Chapter 22 - Yesterdays Enemy 1 (2/2)

“All right.How commendable.”

While Artpe and Maetel was having an idiotic conversation, the sound was getting closer.Screams were interspersed with the sounds of steel clashing.Maetel’s body flinched as if she was bothered by it.Artpe could easily read her inner thoughts, so he let out a bitter laugh as he spoke.

“We’ll eventually be swept up into whatever is going on over there, Maetel. If it bothers you, you should go on ahead.I’ll just stay here a little bit longer to warm my body.”

“Ah.No.”

Unexpectedly, Maetel shook her head from side to side.

“It does bother me and I want to rescue them, but….The person I have to protect is Artpe.If I head out carelessly, Artpe might get drawn in.If you were hurt, I would feel like killing myself.”

“What…..?”

It was such an unexpected answer that Artpe was at a loss for words.

Maetel’s love for him was heavy.It was so heavy that he wondered if he’ll be crushed to death by it.On a side note, he was afraid his presence was having a weird influence on the pure hero.

If it was the hero from his past life, she would have immediately ran towards those in trouble, and she would have saved them.It wouldn’t matter if the place held traps or a strong foe.

However, she now had Artpe.She had someone she had to protect.This was why she was hesitating as she mulled over the various consequences of her actions.

Of course, he couldn’t blame her for it.Most people avoided getting involved in another's trouble.They protected what was important to them.Artpe was merely a former member of the Four Heavenly Kings, so he was a bit happy to find out that Maetel treasured him so much.

Still, he felt as if something was off.

‘When I awoke as a human boy, I surmised that I would become the biggest variable that would cause the biggest change between my past life and this current life….Yes, I was right.I’m the biggest variable.She’s suppose to be the brightest beacon of light, yet this variable was able to bring her down to the level of a regular human….’

He suddenly felt fear, but he didn’t show it.He calmly organized the situation inside his head.He camly spoke towards the blond-haired girl, who was looking at him.

“That sounds idiotic.We'll become involved anyways.That is why you should just do whatever you feel like doing.”

“I want to be by Artpe’s side……forever.”

“....yes.All right.”

It felt as if he had received an excessively heavy confession of love, but he dismissed it as him imagining things.Artpe let out a big sigh as he got up.

“Ah.Artpe?”

“Hmmph.”

He had made the fire, because he wanted to create a suitable atmosphere.However, he just need a small amount of Mana to dry their clothes.He emitted a small amount of Mana to try his underwear and robe.Then he extended his hand to make her body moisture-less.

“Since our clothes are dry now, let’s go.If I’m going, will you go?”

“.....yes!”

The two heroes kept talking in a manner unfitting heroes, yet they were finally able to take on work that heroes would undertake.A hero was a violent force that butted into other’s fights.The hero attempted to solve problems in a manner to their liking.Heroes were the ultimate busybody.This was what a hero was!

“Since we are about to intrude on someone else’s business, I’ll tell you about the basic stance we’ll take.”

“Yes!”

Artpe ran through the forest with Maetel as he spoke to her.Artpe’s stamina was very poor compared to Maetel.However, he had gone past level 140, so he had enough physical prowess to overpower most mercenaries.He wasn't just a simple magician.He possessed the Hero Class and it had influence on him.

“The most difficult part is deciding, which side is the aggressor.We have no idea about the circumstances behind the fight.We have no idea who is good and who is bad.This kind of stuff isn’t as clear cut as one would like it to be.”

“Ooh-mmmm.This is too difficult.”

“Well, let’s say we decided which person we want to kill.”

“Heeeek!”

Up until now, she had only slaughtered monsters.Maetel freaked out at the idea of killing a human.As expected, she was immature regarding this type of stuff.Artpe let out a bitter laugh as he continued his explanation.

“What if we find out later that we killed the good guys?What if we helped the bad guys?There are times when such a thing occurs.”

“You can’t kill good people!”

“However, there could be misunderstandings.The good guys might think we are the bad guys too, and they might fight us.”

“No way…...”

Unshed tears glistened in the innocent hero’s eyes.She was confronted with an explanation that couldn’t be accepted by the simplistic values she possessed.This was why her mind was in a state of confusion.

Truthfully, Maetel was incredibly cute right now.How could she be so righteous and innocent! Every time he cause a black stain on her pure white heart it was the sweetest….Crap.A bad habit he picked up during his days as the Four Heavenly King had almost appeared.Artpe calmed himself as he continued to speak his words.

“That is why our standard of judgment can’t be absolute good or evil.”

“Huh…..?”

“No one can determine what is absolutely good or evil.This is the province of the gods.This isn’t something dem….This isn’t something should be decided by humans.If we make such judgments, it would be a form of arrogance and delusion.”

“Huuuuuuh······?”

They were getting closer to the commotion.This was why Artpe had to make this simple.He had to speak with a firm voice, so she would never forget it.

“This is why you should think of anyone that hates you as being evil.”

“······.”

It was a way of thinking more befitting a Demon King than a hero.

“If someone tries to kill you, harm you, use you or have indecent desires….They are all evil.You put yourself on the side of the good, and the others on the side of evil.”

“However, Artpe, you just said we shouldn’t decide what is good or evil…..”

“We aren’t determining absolute good and evil.It is a relative form of of good and evil.You accept that you won’t always be right, then you do what you want.”

It was such an absurd, ridiculous and fraudulent way of thinking.Even if Maetel was young and naive, she knew Artpe’s words were wrong.A single slip would make one fall into the pit of evil.It was an absurdly selfish and arrogant way of thinking.

However, he had lived with such a philosophy as a demon for several hundred years.He had been the weakest amongst the Four Heavenly Kings, and he always suffered under irrational violence.This was why he had developed such a mindset.

Nevertheless…...

“Artpe....”

Maetel raised her still shaking eyes to look at Artpe.She knew they had entered into the site of the fight, yet she still asked the question.

“How do you judge me, Artpe?”

“You dummy.You don’t even have to ask me that question. ”

Artpe lifted the corner of his mouth.He laughed as he made a statement.

“You are ‘always’ in the category of absolute good for me, hero-nim.”

“......all right, Artpe.”

Maetel firmly nodded her head.Across the thicket, weapons were clashing noisily.She answered him as she threw herself towards the site of the battle.

“Then I’ll do whatever what I want to do!”