Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Heroic Offers
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4
"I've loved tales of heroes since I was a child."
Clemens said lightly, propping his chin on his hand as he sat in his chair.
His calm voice gave the listener a strange sense of stability and trust.
Of course, I shouldn't fall for it.
He had suddenly summoned me here to spout nonsense about catching clouds.
I had no idea what story he was leading into with this.
The only reason I could smile naturally was thanks to my long part-time service experience ingrained in my body.
As I maintained my customer-service smile, Clemens met my gaze with his sharp golden eyes that resembled his father's.
"Arduous adventures, grueling trials, unparalleled rewards. Some call it clichéd, but aren't those the elements that make the heart race more than anything?"
"That's true."
"When I saw you, my heart raced."
What the hell is this guy saying so casually?
I barely suppressed the urge to cut him off.
"You have all the qualities to become this era's hero. A hero tale pushed out of the mainstream has been recreated in reality. You can't imagine how fiercely my heart, which had stopped beating for a while, pounded."
I couldn't find words to respond.
Both his choice of words, deliberately chosen to unsettle and shake me, and his unblinking golden gaze, as if probing my intentions, were extremely difficult to handle.
But I couldn't just stay silent.
Clemens was probably trying to appeal to my hero complex and win me over to his side.
In that case, the story I had to tell was decided.
"You're overestimating me far too much."
"Humility is also a virtue of heroes. Ah, but heroes need companions too, don't they?"
"Lately, stories where the protagonist shines alone seem more popular."
For a moment, Clemens tilted his head as if surprised.
Whether going back in time or entering novels or games, stories where the protagonist does everything alone—it was understandable he wouldn't get it.
Of course. It was a tale from the real world, not this one.
"That's an unexpected answer. But having companions makes it more varied, doesn't it? That's an unchanging truth."
"Yes, and it's also an unchanging truth that heroes don't necessarily need personal desires."
"Whether slaying a mighty dragon, exacting revenge, or saving the world, they always need a fitting goal. What is it you desire?"
"Nothing."
Strictly speaking, I desired a peaceful life, but...
No need to say that much and give him something to latch onto.
Clemens seemed about to counter immediately, but I continued first.
"I don't like adventures or trials. I do like rewards, but not enough to suffer for them."
"If you become my man, you can have anything without pain."
"My creed is not to eat food that would make me sick from overeating."
I thought I'd drawn a clean line, but Clemens's expression hardened right away.
His golden eyes sharpened like the edge of a blade.
"Are you thinking of siding with Rainer?"
"I'm merely a subject of the kingdom. I will always pledge loyalty to the king."
From my perspective, Clemens or Rainer made no difference.
I had no reason or intention to side with either.
That's why I maintained a healthy, clean business relationship with Ludwig.
"The next king will be me."
"Then I shall pledge my loyalty when Your Highness ascends the throne."
"There's an unbridgeable gap between wagging your tail after I seize the throne and joining me from now."
Instead of responding, I just smiled brightly.
Realizing my mind wouldn't change, Clemens finally averted his gaze.
His fallen gray bangs curtained his golden eyes.
"Go on, then."
"I take my leave."
I bowed politely and left Clemens's room.
As soon as I stepped into the corridor, I let out the sigh I'd been holding.
Who would've thought he'd approach me so directly like this.
He must want the throne that badly.
Now I'm the one inconvenienced.
For now, let's get out of the palace quickly.
If I stay here, who knows when I'll get held up again....
"Hey! I was wondering where you'd gone, and here you are."
Damn it.
No chance to escape—now Second Prince Rainer blocked my path.
I wanted to just leave, but I couldn't ignore a prince, so smile for now.
Smile, smile....
"Coming out of big brother's room—have you already decided to side with him?"
Rainer was a bulldozer.
I immediately bowed my head to his pushing question.
Whether affirming or denying, it'd be a hassle either way.
"I'm sorry, but I can't discuss the contents of our conversation."
"You've got principles. Good—people need spirit and principles. I wasn't really that curious anyway."
Then don't ask.
As I stood there dumbfounded, Rainer grinned heartily.
His gray hair and golden eyes were exactly like Clemens's, yet his impression was the complete opposite.
"I doubt you'd side with that frail brother of mine, but even if you did, I could just take you away."
Excuse me, am I an object?
To be taken at will?
"Take care of your health until then!"
Rainer clapped my shoulder hard.
His strength nearly knocked me over.
Honestly, I didn't care about that.
I hurried out of the palace before my ankle could get grabbed again.
5
"I never imagined we'd get an audience with His Majesty the King...."
Even after leaving the palace, Noel clutched his chest and muttered with a pale face.
He still hadn't recovered from the shock of the audience.
Leon nodded in agreement.
But only for a moment—he then glared at me and asked.
"Why did you lie?"
"Who lied? We won because you stepped up first and set the mood."
"You decided the order. Naturally, you have the most credit."
"I may have set the order, but you were the one who won. Just play the protagonist quietly."
You already are the protagonist, anyway?
Put away thoughts of escaping the protagonist's fate.
"Ethan, you too...."
"......"
"Ethan?"
"......Yeah?"
I turned at Ethan's unusually listless voice.
Ethan, following at the very back, was 180 degrees different from usual.
His always-straight back was hunched, making him look shorter; his sparkling blue eyes were downcast, half out of focus; even his swept-back hair had fallen limp.
What could I say.
He looked just like a rain-soaked puppy.
Though because of his size, a large dog would be the accurate comparison....
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. Just a bit tired...."
Ethan forced a smile, but anyone could see it was something.
As I wondered why, Noel beckoned, so I leaned in slightly.
"Ethan... seems to be bothered by losing the duel...."
Noel's whisper made my head throb.
Ethan of all people, looking defeated.
I had no idea what to do with this always-energetic guy.
"Let's eat first before we go."
For now, go with the most primal and effective method.
Catching on, Leon and Noel each nodded.
Ethan, his mind already elsewhere, showed no reaction.
We entered a nearby restaurant.
I ordered every potato dish on the menu.
Soon, the table piled up with french fries, potato croquettes, steamed potatoes, roasted potatoes, potato chips, and even mashed potatoes and alio cheese potatoes—every kind of potato dish imaginable.
It was a feast that would normally make Ethan's eyes spin.
But today's Ethan just sighed deeply even in front of potatoes.
This is worse than I thought.
Ethan not touching his beloved potatoes...!
This won't do.
I rubbed my dry face and steeled myself.
No choice but a direct approach.
"Ethan, what's got you so upset?"
"...It's not that. I told you, I'm just tired."
"Look me in the face and say it. Who'd believe you?"
Ethan started to retort but shut his mouth.
He knew better than anyone his state was off.
Still, he had no intention of saying it.
Finally unable to hold back, I lightly punched his chest with my fist.
"You said we were friends—why act like a stranger now?"
"......"
Haaah....
Ethan let out a heavy sigh and picked up his water glass.
After downing the cool water in one go, he rolled his slightly refocused eyes and murmured lowly.
"I'm the only one... who's useless."
"That's not true."
"Yeah...! There were so many dangerous times without you, Ethan...?"
Not just Leon, but Noel immediately denied it.
However, Ethan shook his head as if that wasn't the case.
"I barely did anything. Even that was something anyone could've done with the shield Memphis made. This time too. I really... was completely useless."
That's not true.
The Restraint Shield Memphis made is certainly an amazing item.
But no matter how great the tool, if the user is incompetent, it can't perform.
Handling the Restraint Shield well is purely Ethan's skill.
But even if I said that, it wouldn't reach him now.
Probably... Ethan had been wrestling with this for a long time.
Ethan Mertezacker's starting point began from losing his younger sibling.
He'd built up strength to overcome it, and now he'd gotten involved in various incidents with Leon.
But each time, it was me and Leon who took down the powerful villains, not Ethan.
Of course, there were countless situations where we couldn't have done it without him.
However, judging by results alone, Ethan hadn't racked up major achievements.
That's probably what was bothering him.
There's no overnight fix for this.
Given his personality, leaving him alone would let him overcome it through trials and adversities on his own.
But that's too cruel.
No guarantee he'd overcome it, and no reason to let him suffer.
Above all, Ethan had already rolled around plenty.
Rolling more to recover his self-esteem would be extremely hard.
So what the current Ethan needed was... more direct power.
Systematic, strategic, tactical power and knowledge to utilize his abilities.
That's an area I, Leon, or Noel couldn't fill.
He needed help from someone more proficient in real combat....
In short, what Ethan needed now was a competent master.
6
"So, could you take Ethan as your disciple?"
I asked as politely and earnestly as possible.
But Jin, the guard with an unlit cigarette in his mouth, recoiled in disgust.
"Why would I bother?"
"You're strong."
The reason I sought out Jin, who was on patrol, wasn't just this.
First, Jin was always in the academy, so no need to go out to meet him.
Also, by setting, Jin was a former soldier.
He was more skilled than anyone in the academy in systematic, strategic, and efficient combat.
Being a fistfighter type, he was perfect for covering Ethan's weakness after losing to the boxer.
Above all, Jin was genuinely powerful.
So powerful that whenever the academy was attacked, he always arrived late to the scene for some reason.
No better master than this.
Except for that personality that found everything bothersome.
"Not my problem. Go study or something."
Jin waved me off, his face dripping with annoyance as always.
Even if he didn't want to manage it, his roughly cropped short hair was always the same, his hollow gaze unchanged, and the cigarette he never lit stayed put.
Jin was the type who resisted change.
So I'd anticipated strong reluctance to taking a disciple.
Of course, I'd prepared countermeasures from the start.
"If Ethan gets stronger, it'll be easier to dump incidents on him when they happen."
"Ooh, that's somewhat convincing."
Don't get convinced by that if you're a guard.
That retort rose to my throat, but I wasn't one to say it after bringing it up.
"But nah. Teaching regularly would be even more hassle. What could a lowly guard like me teach anyway? Go learn from that swordsmanship professor over there."
"Jin, you're stronger than Professor Schultz."
"What?"
Suddenly, Jin's eyebrow twitched.
As if some switch flipped, he let out a big sigh.
"Haa.... This won't do...."
Saying that, Jin lit his cigarette for the first time.