Editing Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari:Web Chapter 178

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==Grasping Forces==

It’s been four hours since we left.

Firo’s level-drain is being suppressed by Atlas.

Firo's level is declining steadily. Though the level-drain speed has slowed down, it's still severe.


Naofumi: “Atlas, do you know where the power is going to?”

Atlas: “Yes, Firo-chan tells me which way it's going.”

Naofumi: “Okay.”

Firo: “Haaaa… Haaaa…”

Atlas: “Firo-chan?”


Atlas is riding on Firo, and I let Melty drive the carriage.

Rato and Taniko ride along, while Sadina is watching the back.

Firo is getting considerably exhausted.

It’ll be dangerous if we don’t make it there fast.

Motoyasu’s beloved Firo is in a great pinch...

I wonder what that guy is up to now.

Raising that flag is impossible.

That guy isn’t even around when you need him.


Naofumi: “Where on earth is he flying off to?”

Atlas: “I can sense that he is somewhere over there.”


It’s midnight. The dawn will come, but is still far off.


Naofumi: “Worst-case scenario, we have to put Gaelion down. Do you understand?”


I told Taniko directly. Taniko was the closest one to him. Even though Gaelion is technically mine, I feel I have a responsibility to tell her.


Taniko: “… Mmm.”

Naofumi: “That was strangely logical; I thought that you’d refuse it more.”

Taniko: “It’s not like I'm giving up just yet!”

Naofumi: “Well, I know.”

Taniko: “I understand that it'll be a tough decision. However, I refuse to give up.”

Naofumi: “Is that so… then I will get rid of any hesitation.”

Taniko: “I get it! It’s our last resort! But we absolutely have to help Gaelion!”


I’m trying to be as casual as I can.

I understand that Gaelion is what’s tormenting Firo.

Gaelion is a huge asset for us. Getting rid of him is going to be our last option. I want to avoid that as much as possible.


Taniko: “I hate Heroes.”


Taniko sheds tears, and she keeps on crying all the while.


Naofumi: “I’m used to being hated.”

Taniko: “It’s not you.”


I sympathize with her. The other Heroes would never consider others' feelings, but not me.

The one she is thinking of… is it Itsuki? Saving people halfway, the barbarity of that Hidden Justice...<ref>T/N: Perfect Hidden Justice (パーフェクト＝ハイド＝ジャスティス) is the name Itsuki’s using to go undercover.</ref>

But this feeling is something different.

Who exactly have I become?

Where is he flying off to anyway?


Naofumi: “Rato... Where do you think Gaelion is going?”

Rato: “If I were to guess, I think it would probably be Eastern Melromarc.”

Naofumi: “East huh?”


Ah right... If I remember correctly, east of Melromarc is where we fought the rotting dragon.


Naofumi: “That's where we fought the rotting dragon.”

Rato: “I see... he's returning to its territory, right?”

Naofumi: “I think so too.”

Sadina: “What should this Onee-san do?"


While I was talking with Rato, Sadina asks from the back.  I still can’t come up with a solution; there’s also the probability of encountering monsters at this hour.

Actually, there are several monsters on our tail.

Sadina is intercepting them with magic and harpoons.

Atlas, Firo, and Melty are taking care of the front. Firo can’t fight, because she is already struggling to pull the carriage.

It’s unreasonable to force yourself that much.

I also use Meteor Shield to protect Atlas and Firo at the bare minimum.


Naofumi: “I’m trying to think of a way to get Gaelion back to his senses. You should be more vigilant of your surroundings.”

Sadina: “Y-yes…”

Naofumi: “If anyone has any ideas how to help Gaelion, then spit them out. And make it quick.”

Rato: “… Then, maybe... Can’t we just pin him down and yank it out of his gullet? But we need to use a tool that he can't bite through.”

Naofumi: “It’ll be alright. My defense is no joke.”

Rato: “Well, we don’t have to worry about the Count.”

Naofumi: “Rat, can you suppress Gaelion using your anesthetic?”

Rato: “Do you even need to ask?”

Rato shows me a syringe with the drug in it.


Rato: “This drug is quite strong. It's strong enough to placate a dragon for a while.”

Naofumi: “Then I’m counting on you.”


Raphtalia is not here, but the monsters around here aren't tough.

Gaelion’s level is rising little by little, and his stats are getting really high because of the shield’s correction.


Firo’s status-drain reveals his status changes.

It’ll be like fighting a dragon-shaped Firo.

I think I’ll be fine, but the other slaves would be in trouble if they were to take an attack.

If there is a god, he enjoys watching me suffer.


Naofumi: “First, let’s plan this out. Rato, it’ll be good if you can weaken him, even if it’s just a little.”

Rato: “Okay. Will do.”

Naofumi: “Sadina, I'll face Gaelion, and you'll take care of any approaching enemies.”

Taniko: “…And me?”


Taniko trembles while asking.


Naofumi: “Can you fight?”

Taniko: “Errr…  If I do, Gaelion will get hurt and it’ll be dangerous.”


This strong sense of responsibility...


Naofumi: “What can you do?”


I don’t know how Taniko fights either.

I saw her wielding a stick in the beginning, but what how is she fighting now?


Taniko: “I’m good with magic attacks. Among everyone, I'm confident in my power.”

Naofumi: “Hooo…  What kind of magic?”

Taniko: “I'm not sure. According to the magic trainer, she says that the magic I use is different.”


The magic shop owner taught the slaves various kinds of magic. I did ask her to do that, but what did she teach Taniko?


Naofumi: “I don’t understand. What kind of magic are you using if you know what it is?”

Taniko: “It's a magic my father taught me.”


I have a feeling that it's some kind of unique magic.

I don’t know what to make of it.  Maybe I’ll understand it better once I see her fight.

I don’t have to the power to understand the slaves’ ability.


In MMOs, there’s a function that lets you monitor the guild members’ current status when you're raising them.

In raids and castle wars, monitoring your allies will be your lifeline. In MMOs, I can choose my allies by considering their job and level.

I can’t evaluate them if I don’t see how they fight. We'll be wiped out over and over if the party isn't organized.

There’s also a means where they could learn by gaining experience firsthand.

Pairing them with people that know the strategies is a surefire way of doing it.

This is the evil truth because those rules don’t apply now.

This is the very reason that I feel like this is still a game.


Naofumi: “If I pair you with Atlas, can you fight alongside her?”

Taniko: “Uh, yeah.”

Naofumi: “What about Melty?”

Taniko: “The princess? What kind of magic does she use?”

Naofumi: “Water? I think that’s what it is.”


I think Sadina would be compatible with Melty. After all, Sadina is an aquatic-type of Beastman and has a high affinity with the magic that is close to her habitat.


Naofumi: “How about you, Sadina?”

Sadina: “Well, I can do both melee and magic.”


And Rato is the one who understands Demon ecology and Gaelion’s abnormal condition.


Naofumi: “Well then, I’ll be the vanguard, magic-users will fight from the rear, and Sadina…”


Atlas can’t help because she’s suppressing Firo’s curse.

I need more firepower.


Naofumi: “Sadina, please attack from the rear with your harpoon.”

Sadina: “Yes... Yes...”

Melty: “Understood.”

Taniko: “Uh, yeah.”

Naofumi: “We don’t have any choice but to fight like this.”


I just noticed, but this party is estrogen-heavy.

Although I have no problems with Raphtalia, Firo, and occasionally Rishia... I think that this is Motoyasu's kind of party.

I should treat Fohl more kindly. He might have a sister complex, but I’d like a male companion.


Rato: “Count, are you having dirty thoughts?”


Is she an esper?  Do the people in this world also have a sixth sense?

Or is that what you would call a woman’s intuition? Just kidding.


Hours pass, and we finally arrive at the eastern village. Dawn breaks.

Firo's fast, but Gaelion’s flying speed is something else.

The mountains near the eastern village are covered in clouds… It’s really dark.<ref>TLN: just to be clear, he meant that the mountainside is covered in clouds.. not the entire eastern part…</ref>


Villager: “Oh… It’s the Saint!”

Other villager: “It's the Shield Hero!”


The villagers spot us and approach… For some reason, Taniko hid herself in a sheet of cloth.


Villager: “This morning, a villager heard a dragon's cry in the direction of the mountains.”

Naofumi: “There's a dragon that got loose and escaped over there, we're here because we're chasing it.”

Villager: "Uwaaa!"


I didn’t mention that it came from our village for our reputation's sake.

The villagers figure it out anyway, and fall silent.


Naofumi: “Just…”


I looked at Atlas and Firo’s condition.

They looked really tired.

She was able to point out Gaelion's location.


Naofumi: “We've been at this since yesterday, I'm warping us back to our village to rest for a bit.”

Melty: “…but!”

Naofumi: “If we're not in top shape, we might lose. Over exerting yourself is unacceptable, so please rest up for now.”

Melty: “I-I understand.”


I registered the village with the portal shield. It'd be better if I left a message back home. <ref>TLN: He’s referring to the leaving a message to the demi-human village</ref>

Naofumi: “It'd be good if we could get back to the village if something bad were to happen. 「Portal Shield」!”


Having set the waypoint, I warped us all back to the slave village to check if Raphtalia and the others were back yet.

… I can warp 7 people, including me.

It says 6 people, but that's not including me.

In short, I can warp 7 people including me.

I suck at explaining things.

Let’s just say 7 people in total.

Or is it based on a 3 people + my Lv / 20 kind of condition?


Firo and Atlas prop themselves up against a wall and rest alternately.

I rechecked her status.

Firo’s level is still diving slowly. This is dangerous.


Naofumi: “Please relax until it’s time.”

Melty: “I understand.”

Naofumi: “Understand that I can’t make medicine strong enough to suppress it.”

Firo: “Uhnn.”

Melty: “Firo-chan… here’s some water.”

Firo: “Thank you, Mel-chan.”


I ask if Raphtalia made her way back yet, but that's not likely.

I explain how the portal shield works and the cooldown.

I hope that Raphtalia gets back soon, so we can start already.

We're fighting against the clock.


Judging from Firo’s stats, she won’t last for half a day.

I can’t do anything but hope that Raphtalia and the others get back from their training soon.


Naofumi: “I guess it's hopeless...”


The cooldown's over, but Raphtalia isn’t back yet.

We don’t have any choice but to stop Gaelion with just the advance party.

We'll have to prepare for the worst.


Naofumi: “Atlas and Firo, you're staying here.”

Firo: “Please, Master.”

Naofumi: “We don’t need to make the long trek back anymore. The objective is just a stone’s throw away now with the portal shield. Don’t burn out.”

Firo: “But… I want to go.”

Naofumi: “Enough... If you come along, you'd only be a burden. You can barely move; you’re already at your limit.”

Firo: “No… no.”

Naofumi: “Atlas, I'm leaving Firo with you.” (Naofumi)

Atlas: “I understand. Firo-chan, let’s leave it to Naofumi-sama.”

Firo: “But Firo…”

Atlas: “Naofumi-sama is saying that taking Firo-chan along is too much of a load to bear. Even if he didn't order us, I wont let you go.”


Firo reluctantly agreed to stay behind.

Atlas, who has trouble speaking because she's still recovering from her illness, and Firo, suffering from the curse. This is for the best.


Naofumi: “How about you, Melty?”

Melty: “For Firo-chan, I would do anything.”

Naofumi: “Don’t force yourself. You’re going to be the next queen.”

Melty: “I understand, but this is something more important than being Queen.”


Can’t be helped. They are close friends, after all.

After I return to my own world, Firo will probably stay with Melty.


Melty: “Firo-chan! Please wait a moment.”

Firo: “Mel-chan…”

Melty: “Please, go rest up in bed.”

Firo: “Uhnn.”


I hold Firo’s face as she cries, unable to accept her feeling of helplessness.

This is the first time that I've done something like this.

This is too much to bear...


Naofumi: “It’s time to leave. 「Portal Shield」.”


We warp back to the eastern village, and begin to walk towards the mountain covered in dark clouds.

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==Translator Note==
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