Episode 12
“Something made a loud noise…”
There was a sound like something had fallen. In the sky, Elfride, who had been fighting monsters, had disappeared.
Did something happen?
“…I don’t know. The Saint will handle it.”
It’s not like I can do anything even if I worry. My job is to handle my own tasks properly.
“Kekeke… humans are so weak after all.”
A giant troll was mocking the knights who had fallen in battle, holding a club. The Saint had once explained to me about monsters:
– Every time a monster levels up, their strength changes drastically. For example, the goblins you recently defeated are low-level monsters, right? Compared to the weakest mid-level monster, the orc, it would take fifty goblins to match the strength of one orc.
So, a high-level monster like a troll can match the strength of dozens of orcs, which in turn equals the strength of fifty goblins.
That’s why even well-trained knights are falling before the power of that massive arm.
And, oh great, I have to take that thing down.
“I’m so dead, seriously.”
But thanks to the stronger blessing, I felt a bit of confidence that I could do something.
Power was surging through my body. It felt stronger than eating tiger cereal.
“Kekeke… huh? What’s this? You seem special.”
The troll noticed me first. With its ugly eyes glaring at me, it raised its massive club.
“Well, you’re still just a weak human.”
The club came down overhead. It seemed impossible to block.
*BAM!*
“…Huh? Did you dodge?”
It moved its eyes to track my movement and dodged my sword strike with an agility that didn’t match its size.
“Tch!”
It’s fast. Way too fast for its size. I wasn’t aiming for its body, just trying to cut off its arm, but it reacted even to that.
“You~re pretty good for a human~?”
The troll laughed, its breath reeking.
It still had plenty of room to spare. It acted like it had dealt with humans like me countless times.
“But you’re still just a human! How do you plan to beat me, a monster!?”
The club swung toward my side in an instant. Before I could react, it hit me.
“Ugh…!”
*BAM!*
I was sent flying and slammed into the ground.
“Humans can’t beat monsters like us… huh?”
But I quickly pushed myself up. Lying down wouldn’t get me anywhere.
It hurts like hell. It definitely hurts, but somehow it’s bearable.
‘Is this also the effect of the blessing?’
This is like a cheat code.
The troll seemed confused that I got up.
“What are you~? How are you still alive after that?”
“…Why should I tell you? Use that rock head of yours and figure it out.”
“…Rock head?”
The troll reacted strongly to the term “rock head.” Did I hit a nerve?
As expected, the troll flew into a rage.
“You little bug, you must have a death wish!!!”
“Phew.”
The troll lost its composure. But if I get hit by that club again, I’m really in trouble.
Dodge as much as possible, don’t push myself too hard. Take it step by step, stripping away its defenses.
I moved forward as the club swung. Instead, I closed in on the troll, and it seemed flustered.
*Whoosh!*
I ducked under the swinging club. Then, gripping the Holy Sword with both hands, I slashed upward.
The troll’s blood sprayed into the air. I had severed the arm holding the club.
‘Got it.’
Now, step by step. The troll immediately swung its other arm, but I was ready. I dodged quickly, and the troll shouted.
“Stop scurrying around like a squirrel!!!”
“…I’m a squirrel thunder!”
“What the hell are you saying, you brat!!”
The troll still threatened me with its powerful arm and teeth. But compared to when it was swinging the club, its reach was much shorter.
A shorter reach means it’s much easier to dodge.
“You lowly human brat!!!”
“Lowly? That’s the monsters. How dare a lowly monster call a noble human lowly?”
“You sure talk a lot! You’ve been busy dodging this whole time!!!”
Busy dodging? I was just waiting for an opportunity. And now the opportunity came. The troll overextended, trying to grab me.
I stepped back and swung the Holy Sword down. The troll’s palm and remaining left arm split cleanly.
As expected of the Holy Sword. Even a graze is fatal to monsters.
“Grah! I’ll kill you, you brat!!!”
Even without both arms, the troll was still thrashing wildly. Its massive fangs threatened me, but it was just the troll’s last struggle.
Trying to bite me meant it had exposed its neck.
*Splat!*
Blood gushed out like a fountain.
Damn, it splattered all over my face. Not just my face, but my whole body was drenched in troll blood.
“Ugh… this is disgusting. It’s so sticky.”
“Wow, wow!!! The Hero has slain the troll!!!”
“Huh?”
The knights and soldiers around cheered. Meanwhile, the monsters were slowly retreating in fear.
“The Hero has given us strength! It’s time to repay his efforts! Wipe out the monsters!”
“Wahhh!!!”
“Don’t let a single one escape!!! Slaughter them all!!!”
…Are these really knights or berserkers?
Anyway, the battle isn’t completely over yet. I gripped the Holy Sword again, ready to move, when a voice stopped me.
“Hero~?”
What’s this? The Saint was approaching me with a bright smile. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t mind, but the Saint smiling like that is a bit scary.
“What the hell, why is she like that?”
I’d rather she laughed arrogantly like usual. It’s scary when she suddenly changes like this.
“…What’s wrong?”
“Hmm, you actually managed to take down the troll.”
“Yes, you probably thought I couldn’t do it, but I took it down alone.”
You said you’d grant a wish if I took it down alone, right? You’re a naked squid now, you b*tch. As I was thinking that, the Saint spoke to me.
“You did well♥”
“Of course. I’m pretty… huh?”
I couldn’t help but be surprised when I looked at the Saint. She was smiling warmly, a smile I’d never seen before, and reached out her hand to me.
“You did great♥ You pathetic hero♡”
Despite her small stature, she even stood on her tiptoes to pat my head. Her hand, which should’ve been sticky with troll blood, didn’t seem to care at all.
…Why is she suddenly acting like this? It doesn’t suit her. I just feel like trash now.
“…It’s all thanks to the Saint’s blessing.”
“Is that so? Maybe. But you wouldn’t have been able to do it without your own determination.”
The Saint gestured forward with her head.
“You protected those people with those hands.”
“…….”
Hero. I still think of it as a burden I’ve been saddled with.
…But it does feel a bit rewarding.
#
“Ugh, um…”
“Elfride, are you okay?”
Elfride, who had clearly been fighting monsters, woke up under an unfamiliar ceiling. Beside her was Abel, a white-haired man who had recently become a hero.
“…Abel?”
“Are you okay?”
“…Why am I lying here like this?”
“I heard you fought a monster, defeated it, and then collapsed. The Saint told me.”
Abel pointed to Estelle, the Saint of the Solaria Church who was with him. Estelle’s gaze was oddly cold, but Elfride pushed aside her confusion and asked Abel.
“How did the battle go?”
“We won. Thanks to you defeating the monster.”
“…I see.”
Elfride looked at Abel and asked.
“Are you hurt? It looked like you were fighting the monster too.”
“Ah, no. I wasn’t seriously injured, so I got treated quickly.”
“I see. That’s good.”
Feeling relieved, Elfride slightly lowered her head, but then Abel spoke up as if he had just remembered something.
“Ah, and the monster you fought was apparently misclassified.”
Elfride couldn’t believe her ears. She quickly looked up at Abel, who tilted his head in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Misclassified?”
“It wasn’t a Leviathan-class, but a Balbatos-class monster.”
“…..What?”
For a moment, a memory flashed through Elfride’s mind. She asked Abel.
“Abel, are you sure I was the one who defeated that monster?”
“Huh?…I think so? Our Saint said so.”
“…..Saint Estelle, did I really defeat it?”
“Yes, you did. I saw it clearly with my own eyes. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Saint Cynthia. She was there too.”
Elfride looked for Cynthia, but she wasn’t there.
“Saint Cynthia is handling some post-battle matters on behalf of Hero Elfride. Since you defeated a Balbatos-class monster, there’s a lot to do. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her later.”
“…No, no. I must’ve been mistaken.”
Elfride pressed her forehead. Though hazy, she remembered being struck by the monster and falling unconscious.
But apparently, she had defeated the monster. Did the Holy Sword strike true before she fell?
‘…I’m not sure.’
If the memory were clearer, maybe, but it’s hard to recall the moments right before losing consciousness.
Still, since the Saint said so, Elfride decided to accept it as the truth.
“The Count is hosting a victory banquet today. Will you attend, Elfride?”
At Abel’s question, Elfride nodded.
“Yeah, I’ll attend.”
“Hmm, I see. I can’t go, though.”
“Huh? Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“Ah, we’re off to take on a request.”
Elfride blinked. She looked like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“We’re a bit short on funds. Need to earn some money.”
“…Ah.”
Elfride understood. The struggles of a rookie hero.
She had been through that phase too, back when she didn’t have much fame and was short on funds.
Of course, Elfride could’ve relied on her family’s wealth, but she didn’t want to. Levius seemed to have taken money from his family and lived comfortably from the start, but Elfride didn’t do that.
So, like Abel now, she had taken on requests from the Adventurer’s Guild.
“…If money’s the issue, I’ll give you five times the reward. Take the day off.”
“Huh?”
“Heroes are still human. I understand your mindset, but rest is important too.”
Elfride said this while looking at Estelle. She asked Estelle, who had been giving her a strangely displeased look.
“That’s fine, right, Saint Estelle?”
“…Sure. If you’re giving us a lot of money to rest, it’s good for us.”
But Elfride could tell. There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Estelle’s voice.
