Chapter 5

Second Report On the Path of the Hero and the Organization of the Party “FUUUUUUCK YOOOOOOOU!” I wake up in the cheap bed at the inn to the sound of myself shouting. Then the dim, lonely room comes into view. My whole body is damp with sweat. I get out of bed, my breathing ragged. I don’t think I dreamed last night. Or if I did, the cold sweat covering my body tells me it must have been a bad dream. “Hey, shut the hell up! You know what time it is?!” comes a boorish, wild voice from the next room. It roars through the wall like it wants to kill me. This is a nightmare. I feel completely awful—my body is unbelievably heavy, and my head throbs with pain. In the darkness of the room, I sigh loudly. Outside, rain pours down furiously, and big drops strike against the windowpane. I press on my temples, glare vengefully into the blank space in front of me, and cast status ailment recovery magic on myself. My headache and nausea dissipate, but my mood doesn’t improve in the slightest. “It’s all right. I’m still calm,” I mumble again and again, as if trying to carve the thought into my mind. After a few minutes, it feels like my head has cooled down, and I decide to take a shower. Maybe the anger will wash off with the sweat. “I’m sorry, Ares, but…could you leave the party?” After a few hours in the carriage, we arrived back at Vale Village, and Nao said he wanted to talk to me about something. We went back to the same inn. As soon as we arrived, Limis and Aria headed straight for one room, and it was just Nao and me in the other. I had an uncomfortable feeling about the whole thing. As soon as Nao opened his mouth, I understood why—that was the first time since we met that Nao and I were without Limis and Aria. The first time we were one-on-one. His words took me completely by surprise, and for a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant. I was the priest selected by the Church, after all. Of course, I have the utmost respect for the will of the Holy Warrior, but only under extreme circumstances would the Holy Warrior dismiss the priest chosen by the Church. Nao’s expression was as serious as always, and his jet-black eyes burned with determination. I hadn’t seen it coming. In that moment, I wasn’t angry—I was genuinely confused. “Why?” “Because you’ve become unnecessary. Limis can drive the carriage, and now I’m able to use holy techniques.” His voice was calm and unwavering as he answered my stupid question. I can’t comprehend it. He’s able to use only the most basic techniques, so how effective can he be in battle with the Demon Lord? The strength of Nao’s divine power is undeniable, but he shouldn’t assume that he can somehow manage to defeat the Demon Lord based on that alone. “Thank you for your help, Ares. Our personalities didn’t really match, but nevertheless, you did your part well. When we first met, I didn’t think you would be willing to teach me your holy techniques.” He said this with such indifference. My head turned awfully cold, and it wasn’t the coolness of calm. It was more like my brain had frozen because of how shockingly opposite his reasoning was to mine. Although I was still struggling to understand the situation, my mouth opened of its own accord. “It’s a matter of course that I would teach you what I know. Nao, my mission is to support the hero in defeating the Demon Lord. I would do anything to raise our chances of winning.” “I don’t like your apathy.” “Being liked by you isn’t part of my job.” There was no emotion in his words. I felt like I was talking to a bratty child. My brain automatically began thinking through the next steps. After fighting so many battles, it was trained to be efficient under pressure. “Do you really think you can be both a healer and an attacker?” “I can. I’m the hero.” “That’s just arrogant. It’s considerably difficult to manage both those functions, and it isn’t the hero’s role.” Holy power and magical power are in contention with each other. You can’t use holy techniques and magical spells at the same time. As your level gets higher, you become increasingly less able to attack without magic, which means you can’t afford to use holy techniques. The hero curled his lip at my matter-of-fact statement. “…I can at least do the necessary minimum.” No, it’s impossible. At Nao’s current state, it’s impossible. In the future, he might reach a point where he could handle it, but not now. Guessing something from my expression, Nao continued to justify himself. “For the most part, you’ve hardly used any holy techniques in battle. And I can handle the basic healing techniques just fine.” “No, that won’t work. If you’re trying to be both attacker and healer, you’ll completely exhaust yourself. Your speed in battle and the pace at which you level up will decrease. You’ll be giving the demons a weak point to take advantage of.” Nao closed his eyes as if verifying my statement and slowly opened them again. “…I’m prepared for all of that.” Prepared for it. His voice held the same conviction as his words. A steely conviction, determined to insist on his own way. Hearing that, I became indifferent to all of it. This was not something I could change. I don’t know the details of how he came to that decision. But Nao’s personality, his courage and recklessness, everything he had been summoned for, was encapsulated in that statement. His jet-black eyes stared back at me. How or why he’d become so foolhardy, I have no idea. But at that point, I didn’t really care. I may have the right to disagree with the Holy Warrior, but I still have a responsibility to follow his orders. That much is decided by my creed. The hero’s lips bent into a smile, but there was no smile in his eyes. “This is just between you and me, but originally…I had requested only female party members.” “Is that so?” “And yet, for some reason, you were the priest. If you were a devout believer, I thought it might work out. But in the end, although you were an excellent priest, you weren’t a good fit. The issue isn’t your ability, it’s just that I prefer women.” What an idiotic reason. Whether or not that kind of requirement is really worthy of consideration when the fate of the world is at stake, that’s not my call to make. “I have two conditions,” I said, holding up two fingers. I was calm, but I knew my eyes must look like they do when I face a follower of darkness. Not that I’ll be facing any more of them on this mission. Asshole. “Conditions…?” he inquired skeptically. “Yes.” I responded to him in the clearest way I could. This was the minimum responsibility that I could fulfill. “Number one. First thing tomorrow morning, you will find a new priest to join the party.” “…That’s—” He hesitated to respond. This in itself showed that he only had the knowledge equivalent to an amateur mercenary. If he knew more, he’d have been quick to say, “Of course.” “Healers are indispensable to a party. Without a healer, you’ll be annihilated.” Nao looked at me hard, considering it. “…Ares, you’re giving me advice as I throw you out of the party.” Bullshit. Bullshit. This is all bullshit. My head and my chest are cold as ice. At this rate, it feels like my heart might stop. But even if it did, I might keep on moving, unnoticing. That’s how efficiently my mind and body are operating at this moment. “Don’t misunderstand me,” I said without missing a beat. “I’m not doing this out of goodwill. I’m doing it because of my creed.” My voice was calm, and my tone was flat, rid of any emotion. “Your…creed.” “Unfortunately, I happen to be a devout follower of the God of Order, Ahz Gried.” I got out of my chair and went to pick up my battle mace, a deadly weapon used to crush demon skulls, which rested in the corner of the room. The colorless eyes of Holy Warrior Naotsugu Toudou followed me around the room. Nao wasn’t wearing any armor, and he didn’t have his shield or sword. I could have killed him in one blow had I wanted to. But to do such a thing would be meaningless. Mace in hand, I shouldered my bag and headed for the door. He apologized as I passed in front of him. “I really am sorry about this. And about that money the kingdom provided us with, let’s split it up by four.” A quarter of that should be quite a bit of money. I turned just enough to look back at him over my shoulder. “I don’t need it. Consider it an investment in your victory. You’ll need to buy equipment for the next priest anyway.” “Oh… All right then.” My head was so light that it felt like my spirit might fly out of my body at any moment. I suppose you could call it a feeling of emptiness. Just before I walked out the door, Nao said one last thing. “…Wait, Ares. You…still haven’t told me the second condition.” Why does he care about that? I turned to face him, grinning, and said the one thing that didn’t need to be said. “You have to defeat the Demon Lord.” I have no memory of where I went from there. I ended up in a room at some cheap inn. When I got there, I placed a transmission to the operator and requested to have a message sent to Creio explaining that I had been driven out of the hero’s party. Before the transmission was even cut, I tore off the magical tool, flung it at the table, and collapsed onto the bed. Sleep was like mud, catching hold of my ankles and dragging me down toward death, but when I woke up, I was calm. Yes—right now, I am calm. Now I see things clearly. That feeling I had when I was talking to Nao—I mean, Toudou—wasn’t calmness or resignation. It was an unbearable anger and despair at the collapse of all good sense. It’s probably a good thing I’d been calm when we talked. Had I understood my feelings then as I understand them now, I might have smashed his skull in. The hot water washes over my body. Although the mirror is cloudy with steam and water droplets obstruct my vision, I can still make out my warped expression in the reflection. The look in my eyes has gone from bad to villainous. I see the eyes of a man who would thoughtlessly commit murder if you caught him on the wrong day. The resentment I feel doesn’t go away. There’s no way it can. I did my best, so I don’t see my performance as the issue. What did he say it was? Ah, yes—he said that he had planned for an all-female party. At this moment, as I recognize that the resentment won’t completely abate, I also understand that it will lessen with time. Why? Because it doesn’t serve any purpose. It wouldn’t be efficient to dwell on this. Within the Church, the command of the Holy Warrior outranks that of Cardinal Creio. If Toudou tells me to leave, all I can do is leave. Even if that means abandoning my mission. “That bastard… It’s been a long time since someone made such a fool out of me.” There are no gods. Even if there were, I wouldn’t care. It’s been more than a decade since I realized that. So why not eat monsters and carry a blade? Why not kill and smoke and drink and sleep with women? Honestly, who gives a shit about the creed? I followed Amen Creio’s orders because it was business and I have pride. To be brutally honest, I wouldn’t have cared if my orders were to ignore the hero’s command and refuse to leave the party. Were it necessary, I could even carry out orders to kill the hero. I wouldn’t hesitate. I turn off the shower. Taking a deep breath to calm my mind, I massage the bridge of my nose. The hot water has washed away my emotions, and all that’s left now is a specialized priest, a member of Out Crusade, the Church for the Eradication of Heresy. I need to get in contact with Creio directly. What I provided yesterday can’t be called a report. I move to the dining hall and order myself a drink and a light meal. While I was in the hero’s party, I refrained from alcohol. When I considered the huge impact it could have on my clarity of thought, I didn’t feel much like drinking. When the drink is served, I bring the glass to my lips. I gulp down the amber liquid and feel the burn of it. I down the whole glass in one go and order another, then take the transmission earring out of my pocket and put it on my ear. The moment I activate it, a transmission comes in. It’s from the Church. “This is Ares.” “!!” Although I can’t see her, I can sense a change in her usual composure. “Ah… You are all right, then?” “Not really, but I’m getting along, I guess. Sorry for the abrupt message last night.” “Your physical condition appears to have recovered. I’m relieved that there are no problems,” she says in her typical level tone, though she’s a bit more talkative than usual. Perhaps she had been concerned. Another drink arrives, and I take a sip. Fuel for thought. No problems? There are lots of problems. Even though I’m out of the party, the problems are there just the same. “I will connect you to the cardinal.” I sense the change on the line when the transmission is transferred. The dining hall around me is noisy, but it doesn’t distract me. “Is that you, Ares? It seems you’re all right.” Although my being cut from the party is a significant turn of events, Creio’s voice doesn’t sound out of the ordinary. “I am, but the situation isn’t looking good. I think you heard from the operator, but I was dismissed from the hero’s party.” “Yes, I heard. How inconvenient for you… Heh-heh-heh, this is unprecedented.” He chuckles, but I can’t make out his feelings from the laughter. I wait for him to continue. He poses a question. “Ares, do you think Naotsugu Toudou can defeat the Demon Lord in his current state?” “You’re joking, right? He hasn’t even reached level thirty. His level is absolutely too low to take on demons.” The monsters that the party defeated in these last ten days were all beast types. Demons are not beasts. They are devils with intelligence equal to or greater than humans. That is an entirely different level of combat. We’re still in the opening act of this race against time. “Currently, there’s no priest in the hero’s party. I told them not to go out leveling up until they’ve found one, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to find someone right away. You’ll need to dispatch a replacement as quickly as possible.” A mage using offensive magic could be replaced by another offensive class, and there are countless swordmasters in the kingdoms. But priests are scarce, and their absence in a party can be fatal. Toudou’s own holy techniques still aren’t up to the task. Creio’s response is not what I expect. “Ares, your mission is not over yet.” “…Huh?” I respond, stupefied. Though there’s no hint of jest in his voice, what he says can only be a joke. “This is a trial. There will be no replacement. The Church has no intention of dispatching anyone else.” “…Is this some kind of a joke? I was discharged from the party on Toudou’s orders.” “To put it another way, you’ve only been discharged from the party. Do you remember your orders?” I can’t understand the point he’s trying to make. The number of priests is small, and among mercenaries, they’re even rarer. The longer the party goes without one, the more it will be like searching for a grain of sand in the desert. They probably won’t find one at Tuller’s, and given that the majority of priests outside of mercenaries are employed by the Church, the Church itself would need to act as an intermediary. Can Toudou defeat the Demon Lord in his current state without a priest? Not a chance. That’s like sending him off to his own death. As I desperately try to work out Creio’s meaning, he repeats himself. “Ares, recite your orders.” “…To provide support for the Holy Warrior Naotsugu Toudou and defeat the Demon Lord Kranos.” Simple and clear-cut. As I recite them, a bad feeling stabs through me. Defeat the Demon Lord. Defeat Demon Lord Kranos. Support Naotsugu Toudou to defeat the Demon Lord Kranos. “Precisely, Ares. To use your vernacular, defeating the Demon Lord is a matter of…business.” The last word echoes in my mind. Any devout priest would be shocked to hear a cardinal employ it in that way. “At the request of the Ruxe Kingdom, the Church summoned the Holy Warrior Naotsugu Toudou and furthermore invested in you, Ares Crown, as the priest most suitable for the mission to defeat the Demon Lord. Think of this as a transaction. The circumstances in Ruxe Kingdom are of no real concern to us.” If the hero heard how matter-of-factly Creio said this, I wonder how outraged he would be. He’s right, though—the Church is not tied to any particular kingdom. There is a division of the Church in Ruxe with a multitude of believers, but that is only a minor concern to the Church headquarters. Because Ruxe is just one kingdom. “We are the disciples of God. The point is that you need to win in the end, Ares. Don’t concern yourself with minor losses. The Church has already done all it can, and thus, if problems arise, they are trials put upon the warrior by God.” “……” “Of course, you should not simply observe the defeats of the party in silence. Please do intercede at appropriate times. Not to worry, Ares—if the destruction of mankind is imminent, another country will probably want to summon a hero.” “……” Creio notices my silence and poses the same question again. “Ares, you understand the meaning of your orders, don’t you?” The chilling question kills the heat from the alcohol. I already understood. My orders were “to provide support for the Holy Warrior Naotsugu Toudou and defeat the Demon Lord Kranos.” I bite my lip. “So what you’re telling me is…my part in this isn’t over yet,” I say, my voice stifled. The sound of dry applause echoes over the transmission. I gulp down the entire contents of my glass. I won’t be able to do this without a drink. “That’s exactly what I’m saying, Ares. Your comprehension is the best in all the Church. I almost wish I could take the head of one of these senile old men at headquarters and trade it for yours.”