Ex-Hero, Now Freeloader

5 - You Mean the Demon King Army will Treat Me Way Better than Humanity? (2)

Eleanor did her best to explain all sorts of things.

「Isn't the concept of forcing a five-year-old child to fight in and of itself evil in the first place?」

「...Well, I have the Crest of the Hero.」

「I heard that the other five Saviors put you through harsh, nay, inhumane training!」

「They said it was all to make me stronger. In fact, I'm pretty strong now, so I guess it wasn't all pointless, right?」

「Even the most disciplined family household doesn't control someone's personal relationships.」

「But there's a chance that evil demons will target those I got close to...」

「Not being able to take a day off even when you want to is just wrong!」

「Jobs keep coming one after another, so that would cause problems.」

「And...well, I suppose it's like that.」

Eleanor had a sad face like she's staring at a chained-up animal.

「Are you sure, Sir Rain? Whatever the circumstances, it is impossible to justify using a child as an armed force.」

「Well, if there was a guy who was taking normal kids, giving them weapons, and making them do suicide runs against demons, I'd put a stop to him. But I'm...well, a Hero.」

「Exactly.」

Eleanor points a finger right at the back of my hand.

「That excuse has been driven into you, hasn't it?『I'm the Hero, after all.』is what you say to yourself to justify any pain or dissatisfaction you have.」

Eleanor is saying weird things.

If all the things I did because I'm a Hero weren't necessary in the first place, then...

Then everything I've put up with for the past ten years was...

「Of course, that isn't to say that all of Sir Rain's achievements are meaningless.」

Eleanor took my right hand, the one with the crest on it, into hers.

「After all, I was saved by a ten-year-old Sir Rain, despite how much I cannot forgive humanity. I am overjoyed to be alive and to be reunited with you. There is no way that this is meaningless.」

「A-ah...right.」

It felt like the heat from her hands would spread from the spot she's touching to the whole of my body.

「The way you were treated was unfair, but what you did under the circumstances was noble. Let's keep that separate.」

Her gentle voice hits my eardrums, almost like it's seeping in.

「...Demons are...」

「Yes?」

「Demons are hostile towards humans, right? They kill people, pillage, and plunder. I have seen them do that countless times, and I've seen many Majins like you doing them.」

Eleanor doesn't seem like a bad person, but it may be because our goals align right now and we met before when I saved her.

She may be a good person, but to side with someone on the faction that opposes humanity...

「Is there only one human nation?」

「Huh? No, not at all. There are tons.」

The Six Saviors do not belong to any particular country. The War God decides which region to go to and which job to undertake.