The Forsaken Hero - Volume 1 Chapter 17

Guide Us, Hero Part 2

It had been a few hours of hunting after joining back up with Mahara and Minamoto and wed made it down to the twentieth floor.

Id say that its gone well so far.

The demons weve been encountering are Wight and Wight Lancers.

Wights were monsters that are corpses that turned into skeletons. Wight Lancers were, as the name suggested, Wights that wield lances.

Although they have a slightly higher resistance value compared to the others, the troubling part about them was that all of their attacks had the added effect of being poisonous. Even a scratch meant you were down for the count.

Since it would cause you to be poisoned, youd have to ingest a remedy that could cure it.

Minamoto had taken one of those attacks head on and was currently being treated. Her fatigue had built up to the point that she couldnt evade the lance in time, causing her to get hit.

Minamoto, here, please drink this.

Hayase gave Minamoto a drug specifically made to counter the poison, boiled Yanu Leaf. Taking it from her, she drank it straight away.

Once she did so, her complexion improved remarkably quickly. It appeared as though the poison was neutralized.

Even so.

Youre awesome, Hayase.

Right?

The person to respond was Tamaki. Behind her was Mahara, looking thoroughly discontent.

That guy, seriously.

Hayase read a ton of documents about medicine in the palace, so shes never wrong with the dosage. Thats why were able to keep fighting without having to worry about special conditions!

Tamaki struck a pose with her finger up in the air. Looks like someones in high spirits.

But it looks like Hayases worth more than Id thought.

This worlds medical care is still in its early development. There are potions for things like stamina and mana recovery, but there are many items treating other status conditions still to settle.

To use that Yanu Leaf as an example, while it is effective in treating the poison, it will have a harmful effect on the body if taken in too large a dose and may itself become a poison to the body. Such is the risk.

Which is why people have no choice but to make it on the spot.

Oh? Hayases a pretty important person for this party then.

Th-Thank you very much.

Hayase seemed to be shy after being praised by me. Or maybe its just her nature to be shy?

Minamoto, are you alright now?

Yeah, Im good.

She stood up and moved about to stretch her body and check her senses, but it didnt look there was anything wrong.

You should drink this potion too just to be safe. Here, catch.

I threw a test-tube-like vial with a potion in it over to Minamoto. She caught it with both hands.

Youre our guard, so dont expect a thanks.

Only saying that in response, Minamoto walked off.

H-Hey! Seriously Tamaki, Hayase, lets go too. We cant let her go off alone.

Okay!

Hayase stood up and quickly started gathering her luggage together. Tamakis lack of a response was due to her being pulled on by Mahara.

With that, the our formation spontaneously turned into Minamoto in the front, Mahara and Tamaki in the middle, and Hayase and I following up the rear.

Keeping Minamoto in my field of view, I kept a constant distance behind the others and talked with Hayase.

Yuuji, why did you become an adventurer? I mean, adventurers have to fight monsters

Hmm, I never really had a reason in mind. I guess its just that my parents did it, so I did too.

Y-Youre doing something so scary for that!?

I dont have talent for anything else, so its not like I could just stop. Besides, its not so bad once you get used to it Wait, Hayase, are you scared?

Her body shook slightly as she looked at me looking as though she might cry.

Bulls-eye, huh. Rather, it was pretty easy to tell.

Yeah. I mean, I dont have any abilities that let me fight like you guys. I just get in everyones way. And I feel like Im going to die right off the bat whenever we get attacked by monsters. Dying is is scary.

Dying is scary.

Thats something everyone can agree on.

I find it scary too. Even if I can revive, theres still the pain I have to go through, the strange cloudiness in my mind, and that strange woman in my dream.

There might be a limit to that ability too, so its not like Im sure Ill revive indefinitely. Theres lots of things about it that I just dont get.

But nothings going to change if I just stay afraid of it. I know that firsthand.

Th-Thats a bad thing, I know. For a hero like me to be so weak Im sorry, please forget I said anything.

I wasnt thinking that at all.

I placed my hand on top of Hayases head and gave her a pat.

Y-Yuuji?

Everyone starts at the same starting line. Scary things are scary. Theres no helping that feeling. Its proof that were alive.

R Really?

Yeah. Hayase, itll be alright. Just do your best from here are. It might sound cheap, but your effort wont be in vain. Just keep moving forward at your own pace. If you keep with it, youll turn into a great hero someday. Im sure of it.

Yuuji

She thought of something, rubbed her eyes, and patted down her robe. The next time she raised her head, the feeling Hayase gave off was entirely different from the Hayase Fuuko of before.

Thank you, really. I feel like I can have courage now, too.

Thats great.

Yuuji, its all thanks to you. So, umm

The girl started to fidget about with her fingers. Clenching her fist with all she had, she then clapped herself on the cheeks to rouse herself and took my hand.

U-Umm!

Hm? Whats up?

Yuuji umm, are you dating anyone right now?

What crossed my mind was Shuri and her smile. I think that our relationship counts as that, but saying that would be embarrassing since its like saying I want to be with her.

No.

So I answered no. When I did, the girls face lit up in a very unusual smile for her, a smile similar to a sunflower blooming in the summer.

Th-Then when I become a hero! W-We can

You two are pretty lovey-dovey over there!!

Having been looking out for a chance to escape Maharas grip, Tamaki took advantage of the mood where we were and came over.

She spoke loudly so that shed make her intention to join our conversation rather understood.

Wh-Wh-Wha!? Tamaki, what are you talking about!? I wasnt saying anything like that! I-I was just!

Hayase blushed deeply, shaking her hands in front of her head in denial.

Oh.

Sorry, but Im not some thickheaded protagonist. I already understood, I just decided to not notice.

So, whadya think, Yuuji? Whats it like having such a cute girl interested in you?

She prodded me with her elbow. Come on.

Im so envious, Hayase. Yuujis treating you so nice, I want him to treat me nice too~

Tamaki took my arm with hers to further show what she meant.

This doesnt make me happy at all.

I get the gist of her strategy, she doesnt have any goodwill toward me at all. Shes not even making my heart throb.

Besides, its all going to end with a certain calamity in a bit.

Hey, guard.

Ah, here it is.

But the timings great. Its about time for it.

Lets make use of this guys emotions while were at it.

Get away from Tamaki, its disgusting.

Maharas eyes darkened. Is this that love makes you blind thing?

Yeah, sure. I agree.

You catch on quick. Then hurry up and

You are disgusting.

What!?

Mahara glared at me like a demon. I probably wouldve shriveled away if it were the past me, but now that Ive seen whats basically a real demon, I couldnt see him as scary at all.

Give it a thought. What did Tamaki look like when she was listening to you talk and what about when shes with us?

Huh? She was obviously happier with me. Right, Tamaki?

Ahaha, hah

Tamaki forced out a smile and looked away, averting her eyes.

Understanding what that meant, Maharas face dyed red in anger.

You bastard!

Why am I the one hes mad at?

I guess he figures I stole Tamaki from him. It was a very unjust, selfish interpretation of the truth.

The mood was tense.

Minamoto came back calling out into our stalemate.

Hey! I found the stairway! Theres a Monster House here too!

!?

Monster House.

Of all the things it could have been, that was the worst possible thing any of the three wanted to hear.

Each of them reacted in their own way, but Mahara was the first to recover.

Just you watch, Tamaki! Im gonna go beat those f*ckers up!

Ehh-hey!?

Mahara ran off, ignoring Tamaki calling after him.

I guess he was desperate to show off to her. Its great that hes so easy to understand. Thanks to that, I wont even have to do anything.

You two wait here! Ill go rescue them!

M-Me too

No! I wont be able to guard you inside the Monster House as well as get them out. Besides, youll be playing the important role of treating their injuries. Wait on standby here.

O-Okay

Tamaki, stay here and defend Hayase. You two should be fine if you stay here.

U-Understood!

Im relying on you!

Emphasizing her roles importance, I took off after them.

Id be troubled if Tamaki and Hayase were to die already. I havent worked them as hard as I can yet.

When I picked up my speed so that they wouldnt get away from me, I saw Minamoto and Mahara stopped in front of a door.

Maharas shoulders were heaving up and down, so I guess hed just arrived too.

See this pattern? If I recall, this is the same as the one back then.

What Minamoto said was correct.

This was definitely the same magic formation as the one back when we encountered the Monster House in Rigal Den.

It wasnt something that just anyone could form.

Not unless you were the lord of a dungeon, that is.

What should we do? Head in?

Of course. Nothing about a Monster House is scary if you already know about it beforehand.

Mahara stood by with his magic and, hearing him, Minamoto took out her weapon.

Hey, you better not interfere. Only help if you think its getting dangerous.

Mahara gave his warning.

Sure. Let me see you flounder about as you try and show off to Tamaki.

Tch! Minamoto, lets go!

I got it I got it, dont order me about.

Mahara enthusiastically opened the door.

With that, the two stiffened.

Eh?

Huh?

What they was something very different than what theyd imagined.

Humans were weak to sudden changes and unexpected events.

Impatience, indecision, doubt.

Those things affected ones ability to take action.

So I pushed them into the room from behind.

Ah

Wha

With that, they were inside the room.

Within the red devils killing range.

There werent many monsters.

Just a single devil.

Kill them, Leadred.

The devil smiled wickedly upon hearing my order and responded.

With pleasure.