Chapter 125
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: The Hero Blocks the Demon King. (2)
It seemed the fatigue from walking non-stop all the way back to the Empire had built up considerably.
Everyone quickly fell into a deep sleep.
There was undoubtedly also a sense of relief from knowing Jenny was standing watch.
She was a hero who could provide that kind of reassurance even in a situation like this.
"Big Brother must be tired too. You should have just slept."
"I'm fine."
I gave a smile to Jenny, who looked worried.
Well, of course I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tired at all.
Among everyone here, I had the weakest stamina, after all.
But even so, I wasn't exhausted enough to collapse right then and there.
"Still, it's been quite a while since we've been alone like this."
There was no campfire-like glow.
But even by moonlight alone, I could tell her cheeks were flushed red.
I gazed quietly at those rose-tinted cheeks and chose my words carefully.
"It has. Once everything's sorted out, shall we go on another date next time?"
She broke into a radiant smile at my words.
"Yeah! That sounds great!"
She'd been so small back when she was little.
Who knew when she'd grown up like this and learned what it felt like to like someone.
"If Marquis Harkur could see you now... he surely would have been overjoyed."
If that curse hadn't existed, Marquis Harkur would have survived unscathed and watched his daughters grow up with joy.
I didn't want such tragedies to repeat in the future.
Which was all the more reason to stop those bastards.
"But Big Brother Kane protected me in place of Dad."
"I didn't really do anything special."
"No, if you hadn't been at the Academy, I wouldn't have grown like this."
Looking back now, my Academy days felt like ancient history.
Back then, I'd pushed forward solely for Marquis Harkur's request and for Jenny.
"I don't want to go back, but it seems those times have become a memory all the same."
"Yeah, you probably don't have many good memories from back then."
"Does Miss Jenny?"
Well, Jenny had been the object of everyone's admiration at the Academy.
She must have plenty of good memories, for sure.
"Yeah. Back then, it felt like you were doing it all just for me... I loved that."
"Haha, I'm sure there were plenty of other, even better things."
"No, to me, that was the best memory of all."
She spoke firmly, flashing an endearing smile.
That smile, illuminated by the moonlight, felt incredibly warm.
"In that case, I'm glad."
So I smiled back at her.
With all my sincerity.
"Kane Big Brother."
Jenny, who had been smiling back at me, suddenly wiped the smile from her face and gave me a serious look as she stared into my eyes.
"What about your feelings?"
"My feelings?"
I knew exactly what she was asking.
We'd had conversations like this before.
Jenny had always been open about her feelings.
"Let's talk about that once all this is sorted out."
It might feel like I was dodging, but there was no helping it.
For now, I was too focused on the matters at hand to think about anything else.
Of course, that went for both Jenny and Scarlett.
I didn't dislike either of them, naturally.
They were all good people.
I liked them.
And I felt they were too good for me.
But regardless...
I needed time to think it over too.
"You don't dislike me... or just see me as a little sister... right?"
I shook my head without hesitation at Jenny's question, her eyes misty.
"Of course not."
"That's a relief. Yeah, that's enough for now. Thanks, Kane Big Brother."
She gently leaned against my shoulder.
The soft strands of her red hair brushed against me, making my heart race.
#
After switching watch shifts and getting a bit of sleep, we set off toward the Empire again.
Even though we'd only rested for about two hours, the creakiness in my body definitely felt lessened.
"Let's keep doing short rests like this from now on."
Of course, things could go wrong at any time, so we'd need to prepare for that too.
For instance, running into those councilor bastards who were probably still chasing us.
"So, what did you two talk about while standing watch?"
Scarlett sidled up to me and asked slyly.
"Hmm, nothing special."
We'd just reminisced a bit in that moody nighttime vibe.
Of course, it had been a really warm atmosphere.
I couldn't deny that the feeling had been nice.
"Jenny's face says otherwise, though? She's sparkling way more than before!"
"Must be from getting some good sleep."
She'd slept soundly, so of course her fatigue was gone and she was sparkling.
"No, she was like that even before bed."
"Was she? We just talked about our Academy days a little."
"...Hmm, somehow I doubt it."
Well, sure, we hadn't talked only about the Academy.
We'd also promised to go on a date...
And talked about my feelings for her.
But explaining all that...
Well, it felt a bit awkward.
Scarlett was one of the women who liked me, after all.
"It's true."
"Fine, whatever. If you say so that firmly, I'll buy it."
"Buy it...? It really is."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."
Why did it feel like I'd done something wrong, even though I hadn't?
"Looks like I should stand watch with Big Brother next time too."
I had no idea why everyone was so fixated on standing watch with me.
But it wasn't like I couldn't do it.
"Alright, alright. Time to head out again!"
As we were packing up to resume our journey...
"Hold on. Someone's heading this way."
Mersenne spoke up, as if sensing a presence.
"...The councilors?"
Jenny and Lin began assuming combat stances.
Scarlett drew the massive greatsword from her back.
"Sorry. This is my fault for suggesting we rest."
If we'd kept going for two more hours, we could have put more distance between us and them.
"No, we needed the rest anyway. Pushing too hard wouldn't have gotten us far."
"Exactly, Instructor Kane. No need to blame yourself over something like that...!"
"If you hadn't suggested resting, Big Brother Kane, I would have."
"Right. Everyone needs to recharge their stamina."
With everyone reassuring me like that, I felt a little better.
"So you were hiding here."
Just as we all got into combat formation...
Chairman Stick leaped out from between the trees.
The other councilors and Parus were with him, but no additional forces were visible.
Well, their goal was to kill us, not declare war on the Empire.
So they'd come alone, knowing that mobilizing large numbers could spark all-out war with the Empire.
It also meant they had great confidence in their own abilities.
"You guys are really a pain. If you'd just stayed obediently in the Alliance, I wouldn't have killed you."
"What nonsense."
Mersenne sneered.
"You think we'd let you live after we learned your secrets? Were you planning to turn us into half-breeds like you?"
The others aside, Mersenne had seen them summon demons and glimpsed their core operations—they wouldn't have let him live.
"Eh, use your imagination. It's a moot point now anyway."
Chairman Stick chuckled leisurely.
He thought they had the overwhelming advantage.
That's why he could act so relaxed.
"Alright, kill them all and make sure to smash that image crystal too."
It was absurd seeing him step back like he had no intention of joining in.
Then why chase us this far?
Probably as a precaution, but it didn't sit well with me.
Fine for me, but everyone here was a renowned hero or hero candidate.
"Looks like they think we're a joke. Ice Field!"
Lin must have thought the same, unleashing a wide-area spell right away to seal their movements.
"Even if holy power doesn't work as well on demons, it should be more effective than on regular humans."
Mersenne instantly drew his holy sword and charged, swinging at them.
Jenny and Scarlett followed suit.
I rushed in too, aiming to swing my dagger...
"Pathetic."
But Lin's Ice Field, which no one had withstood properly before...
"You really thought this would stop us?"
...The bastards ignored it mockingly and kept moving.
Half-breeds were said to be weak to slowdown magic, but...
This wasn't entirely unexpected.
These were councilor-level half-breeds.
The ones leading this whole thing.
Their proficiency and power were on another level compared to the others.
That's why Chairman Stick could stand back there, watching us with that smug look.
"Do better than that!"
"Entertain us!"
Their demonic, eerie laughter filled the forest.