CH 14

Chapter 14: - Victory Is Not About Winning, It’s About Achieving an Objective.

“Hello, my Hero friend. I was wondering if you might be looking for someone to fill a position. Would you be interested in the best porter and strongest swordsman?”

“What?”

I grinned and Alexis gave me a skeptical look. He was a gentle man of twenty-four with soft blond hair. Alongside his cool appearance, he also had a commanding presence. He was about two fingers taller than me. If we stood side by side, I bet Alexis would feel bigger than me. … Just him being there was enough to overwhelm others. The very image of a hero.

Yes, this feeling. I missed it. With that thought in mind, I slowly wrapped my hand around the hilt of the sword I wore on my waist. Yes, there was no need to hesitate. If I had two strengths, I should appeal to both of them.

“… Just to warn you, though. I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but if you do pull your sword out, I won’t show any mercy, okay?”

“Of course. However, if you don’t, you won’t know how strong I am, will you?”

“Hah … I get it. It’s one of the roles of a hero to let a misunderstood man like you know the reality. There’s no such thing as being too strong.”

In response to my provocation, Alexis sighed and pulled out his sword. His tone was more polite than the first time we had bumped into each other unexpectedly, but I had traveled with him and I could tell. This was a guy who was really pissed off.

By the way, if I suddenly drew my sword in the street, the guards would come flying at me in a blink of an eye and take me down. The only exception to this was when the person I was facing was Alexis. The title of “Hero” he carried with had a myriad of privileges as well as obligations, one of which was the need to demonstrate one’s strength by accepting challenges from any and all people at any time.

This duty, in theory, existed to “prevent those without power from using the title of brave to do as they please,” but in fact, by “giving everyone the opportunity to defeat the brave.” By “giving”, it became a message from the countries that “You can’t legally sue and seize the strongest and bravest of the hero, so if that’s what you think, you’re on your own.”…. Well, that was it.

“Then, as a thank you for accepting the match, I’ll give you the first move, hero?”

“…… He~e?”

The edge of Alexis’ lips lifted at my words. Oh, he really is pissed off, huh? He has to be. If I did not get my abilities recognized in front of a crowd of people like this, I would not be able to join the hero’s party as an equa――!?

“Oh, shit!”

“… Do you want to stop now?”

I barely blocked Alexis’ sword with my own, as he closed in on me in an instant with no sound and no movement. Yes, barely. Because …

(Oh man, this iron sword is even shabbier than I imagined!)

The iron sword I held in my hand was the one I used when I was an ordinary mercenary in my original world. It was reasonably priced and had reasonable performance. It was impossible for my iron sword to take Alexis’ sword—a holy sword that apparently used to be stuck in a rock somewhere—head on.

(Ugh, if I was unable to block a perfect strike by even a hair, my sword would break in an instant, What should I do?)

“…, what’s up? Will you come from there this time? “

“Hmm? Ah, yeah. Yeah, … well, I’ll go lightly then.”

This time, I slashed at Alexis, who couldn’t possibly know my inner turmoil. However, my sword’s stance was not one of killing the enemy, but one of being very careful not to break the sword. As I unleashed a barrage of wild strikes, Alexis defended with his holy sword.

“Nice speed …, but as the saying goes, the blows are too light. You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“No way! But you see, … I can’t let the hero get hurt, right?”

“I mean, how could someone like you hurt me? You mean you really believe you can hurt me?”

Ah, Alexis got really pissed. This might be a bit of a bad idea … in terms of swords.

“Very well. If you have that much confidence in yourself, … let me show you a part of the power of the hero!”

As soon as he said that, Alexis, who had taken a large distance from me, raised the holy sword above his head. Then, a light slowly appeared on the blade, and Alexis, who was holding it at a high level, swung the sword straight down on the spot.

“Take that, [Moonscraper]!”

“What?!”

You Idiot?! If I dodge this, it’ll hit the civilians behind me!, I won’t avoid it. Since his magical power made the slashes fly…, that was, the essence of the technique was a physical attack, it could be easily nullified by using [Invisible]…… No, I see. In this form!

“Huh!”

What flew at me was a slash as round as a crescent moon. Therefore, I held my sword at a lower stance and swung it like I was scooping up. Then, the shining blade suddenly changed its trajectory upward and passed over my head, and was sucked into the blue sky.

At the same time, my iron sword, which I loved in my original world, snapped with a high-pitched sound. It was quite a close call, but it managed to get the last job done.

“What were …  you thinking!!! What would have happened if I hadn’t prevented――”

“Huh. What a foolish thing to say. Do you think I don’t think that much?”

“Hahaha! That’s right, kid!”

As Alexis brushed his blonde hair back, I heard another familiar voice from behind me. I hurriedly turned around and there stood a shirtless, muscular, middle aged man with a huge body measuring 190 centimeters and a shining head. He must have been over 40 years old, but his body showed no signs of weakening.

“If it was a serious blow from the hero, I don’t see how my muscles could be damaged by such a small attack! I’ve put up a barrier around the perimeter just in case the kid does something crazy.”

” old man Gonzo No .., the warrior monk Gonzo-sama!”

“Oh, what? You know me too, kid? If you know me, you should put some muscle on your poor body right now. Faith is muscle!”

“Yeah, … no, I’ll pass on that.”

I wonder what it was. It had been almost a hundred years since I had seen him, and yet I didn’t feel any discomfort at all in this exchange. I think the fact that it was the first hero’s party I joined left a strong impression on me. Of course, there was also the intensity of the person himself.

“Mou~! What are you two doing?!”

“…………”

It was the third new voice I heard. My body involuntarily stiffened at the words of my last companion, who I hadn’t seen in a hundred years and a day. She had a petite body of about 160 centimeters and sunny yellow hair that was slightly redder than Alexis’ blonde hair. Her jade-green eyes were filled with the curiosity of life, and just staring into them made my chest tighten as if it would burst.

“Alexis! I was wondering why you didn’t come back. What are you doing here?!”

“Ha~, look what you got to say, ……, as usual, I’m just giving the common people who don’t know their place a little taste of my awesomeness.”

“What’s little!!? You even used the power of the holy sword …. Hey, you. Are you okay?”

Alexis shrugged his shoulders as he sheathed his holy sword, and Tia replied in a stunned voice before approaching me. That worried look in the corner of her eyes was a face I had seen countless times during the adventure that began and ended here.

“Tia …”

“What? How do you know my name? Do I know you by any chance?”

I couldn’t help but call out her name, and Tia tilted her head in confusion. Even though it was the second time for me, it was the first time for Tia. I hurriedly came up with a good excuse.

“Ah!? No, that’s … The friends and the party members of the Hero’s party are admired by everyone. I mean, I know the names at least…”

“Ahー, I see. That’s right. It’s not like I’m keeping my name a secret. Well, let me introduce myself again! I’m Lunartia, a spirit magic user who’s on a journey with Alexis to defeat the Demon Lord. Nice to meet you!”

“Ah, yes. I’m Ed …, a traveling swordsman and porter.”

“So, you’re Ed! Nice to meet you, Ed. … Aside from being a swordsman, you’re also a porter?”

I shook hands with Tia, which she held out to me with her face tilted in a cute way. When my fingers intertwined with her slender fingers, I could feel a definite warmth in my palm.

Ah, she’s alive. Tia is alive and smiling. …

“Eh!? Wait, wait!! Why are you crying!?”

“Eh?”

I placed my hand on my cheek as Tia’s eyes widened in shock. Evidently, I had been crying without knowing it.

“No, this is …… Ah, see! I didn’t expect the member of the hero’s party to call me by my name, and I was so happy that I burst into tears.”

“Ehh, that’s it?!! W-What should I do? W-What am I supposed to do?”

“Haha, I’m sure it will stop soon, don’t worry about it. Oh, but, yes, …. if you want …”

“What?”

“That, …, could you say my name one more time, please?”

“Name? Okay … Ed?”

“…. Yes!”

“Fufu, You are funny, Ed!”

Tia smiled innocently at me, and I smiled back as best I could while tears distorted my vision.