《This Encounter is Destiny》
The battle with the Demon King’s army raged on.
Even with Yu and the others gone, the Demon King’s army did not change. Assaulting the people, destroying countries. I did not overlook this and carried out my role as the hero.
Even so, the wounds in my heart never healed. I continued to fight as if averting my eyes from that pain.
On a certain day as I passed the time like that.
That encounter was on a beautiful night with a moonlit sky without a single cloud.
On that day, I visited a certain country.
Fiiling unwell, I used that as an excuse to sneak away from the hero party’s warm reception in that place. Alone, I was training in the forest behind the castle.
There’s no annoying noise here. I’m released from the clamor of people, ingratiating stares, words, authority – all of it.
The conspicuously bright castle is visible from within the depths of the thick forest. While the common folk don’t even know if they’ll have a meal tomorrow, an extravagantly luxurious party is probably being held in there right now.
“Hmph!”
I swing the holy sword. There’s no one here but me. So there’s no fear of being seen. I check the trail left by my sword swing and let out a sigh.
“Ahh, it’s getting heavier again.”
The holy sword can only be wielded by the hero. The fact that I can handle it is solely because my job is [Hero].
Whether it’s fake or not, as long as my name has ‘Hero’ attached to it, I have to at least be able to use the holy sword. At first, it had a sharpness and might befitting the name ‘holy sword’, but recently its cutting edge had gradually worsened as if becoming dull.
“[Holy Sky Slash]…even this is no good huh. Does this mean its power is beyond me? Sheesh, what a sorry state.”
Additionally, now I somehow can’t use most of my skills.
I had been covering for that with numbers and technique, but even that was becoming difficult.
The light of the holy sword itself was also gradually weakening. I knew the reason why.
It’s impossible for the power of the holy sword itself to diminish. Then the cause lies with me. In other words, it means the true owner is making progress befitting of it… Yu is growing stronger.
I heard a rumor that Yu and Mei-chan had formed a party and were saving people all over. They seemed to have found new companions too. Of course I can’t show my interest in public, so it was just a rumor, but…
But I was convinced it must be true.
The time for that is probably drawing near.
“Uwaaaaah!”
While I was thinking about such things, I heard a scream from the distance. I immediately spur my dull body into action and head in that direction.
I dash through the dark night, and when I arrived – it was a wolf-like creature with large, sharp claws. But with an aura too eerie to call it a living being.
“A monster!?”
A monster – the minions of the Demon King.
A stray one, or was it left behind after defeating them?
A girl was just about to be torn apart by that monster.
Her figure overlapped with Yu’s back then.
Before I realized it, my body was already moving.
“I have to make it!”
I stop the claws swung down at the girl with my holy sword.
The holy sword’s sharpness is dull. My body’s movements are sluggish. My skills also can’t be used. However…!
I glance at the girl behind me. She was terrified. If I fall here, she will come to harm.
I can’t back down now.
I can’t abandon her…!
“Guoooooooh!”
Raising my voice, I put strength into it. Pushing back the monster’s claws with the holy sword, I forcibly plunge it into the monster’s heart as it loses balance, destroying it through brute force.
The monster let out a short agonized cry as it collapsed.
“Haa…haa…! In the past I could have easily lopped off its head…”
Without any skills, it takes everything I have just to defeat a single monster.
I turn back to the screaming girl after whipping my uncooperative body into action.
“You, could it be that those ears are…”
…How surprising.
The girl I had saved was an elf. A mythical race now only heard of in legends.
Her golden hair shining as it reflected the moonlight, a beauty as if artificial in its craftsmanship, and most noticeably – long ears. Beautiful, all of it.
She blinked blankly looking at me. Realizing that she had been saved, she began to express her gratitude.
“Th-Thank you very much for saving me! Um, judging from that white holy sword emitting sacred light, could you be Sir Hero!?”
Her gaze was directed at the holy sword. For one who wields the holy sword, there can only be one existence that comes to mind. But out of fatigue, I ended up blurting out…
“No, I’m just a fake. I could never be the real thing.”
“Eh?”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
A slip of the tongue, I had let my true feelings leak out. I quickly feign nonchalance with a smile.
“Nevermind that. Yes, I’m Foil Austen – the hero. I’m glad you’re unharmed. What’s your name?”
“Um, I’m called Iris. I live in a village deep within this forest. I’m an elf who was out gathering medicinal herbs when I got lost and…encountered that terrifying creature…”
“I see…then you should return to your village soon. That was a monster just now – of course the forest itself is still dangerous too, but there are even greedier beasts in this country. For a cute girl like you, it’s dangerous here.”
“Wh-Wha… Uuu…”
Iris-chan’s face turned completely red as she lowered her head. Seeing her reaction, I end up letting out a laugh. Iris-chan then puffs up her cheeks in annoyance and faces away from me.
An adorably honest girl.
“Shall I escort you to the village? Can you walk?”
“Oh, yes. But the elder said we shouldn’t let people into the Elf village.”
“Then let’s stop right before the village. It would be troublesome if something happened to you while you’re alone.”
“Mm, I don’t want to be treated like a child! I’m older than you!”
“Is that so? By the way, do you want some candy?”
“Yes! …Ah!”
Iris-chan was startled, her ears turning red. I chuckled, handing her the candy, and we walked side by side.
“Honestly honestly. Making fun of one older than you, how mischievous. But I’ll forgive you for the sake of this sweet candy.”
“Oh? So you’re the older sister huh, you sure are tolerant.”
“Of course! Because I’m-! I’m the older sister you know!” …Um, Foil-sama, you are the hero, correct?”
“Being addressed with -sama is a little embarrassing. You can speak casually with me too you know.”
“Th-That’s a little…” Then, I’ll call you Foil-san.” Um, as I said earlier too, thank you very much for saving me.”
Iris-chan bows her head anew.
When she says it outright like that, as the recipient I start to feel embarrassed as well.
“Seriously, don’t worry about it. Protecting powerless people from monsters is my duty as [Hero] Foil.”
“Even still, being able to stand up to such a terrifying monster… Aren’t you scared, Foil-san?”
Scared…huh.
That memory from when I was attacked by a monster in my childhood still remains burned into my heart even now. Both monsters and those creatures, frightening things. And yet.
“That’s true, I am scared. But someone has to do these kinds of things. If someone doesn’t…”
Yes, because everything depends on one’s job, this is something that has to be done.
So my [False Hero] role too, is something that I myself have to fulfill.
“Plus, if you have the power to fight, wouldn’t it be natural to want to use it to save someone else?”
“…Such thoughts never even occurred to me. Even with power, I would only use it for the sake of my own self-protection.”
“Of course, that’s not a bad thing. But if there’s power to help someone who can’t fight, I want to use that power to assist them. Haha, sorry for sounding so self-righteous.”
“No, um, I think it’s a very admirable thing.”
“…Is that so? Thank you.”
I scratched my cheek, trying to hide my embarrassment at her words.
“Um, I wanted to ask… Oh, if it’s impolite, you don’t have to answer.”
“It’s fine. What is it?”
“Well, what is it like outside the forest? I’ve never been outside… and, actually, I didn’t go to collect herbs, but I wanted to sneak out and see the outside world. But then, um, monsters attacked me…”
Her words gradually became smaller, and she looked dejected.
I see. That’s probably why she was in such a place.
“Haha, I guess that was a bit reckless.”
“Mmm. Indeed, from your perspective, Foil-san, it might seem foolish…”
“No, I understand. I once, in my youth, went outside the village at night. Encountered monsters there.”
“Eh, were you okay?”
“Yeah, the adults who heard the commotion came to help. I got scolded quite a bit afterward.”
It was a nostalgic memory now.
Since that day, I… felt embarrassed.
Not just in words but truly wanted to become a hero.
Well, actually… Oops, I went too far with self-deprecation.
I checked to see if Iris-chan noticed, and she was looking at my face.
“Um, earlier, I said ‘I’…”
“Ah, sorry about that. I usually say ‘boku’ or ‘watashi,’ but this is my natural way of speaking. But, well, I use ‘boku’ a bit when meeting people in power. Can you keep it a secret? In return, I’ll tell you everything I know about the outside world.”
“Yes, please! Thank you!”
After that, I told Iris-chan everything I could. She nodded along, occasionally brightening up. It was enjoyable for me too, seeing her reactions.
While walking and conversing like that, time flew by.
“We’ve already arrived…”
“Yeah.”
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated.
Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
