I let out a sigh of relief after hearing that the reason for wearing it was because he lost a bet and had to wear it as a penalty.
It would be terrible if another person with such perversion added to the already perverted people around me.
And one with a cross-dressing hobby and an attraction to men, no less.
Hmm? Isn’t this better than the foolish fox?
Aside from how grotesque it looks, it doesn’t really harm me.
“So it was just the price for losing the bet? I’m relieved! Actually, I was a little scared! If I had thought of you as my friend all by myself, that would have been sad!”
“Am I crazy to think of you like that in such a way?!”
“Is it just that our tastes don’t match? That’s a relief too!”
“No! I’ve told you several times already!”
“Why are you angry? Did I say something weird?”
I suppose the saying "Innocence is the most painful" applies here.
Even as Garad, who was about to collapse from the heat, held his neck in frustration, the hero just smiled brightly.
“That's why everyone gave up eventually.”
The culprit who caused this situation, the old man, watched the two of them bickering with satisfaction before stepping in between them.
“Both of you, calm down. This will never end if you keep going.”
“This is all your fault from the beginning!”
“True. Garad’s preferences aren’t something we need to discuss right now.”
“I wore it because I wanted to! It’s not like that!”
The old man casually ignored Garad’s outburst, sighed as if to make sure we heard it, and took his seat across from the hero.
“That’s enough. You admitted it yourself. This is all meaningless.”
“I know that too. The future hero made me understand with that small body. But now, it’s hard to stop. As I said before, I am the seal itself.”
“If you disappear, does that mean what’s inside will be released?”
“Something like that.”
Exhausted, I wondered: does that mean everything I just did was entirely meaningless?
A cocky brat had turned the previous hero into a eunuch, and now was getting full of himself! Was this the end?
Hey! Useless god! Don’t just stand there and do nothing after setting all this up!
It was you who ordered this mess, right?!
What is the solution to this? Did you send that message just for this?!
No! Hey! Are you trying to make me look like the villain here? You ordered this!
[Choose how to receive the reward.] [1. Accept it directly.] [2. Pay the victim for their compensation.]
Does the term "victim" even make sense here?
I was the one who got hit first!
What I did was purely self-defense!
Thinking I’d like to slap the face of the useless god while writing this message, I exhaled deeply and chose option 2. It’s probably what the useless god wanted anyway.
I was tempted to choose option 1 with the intention of messing with him, but then it might cause trouble for me too.
[The reward is being granted!]
As the message appeared, exclamations of admiration came from the adults around me. Judging by their relaxed expressions, the reward must have helped solve their concerns.
But why don’t I know anything? I worked hard for this quest, so why isn’t anything being told to me? They should at least let me know what it is! How am I supposed to feel proud if I don’t know?
“It seems like everything I’ve done until now wasn’t completely in vain.”
The hero chuckled in a disappointed voice, and Garad grumbled with venom in his tone.
“But that doesn’t change the fact that it was a stupid thing to do.”
“When have I ever done anything but foolish things?”
“It’s been hundreds of years. You should’ve fixed it by now, you idiot.”
“If I could’ve fixed it, I would’ve done so already.”
The hero, chuckling slowly, stood up and bowed his head toward me.
“I really thank you. Not only did you take on my burden, but you’ve also shown me a kindness. I would like to give you everything I have, but that’s not possible right now.”
“I’ll pass on that. Receiving something from a stinking loser wouldn’t be pleasant.”
“Is that so? I was thinking of giving you something that would be useful right away.”
The hero tilted his head and extended his hand, and a cloudy orb-like sphere appeared on it.
“It’s one of the blessings I had. No matter what injury or curse you suffer, it will give you strength beyond what you originally had for a short time.”
Physical debuff removal. Recovery of mana, divine power, and health. Stat increase.
“Of course, it’s not without a price. It only delays the burden on your body.”
Instead, the skill will cause a temporary action-disabled debuff when it expires.
“It’s best not to use this blessing, but you probably can’t avoid it. You will face many trials ahead. When that happens, this blessing will help you.”
Although I could only truly experience how severe the backlash was once I tried it myself, in theory, it seems fine.
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It’s not just a tool for a reversal, but it’s bound to create various variables.
Considering the kind of situation I’m usually in, always being pushed to the brink of death, this skill would be very useful to me.
...But acknowledging the usefulness of this skill is too depressing. When will I be able to live without any worries?
“However, it seems you don’t need it.”
“Don’t you know that a hero has to offer a suggestion three times? Whether you’re a hero or an animal, I can’t tell.”
When I snatched the item from the hero’s hand, smoke entered my body.
The Will of the Hero? That’s not a name that fits an all-or-nothing reversal skill, is it?
I thought it was a ridiculously grand name, but then I paused when I heard another notification.
[The Will of the Hero responds to the fragment of the Hero’s soul.] [Several sub-skills of the mental type respond to the Will of the Hero.] [The power of inclusion accepts all things.] [‘Will of the Hero’ changes to ‘Hero’.]
Hero?
Unconsciously using an emotional skill, several blue windows popped up in front of me.
[The title given to those who take on the role of salvation.] [The more unfavorable the situation, the more physical ability increases.] [You become stronger when facing evil.] [When performing good deeds, luck increases.] [Resistance to curses increases.] [Resistance to magic increases.] [Mental power greatly increases.] [You gain favor from others.] [Part of the skill is applied to allies.] [Accelerates the growth of allies.] [Hope supports you.]
The description was longer than any skill I’ve ever received, and it was filled with only beneficial effects for me.
Haha. I guess I’ve been walking in the footsteps of a hero all this time, but now I’m officially a hero acknowledged by the gods.
Even though I wonder if it’s okay to be a "Mesugaki Hero," I’ve already become one, so what can I do?
[Failed to resist the Mesugaki skill.]
...
A hero, huh!
It even came with the grand explanation of taking on the role of salvation!
But why did I become a loser in front of the Mesugaki?
Teach me a lesson! Teach me a lesson!
What will you do when a hero collapses in front of a little girl?
“Then we’ll be going now.”
As I was venting my complaints about the useless hero, the old man grabbed me by the nape of the neck.
My body was lifted into the air, and after I shot a glare at the old man, he ignored it completely.
“Take care.”
“Hm? Garad, are you planning to stay here?”
“I can’t leave this idiot alone.”
“I’m fine.”
“I’m not fine. You’re the idiot.”
The old man stared at Garad for a moment before nodding.
“We’ll meet again someday.”
“When that happens, I’ll make sure to put this ridiculous outfit on you.”
“Was that your hobby? That’s why you proposed the bet?”
“Really!? Garad, you—”
“It’s not! It’s not!”
I waved my hand at Garad, who was losing it, and at the hero, who was laughing. They both waved back.
The expressions of the two left behind in the long, dark silence were brighter and more hopeful than those remaining under the sun.
He thought if he went back to the palace, he might never leave again.
Benedict, overly excited, welcomed Arthur, saying that Lucy’s friends were always welcome, and thanks to that, Arthur could spend a comfortable time in Allen's house.
Arthur had heard the wails of knights endlessly during last year’s winter training.
Now, even if he heard them again, they wouldn’t bother him.
In fact, it gave him a sense of superiority.
While others were crawling like dogs, he could be this free.
If enjoying rights without responsibilities is power, then he definitely wanted to hold onto it.
For a moment, Arthur confirmed the overwhelming workload that the First Queen had taken on.
It was true that the First Queen had taken on too much work, but considering that, it was no task for any person.
If he rose to the throne, he would never have time to think alone.
Ignoring the subtle hints to become king, Arthur turned his gaze out the window.
He hoped the messenger sent to the Duke of Kurten would return soon. That way, the story could move forward.
Feeling inexplicably anxious, Arthur clicked his tongue when he saw two men entering through the entrance.
How could the little brother and big brother, who couldn’t even stand in the same place at official events, be here?
Closing his eyes a few times in disbelief at the unrealistic personnel selection, Arthur acknowledged reality when they arrived at the mansion door and quickly hurried downstairs.
“It’s been a long time! Little brother! You’re still smaller than me!”
“I think it’s the big brother who’s too tall.”
“That’s true. The little brother stands out even among the knights.”
“Must be the result of training!”
Arthur blinked as he watched the two of them conversing without any awkwardness, then finally collected himself.
“So, what brings you two here?”
“Little brother! There’s only one thing princes gather to discuss! It’s about the country and the throne!”
“...Little brother, there are two of us now.”
“Oh? That’s true?”
“Don’t listen to this fool. I came to talk about the First Queen. Yes, I have something to say about my mother.”