Chapter 33 - Come to Think of It, Ism a Hero 1 (1/2)

Chapter 33 - Come to Think of It, I'm a Hero (1)

Artpe and Maetel left the three people behind as they exited the Dungeon.Of course, he wasn’t able to completely shed his worry about Silpennon’s future.However, if Silpennon died after he did this much for him, it was just fate!

“So, Artpe, where are we headed now?”

“Originally, I wanted us to go into some decent Dungeons to grow our levels, but…..”

They had entered the Dungeon to grow Silpennon to a respectable level.However, a Huge Slime had appeared, and it allowed Artpe to become level 163.Maetel had grown to level 174. He hadn’t intended for this, yet their levels had increased explosively.They didn’t really intend for this to happen, yet they had experienced a tempest of growth.They really didn’t need to go searching for a different Dungeon as of now.As expected, the power of a hero was amazing!

Somehow, Maetel looked wistful at his words.

“So we aren’t going to any more Dungeons?I thought the Dungeons were really fun.I love becoming stronger!”

Even if she wasn’t a hero, he surmised she would have become the strongest in the world no matter what her Class was.While he had this distant thought, he soon let out a bitter laugh as he consoled her.

“There will come a day when you’ll have to basically live inside Dungeons even if you don’t want to.That is why you should be patient for now.At the very least, we won’t be pushed around at this level.”

In the demon world, it was hard for beings under level 200 to strut around in the Demon world, but they were in the human world.The grand master of this kingdom had barely exceeded level 200, yet the world praised his name.No one will be able to restrain them in such a world.

On top of that, they possessed the Record Link, and Maetel’s various skills had grown significantly.If the specialness of being a hero was added, he wondered if any being under level 200 would be able to face her.

In a world where level was the absolute indicator of one’s strength, the fact that she could jump over this demarcation was an amazing talent.

“However, if we meet anyone above that level, we have to run away.The high rank Class over level 200 differ in quality.”

“Wasn’t the Slime we just caught over level 200?”

“That one is an exception.It is like the weakest amongst the four Heavenly Kings.He is frequently excluded from being listed amongst the ranks of the strongest beings.”

It didn’t matter how far it had evolved.In the end, the Slime suffered an ignominious death even after it ate all the Mana in its vicinity to become huge.

This was the reason why Artpe had been relaxed even as the Slime ate an entire Dungeon.It wouldn’t have mattered if it evolved using 10 or 100 floors.He would have left it alone.He would have considered it a great opportunity to completely refine the Demite’s Gemstone.

“As expected, Artpe is amazing?”

“You always come to that conclusion.”

“Hoo-hoo-hoong.”

It looked as if Maetel was very happy that she was alone with Artpe again.

Artpe was slowly getting used to her endless affection and skinship.However, he worried she would get sick of him some day.A person’s feeling was one of the most powerful motivators, but emotions were temporary and fickle.It wasn’t something that was easy to deal with.

‘It isn’t as if I want to detain the hero.However, if she stops following my directions before we kill the Demon King, it’ll be a problem.Maybe, I can use Charm magic….No, that plan is impossible if her resistance to Mana is put into consideration….Tsk. Yes, I have to admit it to myself.I wouldn’t like myself if I did that to her.’

He tried hard to think like the bad guy, but in the end, he let out a sigh.Yes, he really hated messing with another being’s free will.From the time he was enslaved by the Demon King, he had suffered under the same treatment.He knew how shitty something like that was.

What if he did that to a hero?Even if god could forgive him, Artpe wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.

‘Moreover, if I am to be a little bit more honest with myself, I…..’

Artpe had been trying very hard not to have these thoughts until now, yet he attempted to confront his inner feelings….His face suddenly turned red, and he stopped that train of thought.

When he stopped the thought process, the scene from his past life flashed through his mind.It was the sight of the dependable and pure hero’s face, who had faced him in front of the Demon King’s castle.

“······Artpe, what’s wrong?Are you in pain?”

“Nope.It’s nothing.Hey, your face is too close.Move it.Hey.”

“I don’t want to!I want to hold your hand!”

Her timing was uncanny as she pushed her face towards Artpe.Artpe was startled, so he tried to push her away.However, there was no way Artpe could win in terms of strength.

In the end, Artpe had to do what Maetel wanted.She gained ownership of Artpe’s arm.She energetically swung their arms as if they were little children going on a picnic.

“I really love the fact that we are walking together!Just the two of us!”

“You'll be sick of it soon.”

“I’ll never be sick of it.Not even in a thousand years!”

“The scale you think in is like that of a dragon's”

In the end, Artpe had to laugh at Maetel’s innocent reply.

Then he spoke to her in a kind voice.

“Let's go recruit a new member for the hero’s party.”

“Eeeesh-eeeeng!”

As soon as she expressed her pleasure at being alone with him, Artpe immediately declared his intention of adding a new member!This savagery was an aspect that was befitting one of Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army!

In his past life, the Diaz Kingdom had been held together quite easily.It wasn’t as if there wasn’t a rebellion caused by the Archduke, but the hero was able to suppress it easily.

Diaz had been peaceful thanks to the hero, and they were able to prosper.This was all before the full-out war with the Demon King’s army had started.

‘However, it isn’t like that anymore.’

Artpe sighed when they arrived at the first town, since they had left the Slime Dungeon.The town was quite dreary.Maetel, who had expected a bustle of people, was taken aback at the frozen atmosphere of the town.

“What’s wrong with this place, Artpe?”

“It is said that when a ruler clears his throat, the citizens would suffer.With that in mind, the country just went through a change in ownershipOf course, the whole country will be in tumult.”

In some ways, this was the biggest change that had occurred, because of Artpe.If Artpe hadn’t run away with the hero, this rebellion would have never occurred.

If the agitated Maetel, who was next to Artpe, was still inside the castle, the humans that sought to satisfy their own selfish interests and desires wouldn’t have been able to take control.

Still, it was as Silpennon had said.This occurred because of the internal politics of the kingdom.This wasn’t Maetel’s fault. Of course, Artpe wasn’t at fault either.This was why they didn’t need to feel any guilt.

‘Still, this does annoy me a little bit.’

Artpe let out a sigh as he looked at Maetel, who looked a bit sad.He placed a hand atop her head.

“We shouldn’t worry ourselves over all of this.We just have to do what is within our power, and we have to defeat our final foe, the Demon King.”

“Will everyone become happy when we defeat the Demon King?”

In the old tales, the world became peaceful when the hero defeated the Demon King.Of course, these were only old tales. Artpe’s view was grounded in reality.

“No.However, if the Demon world loses its leader, people will rush towards the Demon world to conquer it.For a brief time, there would be a need for manpower, and even civilians with no abilities would have a chance to get their hands on a good amount of loot.Of course, it also depends on the ability of humans to defend their newly found peace.”

“The Demon world…...?What about the Demons in the Demon world?”

She was astute in the questions she asked.For an instant, Artpe thought about his previous life where the Demon King had subjugated their entire Demon race.He thought about himself…..In the end, he shook his head from side to side.

“You don’t have to worry about the Demon race.We just have to kill them all.”

“Everyone said that Demons are bad, but…..There are bad people amongst humans, so wouldn’t there also be kind Demons in the Demon race?”

“·····.”

Artpe shut his mouth at the unexpected question.Her eyes did not falter.She stared at Artpe with sincere eyes.This was why he was hesitant to give her a rash answer.

“That’s…....”

In the human world, everyone grew up being educated that ‘Humans are good and the Demons are bad.’

The power of indoctrination was scary.Even those that were learned and experienced in the world held absolute hostility towards the Demon race.

‘However, she came to hate the humans first.’

To be precise, the humans that tried to kill Artpe, and it was apt to say that her faucet was turned the wrong way.Afterwards, Maetel was able to willingly swing her sword against humans.

In truth, Artpe had worried a lot about this fact.He worried her nature would move closer to being that of a Berserker.

However, he just learned that he was the standard she was using to determine what was good and what was bad.This was why he decided not to interfere in determining what was right and wrong for her.He wouldn’t do so even if the topic was about humans and the Demons.

‘I wonder if she’ll start to hesitate when killing monsters in the future.’

In the end, Artpe let out a bitter laugh as he lightly patted her head.

She was still only 13 years old.This was a question where even Artpe hadn’t been able to come up with an answer.Nothing good will come from her worrying over such a question.