Hero Punishment - Chapter 13

It could be said that the miners’ hideout was already at its limit.

At the end of a deep tunnel, laid out in front of some railway tracks.

A little hut-like — or rather, a crude fort-like thing had been built there.

Equipment for excavation was turned into a defensive barrier.

There were also large minecarts for transporting people. The size of a shed, they’ve been lined up as walls.

However, those walls are also worn down, and it’s clear that they can’t be maintained in the event of another attack from the Fae.

Even the Sacred Seal for protecting against the Demon King Phenomenon is only emitting a faint light.

The stored Luminescence is running out.

Basically, Sacred Seals function with sunlight.

The light stored by the Sacred Seal is activated through the will and life force of a human as a trigger — similar to the relationship between oil and a spark.

Without sunlight as fuel, any Sacred Seal will quickly be exhausted.

They’re in a situation where it’s doubtful whether they can withstand even for one more day.

The Sacred Seal of Concealment is also wearing out, and it wasn’t strange if they would receive attacks from the Fae any time now — or rather, to put it straight, they are currently just being attacked.

Norgayu, Tatsuya and I managed to slip into that scene.

The somewhat bloated, centipede-shaped Boggarts, are rampaging and about to destroy their barrier.

Their fangs have punctured the rusted minecart wall. I hear someone scream.

“Forward!”

His Majesty quickly gave out instructions.

“Advance! Save our people!”

Unclear instructions, but what he’s saying is more or less correct. Can’t be helped, so Tatsuya and I immediately obey His Majesty’s orders.

The conclusion comes in a blink of an eye.

Tatsuya jumps in and smashes a Boggart’s head, he then brandishes his battleaxe and splits another Boggart’s body in half, and finally leaps and shatters a third Boggart’s jaw.

It took ten seconds for things to settle.

Describing it like this makes it sound like only Tatsuya was working, well, that’s exactly so.

However, I was doing something nobody other than me could do.

Not just protecting the miners, I have to explain that the men who look like demonised humans aren’t actually enemies — that is, we aren’t enemies.

There are a total of twenty four workers left.

All rather exhausted.

Fortunately, there’s no one weak enough that they can’t move — or maybe those guys have already died or been dealt with.

’Let’s not ask about that now’, I thought.

(Only twenty four people.)

Once again I was irritated by my stupidity. I felt like I could do nothing but laugh.

(For only twenty four people――)

I’m doing something like this

For twenty four weak and exhausted men. Does it make sense? I end up laughing.

“…I didn’t think help would come.”

Said an old man, perhaps the foreman.

His expression made it look like he was still in a dream — or a nightmare.

“Are you people from the Holy Knights Order?”

“Well, it’s an order from the Holy Knights.”

I didn’t tell the truth

If they find out we are Heroes, they will probably despair again.

“First, arm everyone.”

I organised what had to be done in my mind.

To escape from here, we need to give these non-combatants a way to defend themselves. If they all only become burdens, there’s absolutely no way they can be protected to the end.

I focus on the resources in our surroundings.

Some guys hold shovels, some pickaxes and some sticks. That’s enough. Or put another way, even stones would have been good.

All these things can be turned into weapons for them to properly defend themselves.

There is a way to do that.

“His Majesty Norgayu there is an expert in tuning Sacred Seals. You can all arm yourselves. Without exception, everyone is to hold a weapon.”

“…His Majesty… Norgayu?”

“That’s what he’s called.”

The workers looked like they had no clue about what was going on, but I leave it for now. There’s no time for that.

“Be at peace, everyone! Our loyal subjects!”

His Majesty Norgayu’s voice certainly sounded leader-like — no, it actually was leader-like.

“Evacuate from here, and your efforts will undoubtedly be rewarded. Take arms! Follow our elites from here!”

Isn’t that a dignified speech — I slapped Tatsuya’s shoulder even while knowing that it was meaningless, or rather, because it was meaningless.

The guy looked at me with a blank face.

He only reacts to stimulus.

I don’t know the specifics of what happened to Tatsuya — but I’ve heard that he’s a human that was called from another world by a [Goddess].

Rumour has it that he incurred the wrath of that [Goddess].

In that other world, he was the most proficient killer.

He was a man who specialised in assaulting and killing women, that was why he was summoned, and that was also how he destroyed himself and became a Hero — such rumours existed.

It’s fine whether they’re true or false.

Today’s Tatsuya has no ego or capability to think.

He’s just a Hero. A man who never despairs, no matter how cruel the situation. He hasn’t got that ability. Like Norgayu and I, he has no choice but to fight.

(…If Norgayu is really the King and we’re the elites under his direct control.)

What a useless line of thought.

I would probably be the Commander of the United Kingdom Army, and Tatsuya a genuine Hero.

(Don’t laugh.)

’If I don’t lighten things up like this–’, I thought. Each and every single one of them is always too damn serious. That’s exactly how these exhausted workers are.

When things get too serious, I get pissed off.

If you’re rescued by someone like Norgayu, shouldn’t you be laughing?

Facing tragedy with a tragic face is something I really hate.

All I always end up wanting to do is curse or spit in the face of tragedy. On that point, guys like Dotta and Norgayu are really good at stepping on tragedy.

So even if I don’t like them, they don’t irritate me.

I can get along.

And then, Tatsuya and I just need to do well.

We know our roles.

“Tatsuya, take the lead. Pave the way.”

His Majesty said, while engraving simple Sacred Seals on one of the pickaxes.

A basic Sacred Seal of Defence. Followed by a small Sacred Seal of Smiting. It gave enough power to crush something like a rock with one or two light hits.

Under the hands of Norgayu, it will last even longer and be more powerful.

Even so, with the amount of Fae that will be coming, it’s only a small consolation.

“Watch each other’s backs! We have no plans of letting a single person fall behind! And Zyro, you–”

“I know.”

I counted my remaining knives and nodded.

I’m the tail — in technical terms, the Rearguard. This role is not suitable for Tatsuya, and it also can’t be left to Norgayu.

I know Norgayu’s fighting ability.

His body is stout, but that’s it.

“I’ll be following from behind. For the guys that want to fall out, tell me beforehand.”

I looked around at all the workers and dared to joke.

“I’ll deal with you before that worst case happens.”

The workers looked even more sorrowful.

To my heart’s content, I will rage at them. That’s what drives me. Always been the case.

“Zyro. We have faith in your skills.”

His Majesty Norgayu said, while engraving a Sacred Seal on a stick.

“If you survive safely, we will confer you the position of Commander-in-chief of the Army. It will be good for you to bask in the highest honour.”

“I am grateful for this opportunity.”

That was the only answer I could give.

–Though there is no glory or honour in this battle.

If it goes well, only twenty four exhausted men will survive. The odds of things going not well are much higher.

We’re not even defeating the Demon King.

It’s not our job. The Holy Knights will collapse the entire mine.

There’s just the risk of hellish trouble if things go wrong.

(Then it’ll really end up becoming something like a punishment.)

While mocking myself, I pull out just one knife.

Norgayu’s work of tuning the Sacred Seals is still ongoing, but it doesn’t look like there’ll be time to watch over until he’s finished.

“Your Majesty, you should start moving now.”

I noticed the vibrations.

Something was approaching.

As for what, in a place like this, it could only be Fae.

As though to prove me right, the earthen wall behind us crumbles.

A clearly vicious, centipede-shaped Boggart’s jaw peeks out. Somebody screams and falls on their ass — idiot.

“Get up!”

I commanded him bluntly and threw the knife.

Immediately, I released my weapon. The Sacred Seal of “Satte Finde” blows off the Boggart’s head.

“The next guy who falls over will be mercilessly left behind, so–”

My declaration gave birth to an echo in this narrow tunnel.

“–protect yourself with your own bodies. That’s what His Majesty Norgayu said.”

Would that relieve their anxiety?

The miners suddenly let out a roar. It produces a terrific sound.

Mixed with the growls of Tatsuya who had already started rushing forward, it turned into a hellish scream.

From all directions, there are signs of Boggarts approaching — I wonder how much we can do.

I look at His Majesty Norgayu’s face.

“The first to die will be you, Zyro.”

His Majesty gave me a few words of appreciation.

“We will follow. And the last to die will be Tatsuya. Compared to the lives of our subjects who have loyally devoted themselves, we are nothing!”

A great King.

’Maybe he won’t die’, I thought and laughed.

This I don’t hate.