The three idiots who couldn't become heroes are preparing a man's meal today as well. - Chapter 63

Episode 63: Dependence and Reliance

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“U-Um… I…” (she talks in masculine way, she use ‘boku’ instead of ‘watashi’)

A red-haired girl sat uncomfortably in a formal seiza position.

She was wearing a tattered one-piece dress, and her shoes were so worn out that the soles were completely gone.

That much could still be seen in the slums.

However, her facial features, though young, were well-formed, and her flaming red hair and eyes stood out.

Above all, two imposing horns twisted skyward from her head.

“Master… could she possibly be…?”

Minami and the others from “this side” looked at me anxiously.

“A sheep beastkin… or maybe a goat?”

“No, there’s also the possibility she’s a dragon, right? Like, a dragonkin.”

“On top of that, she’s a ‘boku-ko’ too? That’s way too many attributes stacked together. I like it.” (In short, tomboys)

“You three, staring at her like that will only make her more uncomfortable. Sister, please treat her wounds. For now, let’s wrap some cloth around her feet in place of shoes.”

Nakajima sighed at our casual remarks and began wrapping cloth around the girl’s feet.

But the rest of the group didn’t move.

“Huh? What’s wrong with you guys?”

“Kitayama-san, she’s… that is, a ‘Demon’.”

Annabelle averted her gaze uncomfortably as she muttered those words.

Judging by the others’ reactions, it didn’t seem like a mistake.

“Is that so?”

“She bears a striking resemblance to the Demon described in literature—human-like appearance, dragon-like horns, and immense magical power. By the way, the beastkin you mentioned, whether sheep or goat, don’t have horns. They only have animal ears.”

Huh, so beastkin don’t have horns.

That’s kind of disappointing.

Well, that’s not important right now.

“Young lady, are you a ‘Demon’?”

“……”

She bit her lip tightly and gave a small nod.

So, she was the one they were looking for.

And now, we had finally encountered one of the infamous “Demon.”

This is the existence humanity fears? Seriously?

She just looks like a frightened, ordinary child to me.

“Hmm… alright then. Do you want to kill humans? Do you hate them?”

At that question, she flinched, then slowly opened her mouth.

“I do… hate them. My family was captured by ‘Walkers’ too. But… killing… I can’t do that. – because I’m… a Demon.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Because… Demon can only use magic that strengthens others. And our strength… isn’t even on par with the ‘Human race’.”

Huh? Huh? Wait a minute.

I’m seriously getting confused here.

Aren’t demons supposed to be humanity’s enemy?

But they can only use buffs, and they’re weaker than humans? What the hell?

“The Walkers and soldiers capture the Demon because they want our enhancement magic, you know? So we always have to run, keep running…”

“H-Hold up. Let’s put that topic on hold for now. This is getting really confusing. By the way, I’ve heard that demons are humans who eat magic beast meat and transform—is that true? Were you originally a human?”

“…? What are you talking about? Demons have always been demons. If we could, we’d want to become human too. Everyone says so. Because Demon… don’t have levels.”

Oh, great… this just got way more complicated.

I sighed and looked around, everyone else had the same shocked expression.

Yeah, no doubt about it—this was new information.

This is the kind of thing that should be dumped on someone smarter or someone in charge.

Branch Chief, my bad.

Looks like your workload just got bigger.

“Alright, I think I more or less get it. Maybe. For now, just get some rest. Kua, treat her. Minami, Shiro, lend her some clothes that might fit. Airi, set up a sleeping space for her in the tent.”

I was about to stand up after giving those instructions when I felt my hand being pulled.

When I looked down, the red-haired girl was trembling like a small animal.

“A-Are you… going to capture me?”

Haah… seriously.

What kind of world is this?

For us, it’s straightforward, but for a child, this is way too harsh.

I ruffled her hair roughly and gave her a big, toothy grin.

“Our job is to protect you too. Don’t worry.”

I meant to reassure her, but she just stared at me blankly, frozen.

Huh? Did I say something wrong?

“Kou-chan, your helmet. You need to take it off, or she won’t be able to see your expression.”

“Yeah, no one’s gonna feel at ease if a scary-looking guy in black armor tells them not to worry.”

Ah.

Looks like I messed up again.

……………..

“Heh… a black-armored figure in the forest, huh?”

Hearing the report from the soldiers and knights who had gone ahead, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Black armor—typically a mark of slave soldiers.

But according to the scouting team, the one they encountered today was far from that.

If that’s the case… could it be them?

The black-armored warriors who fought at the front lines during the Stampede.

Even Hatsumi was interested in them.

Could the idiot who attacked me be one of them?

Thinking about it, I couldn’t stop the grin from creeping onto my face.

“If it really is them—”

“Stop.”

“Hah?”

Again.

Right when I was getting excited, this guy always had to throw in a wet blanket.

Maybe it’s time to kick her out of the castle.

“If it is them, you don’t stand a chance. In fact, you’d just get taken down instead.”

“Haaah? Who do you think you’re talking to, Hatsumi?”

“Don’t act so familiar, ‘Hero-sama.’ I’m just stating the facts.”

My cheek twitched in irritation.

We’ve been training in the dungeon, gaining more combat experience, leveling up a lot.

And yet, she still says this?

Even after seeing my overwhelming firepower, she still thinks I’d lose?

Just how much does this girl look down on me?

“Both of you, stop it. Why don’t we just ask those people in black armor? ‘Have you seen the demon?’ They’re enemies of humanity, right? I’m sure they’d tell us.”

Saying that, Nozomi stepped in between us.

Nozomi was always on my side. That was the one thing I could be sure of.

And yet, as for the other one…

“Hmph. I wonder how long a fool who only raised his level by mindlessly casting spells can stand against them… It should be quite the spectacle.”

“Hah! You sure talk big for someone who benefited from that same method. Who do you think got you to that level in the first place?”

“Their strength isn’t about levels. It’s something far more fundamental.”

“Hah? You sure seem to be taking their side. In that case—”

“I said, stop it!”

Nozomi’s shout echoed through the tent, and everyone fell silent.

Damn it, what the hell is Hatsumi’s problem?

She always says things that piss me off.

Clicking my tongue in frustration, I averted my gaze and saw the kneeling soldiers looking up.

“The fact that a Walker slipped in at this timing is suspicious in itself. What shall we do?”

Seriously, every single one of them.

Are they incapable of acting without orders? A bunch of useless fools.

“Capture them first. I don’t care if they’re the wrong ones. It’s not like you lot have found that demon either, have you? Then we start searching wherever there’s even the slightest lead.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Wait.”

For real, why does it always have to be like this?

Annoyed, I turned my glare to Hatsumi, only to find her staring grimly at the soldiers.

“If we’re going to make contact with them, we should take the lead. If we storm in and try to capture them, who knows how many soldiers will be lost?”

Is she serious?

Does she actually think those random Walkers are stronger than the soldiers?

That’s some serious overestimation.

And now she wants me to go searching for people in the forest? With all these soldiers around?

“You know, I really might just kick you out of the castle soon.”

“Do as you like. But if you send the soldiers out like this, all you’ll have to report to the king is that we lost men. If that’s fine with you, then go ahead. You, the so-called ‘Hero’ who couldn’t do a damn thing in the defensive battle.”

I clenched my teeth hard.

The hell did she just say?

My hand moved to the hilt of my sword, but before I could draw, Nozomi clung to me, stopping me.

“Yuuki-kun, wait! I’m sure Hatsumi has her reasons. Let’s be the ones to go search, okay? If we do that, I’m sure they’ll cooperate with us. After all, Yuuki-kun, you’re a ‘Hero’!”

Seeing her desperately trying to stop me, I let out a sigh.

“Just this once, Hatsumi.”

“Say what you want, idiot.”

“You bastard—!”

“Both of you!”

The argument dragged on for a while, but in the end, it was decided that we would take the lead in searching for the “black-armored” figures starting tomorrow morning.

Damn it, why do I have to be the one searching for people?

It’s such a hassle. Someone else should do it.

Thinking that, I lay down alone in the spacious tent.

……………

“Hey, Hatsumi.”

“…What?”

Inside the large tent assigned to us, Hatsumi and I lay side by side on our beds.

The soldiers outside were on guard, so there was nothing to worry about.

And yet, camping out still made me feel a little uneasy.

“Why do you always fight with Yuuki-kun?”

When I asked that, she didn’t answer right away.

Maybe she had already fallen asleep?

Just as I started thinking that, she quietly spoke.

“Nozomi… you ‘need’ that guy, don’t you?”

Need. That word felt cold and detached, something completely unfitting for high schoolers like us.

If we were back on the “other side,” living peacefully, that word would have been replaced with something like “love” instead.

But now that we understand the reality of this world, the weight of the word “need” has changed.

“Yeah… I do. Yuuki-kun is someone I need. And he’s someone I want to be with.”

That’s why I answered her properly, making sure to include that meaning as well.

What I got in return was a sigh.

“Then you can’t keep depending on him forever. If you do, he’s probably going to die.”

“That’s not—!”

“Can you really say that for sure?”

A shiver ran down my spine.

The childhood friend who had always been beside me—disappearing from my life.

She knew about my “illness.”

And despite that, she still told me not to depend on him.

The weight of her words made my head spin.

“This place is a world where the danger of death is always lurking nearby. And yet, that guy still treats it like a game. I wouldn’t be surprised if, deep down, he believes that even if he dies, he’ll just get another chance to start over. That’s exactly why, as an old friend, I try to warn him. And that’s why we end up fighting.”

I tell myself that I understand.

That this world isn’t as safe as we think it is.
That my childhood friend is caught up in the thrill of it all.

But still, he’s finally starting to look forward with confidence.
I don’t want to be the one to deny that.

“I know about Nozomi’s illness. And I have a rough idea of why that guy’s so hyped up. But this can’t go on. If you keep being someone who just affirms him… in the end, Nozomi, you’ll end up as just another ‘nobody’ to him.”

“Yuu-kun would never do that!”

I shouted before I could stop myself.

This wasn’t like me.
I had never fought with Hatsumi before.

“Why? Why would you say that? Sure, he might have made a little mistake before, but he’s working hard again! His level has gone up, and he’s learned more magic! Even the king said that a ‘Hero’ is the strongest of all!”

I wanted her to tell me that everything was fine.

That if we kept going like this, it would all work out.

That’s all I wanted.

But—

“Do you even know? That ‘little’ mistake cost five people their lives. Five. They died because that idiot fired off magic recklessly. And as for what the king meant by ‘strongest’—strongest in whose eyes? Sure, thanks to the ‘Hero’ title, his level skyrockets. But at the very least, when I think of a true ‘strong’ person, I don’t think of him.”

I couldn’t understand what she was saying anymore.

People died? No one told me that.

They died? Just like that? So easily?

I’d heard things like that on the news every morning, but it never felt real.

It was always just words—something happening somewhere far away.

Something that had nothing to do with me.

But now, it was being shoved right in front of me.

Because of my childhood friend, five lives were lost.

“Then… what do you mean by a ‘strong person,’ Hatsumi? Someone amazing who never hurts anyone?”

I forced the words out, my voice trembling.

She smiled as she sat up.

And then—

“Nozomi, no one exists who never hurts anyone. Just by interacting with others, even over the smallest things, people end up hurting each other. Even without meaning to, someone’s actions could unknowingly bring harm to someone else. If such a person did exist, they wouldn’t be human.”

“Then—!”

“The people I consider ‘strong’ are those who stand at the front to protect others. Those who don’t fear getting hurt themselves, who step forward before anyone else, and who lead others forward. Even in the face of despair, they prove that hope still exists—with their very lives.”

“It’s easy to say that… but someone like that—”

“They exist. Not just in this world. Even on the ‘other side’—we just never noticed them before.”

Her eyes were unwavering, completely unlike mine, filled with doubt.

Ah, she knows.

She’s seen them with her own eyes.

Her gaze was so certain, so genuine, that I could tell.

“That’s why I’m telling you, Nozomi—stop being afraid. As long as you keep supporting him without question, he won’t stop.”

Even if she says that…

“In a world like this, just because you’ve been given a convenient power doesn’t mean it’ll always be enough. If you don’t understand what you’re doing, if you don’t know what you truly want—wielding power without reason will only bring misfortune. If we don’t stop him, it’ll be too late.”

Her serious eyes bore into me.

What do I want?
What do I want him to become?

But… I don’t have an answer.

How could I?

I’ve spent my whole life depending on him.

“…Sorry. I pushed too much on you all at once. But think about it, okay?”

With that, she lay back down.

It was clear from her tone—this conversation was over.

But… there’s no way I could sleep after that.

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll be by your side. So make sure you decide for yourself.”

At those words from my best friend, I cried all night.