Chapter 18 Narumi Honoka ⑤
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I ended up running away and coming back again. This is the second time.
The first time was during our very first practical training. Sugita-kun suggested we push further into the back, and as a result of us going along with it, we were attacked by a large wolf. We were paralyzed by fear, unable to do anything, and we fled for our lives in a wretched state. To escape responsibility, we pinned the blame on Sasaki-kun, but he was likely killed by that wolf. To be honest, I didn’t like him very much, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel any guilt.
Sugita-kun, Hagimoto-kun, and Hidaka-kun didn’t seem to care at all, though.
Actually, because of that incident, everyone started to keep their distance from Sugita-kun and his group. Everyone thought they might be next. A few days later, we were unveiled to the citizens as Heroes¹, but by that stage, several people had already deserted. First, Tatei-kun and Yokoo-kun left. Losing Tatei-kun was a massive blow; we became unable to restock weapons, armor, and various recovery items. A few days after that, it was confirmed that Yuki-kun and, as if following him, the Kijima sisters and Kodama-san had left. Furthermore, on the day before the unveiling, Yamato-san, Ise-san, and the top student of the year, Kagaya-san, were confirmed to have fled the castle.
As you can see, the class’s unity was completely shattered. Seeing that, the King quickly unveiled us as Heroes and ordered us to form teams of several members each to set out on a journey to slay the Demon King.
Now we are sitting at a table inside the Hunters Guild², all four of us hanging our heads. I couldn’t help but remember those unpleasant things, even though I had been trying to forget them. It seemed the same for Koganei-kun, Akiyama-kun, and Yuuko; their expressions were uniformly dark.
”Hey, Sir Heroes, you’re wearing awfully grim faces. What’s the matter?” a lone Hunter asked as he approached.
”…No, it’s nothing,” Akiyama-kun replied.
”Speaking of which, what about Shin and Luck? What happened to those guys?” the Hunter asked.
My shoulders shuddered for an instant.
”That is…” I started to say, but Koganei-kun cut me off.
”The truth is… a Minotaur³ appeared. Luck took a surprise attack… and Shin became a decoy to let us escape. Dammit! If only we had more power…!” Koganei-kun said, his face full of grief.
He was spinning a total web of lies, just like Sugita-kun. I was almost impressed by how calmly he could lie. Or rather, it disgusted me.
”A Minotaur!?”
”Isn’t that a top-class monster even in the Forest Labyrinth⁴!” the surrounding hunters shouted in shock.
They paid no mind to us, focused only on the appearance of the beast.
”Hey, Sir Heroes, whereabouts exactly did you encounter it?” one asked.
”I don’t think we went that far in… our goal was the Death Mantis⁵ subjugation⁶, so I’m pretty sure it was the middle strata⁷,” I answered honestly. I had no intention of lying about something like this; it was a serious problem for them too.
A receptionist rushed over to us. “Um, could you please explain the location in detail? If you don’t, low-rank hunters might be slaughtered.”
”Understood. I believe it was…” Akiyama-kun began.
”There is no need for that. I already killed it,” a familiar voice rang out from the door.
We turned to find Shin standing there. Beside him was a strikingly beautiful woman leading what looked like a puppy.
* * *
”There is no need for that. I already killed it.”
Those were my first words as I opened the doors to the Hunters Guild. They were right on the topic of the Minotaur. It is certainly a formidable foe in the Forest Labyrinth. Leave aside my own strength-there aren’t many hunters in the city of Rubia who could stand against one.
”Shin, you killed it? You…”
”You were… alive?”
”For real…?”
The pessimistic mood inside the guild evaporated, replaced by a sudden commotion over the fact that I was alive (technically I’m already dead, but…) and that I had defeated the Minotaur.
”But hey, did you really kill it? Where’s the proof?” one hunter asked skeptically.
I headed to the counter and pulled the Minotaur’s head and the Death Mantis’s scythe from my bag. “This is the proof. Though I couldn’t have done it alone. I would have been a corpse without her help.”
The hunters erupted in a roar at the sight of the trophy.
”Who is this beauty?”
”Wait, is she even human? Her ears are different.”
”Wolf ears… is there a race like that?”
”Who cares! She’s a total knockout. If Mary-san sees you with her, you’re dead meat.”
”Shut it! It’s not like that. She’s my savior!” I snapped back.
The noise grew louder because of Lil. She was stunning, and even the receptionist was staring in fascination. For context, Mary-san is the person Shin had feelings for-and she’s also Luck’s older sister.
”Anyway, I’d like to collect the bounty,” I said to the receptionist.
”E-eh? Oh, yes! My apologies! First, regarding the Death Mantis request, since you have the proof, I will mark it as a success. Here are your ten silver coins. As for the Minotaur… please wait a moment. I need to ask the Guild Master for the reward amount.” She hurried into the back.
In her place, the Heroes approached me.
”Sh-Shin… you’re alive.”
”Good. I really thought you were a goner.”
”I’m so glad.”
”Yeah. I’m happy you’re safe, too,” Narumi Honoka said.
Akiyama and the others crowded around me, looking relieved. They probably felt some guilt for abandoning me. However, not a single one of them apologized. Usually, that’s the first thing you do. I glared at them, but they didn’t even notice. Figures. These are the people who left me behind.
”Ryunya, isn’t there something you ought to say first?” I asked.
”Ought to say? …Oh!” Akiyama finally noticed and turned toward Lil. “Hey, thank you so much for saving Shin’s life!”
”Hah?” I muttered. Lil and I were both stunned. Does the word “sorry” not exist in his head?
”That’s right, thanks a lot!” Koganei added.
”Shin wouldn’t have been saved if you weren’t there,” Oshiro said.
”…Yeah. Shin, um… sorry,” Narumi whispered.
These people are hopeless. Koganei and Oshiro didn’t even think to apologize to me. Only Narumi offered a tiny whisper, but the fact that they left me for dead remained.
”By the way, hey there, beast-eared beauty. Want to go out with me?” Koganei asked, moving in on Lil.
”Wait, Koganei-kun!? What are you thinking with me right here!?” Narumi shouted.
”What? Heroes aren’t blamed for anything. It’s not a crime to steal a girl, and besides, she doesn’t look taken. A harem is a man’s dream! Don’t worry, Honoka, you’re still number one,” Koganei said trashily.
”I didn’t mean it like that…” Narumi groaned.
”So, big sister, you got a boyfriend or what?” Koganei continued, ignoring his girlfriend. Akiyama just shook his head, and Oshiro looked disgusted. “Come on, what’s the harm? I haven’t had any ‘action’ lately. So, what do you say? How about it?”
Just how many women does this trash think he can touch? A dark, boiling urge to kill him rose up in me, but Lil stepped in front of me.
”I am sorry, but I am a married woman,” she said coldly.
”Seriously!?”
”Yes. Therefore, I have no interest in you at all.”
”Oh, come on, the husband isn’t here, right? We can just keep it a secret and have some fun-” Koganei’s rambling turned into a shriek.
Lil had pressed her sharp claws against his throat. A single bead of blood trickled down. “You are asking me to betray my husband? Do you wish to die? Because you look like you’re begging for it.”
Lil glared at him with eyes full of frigid rage-eyes she would never show to me. Her voice was so cold it sent a shiver through the room.
”I-I get it! I won’t do it again! I promise!” Koganei stammered.
”Is that the truth?”
”Yes! Yes! Just put your hand down!”
”Very well. See that you don’t make any more foolish advances. Next time, I won’t guarantee your life,” Lil said, withdrawing her hand.
Koganei backed away, nodding frantically.
”Learn your lesson and stop the flirting. You’ve got Narumi, anyway,” Akiyama muttered, though he didn’t seem to care much.
Koganei just clicked his tongue. He wasn’t reflecting at all; he’d probably try to sneak into her room tonight.
”Ryunya, keep a leash on Susumu. I don’t want to see my savior’s kindness repaid with insults,” I said.
”I know, I know… wait, are you staying at the same inn as us? Mary-san’s going to be pissed,” Akiyama said.
”Sorry for the wait! Here is the reward for the Minotaur… oh? Did something happen?” The receptionist returned, tilting her head at the heavy atmosphere.
”It’s nothing. Koganei just failed at picking up Shin’s friend,” Akiyama explained.
”Ah, the usual, then.”
…The usual. No wonder Narumi was glaring at him. Their unity is a joke. It’s even more fragile than I thought. I felt a dark smirk tugging at my mind as I began to draft the blueprints for my Vengeance⁸.
—
Summary:
The Hero class has fractured, with many students deserting after a disastrous training session. Honoka’s group attempts to lie to the Guild about their abandonment of Shin and Luck. Shin arrives at the guild alive and successful, accompanied by the beautiful Lil, exposing the group’s incompetence and lack of remorse.
—
Character Insight:
Shin (Natsumi) is becoming increasingly detached and cynical, observing his former classmates’ lack of apologies as fuel for his revenge. Lil shows a fierce, protective loyalty to Shin by threatening Koganei.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the ‘Hero’ title ironically here to highlight the moral bankruptcy of the students compared to the ‘monster’ Shin.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Sasaki – The protagonist. Height 168 to 171 cm, weight 57 to 59 kg. He has a baby face, but he hides his eyes with his bangs. He was bullied by the Sugita gang just because his name sounded like a girl’s name.
• Sugita – The leader of the Sugita gang and the primary bully of Natsumi Sasaki. His grandfather is the Superintendent General and his father is a Police Superintendent, so the two of them covered up all his crimes. Because of this, he does whatever he wants wherever he goes.
• Hagimoto – One of the members of the Sugita gang who actively bullied Natsumi. At first glance, he looks like a cool, smart guy with glasses, but he is actually vulgar and has a foul mouth.
• Hidaka – Height 182 cm, weight 79 kg (Male). A muscular member of the Sugita gang and the Kendo club. While better than the other two, he still used Natsumi as a punching bag and joined in the sexual assault of Lieselotte Himesaki.
• Tatei – Tatei Kozoo. Height 186 cm, weight 52 kg. Natsumi’s otaku friend. Originally a tall and sturdy man, but he became skin and bones due to anorexia. Possesses the skill ‘Materialization Alchemy’. Created equipment for the class.
• Yokoo – Natsumi Sasaki’s otaku friend. His appearance is based on ‘Yoko’ from ‘Comic Party.’ Possesses ‘Materialization Summoning’. Accompanied by a Living Armor.
• Yuki – Yuki Chihiro. Height 178 cm, weight 70 kg (Male). Natsumi’s childhood friend. A handsome, athletic top student in the soccer club.
• Koganei – Height 166 cm, weight 56 kg. A mood-maker in the baseball club. He was only after Honoka’s body and worked with Oshiro to steal her from Akiyama.
• Yuuko – A female student and best friend of Narumi Honoka. She is a manager for the baseball club. Described as proactive and quite a beauty. She has her hair in a ponytail and is always stuck like glue to Ryuya.
• Luck – Shin’s partner and a wind magic user. Hunter from Rubia. Deceased.
• Shin – A level 18 greatsword user and Hunter from Rubia. Jade rank.
• Lil – One of the heroines. Height 166 cm, B-W-H: 90-56-90. She is a top-tier beauty with long indigo hair down to her waist, a large scar on her abdomen and sharp golden eyes. She has wolf ears and a tail.
• Honoka – A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki.
• Narumi – Narumi Honoka. A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki. Black hair, black eyes.
• Ryunya – Height 177 cm, weight 70 kg. Oshiro Yuuko’s boyfriend. A hot-blooded, handsome guy with a buzz cut. Member of the baseball club.
• Susumu – Koganei Susumu. Height 166 cm, weight 56 kg. A mood-maker in the baseball club. He was only after Honoka’s body and worked with Oshiro to steal her from Akiyama.
• Natsumi – The protagonist. Height 168 to 171 cm, weight 57 to 59 kg. He has a baby face, but he hides his eyes with his bangs. He was bullied by the Sugita gang just because his name sounded like a girl’s name.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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