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

[Arc5] - 41. Not Giving Any Face

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To defeat the "Ten Commandments," the most powerful and fearsome knights' order on the continent, the "Seven Deadly Sins," was assembled. The captain is a former "Ten Commandments" commander, and there's also another former member of the "Ten Commandments" among them.

"Tell me, were you really the former commander of the Ten Commandments? Can't even recognize the magic of your own members?"

In response to Cyd's questioning, Meliodas straightened up, speaking with utmost confidence in the most unreliable tone.

"It's not my fault; I was all about becoming the strongest demon back then, not paying attention to weaker guys. Besides, the Holy War ended when I was unconscious."

"Vice-Captain, this isn't what we should worry about right now; the biggest issue is whether we can trust Gowther," Ban crossed his arms, leaning down to look at Gowther in the mirror. "I mean, although I don't want to doubt a comrade, with Gowther's behavior, he might just betray us to pursue his own ideas."

"Just ask him. Nobody can lie to me—not even a god. Though Gowther's current situation is strange, especially his power," Cyd firmly rubbed Meliodas's head, squeezing his cheeks as if evaluating a piece of meat. "A Ten Commandments member should at least be as strong as Meliodas is now, but Gowther seems so weak."

"True, but calling me a unit of combat power is a bit much, Cyd."

"Gowther is a doll crafted by a great magician, and in this state, he must have erased his own memory for some reason," Merlin picked up a crumpled piece of paper from the ground, summoning a flame to burn it to ashes. "His Majesty can help us since Gowther was entrusted to me by him."

"So, there's no quick fix," Cyd scratched the back of his head. Zaratras was sent to the Druids' village for treatment due to his injuries, and he wouldn't recover for a year or so. Without him, they couldn't prove their innocence, so there was little they could do.

"Our enemy is the Ten Commandments. I haven't been in a war, but my teacher taught me a lot about strategy," Cyd mused for a moment, then snapped his fingers.

"For instance, first figuring out the magic and commandments of the Ten Commandments. Meliodas, you should remember that information, right?"

"Hmmm..." Meliodas tilted his head thoughtfully. "It's been a while. I might not remember everything."

"I'll stop interrupting your alone time with Elizabeth."

"Waaaah—my memory's coming back!" Meliodas dropped to the ground, pounding his head on the floor.

Everyone, accustomed to this, watched indifferently as Meliodas banged his head, all for the sake of being with the not-even-ten-year-old Elizabeth.

"Ah, I remember, all of it!"

Meliodas took the pen and paper Cyd handed him and, in one go, wrote a large amount of information, handing it to Cyd as though turning in an assignment.

"Vice-Captain, here's everything."

"Let me see." Cyd skimmed the paper, where the magic and commandments of the "Ten Commandments were clearly listed, though Gowther's [Selflessness] commandment was left blank, possibly because he was present.

After reviewing it, Cyd raised his eyebrows. It wasn't that he underestimated the Ten Commandments, but nine of them looked like they could be trounced by daytime Escanor.

And one might not even withstand noon Escanor.

"Cyd, the Seven Deadly Sins isn't just the three of us," Meliodas wrote two names on the paper.

"Chandler and Cusack, both of them are top-ranking demons, far stronger than the Ten Commandments. One of them is even my combat instructor."

"Then I'll use your words: the Seven Deadly Sins isn't just us three," Cyd said with a relaxed smile, crumpling the paper and tossing it at Escanor behind him. The flammable paper turned to ash as it neared him.

"If one can't beat them, we'll all take them on together. We're comrades, bound by fate, each journey's end may differ, but we'll never part, sharing each other's burdens for everyone's happiness."

"So, no matter how painful it gets, don't shoulder it alone. I'm here, the other members of the Seven Deadly Sins are here."

This was the first time Cyd attempted a morale-boosting speech. He was genuinely curious how Jason managed to rouse his crew so effortlessly, even if Atalanta looked at him like he was a fool.

Right now, Meliodas and the others were looking at him with that same Atalanta-like gaze, but stopping would be awkward, so he pushed through, despite the silence.

"One day, I will cut down the sins and suffering you carry. That's something I, a former hero, can do. So… say something."

"Hahaha—"

As expected, Meliodas and Ban burst into laughter, while King, possibly mindful of Cyd's feelings, turned his head away, and even Merlin's smile became a little more visible.

"Cyd, I didn't expect you to have such a sense of humor, haha."

Seeing Merlin stifling her laughter, Escanor picked up his pen and paper, writing something hastily; Cyd caught words like "comedy" faintly.

"Alright, alright, this is the Seven Deadly Sins Vice-Captain's speech; show a little respect," Meliodas took a few deep breaths to recover, patting Cyd on the side. "Well, Cyd said all the things I couldn't say myself. That's impressive."

"So, without the Vice-Captain, you'd carry all this alone?" Ban moved next to Meliodas, playfully ruffling his hair. "Cold-hearted, huh? What if I hurt you with something I didn't know about?"

It wasn't a joke—before this, Ban had truly thought he was the most miserable person alive, but compared to Meliodas, his suffering was minor.

"Tch, Ban, you're the same; without Cyd, you'd provoke King just to get turned to stone and battered by wind and rain." Meliodas countered Ban's words with his own charm, just like his power.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt," Jenna pointed at the mirror. "You still have two companions who haven't finished their trials."

"…Let's bring them out first."

Then, with Meliodas and Ban's mischievous urging, Cyd awkwardly repeated his words in front of Gowther and Diane. Just as before, Meliodas and Ban laughed uproariously, Merlin let out a rare chuckle, and Escanor's writing hand sped up.

"Haah... you guys…" Cyd waved his hand dismissively, realizing he might as well get used to this atmosphere.

Laugh all you want; if getting you all, who have each endured such pain, to laugh sincerely is part of the Vice-Captain's job, then so be it.