Return of the Former Hero

Chapter 188. Former Hero and Hero Party vs Demon General Zionik

Translator: Raizu

In an instant, Zionik jumped.

However, this time there was one person who jumped from the side as well. It’s Leon.

Zionik and Leon collided a little in front of me and their swords clashed with each other.

[Hahaha! You’re supposed to do much more than before, Hero-sama! But, not yet!]

Zionik evaluated it that way, but from my point of view, Leon is well-matched with Zionik.

Considering that the Hero parties had no idea about their hands or legs before, it can be said that they have achieved considerable growth.

[Haaaa.]

With Leon coming back, the movements of Aura and Yunikram have become better.

They cooperated with their attacks.

It was no exaggeration to say that the attack with these three people was a little superior.

[…Kuh! Not bad at all. But, if your attack doesn’t work for me, you won’t be able to defeat me!]

The simultaneous attacks of Leon, Yunikram, and Aura were brilliantly received with armor that neutralized the magical power while Zionik provoked them.

It is exactly what Zionik says.

No matter how much you gained the advantage in offense and defense, you cannot win unless we can deal damage.

[Haruto, is there anything you can do?]

Laurier, who took distance from the offense and defense of Leon and the others, rushed to me.

At the same time, even if we surround him too much, the risk of catching friendly fire will increase, so now I’m waiting in the rear.

[Hmm… Let’s see.]

Of course, I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do, but I can’t come up with any ideas to handle this case.

Something… is there something that we can do?

By the way, what did I answer when Leon asked me how to defeat that fellow back then?

Uhmm, hmmm…

Oh yeah, I remembered. Certainly, it was [Raise your level and hit him with a physical attack].

Hit with a physical attack. Unexpectedly, this may be a simple but good breakthrough.

His armor invalidated the magical power.

In other words, it cancels out the magical enhancement of any weapon.

Therefore, they collided with each other due to the strength of the material, but since the material of his armor is harder than this weapon, the attack is repelled.

If you hit with a weapon stronger than his armor or an equivalent weapon with the same hardness, you can destroy his armor. Maybe.

That said, his armor is quite strong. Is there something here that is as strong as that…!

[Sharon.]

[Haruto! What should I do? The attack doesn’t work at all.]

When I called, Sharon came closer in place of Laurier.

[I know so I want you to lend me something for a little while.]

[Eh? This one? Uh, yeah.]

I borrowed something from Sharon that is as strong as his armor.

With this, I’ll show it to Zionik.

[Leon! Aura! Yunikram! I’m going to blow that armor guy out, just for a moment is okay, stop his movement! Sharon and Laurier, go help them too!]

[Yes!]

The three responded to my instructions in an instant without questioning. As expected from my disciple.

[OK, then I ask you two too.]

[Yes, leave it to me.]

[Understood!]

Laurier and Sharon also start running toward Zionik.

It feels like Zionik is full of defenses against the alternate attacks by five people.

[You’re going to blow me away? It’s a bad joke! You should be aware that it’s useless!]

Zionik shouted without hiding his frustration with the wave attacks that were coming at him.

And then, he made a big blow to create distance from him.

[…Kuh!]

The blow cannot be avoided and Aura is blown away.

Although it seems that it hit the armor worn by Aura, the damage seemed to be great.

This guy! Did you hurt my precious wife?

I won’t forgive you.

In the first place, he had already injured Aura when I wasn’t there so I have no intention of forgiving him from the beginning.

I want to run up to Aura and talk to her, but now I have to concentrate on getting rid of him.

Aside from my heart, the big attack that I mentioned earlier succeeded in throwing off Aura, it created a gap at Zionik.

Leon did not miss that momentary gap.

[There!]

Under Leon’s shout, the remaining four people used their full power at once and pierced Zionik.

The attack itself is repelled by the armor.

However, the impact itself is still transmitted no matter how much the attack was repelled.

Although his whole body was blown by the four people who could not do any definite damage, it would give enough force to deprive Zionik of his physical freedom for a moment.

Laurier kicked his head.

Sharon’s sword slashed his left arm.

Yunikram’s sword slashed towards his right arm.

Leon’s holy sword shot through his head.

[Guhh… Kuh…]

Zionik’s body stiffened due to the impact.

Not missing that moment, I rushed towards Zionik.

The blowI hit into Zionik was straight right with all my strength.

However, Sharon’s gauntlet is attached to my fist.

Sharon’s gauntlet. It’s a gauntlet made from the golem’s armor that I once defeated.

The armor of that golem also has the effect of repelling magic and in the end, it was a part where the armored part could not be destroyed with my weapon.

If this is the case, it will surely be as strong as or stronger than Zionik’s armor.

[Eat this, sh*thead!]

[Tsk…!]

My straight right hit Zionik’s face brilliantly.

And soon after the impact and sound of the collision, I swung my fist!

I felt severe pain running in my fist.

The gauntlet attached to the fist shattered into pieces.

And the helmet that covered Zionik’s head also shatters.

[Gahhhhh.]

By the time the impact and the sound of the hit echoed in the cave, Zionik had already sunk half into the wall.

[It hurtsssss!]

Although it’s good that my blow hit Zionik as I declared earlier, I screamed in severe pain running through my right fist.

It was a straight punch over the gauntlet, but my right fist was instantly swollen red and blood was bleeding from the knuckles.

Perhaps there are cracks in my fingers.

The pain came from the inside which was different from being cut with a sword. Seriously.

[Haruto! It was a wonderful punch!]

[Your right hand, are you okay?]

[My husband!]

Laurier and Sharon rushed over. Aura is treating her injury with Caroin’s recovery magic so only her voice flew from a distance.

[It hurt more than I expected, but… it’s okay.]

I hold my hand and smile at them.

[Mou! Don’t do anything crazy.]

Sharon said so, covering my right hand with both of her hands.

It hurts when being touched, but it was strangely pleasant when Sharon’s hand touched it.

[Haha… What about Zionik?]

It seemed like everything was over, but I haven’t confirmed if I was able to defeat Zionik yet.

If possible, it is better that we stop the fighting here.

[Gahh… Guha…! Y…you… I won’t forgive you… I’ll definitely… I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you…]

When I looked at Zionik, I could see him crawling out of the wall while coughing and wheezing, a large amount of blood on his face while he was spitting a curse at me.

Uwaa… He is tough.

However, Zionik, who has lost a part of his armor that makes any magic power ineffective, has no chance of winning.

It seemed that the person himself knew it.

[Gaha …! The next time we meet, it will be your last… Remember it!]

Wow, that’s amazing. I heard that line for the first time.

Wait, it’s not the time to be impressed.

[Leon! Yunikram! Don’t let him go!]

[Yes!]

Sharon and Laurier, who were running up to me, couldn’t make it in time.

Leon and Yunikram ran to Zionik to finish him off, but Zionik managed to dodge it by a hair’s breadth. It seems like beating him up too much ended up backfiring!

[Hihi.]

Zionik ran into the passage leading to the outside and disappeared around the corner of the passage.

He ran away.

The moment I thought so, there was a scream of [Gyah] across the other side of the passage.

And at the next moment, Zionik’s head rolls out from the corner. It’s so grotesque.

Uh…? What is it? What happened?

The situation hadn’t settled down yet when a new shadow would appear from the corner of the passage.

[Ba, Baurova.]

I saw that person and shouted.

I remember his appearance and the shape of his body. Furthermore, he is wrapped in the same armor as Zionik.

It is the same Baurova who was connected with the thieves in the city of Aria.

Why is this guy here?

No, it’s worse than that.

It would be very bad if I had to fight this guy now.

Only me and Aura were injured by this force, but if Baurova’s armor is similar to Zionik’s armor, there is no way to counter it.

[Who is that guy?]

[Do you know Haruto?]

Laurier and Sharon asked.

Although I am cautious because his appearance is very similar to Zionik, I was still wondering how to judge the situation because I saw him beheading Zionik.

[Amagi Haruto. It’s been a long time. You still seem energetic.]

He spoke in the same mellow tone as when he met before.

He should have seen blood dripping from my right hand. Where and how did he say I’m energetic?

The tone of Baurova could even give rise to a sense of intimacy, which is completely different from Zionik’s hostile intonation, and was irresistibly eerie.

[Baurova…This guy is one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Generals.]

[Four Heavenly Generals?]

Leon and his friends were surprised at my words and held their swords at Baurova.

That’s amazing. If you defeat the Four Heavenly Kings, the other Four Heavenly Kings will come out.

It was the successive Boss Rush just before the last boss appeared.

[Oops, wait. I have no intention of fighting. Hear me out, Amagi Haruto.]

T-that’s right. This guy was someone who obeyed the orders of the Demon King.

I don’t know how much I can trust him, but at least I’m a little bit relieved.

[You are Hero Leon, am I right? I see…]

Baurova saw Leon and noticed the current situation by himself.

[You’re one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King… right? What does it mean if you don’t feel like fighting?]

Leon asked while still being cautious.

[Well, that’s correct right now. There are circumstances that I don’t want to fight. If possible, I don’t want to fight you in the future.]

[Right now? Why don’t you feel like fighting yourself?]

The conversation between Baurova and Leon has begun. The rest of us, including me, only listen to it.

[Now, it’s just because I need to do something to accomplish my purpose and I don’t have to fight you for that purpose.]

Baurouva responded to Leon’s questions casually.

However, the answer is too vague and I don’t know what it means.

[What is your purpose?]

[Well, that’s a lot of questions you asked. Oh well, that’s why I came today.]

Baurova said that and removed the sword on his waist along with his scabbard.

The moment when he took the sword made us nervous.

But, Baurova put down his sword on the ground without pulling it out.

[First of all, I have no intention of being hostile. And I will say it straightforwardly. Hero Leon, Amagi Haruto. Would you like to join hands with me?]

What?

I don’t know what you’re talking about?

[Join hands… together? What do you mean]

[Yes, Amagi Haruto. I want to work with you. For that purpose.]

[What is your purpose? What do you want to accomplish working together?]

It’s like I’m interrupting the conversation between Leon and Baurova, but it can’t be helped.

Since my name was being mentioned, I have the right to ask questions.

Baurova paused for a moment then he looked at me and Leon alternately.

And after he saw Zionik’s dead body lying on the ground, he said.

[My purpose is to kill the Demon King.]

Do you want to kill the Demon King? Baurova…?

[You must be wondering why I’m trying to kill the Demon King? For that reason, I need to do my best to explain it.]

After he said that, Baurova took off the helmet that was covering himself.

W-what…?

When we saw Baurova’s exposed face, most likely everyone on here stopped breathing.

There was Leon’s face with slightly long hair.

[What… that face… no way…]

Leon took a step backward when he saw Baurova’s face.

No way, yes, no way.

It reminds me of what Zionik just said a while ago.

Leon is an android and decorated as the Hero made by the church.

Until now, many Heroes had been created and sent to the Demon King Army.

[Did you understand? That’s right. If you say… Leon, I’m your predecessor.]

The Hero of the previous generation.

Is that the true identity of Baurova?

…I see, when we met and looked at each other in Aria’s mansion, I think I’m familiar with them.

As expected, he has the same face as Leon.

[Predecessor… Hero? You are…?]

Leon is stunned. I don’t know how he feels right now.

[Well, even if I say a Hero, I’m not good at it. I don’t have the power to fight the Demon King’s army from the front and I’m trying to defeat the Demon King from the inside.]

Baurova laughed while ridiculing himself.

I can understand what he is saying. I feel that was the case.

But, I wonder why? I don’t feel that [This guy can be trusted] like I felt in Leon…

[I’m sure it’s going to be hard for everyone to make a decision today. You don’t need to reply right now. I’ll come back to hear the answer in the future so please think about it by that time. I just wanted to tell you that today.]

Baurova tried to leave this place after saying that.

[Wait, Baurova.]

[What is it?]

There is something that I must hear before this guy leaves.

[Why do you know that we are here? Are you hiding yourself for the whole time? Why didn’t you come to help if you were aiming to overthrow the Demon King Army? Would it be easier to gain our trust, right? Moreover, if that is the case, then were you listening to the conversation here from the start?]

If he was listening to the conversation from the start, it’s the same as if I had been told that I was an earthling.

In another word, related to this world…

[Zionik informed me about this place. It was using a magic signal. I did indeed know the situation, but I wasn’t able to help… I was honestly trying to help. I can’t beat Zionik even with this number of people. So I thought it wasn’t worth the effort. I apologize for that. The last question doesn’t make sense. I was near the entrance to the cave so I couldn’t listen to the conversation, though?]

I was convinced of everything he was saying. However…

[Is there anything else?]

[…No, I understand.]

[Is that so? Excuse me then.]

Baurova said so and he was gone this time.

I’m not fully convinced, but I’m sure there is something else…

Bam.

[Ouu? Hey, are you okay?]

Leon collapsed on the spot, probably because the tension dissipated after the departure of Baurova.

When Caroin rushed to see him, it seemed he was just sleeping with all his heart. I was surprised.

Well… What the heck? Anyway, I’m happy that we can make it and everyone didn’t die.