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

[Arc5] - 27. Trembling

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There exists a renowned group of knights in the Kingdom of Liones. They are the kingdom's indestructible fortress, worthy of being called heroes. However, their notorious record makes the title of "heroes" seem more like a joke.

Only someone like Ban, the Sin of Greed, would rob the kingdom of all its stuffed dolls because he was drunk. Any theft below a certain value wasn't punishable by law, and Ban only took the old, worn-out dolls.

From a social perspective, Ban stole precious memories from children and adults. From a legal standpoint, he only took worthless garbage and was given a mere verbal warning.

Yet, the entire kingdom was filled with the sound of crying children at night, making it seem like a terrifying legend had spread. Even the sobs of adults were mixed in, and Bartra almost thought the kingdom had been cursed.

Fortunately, the Sin of Sloth and vice-captain of the Seven Deadly Sins repaired all the dolls in one night and returned them. Adults knew the truth, but children spread the tale of the "White-Haired Fairy and His Fat Pig Companion."

"The white-haired fairy with fierce eyes takes broken toys by day and has his fat pig companion fix them, quietly returning them by night... hahaha!" Ban laughed so hard that tears streamed from his eyes, the source of his amusement being the recent popular picture book in the Kingdom of Liones, which Meliodas held in his hands.

"Vice-captain, you've become a fairy in a fairy tale! And King, you really are a flying pig, hahaha..."

King's face flushed with anger, but not because Ban called him a pig. He was furious that Ban had stolen precious memories simply because he found it amusing.

"Ban, you can laugh yourself to death," Cyd muttered, giving a light kick to Ban, who was still lying on the ground in uncontrollable laughter. Then, turning to Meliodas, who was seriously reading the picture book, Cyd said, "Meliodas, say something. What if this guy gets drunk again and robs all the women in the kingdom of their underwear?"

"Don't worry, I'll personally punish him then. Elizabeth's underwear is under my protection!" said Meliodas, sitting on an oversized chair, his legs swinging like a child's. Despite his adorable appearance, he shamelessly revealed his desire for the six-year-old Princess Elizabeth.

"But thanks to you all, I've found another excuse to stay in Elizabeth's room lately."

"Captain, Princess Elizabeth is already six. She's outgrown bedtime stories," Escanor said while glancing at Merlin, who sat at the round table, his attention split between polishing a cup and stealing glimpses of her.

Ah~ Lady Merlin is as intellectual and beautiful as ever.

"But I'm not too old to tell bedtime stories. After all, I'm only ten this year and still need Elizabeth," Meliodas said with an innocent smile, patting his chest. His youthful appearance made his words plausible, though everyone around him knew better.

"By the way, Ban, why are you laughing so hard? You're also in this fairy tale."

"Gaah—" Ban suddenly froze, like a duck caught by the throat.

"The fierce-eyed white-haired fairy is clearly you. Cyd's eyes aren't fierce at all," Meliodas said, pointing at the picture of a white-haired fairy that resembled a fox.

"What!" Ban widened his eyes at the book. He had nearly forgotten that white hair wasn't exclusive to Cyd. "Damn it, I don't want to be a character in a fairy tale!"

"You don't need to worry. In other countries, we're the stuff of horror stories," Merlin chimed in, placing a document on the table. "The Headless Knights."

Just to clarify, they hadn't actually decapitated anyone; they had simply buried people up to their necks in the ground. From a distance, it looked like a field of severed heads.

"That's entirely the vice-captain's fault! He buried people, and I thought it looked fun, so I copied him."

"It's just an old habit. I've always done things that way," Cyd said absentmindedly, playing with a wine cup.

"Cyd, you still don't seem to have adjusted," Meliodas said, walking up behind Cyd and slapping him on the back with a bright smile. "You don't look like you're used to acting as part of a group."

"Fighting alongside companions... that's always been a distant concept for me."

"Huh? I thought the vice-captain was popular. Are you being excluded because you're too nice?" Ban, slightly tipsy, squeezed next to Cyd, patting him on the shoulder in consolation. "It's the opposite for me—I've always been alone."

"I think it's because Cyd is too strong. He's always dealing with threats too dangerous for the rest of us," Escanor said, staring into his murky cup. As someone with immense power, he understood the loneliness that came with it.

"Escanor, you're always so perceptive," Cyd smiled faintly. "But now, my worry is how to keep up with all of you. If I fall too far behind, it wouldn't look good for me as vice-captain."

"True, we are the Seven Deadly Sins, the most abnormal knights in the world," Ban declared, throwing his arm around Cyd's shoulder. "So, vice-captain, do your best! We can't have too much distance between comrades!"

Comrades... It was such a distant word for Cyd. After he had gathered all the blessings, he no longer had any "comrades." If he thought about it, maybe when he and Heracles fought the invulnerable Nemean Lion, they had been comrades. The feeling of sharing the burden on his shoulders wasn't bad.

For now, at least here, he could find someone to help carry the weight on his shoulders.

Unconsciously, Cyd's lips curled into a small smile.

"Really, my shoulders have only lightened a little, but you guys better do your best, too. If you fall too far behind, it'll trouble me. If we face a strong enemy, I might just leave you behind."

"Hahaha... Vice-captain sure loves to joke. We're plenty strong! Even if there are stronger foes, there can't be many. Together, we can beat anyone!"

"Ban, there are beings stronger than the Seven Deadly Sins," Meliodas said, his green eyes darkened by the firelight. "The Demon Clan and the Goddess Clan—both are far stronger than us."

"Captain... Are you really going to tell them now?" Merlin sensed Meliodas' intentions but didn't stop him.

"What's this? You've been hiding something, Captain?" Ban keenly noticed that something was off. Meliodas, with his head down, was different from his usual cheerful self; he seemed more repressed and somber.

"It's fine, Merlin. Aren't we comrades?" Meliodas lifted his head, his smile bright as always. "But let me say this first—what I'm about to tell you might be considered treason. Even so, will you listen?"

"Doesn't matter to me—I won't die anyway. I joined the Seven Deadly Sins because of you and the vice-captain," Ban said, still as nonchalant as ever, yet more steadfast than anyone else.

"No matter what the captain does, I'll support him," declared Diane, Meliodas' devoted admirer.

"D-Diane, I'll support the captain, too!" chimed in King, her biggest fan.

"I'm quite intrigued by the captain's topic. Please allow me to stay," said the armored Gowther, as unreadable as ever.

"I-I'd like to hear it, too," Escanor said, scratching his face, lacking confidence. "It might sound arrogant, but the captain probably needs my strength in the daytime."

"Um, can I pretend I didn't hear this and quietly leave?" asked Zaratras, who had come to celebrate with the Seven Deadly Sins, now feeling weak and helpless as he was surrounded by the kingdom's most fearsome knights.