Mid Boss Chapter 40: Start of the Second Round!

　Bernhard jumped into the air and took a distance from me.

　The dark flame of hatred swirls behind his eyes.

“… Hmm, you can also do something nifty, don’t you? You bastard, Narugoa the Thousand Hands?” (Bernhard)

　With that said, he pours more power into his hand holding the holy sword.

　The holy sword then bears the highest divine light ever.

　He could even be a god killer at this level.

“Look, it’s exactly the same as that time. It’s the perfect situation for revenge, you and me against each other.” (Bernhard)

“…You’re mistaken, Bernhard the Hero, this is just the opposite of that time?”

“What?” (Bernhard)

　Bernhard’s brows were creased.

　…… Oh, didn’t he really understand?

　He’s a pathetic guy.

　…… At that time, he had friends to fight with.

　On the other hand, I am alone at that time.

　But what about now?

　You don’t even have a single companion.

　On the contrary, I have so many friends.

　You didn’t even notice such a simple thing—you have already lost.

　I came and summoned my four hands.

　Then ask him the exact same question as that time.

“—Do you wish to surrender?”

“Who will do such a thing? You filthy demon!” (Bernhard)

　Bernhard swung his holy sword, which looked like it’s made up of divine light, as he leaped towards me.

　The sword that he swung up moved at the speed of the light and moved viciously—moving faster than the previous slash.

　Upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left.

　A total of four sword strikes come at me at exactly the same time.

“This is my full power! If you can, try to avoid this!” (Bernhard)

“There’s no need to.”

　The “Hands” that I deployed start moving immediately, preventing the sword strikes.

　The upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left-all of them were blocked by my [Thousand Hands].

　As I prevented his best move, Bernhard froze midway.

　In a world where everything moves in slow motion, I asked Bernhard.

“… Is there anything left you wish to say at the end, Bernhard?”

“At the end, hey… I’m didn’t study enough, Narugoa.” (Bernhard)

　Bernhard did not break his fearless smile until the very end.

“—The Hero is a brave man who will be revived from the bottom of hell even if they are killed.” (Bernhard)

“Then, it’s my job to drive them back over and over—Farewell, Hero Bernhard.”

　My fists flew straight at Bernhard.

　A huge fist smashes the holy sword—not even losing any momentum, it hit Bernhard’s face.

　At the same time as Bernhard’s body turned upside down, I used my [Thousand Hands].

　Four clenched fists struck Bernhard’s body four times, eight times, and twelve times.

　The hero Bernhard died after being beaten with my fist thirty-six times.

　Beyond the horizon, the rising morning sun was shining brightly on our destination.

　A soft breeze caresses the endless grasslands.

　The path was endlessly long, and I was getting a little discouraged—but it didn’t matter.

　But it didn’t matter, because I had my friends around me.

“In the end, the village kicked you out.” (Alraune)

　Alraune, who was walking next to me, said.

“It’s not that they were kicked out, it’s that they were sent out. As a genuine hero who saved the village.”

“That’s a weird thing to say, that Narugoa is a hero.” (Alraune)

“I liked the village so much I wanted to stay a few more nights… It’s quiet, and the wildflowers are wonderful…”

“And yesterday’s party was really something!” (Kyuuketsu)

　The Kyuuketsu says with a big smile on her face.

　Oh, things surely got crazy.

　The Valkyrie Repulsion Party was made up of the villagers from Gatel village and the employees from the Cave of Silence and the Bewildering Forest.

　By extension, it is a banquet to celebrate my beginning as a hero.

　It’s a feast with a lot of people who get to enjoy the food of the three Goblin brothers.

　It would have been a spectacle that overwhelmed everyone.

　Owlbear collapsed early, and Elder Boar took care of him.

　The drunk Arachne and Alraune, squabbling.

　Kyu-chan’s energetic dance performance and Poison Slime’s stand-up comedy performance got everyone excited.

　That’s why the party continued all night.

　Thanks to that, I’m still tired, but the three Goblin brothers who have been working hard all the time are probably more exhausted than me.

　The goblins will have to be paid handsomely later…

“Al-chan was very popular with the men in the village!” (Kyuuketsu)

“Hmm, I’m not interested in them, you were very popular with the wives.” (Alraune)

“They asked me to teach them how to lose weight!” (Kyuuketsu)

“I was popular with my kids, and I squirmed all the time…” (Poison Slime)

“… Didn’t you all used to hate humans?”

　I think Alraune even said that she hated humans after they killed me.

　However, they look better now.

“Well, I certainly don’t like these ones.” (Kyuuketsu)

“Also the villagers raised Narugoa-san!” (Poison Slime)

“… I’m grateful for a little bit, it seems that this operation was successful thanks to the villagers planting flower seeds.” (Alraune)

“…Really”

　I muttered.

　It seems that my friends have truly become more accepting.

　My cheeks broke into a smile.

“But it’s going to be hard from now on.”

　Poison Slime mutters with a sigh.

“Apart from the other guys called by Narugoa-san, we three ran directly from the Cave of Silence, so we can only go home by foot.” (Poison Slime)

“With Narugoa here, we can’t do the same crazy thing.” (Alraune)

“Sorry, it’s because of me.”

“I’m not blaming you, let’s go home slowly, let’s even on a few detours.” (Alraune)

“… By the way, what do you guys want to do?”

　When I asked them, they all laughed at me.

“—The three of us are taking a long vacation, and with our accumulated vacation days, it’s going to be a bit of a trip.” (Poison Slime)

“What, all three took a long holiday!?”

　I felt dizzy.

　If I were still the Middle Boss, I would have collapsed on the spot.

“I told you, I don’t need to be told what to do on my day off. Now let’s enjoy our vacation to the fullest!” (Alraune)

“Yes! Al-san is quite generous!” (Poison Slime)

“I want to see various towns!” (Kyuuketsu)

“Ahahaha…”

　A dry laugh escaped me.

　The cave of the island, will it really be okay…?

　A shred of anxiety crosses my mind—then at that time.

“… I’m sorry, can you guys go first?”

“What’s wrong, so sudden?” (Alraune)

“Ask me later, I’ll run to you soon.”

“Oh, I understand, we’ll leave you if you’re late!” (Alraune)

　That’s all I said, and the three of them went on their way.

　And when I could no longer see their backs as they moved away, I turned my gaze to the side.

　……Oh yeah, was it always been this close?

“The Pillar of the World—“

“Ah, I finally found you, Senpai.” (Luciera)

　Luciera was right next to me, staring at the Pillar of the World, just like me.

　The Pillar of the World—It’s the final dungeon in the world created by the President.

　The last demon fort was created in preparation for the coming “disaster”.

　And Luciera and my previous workplace.

“… Speaking of which, it’s a vague memory, but I feel like I passed through here when I was moved to the Cave of Silence, but I never thought it was this close.”

“Weak humans and monsters can’t even find it because of the mythical class concealment magic, though it seems that Senpai has become able to see it. Probably as a result of regaining [Thousand Hands].” (Luciera)

“… By the way, what are you doing in this place, Luciera?”

“No, I don’t have anything to do, so I thought I’d go on a trip to find myself… I have a lot of things to think about.” (Luciera)

“That’s a good thing.”

“… Are you angry at me?” (Luciera)

　Luciera asks as she trembles in fear.

　She’s a fool, and she’s prone to making assumptions, but at least she’s reflecting on her actions…

“If I was worried all the time about what my kohai, who is quite clumsy, has done, I won’t become a Middle Boss.”

“Haha, you’re the same after all, this time, Senpai.” (Luciera)

“… I want you to explain it to me rather than fool around.”

“Ah, do you finally wish to hear it?” (Luciera)

　Luciera laughs mischievously.

　However, the expression hidden behind her eyes was serious.

　Luciera and I then look at the Pillar of the World almost at the same time.

　—No, to be exact, the “Former” Pillar of the World.

“–Why is the Pillar of the World run down?”

　I looked at the remains of the huge tower lying in front of me and finally asked her the question.

“Now, it must have been a hundred years ago for you, but… I only noticed it only a few days ago.” (Luciera)

“What about us and the other Keepers? …… No, in the first place, what about the President? “

“As you can see, it’s an only hollow shell, there is only the wreckage, and it seems that only the concealment magic continues to work properly…” (Luciera)

“… What’s going on?”

“Unexpectedly, this may be the “disaster” that the president talked about.” (Luciera)

　Luciera puts her hands on her hips.

“I’ll look into this a bit. Will you go with me Narugoa-san?” (Luciera)

“I am…”

　I hesitated.

　There is definitely something bad going on outside my knowledge.

　It may be related to the survival of the demons.

　Well, that’s not good.

　Maybe a harbinger of something scarier…

　I think it through and draw a conclusion.

“Sorry Luciera, I can’t go with you.”

“…Why?” (Luciera)

　Luciera asks in a lonely voice.

　I’m sure she knew from the beginning what I would say.

“—I can’t leave with you because I have companions.”

“……Is that so.” (Luciera)

　Luciera said this and turned around.

“Ah, I knew it, but I still hoped.” (Luciera)

“… sorry, Luciera.”

“Don’t apologize, I’ll definitely make Senpai come with me someday.” (Luciera)

　“See you somewhere again.”

　Luciera shyly said at the end. Then she disappears from the place.

　As soon as I saw Luciera off, I turned around and chased after my companions.

“I’m sorry, I made you wait.”

“—You were quite late, Narugoa! What were you doing!? We were about to leave!” (Alraune)

“Even though you were the most worried… Hey!?” (Poison Slime)

“Oh, don’t splatter Slime all over me!!” (Kyuuketsu)

“Aren’t you all too unreasonable…?”

　I can’t help but relax my cheeks.

　I’m sure I don’t have to worry about anything.

　It doesn’t matter if it’s painful or hard.

　I should be able to overcome any obstacles.

　—Because I am surrounded by the best of friends in my second round in life.