Stop the Power Trip!
I finished my meal in a hurry and headed for Weverpool Fief. The moment I arrived, a sentry recognized me.
"Hero! You've come?!"
"Yeah, good to see you. But I'm still only in my early twenties, so you can drop the formalities."
That's how I see it. Even if someone starts doing well for themselves, their essence never changes. Just because you deck yourself out in designer brands and drive a foreign car, does that give you the right to throw your weight around? I don't think so. That's why I hate being addressed with honorifics. Besides, "Hero" is just the side gig — the main title is Beastly Hero.
"Oh, I couldn't possibly. The Lord should be outside!"
"I'm here to help with the cult purge. It's fine!"
"Haha, yes sir! Good luck out there!"
I rode Rin inside. Watching her trot along with that cheerful, alternating gait put a smile on my face.
Feeling good, huh? Makes sense. Last time those sentries pretended they didn't even know me. Look how fast a reputation turns around.
First I took a long look around the territory. You never know — I might spot a follower of Those Who Recite Sins. I don't actually know any search magic, but after tearing around yesterday I did pick up one thing.
The cultists all had black smoke around their eyes or mouths.
Just like that little lord who'd been addicted to Kahloom. Whether they were taking Kahloom themselves — and if so, why they still looked fine — I had no idea. But I'd figured out they weren't like ordinary people.
"Oh my, that man!"
As I was looking around, the fief's residents started murmuring about me one after another.
"The hero on the black horse with a sword — is that yesterday's hero?"
"Looks like it, right? Who else would it be? He's so handsome."
"Wow, the horse is gorgeous too. I wanna ride it!"
"That much presence coming from a face that cute? Haaa, and those collarbones are insane?"
"Hell yeah, I'm gonna be a hero too. Just you wait, dammit!"
All kinds of reactions. I got a little pumped up for no reason.
Yeah, this kind of reaction's nice too! Hey miss, if you want, one-night stand — you in? Heh.
I put on a deliberately solemn face and rode past them. Ah, I wanted to look even a little cooler. I was the face of Gailwards Fief, after all.
I dismounted from Rin and headed for the barracks. I'd already made an impression on the captain of the guard, so getting in was no problem. That's right — a man has to show and prove. Then again, plenty of people sit in high places without proving a damn thing. Just like back in my country.
"Welcome, Lord Leonhart."
The captain of the guard suddenly dropped his voice an octave to greet me. Wait, what the hell did he just call me. I shook my head, flustered.
"No, no. Just call me by my name. It's a little... cringey."
It wasn't actually "a little." I said "a little" out of politeness. The soldiers around us all burst out laughing at once.
"WAHAHAHAHA! Captain, you just got roasted for real!"
"Told you that title was too much."
"Lord Leonhart — ugh, even we cringe hearing that."
"Captain, so that's why you're still a virg— ah, never mind."
It was a loud, cheerful atmosphere. The captain cleared his throat and then bellowed.
"Can you all shut up?! Look at this military discipline, you little shits!"
"Ah, say less!"
"Who the hell's making that ass-pounding racket? Ahem. In any case, welcome, Hero Lashu."
The captain bowed his head, even if only slightly. I bowed mine in return.
The barracks atmosphere is pretty freewheeling. But they still keep what needs keeping. Nice. If the military back in my country had been even this chill, things never would've gotten that bad.
I shrugged and asked.
"Nothing going on today?"
"Nothing's come in yet. Strangely peaceful."
"That's a relief, in its own way."
"Feel free to rest here as long as you like. The Lord's out hunting."
"Is that so? Thanks."
I found a decent spot and sat down. The soldiers immediately crowded around.
"Hero, what's that sword?"
"What's the armor made of..."
"How much have you tuned the horse...?"
Lots of questions, and it felt like we'd have plenty to talk about. I smiled and answered as sincerely as I could. The era was different, but these guys were soldiers too.
A man has to understand a soldier's heart. Who else is going to?
We were talking like that when the atmosphere suddenly turned bright and floral. What, did someone start scattering flower petals? I turned my head and saw a woman I'd never seen before coming into the barracks.
Cat-eyed, baby-faced, with a long, overwhelming figure. Wine-colored medium-short hair, silver eyes glittering like jewels, and she smiled sweetly. The captain of the guard greeted her.
"You've arrived, my lady!"
My mouth fell open. The Lord's wife?
What? The Lord of Weverpool's wife is that pretty? She's not Extra Number One? Holy shit!
How was that a MILF? I'd believe you if you said she was a freshman in college. That's how much of a baby-faced MILF she was. Of course, the overwhelming milkers that come standard with MILFs were fully installed. She parted her pale-pink lips.
"Hello, everyone. Working hard again today, I hope? Here, I made some matcha mochi, so please have some! Fufu♥"
So she really was Eastern. Japanese-lineage, by the look of it. In this world's setting, Easterners either used Taoist arts, circulated qi and rode flying swords, or were imugi out training. The soldiers whispered among themselves.
"The lady's gorgeous no matter when you look at her. So fucking hot!"
"Her name's Aki Weverpool? What was her original name?"
"I know. Uehara Aki!"
"Pretty, always that mysterious vibe, and those jugs on top of it! I'm gonna bust, I'm gonna bust!"
Uehara Aki. I could just call her Aki Mama, roughly. I swallowed dryly and watched her more closely. Her signature was that smiling-eye look that made everyone who saw her smile back.
Looks like the collection's about to grow by one. Heh.
She was a woman I wanted pretty badly. This time I'd netorare her for sure! And so I came face to face with her. Aki looked me over like I was a unicorn.
"Oh my, are you that hero?"
"A pleasure, my lady. Lashu Leonhart of Gailwards."
Ah, introducing myself like that made me sound pretty cool. Like Getrol of Libya or something? Aki smiled with her eyes. It looked like it could melt any hatred or wariness.
"It's so nice to meet you! I'm Aki Weverpool. Please have one as well, Hero."
"Oh... mochi. I'll enjoy it!"
Mochi was just rice cake, really. But when I ate it, the matcha fragrance bloomed gently, then a chewy texture took over my mouth. I wanted to ride this even warmer, friendlier atmosphere.
This is happiness. This is peace!
It didn't last long. Someone came running in a panic.
"Huff, hahh! Captain! Captain, ugh!"
"The lady is here, what's all the fuss? What's going on?"
"It's an emergency. A-an inspector from the Lord's Inspection Committee has arrived!"
"...What? They said tomorrow."
Things suddenly kicked off. The Lord's Inspection Committee was a state organ that toured every fief in the Empire. An inspector from there had, frankly, monstrous authority. Lords were nobles who inherited their seats from the previous generation. These people were civil servants who'd passed exams and entered the Imperial Palace themselves.
"Damn it, the Lord's out hunting right now!"
They were flustered for some reason.
The Lord's Inspection Committee is just supposed to make sure lords aren't slacking off. Why would they come all the way out here? Maybe if they were close with the lord, but...
A lot of questions came up. I'd never seen this kind of setting. Why were these people so restless?
Just in case, I stood up. Then a massive white horse came in, neighing, accompanied by soldiers. A tall man was riding it. Amazingly, his race was elf. A pointy-ear — I felt uneasy.
Huh?
And at his solar plexus, five lights were visible. Fuck, mid-stage Expert?! I couldn't even speak. Mid-stage Expert was another level entirely. The inspector looked around, then frowned.
"Where is the Lord of Weverpool?"
"Yes, he's currently out hunting!"
"How disappointing."
"Pardon?"
"I heard Weverpool Fief is in a pathetic state. Even receiving outside support? And he's out hunting at a time like this? Is this really the moment?"
"Th-that's..."
"A lord's caliber is what divides a territory."
The captain of the guard froze. The soldiers all bowed their heads as if they were the ones on trial. The inspector scattered a cold gaze around. Then it stopped on Aki.
"And what is this? An Easterner, no better than a beast?"
"Th-that's... the Lord's wife."
"She's your lady, perhaps. Is she mine as well?"
From his eyes to his tone to his whole atmosphere. This was a guy who could freeze a furnace solid. I didn't like him from the start. The inspector dismounted and approached Aki. Aki just trembled and kept her head bowed.
"I-I'm sorry."
The inspector looked Aki over for a moment. Then he let out a short sigh.
SMACK!
The inspector suddenly slapped her across the face. Aki let out a short scream and collapsed. It happened in an instant.
This crazy bastard?
The inspector looked down at the fallen Aki and spoke as if chewing the words.
"They say Easterners smell of garlic and soy sauce. Turns out it's true. Trying to cover it with matcha fragrance is pointless. And on top of that... hah, she can't even hold her mental center."
The captain of the guard hurriedly stepped in.
"Inspector, even so, that's too—"
THWACK!
This time the inspector cracked the captain across the shin. This guy was going all out.
"I stand above your lord. Can you not read the room?"
Everyone around bowed their heads to him. Not a single person dared think of resisting. As if he were the Supreme Leader himself.
Can I beat a bastard that strong? Me, as I am now...?
If I had to put a number on it, the odds were basically zero. That's how big the gap was between late-stage Runner and mid-stage Expert. I bowed my head and closed my eyes. I thought of my past self. An ordinary Korean guy, powerless, just waiting to enlist. The kind of pathetic livestock who, even when something unjust happened, never raised his voice — just submitted.
Step up. Why else is a hero a hero?
The moment I tried to step forward, the Goddess stopped me.
Goddess. There are times a man has to fight even knowing he'll lose. And I don't plan on losing, either.
I couldn't remember it well, but if it was the Lord's Inspection Committee, I'd been there a few times in the game. There were fetch quests. Those people had a representative weakness. If it was this guy, then definitely.
You die, I die! Heh heh.
I answered cheerfully and stepped forward. I shouted so the inspector would hear.
"Don't you think that's a bit much? We're people of the same country."
The inspector turned to look at me. A scathing sneer spread across his face.
"Oho, and what is this brat?"
"Brat? That's no way to talk. I'm Lashu Leonhart of Gailwards."
"That backwater fief? I'd forgotten it even still existed."
"For an elf, your memory's pretty bad. You sure you want to keep being a civil servant?"
At my words, the inspector's ears twitched. Guess he was pissed.
"A civil servant like me — so you want to die, is that it?"
"What is this, the Shinsengumi from the Edo period? You go around dishing out violence and call yourself a civil servant? Power-tripping piece of shit."
"Fufu. Fine. It's good to teach a lowly thing the grade of its own existence."
SHING! FWOOSH!
The inspector drew his sword. A rapier, a bit longer and wider than I'd expected. And in his left hand, an estoc. Very elf-like.
"H-Hero. We're fine, so..."
The captain of the guard tried to stop me. I shouted so everyone could hear.
"Everyone, get back!"
"But...!"
Even Aki stepped forward, shaking her head. I looked at the inspector and said,
"If you want it, I'll take you on. Come at me, you two-bit civil servant."