Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari:Web Chapter 128

Hero's Treatment

“Thank you, Hero of the Shield-sama~!” (Random citizens)

“Hero-sama~!” (More random citizens)

I was heading towards the castle. However, because Firo had already gone ahead, I rode in the carriage provided by the queen. The citizens of the Castle Town waved at me like I was in the middle of a triumphant return.

Such materialistic guys.

Well, I knew that the population had that kind of simplistic thinking from anime and history.

I waved back with no problems. If this was a few months ago, wouldn't there even be trash flying around?

No matter what, I was the devil of the shield.

Speaking of which, after we overcame the first Wave, I was glared at as if saying 'why are you there?'

I'd be delighted if I could just receive the proper appreciation, but I just get cheated.

Before long, I entered the castle and proceeded to the conference room.

The troops from the Allied Forces were waiting together with the queen.

“Hero of the Shield-sama, this is in appreciation of your efforts in suppressing the Spirit Turtle. Really, thank you very much!” (Queen)

“Your introduction is good. I'd like to hear the status report in relation to the Wave.” (Naofumi)

The status of the Wave and other topics, I have a mountain of things I want to ask.

The Spirit Turtle was a state of emergency so everything is in chaos, but there should be a lot that they've investigated already.

“......I understand. Currently, the Hourglasses of the Dragon's Era throughout the world have stopped.” (Queen)

“Throughout the world?” (Naofumi)

“Yes. Every hourglass has stopped.” (Queen)

“There was a blue object inside the Spirit Turtle that resembled an Hourglass of the Dragon's Era, that too?” (Naofumi)

“Ah, Naofumi-sama.” (Raphtalia)

Raphtalia raised her hand.

Raphtalia and Firo came back after fighting in the heart, so maybe they know.

“This is about when we suppressed the Spirit Turtle, but when we were returning from the heart, I saw that hourglass go *poof* and disappear.” (Raphtalia)

“What?” (Naofumi)

“Everything disappeared; I saw it turn into a bright light and vanish.” (Raphtalia)

What does that mean?

I looked again at the hourglass with the time of the invasion of the next Wave.

As I thought, there's about 3.5 months remaining.

“That matter is currently under investigation. We will report it in due time.” (Queen)

“I understand. I don't know if only the heroes can realize it, but even on my side, the hourglass's Wave arrival prediction time has stopped.” (Naofumi)

“Alright..... We'll also ask the Seven Star Heroes about their side.” (Queen)

“However, three and a half months are projected on another hourglass. Objectively looking at that...” (Naofumi)

Immediately, the atmosphere became heavy.

I don't think I was wrong to reveal that, like in a chain reaction, there would be the appearance of a monster after the spirit turtle.

Since it was the four spirits, there should be a Phoenix, Tiger, and a Dragon. (Suzaku, Byakko, and Seiryu respectively)

“The time limit is 3.5 months. To prepare until then would be the appropriate action.” (Naofumi)

“As you wish.” (Queen)

“What's the damage count?” (Naofumi)

“......it's fortunate that only 7 towns, 4 fortresses, and 2 castles have been decimated. If more villages were included.....” (Queen)

“I see.....” (Naofumi)

“The victim total is......the count has not been finished yet.” (Queen)

It's not looking great. There's still the danger of subsequent appearances of monsters capable of causing this much damage.

“Jeez, what's become of those 3 heroes?” (Naofumi)

To do this sort of thing and leave it behind, yet not showing themselves...

They weren't inside the Spirit Turtle and they didn't come out from the back.

Where was Itsuki – who Rishia was worrying about – wandering about?

The most likely scenario was his death.

However, the image of them dying didn't cause any excitement in me.

Those guys were just irritating rascals and annoying with their fake heroics.

“Is there no report of seeing them anywhere in the Spirit Turtle?” (Naofumi)

“Not at present. We sent out searches everywhere, but we don't even know where they are.” (Queen)

“Hmm....” (Naofumi)

It's an enigma. What were they trying to do by breaking the seal?

I hope that it's not something like there was a strong weapon hidden in a labyrinth underneath where the Spirit Turtle was sealed.

If that's the case, it won't be forgiven with just a punch.

“And, this is concerning those heroes who broke the seal, but...” (Queen)

“Hm? Do you have something?” (Naofumi)

“In order to avoid more disorder, we've concealed the identities of the ringleaders who broke the seal.” (Queen)

“What?” (Naofumi)

“We're concealing it for now, since an inquiry about who's responsible will produce a big risk, so....” (Queen)

......Indeed, that is the case.

If the country announces that this great disaster happened because of the Four Heroes, it's quite capable of causing a disservice to unrelated heroes as well.

Three of the Four Heroes caused this calamity. It's not necessarily true that other heroes won't do it.

But before that, the chaos......in this case, it's the heroes' credibility.

Looking at the triumphal return, I can sympathize with how much the inhabitants of this world expect from the heroes.

If it was discovered that heroes were responsible for this, there just might be a riot.

And having to suppress the riot and the waves simultaneously, everything would eventually fall together into mutual destruction.

The country should choose not to publicly announce the truth, but instead assert that the Spirit Turtle was defeated by the hidden heroes. That sort of visage is better.

This feels like the so-called result of 'playing hot potato with the responsibility issue'.

It's a common occurrence but, it's quite.....

“Also, the heroes are extremely powerful beings, so we will be needing an equal strength to administer justice.” (Queen)

......Catching them will also be a pain.

Which is why we have to conceal the truth.

“However, isn't this truth already well-known?” (Naofumi)

“It's still at the stage of gossip. That said, it seems with each nation being silenced, there won't be much influence on the support of the populace. We're persistently announcing that this incident was from a Wave.” (Queen)

One's livelihood would also be affected when the heroes that they believe in, even when there are waves that hint towards the end of the world, promote havoc.

It can't be helped; you can't even understand it.

“......Nevertheless, there are still rumours.” (Queen)

The queen added a supplement.

“I've spread a rumor about being punished so that it won't appear to the other heroes as anything more than simple gossip. Of course, I’ve made a large publicity campaign about the Hero of the Shield, Iwatani-sama, being very active, but.... just from looking at the status quo in the Castle Town, it doesn't seem very necessary.” (Queen)

“Half-hearted! Catch the ringleader! Just fighting the waves? Isn't this all just punishment for me!?” (Naofumi)

Unable to put up with it all, guys raising a commotion appeared.

In this case, catching said people and turning them into slaves would be good, but....they can't do that, can they?

If enslaving was possible, it would have been more efficient to enslave us four when were were first summoned.

With the high-grade slave crest, it could even be hidden from the masses.

To begin with, the fact that Trash didn't enslave me is proof enough.

It seems improbable even if I inquire about it now.

The problem is that hard-to-handle guys would be useless as slaves.

Well, thanks to that, I didn't end up becoming a slave.

“Have I mentioned it's because it was determined that Iwatani-sama and the Seven Star Heroes could do this?” (Queen)

“Grr...Nevertheless, couldn't you just face everyone and say 'we are the country' or some other meaningless line!?” (Naofumi)

Their problem is that, isn't it?

Even if they've become rotten, those guys are still heroes, so it's hard to tell their followers to arrest them.

Stopping a riot is also a pain.

If it was me, I’d fight, but it'd be quite severe to fight with my status having fallen to just 30%.

At the very least, I shouldn't be fighting until I’ve fully recovered.

I do have the option of leaving it to Raphtalia and the others, but I don't know about trying that.

I don't want to burden them with that risk.

“If course if it's possible. I’ll have you participate in waves as you've been doing until now. However, heroes are people who possess power. There's always the danger of them going on a rampage. Can't you understand that we can't even say that there are no countries who watch vigilantly for the opportunity to try to assemble heroes?” (Queen)

“Melromarc, you vixen! Are these your words!?” (Naofumi)

“Certainly, our country has its faults. But this argument should have already finished. What do you intend by bringing up this political question again? Are you saying that there aren't people who would use powerful heroes as government tools?” (Queen)

......So troublesome.

If Melromarc and the other countries could just offer heroes a prize and not penalize them, the heroes would immigrate to a nice country by themselves, but there's a risk of becoming a tool of the government.

That's why I can't judge them strongly.

I had already rejected any invites from nice countries before I even knew of them, so I couldn't have done that though. If it's them, it might be possible that they have.

Really, this group is too much; we're not getting anywhere.

There's even 1 person in the party, me, who also thinks that.....

“I understand the hero's treatment. Also, in regards to just this disaster......is reconstruction possible?” (Naofumi)

The tension of the Allied Forces suddenly dissipated with my query.

Ah, indeed it was quite intense.

“The Allied Forces have taken damage from the infiltration and induction.” (Queen)

“I'm sorry for not being able to defend against it all.” (Naofumi)

As the Hero of the Shield, I originally had to take action so there wouldn't be any victims. In spite of this, a substantial amount of damage has been dealt.

“No.... they would have been satisfied. Everyone who participated in the infiltration said that they could avoid death thanks to the Hero of the Shield-sama being there.” (Queen)

“I'm pleased to hear that.” (Naofumi)

“The neighboring countries took a lot of damage and much time is needed to rebuild.” (Queen)

“......I see.” (Naofumi)

“To be honest, supporting Iwatani-sama is also quite difficult.” (Queen)

I could only nod at this. If they said they could still give me a lot of assistance even after suffering such devastation, I'd be concerned about where they would get the money from.

“We will assist as much as possible, but when compared to what we had planned......” (Queen)

“Yeah, I know. If I want money, I’ll do something about it myself.” (Naofumi)

At this point, you should be gathering money for reconstruction instead.

I saw the damage in the Castle Town when I was coming here.

25% of the Castle Town had been crushed by the Spirit Turtle. Land reclamation is essential for the sake of the people who lost their homes.

Reclamation......that's it!

“Hey, aiding with something that's not money is okay, right?” (Naofumi)

“Yes, it would be more helpful for us if it was something other than money under the current conditions.” (Queen)

This would solve the Allied Force's issue, as well as the thing I thought of so far.

“Then― " (Naofumi)

Translator Note

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