Volume 1 - CH 4.4

“I have met many people in my travels, both rich and poor. Good and bad. Really, so many.”

That’s why Ares’ eye for discerning a person was cut above the rest.

‘So he is the same as me,’ or so Vannessia understood.

“May I have a word with you?”

“I was the one who asked you to come by yourself. Now, if I don’t follow my words after you showed your resolve, it would make me appear really uncool.”

Ares was reluctant but still offered her a seat.

Vannessia joined the table. However, Chloe, who accompanied her, stood quietly behind. The Brave’s companions also took a similar attitude of completely leaving negotiations to their leader.

And so, Ares started immediately, cutting short to the very crux of the story in an instant.

“It was a story of wanting me to kill the present generation Demon King, wasn’t it?”

Vanessa was incognito, and Ares and his companions were on vacation. Both wanted to end this quickly.

“Yeah, that’s exactly so. I have heard that you continue your journey to help people. Then will you not take on this request in order to save the world, to save those helpless people, those weak and those poor people?”

“I’m really sorry, but I will have to refuse.”

“May I be allowed to ask why?”

She didn’t think him to be cowardly. The more she came to know him, the more she became convinced of him. He didn’t appear to be someone of lesser stature.

“If it is you, you can hire Braves with a better track record than mine, and even as many as you like. How about you do that?”

Ares answered her question with another question.

“No matter how strong a Brave is, people who only move because of compensation can never be trusted. When they get into predicaments, they would leave their ground to save their skin. Since our opponent is none other than a Demon King, there is no way it’ll be an easy victory.” Without criticizing his disrespectful attitude, Vannessia sincerely responded.

“I see. I can understand where you are coming from.”

“Then all the more──”

“Just as the same way you said, I don’t really trust the royalty and nobility. When it comes to selfishness, there is no one more selfish than you people. Even if the world is overflowing with poor and weak people, you people don’t care and fall as low as taking until you satisfy yourselves.”

Ares answered Vannessia’s first question frankly and indifferently.

There was no hint of sarcasm or criticism in his tone. He was just tired of criticizing and had given up.

“HEY, WAIT A MINUTE! MY PRINCESS IS NOWHERE CLOSE TO THOSE INSECTS YOU ARE REFERR—!”

” Chloe, Please stop.”

Even though Vanessa was grateful to that faithful maid who tried to put her verdict on the words put forth by him, she asked her to keep silent.

Then, she asked Ares to continue what he was saying, what he did with a dry, indifferent tone.

“You have plenty of power and money to save yourself. So, there is no need for me to help you. I only fight for those who have no one to rely on but me. Those who only I am willing to save. Please take your leave.”

The words he spoke were soft, but the content portrayed was resolute. His smile, when compared, at best appeared tender and at worst unreliable.

However, Vannessia could not help but be drawn towards him all the more.

She was convinced that this man was a true Hero, one who was trustworthy.

“I have comprehended Ares-sama’s arguments very well.”

Vanessa rose from her seat.

However, it was not leave.

She put down the hood on the spot and exposed her true face.

The inside of the shop started buzzing.

Vannessia’s beauty attracted everyone nearby, not because of her well-groomed appearance, but because her radiance was so exuberant that it did not fit in a scene such as a humble inn located in the middle of a field.

Even without knowing her real identity, they couldn’t look away.

Looking straight at Ares’ eyes, Vannessia proclaimed loudly, without minding any of the careless gazes given by the guests surrounding the place (most of them being men),

“On the chance that you are able to chase and kill the Demon King, we will pay you hundreds of thousands of gold coins yearly until the day my life ends. It is not a small amount for me too, but I swear in the name of the Heavenly Emperor, my father and my name, Saint Vanessia・Rattle Kaleidesa!”

Listening to her, even Ares’ expression could not remain indifferent.

“Have you been listening to me properly? I don’t care about how much money you pay me—”

“Yes, I heard! Therefore, it is not to you that I will pay. I will pay this to the poor! To the powerless! And will spread it as far as my sight can reach!”

Upon hearing this, Ares’ expression changed again.

————

First, his eyes widened in surprise. Then, they fixed on her as if questioning the princess’ declaration. And lastly, his gaze that settled on Vannessia changed drastically.

There was certain respect in Ares’ eyes that had never been there before.

“Please forgive my numerous rudenesses, Princess Vannessia.”

Ares also stood up and asked for a handshake, to which Vannessia immediately responded.

It was that moment when White Maiden and the Red Hero joined hands.

“I will provide my assistance to defeat the Demon King Kengo. Please tell me anything you need and in order to proceed with the talks about it from now on, we will have to tidy up the place for now.”

[TL note: perhaps referring to the upcoming development]

“So, what is that?”

As Vannessia tilted her head, Ares turned around instead of answering.

Wondering what’s going on, Vannessia turned to look in that direction and became a bit scared.

The group of five ruffian-like men sitting at the table located at the far end of the tavern stared at them.

Their eyes were dark and muddy from the swirling miasma!

“Muihihi… If you look between the gap, that is the Red Hero.”

“To my wildest of imaginations, to think that we could also catch a hold of the holy saint-sama~”

“Gigi Gigi… Let’s bring their heads back to our place. It will be a great souvenir to our Mamoyo-sama.”

They were the same ruffians as before but laughing in a really creepy voice. As if they were no longer the same. From their mouth, which sliced open, jumped forth a long, thick thing.

It was a giant snake.

The tail, still rooted in the host’s stomach, twisted around the end of the long body and extended from the mouth of the ragdoll-like body. The sickle head then raised in front of them as if to threaten Vannessia and the others.

“Wha-Wha-What the heck is that–!?”

Chloe exclaimed in surprise and horror.

“It is the Asmodians who work directly under the Demon General of Greed!”

“Have you never heard of them? They lurk around here and there in the human world in order to hunt down all the Braves.”

“Moreover, as Asmodians, they are classified as advanced demons. But, from the amount of miasma and the pressure, they seem to not be the average type.”

The members of his party who noticed it later than him came forward immediately, becoming a wall to protect both Vannessia and Chloe.

However, Ares could understand from just looking at their backs that they were extremely nervous. Even though they were supposed to have experienced hundreds of battles, there was fear imbued in them. It meant that this demon in the form of a giant snake was a formidable enemy.

On top of that, the whole store was already in a panic.

Not only the customers but even the shopkeepers and employees were running to and fro, trying to find a way to escape the scene. And in the process, scurrying, falling and stepping on one another.

Even Chloe, who had never seen a demon before, was taken aback, and her legs lost their strength.

—————–

Vannessia somehow held her ground thanks to her natural courage, but she didn’t have the violent spirit to get through this ordeal.

Amid all this commotion, only Ares alone appeared to remain completely calm.

His face, though, had completely changed.

His childish babyface, which once had a sweet feel to it, had lost all of its gentleness and childishness.

He quietly raised his right hand.

Vannessia gazed in wonder-shock.

His hand got covered with a flickering bright red glow that resembled sparkling powders of fire.

The sparkles were quiet at first, but as time went on, they gradually became more and more violent and intense!

The flames of that red glow danced fiercely.

And then—

“HIYAA!”

With all his spirit, Ares unleashed that violent red light from his right palm.