Chapter 2 ◆ Shizuko and her friends' past and the dragon that begins to move
By the time I left the castle and returned to our residence, night had fallen.
It was quite late, but Shizuko-san and the others stayed up, waiting for me.
I told them about what happened at the castle.
“Hmm, ‘Hero,’ huh? They sure dug up an ancient title,” Shizuko-san said, her expression showing mild surprise but nothing more.
“Hero, huh? Nobody’s received that title in centuries, right? That’s amazing, Ceres,” Harukanee-san said, though her tone carried a hint of something unspoken.
“…That’s quite an extraordinary title they’ve given you. In some ways, it’s even greater than the Hero’s,”
Sayo-san remarked, her words laced with awe yet delivered casually.
“Exactly. The Hero is a title you’re born with, but Hero is earned through character and deeds. It means the king acknowledges Ceres-chan… But the underlying implication is that, in exchange for the kingdom’s protection, they want to secure you as their exclusive asset,” Misaki-san explained.
Everyone seemed to grasp the weight of her words.
They understood the prestige of the “Hero” title but also recognized its darker implication: being used by the kingdom. That’s likely why their reactions were so measured.
After some discussion, we concluded… to wait and see.
“Ceres-kun, having a powerful backer will be important in the future. But I don’t think you need to commit to the Zamaal Kingdom just yet,” Shizuko-san advised.
“They’ve started moving to secure you, Ceres. It Ascendants probably won’t be surprised to learn that the Holy Nation of Gandar and the Garban Empire might come with offers too,” Harukanee-san added.
“Exactly. Being S-rank alone makes you highly sought after. Add Dragonslayer and the Hero title to that… This is going to be a big deal,” Sayo-san said.
“When we were S-rank, we got all sorts of offers too. For now, we just wait and see. Once all the conditions are laid out, then we can decide,” Misaki-san concluded.
They seem awfully experienced at this.
To think they can even predict how each nation might move—Shizuko-san and the others are truly impressive.
After a while, they started chatting with wry smiles.
“You all seem pretty used to this…” I remarked.
“It’s because we’ve been through it before,” Shizuko-san said.
“Nations usually dangle women, titles, or money as bait,” Harukanee-san explained.
“It got so tiresome that we quit adventuring. We had enough money and just wanted to live ‘normally.’ But refusing got exhausting, so we ended up escaping to the countryside… Brings back memories,” Sayo-san said.
“It’s like the grass is always greener. The village had its own hardships… Looking back, being a C-rank adventurer was probably the most fun. We were so young then,” Misaki-san mused.
With that, the four of them dove into lively reminiscing.
They’re right—waiting and seeing is probably best for now.
If I don’t achieve any major feats, there’ll be no noble title or marriage to a princess.
Besides, these four are more than enough for me.
Their close friendship makes this work, but harems aren’t exactly fun.
Take Zect’s situation: there was a clear divide between Rida and Maria versus Meru, and I had to step in to keep Meru from feeling left out.
Without my mediation, it could’ve turned into a real mess.
You hear stories about nobles’ wives and mistresses clashing behind the scenes, sometimes ending in poisonings.
Our group works because the four are lifelong friends, but the only other person I know who pulls off a harem successfully is Oakman.
Even then, adventurers often gossip that Oakman has “scratch marks on his face.”
◆◆◆
“Marianne-chan, huh? That takes me back,” Shizuko-san said.
“You know her, Shizuko-san?” I asked.
“Ufufu, Ceres-kun, we were S-rank too, you know. We’ve at least had an audience with her,” she replied.
“Well, we’re acquainted, but only in a client-adventurer capacity,” Harukanee-san added.
They say it so casually, but even for S-rank adventurers, meeting royalty isn’t common.
“Ceres-san, don’t you find it odd? The Balda Kingdom fell, yet Marianne-chan, who was married off there, somehow survived. And don’t you remember? The four of us went on that trip together,” Sayo-san said.
I racked my brain.
There’s a memory there. They insisted on a girls-only trip despite Shoot and Kazuma-niisan trying to stop them.
It was so unusual for our patriarchal village that it stuck with me.
Even more surprising, the village chief and elders supported it, saying, “Show some backbone and let the women have a carefree trip.”
“Ceres-chan, you’ve figured it out, haven’t you? We were the ones King Zanmaruk IV sent to rescue Princess Marianne from the demons,” Misaki-san said matter-of-factly.
She said it without batting an eye, but…
Rescuing a royal, even just one, from a demonic army strong enough to topple a kingdom?
That’s something even I, or probably Zect and his party, would find nearly impossible.
“Shizuko-san, you were amazed when I took down an Ogre King and thirty ogres, but… are you saying you’re far stronger than me?” I asked.
From what they’re saying, it sounds like they could pull off something similar.
Why do they look so surprised?
“Ceres-kun, no way… We’re not that strong. Among us, Haruka and Misaki are the best at close combat. What do you think? Could you do it?” Shizuko-san asked, tilting her head cutely and passing the question to them.
“Ceres, that’s a bit much. I think I could handle maybe half that number at best,” Harukanee-san said.
“Same here,” Misaki-san added, waving her hands lightly in front of her face.
Then how did they rescue someone from a demonic army that destroyed a kingdom?
“So how did you…”
“Well, Ceres, you’re strong in a head-on fight, but there are other ways to win. Look,” Harukanee-san said.
She swiftly moved behind Shizuko-san, lightly pinning her arms and pressing a hand to her neck.
With a sly smile, she said, “Ceres, kill yourself, or I’ll kill her.”
“What…!”
“Of course, it’s a joke. Sorry, Shizuko,” Harukanee-san said, laughing and tapping her own head lightly as she bowed.
“It’s fine. But you see now, right? Strength isn’t everything. Targeting an enemy’s weakness can bring them down. There are ways like this too,” Shizuko-san explained.
“That’s Shizuko’s specialty. Dirty tricks like that are for her and Sayo. Ceres-chan, you just fight fair and square…” Misaki-san started.
Suddenly, the smile vanished from Shizuko-san’s face, and I could almost see a dark aura around her.
Sayo-san, usually so cheerful, had a chilling, icy stare.
Misaki-san panicked.
“Oh, Misaki, that’s harsh. You make me sound so conniving,” Shizuko-san said.
“Exactly… That’s cruel… Maybe I should freeze you,” Sayo-san added.
“Shizuko, Sayo, it’s a joke! Just a joke!” Misaki-san pleaded.
“I know. Ceres-kun, you’re plenty strong, but there are many underhanded tactics out there, so be careful,” Shizuko-san said.
“Got it,” I replied.
That’s the wisdom of veterans. Political maneuvering is another form of underhanded tactics. I’ll need to stay on guard from now on.
Also, I absolutely cannot afford to anger Shizuko-san and the others.
◆◆◆
In the Underworld, Dragon Lord Bauwa was stunned by his subordinate’s report.
To see Bauwa, who never flinches, in such shock was a rare sight.
“Our kin are being hunted one after another!”
Having ruled the Dragonium Kingdom and the Underworld for millennia, this was the first report of its kind.
“Lord Bauwa, please calm your anger! We know of over a hundred of our kin being slain.”
Our dragonkind are rarely hunted.
Earth dragons and wyverns are called lesser dragons, but to us, they’re mere dragon-kin, barely sentient and hardly hunted by humans.
“How large is the army? Five thousand? Ten thousand?”
To hunt that many dragons, such numbers would be necessary.
“It was just one person.”
“Truly, one person?”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
A single individual hunting dragons? Such a being is unthinkable.
Only the Chosen Four—Hero, Swordmaster, or perhaps a high-ranking demon—could manage it.
If that’s the case, and they’ve chosen to hunt dragons, we cannot fault them.
For dragons are the strong.
Born as apex predators, the pinnacle of all species.
No race can defeat a dragon—it’s instinctual.
A group might overpower one, but to defeat a dragon one-on-one? That demands respect.
Even when kin are slain, we must say, “Well done, strong one, for felling our kin.” Such is our code.
This isn’t entirely wrong.
Be it demons or humans, only a select few can challenge us.
Even then, they can only handle mid-tier dragons.
At best, they’d fall to me, Underworld Dragon Bauwa, or my five Dragon Dukes. Heroes and Demon Kings are but trifles…
Thus, I cannot act.
“Let them be. Those felled by other races are proof of weak blood!”
“But, Lord Bauwa, among the slain are flame dragons, rock dragons, ice-water dragons, and wind king dragons.”
“Is that true?”
“Indeed.”
Those named are true dragons.
Lesser dragons can be ignored, but…
These are different.
The code forbids direct action, but with such losses, it’s a problem.
“Black Dragon, is Black Dragon here…?”
“Indeed, I am here.”
As always, he appears the moment he’s needed.
Black hair, black eyes, his human form that of a rugged warrior.
He could blend among humans and track this individual.
“Indeed, recently, a great number of our kin have been hunted.”
“Hmph… Those who lose to other races are no dragons. Why not let them be?”
“Even if it’s the work of a single person?”
“If one person defeats them, all the more reason to ignore it. Such weak dragons are irrelevant, no?”
“Even if a hundred kin fall to one?”
“What jest is this, Lord Bauwa? Are you saying the Demon King himself is hunting dragons? Shall I go purge him?”
“No, it’s not a demon—it’s merely a human. I’m sorry, but investigate, and if necessary… handle it.”
“A mere human? I’d never lose to one… Kill him, is that it?”
By our code, we must praise the victor. But we cannot let a man who slays so many dragons roam free.
“No, as dragons, we cannot openly condemn him. A dragon must show respect to one who defeats us one-on-one. Investigate and warn him. If he persists… I leave the judgment to you.”
“Understood. I’ll warn him, and if he doesn’t back down, I’ll do as I please. That’s it, right?”
“Yes. I’m counting on you.”
With that, Black Dragon vanished like a wisp.
Surely, Black Dragon, one of the five Dragon Dukes, won’t be outdone.
To think we’d send a Dragon Duke, pride of the Dragonium Kingdom, against a mere human, neither Demon King nor Hero—I never imagined it.
◆◆◆
Lord Bauwa underestimates my power, Black Dragon.
Is he growing senile in his old age?
To send me, who could topple a kingdom, after a single human.
They prattle about Heroes and Demon Kings, but to us “true dragons,” who’ve lived over five millennia, they’re mere insects.
Has he forgotten how, twelve hundred years ago, I slaughtered an entire kingdom, Heroes included?
Insect extermination… What a hassle.
No use complaining.
It’s Lord Bauwa’s request.
I’ll wrap this up quickly and grab a drink…
◆◆◆
Since Ceres left, we’ve been in a slump and requested to bring him back.
But that didn’t happen, and the Holy Nation took over the negotiations.
Exhausted, the four of us rested at an inn when the communication crystal we’d entrusted to the church began to glow.
This was an urgent message from the Holy Nation.
“Yes!”
Hoping for good news, I quickly grabbed the crystal.
The caller was Archbishop Loanne.
“Zect-dono, I bring a ‘request’ from Pope Romalis-sama.”
A request? Not about Ceres?
As the Hero, I’m considered a messenger of the Goddess, so it’s called a “request,” but I can’t refuse. It’s essentially an order.
“Archbishop Loanne, a ‘request’? Of course, I’d never refuse Pope Romalis-sama’s ‘request.’ Please, tell me the details.”
“Well said.”
The “request” that followed was beyond my imagination.
Behind me, the three turned pale.
Rida, as a frontline fighter, trembled with fear.
Maria tried to stay calm, but her face was visibly strained.
Meru looked on the verge of tears.
According to Loanne, a horde of dragons was surging toward us from behind.
And we weren’t to let them pass—we were to defeat them.
That was the gist of it.
“Why is this happening? I’ve never heard of dragons migrating in such numbers. What’s going on?”
“Reports say that Ceres-dono, now titled Hero, hunted a massive number of dragons around the kingdom. This is just a rumor, but it’s said the dragons, terrified, fled, causing this situation. Take it with a grain of salt, but that’s the talk.”
Even for Ceres, that’s unlikely.
Sure, he’s incredible and has hunted dragons before, but…
Dragons fearing a human? That’s absurd.
“Ceres is impressive, but I doubt dragons would fear him.”
“True, ‘dragons fearing Ceres-dono’ is likely false. But it’s fact that he hunted a vast number of dragons. It’s fact that dragons are riled up. And it’s fact that they’re approaching from behind you. Their path leads to the major city of Bushya. If you don’t stop or divert them, the people there will die.”
We’re out of form. We can’t handle a dragon horde.
Even at our peak, with Ceres here, we couldn’t manage this.
“Even we can’t handle that many dragons,” I said weakly.
Rida echoed my sentiment.
“Exactly… I could handle one, but multiple dragons? Impossible.”
Meru and Maria spoke feebly.
“My attack spells are limited.”
“I specialize in healing. Three of us can’t handle multiple dragonkind.”
“Is that so? You drove out Ceres-dono, Hero, for whatever reason. If you can’t defeat what he could, isn’t that a problem? Would that ‘Hero’ say it’s impossible in this situation? Even if it were, he’d say, ‘I’ll do my best.’ At least when he was with you, you never spoke such defeatist words.”
True, Ceres often devised strategies to save us from dire situations.
“Even Ceres couldn’t handle this,” I insisted.
“Sigh… Don’t disappoint me. I hesitated to say this, but many claim the Hero party’s achievements were all Ceres-dono’s, stolen by you. I believe you didn’t do that, but comparing your deeds post-Ceres to his, it’s hard to dismiss.”
“But…”
“If you can’t do it alone, coordinate with Bushya’s lord, the Adventurer’s Guild, or the church for support. That’s standard, isn’t it? You’re the Hero. What are your privileges for? You can borrow knights, request aid from nobles or the church. Don’t tell me you left all that to Ceres-dono?”
“That’s not true…”
“Good. This crisis involves countless lives. Act immediately.”
“Understood.”
We quickly packed, left the inn, and set out for Bushya.
◆◆◆
We arranged a fast carriage and pushed it to its limit, reaching Bushya in under three days.
Borrowing forces? Come to think of it, Ceres always handled that.
Will this be okay?
“Anyone here ever borrowed forces from a lord or church?” I asked.
Maria and Meru hesitantly raised their hands.
“I accompanied Ceres to the church to request aid. It was for special herbs, not troops, though…” Maria said.
“Come to think of it, I went with Ceres to a noble’s mansion once,” Meru added.
That simplifies things.
No issues, then. I sighed in relief.
“Maria, handle the church. Meru, the lord. Rida, the Adventurer’s Guild. Split up and secure aid… I’ll go with Meru to the lord.”
The three nodded firmly.
If we pull this off, something will change. With that hope, I hurried to the mansion of Bushya’s lord, Earl Buyan.
As the Hero, I was granted an immediate audience.
Ushered to the parlor, I explained the crisis looming over the city.
“Hero Zect-dono, Sage Meru-dono, I’ve heard the situation from the church and kingdom. I’ll lend as many knights and soldiers as you need. How many knights? Swords or spears? Soldier numbers? What’s the strategy?”
I’d left this to Ceres, so I didn’t know how to respond.
“Meru… You handle it.”
Meru’s face went pale.
“Uh, maybe thirty thousand knights? With spears…”
Her faltering plan caused the lord’s expression to shift to disappointment.
“This is a city, not the capital. We don’t have thirty thousand knights. Even with all soldiers and adventurers mobilized, we’d muster five thousand at best… Don’t tell me you lack command experience, Zect-dono?”
I’ve never done such a thing.
I thought being a Hero meant wielding a sword and fighting.
Honing my swordsmanship and techniques was enough.
I misunderstood that we four could fight alone.
Ceres once told me to read “books.”
To study strategy and etiquette… But neither I nor my companions did.
With no one among us capable of command, the knights were led by Earl Buyan, the church’s forces by Bishop Amil, a holy knight from Bushya’s church, and the adventurers by Guildmaster Bran.
We were tasked with reducing the enemy’s numbers as the vanguard.
◆◆◆
The four of us positioned ourselves on a plain in the dragons’ path.
“Zect, this is reckless. Let’s fight with the others,” Rida pleaded.
But we’re the Hero’s party, “The Light of Hope.”
We can’t yield the vanguard.
I’m the Hero—I can’t back down.
“Rida, I have my pride. I won’t yield the vanguard.”
““Zect!””
I was too focused to notice my companions’ expressions.
Dust clouds rose in the distance… The rampaging dragons appeared.
Kicking up plumes of smoke, they charged across the plain.
I drew my holy sword, Deoruf. It glowed blue, responding to me.
A Hero is a valiant one.
With a sword, I’d lose to a Swordmaster.
With magic, I’d fall to a Sage.
With healing, I’m no match for a Saintess.
But a Hero has something unique.
Courage.
A heart that fears no foe… That’s a Hero.
Giving hope to allies and despair to enemies—that’s a Hero.
“Raaaaagh! I am the Hero!”
I steeled my heart, charged, and plunged into the dragon horde.
I swung my holy sword, felling a leading earth dragon.
Using it as a springboard, I leaped skyward, slicing a wyvern midair.
As I fell, a rock dragon swallowed me. But I wouldn’t stop. Not like this. I tore through its throat and faced the dragon horde again, sword ready.
But then, I saw something unbelievable.
“Argh! Stay back! Stay away!”
Rida?
The “Swordmaster Rida,” who always dashed past my left, cutting enemies like the wind.
Now she was screaming like a child.
Her elegant swordplay gone, she swung her blade like a kid waving a stick, cowering within a barrier.
Beside her, Maria chanted frantically—
“Holy Wall, Holy Wall, Holy Wall, Holy Wall, Holy Waaall!”
As if she’d lost her mind, she repeated the barrier spell.
“Help! I can’t take it! Help!”
Meru must’ve fired a few spells—there was a charred earth dragon nearby.
Within Maria’s barrier, the three clung to each other, screaming.
Even dragons couldn’t break Maria’s layered barriers. Seeing no threat, they veered around and marched on.
But Maria and the others were paralyzed, unable to move.
The terror of being surrounded by countless dragons.
They’d rarely faced even one dragon one-on-one.
No one followed me.
I realized then.
Seeing the dragon stampede, Maria, Rida, and Meru reverted from Saintess, Swordmaster, and Sage to mere village girls, overwhelmed by fear.
Were their hearts this frail…?
I never noticed.
Isolated and outnumbered, I was still the Hero! I rallied my spirit.
But against such odds, I stood no chance. After felling a few dragons, I…
“Hah… Hah… I’m done.”
I dove into a nearby forest and passed out.
◆◆◆
How much time had passed?
Night had fallen, and the moon hung in the sky.
Right… The three…
They were in Maria’s barrier, screaming “Help!”
No dragons remained. Judging by the scene, hours had passed since they stormed through.
“Hey, Rida, Maria, Meru… You okay?”
“““Nooo!”””
Of course they weren’t. Hours later, they were still screaming, throats hoarse, oblivious to my voice.
Inside the barrier, they were safe.
I walked alone toward Bushya.
“Urk… Blech!”
The sight was so horrific I vomited.
The dragons’ path was littered with crushed knights and adventurers, bodies stretching as far as I could see.
Some were burned beyond recognition, others torn in half. Hardly any bodies were intact.
“Gruesome.” That’s the only word for it.
I kept walking until Bushya came into view.
The city was in ruins, flames rising everywhere.
Near the entrance, wounded knights, adventurers, and exhausted soldiers gathered.
Guildmaster Bran pushed through the crowd toward me.
“Zect, Earl Buyan is dead. So is Amil…”
“I see…”
“Give me back my mom! You’re no Hero—you’re a demon!”
A child with a hateful glare darted from behind Bran and threw a stone at me.
“Ow! Why’d you throw that, you little brat!”
I fought with everything I had… and you throw stones at me?
“Wait, he’s still the Hero. Stop it,” Bran said.
Even a guy like me…?
“But…”
“Stop it.”
“…”
Why… Why do you look at me with such hatred?
“Hey, Hero. Why’d you choose to fight?” Bran asked.
“They’re dragonkind. We had to fight.”
“Here’s the thing… We just found out those dragons were fleeing. If we’d evacuated the city for a day and returned, the area might’ve been wrecked, but… no one would’ve died.”
No one told me that option.
“But the church told me…”
“I checked with the church. They didn’t say to fight, you idiot!”
No… The church told me…
They said to defeat them…
Think back… What did they say?
“Ceres-dono hunted a vast number of dragons. That’s fact.”
Oh… Oh no!
They didn’t say to defeat them…!
I assumed if Ceres could do it, so could I.
It was my call.
I thought if Ceres could do it, we could too…
I misunderstood something so critical?
“If there was a plan, why didn’t you say so…?”
“You’re the Hero! The Goddess’s messenger. Who can contradict you? Amil and the church blindly believed ‘the Hero’s actions are infallible’ and gave orders. This is the result. Fine… You’re the Hero. But don’t come back to Bushya. I see you’re crying, so I know you didn’t mean harm. But those who lost family won’t accept it. I’m holding back too. My wife and kid are dead… Just go, and don’t return.”
I’m… crying?
“…Sorry.”
I had no choice but to leave.
◆◆◆
I returned to the plain.
Maria was still maintaining the barrier, the three screaming.
What are you doing…? There are no dragons left!
“Living the high life, huh? Drop the damn barrier already!”
I pounded on the barrier.
Blood dripped from my fists, but I didn’t care.
“Let’s go… Come on, let’s go! Drop the barrier, you idiots!”
I kept pounding, heedless of my bones cracking.
But Maria and the others didn’t snap out of it.
Even as the Hero’s party, they were just village girls until recently.
Expecting them to face this terror might’ve been too cruel.
If this had happened a year later, maybe the outcome would’ve been different.
We were too inexperienced.
When my fists were bloodied and shattered, Maria finally came to her senses.
I didn’t want to talk to them now.
But I had no choice.
“Let’s go…”
“Uh, Zect…”
“I…”
“Sorry…”
Rida, Maria, and Meru, now lucid, looked utterly drained.
But talking to them now, I’d just lash out.
“Don’t talk… Let’s go.”
They must’ve sensed my mood, following silently.
My life… is over.
I don’t know how many died, but it’s likely thousands.
The Pope, the church, the king—they’ll be furious.
We reached a small town.
I booked two rooms at an inn and shoved the three into one without discussion.
No choice. I didn’t want to, but I used the communication crystal.
It was Pope Romalis-sama himself.
Of all people… the Pope…
“…”
I didn’t know what to say.
So I stayed silent.
“Good work… That’s all.”
With that, the call nearly ended.
“Wait… Pope-sama… You’re not blaming me?”
“I won’t blame you.”
Why not?
Given what happened, I deserve any amount of scorn.
“Why? I probably caused thousands to…”
“They died on their own. You needn’t feel guilty, Zect-dono.”
“Why does it come to that? I…”
“I made a promise with Ceres-dono. So I won’t blame you, even if billions died.”
“What does that mean?”
“Oh? Ceres-dono didn’t tell you? It was when you failed a mission, and about thirty people died.”
That time…
◆◆◆
Once, I reprimanded the Hero’s party for failing a mission.
Ceres-dono sent the others away and faced me alone via communication crystal.
“A Hero’s party, and you bear this shameful failure! How will you take responsibility?”
“What are you, a bishop? Why should we take responsibility? The villagers’ deaths are their own fault!”
Ceres-dono’s eyes were cold, like a different person.
“Ceres-dono, thirty people died. Can’t you at least apologize?”
His attitude was unforgivable, and I protested.
“They expected too much and died. That’s it! Zect and the others did their best, and people still died. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Ceres-dono, that’s too much… Even I think so.”
So many died—it was unacceptable.
As Pope, I felt that way.
“Look, being a Hero is like roulette. Everyone bets their ‘world’ chip on Zect’s number. If you bet on red 1 at a casino and lose, you don’t demand the dealer take responsibility. Don’t like it? Don’t gamble. That’s it.”
Ceres-dono said it without remorse.
“Ceres-dono, isn’t that irreverent?”
“Then let me tell you, Pope-sama. Zect, his parents, and the villagers paid heavy taxes faithfully. They prayed devoutly too.”
“What does that mean?”
I didn’t understand what he was getting at.
“But when ogres attacked, five villagers died.”
“What are you saying?”
I recall raising my voice.
“Yet the lord wasn’t punished… It was just ‘unavoidable.’”
“I don’t follow…”
“Villagers pay hefty taxes. Yet when people die, it’s ‘unavoidable,’ and that’s that. The king and Pope-sama are the same. No one takes responsibility for deaths anywhere. Why should Zect and the others?”
“Don’t change the subject!”
“None of us want to fight the Demon King! You force us into life-or-death work, then demand responsibility for failure? Fine, we’ll quit being Heroes! Let someone else fight. Listen up! Plenty of people live happily, drinking and carousing, while Zect and the others get complaints. At least the dead villagers had families. They must’ve had fun lives…”
“Ceres-dono… What’s your point? I get that Heroes are mistreated, but still—”
I understood Heroes’ plight, but as Pope, I couldn’t condone it.
“If I were Pope, I’d end this war in a month. The Demon King? Easy to kill. You’re all lazy.”
“You could end it in a month, Ceres-dono? If that’s true, go ahead. I’ll take responsibility. I’ll cede full authority.”
If he could do that, I’d gladly give up my position.
His words were intolerable, and Archbishop Loanne nearby chimed in.
“Hmph, if you can, do it!”
Ceres-dono’s eyes grew colder.
I felt it. His usual gentle tone was gone.
“Fine. Call it ‘Operation Total War.’”
“What’s that…?”
“Simple. Make everyone fight. That’s it. Force villagers, merchants, prostitutes, nuns—everyone—to abandon their jobs and dreams and march on the Demon King’s castle. Declare, ‘By the Pope’s order, those who don’t fight are excommunicated. Deserters face excommunication and death.’ That ensures humanity’s victory.”
“What a horrific idea…”
That would collapse the world’s economy.
“Really? It’s an easy win. Pope-sama, Archbishop Loanne, think we’d lose? Four Heroes versus this—it’s a sure victory. Wipe out the demons, and no one suffers. You don’t need everyone—just the church’s followers would suffice. Let’s do it: all humanity versus demons. Guaranteed win.”
Ceres-dono said it with a serious face.
“That’s impossible…”
“Why, Pope-sama? It’s a ‘certain victory.’”
“It would ruin everyone’s livelihoods. People would get injured or die.”
“So what? Don’t you get it? You’re just pushing it onto the Hero because you don’t want to fight, lose money, or give up your happy lives. That’s why ‘Zect and the others are sacrificed.’ Isn’t it? ‘Livelihoods ruined, injuries, death’—that’s the life Heroes live for everyone else. They’ll keep living it. Just one month of everyone living like that, and the demons are gone. You said you’d cede authority, right? Let’s go!”
Bad move. I promised to cede authority, even if just verbally.
“Wait! I take it back!”
“‘I’ll take responsibility. I’ll cede full authority.’ You said it, Pope-sama! Lying’s not nice. Archbishop Loanne, summon the ten archbishops. Issue a decree to all nations: everyone—”
“Wait, we can’t do that!”
“‘Do it if you can.’ Didn’t you say that? I’m sure we’d win…”
“I was wrong… I was wrong.”
He’d really do it.
Ceres-dono’s eyes said so.
“I was wrong too… Please, retract it. If that happens… the world would collapse.”
Loanne and I had to apologize to avert disaster.
“You got me. I wouldn’t really do it. But everyone’s pushing what they should do onto four people. If you’re foisting it on others, don’t complain. A thousand? Ten thousand? A billion? Half of humanity—nobody has the right to demand responsibility. They live happily, betting on people who don’t want to fight. That’s it, isn’t it?”
We, living peacefully without fighting, have no right to blame Zect-dono, as Ceres-dono said.
I understood that clearly.
◆◆◆
“Ceres said that…?”
“Yes. He says when you return from battle and rest at an inn, he looks at the town. Why are adventurers laughing at the tavern? Why do merchants go about their business? Why do nobles live in luxury? In a real war, the whole nation fights. There’s no way they’d live so happily.”
I’m such an idiot… Ceres thought so much about us, and I…
“…”
“I’ve decided. Some archbishops oppose it, but I couldn’t counter Ceres-dono. So I vowed not to hold the Hero’s party responsible, no matter what.”
“…Is that so?”
“Then… Good work.”
With that, the crystal went dark.
I’m such an idiot.
I expelled Ceres, our greatest ally.
I don’t know what to do anymore.
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