Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (WN) - Volume 18 - Chapter 5

18-5 . Tales of Hero Hayato [2]

"Please pardon the commotion . "

Once the knight was dragged away by Burume-san, the princess and the priestess (Loreiya) fixed their seating postures .

Even though Burume-san said us three back then, there are actually girls in maid-looking outfits standing by the walls and some full plated pro-wrestler-looking burly knights guarding the door .

Not even idiots would dare to woo the princess in this situation .

"Hero-sama, do you have any questions before we proceed to the lecture? I shall try to answer you to the best I could . "

The princess suggested .

After quenching my throat with blue tea--tasted like black tea--maid-san poured, I asked the first thing I ought to confirm .

"Can I go back to my world?"

"Yes, once you have accomplished your mission, god Parion will work her miracles and send you back to where you were . "

That's a relief .

Loreiya-san also added, "There are heroes-sama who choose to stay here too, you know . "

Guess not all of them want to go home like me .

"Another thing, what's this mission I must accomplish?"

"It's the extermination of demon lord . "

Reminds me of games I played in childhood .

That kind of topic came up a lot in fantasy themed ones like Final, Quest, Dragon .

"Won't it be simpler if you just deploy the army?"

"We don't mind doing so if a demon lord emerges in Saga Empire, but we cannot dispatch a large scale military excursion to foreign countries . It may be feasible to neighboring countries, but supply lines will be a problem if it's to a distant land . "

"Won't people be united in one in the face of a world crisis?"

"A great many countries would have already been in shambles by the time we are united . We are hoping Hero-sama could demolish the demon lord before countries fall into ruin . "

Looks like this world's got divided countries just like earth .

"Besides, the dragons will come if the demon lord is not fought by a few elites . "

"--Dragons?"

Wonder if she meant eastern or western dragons here .

"Yes, a large-scale clash between demon lord forces and a big military assembly may attract the dragons and their curious nature . The demon lord might get destroyed by the dragons in this case, but the collateral damage will also be far more catastrophic than from the demon lord itself . "

Is it like resorting to carpet bombing to weed out grass?

For now let's consider dragons are bad news, badder than demon lords .

"Are dragons not a target for extermination then?"

"Yes, as they are harmless as long as we don't try to attack them or attract their attentions . "

Guess they're sort of untouchable .

It's not like I'm not fascinated by Dragon Slayer title, but it looks like I'd better left that as a mere fascination .

"Do you have any other questions, hero-sama?"

The princess asked .

--Right .

"I have a request rather than questions . Can you stop with 'hero-sama'? Please just call me Hayato . And do away with the formal speech if you can . "

" . . . I understand . Hero-sama--Hayato-sama doesn't have to use formal speech yourself, but we cannot abide by that order . It is imperative for us to show respect . "

The princess asked me use formal speech in public and before the emperor .

"I'm not good with formal stuff though--"

"Then please show it with deeds . If there come times when people respect Hero-sama even without formal speech, then we too shall speak to Hayato-sama informally . "

She burned me with a super logical argument there .

I might be not good with this princess .

◇

"Hero-sama has been bestowed with all kinds of abilities besides the Unique Skills from god Parion . "

The princess's lecture has started .

Apparently I've got [Inventory], [World Talker], [Analyze], [Self Status], [Hide Status] besides the three Authorities--Unique Skills I picked .

"Is [Self Status] even needed when I've got Analyze?"

"[Self Status] is similar to a lesser version of Analyze skill that applies only to individuals, but this particular skill is a special skill exclusive to Hero-sama . "

The princess gave her explanation while holding a [Manual] left by past heroes in one hand .

On top of showing me my own status in numerical values, Self Status also has a hidden function that lets me chantlessly cast magic I've casted once, up to advanced level .

"--Magic?!"

"Allow me to make a demonstration . ■■■■ Mana Light . "

A light appeared on the princess's hand .

It's not hot even when I'm holding my hand over it, neither can I touch it .

--Or rather .

"What's up with that spell? It's like you're reproducing a music data in high speed or something though?"

"The past generation heroes called it [Fast-forwarded Tape] . "

Magic swordsman is my aspiration, but not with that spell, nope . Simply impossible for me .

Guess I'll have to abandon the idea of casting a magic that drops lightning from heavens like a certain game's hero . I'm better with moving my body anyway .

"Getting back to the topic at hand, Hayato-sama, please confirm your remaining points with Self Status . "

With the instructions she had given me on the skill usage, I checked my points and conveyed it to the princess .

"That many points should be enough . Please do not attempt to allocate your points until after you are done with the lectures and basic training . "

"Can't you reset or reallocate them?"

"No, you cannot do either . As Hero-sama's initial level starts at 50, it is very hard to obtain additional points, so please be advised . "

Now that she mentioned it .

My level is high . It's like being strong from the start of a new game, kind like a cheat .

I feel bad for people who work on it the honest way, I've gotta be careful not to grow conceited .

After the warning, the lectures began .

I almost fell asleep at history and geography lessons, but then Loreiya would hug me with her huge breasts, rousing me up . My stupid friends at class would have been ecstatic at that, but it just felt stuffy to me . I think being a lump of lust incarnate is not a good thing even for a boy in puberty .

I wasn't into the school-like lecture much, but the lecture regarding heroes and ways to use skills and systems were quite fun, it was as if I was reading game strategy books .

I was barred from using Unique Skills inside a building, but using Analyze skill on random things as a practice was very fun .

Thus I got through a month of lectures and another month of skill practice before moving onto martial art practice where I could finally hold a sword .

◇

"Hayato-sama, please use your [Hide Skill] before you proceed to the training grounds . "

The princess told me as I put on the practice armor .

"Aren't we going to where my attendant candidates at? Do I really need to hide it?"

"Yes . The candidates that do not get selected may try to sell the information . Unique Skills especially are like a lifeline to heroes . Please try to keep it only between your most trusted attendants . "

Reality is a harsh mistress unlike games .

"There you are, hero . "

Burume-san grinned while holding a wooden sword in one hand over her shoulder .

"First, do some warm-up . --Jerid . "

Despite saying 'warm-up', Burume-san named the second highest leveled knight Jerid after her here .

This grandma is pretty feisty .

"--heavy"

The wooden sword they gave me almost feels like it had a bar of iron lodged inside, it's heavier than it looks .

I tried swinging it around, and somehow managed to get used to its weight .

"You really are hero eh . Just like that kid . "

It felt like Burume-san's eyes turned kinder for a moment there, but I must be imagining things, definitely .

"You two get in the circle . "

I went inside one side of a circle 15 meter away .

I take a stance with the wooden sword and an iron-reinforced shield .

"Begin!"

With Burume-san's signal, knight Jerid rushed right in front of me at inhuman speed .

--You for real?!

I parried away his slash with my shield I had reflexively raised .

Then I somehow managed to block his sword that instantly reversed its trajectory with my own .

--Heavy .

As a noise that doesn't sound like a clash between wooden swords at all resounded, my hand holding the wooden sword and my shoulders are creaking .

My level is higher than his, but his practical combat experience incomparable to me .

In order to bury that gap, I focus my mind and deploy my Unique Skills .

--Invincible Shield (Nothing Can Pierce) .

Jerid's once super heavy wooden sword felt like a pillow's filling, I easily parried it away .

Jerid's face was colored with shock .

Taking that opening, I swung my wooden sword at his wrist . I was too naive . He easily parried my sword and pushed it back, I ended up blocking it with my shield .

As his sword went for my legs, I jumped above to dodge it .

"Nicely done--but!"

A moment later I got hit by a heavy blow before getting flung and crashing on the ground .

"Jumping near your opponent is just suicidal . "

Burume-san told me .

Come to think of it, going up in air is like losing in fighting games too .

I stood up right away and took a stance .

My breathing was getting rough even though I'm quite confident with my motor skill .

--Unlimited Regeneration (Endless Healing) .

My second Unique Skill healed my fatigue .

"That's Hero-sama for you, he doesn't look like someone who has never fought with a sword before . "

"Yeah, god Parion plants the basics of fighting on heroes when they get summoned after all . He's not exactly a complete amateur . "

I heard that conversation between the princess and Burume-san far away .

I see, no wonder my body felt like it moved too well .

"Don't you look away now!"

Knight Jerid yelled as his wooden sword closed in on me .

--Heavy .

Oh crap . Didn't realize my Unique Skill [Invincible Shield] had lost its effects .

I immediately attempted to reactivate it, but knight Jerid's fierce assault wouldn't give me the time of the day .

He kept pressing on me while I was panicking before eventually knocking me down .

"Well, I guess that's that, good enough for a boy who hasn't even taken combat practices . "

Burume-san declared the match's end .

"He hasn't taken combat practices? What does that mean Burume-dono!"

"Exactly what it says . Today's the first time this boy's holding a sword . "

"--That cannot be!"

Knight Jerid opened his eyes wide .

I wanted to say something clever here but my side was hurting from the knock down earlier I couldn't speak well .

I use [Unlimited Regeneration] which had lost its effect once again to treat the pain .

"Hero! Don't use Unique Skills whenever you want . Just endure that bruise . Get Loreiya heal that for you once you're done with training . "

Now that she mentioned it, the little goddess also warned me against overusing Unique Skills in that light blue space .

"Okay now that we're done with the warm up, time to get to the real thing . "

Right after I got my breathing back, Burume-san--Master Burume's training began .

The special training was so intense and hellish it lived up to its name .

I can't remember how many times I raised the white flag as she kept working me to the bone .

At first I was the only one doing the special training, but two attendant candidates who were laughing at me screaming--a muscular 35 year old war axeman, Subac of Bearear-kin, and a slender macho 29 year old great swordsman, Deerhorn-kin, Zayan, got found out by Master Burume and ended up getting dragged into it as my training buddies .

"I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die . "

"Granny, yer' a demon!"

"Who the heck's your granny! Call me master!"

Master Burume's sonic sword beat the two up .

Not only Subac who complained, even Zayan who just kept saying, "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die", got rolled up into it too .

But still, these two old men are only level 40s, yet the two could keep up with this hellish training courses enough to have a chat . During recesses between training, the two told me how they hailed from warrior races . Apparently both of them are fathers .

Their wives, who visited during rest days, were such transcendental beauties that I found myself wondering just how did these two burly men even managed to score them . In a way, it's the most shocking thing I've experienced in another world yet .

"I see that he is doing well . "

"Indeed, Hero-sama's growth is quite an eye-popping matter to behold . "

The princess showed up at the training grounds after a long absent .

She's together with her escort, knight Jerid . I understand how good he is at his craft now that I've gone through the hellish training . He'd have easily beaten me down in seconds even with our level gaps if I didn't have my Unique Skills .

"Look at 'im acting all high and mighty . "

"Oy, let's drag him too . "

Subac and Zayan had a look like they were plotting something on their faces .

"Aw yeah, let's do this!"

Looks like I've been influenced by these two old men .

Us three ran up to knight Jerid, kidnapped him and forced him to participate on the hellish training as well .

Knight Jerid who initially protested with a pompous tone ended up getting in on it after a shout from Master Burume .

Our laughter at seeing the screaming Jerid was transient as we too found ourselves on his shoes soon after .

Thus we shared pain and laughter together and gradually grew closer .

To the point that I don't feel afraid going up against demon lord if it's with these three .

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