Ankoku Kishi Monogatari ~Yuusha wo Taosu Tameni Maou ni Shoukansaremashita~-Novel

Chapter 21.4: The Hero’s Visit

… … …

A lot of harlots come this time around as tourists. Maybe Gallios is referring to them.

Though Kuro doesn’t seem to be someone who’s used to such things, maybe he won’t be able to hold it anymore after seeing the women brought by the hero.

The store which provides that kind of service might be experiencing a boom in their business because of those men who saw the women led by that hero just now. Men whose carnal desires got incited by the scenery are definitely flocking those places right now.

I felt it’s necessary so that they won’t assault normal female civilians.

「Well, let’s do our best then」

Kuro is saying so while smiling wryly.

From his tone, it seems that he takes Gallios’s words as a joke. But, Gallios might really be meaning it.

Kuro went out just like that. He might be patrolling around as he already said.

「Peneroa also gave her permission to bring a woman back to your room」

Gallios is saying so to Kuro’s back. Kuro just waves back at him without even turning around.

「Well, I should do my job too, then. Come to think of it, what should we do about those zombies?」

Naturally, I’m referring to the zombie incident last night.

「Almina will try to ask the hero-sama and his party for their help. It’s not like it doesn’t have any connection with the hero-sama either if the enemy turned out to be the Striges」

There’s a demon called Striges.

A living being that similar to the combination of female human and bird.

It’s figure closely resembles a siren living in the southern sea or a harpy living at the center of the mountain range.

The difference between them is the fact that harpies have eagle wings, sirens have wings of seabird, while Striges have wings of an owl.

Maybe because the Striges are a cross-breed between female human and an owl, they are nocturnal.

But, that’s not what makes them dangerous. The most terrifying fact about Striges is the fact that they drink human blood. Moreover, they are a race excelling at necromancy.

And someday, these Striges settled down in the tower built in Rox kingdom’s vicinity.

A lot of people in the surrounding countries fell to them as their prey. Rox kingdom also suffered from the same fate.

The ramparts are useless against them as they can fly with their wings.

Since they were nocturnal, the only time to attack them is during noon. But, the subjugation still failed since those Striges remain inside the tower during the daytime and prepared clever traps by summoning undead to block anyone who enters the tower.

Though I don’t know whether it’s a good thing or not, those Striges didn’t go as far as ruining the surrounding country and have no intention to turn humans into their fodder. Nevertheless, it won’t justify the death of their victims.

The situation changed about a month ago. One of those Striges attacked a member of the hero’s party when that person was strolling at night.

In fact, that Strige was defeated in her own game. [TL: Surprised? Yes, Rember always referred Striges as ‘she’ since all of them are females.]

But, things didn’t end so easily. Somehow, those Striges came to raid the Rox kingdom along with their armies of undead and zombies in the evening after that incident. Maybe it was to take revenge for their comrade’s death.

But, it was a foolish choice. Their undead armies weren’t a match against the hero staying at Rox kingdom; those undead were instantly annihilated by the pseudo-sun he created with his magic.

After that, the hero-tachi headed toward the tower and completely annihilated those Striges without even leaving one of them alive.

Therefore, those Striges are no more. Or that’s how it supposed to be.

The zombies appeared again as if waiting for the day of the festival. Maybe a Striges managed to survive that slaughter.

And that Striges seems to be full of resentment against this kingdom. But, Striges are so strong to the point that it’s hard for us to fight against them. That’s why I decided to borrow the hero’s power.

There’s no way the hero, who’s always kind to woman, will refuse Almina’s request.

「Are you really okay with asking for the hero’s help? Are you really okay with involving the princess in this matter?」

Gallios is saying so with a worried expression.

「As if…. Hero-sama already has so many splendid women. There’s no way he’ll turn his hand toward Almina」

Though I say so, I’m a bit anxious in regards to that matter. The one who proposed to become the hero’s guide is Almina herself, after all. Almina had already met the hero before that. Maybe something happened during that time.

But, even I couldn’t do anything about that. I can’t do anything to the hero, and despite being my lover, Almina is a princess, so I can’t even complain about my troubles.

I hope nothing happens between them.

But, I feel rather uneasy about that.

=== === ===

◆ Dark Knight Kuroki

「That was an amazing sight….」

I recall Shirone’s wonderful attire.

Her appearance remains saved into a separate folder in my brain’s vault so that I can enjoy it anytime I want.

The men along the way where Shirone and the rest passed by were sending passionate gazes toward their procession.

It was natural to see the scenery. Even I myself was unintentionally pulled in by that scene.

It can’t be helped that my lower body reacted due to her appearance after a while.

I would have become the very definition of a pervert if I didn’t wear my mantle.

In the first place, there’s very little stimulation in Nargol. I mean there’s no human in my surroundings. The women of demon race who have appearances closest to the human race are Mona’s aides, and I can’t even approach them since Mona seems to hate me.

Then, I recall about Regena, the human princess whom I saved recently. I think she will let me do ecchi deeds as long as I ask since she’s my slave. But then, I realized that I couldn’t destroy her future just because of a moment of carnal desire.

I want to look after them as much as possible until the end. I think I’ll send her back to the human society. So it’s better to send her in perfect shape for the sake of the man who will become her husband in the future.

Moreover, it’s difficult to walk in my current situation.

Shall I go to that kind of shop to do the deed which I took as a joke last night?

I rejected the offer last night since buying a woman with money just doesn’t click with me.

Everything is Shirone’s fault. That attire is too deadly. Shirone’s butt was completely exposed.

Though we had bathed together in our childhood, I have never seen her in her swimsuit.

She’s grown that much, huh… Her breasts have gotten bigger and her waist has become much slimmer. My heart’s beating loudly upon seeing my childhood friend’s growth.

Could it be that Shirone’s always showing such an appearance in front of Reiji when I’m not around?

I recall Reiji’s face when he passed by the road.

Reiji had a smug look on his face.

Reiji’s expression told everything. “See, you guys can’t even walk on the street with such fine girls on tow, right?” He’s flaunting his girls.

The men who saw Reiji would surely have understood his thoughts.

Though I don’t know why they are wearing such revealing attires, it’s undoubtedly Reiji’s idea.

I’m so jealous since Shirone never let me see her in that kind of attire even if I begged her.

I’m sure that her silent fists will rain incessantly on my body the moment I made that request to her.

I feel depressed when thinking about such things. But thanks to that, I managed to appease my raging lower body.

Let’s do one round of patrol for now, then.

To be honest, the idea of escorting Reiji’s absurd. But, I have promised Rember.

Now then, should I look for the people who are hostile toward Reiji and the rest?

I ascend to the top of the rampart, the highest point in Rox kingdom to see the townscape.

My eyesight improved tremendously ever since I came to this world. I could even see what everyone is doing right now in detail despite seeing them from on top of the rampart.

Let’s try to find suspicious personnel.

I’m looking at the center of the city. There, at a glance, I saw one group obviously saying something dangerous. It was the fan club of Sasaki Rino which I could find even in Holy Republic Lenaria. They were holding a flag with Sasaki Rino’s picture on it.

Could it be that they chased her all the way to this place?… To be honest, I’m shocked by their action.

They are a dangerous group, but the temple knights should be enough to deal with that kind of guys. Let’s just ignore them.

I switch my focus and then notice an abnormality when I try to concentrate at a different place. Come to think of it, why are there crowds of men in the surroundings?

I strain my eyes to take a good look at them again. It wasn’t a dangerous situation.

They were selling the portraits of the women on Reiji’s side. And not just the portrait of Sasaki Rino, all members, including Shirone’s portrait, were also sold amongst the goods. Moreover, it’s the portrait of them in today’s attire.

Maybe it was mass produced with some kind of art printing. It seems they brought quite a number of pictures with them.

I can do nothing but grind myself in frustration for overlooking such important information.

Let’s buy them later.

Next is looking at the right side of the town. Then I found five temple knights in that area with nothing special to note about.

Those temple knights were different from the ones whom I met a while ago.

It’s the second time I’m meeting them. They are the same guys as the one wearing uniform surcoat when I raided Rena’s temple back then.

What are they doing in this kind of place?

The thing that I can consider as a possibility is that it might be because they take turns to rest.

Taking a closer look, they were having a spat with a commoner.

I’m straining my ears to hear their conversation. It seems they were scrambling for harlots.

The temple knights swore their love to Rena and shouldn’t fall in love with other women, but as expected, the reality is different, after all.

Well, it can’t be helped since it’ll only make them suffer even longer to not do the deed after they saw Shirone and the rest in those attires. Rather, that’s the reaction of a normal human.

I glance at the left side of the town for the last time. It seems nothing’s special in there, too. But then, a woman in that place caught my intention. This woman is hiding her face with a hood. She seems like a normal tourist.

But for some reason, I can’t take my eyes off her.

I strain my eyes to have a closer look at her while wondering about it. And then, I’m surprised when I see through her identity.

I will fail to notice her unless I intentionally focus my attention on her.

Why is she in this city?

Don’t tell me a dangerous existence has really come to this city and is aiming for the hero’s life?

I descend from the rampart in hurry.

Then, I dashed toward that girl’s place at full speed.

She finally noticed my presence.

「D… Diehart!?」

The girl is looking at me with a surprised face.

「It’s been a while, goddess Rena」

I greet the woman in front of me.

Though she’s pretending to be a normal human, she won’t be able to deceive my eyes.

The woman in front of me is undoubtedly the one and only goddess Rena.