Chapter 233

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Incidentally, the title is similar to Chapter 227, but this is a new chapter. (The words used in that chapter were swapped)

Gashaaaannn!

A strange metallic sound woke me up from my slumber.

If I remember correctly, my body should have laid down on the ground when I went to sleep.

But now, I felt like my upper body was upright.

Someone was clutching unto my shoulders from behind.

Some rude b*stard actually dared raise my body and disturb my sleep!?

“What the f*ck do you think you’re doing, b*stard!?”

Just when I was about to exclaim my right, I noticed.

[! Hnnnnhghhh!?]

My words won’t properly come out.

The lower half of my face is covered with some kind of iron mask.

This must have forcefully put on my face.

I can still breathe through my nose.

However, this thing hardly allows me to breathe through my mouth.

[Ngghhhhhh!]

We should already be near the royal capital of Urza, Monroy.

Last night, we camped out and slept.

Just as usual, I slept in a place far away from the Sixth Cavalry.

(There should have been a device that would make a sound if there was an intruder!)

A device made from pieces of wood and thread.

""

When someone intrudes and their foot trips upon this string, the pieces of wood would clatter and make a sound.

I saw it in a movie a long time ago, and copied it.

(I didn’t notice the sound!? How is this possible!?)

[There’s no way that us, the Sixth would fall for that obvious trickーー]

A familiar voice came from behind me.

The Deputy Captain, Ferenoch.

In addition, I also noticed the other members of the Sixth Cavalry surrounding me.

(T- This is unforgivable! Burn up——-)

” “

[Ngghhh!]

The skill——— won’t activate.

That’s right.

“In order to activate a skill, I need to vocalize the skill’s name.

But because of this d*mned ill-formed mask, I can’t pronounce it!

[Hnnnhh!]

However, I still have the Hero’s status correction.

I should still have more abilities than most of these otherworlders.

Standing up, I tried to strike Ferenoch who was behind me.

However, my fist simply cut through the air.

[This is the extentーー of a Hero from Another World’s abilities huhーー?]

“Nfufufufufu...”

The soldiers started chuckling.

Even Radis, who I punished with my black flames before, sneered.

[Gyahaa! What a sorry sight you are, Hero-dono? Without that Inherent Skill you’re so proud of, is that all you can do?]

""

[...............!]

Anger erupted within me.

My head was seething with rage.

(This...... cowardly b*staaaaaaards!)

Feeling this rage within me, I glared at their Captain, John Doe, who is the only one sitting in their group.

I tried complaining to him with my eyes.

“If I report this to the Goddess, something dreadful will happen to you.”

“But if you stop this farce now, I may still forgive you.”

“Quickly order your lackeys to release this Black Flame Hero now.”

I don’t know if my intent was conveyed or not.

John Doe stands up.

He then started walking closer.

AD

The soldiers obediently opened up a path for him.

When John Doe arrived directly before me, he crouched down——-

[? ———-!]

———and unsheathed the dagger on his waist.

He then placed the tip of his dagger at my throat.

(This b*stard...... What is he up to now——–)

The atmosphere around him...... is unlike before.

[Hmmm!?]

[If I decide that you’re useless, I can get rid of him huh——– that was what the Goddess told me but...... I see. No wonder the Goddess gave up on you.]

[ ! ]

That’s impossible......

(I am......)

I was given a special mission by the Goddess...... A mission only I could perform——–

[A Hero who abandoned the other Heroes and fled alone after a few fingers were cut off by a Golden-eyed monster. It would be strange if you seriously didn’t think that the Goddess’ evaluation towards you had fallen to the bottom.]

[..............!]

[Well, perhaps, the Goddess had already given up on Tomohiro Yasu when she entrusted you to us, the Sixth.]

What in the......

What in the world is this guy before me talking about———-

[It was beyond pathetic that it looks ridiculous. In other words, you have been determined to be a hindrance to the other Heroes.]

[ ! ]

[The Goddess had judged that even without you, the other Heroes can still defeat the Geat Demon Emperor.]

That is......

That is that is that is———-

—-impossible.

[Perhaps, anticipating that a situation like this would happen, the Goddess had given me this mask for your execution. As long as you wear it, you would not be able to speak your skill’s name...... It doesn’t have much use for the S-ranks who have high status corrections or for those Heroes who don’t rely on their skills...... but it’s very effective on Heroes like you who only rely on your skills.]

There was no expression on John Doe’s face as he indifferently spoke this.

Even though it held no emotions within it, on the contrary, it scares me.

[Good griefーーOur captain’s hobbies are getting worse every yearーー.]

[The higher they rise, the harder they fall. The only way to deal with people like this is to allow them to be as arrogant as possible. That way, the pleasure of them down will be multiplied many times over. This fall is necessary to spice things up.]

[......You’re scary as heck, you know that?]

[Radis too, well done persevering.]

[The only reason I was able to persevere was because I was because I was scared of Captain. Captain is really scary.]

[Tomohiro Yasu.]

John Doe’s eyes turned back towards me.

Our eyes met with each other.

However, I could feel no hatred in his eyes.

It’s just normal.

Average.

The look in his eyes is no different from a random passerby who is just looking at some drama unrelated to them.

And they were a scary pair of eyes.

[You...... seriously thought the people of this world are generally stupid, aren’t you?]

[ ! ]

[I can tell by your attitude. It’s not just us, the Sixth, that you’re treating like a fool. You probably look down on all of us...... all the humans in this world. Well, in short......]

John Doe pushes the tip of her blade slightly into my throat.

I could feel pain like being pricked by a fine needle from my neck.

[You shouldn’t underestimate people from other world, you know?]

[However, it would be a shame to kill you too soon. We’ll have you tag along our travel for a while.]

The smiles on the faces of the surrounding soldiers were very sadistic.

Even Ferenoch and Radis...

The both of them were laughing.

Still with the same indifference he had before, John Doe continued.

[We’ll make this trip as enjoyable as possible.]

▽

[You’re quite a wreckーー, where’s the spunk you had back thenーー?]

[How unsightly...... Captain, it doesn’t look like he’ll last for long. His screams have all died down......]

[I believe tthat the fingers that were severed by the Golden-eyed monsters were attached by the power of the Goddess.]

(...............?)

[Let’s detach it again.]

[ ! ]

[Uwaahh, you serious!?]

[I’m not joking. However, only detach those fingers which the Goddess attached. I will not allow you to cut off any other fingers.]

[Hmmm! Hngghh!? Hmmmnhh!]

[Ohh, he’s starting to stir now, isn’t he?]

[Hold him steady. Ferenoch, you do the cutting.]

[It can’t be helpedーー. I’m not really interested in doing this, but, oh wellーー......]

[Be ready to stop his hand from bleeding as soon as Ferenoch is done.]

[Hmmmhhhh!!!]

[Gyahaa! What the, so he’s still fine and lively, ain’t he!?]

[Your tears are already far too late.]

[Hnnnnhhhh!!! Hmmm! Hmmmgggnnhnhhh———!!!!]

(S- Stop......! Stop stop stoooooop! Waaaaaaa!? Stop! Stop, stop! Wait! Waaaaaaaaa!? Sto——–)

———Thunk———-

▽

[........................]

Regaining my consciousness, I don’t feel the pain anymore.

I could only feel the vibrations, as my body was tied up.

Placed in some kind of sack——–

I’m now being carried by someone.

As a luggage, that is.

It’s most probably Ferenoch who’s carrying me.

[I wonder if you can successfully do this missionーー, Radisーー?]

[I’ll make it successful. If Goddess-sama judges that I did a job well done, she might finally confer upon me the title of Demi-Human! There’s also a chance that she would entrust me the management of some of the Demi-Humans we capture in the Faraway Country......]

[That Goddess is generous to those who obey her. That part makes her scary though.]

[She’s beautiful, kind, and has a nice body though?]

AD

[I’m talking about the inside.]

[Huhh...... Captain also had that side of him that’s the same as Goddess-sama, doesn’t he?]

[Well, Captain is someone easy to talk to. As long as you don’t go against him, he’s a reassuring ally.]

[Speaking of which...... I understand that the Faraway Country is a danger, but can we really just leave the Great Demon Emperor alone?]

[That will be for the Heroes to handle. Well, other than this one, that is.]

[...................]

[Oiiii, you still alive thereーー?]

Fwump!

[......Uuuu.]

[Still alive huhーー, I guess it’s thanks to the Goddess’ blessingーー.]

[Captain, are we not going to kill him yet?]

[Eh? No, what absurdity are you talking about? We’re not going to kill him. I’m a pacifist, I have a no-killing decree. Besides, it would be such a shame to end the life of someone who could simply trample on the lives of others.]

[Is that really so? Speaking of which, Captain———]

[Oya?]

They’ve finally arrived———–

The Sixth Cavalry.

When I, the Goddess’ envoy, confirmed their appearance, I sat up.

I had been waiting for the arrival of the Six Cavalry in the royal capital of Urza.

It was all in order to convey the instructions of the Goddess that was sent by a magical war pigeon.

Meeting the group a few distance away from Urza’s main gate, I delivered the Goddess’ instructions.

[I seeーー, so the Mad Emperor has revolted huhーー, I guess all the sanity in his mind disappeared alreadyーー.]

The Deputy Captain said, seemingly not surprised at all.

Thereupon......

[Hmph.]

The Captain, John Doe, snorted.

[Ehh!?]

My heart jumped in surprise.

Since when has he been there?

It was only when I heard his voice that I realized he was there.

He’s just as I heard, his presence was thinner than shadows.

If he were to walk around here in the royal city of Monroy in a different outfit, I would have thought he was just an ordinary citizen.

[By the way...... There is blood dripping from the sling bag that Ferenoch-dono is carrying......]

[It’s nothing you should be worrying about.]

[No, but...... I was hoping you could tell me if there may be some change that occurred——-]

[It’s a corpse. That should make you understand already.]

[May I see what’s inside?]

[...................]

[Ummm, I’m just checking......]

[You must be new to the job of being an evoy, aren’t you?]

[Ah, yes———, ................]

Feeling something, I lowered my gaze.

On the left side of my lower abdomen......

[Eh?]

—–was a dagger pierced into it.

I didn’t realize that I had been stabbed until I felt the pain.

[Ahh———- O- Ouch!? John Doe-sama, w- what are you!?]

[It’s nothing that you should be worrying about.]

I felt chills run down my spine.

I felt fear that I’ve never felt before in my life.

From such an “average” person.

I was so terrified———- that I could not speak.

[Please be relieved. The wound isn’t that deep. Now then, you should go for treatment immediately. As for the contents of this luggage———-]

John Doe said it for the third time.

[It’s nothing that you should be worried about.]

[........................]

How much time has passed?

I can’t remember.

I wonder how many days has it been?

During this time, I felt like a lot of things had disappeared from my mind.

My body...... is itchy.

One thing is for sure though.

I’m still alive......

Feeling like my consciousness is going dim again......

I thought to myself, how is it that I’m still alive.

[Hmmm, we should already be at the edge of the Demon Zone.]

[The landmarks left by the Heroic Sword doesn’t seem to be here anymore though.]

[......Say, Captain.]

[What is it?]

[Was it really necessary to drive away that envoy like thatーー? I’m sure that the envoy could have already guessed that the contents of the sling bag was the Hero accompanying usーー.]

[It was just my way of educating him a little. It seemed that that envoy was being a bit too curious. However, unwarranted curiosity kills the cat...... In other words, filled within that stab of mine were my good intentions. It’s a lesson for the future.]

[Captain, isn’t it just that you don’t like being meddled too muchーー.]

[That might be so.]

[Anyway, that envoy said it earlier...... but Mira declaring war on Alion...... What the heck is the Mad Emperor up to...... Hmm? Oya? What is that......?]

[......They kinda look like corpsesーー.]

▽

[Are you sure that these corpses were from that Heroic Sword?]

[The corpses have been devoured and were nearly shredded...... but it’s very likely that these are their corpses.]

[These are the Heroic Swordーー? That Ruin Seal had been defeatedーー? That’s impossibleーー.]

[However, just who could possibly......?]

[Fumu...... The group of corpses we found a short distance away were wearing the armor of the Magic Knights, weren’t they?]

[That’s rightーー, those were the armor of the Magic Knightsーー.]

[And then, there’s this...... This is a sword that was probably used by the leader of the Magic Knights. However, the crest on the sword guard has been crushed.]

[......What does that mean?]

[Putting aside armor...... Humans generally prefer to use weapons that they are familiar with.]

[Hmmーー? What do you meanーー?]

[What I mean is that humans use the same weapons they normally use. However, the people here wanted to hide their true identity. That’s why the emblems here were destroyed.]

[Does that mean that the Magic Knights deceived and attacked the Heroic Sword? However, how could they be stronger than the Heroic Sword......]

[It’s possible that if it’s the Mad Emperor...... or perhaps, even for the Brilliant Squadron.]

[Ehh!? Then, this was done by the Mad Emperor!?]

[It’s only a possibility. Nevertheless, this crest...... It’s at least possible to guess what the crest was before it was crushed. A lion and a lily...... Mira’s crest.]

[Then, Mira hadーー]

[We’re supposed to be here to conquer the Faraway Country, but this complicates things. Thinking of the talented people in Mira who can surpass the Heroic Sword......]

[It looks like the rest of the cavalry is gathering here...... Should we tell them about this?]

[......No, we don’t have to tell him yet. Well...... if the Mad Emperor is around here, then my guess was right.]

""

(......................)

What they were talking about doesn’t concern me anymore.

It would be better if they treat me as “luggage”———— as air.

No, perhaps, it may be better if they forgot I exist.

With that thought in mind, John Doe’s indifferent voice reached my ears.

[Nonetheless, if there’s some people that defeated that Heroic Sword...... As expected, I think we should move a little more cautiously from here on out.]

I still can’t give a definite date as to when the next chapter would be posted yet, but I hope I could update it soon. (I’m thinking of uploading it around next week)

In the next chapter, the story returns to Touka’s point of view.