Chapter 2: Lying is the Beginning of Thievery
Solo was immediately in a bind. Since it was his own fault, he couldn’t say a word.
“…?”
Luna, who looked like a Hero no matter how you sliced it, tilted her head with her hand still outstretched. She was probably waiting for him to shake it. But Solo couldn’t bring himself to grasp that hand.
Because he didn’t want to save the world.
And to be more precise, he didn’t want to fight.
『See, I told you so. You should have bolted immediately.』
(It couldn’t be helped. That was the first time in my life I’ve been pampered like that.)
If he shook this hand, there would be no turning back. He considered shaking it for now and running away later, but he didn’t feel like he could escape from the person in front of him.
He felt that this would be a vow stricter than lifetime employment, stricter even than marriage.
“Wait a moment, Your Highness!”
Tearing through the awkward silence, a single knight entered the meeting hall. He was a knight with a pressure distinct from the dignified Luna. His armor was rugged, but his body was even more rugged. Or rather, thick. If I get punched by that, I’ll die, Solo thought deeply.
“To me, this man does not look like a Hero at all.”
He was so spot-on that Solo didn’t even have the will to argue.
“That is disrespectful, Schutz.”
“Before you take his hand, first, I shall verify Hero-dono’s power myself.”
“…Hmm. Indeed, I would like to know his level of skill. Is that acceptable, Hero-dono?”
Like hell it’s acceptable, he wanted to say, but setting aside the knight’s suspicious gaze, the expectant gazes of Luna and the villagers were intense.
He couldn’t think of a reason to refuse in the first place.
(Stomach ache, headache… no, that won’t work. My gutter-born, gutter-raised lowlife intuition tells me: I can’t fool the young lady in front of me, even less than that knight.)
『Correct. Clumsy lies won’t work.』
(Holy Sword, is there any way to survive this?)
『…Can’t be helped, I guess. You are my contractor, after all. I don’t know about the young lady, but we can probably manage against this big lug.』
(S-Saint Sword-sama, seriously, thank you.)
『Worship me!』
(Heheh~)
Solo bowed his head to the Holy Sword in his mind. The master-servant relationship had completely reversed here. Born in the gutter, raised in the gutter; he had no pride to maintain as a bottom-feeder.
If necessary, he’d even lick his enemy’s boots.
***
When they went outside, a group of knight-looking dignitaries were lined up in addition to the knight from earlier. Every single one of them looked at him as if he were an enemy.
『This is definitely an away game.』
(Did I do something to be hated this much?)
『They probably thought that girl was going to pull me out.』
(Ah, I see.)
She was their master, and she had so much “Hero vibes” that she couldn’t possibly have more. She should have been the one to pull out the Holy Sword blessed by the Goddess and be chosen by the heavens.
The insolent rogue who stole that opportunity—that was Solo.
『That young lady couldn’t pull me out, though.』
(Even though I could?)
『Because I don’t want to fight. That’s why I moved to such a remote place. Or rather, I’m not a Holy Sword in the first place.』
(Well, yeah, you wouldn’t want to fi—eh?)
Before Solo could verify if he had misheard,
“My name is Schutz Eisenbahn! Also known as the ‘Iron Knight’!”
The knight with the rugged armor and body, Schutz, shouted with a volume that drowned out Solo’s thoughts. He looked strong just by standing there. If Solo saw him in town, he would absolutely never go near him.
He didn’t feel like he could win at all.
Just being patted by him seemed like it would break bones.
(I’ll say this in advance but… I’m really weak in a fight.)
『Rest easy. I don’t expect anything from you other than your running speed and your guts.』
It wasn’t something to brag about, but Solo had never used a weapon in his life. While surviving in the downtown area, he had learned a lesson: Weapons call for weapons.
If you use that method, you will have to face weapons and violence until you die. He had seen it many times. Those who acted tough and got their hands on weapons, only to be discarded by the roadside before they knew it. He didn’t want to end up like that, so he became a proper pickpocket.
What is “proper”? That is a philosophical question.
“Hero-dono, name yourself as well!”
“…I-It’s Solo.”
“Your surname!?”
“…Don’t have one.”
The surroundings, especially the knights, began to murmur. It didn’t ring a bell for the villagers for whom “Village Name + Given Name” was sufficient, but for those from urban areas, a surname was essential to distinguish social status. Luna, Schutz, and all the knights here had surnames.
The fact that he didn’t meant—
『Their eyes got even colder.』
(I’m used to it.)
Born in the gutter, raised in the gutter; he was used to being looked down upon.
“Is that so! My apologies!”
“…”
『But, that old guy’s attitude hasn’t changed. For better or worse.』
(…True.)
Solo had also noticed it at a glance. The woman who named herself Luna didn’t change the look in her eyes one bit based on whether he had a surname or not.
One side held suspicion, the other held expectation.
However—
“Now, here I come! Be the guardian of steel! 『Ga-Stahl Panzer』!”
“Ooh, a combat spell right off the bat!”
“Schutz-dono is serious.”
Well, the luxury of thinking about useless things was immediately blown away.
(I-I’ve never seen magic that huge before. I have to fight that?)
『Oh my, he got even bulkier.』
Magic is the theoretical art of causing supernatural phenomena using the magical power existing in this world. Generally, with some exceptions, magical power flows through everyone, but only a handful can handle magic on a scale useful for combat. Whether they are mages who are researchers, or warriors who wield combat magic, it is a skill far removed from ordinary people.
Solo was seeing it for the first time too, but seeing the armor swell up even further over the rugged armor… he looked like he belonged in the Demon King’s Army.
He also thought the fact that it was gleaming black wasn’t a good sign.
“Behold my art, combining offense and defense!”
Boom. Contrary to his appearance, the lump of iron charged with agile movement. Solo thought (Ah, I’m dead) and gave up on survival. Because he was huge and fast.
But,
『Allow me to reintroduce myself, my contractor.』
(…Goddess-sama, I want to go to heaven!!)
In contrast to its master who was terrified, the sword naming itself Saintroll showed no fear toward Schutz, who was charging like a giant lump of iron.
『My name is Sein Troll.』
“Prepare yourself!”
The distance vanished, and right before his eyes was the figure of black iron brandishing a large sword. Solo had already let go of his thoughts. Without thought, a human body does not move.
However,
『It’s a Demonic Sword!』
Solo’s body moved—without his will.
“Hoh.”
And it left everyone’s gaze behind, except for one person.
“Eh?”
Solo was just as surprised. Before he knew it, the Holy Sword was gripped in his right hand, opposite his dominant hand.
(Wait, did you just say Demonic Sword?)
Solo’s thoughts and questions finally caught up.
『That’s right, I’m a Demonic Sword. The Goddess’s faction made me, but I’m a parasitic sword forged originally for demons.』
Solo took distance from Schutz, measuring the interval like a pro. Of course, Solo wasn’t doing anything. He was simply surrendering his body to the Holy Sword turned Demonic Sword.
“Your speed is magnificent! But can you keep running forever!?”
Schutz locked onto Solo and chased after him even faster than his previous gap-closing movement. In response, the manipulated Solo…
『Witness the results of three hundred years of image training!』
He clashed with him head-on.
At this intense exchange of blows,
“Ooh!”
“I see, magnificent swordsmanship.”
“He didn’t pull out the Holy Sword for nothing, it seems.”
The knights raised voices of admiration. The villagers were moved, cheering as if he were their local hero. For a group that was thinking I wish he’d leave soon just moments ago, their flip-flopping was impressive.
(…Am I being parasitized?)
『You made a contract, didn’t you?』
(…That’s a scam.)
『Now, now, we’re in free-to-play mode right now, so it’s not causing any harm to your body.』
(But I’m being manipulated.)
『Then, shall I release it? I think you’ll be killed in a second.』
(Heheh, let’s get along.)
Even during this carefree conversation, a fierce sword fight was unfolding. To be able to fight against a knight of a great power who wielded combat magic… the Demonic Sword Sein Troll was terrifying.
(By the way.)
『What is it?』
(Why did you call yourself a Holy Sword?)
『I’d be treated better that way, right? Originally, I was made to look the part, and anyway, I’ve never spoken to anyone but you, yet I was treated with care. Successive generations of villagers even cleaned me regularly.』
(I-I see.)
In the first place, he had just been stuck there looking like a Holy Sword; he had never claimed to be one himself. When he moved to the top of the hill with the pedestal, the villagers just misunderstood on their own that a Hero had descended. The first time he asserted himself was with Solo, and Solo was the first person he had deceived.
Once the contract was made, he had won. It was already too late.
『So, from now on, call me Toro.』
(Wait! For some reason, I feel like that’s a bad idea. How about Sein? Or if we split it, isn’t it Saint-Roll?)
『My original name is Troll. I just attached Sein because it sounded good.』
(…That’s a cute name.)
『I think they said they put a mischievous heart into me, or maybe they didn’t? Well, anyway, nice to meet you. I’ve always yearned to be called by a nickname.』
(…Is that so.)
Holy Sword Saintroll (Lie) turned Demonic Sword Sein Troll (Self-proclaimed), nickname Toro (Requested by himself). For something made by a Goddess, the construction was quite haphazard.
(So, think we can win?)
『Yeah. It’s about time to finish this coolly.』
Solo’s movements became even faster, and Schutz, who had been keeping up until now, opened his eyes wide. Brilliant footwork, and speed beyond that of an ordinary man.
“Magnificent!”
He had to admit it.
That the man before him was also a chosen one.
Yes,
“That is enough.”
Just like his own master.
“『!?』”
With a speed that completely surpassed Schutz’s reaction, and went even beyond that, Luna cut between the two and stopped both swords.
『This young lady is strong after all.』
(…Whoaaa.)
A feat impossible unless she had seen through everything completely.
It seemed that, excluding Solo with his Demonic Sword, she was the strongest one here. If things went poorly, even if the Demonic Sword got serious, it probably wouldn’t be enough in its current state.
“Everyone should be satisfied now. This is Hero-dono’s true ability.”
Apparently, Schutz was a considerable powerhouse within this group. The suspicious gazes the knights had directed at him earlier had vanished.
Thinking that if he could go toe-to-toe with Schutz, he must truly be a chosen one.
It seemed this ‘Iron Knight’ was quite famous.
“Once again… will you save the world with me?”
The hand offered to Solo once more.
This time the knights were convinced, and the villagers were weeping with emotion.
The atmosphere made it even harder to refuse than before.
“…P-Please take care of me.”
I have no choice but to shake it now. Solo gripped that hand with a feeling of heartbreak.
Wah! The place erupted in cheers.
『I have a proposal.』
(What? I feel like crying right now.)
『This young lady is from a good family, right?』
(Just looking at her, yeah. So what?)
『Doesn’t she sleep politely at night? That’s the image of a young lady.』
(…You’re a genius, Toro-kun.)
『“-Sama”, okay?』
(Toro-samaaa.)
Amidst the grand excitement, Solo and Toro used their unique communication to hatch a sinister plot.
One person and one sword; both absolutely refused to go to war.
They didn’t give a damn about the world.
(『Heheh.』)
They didn’t notice,
“…”
That Luna was staring intently at their behavior.
***
Immediately, late that night.
“『Stealthy feet, stealthy steps.』”
Calculating the time similar to when he first visited this village, Solo and his partner moved to escape. During the day, they couldn’t get away due to the eyes of the knights and Luna, but now that everyone was asleep, they could go.
Solo and Toro. A desperate escape born from the combined desire of “I don’t want to fight.” It was a strange story considering how strong Toro was, but—
“Man, looks like we’ll manage.”
『Phew. Thank goodness.』
“For now, since we have no starting funds, let’s do the Infinite Money Scheme.”
『Can’t be helped. I’ll show you my escape skills. Ah, but don’t get too far away. I can’t move if I’m separated from my contractor.』
“Heh, but you ran all the way here, didn’t you?”
『I could only run this far.』
“Hmm.”
“Where did you run from?”
『From the Demon King’s Army warehouse, naturally—』
“From an adventurer who should be furious after having a bill forced on him, naturally—”
One person and one sword answered the question simultaneously.
Yes.
“『Ah.』”
The fact that both answered meant the questioner was someone else.
That questioner was,
“And also, where might you be going at this late hour?”
Luna, who had been walking together behind Solo before he knew it. The fact that she was “walking” was terrifying. There had been absolutely no presence or sound of footsteps.
Enough that Solo had spoken his conversation with Toro out loud—
“U-Um, you see.”
“It seems we need to have a little discussion.”
“I-It seems so.”
“Shall we talk eye-to-eye, Solo-dono?”
Straight and piercing was the gaze of a hero. This was exactly like a frog stared down by a snake; Solo had no choice but to give it his all.
“Y-Yes. It is exactly as the Young Lady says.”
He rubbed his hands together fast enough that friction would wear away his fingerprints.
While rubbing his hands and acting humble, his inner thoughts were—
(Toro-suke, you bastard! You’re completely busted!)
『T-Toro-suke!? What is that un-stylish name! I firmly protest! In the first place, you’re the one who accepted my proposal—』
They were getting along just a moment ago, but now they were pushing the responsibility onto each other.
Kindred spirits, or in this case, raccoons of the same hole.
Well, for the time being,
“I will say this first but… I hate lies.”
Checkmate.
There is no escaping the Hero. He was successfully outmaneuvered.
Happily ever after.
