“Fucking coward.”
Just as the giant man was about to leave,
The Hero cursed, and in an instant, the man froze, stopping in his tracks. He turned around, and with a dangerous expression on his face, he glanced at the Hero.
“What did you say?”
He questioned, his tone much more menacing.
He was trying to intimidate Kael but…
“I called you a coward.”
Kael repeated.
“Hah!? Do you want a beating!?”
The man shouted as he walked towards Kael, but before he could do anything, a strong force grabbed his neck.
“What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”
Kael’s chilling tone was heard.
The soldiers around them quickly jumped back when they realized that Kael was currently standing amongst them.
‘H-How…?’
‘When did he come here!?’
He was on the stage just now!
How did he get here so quickly!?
The muscular man widened his eyes in horror. He tried to resist, using both his hands to grab Kael’s arm and free himself, but no matter what he did, Kael didn’t even budge.
“!!!”
Then suddenly, the giant man’s expression changed as he realized that his legs were no longer on the ground.
He looked down, and when he saw his body being lifted in the air through his neck as if he was some kind of ragdoll, his face paled in fright.
“Acck- Let me go…”
In a hoarse voice, he requested, his resistance slowly fading. He tried moving his legs, but he made sure not to be too frantic.
After all, his life was in the Hero’s hands.
“I didn’t hear you.
Repeat what you said?”
Kael repeated his question, his voice even colder than before.
“I… I am sorry…”
The man replied, gasping for air.
“Heh.”
Kael just laughed, and then, he let him go.
The giant man fell on his butt, his chest moved up and down as he coughed loudly.
Kael, on the other hand, returned to the stage, his cold blue eyes scanning the soldiers.
“If there are any other cowards like him who would like to leave, feel free.
I’d rather you leave right now than piss in fear and run away during the battle, endangering other lives.”
“I… I am not a coward!”
The giant man retorted, his body shook when Kael stared at him again.
But he didn’t give in.
This was his town. He wanted to protect it. He wanted to protect and fight for his family!
But,
“Is that not what you are?”
Kael questioned and with a grin full of mockery, he continued,
“Your sorry came out pretty quickly as well.”
“Y-You do not understand anything! I-I cannot die a worthless death! I have a 5-year-old boy and a wife waiting for me to return! Will you take responsibility for them if I die!?
To you, the Hero, this is just a place where you show your powers and gain fame, but for me, this is a life-and-death situation! Mine and my family’s future rely on this battle! Will you ta—”
“Oh, shut it.”
The man wanted to continue, but Kael just snorted.
Then, he glanced at the rest of the soldiers before turning back towards the man,
“I do not understand anything. I am just a child ‘playing hero,’ blah blah blah.
What do you even understand?
What makes you think you are better than me?
Do you think we are gathered here to cry about our misfortunes?
Oh yeah? Then how about this?
I, who was safe back in my world, had planned my entire future and was working hard for it, was suddenly summoned to this damned world, told to become its Hero, and risk my life to protect it.
You people live in this town. Most of you have spent your entire lives in this town. It is your duty to protect it.
But what about me?
I am not even from this world, and yet I was still ‘chosen to be the hero.’
This town?
This is my second day here. I didn’t even know this town existed before this, and yet here I am, risking my life to protect this place.
Do you see me complaining?”
Kael questioned, looking right into that man’s eyes.
“Then what gives you the right to cry like a bitch!?
‘I refuse to stay in the emergency unit!’
What gives you the right to say those words, huh!? You think you are doing me a favor by staying here?
I am the one doing you a favor by being in this darned place, not the other way around.
Get that in your head.”
Kael raised his voice.
“…”
The man lowered his head.
“And I am saying these words not just to him. I am talking to all of you.”
Kael spoke, staring at all the soldiers.
“Don’t think I do not know what you are thinking just because you hide it.
I see everything.
I see your distrust, doubts, suspicions, and…
I see your fear.”
Kael stepped forward.
“I do not know whether I was blessed by Lord Feraos or not. Heck, I didn’t even know who Lord Feraos was a few days ago.
What I do know, however, is that
In just two weeks, I, who didn’t even know how to lift a sword, have become much stronger than any of you. I have reached a level most of you will probably never reach in your entire life.
In just two weeks, I have surpassed all of you, who have trained to get stronger all their lives.
This must mean something.”
Kael spoke, looking into the soldiers’ eyes.
“Today, I stand together with you to protect your town, and trust me when I say this.
I am the best chance you have—no, let me rephrase that. I am the ONLY chance you have to protect your town and your family.
I am willing to risk my life for your town, and in return, I only want one thing—
Your support.”
Kael ended, and after giving one last look to the 100 soldiers in front of him, he questioned.
“So who is with me?”
And the moment he asked this question, silence fell over the place.
The soldiers exchanged glances, the Hero’s words still rang clearly in their heads, and the display of his strength couldn’t be more vivid. There was no doubt about it—this man was indeed blessed by Lord Feraos himself. The soldiers, however, were still… fearful.
They did not know what to do and stayed silent until—
“I am.”
A voice was heard.
It was a surprise because the one who said those words was none other than the giant man who called out Kael before.
The man stared at Kael and,
“I leave my life in your hands. Tell me what I have to do.”
He spoke, his eyes burning with determination.
“I will prove to you that I am not a coward.”
And at his words, one by one, the rest of the soldiers stepped forward as well, all of them submitting to the Hero.
Using this chance, the Town Head Tobias stepped forward and—
“For the Hero!”
He shouted as he raised his hand, and in an instant, the soldiers’ voices thundered,
“FOR THE HERO!”
“FOR ESTWYN!”
“FOR THE HERO!”
“FOR ESTWYN!”
Their united roars echoed throughout the town, their eyes determined and fired up.
Kael smiled when he saw that,
The first step was complete.
Then, as the soldiers calmed down, Kael started passing down the instructions.
The soldiers were divided into different units and deployed to their positions. The faster soldiers followed Kael to the jungle where the Agile beasts would come from.
For the next few hours, the soldiers moved according to Kael’s instructions, until finally, the scout reported—
“The Beasts will be here in 10 minutes!”