by Aneko Yusagi
The original church of the four heroes had branched in two different directions in Melromarc and Siltvelt. In Melromarc it had become the Church of the Three Heroes, while in Siltvelt it became the Church of the Shield.
The queen said that the countries had been at war for a long time, which would mean that…
“I was summoned right into the center of enemy lands?”
I was the saint of their enemy. Who could be expected to treat the saint of their enemy with respect? Humans were not so pure.
The old books of the Church of the Three Heroes were, no doubt, filled with lists of the evil actions performed by the Shield Hero. Similar things happened in my own world. The god of an enemy religion came to be seen as a demon.
It all fit.
Could it be that Trash was prejudiced against me because of the wars he’d fought in Siltvelt?
“The investigations have concluded that all of this trouble was the result of actions taken by the Church, but those actions have also undone much of my hard work.”
“You have my sympathy.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes… Melty, you understand all this, don’t you?”
“Y… yes!”
“The major problem remains. When the four Heroes are summoned, there is an important ceremony that is performed that is commensurate to the gravity of the situation.”
“But all four heroes were summoned.”
“Yes… that is why this problem is so significant.”
“If it is such a big problem, why don’t the other countries attack Melromarc?”
“Because of my negotiations… though I cannot take all the credit. Much of it is because of your actions, and because of the other Heroes.”
“Mother worked so hard. She ran a fever. That’s how hard she was working!”
“Melty.”
“W… what?”
“Don’t be so stiff. Relax a little. You’re freaking me out.”
“What was that?!”
“Ah… it seems that Melty has finally begun to act appropriately for her age. As her mother, I’m very happy. I certainly won’t compare her to her sister, but Melty has cared about the public eye since she was very young. It made it difficult for her to be herself.”
“Mother, that’s not it!”
“Until you grow up and find yourself, perhaps you should stick with Mr. Iwatani.”
“Mother!”
Melty was very angry. She’d really stopped the conversation in its tracks though.
“Why didn’t the Church kill me earlier?”
“I believe they wanted the other three Heroes to do it for them.”
“So they were waiting for the other three Heroes to be strong enough?”
“I cannot think of a better way to put this, but… the other Heroes sometimes don’t seem to think of the future very much. The Church undoubtedly thought they would be easy to control.”
“Ah… yeah, I can see that.”
The whole lot of them still couldn’t get out of the gaming mindset. It was plain as day they’d been deceived, but they didn’t adjust to the situation. They never doubted what was right before their eyes.
“Of course, there was a lot for us to do as well, especially regarding you, Mr. Iwatani. Many, many people from the international community begged to meet you.”
“That’s…”
I remembered that Melty had said something like that. When I was out on my luck, naked and beaten and alone, people had approached me, and I told them to stay away. The queen realized that I knew what she meant and nodded.
“Because of which, I was able to see through quite a lot of deception.”
“What do you mean?”
“I told the council that the Heroes were busy expunging a disease from our country.”
To keep the world from war in times like these… she must have worked very hard.
Back in my own world, when I had managed a guild for an online game I played, there had been times when other guild members would throw fits.
It took all I had to put out the fires they’d started. Normally I would have just fired them, but I wasn’t able to according to the rules. The queen must have felt the same way.
“When Mr. Iwatani went around the country cleaning up the messes left by other Heroes, that was the final straw.”
The other heroes had caused problems, and I had fixed them. That caused the populace to doubt their faith in the Church.
“The other heroes didn’t know why only I was being discriminated against?”
“Kitamura was working with Bitch, and Mr. Amaki and Mr. Kawasumi received all of their information from the guild. People tend to believe in the authority of the people around them. They accept what they are told.”
So they would just believe what authority figures told them… I suppose if you didn’t have access to any other information, then that was a natural thing to do.
If they’d known that they were being lied to, they would have supported me.
They just didn’t know. That’s why they looked so thoughtless. Yeah, Ren and Itsuki seemed to have figured it out, eventually.
“When I had finally calmed everyone down and was ready to come back to Melromarc, all of this happened. I never would have imagined that the Church had a replica of the four Holy Weapons.”
How could she have known? Who would have expected the Church to have something like that?
“The high priest was a foolish man… When you attacked, he could have turned the weapon into the Shield and survived…”
“So that thing could turn into a shield too?”
“That’s correct, though you cannot expect more than one-quarter the power of the real thing.”
“So that was only a quarter of its true power?”
If we leveled up, we’d be four times as powerful as the high priest had been? That was hard to believe.
It was just a legend after all. I’m sure that with time a little embellishment had… Wait, thinking back on Fitoria’s power made it seem more likely.
Honestly—we were all probably a little too weak to begin with.
If we didn’t find some way to level up soon, we’d never survive the coming waves.
“Trash’s actions have threatened to end a long period of peace. He was a skilled man, but it seems all he knows how to do is aggravate conflict.”
He must have really wanted to keep me out of Siltvelt. That’s why he had increased the border security so much.
“Finally… Yes, I wish to do whatever I can to support you going forward. Knowing that, would you still like to go to Siltvelt, tell them the truth, and start a war?”
“Hmm…”
That meant that, if she wanted to avoid war, the queen would have to do whatever she could to protect me.
But to be honest, I really just wanted to say “goodbye” and leave. But I’d promised Fitoria…
And the Curse Series had been so powerful that I couldn’t ignore the things Fitoria had said.
“Also, whether it be Siltvelt or Shieldfreeden, shall I tell you what would happen if you were to go pay them a visit?”
“Hm?”
“First the princess and noble daughters would all demand audiences with you. The demi-human women would form a harem around you.”
“Ew!”
They’d come after me, wanting to have the Shield Hero’s child? After what Bitch had done, the thought of women repulsed me.
The last thing I needed in my life was more unsavory women.
“Certainly, they will give you whatever you wish. If you told them to attack Melromarc, they would rally behind you and march to their deaths.”
That didn’t sound so bad, but this harem business…
Could I just stick it out? But… if I wanted to survive until the end of this thing, I was going to need the cooperation of the other heroes. Should I ask them to come with me? Would they even agree to?
“All of that would, theoretically, be fine. But
remember that no matter what country you go to, those in power and those who manipulate the people’s beliefs have black hearts.”
“What?”
“’Poor Mr. Iwatani, stricken suddenly by such powerful sicknesses…’”
“I see your point.”
“It happened to one of the past Shield Heroes.”
I didn’t want to know about that.
She was saying that the people might worship the Shield Hero, but those with power—those with something to lose—wouldn’t be happy if I just got whatever I wanted.
I suppose that made sense too. Who would want some random guy from another world to show up in their borders and start changing everything?
I understood where they were coming from, but I also didn’t want to die. What options did I have?
“By the way, it seems like you were approached by some adventurers with some false requests…”
“Yeah.”
It happened a couple of days after I was summoned. People said they’d join my party, but I’d have to pay them. I had let the balloons settle that matter.
“A couple days after your meeting, their corpses were found—horribly maimed.”
“What?!”
More things I’d rather not have heard…
“Furthermore, within a few days a knight’s guard was attacked by a number of people and killed. We have not found those responsible. It may be that…”
Siltvelt was an extreme country.
It sounded like both heaven and hell were waiting for me if I were to go there.
Of course, that was only if everything the queen said was true.
“Therefore, I believe that it is safer for you to stay here, as you have finally earned the trust of the people.”
“…”
I didn’t really want to cooperate.
All the pain and suffering I’d been through wasn’t going to somehow disappear just because the queen commanded it.
Even if the queen had been directly involved in Trash and Bitch’s punishment, she was only doing what was natural and expected of her as the country’s leader.
Now she’d act like she’d done me a favor and ask for my cooperation? Things were too easy for her.
Besides, I respected her abilities—but that didn’t mean that I trusted her.
It was easy to say whatever she wanted to.
The truth was that she didn’t want me to visit the other countries.
Still, if what she said was true, then I could expect a warm welcome from any foreign country, not just from Siltvelt or Shieldfreeden.
There wasn’t anything special about Melromarc.
“…”
I was thinking over all she’d said when the queen kneeled before me.
“Everything that has happened to you up until now has been my fault—my responsibility. I understand that it sounds as if I am asking too much of you.”
She lowered her head to me, deeply.
Melty was completely speechless. Raphtalia was watching with wide-eyed amazement. Even Filo seemed to understand that something important was happening.
“But please understand. I don’t… No, this country doesn’t have any other option left than to rely on you. If taking my head would soothe your anger, then take it. If changing my name would soothe your anger, then you may do so.”
“Mother…”
“So please, show forgiveness. From now on I will prevent you from being treated unfairly. I swear it on my name: Mirellia Q. Melromarc. I will sign a magical contract.”
This woman…
She’d use her authority to keep Bitch and Trash from being killed then turn around and offer her own life?
Had she offered me Bitch’s or Trash’s head, I might have thought about for a minute—but I didn’t really want to see the queen die.
Melromarc must have really been in a bad situation.
She meant to say that the future of the country depended on… me?
If I wanted to, I could rally the world against them and burn this country to the ground.
But…
“Only once.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of your shadows jumped in to save us. And because you helped us put an end to the high priest.”
“Which means…”
“I’ll trust you—but only once. However, and no matter what happens, I won’t trust you after that.”
“Thank you.”
She bowed to me once more, deeply, and expressed her gratitude.
Was I being weak?
But if I continued to doubt everything, I’d never move forward.
I remembered what Fitoria had said.
There was no time for the heroes to fight with each other. That huge Legendary Filolial would come kill us all if we kept fighting.
The heroes’ enemy wasn’t a country. It was the waves.
If countries went to war, only to be wiped out by a wave, then none of it meant anything.
And I certainly couldn’t forget that, for all intents and purposes, the heroes had lost the concluding battle during the last wave.
There was no reason to make more enemies.
I’d been surrounded by enemies this whole time, but now that was about to change.
I didn’t care about what happened to this world, but the only way I could get back to my own world was if I defeated the waves.
I had to focus on the waves… On Glass.
Just realizing that was a big step forward.
The queen rose to her feet and covered her mouth with her folding fan.
“Can you please keep our conversation a secret from the other three Heroes? A Hero, too, is someone’s child. If they hear that one of them is receiving preferential treatment…”
She was right. There were plenty of points in the conversation that I’d rather the other heroes didn’t know about.
I don’t know about Ren or Motoyasu, but it seemed like Itsuki might throw a fit.
Besides, barring any further dramatic developments, it seemed like my lot had greatly improved.
“Fine. I won’t tell…”
“Yes. Thank you. I will accept responsibility for future management of this issue.”
“Is that so? Then I can finally cross one enemy off of my list…”
“I’m so very sorry. You were summoned here despite having nothing to do with our conflicts… Then you were forced to fight. I wish I could do more for you, but my hands are tied for now. Forgive me.”
“That’s enough of that. Let’s focus on the next step. You said we needed to discuss something with the other three.”
“Yes, but I would like you to be part of the conversation. So let’s discuss it at dinner tonight.”
“Okay.”
Epilogue: Friends Forever
The queen gave orders to her subordinates before walking to the stairs behind the throne.
“Melty… I’m leaving”
“Oh, um… Okay.”
Melty looked at me before answering.
“Thank you for protecting me…”
She continued, but was speaking so quietly it was nearly a whisper. Could she have said, “Sorry for not being myself"?
I’m not deaf or anything…. but she could speak up a little. So I made her say it again.
“Huh? What was that?”
“Sigh. If I stick with you, I’ll never be safe—so this is a relief.”
“What was that?”
Who did she think she was? Oh yeah… a princess.
Melty turned to Raphtalia.
“Hey, don’t ignore me!”
“Ms. Raphtalia. Thank you for protecting me. I will work with my mother to do whatever we can to have your village rebuilt. Please look forward to that.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“This whole time that I was traveling with you, I’ve been thinking how much I want this country to be a safe place for both humans and demi-humans to live together. I’ll change it. I promise.”
> “Hey, I’m not done talking! Melty!”
“Naofumi—you’re so noisy.”
What was that? Before I could yell back she had already turned to Filo. I kept quiet.
…Because that strong-willed Melty was breaking down in tears.
“What’s wrong, Mel?! Are you hurt?”
“Not really… No, I’m fine—so don’t worry about me, Filo. Hey, Filo. I can’t… I can’t stay with you anymore.”
“Are you going somewhere, Mel?”
Filo could tell that something was wrong. She made a sad face.
“Melty lives in a different world than we do. She can’t keep traveling with us the way she has been.”
We couldn’t just take the future queen around on our adventures.
“Is that true?”
Filo looked like she was ready to start crying too.
“… Yes.”
“We can’t see each other anymore?”
“No, we’ll meet again plenty of times. But I don’t think we can travel together anymore.”
Melty turned around to look at the queen.
The queen nodded silently.
“So… So we’re splitting up?”
“Yes. But, Filo, I can see you any time you come to the castle.”
Melty’s voice wavered as she spoke.
Melty had really influenced our travels. Everything changed after we met.
“No! I… I want to be with Mel! Master!”
“You got what you originally wanted. Melty is safe. You can’t ask for more than that.”
“But…!”
“Filo, you can’t be selfish.”
“U…”
Filo was rubbing her hands, very upset. Melty reached for them.
“I know it hasn’t been that long… but I don’t know. I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
“Mel…”
“I’m very sad to be leaving you, Filo. But there are so many things waiting for you that only you can do. And there are things for me here, things that only I can do.”
“But… but I want to stay with you, Mel! Wah…”
“Filo.”
Filo started to cry, and Melty reached out to touch her face.
“It will be okay. If you ever want to see me, I’ll be here. I’ll be waiting for you, Filo, because you’re my friend. My best friend!”
“Even if we can’t be together, you’ll always be my friend, right?!”
