I Will Eventually Embark On The Path Of No Return Called A Hero

[Arc3] - 60. This is... The Final Shield

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That day, every Familia in Orario knew that the Pure White Hero did not belong to anyone, nor should he belong to anyone.

Ishtar Familia, who dared to covet the hero, suffered an unprecedented tragedy. More than half of the city's Familia declared a War Game against her, overwhelming the Guild with paperwork to handle the submissions.

Putting aside the two strongest Familia in Orario, the Loki Familia and Freya Familia, even the usually passive Apollo Familia had gone mad.

In short, Ishtar Familia was finished. During the War Game, they were trampled over and over again. To ensure the complete downfall of Ishtar Familia and to give other gods with ulterior motives a stern warning, the Loki, Freya, and Apollo Familia didn't crush Ishtar Familia in one fell swoop but kept applying for War Games. By the end, there were barely any members left to fight.

The Familia's ace, Phryne, was finally brought back only to be thoroughly beaten by Ottar, a Level 7. Unlike Cyd, who, despite his fierce appearance, would never harm her fatally (Phryne being a Level 5 meant she wouldn't die, just suffer some injuries that could be healed with potions), Ottar went all out. According to Freya, she was just too much of an eyesore and needed to be pummeled into the ground.

Interestingly, many female adventurers in male-dominated Familia were especially enthusiastic. One of them was even shouting, "My snack!" as she relentlessly beat the prostitute warriors. As for the male adventurers... many of them fought with tears in their eyes.

Their paradise was, in a sense, being destroyed by their own hands.

But this had nothing to do with Cyd, for he had more important matters to attend to.

"Bell, if you had brought home a puppy or a kitten, I would praise you for your kindness, but..." Cyd crossed his arms, tapping his foot impatiently. "Why did you bring back another person?"

"I'm sorry," Bell replied, lowering his head awkwardly. Behind him stood a nervous fox girl wagging her tail.

"When I found Bell, he was lying on top of this woman," Ryuu bluntly revealed Bell's situation.

"Ahhhh! Miss Ryuu, you promised not to say anything!" Bell cried out, "Teacher, I really wasn't attacking Haruhime!"

"Well, I know you wouldn't dare," Cyd snapped his fingers.

Bell was at a loss for words.

"Um... I should leave," the girl, whom Bell called Haruhime, shrank back timidly, taking a step back. However, she clutched Bell's sleeve tightly with her right hand.

"No, since Bell brought you back, he has a duty to see this through," Cyd glanced at the collar on Haruhime's neck, then closed his eyes. "Make sure you repay him well."

"Yes," Haruhime nodded firmly.

Bell breathed a sigh of relief and handed Hades' helmet back to Cyd. "Teacher, here's your helmet."

"It's not time for you to relax yet," Cyd pushed the helmet into the scales. "Have you thought about how to convince your goddess?"

Bell blinked, then confidently gave a thumbs up, "Goddess is a very nice person!"

"Who knows~"

Hestia must be feeling troubled now.

Ishtar Familia was forced into dissolution, with the goddess herself exiled back to the divine realm. The red-light district became unclaimed territory. According to the usual rules, the spoils of war should be divided among the Loki, Freya, and Apollo Familia, who had the most fun trampling Ishtar Familia.

[Well, how about we give this territory to the Hestia Familia, who almost became victims? She's been struggling in poverty for so long; it's time she got a taste of luxury. After all, it's not right for a hero-in-training to live in a rundown church. She may not care, but we find it quite unsightly.]

Ha ha ha, how generous of you!

Hestia put on a brave face, but she was feeling hopeless inside.

Managing the red-light district? Are you kidding? She's a virgin goddess!

[But what about the children living here? Hestia is so kind; she wouldn't just throw them out, right?]

Loki dealt a solid blow, putting Hestia in a dilemma.

Of course, she wouldn't make anyone homeless, but she could tell that these children didn't become prostitute warriors out of coercion. They chose to indulge in their desires of their own volition. She wouldn't look down on them for that; everyone has their own way of living. She wasn't qualified to judge them, but...

Letting Bell pass through the red-light district every day was absolutely out of the question!

Bell was a good boy, but if he saw it every day, he might become accustomed to it and then, naturally, join in. Dealing with one naughty cat was already enough of a headache. Now they were throwing in a bunch more?

Absolutely not!

As she was reviewing the Ishtar Familia's members, Bell appeared with a curvaceous, delicate fox girl, just as Hestia turned to her profile.

And then, Hestia exploded.

Of course, this was Bell's private matter. If he wanted to save Haruhime of his own volition, he had to take full responsibility. He might easily convince Hestia this time, but what about next time?

Knowing Bell's nature, who knows what other oddities he might bring back in the future? He needed to become self-reliant, especially when it came to dealing with women.

"Why the long face?" While Bell was being scolded, Cyd quietly approached Lili, ruffling her hair.

"I... Is it that obvious?" Lili looked down.

"You look like you're about to cry from anxiety," Cyd shrugged. "You think you're a burden to Bell, so you've kept quiet, right?"

Lili was stunned, then lowered her head further. "Yes, if I tell Bell, I will become his burden. If possible, I want to handle it alone."

"So you can pretend nothing happened and continue adventuring with him, right?" Cyd sighed. "You really are a fool. That's why I worry about you."

"I'm sorry," Lili bit her lip.

"Why apologize? It's because you're like this that I'm willing to entrust Bell to you all," Cyd chuckled. "I'm just worried about that clumsy guy, but it's fine now. With that person's help, everything is taken care of."

Lili blinked in confusion.

"Lili, Bell wants to be a hero, but he's too pure. That's not wrong, for the hero's enemy should not be humanity. He just needs to overcome the impossible and save others," Cyd said, lowering his eyes. "But you understand, right? The people saved by heroes themselves are the hardest trials for a hero to overcome."

"Yes, Lili understands," Lili clenched her fist.

"But now, it doesn't matter," Cyd patted Lili's head. "From now on, he will face many hardships, but at least until he becomes a hero everyone can trust..."

Cyd glanced at the small boy running around Hestia, the corners of his mouth lifting.

"Humanity will no longer be his trial."

"This is the final shield given to him by me, a clumsy rookie teacher."