Maybe it was just his imagination, but simply staring at that scene made a feeling quietly crawl into his heart, as though the end of the world was about to arrive. Like some invisible omen, it silently guided him and foretold that the road ahead would inevitably be surrounded by deep darkness.
A trace of gloom unconsciously appeared on his face as well.
The girl who had been watching him the whole time caught it, and lightly tugged on his sleeve with a bit of unease.
"Lord Ash."
"It's fine. I'm just worried it'll rain before we get back."
"Is that so? Then it should be fine."
Even Sense could tell he was lying, but she chose not to expose it. She only nodded slightly and continued tugging on his sleeve as they returned together to their temporary base.
———
At the base, Frieren was still sulking and feeling heartbroken over her lost spending money.
Fern had already stopped paying attention to her and silently patted the blankets, occasionally muttering in regret about how there wasn't any sun today.
After returning briefly, Ash and Sense headed out again one after another, each going somewhere different.
He didn't know where Sense went, while he went to notify the kingdom's spies to closely monitor that assassination squad. He also had people continue investigating the Sword of the Hero and ordered them to secretly bring clergy members to the Village of Swords for identification. Once the information was confirmed, they were to report back immediately.
On the way back, he bought a rocking chair. Afterward, he simply lay on it, rocking back and forth while looking at the open window, silently thinking about preparations for the future.
Ubel, who had nothing to do, sat on the armrest beside him and happily swayed along.
Time slowly passed like that, but... the day before the National Day celebration, something finally happened, and it was an incident that shocked the entire imperial capital.
Frase, captain of the Imperial Capital Magic Special Forces and one of the Empire's and humanity's strongest mages, was found dead on the street alongside one of her team members while returning home at night.
The team member died from poison, while Frase had numerous injuries and had also been poisoned.
To be exact... the poster girl secretly stabbed her in the back first. Then the librarian suddenly manipulated matter and smashed the buildings on both sides of the street toward her.
The shopkeeper fired a hidden arrow through a building window and accurately hit her shoulder. The priest and nun used Goddess Magic to temporarily block off sound and air.
Every weapon used by the assassination squad was coated with poison. With careful planning and a surprise attack, Frase, this famous top combat force of the Empire, already heavily injured from the start, was killed on the spot, while every member of the squad successfully escaped unharmed.
"As expected of the top assassination squad chosen to kill Serie. They're really good at dealing with mages."
Sitting on a bench in the park and looking at the newest report in his hand, even Ash couldn't help praising their abilities.
Although they couldn't do anything against someone like him, a warrior and mage combined, against fragile glass-cannon mages, these assassins, who couldn't even be detected by Frieren when hiding their presence and who would use any means necessary, really didn't have much trouble killing mages.
Even Frieren and Fern would be in serious danger if they were targeted.
And once the assassination squad made their move, they immediately became the Empire's number one target, causing Ash to make a special trip to the church.
He personally encouraged everyone, gave them a huge bonus, guaranteed their safety, and arranged new residences for them, right beside his own base. He also told them not to casually go outside during this period.
After all, he still needed to use them as bait and see if he could lure out any powerful figures.
If they could even lure out the possible hero, that would be even better.
———
[The First Day of National Day]
The kingdom's spies sent word through magic tools that it had already been confirmed the Sword of the Hero was fake, but where the real Sword of the Hero had gone was still unknown.
During what should have been a festive season, not only was Ash in a heavy mood, even the imperial capital felt the same.
Although magic fireworks were being launched throughout the city, there weren't many people on the streets celebrating.
The guards and even the military were patrolling through the city, filling the air, which should have been festive, with tension instead.
"On the day before National Day, Frase, captain of the Imperial Capital Magic Special Forces, was assassinated. That's basically a huge slap in the Empire's face."
On the street, Frieren stared at a tall bronze statue and muttered to herself, though her gaze kept drifting toward Ash beside her.
Fern was much more direct as she quietly asked, "Lord Ash, this wasn't your doing, was it?"
"Do you all distrust me that much? At this point, why would I do something that provokes the Empire? Isn't it possible their assassins finally got fed up with unfair treatment and rebelled?"
"More importantly, who is this uncle? Why do I feel like I keep seeing statues of him everywhere?", Sense knew the full truth of things, yet only raised a hand and pointed at the bronze statue before them.
"Because this is the great mage Flamme. Of course the Empire has statues of her everywhere."
Frieren gave Sense a meaningful glance but didn't question her further. Instead, she looked back up at the statue and sighed softly as she explained, "Flamme was the founder of human magic and the hero who taught magic to the Empire a thousand years ago. Without her, the Empire wouldn't have its current prosperity. The Empire probably wouldn't even exist now. So National Day is also a festival praising Flamme's achievements."
"But I remember Flamme was a woman?"
"The Empire has always tended to exaggerate and glorify its heroes. Of course, only the dead ones. So they always 'optimize' people a little."
"Wait, I heard from Lord Ash that Lady Serie was Flamme's teacher and even the adoptive mother who raised her, right?"
"I know what you want to say, but I don't understand politics, so I can't answer that question. And they really are ungrateful people. Maybe nobles are just like that?"
Even though this country was practically her master's life's work, Frieren showed no mercy in her evaluation. But when the topic turned to nobles, she started staring at Ash again.
Normally at times like this, he would've smacked Frieren for looking down on people like that, but...
"I'm not a noble. Besides, I've always thought the people around me are more important than countries or anything like that. And by the way, all of you are more important to me than the kingdom."
Unexpectedly, he only smiled gently and brushed his fingers over the heads of the three girls like plucking strings.
That action made Frieren frown.
"How many times do I have to say it? Stop touching my hair. Also... you actually said something this cheesy. So my hidden savings getting scammed really did have something to do with you?"
"You're still thinking about your savings after all this time? Did you get scammed again yesterday?"
"The magic potion I bought yesterday morning for research already lost its effect today. And that thing cost me... one gold coin!"
"I'm curious. How much savings do you even have left?"
"None of your business!"
Just remembering that her last large-denomination coin had been scammed away made Frieren pout so hard she nearly cried. She immediately turned her head away and ignored this guy who kept bringing up sore subjects.
"Looks pretty bad..."
Already used to this daily routine, he didn't care and simply patted her head.
Seeing this, Fern couldn't help showing great surprise.
"Lord Ash..."
"What?"
"You actually aren't mocking her."
"So what kind of person do you people think I am?", The strange surprise made him pinch Fern's soft cheeks, "I'm a gentle and kind good person. How could I mock my companions?"
"But normally you'd definitely say something like 'you deserved it.'"
"Don't talk nonsense. How could I say something so cold-hearted to my close friend?"
He released her cheeks and rubbed them a little.
Fern didn't care about the action and instead stared directly into his eyes as though investigating something, mercilessly exposing him:
"But last time Lady Frieren bought that pot, you did say she deserved it."
"That just means my conscience suddenly awakened and I became kind-hearted."
"Did something happen?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. You just feel a little strange, so I'm a little uneasy too."
"What is it?"
He shook his head with a laugh, then gently rubbed her head again, his fingers passing through her purple hair.
"It's fine. There's nothing in this world that can kill me. I promise you."
"So something really did happen?"
"...."
'What is going on? Usually this kid is pretty slow, so why did she suddenly become sharp now?', Ash silently shifted his gaze away a little.
Fern immediately pressed her cold hands against his face.
"When you're asked about something you don't want to say, you always do this... Avoid my eyes. Please tell me honestly. What exactly happened?"
"It's fine. Everything is still under control."
"What exactly is it?"
"It's not a big problem. It's just that someone pulled out the Sword of the Hero."
Although he didn't really want to say it, under Fern's expressionless questioning, he still revealed the only thing that had been worrying him recently with a troubled expression.
At first, Fern subconsciously nodded and didn't think there was any issue. But after thinking deeper, she frowned. Even Frieren, who had been depressed earlier, straightened her face and looked over in shock.
"The Sword of the Hero... really? That thing nobody has ever pulled out actually got pulled out? Why?"
"If you ask me, who am I supposed to ask?"
"Is an unprecedented world-ending crisis about to appear? Are you the world-ending crisis?"
"I don't think so."
Only on this matter did he deny it completely. At the very least, he had never thought about destroying the world or wiping out humanity.
"Then the Goddess hates you?"
"You already know the answer, so why ask? Also, why do you think that if the Sword of the Hero was pulled out, it must be to deal with me? Do I really look that much like a bad person?"
He flicked Frieren on the forehead, making her cry out in pain before holding her head and angrily saying, "What was that for? Wasn't I trying to help you think of solutions?"
"Actually the problem isn't that serious. As long as we find the hero before the Empire does, then use royal authority to sentence them to death... Cough! I mean recruit them under us."
"Hm? That actually might work."
Once the idea came out, even Frieren subconsciously hit her palm in realization.
"And from the Village of Swords to here, they definitely have to pass through the kingdom if they don't take a detour."
"If the hero refuses or resists the kingdom, then they are no longer a hero and probably won't even qualify to use the Sword of the Hero anymore."
Sense, who had been gloomy these past few days, suddenly had her eyes light up after hearing the idea and nodded in agreement.
"And refusing royal orders would also make them a complete criminal."
Even though nobody knew how the Sword of the Hero chose its wielder, if they were truly a hero, then they shouldn't refuse royal orders, no matter how unreasonable.
At least, that's how most stories and the rules of this world worked.
Although the plan Ash proposed sounded pretty good, Sense also felt it was the safest method.
After all, heroes had never succeeded against the pressure of a nation. They didn't even need the king himself; nobles alone were always enough to suppress them.
After all, forget a hero who merely pulled out the Sword of the Hero without achievements, even Frieren's group, who had already successfully defeated one Sage of Destruction and sealed the Sage of Corruption and were about to challenge the Demon King, still got forced by nobles in the north to help find a lost family heirloom sword first. If they failed, they would've been imprisoned.
And despite having no clues at all, they were still forced to search for a very long time.
If it were the king's orders instead, could the hero refuse? Definitely not, unless they wanted to become criminals.
And under this world's system, did Ash, who controlled a kingdom, really need to fear a hero? That was something a proper Demon King needed to worry about. He wasn't a Demon King. He was the ruler of a human nation.
Of course, the theory sounded reasonable at first glance, and in reality it was indeed very workable.
But after thinking deeper, Sense still felt it wasn't that safe. In truth, nobody knew what the Sword of the Hero really was like, what limitations it had, or what abilities it possessed.
Was the person using the Sword of the Hero really a hero? What if it was an evil person? After all, even when humanity had once been nearly wiped out by demons and lost two-thirds of its population, the Sword of the Hero still never moved. None of the heroes who constantly saved the world and fought demons had ever pulled it out.
That historical experience also made Fern feel, after thinking carefully, that things wouldn't be so simple.
But during the festival, she didn't say anything more. She only leaned against the railing of the viewing platform, overlooking the streets and fireworks below as she softly muttered:
"The Sword of the Hero that nobody pulled out for so many years suddenly got pulled out, will it really be solved that easily?"
"Wait a second, Fern."
"Lord Ash?"
Feeling the warm touch of a large hand on her head, Fern looked completely confused.
Ash, however, had an extremely serious expression. He even couldn't help glancing around before pausing briefly at one spot. After basically confirming nobody else was on the viewing platform, he directly scolded the three girls, "Aren't all of you misunderstanding one key point?"
"What thing?"
His sudden seriousness made Sense tilt her little head, as though question marks were floating above it.
Frieren also said unhappily with an expressionless face, "We're helping you think of ideas, and you're actually getting an—Ow?"
Before she could finish, he flicked her forehead again. Looking coldly at the girl clutching her head, he seriously said, "That's exactly the problem! I haven't even done anything yet, so why is every one of your assumptions based on me becoming the Sword of the Hero's target? You're all acting like the Sword of the Hero exists only to deal with me. Since when did I become the Demon King? Or did I do something like threaten the continent or wipe out nations and races?"
"T-That..."
"That's true... I guess not?"
"...."
After hearing this, neither Frieren nor Fern could explain themselves. As for Sense, she simply fell silent out of habit whenever she didn't know how to answer.
'Do I really seem that terrible in these people's eyes? Or are my goals really that huge?', Looking at the guilty-looking trio, Ash felt mixed emotions and didn't even know what to say to them anymore.
Although those words earlier were partly meant to comfort them, he himself actually felt the plan probably wouldn't work that well.
After all, if the Goddess really was targeting him, then the hero's qualifications wouldn't be so easily revoked, and the hero wouldn't be so easy to deal with either.
[T/N: I just found out that it is a Multiversal fanfic so next world will be 'I Am a Spider, So What?'. Hope you enjoy it and have a great day.]
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