Vol 2: Chapter 16: Exposure and Loss

The Saint and the Hero of Salvation

Exposure and Loss

I told Hayato my name. It must have been a nightmare for Hayato. The man he thought he had killed had now appeared before him, powerful.

He spoke to Hayato as if he had been holding a grudge up until now.

To be honest, it's too late to think about the past now.

What I told Hayato wasn't a lie.

I admired Hayato, the hero who saved humanity, and hoped to become his friend. I also loved all of my childhood friends. I loved them... At that time, I was definitely filled with anger and sadness at being shown their affairs.

They're all in the past tense though...

To me now, all of the things I've just mentioned are nothing more than trivial things from the past.

When I first met Hayato again, I refused to get involved with him, even telling him my name to avoid any trouble. I didn't care about Aria and the others, who were my childhood friends.

I told Hayato the name I had been hiding, and treated him as if I had always hated him, causing him fear, all for one reason.

--Yes, this trash had invaded the heart of my beloved Chris.

This fact alone has me overcome with rage so strong that every blood vessel in my body feels like it's about to burst. The heart of Chris, the pure, noble, and compassionate goddess who saved me... this guy, this vile scum, has trampled on her.

There's no way he can be forgiven. For doing such a thing, he needs to be killed. He needs to die right now...that's no good.

There is no need for any questioning. The death penalty has already been confirmed.

I moved at high speed and retrieved the Arondight that was stuck in the ground. Hayato looked at me with wide eyes, but from the look of it, it seemed he didn't even notice me moving. Is this what it's like to be a hero from another world?

"Are you ready, Hayato? You can think of plenty of reasons for me to kill you, right? My feud with you... ends today."

There's only one reason why he'd be killed. There's no need for me to tell this piece of trash about my sincere love for Chris. It would taint my feelings. And more than anything, ignorance suits the fool well.

"Wait! Wait a second, Aleph! No, Aleph-kun! We certainly had our misunderstandings and it may not have been a good party! I'm sorry for causing you so much pain."

Hayato started doing something, so I decided to extend the execution time a little. What is he trying to say?

"I'll admit that I was invited by Aria, and despite the fact that she had you as her fiancé, I ended up having a relationship with her out of necessity... I think that I did the worst thing. When you came into my room, I thought about apologizing to you. But Aria wouldn't listen! I tried to apologize many times..."

What is he talking about now? Didn't he hear what I said earlier?

"I tried, but she--"

"Wait for a moment. This is really unbearable to watch."

"Well, listen. It may be an excuse, but I--"

"In the first place, you were the one who was controlling Aria and the others with your charm skill."

"...Huh?...Aleph? Wh-why did you say that?"

Didn't he really notice? He suddenly started acting like a cheapskate, so I wondered what he was talking about... I guess I've been taken advantage of by this guy all this time.

"No matter what, why do you think I'm here? I've been following you guys and listening to all of your conversations since the beginning. So that's what I mean. If you think that excuse will work, then it's pointless so just stop."

Right, after hearing Chris' monologue, I started spying on the two people who had been talking to Chris just before I left her room, in order to find out what had happened.

The moment Reno suddenly took Hayato away and brought him to this deserted place, I was convinced that he was the culprit, so I used my stealth skills and stayed close to the two of them and listened to their conversation.

“I also know all about how you used your Charm eyes to brainwash women. It’s all thanks to you bragging about it here.”

"Damn it..."

"If you understand, then don’t make excuses and just get fighting. I’ll wait long enough for you to pick up your sword that’s stuck in the ground over there, okay?”

Upon hearing this, Hayato quickly picked up the Hero's Sword and pointed it at me.

"Oh dear... then we have no choice but to kill each other... I guess."

Finally, Hayato, who seems to have made up his mind, speaks to me.

"That's what I've been saying from the beginning, right?"

Hayato and I meet each other's gaze.

It must be a cruel world where Hero and Hero kill each other.

Before me stands Aleph, who was once a loser.

I thought he was dead. I thought the nuisance was finally gone...

He's as tenacious as a cockroach.

I don't know how that weakling got so strong, but he is Aleph after all. When I first saw the hero of salvation, I thought there was no way I could win. But that's no longer the case.

The inside is Aleph. That slow and stubborn man may have gained power, but that doesn't mean he'll be an expert in the techniques. In terms of combat experience, I have an overwhelming advantage.

(If I were to confront him head on like this, Aleph, an amateur who only acquired power, would definitely show a weakness. All I have to do is exploit that weakness.)

I search for Aleph's weaknesses. Even if he gets stronger, he's still an amateur when it comes to maneuvering... so there are plenty of weaknesses to be found...

Gaps and such...

(Hii...what's going on with this guy?)

There was absolutely no opening. I froze up.

If I continued like this, I would definitely be killed. In a panic, I tried to create an opening by throwing words at Aleph that I thought would have an effect.

"By the way, Aleph... wouldn't you like to hear what happened to Aria after you disappeared from the party? I know it will be a painful story for you."

After thinking about it, I decided to sway his heart by telling him about his fiancée, Aria, whom he seemed to still be in love with.

"Yeah, I'm a bit curious. What's wrong?"

Aleph also took the bait, so I decided to teach him the cruel reality.

"You know, she's actually gotten pregnant with my seed twice."

"....Oh~?"

"Her reaction when she found out she was pregnant was great too. She was so happy to have my child! She said she loved me so much. Hehe, I'm sorry. In reality, that happiness should have been yours to have as her fiance."

Aleph seemed speechless. It seemed like bringing up this topic had been the right choice.

"So, did she give birth? To your child?"

It started biting harder, so I decided to give chase some more.

“Surely, what if the country finds out that I impregnated the Sword Saint before defeating the Demon King? My reputation would be ruined. I used Finne’s abortion magic to make her abort both times. She doesn’t particularly object to what I say.”

"...hm, I see."

"Oh? You seem a bit depressed. Was it really that shocking to hear your beloved fiancée turn out like this?"

Feeling better, I spoke to him with a grin. This should create an opening for him.

"That may be true. I'm surprised that I'm a little shocked. Maybe there's still a little bit of emotion left."

"I've impregnated your sister, Lily, and Finne too, so it's not like she's special or anything."

Of course, those two have already been dealt with too. Come on, show some agitation and show me your weakness.

"All three of them, huh... Haha. You've really done it."

"Doing it is my specialty, you know? Don't praise me so much."

When I said that, Aleph bowed his head weakly.

...You've finally shown your weakness, haven't you?

As Aleph looked down and disheartened, I activated my Physical Strengthening (Strong) ability and closed the distance between us in an instant. This was my surefire winning strategy.

This time, goodbye Aleph...

I'll carefully dismember your body so that you can never get in my way again!

I gripped the Hero's Sword firmly in my right hand and swung it down at the head of the bowed guy! Die, you loser. This is what happens when you appear before me again, despite being nothing more than trash.

My sword was going to split his head! ...Or so I thought. But as I was about to swing it down, the sword slipped through my right hand and fell helplessly behind me... Hmm, for some reason I couldn't put any strength into my right hand. Or rather.

--An awful sound, like something had fallen, was heard.

Turn my head towards my right shoulder...

My right arm... without me noticing, it had disappeared from where it was supposed to be.

...It was rolling on the ground.

A one-armed hero...isn't he a little uncool...?