Chapter 127
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Hero Stops the Demon King. (4)
Eventually, starting with Lin—who had spoken up first—followed by Scarlett, Jenny, and Mersen,
it was decided that they would stand watch with me in that order.
"By the way... why is Sir Mersen...?"
"Ah, I also want to stay up all night with the Saint and hear some good stories."
Good stories?
I didn't know any stories that good—ones worth sharing alone during watch duty.
"Anyway, it's me and Instructor Kane on watch this time, so everyone else, go get some sleep!"
Lin, brimming with excitement, shooed everyone away.
Scarlett grumbled a bit,
but it was already decided, and it was her turn next anyway, so she didn't complain much.
"Finally, just the two of us with Instructor Kane."
"It seems that way, Miss Lin."
It had definitely been a while since we'd been alone together.
Things had been so busy lately, after all.
"It shouldn't be too dangerous, so let's just relax and chat to pass the time."
She blushed and nodded shyly as I smiled and spoke.
I could understand why Jenny had said she wanted to stand watch with me again.
We had stood watch together before, but...
At that time, we had to stay alert for those doctors, so we hadn't really been able to talk much.
"Will things finally become peaceful now?"
Miss Lin asked as if she could hardly believe the idea of peace.
"Once we deliver the image crystal, the Empire will start dealing with the Mera Alliance in earnest."
The moment the image crystal became known,
the Mera Alliance would become the public enemy of every nation.
A subjugation force led by the Empire would be formed,
and without their leader, they'd be easily crushed.
Once that happened, true peace would finally arrive.
With the masterminds behind the Demon King's revival gone, all traces of them could be erased...
No one would be left to carry on those evil cursed traditions.
"Once peace arrives, will heroes and champions become unnecessary?"
"Who knows. Even if the demon worshippers are gone, that doesn't mean everything else disappears."
The peace we were talking about was a world without demon worshippers.
A world where heroes no longer had to worry about dying young.
So even if the demon worshippers vanished, monsters wouldn't.
In the end, heroes, champions,
and adventurers would still be needed.
Of course, far fewer people would be born with a great sense of duty than before.
"You think so?"
"Yes. So don't worry too much."
Lin had already been abandoned once before.
So she must have been dwelling on her own usefulness more than most.
"Yeah... But now that I think about it, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if heroes and champions became completely unnecessary."
Suddenly?
"If they're not needed, it means the world is that peaceful."
"True enough."
"And... then I could spend even more time with Instructor Kane... right?"
Lin covered her flushed cheeks and flashed a radiant smile.
"In that sense... yeah, it would be nice."
I might lose my job if the world became completely peaceful and even adventurers weren't needed anymore...
but honestly, I thought such a world would be great.
I wouldn't have to worry about something happening to the people I cared about.
We could just keep living peaceful daily lives together.
"I hope that happens..."
I replied as I watched her murmur softly to herself.
"Yeah, me too. That would be nice."
Our smiling gazes met in perfect peace.
"When that time comes... could I call you not 'Instructor Kane,' but... Big Brother...?"
She averted her eyes shyly and spoke in a tiny voice.
Did she want to call me Big Brother?
"Sure, of course. You could even start calling me that right now."
"Eek! B-But, uh, I'm not... r-ready yet..."
She had brought it up herself,
but seeing her overcome with embarrassment and nearly collapsing, I could only smile.
"Miss Lin, you're really cute."
"...! M-Me? Me...?"
"Yes, you, Miss Lin."
"Hah... Uh..."
Any more, and she might really overload and faint...
So I decided to call it a night.
"This is weird. Really weird."
After our watch ended and we woke up from sleep,
Scarlett started speaking with a very serious expression.
"Did something happen while I was asleep with Lin, Miss Scarlett?"
I quickly asked, wondering if something had gone wrong while we were out.
"No, why does everyone come back from watch with Big Brother looking so happy?!"
...Oh, that was it.
"L-Look at Lin's goofy grin!"
Goofy grin...?
She was just smiling. Scarlett was the one exaggerating.
"Oh my, are you jealous?"
And now Lin was firing back.
I cut in before it turned into total chaos again.
"Alright, let's get moving. His Majesty must be waiting anxiously."
The good thing was, they all listened to me.
Even in the middle of arguing, if I spoke up like this, they'd pack without complaint and prepare to depart.
"We slept until midday... We won't cover much ground today."
We could travel at night if needed.
Night brought more dangerous monsters than day, but...
With our group, monsters were nothing to fear.
Still, we insisted on stopping at night to sleep...
Honestly, now that the chairman and doctors were dead, there was no real rush to reach the Empire.
There was no reason to push ourselves with forced marches.
"Hehe, then we can take it slow and stick right by Big Brother~"
Jenny finished packing first, came over, and plastered herself to my side.
"Whoa, Jenny's quick on the draw..."
Scarlett, who finished right after, stared at her in disbelief.
"She's turned into a total pushover...!"
Lin looked annoyed too, but there was no real friction.
We were just walking, after all...
There was plenty of room for everyone beside or behind me.
"Sigh... Instructor Kane's back looks so cool too..."
I'd wondered why Lin insisted on standing behind me...
But then weird murmurs kept coming from back there.
"A real man has a strong back... That back... Hah..."
...Is that why she was back there?
"Hehe, Big Brother's arms are so firm now!"
Jenny, who had been glaring at Lin behind me, suddenly grabbed my arm and started kneading it showily.
"Ah, I've been training consistently."
"A real man has solid arms!"
Hmm... Why were they constantly aware of and checking each other?
Couldn't they just get along?
"Good grief, you kids."
Meanwhile, Scarlett just walked beside me without doing anything.
Maybe because she was in the big sister role compared to Jenny and Lin.
She felt more mature.
"The age difference isn't even that much."
Jenny pouted and retorted,
but
"Appearance-wise... it does make a difference."
Scarlett countered by bringing up looks.
"Hmph, what's so great about getting older?!"
Jenny grumbled, and Scarlett just chuckled beside her.
To Scarlett, this side of Jenny must have seemed plenty cute.
She was the little sister, after all,
and always felt like a kid.
"That little brat from back then... even has someone she likes now~"
"S-Sis, seriously! Stop teasing me!"
"And back then, you were so shy? Couldn't even talk properly."
"Eek...!"
Sister privileges were unbeatable, it seemed.
Scarlett had known Jenny since she was little.
Yeah, Jenny had been pretty shy as a kid.
"B-But thanks to that, I got to spend my academy days with Big Brother Kane~"
Something felt off about that phrasing.
True, but I was the teacher...?
I was the teacher, and she was the student...
"Yeah, and to Big Brother Kane, you're still just a little sister."
"You're one to talk! A total brute! Hahaha!"
"So what!"
The noisy bickering continued from both sides.
Not really bickering, more like...
Typical sibling rivalry...?
"Sigh... Such a handsome back..."
Meanwhile, Lin ignored it all and stayed mesmerized by my back.
"Saint, once we reach the Empire, His Majesty will surely bestow great rewards upon you."
Mersen was marching ahead, talking only about himself as usual.
Was this party really okay like this...?
"Anyway, to Big Brother Kane, you're just a kid!"
"You're the one who doesn't even feel like a woman!"
"Hey, a bold personality beats being a kid any day!"
Please... stop...
"Fine, let's just ask him! Big Brother Kane, say it! Me, or Jenny?!"
"Obviously me! Right, Big Brother?!"
Why did it flow like this...?
"Uh, well... calm down, both of you..."
"Answer quick!"
"Spit it out!"
...Um, so...
The wise way to handle this was...
"...How about we eat first and think about it after?"
A village had just come into view ahead.
We hadn't had a proper meal all day, so they must be...
"...Food..."
"Sounds delicious..."
Phew, crisis averted...