Chapter: 619
After hearing that I ended up wearing this as a punishment for losing a bet, I let out a sigh of relief.
Adding one more pervert to my already perverted surroundings would be truly horrifying.
Especially if it’s a cross-dressing guy.
Huh? Isn’t this better than the Sloppy Fox?
Aside from being visually disturbing, it doesn’t harm me.
“Was it just the cost of losing the bet? What a relief! I was really scared! If I’d been alone in thinking of you as a friend, that would’ve been sad!”
“Do you think I’m crazy enough to see you like that?!”
“Is it just a matter of personal taste? That’s also a relief!”
“I’ve told you a million times, NO!”
“Why are you getting angry? Did I say something weird?”
Isn’t it true that the most painful thing is when pure innocence has no malice?
Even while I watched Garad, who was boiling with rage and clutching his neck, the hero only smiled brightly.
“That’s why in the end, everyone just gives up.”
The mastermind behind all of this, Grandpa, was happily watching the two quarrel and then intervened.
“Both of you, take it easy. At this rate, this won’t ever end.”
“Isn’t this all your fault from the start?!”
“That’s true. Garad’s taste is not something we need to discuss right now.”
“I wore it because I wanted to, that’s ALL!”
Grandpa casually ignored Garad’s outcry, sighed as if to say, “Listen,” and took a seat opposite the hero.
“Let’s stop this. You admitted it yourself. This is pointless.”
“I know. The hero of the future made me understand that with this little body. But it’s hard to quit now. As I mentioned earlier, I am the seal itself.”
“If you disappear, what’s inside will be released?”
“That’s right.”
Ex. So what I just did was completely meaningless?
That little brat made the previous hero an Eunuch, and now he’s all puffed up!?
Hey! Shoddy God! Don’t just sit there after inciting an assault!
You ordered me to do it!
What the heck can we do?! That’s why I sent the message?!
Ding!
[Quest Clear!]
[You have successfully made the previous hero feel disdain!]
No! Hey! What do you mean I’m a bad person?! You told me to do it!
[Please choose how to receive your reward.]
[1. Receive it directly.]
[2. Pay the victim.]
Isn’t the term “victim” weird?
I was the one who got hit first!
I’m just defending myself!
Anyway, I wanted to punch the face of that Shoddy God who is typing this message while I was grumbling, and I wiped my face and chose option 2. That’s what Shoddy God would want, right?
I thought about choosing option 1 to mess with him, but that would make me uncomfortable too.
[The reward will be distributed!]
As the message came up, exclamations flowed from the adults around me. Looking at their faces relaxing from their previous frowns, the reward must’ve solved their worries.
But why can’t I know? It’s a quest I achieved through hardship; why don’t you share any info with me? You need to let me know so I can feel proud!
“Everything up until now hasn’t been completely in vain.”
When the hero laughed in a resigned tone, Garad complained with a venomous voice.
“Still doesn’t change the fact that you did something foolish.”
“Hasn’t it been a few hundred years since I did foolish things?”
“Can’t you change? You idiot.”
“If I could change, I would’ve done it long ago.”
The giggling hero slowly rose from his seat and bowed his head at me.
“Thank you so much. Not only did I pass my burden to you, but now I’ve received a favor. It’s sad but I can’t give you everything right now.”
“Such things are rejected on my side too. Receiving a stinking Shoddy item would just be unpleasant.”
“Is that so? I was thinking of giving you something useful right away.”
As the hero tilted his head and reached out his hand, a hazy, fog-like orb settled on it.
“This is one of the blessings I’ve possessed. It will grant you strength beyond your original abilities, even if you’re suffering from any injuries or curses, for a short time.”
Unbuffing physical debuffs. Recovery of magic, divine, and stamina. Stat boost.
“Of course, there’s a cost. It only delays the burden on your body.”
Instead, once the skill’s duration ends, a temporary action-disable debuff.
“It’s best not to use such a blessing, but you won’t have that choice. You’ll face countless hardships in the future, and at that time, this blessing will help you.”
I’d have to feel how serious the backlash is physically, but theoretically, it doesn’t seem too bad.
Not only could it turn the tables, but it could surely create several variables.
Considering I might be pushed to the brink of death during great battles, this skill could be incredibly useful for me.
…It’s just sad that I can’t help but acknowledge the use of this skill. When will I be able to live without any worries?
“Yet you say you don’t need it.”
“Doesn’t it take a hero three times to offer? What kind of hero are you?”
As I snatched away what was in the hero’s hand, smoke flowed into my body.
Ding!
[You have acquired the ‘Will of the Hero’ skill!]
The Will of the Hero? Isn’t that not a fitting name for a game-changing skill?
As I thought it was unnecessarily grand, I froze again when I heard the notification sound.
[The Will of the Hero reacts to the Soul of the Hero fragment.]
[Numerous sub-skills of the mental category greet the Will of the Hero.]
[The Authority of Embrace accepts everything.]
[‘Will of the Hero’ transforms into ‘Hero’.]
Hero?
When I involuntarily used the emotion skill, several blue windows popped up in front of me.
[A title given to one who undertakes the role of salvation.]
[Your physical abilities increase the worse the situation.]
[Stronger against evil.]
[Luck increases when performing good deeds.]
[Resistance to curses increases.]
[Resistance to magic increases.]
[Willpower significantly increases.]
[Gains favor from others.]
[A part of the skill is applied to companions.]
[Accelerates the growth of companions.]
[Hope supports you.]
Among the lengthy descriptions I’ve received for every skill before, this one only contains beneficial information.
Hahaha. I’ve been treading the path of a hero until now, but am I now a certified hero acknowledged by a god?
Is it okay if I become a Mesugaki hero?
Ding!
Oh? What’s this? Is there still more to give me?
[You failed to resist the Mesugaki skill.]
…
You’re a hero!
You even have that grand title of a savior!
So why did I become a Shoddy over the Mesugaki?!
They told me to teach him a lesson! Teach him properly!
What am I supposed to do if the hero collapses in front of a little brat?!
“Well then, we’ll be taking our leave.”
While I was voicing my complaints about the Shoddy Hero, Grandpa grabbed me by the neck.
My body lifted into the Void and landed on Grandpa’s shoulder. I protested with my eyes, but he didn’t care at all.
“Take care.”
“Huh? Garad, are you planning to stay here?”
“I can’t leave this idiot alone again.”
“I’m fine, really.”
“I’m not fine, you fool.”
After staring quietly at Garad, Grandpa nodded.
“I’ll see you later.”
“When that time comes, I’ll make you wear this godawful outfit.”
“Is that your hobby? Is that why you proposed the bet?”
“Really!? Garad. You’re…”
“NO! It’s not like that!”
As Garad flailed around like a lunatic, I waved my hand at the grinning hero, and the two of them gave me the same farewell gestures.
The expressions of the two left behind in the long, dark space were brighter and more hopeful than those basking in the sun.
*
After Lucy left the mansion, Arthur stayed with the Allen Family.
He felt he wouldn’t be able to step outside again if he returned to the royal palace.
The overly enthusiastic Benedict welcomed him as Lucy’s friend, allowing Arthur to have a comfortable time in Allen.
— Really comfortable? With people dying outside, day and night?!
“They say humans are animals that adapt.”
If it’s the knights’ wails, I’ve heard them endlessly during last winter’s training.
Hearing it again now doesn’t bother me.
In fact, it gives me a sense of superiority.
While others crawl like dogs, I can be this free.
If having rights without responsibility is power, I feel like I could crave it.
— Then you should be king.
“That position is all about responsibility and nothing else.”
Arthur briefly confirmed the insane workload that the First Queen had to bear.
While the First Queen might have taken on excessive work by choice, that still isn’t something a person should handle.
If he sat on the throne, he wouldn’t even be given a moment’s peace for himself.
— You could just pass it off to others. That’s why everyone wants to be king, right?
“I’m not the type to be able to do that.”
Ignoring the subtle persuasion to become king from the piece of art, Arthur turned his gaze out toward the window.
He hoped the messenger sent to Duke Kurten would return quickly. Otherwise, the conversation wouldn’t progress.
With a sense of inexplicable anxiety as he clicked his tongue, he blinked at the sight of two men entering through the entrance.
What are my small brother and big brother doing here, when they can’t stand together even in formal settings?
After closing his eyes repeatedly to dismiss the unrealistic situation, Arthur finally acknowledged reality and hurriedly headed downstairs.
“Long time no see! Little brother! You’re still smaller than me!”
“I think you’re just too big, big brother.”
“That’s true. The big brother stands out even among the knights.”
“Must be from the results of training!”
Arthur blinked at the easy-going conversation of the two, who didn’t have the same awkwardness as before, and finally collected his thoughts.
“So what brings you two here?”
“Little brother! There’s only one thing a prince like us could talk about?! It’s about the country and the throne!”
“…Little brother, that’s already two topics.”
“Uh? That’s true?”
“Forget the idiot’s words. I came here to talk about the First Queen. Yes, I have something to discuss about my mother.”
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