel pathetically, here I am, enjoying freedom.
If this is what power is, where I can live without responsibilities, I’d love to hold onto it.
– Then be a king, why not?
“That position is just about power and responsibilities.”
Arthur briefly acknowledged the insane workload taken on by the First Queen.
Although the First Queen had chosen to take on excessive tasks, considering that, it’s not something a person should do.
Being in a position of a king doesn’t leave time for even solitary contemplation.
– Just shove that responsibility to others. That’s why everyone wants to be king, right?
“I’m not that kind of person.”
Ignoring the subtle persuasion to become king, Arthur turned his gaze out through the window.
I hope the messenger sent to the Ducal House returns quickly. Otherwise, the plans won’t move forward.
Feeling a sense of unease without knowing why, he clicked his tongue, spotting two men entering through the entrance.
The little brother and older brother, who would never stand in the same place even on official occasions, how are they here?
After repeatedly blinking to accept this unrealistic sight, Arthur hurried downstairs when he confirmed the two had arrived at the mansion’s door.
“It’s been a while, little bro! You’re still shorter than me!”
“I think it’s because my older brother is too tall for his own good.”
“True enough. The big bro stands out even among the knights.”
“Must be the result of my training!”
Arthur looked with wide eyes at the sight of the two chatting comfortably without the awkwardness that used to linger between them and snapped back to reality.
“So, you two… what brings you here?”
“Little bro! Isn’t there only one thing princes like us talk about?! It’s about the kingdom and royal power!”
“…Actually, we’ve already got two subjects to discuss.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“This foolishness will just make you not listen. I came to talk about the First Queen. Yeah. My mother.”
You may also like Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy
