Chapter 30: Artificial Hero

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/31/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

“I only heard it from the former knight-captain… from Owen, but you’re apparently a prototype of an ‘anti-Demon King artificial Hero.'”
“…Haa. Eh, artificial?”
“An anti-Demon King artificial Hero. A Hero made by human hands. Owen found you fifteen years ago in ancient ruins in Gernika and took you in, apparently.
After that, I heard he left you with a church he knew.”
“Nngh… I-I see.”
“My blessing is absorbing the Demon King’s mana. That’s probably why you malfunctioned.”
“…Um, I’m sorry. I know you’re talking about something serious, but.”
“What?”
“…Can something be done about this?”

I point at Kodama Renju, who has been hugging me from behind and pawing at me this whole time.
For the record, Katsuragi Arei has been blindfolded by Kanon, so I know he can’t see me pointing.
I know that, but as a maiden the way she’s using her hands is a bit scary, so I’d like her to stop.

“Sorry, there’s nothing I can do.”
“We do have the official reason that it’s easier to deal with if you run wild.”
“A black-haired long-haired loli is way too much of an angel, though!?”

No, um, I’m not a loli. I’m fifteen.
And height-wise there isn’t that much difference between you and me, is there?

“…Uh. Anyway, I’m that artificial Hero, or whatever, then.”
“Ah. Anti-Demon King artificial Hero Type-0 [killing Abyss].
That’s your racial designation.”
“That’s long!?”

Ha, eh? What, killing?

“Well, I don’t think you have to remember it. Your ring will remember for you.”
“Ah, you know about Ring too.”
“Ring, huh. Good name. That one was stored in the same place as you, apparently. And the handgun-type devices too.”
“I see… Renju, stop, from there down is no-touch.”

Not there. That’s a complete out, maiden-wise.

“Ah, I got it!! Type-0 and the initials KA, so you’re 0KA!!”
“…Eh? No, no, no way.”
“Ah, Owen said that, yeah.”
“…Um, could you get hit in the former knight-captain’s place?”

I didn’t want to know. A naming reason like that.

“Oi oi, don’t look down on how frail I am. I’m a man who almost dies to goblins, you know?”

Look, what is this person saying so proudly. Is he really a Hero.
I feel like the town watch would still be stronger.

“Well, older brother’s combat power changes drastically with and without his blessing.”
“Heh. And with the blessing, by the way?”
“Yesterday he brought down more than ten dragons.”
“Exactly seventeen, and more than me!!”

Seventeen dragons!? Dragons, those dragons, right!?

“That’s a proper dragon slayer, isn’t it!?”
“No, what’s amazing is the blessing, not me, all right? Don’t get that mixed up.
I’m just an ordinary civilian.”

Ah. I kind of feel kinship.
But still, taking down dragons and calling yourself a civilian is a stretch, isn’t it?

“Still saying that…”
“Arei’s always like that!!”
“Look, if I’m lumped in with you people I won’t last. I’m always betting my life.”

Kanon and Renju look fed up… is Renju fed up, even.
Well, they’re poking at him, anyway.

“Nn… and Renju, can we stop with the hands already. Seriously, wait, hey!”
“Oi, Kanon, isn’t this getting extremely, you know?”
“It’s all right. Just barely.”
“I said no, Renju… I told you to sto—”

I fire.

“Uwah that’s scary I got shot just now!?”
“I didn’t think you’d dodge. Tch.”
“Whoa, a dirty loli isn’t bad either!!”
“Oi, Kanon. Stop them for now.”
“What, Kanon’s joining in too!? All right, bring it!!”
“Eh, wait, sto—”

○○○○○○○○

Please wait a moment.

○○○○○○○○

Oh. So this is what it’s like when you get dangled by the collar.
First time I’ve seen it happen to someone else.

“Again. Anything else you want to ask?”
“Hah, hah… no, not for now.”
“Haa, haa… I’ll have older brother stay at the royal castle for a while, so please come if something comes up.”
“Thank you… but Renju will be there too, right?”

If this person’s there I might hesitate a bit.

“…It’s all right. I’ll punish her later.”
“For real, hyahoo, bring it!!”
“Arei, could you lift her a little higher. I’ll put a hole in her.”

I draw a handgun from the holster.

“I’m sorry!!”
“…If you do it again I’ll get angry.”
“Yeees!!”

Nmuu. Renju isn’t a bad person, I don’t think… but she might be a bit dangerous. Maiden-wise.

“Ah, right. Arei, that ancient ruin just now—do you know where it is?”
“Ah, I’ve been once. Right near the old Demon King castle.”
“I see. Around the old Demon King castle.”

So that’s the northern continent, Gernika.
Nnh. I want to go, but it’s far…
Well, if I go by air it shouldn’t take half a day.
I’ll think about it a bit.

“Then I should be going.”
“Ah. Last thing: don’t talk about this much around people. Especially the bigwigs, that’s bad.
Worst case, a bounty gets put on you.”
“…Yes. Thank you very much. See you.”

I wave big and leave the room.

○○○○○○○○

Back at the inn, I burrow into bed at once.

“—Ouka. Are you all right?”
“…Nn, a bit. It’s harder than I thought, I guess.”

I hide my face with both arms.

“—Ouka.”
“I’m not human, they said. I thought I wasn’t ordinary, but I’m a made thing. Ahaha. Same as you, Ring.”

I laugh. But my voice was shaking.

“—”
“Fuguu… ah, haha, sorry. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

But right now, I can’t.

“—Ouka. Right now there’s only me here. You don’t have to hold it in.”
“…………Yeah. Thanks.”

The next morning my eyes were swollen like crazy, so it took a while before I could leave the inn.