NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42 - Episode 42: The Living Hell of the Hero
Episode 42: The Living Hell of the Hero
~~Cea’s Perspective~~
Where… am I?
“Yes” ”No”
Huh?
Something blurry comes into view.
I… I remember getting punched by the Demon Duke Zaus and falling somewhere.
I’m not sure, but it seems like I’m okay.
“Yes” ”No”
This is annoying.
Are they confirming life or death?
“Yes, I’m alive,” I replied.
Then, a voice echoed in my head.
“The Demon Vomit Sword has been equipped.”
Huh?
What… did you say?
“Hey, what did you just sayyyyy!?”
A foul smell, like rotten garbage, fills my nostrils.
“Gooooo! It stinks! What… what is this!?”
Th-this crooked sword…?
“It’s the Demon Vomit Sword!”
This is the sword I discarded.
I can’t believe it fell to a place like this!
Does that mean the previous choice was about equipping this weapon!?
“Unequip it!!”
“I cannot. This sword is cursed.”
“Dammit!!”
I headed to the church, still holding the sword.
I need to get this curse removed…
“Who’s that guy? He smells… bad.”
“Yeah… the worst. Gross.”
“Mommy. That person stinks. Are they not washing?”
“Don’t point, dear!”
Ugh!!
What humiliation.
I want to get rid of this sword as soon as possible!!
I asked the church for a curse removal.
The priest pinched his nose and said,
“It’s 100 Cozons. I accept.”
Right, money is needed.
“Ah, haha… I don’t have any money right now. Can I pay later?”
“I’m afraid not. Payment is a rule.”
“I-I’m in trouble here!”
“The one in trouble is you. Your stench. Get out.”
Ugh.
I need money.
The only thing in my spatial storage item box is the “Risque Vestments.”
Ugh… I have no choice. Selling this will probably get me 500 Cozons.
I went to the armor shop.
It was run by a woman.
“Oh, it’s you, Cea… Ugh, you stink. What do you want? You didn’t come to raid the pots and chests again, did you?”
“N-No. I’m here to sell armor today.”
“You smell, so hurry up and show me!”
I placed the Risque Vestments on the counter.
“That’ll be 100 Cozons.”
“What!? Are you kidding me!? This was worth 1000 Cozons! I should be able to sell it for 500 Cozons at least!!”
“I don’t know about that. If you have a problem, go somewhere else. Now, get out.”
You bastard!!
Looking down on me.
I reluctantly sold it.
Ugh, can’t be helped.
I paid 100 Cozons and removed the Demon Vomit Sword.
“Oh… I’m penniless.”
I’m hungry, and my body hurts.
I want to eat and get treatment, but I don’t have money.
I staggered back to Hajime Village.
If it’s my village, I can order the villagers around.
I’ve educated them, so it’s convenient in times like these.
As soon as I arrived at the village, I collapsed.
This is bad. I can’t muster any strength…
“Huh… Where am I?”
When I came to, I was on a bed.
“This is my house.”
“Ah, the village chief.”
He’s an octogenarian.
(Note:An octogenarian is a person who is in their eighties, typically aged between 80 and 89 years old.I don’t know how it connects to the next sentence though or anything to the story)
Since I’ve educated him through violence, he’s useful.
“Hey. I’m hungry. Give me something to eat.”
“Hmm. Then, eat this.”
He brought out a dried sweet potato.
“Don’t mess with me, old man! Do you want me to educate you? I’m a hero!”
“That’s an appropriate meal for you.”
What!?
This guy… What an insult.
Maybe he needs education before I punch him.
I showed him the back of my right hand.
“Look at this! It’s the Hero’s Proof! You have a responsibility to provide me with a delicious meal! It’s natural for villagers to respect heroes! Prepare a better meal…”
I stopped, feeling something odd.
Huh…?
My right hand should be glowing pale blue, but… it’s… brown with a crest!?
“Fufufufu. A letter arrived for this village.”
“A… a letter?”
What’s this!?
More importantly, this crest…
“It was from a man named Chin, the weapons merchant.”
“W-What!? Chin!? That bastard!!”
“No, no. He’s reputed to be a fair man around here. It was a letter from such a person. I believed it.”
“W-What did it say?”
“Cea wants to retire as a hero and become a slave, it said.”
“Don’t joke with meeeee!! Do you really think I’d think that!!”
“Hahaha. Well, don’t be so modest.”
“T-That’s not what I meant!!”
“Chin’s letter also mentioned that you felt guilty and wanted to atone for your sins to the villagers.”
“T-That’s a lieeeee!!”
“In proof of that, it was written that Cea has relinquished the Hero’s Proof and is now in a state where a contract can be made at any time.”
“W-What does that mean!? A contract!?”
Th-This brown crest…!
Isn’t this the Hero’s Proof!?
Wh-What is this crest!?
“That’s the slave crest.”
“W-What!?”
“You and I have entered into a master-servant contract. Following Chin’s instructions, the contract was made immediately for you, who was unconscious.”
“Don’t mess with meeeee!!”
I stormed out of the village chief’s house.
Ugh, this crest… It won’t disappear even if I rub it.
D-Did I become a slave?
Noooooo!!
This is bad.
Tears won’t stop.
I have to rely on my master now!
The one who treats me the kindest in this village is Master Gebarugonza!
She looks like a gorilla, but she’s incredibly kind, like an older sister.
Especially since Mishiri is gone.
If it comes to it, I’m willing to lose my virginity to Master Gebarugonza.
Haha. At this point, even a gorilla woman is fine.
Master has been wanting me for a while. Haha. Maybe I’ll turn Gebarugonza into my sex slave.
“Master!!!! I’m homeeeeee!”
“Oh… Cea. You’ve returned.”
“Huh? Are you going somewhere?”
“Cea… I’ve heard rumors about you.”
Eek!
Has news of me becoming a slave spread already?
Well, whatever. I’ll feign sadness, gain sympathy, and then straight to bed…
“That’s right. I… I don’t know what to do anymore.”
I came here to embrace you. Hehehe.
I’ll grope those muscular breasts until they’re soft and squishy!!
“You… you were imprisoning a girl, weren’t you?”
“Huh?”
“A girl named Stasa. You were slapping her cheeks, not giving her food, doing terrible things, right?”
What!?
What’s that about!?
“That’s… that’s not what it looks like! She was a spy for the Demon Duke! I had her as a hostage!”
“A hostage… using such cowardly tactics. I can’t believe you’re a hero. Thinking of you as my disciple makes me truly ashamed.”
“T-This is part of the plan!”
“You’re expelled.”
“W-W-W-W-W-W-WHAT!?”
“We won’t meet again.”
“Masterrrrrrrrrrrrr!!”
“Chin is a weapons merchant. He showed interest in my greatsword-making skills and hired me as a swordsmith. So, I’ve found a job already.”
You gotta be kidding meeeee!!
“You should continue on with your life. Farewell.”
Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
“Fufufu! So, Cea, get ready to till the fields. Slaves like you don’t get breaks.”
“You old man! I’ll kill youuuuuuuu!!”
“Hmm. Educational guidance.”
In an instant.
Lightning surged through my whole body.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
“Don’t forget you have the slave crest. You can’t use violence anymore. Fufufufu.”
Noooooo!!
Am I going to be exploited by this old man for the rest of my life!?
This is hellllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!
☆
~~Demon Duke Zaus’ Perspective~~
We were having a party.
It was to celebrate our success in defending the Demon Duke’s territory from the Hero’s invasion.
“Lord Zaus… What do you think of this outfit?”
“Bwahahaha!”
I almost spit out my drink involuntarily.
Meel was wearing a revealing outfit that looked like a swimsuit.
“Th-That outfit…”
“It’s called the Risque Vestments.”
No, I know.
It’s just a piece of armor that looks good, with no effect. It’s one of the service events, but the amount of fabric is too little… T-Too erotic.
Meel blushed and smiled.
“Could it be that you wore it to please me?”
She nodded.
What a thoughtful caretaker.
And behind her was Arjena, who was also wearing the Risque Vestments.
“Even you, Arjena!?”
“D-Don’t misunderstand! Meel said to wear it, so I tried it on. It’s just out of curiosity!”
She’s completely red.
Her embarrassed appearance is quite something.
And next to her was Mishiri, who was also dressed the same.
“Y-You too!?”
“I-I caused trouble for you, Lord Zaus… So I thought you might be happy…”
W-Well, I’m happy, but…
“I’m the only one with a wider area of fabric!”
And even Caphrodyte. Hers is clearly a swimsuit.
“I have no choice. Your bra always slips off, so…”
“What’s that supposed to mean!? Are you saying my breasts are small!? They’re ample, you know!! Look!”
Sigh.
“Don’t fight, Caphrodyte. It suits you quite well.”
“What! Zaus!”
And she clung to me.
“You said it looked good on me, right!? Right!?”
“If that’s how you heard it, then yes, it does.”
“Haha! I wanted to show it to you!”
“Is that so? Thank you.”
“Hehehe. Could you say it once more?”
“What is it?”
“‘It suits you. You’re cute.'”
“Something extra is attached to your words, isn’t there?”
“I’m telling you!”
“No, I only said it once.”
“What?! Geez! Zaus is so tsun! Show me some dere!”
“I’m a demon, so I can only be tsun.”
“Geez, Zaus!”
Everyone laughed at this.
Perhaps Caphrodyte is the mood maker.
After that, we played games together, including monsters, and enjoyed eating snacks.
The next day.
Meel showed a serious expression.
“Lord Zaus. I have a message from the Demon King.”
Hmm.
Since we defeated the hero.
If it were a boss, they would give their subordinates a reward.
“The message is to hand over all of Zaus’ territory to the Demon King’s domain.”
What?
“All of Zaus Town’s harvest will be managed by the Demon King’s domain.”
Oh, come on.
That’s absurd.
Zaus Town is the fruit of our labor.
The city developed because monsters and humans cooperated.
And now the Demon King wants to control it?
Is that even allowed?
I won’t stand for being exploited by a boss in this life like I was in my previous life.
Alright.
I’ll do it.
“Meel, convey this to the Demon King’s messenger.”
“Yes.”
“The territory of Zaus, the Demon Duke, belongs to me.”
“Huh?”
“I won’t give a single grain of wheat. The Demon Duke’s domain will be ruled by me.”
“B-But, that’s…”
“Yeah, it’s a declaration of war.”
Haha.
After the hero, now the Demon King is the enemy.
Interesting. Haha.
“I will rule this world. I will make the Demon King’s domain mine too. I, the Demon Duke, will turn this into a world of darkness.”
All the people will bow down to me.
They will work for me and live for me.
Even the Demon King!
Haha.
“I am the ruler of evil!!!”
Gobtarou muttered quietly.
“Hey, Arjena-san. Gob thinks that if Lord Zaus were to rule the world, it would become a happy and peaceful place.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
“Hey, you two!! Keep your voices down!!”
Watch me, Demon King.
I will never lose.
The Hero’s Proof on the back of my right hand emitted a pale blue light, ominously shining.
Chapter One. End.
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Original Author’s Comment
Thank you for reading this far!
We’ve finally reached a stopping point.
Thanks to all of you, it’s been a huge hit!
From the next chapter, the Demon King arc will begin.
If you’ve found it enjoyable so far, please give it a ☆ rating below.
It will boost the author’s motivation and make it easier to provide you with more work.
There are so many comments, and I can’t reply to all of them.
But I read them all, so feel free to leave your thoughts.
It’s really encouraging!
Chapter One is eligible for the Kakuyomu Contest. Therefore, any typos corrected after February 1st will be made after the contest ends.
From Chapter Two onward, it’s excluded from the contest, so typos can be corrected at any time.
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https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330668980097902