Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

119 – The Words of a Certain Hero

「You-」

I put my hand out to stop Lily, who was reflexively about to stop Wraith.

It is certainly difficult to grasp the situation at a glance.

However, this Wraith is helping the victim and punishing the perpetrator.

「Why did you stop me? It’s too dangerous for children to fight with magic.」

She’s right. Lily is absolutely right. I say to her in a voice loud enough for only her to hear.

「…He’s a Hero.」

「Wha-?! …! The Water H… What is going on-」

「Young man.」

I call out to him.

「I’m in the middle of something right now. The one floating is the bad guy, I’m just passing by. I’ll explain the rest later.」

Wraith’s explanation was quick and concise. He didn’t even look my way.

「He-help me! Thi-this guy…all of a sudden he-waaah!」

The young boy floating in the air via Wind Magic was raised even higher. If he goes any higher, he’ll fly higher than than the surrounding buildings. That boy must be scared out of his mind right now.

「Hold up, hold up. Isn’t it weird to be calling for help? I’m sure I heard you say something. When you pinned that kid to the wall and took his wallet, you said something, didn’t you? Something like「If you don’t like it, then do something about it.」or「It’s your fault for being weak.」and so on. Well come on then, if you don’t like it…do something about it.」

「Fo-forgive me!」

「Huh? What’s there to forgive? You didn’t do anything wrong, right? The weak are the ones who are at fault. By your logic, that kid is the one who’s in the wrong. Oh, or are you talking about now? But isn’t that funny? You attacked that kid without forgiving his weakness, didn’t you? So what makes you think only I’d be kind enough to forgive you?」

「I-It was-it was my fault!」

「I know. Of course, it is. You throwing your messed up reasoning around annoyed the heck out of me. The worst thing in the world is that reasoning. That stuff about how the weak are in the wrong and the strong is always right. If that’s what you think, then see it through! If someone stronger than you shows up in front of you, you should abase yourself and say that you’re in the wrong without question, you idiot. You resisted at first, didn’t you? People who change their way of life as often as they change clothes are the people I hate the most.」

Then, Wraith dispelled his Wind Magic.

「Huh, wha, waaaaaaaaaaaargh?!」

The boy fell. As if attracted to the ground itself. And then, just before he hit the ground.

He floated again softly and hit the ground with a small puff.

「That’s all I have to say about bullying and purse-snatching being bad things.」

There was a black stain spreading across the boy’s pants. He seems to have relieved himself out of sheer terror.

Wraith picks up the wallet that the boy stole and handed it back to the other boy who has been staring dumbfounded at it all until now.

「You don’t need to be scared of ol’ pee pants over here. If anything like this happens again, I’ll be in this town for a little while so…uh, right, I’m staying at the inn called the World Tree Pavilion, so come see me anytime.」

「…Th-thank…you.」

「You’re welcome.」

Wraith’s smile was an innocent one suiting his age.

After the child with the wallet disappears from the alley, Wraith finally turns to face us.

「You didn’t stop me. Why?」

「Because you’re Sir Wraith. Although I guess that isn’t much of an answer.」

「No, no it’s not. I don’t get that at all.」

Apparently, he doesn’t seem to recognize us.

「Even if you were the disciple of Aerial, you wouldn’t be drunk with power. If you were that much of a novice, you wouldn’t be permitted to take part in the Demon King Castle Clear.」

Rather than going on a rampage, he used his magic rationally.

First of all, if he wanted to hurt them or scare them, there are plenty of other ways to do it.

He didn’t damage the body of the bullying child at all. He just tossed his body up like a ragdoll.

He threatened to carve a lesson into him, without hurting his body.

Before dropping him, Wraith prepared magic to negate the impact.

Taking all the above into consideration, I still don’t think it’s too much, though. 

Perhaps because I was once a victim, so I understand.

The perpetrators won’t give up with that level of a temporary measure. How many times did Lem get hurt because of that?

Wraith said he was just passing by. I guess he thought that a half-hearted rescue would cause more pain to the victim at a later date.

He follows his own rules and cannot overlook wrongdoings.

However, the possibility of the act ending in hypocrisy may have been considered, and even the prevention of a second offense may have been attempted.

Also, there was the way he dealt with the victim earlier.

He does not find pleasure in exercising his power. He is a boy with a righteous heart.

「…You talk as if you know the old man personally.」

I pull back my hood.

「Sorry for the late introduction. I am the Flame Hero Fenix.」

Wraith opened his eyes wide.

「It’s you. That’s right, the old man did call you. Man, you’re good at hiding your Magical Energy.」

「You get better at it when you’ve been an Adventurer for a few years.」

「Ahaha, is that so? Who’s the girl behind you? Girlfriend?」

「N-no. I’m the Hunter Lily.」

「Oh, a girlfriend in the party.」

「I already said it’s not like that.」

「Ahaha. But, man am I glad to see you guys. You see, I was on my way to the meeting place, but I kinda got lost.」

「I see…oh, but…」

He seems to think that Lily and I are heading to the same destination.

However, it is actually different.

But I can’t just leave him alone either.

「We’re actually headed for a different place today. If you’re fine with it, we don’t mind guiding you halfway there.」

「Really? OK, got it. Thanks, mister. I am in your hands.」

After that, Wraith woke up the boy who soiled himself. Before Wraith could say anything, the boy ran away.

「I definitely think you went overboard with that child.」

We left the alley and were headed to Wraith’s destination.

「How do Elves punish bullies?」

「Those who have committed a crime will be locked in a Tree Prison, forced to confront their sins.」

In a hollow cavity of a tree just large enough for a person, who is hugging their knees, to fit into, sinners are put in and locked away.

「I see. What if there’s no time or space for that?」

「…It’s not supposed to.」

It is said that Elves have a complete personal relationship with every village, so it’s rare for them to have a dispute with an outsider.

If it becomes a conflict with another village or tribe, it becomes the whole village’s problem, not just the individual. If that happens, it can’t be solved by one person.

「Wow. Well if that works well, then that’s great.」

「…」

Lily had a difficult expression on her face. She’s thinking of something but she doesn’t intend to say it.

「About what happened earlier, does that happen often?」

「Who knows? I just got to this town.」

「That’s not what I’m talking about.」

「Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I know what you mean. Yeah, I only recently became able to use magic. I’m pretty good at it. People bullying the weak? That stuff irritates me. In the end, a stronger person has to stop them, although I’m not a fan of that idea. Using your strength to do boring things like that…」

「So then, for what purpose do you have strength for?」

「It’s proof. I can win because I have strength. I can protect because I have strength. I can do what I think is right because I have strength. I have strength for that purpose.」

「I…see.」

「Strong people are cool. The one who always wins in the end, is cool. That’s what a hero is. No matter what Spirit they have, what face they have, how old they are, what gender they are, how flashy they are or not doesn’t matter…at least, that’s what I think, heheh.」

His voice, which became serious halfway through, turned into a light tone, albeit forced.

「…Have we…met before?」

「Eh? Me and Mister Fen? I don’t think so.」

「I…see. …Mister…Fen?」

「Well, you’re hiding your face right now. I can’t call you by your full name, right?」

Wraith hid his face as well as he walked with us.

「Oh, right.」

He reminds me of someone.

Heroes always win in the end.

That’s Lem’s favorite phrase. But he isn’t the one that came up with it, I feel like someone else did. The words of a certain Hero.

Maybe Wraith is a fan of the same Hero.

「Wraith.」

A white-haired girl completely covered from her neck down by her robe appeared.

「Oh, Fran.」

「I’ve been looking for you.」

「I got lost.」

「…You have a terrible sense of direction. Please don’t walk around on your own.」

「My sense of direction is fine. I just go where I want to.」

「…You’re hopeless.」

「Besides, you always come and get me anyway, so it’s fine.」

「…True.」

The girl’s expression didn’t change, but the edges of her lips moved up slightly.

「Thanks, Mister Fen, Miss Lil. I’ll be fine from here.」

「It certainly seems that way.」

「Uhm, about meeting us…」

「Yup, your secret’s safe with me. I won’t tell anyone about your love affair.」

「I already said it’s not like that.」

「Ahaha. Oh right, Mister Fen.」

「What is it?」

「I don’t know the reasons, but you abandoned Lem, right?」

「…」

「Rest assured. He’s going to reach the first rank in my party. I will never abandon my allies.」

「…Lem has found his own path.」

「…I’ll show him that this path is more fun.」

Having said that, he leaves with a smile.