Chapter 43 (1/2)

By using Nei as a decoy, I managed to escape safely, and returned to the royal capital of Balseille.

But what awaited there was a deadly humiliation.

”I will congratulate you on getting the sacred sword. You have done well. However, what was that atrocity that happened in Northstar? With the demons right in front of you, you abandoned one of your companions and fled, allowing great destruction to be fall the city.”

“ …………”

”If you plan to make an excuse after that, you'll be delighted to hear what comes next. After you escaped from the demons, a party of adventurers called the Manyu brigade defeated them without batting an eye.”

”The Manyu Brigade?! How come they were there?!”

As I was about to stand up, the knights guarding the king put their hands on their swords.

I quickly knelt down again.

I almost grabbed the king by the chest and I wouldn't have let go until he gave me more information.

Damn Manyu Brigade.

They must have killed the demon after Nei weakened it.

They stole my prey.

They have interfered everywhere I've gone, and now they are following me.

I will never forgive them. Never, never, never, never.

Killing them will not be enough to satiate my anger.

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

”Your Majesty, please give me a chance.”

”Good. You're still in the process of growing, and you're still the hero. I'll give you another chance to make up for your mistakes.”

”Aah! Thank you for having such a noble heart!”

I'm feeling nauseous from the things I just said.

If you weren't the king, I would have trampled you underfoot and murdered you by now you damned old fool.

I wonder if you will beg for your life as those adventurers did in that guild.

The king bowed and looked up.

”I have a special task for you, I expect you to fulfill it.”

”I will give my best!”

An elven woman entered the room.

She wore a collar around her neck, a sign of slavery.

She is so beautiful that I can't stop looking at her.

”This is an elf I recently acquired. She's very beautiful, isn't she? I spent a lot of money for her.”

“ ............”

”I'd like to have another one just like her, but I don't want to have to pay for it. Your mission is to go to the elven village in the forest of Grigit.”

”Would you like me to capture one?”

The king did not answer, only smiled.

There is nothing more to say.

I can understand your intentions without needing you to say anything more.

So capturing an elf, huh... Well, I want one too.

Since they are a rare species, their numbers should be few.

If there is only one in the village, I will keep it instead of giving it to the king.

The question is how to enter the elves' village.

It is an exclusive place that does not allow the entrance of humans.

Even the hero would not be invited easily.

I have to figure out a way to get in by any means necessary.

In the past, elves have cooperated with heroes many times.

They are devoted to them, so the story goes.

This will be too easy... I can already imagine having my beautiful elf slave.

”After you bring me the elf, your second task will be to defeat one of the six demon generals, Roiz. Can you do it?”

”Yes! I definitely will!”

”Very well. The next time we meet will be at the conference of nations in the royal capital of Grigit. There you will hand over my elf, and prepare to be publicly named a hero.”

I bowed to the king and left the place.

Inside me the flames of anger burned.

You don't know how much I want to decapitate you, you damned old man.

I've already lost count of the times I've murdered you in my imagination.

You have the reputation of being a foolish king among the commoners, and they are absolutely right.

Perhaps this country will not exist before long.

This is where I was born and raised.

But I'll get the hell out of here once I'm a hero. No matter the fate, as long as I can do what I want.

I will continue to do this work a little longer.

I don't like the idea of my reputation continuing to decline.

On the way to the elven village, I heard many rumors about the Manyu Brigade.

”Saved five cities in a single day.”

”He has a great sacred sword.”

”The slave he has is a very beautiful woman.”

”He defeated one of the demon king's generals with a single blow!”

”They have a fairy with them.”

”The leader is very handsome.”

”The fluffy animal with them is so cute!”

”The real heroes are the Manyu Brigade.”

”It seems that there is a party in Balseille that wants to steal your credit.”

Something inside me was about to break.

But I tried my best to ignore them.

These are all just rumors.

I know I am the real hero, and it will soon become clear who is the fake between the two parties.

I think I've been too impatient with my success so far.

The idea that I am the hero blinded me, and I didn't act the way I should have.

No wonder I have failed at everything.

Let's take a moment to remember who I used to be. When Toru was still in my party.

”That's the land of the elves?”

”That's what they say.”

”That's a very nice tower.”

We observed the forest from a tower in a nearby village.

Indeed, it is a beautiful tower.