The Hero and the Guillotine
The Hero and the Guillotine
After a simple yet lavish meal, Siegfried returned looking oddly satisfied.
It seemed he was more satisfied with my answer that I would help him when he was overwhelmed than with the food... It was a reaction I couldn't quite figure out, whether he was simple-minded or if he'd had so much hardship that such experiences were rare for him.
If the Hero collapses, isn't it all over? There are shitheads who don't help with that? I'd suspect they were Demonfolk spies. As I was doing the dishes, Asilie, who had been sitting and resting, greatly satisfied with the delicious meal, offered her own answer to my question in a purring voice.
"You have to look at it from a different perspective. When the Hero is in crisis or facing something overwhelming, don't people think, 'We're finished. Run,' rather than 'We should step up and help the Hero'?"
Hmm. Fucking humans could absolutely pull that off. It was such a reasonable point that I found myself nodding.
"Honestly, I'm more worried about the academy than that. Is it really okay?"
Since I had gotten involved in the series of events happening at the academy, Asilie naturally had to know, so most of our conversation during the meal had revolved around the dangerous elements that might be lurking beneath the academy. Contrary to my expectation that she wouldn't worry much, since she hadn't shown it while Siegfried was there and had even faced a demon when dealing with the fake Demon God Church members, Asilie seemed a bit anxious.
If I caused the anxiety, it was only right that I put in the effort to relieve it. I appealed to Asilie through a detailed explanation based on experience, telling her that I had a perfect compatibility with Archdemons, like an anti-Archdemon decisive weapon. Even though I only conveyed clear facts and not groundless boasts, it was a truly unbelievable explanation, but anyway, the result was one thing.
"I guarantee you, unless those demon bastards come in legions, they can't beat me."
I had been able to confirm a great deal while dealing with the demon who cherished the altar more than its own head. From the fact that demons, who can move their bodies without any problem when their heads are lopped off in the normal way, end up as helpless as Wilson when their heads are cut off by my method, to the fact that demon bastards fight and tear each other apart even among themselves, and that they all live on their own self-importance, making arrogance and carelessness their default equipment.
While they put more sincerity into deceiving people with words than anyone else, the fact that upon incarnation, they often act like blockheads trusting in their outstanding combat ability was one of the most headache-inducing pieces of information I'd heard recently.
"Hmm, Eldi isn't one to lie, so I'll believe you... but it's still a really hard story to believe."
Even for Asilie, it was a natural reaction. Rather, she deserved applause for believing me and letting it go. Once incarnated, they literally have the power to create a hellscape—how could anyone normally accept me treating such beings like them like glass bottles with screw caps? Even I would think I was a crazy bastard.
"According to what that demon said, no matter what method they use, their bodies for operating in this world are composed of Magic Power, so there won't be any variables. They say there are also those who encroach on human bodies, but those are no different from dregs who aren't even capable of forming a body with Magic Power, so there's even less reason to worry."
Fortunately, as if my sincere persuasion had some effect, Asilie seemed in a much better mood than at first. After seeing her off as she went out to look into simple requests, I finished bathing in warm water for the first time in a while and collapsed onto the bed.
And then, I conked out without even having the time to feel the fatigue accumulated over three days creep up beside me and wash over me along with Laika, who lay down on the bed with me.
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By the time I was startled by the sudden surge of sleepiness and reflexively felt myself waking up, it was already morning.
Surprised by the fact that I had skipped dinner and slept for a full half-day, I got up from bed, relieved that I hadn't gotten caught up in an incident while tired. No matter how much your body can endure, forcing yourself to stay awake wasn't good. With my tendency to get caught up in incidents and accidents almost every other day, I had to sleep on time to be at my best.
Despite the fact that I had slept the whole day without moving, Asilie didn't seem very surprised. Her reaction, which was along the lines of 'You could be like that if you're tired,' made me think that I might need to wait and see for about a day even if Asilie didn't wake up one day.
"If something happens at the academy, I'll send Laika right away. Don't worry too much and just think of it as meaning I'll be in late."
"As if it's that easy."
Asilie smiled as if I was being ridiculous, but she knew well that it was better than making her worry by staying out without a word. By the time I dragged my refreshed body out of the house and arrived at the academy, the students who couldn't stay in the dorms were in the middle of their commute.
"Hey, did you hear? They say the traitors might have hidden in the underground waterways."
"The guys who suddenly disappeared? Did they try to escape through the waterways?"
"Well... this is something I happened to overhear..."
Most of the stories the students were whispering about in groups of twos and threes, suspiciously engrossed in rumors, were derived from what I already knew. Of course, as word-of-mouth typically goes, there were plenty of outlandish stories too. There were various versions like, it was actually an assassination attempt on the Hero, or they were trying to awaken a demon sleeping in the underground waterways and offer the students as sacrifices to resurrect Envelde, and so on.
I briefly wondered if this was the average standard of rumors in this reincarnated world, but then I thought it probably wasn't much different in my past life. When I entered the professor's building, it was even worse, if anything, never any less than the students.
Honestly, it was understandable. Because the Mana extinction incident last time was quite a serious event.
If there was anyone who could criticize those gathered and raising their voices in anger, believing the traitors had pulled a dirty trick to disrupt their research and work, that person was clearly either clueless or the very culprit who caused the incident.
"Hello, Eldmia. It's quite noisy from the morning, isn't it?"
Passing by such people and entering the professor's office, Seneran, who was standing inside a caterpillar-like sleeping bag while brewing coffee, waved and greeted me.
"Couldn't you have gone inside to rest? Did you sleep here?"
"To be honest, it's more comfortable here."
"That's a pretty serious condition."
No wonder items that seemed oddly high in survival utility had come in along with the magic tools; apparently Seneran intended to use this place as a vacation home anytime.
"Just looking at your face, I can tell you slept well. Home is the best, isn't it?"
"Hearing that from someone who finds another person's office more comfortable than home is quite a disconnect, but it certainly was."
I hung my cape on the coat rack, tidied my spot for today's studies, and cleaned under the desk that had now become Laika's permanent spot. Meanwhile, Seneran, who had wriggled over, held out a cup of coffee.
"I hear the young noble lady of House Ogatorf has been quite active lately."
Just the aroma told me it was strongly brewed. I was already fully awake from the cold wind outdoors, but there was no reason to refuse the caffeine, so I carefully took the cup and thought about Seneran's intentions as I answered.
"Because I told her to."
"Widra seemed reluctant to talk about it, but I guess the Hero told you?"
There was no particular need to ask back or question why my teacher's name suddenly came up. He was a former court mage, so it was perfectly natural for him to seek advice or request help from the academy in preparation for such a situation. The reason he didn't try to tell me himself was probably because he was wary of the movements trying to use me, just as I'd heard from Eselua. He'd long been entangled in the political arena where that sly old man Lesrom ran rampant; it was unlikely he didn't know what I'd predicted.
"That's right. But I don't have a hobby of moving exactly as those bastards want, so I plan to handle it my own way."
"Want a hand?"
And that wasn't any different for Seneran. She might be mad about research, but she was a person who made money by meeting people's needs in business—there was no way she was stupid.
"It's fine. The leading roles are already set, so if a highly renowned person steps in, things might get a bit tangled."
Even with a face that still looked half-asleep, she flashed a leisurely smile, then wriggled over again, pulled out a suitable chair, sat down, and continued.
"It's a bit sorry to say this to you, but just looking at the rolling situation, it's really amusing. Normally, people get impatient wanting to use a well-cut blade and end up cutting their fingers, but it's funny how the swordsmen are actually gritting their teeth trying not to use it. And even though it's reached a point where it's hard to solve without that blade, it's not a common sight to see them watching their step and hushing it up."
"A blade kills if it stabs, regardless of status. Isn't it normal to be cautious?"
I threw the tantrum precisely for that purpose, so of course that's how it should be. At my nonchalant answer, Seneran smiled briefly, nodded, and spoke.
"Right. But the part I really find amusing is different. While the swordsmen are just watching each other's step like that, why is the blade setting the stage and moving on its own?"
At the serious curiosity beyond the laughter, I was honestly dumbfounded. It felt like hearing someone ask why you're spraying roach killer when cockroaches have appeared. Still, considering the common and widespread perception of those demon bastards, I answered as calmly as possible.
"Fuckin' hell. I don't know about anything else, but there are cockroaches under the house. It creeps me the hell out, I can't stand the sight of it."
If it were just traitors, maybe not, but if there might be demon bastards there, of course I had to hunt them down and wipe them out completely.
If you don't exterminate this kind of shit early, you end up with Joe's Apartment.