Hero Bar

We finished our adventures in the dungeon of Laberintos.

We defeated the minotaur. More like I defeat it using the spirit magic.

The problem is how we will Carry this to the adventure guild?

With my weak stats is impossible and Lucy is a mage so...

At a time like this, I wish I have the storage skill of fuji-yan...

Fortunately.

We are helped by the adventurer to carry the body of minotaur.

Well, they said that we saved them, so it's a win-win for us.

We all having a leisurely conversation.

Like... A conversation of the monster is increasing and becoming stronger and some stuff.

Until the topic lead to the Taboo dragon.

The adventurer said they reside on the lowest floor of the dungeon.

And Lucy said...

"An abominable dragon. A type of evil dragon that served the Great Demon Lord 1,000 years ago. It releases miasma from its body, and spits out curses from its mouth. I heard that they suck your life if you get close to it. Did it really appear?" (Lucy)

Well, we don't need to worry about those stuff, it's not like we will meet them anyway.

We had an energetic conversation as we returned to the exit.

There, we told the guild staff member that we have returned, and passed them the monster.

The assessment result of the defeated monster will be told to us later at the guild it seems.

More importantly... It's noisy, because of the Highland army.

It looks like they will subjugate the Taboo dragon that resides in the dungeon of Laberintos.

Due to curiosity the two of us go where their camp is located.

In this camp you will see, many tents and warriors, mages, archers, and priests.

They called Sun Knight order.

The people of the adventurer city seem to be interested in it as well, the number of onlookers is increasing more and more.

"Kyaaa! Look, it is the Light Hero-sama!"

"Aah, so gallant…"

The female adventurers raise cheers.

"Wow! That's the Light Hero! This is the first time I see him!" (Lucy)

Lucy seems to be merry too.

I don't really know how to feel here.

The person there is my classmate here whom I separated from 1 year and a half ago, Sakurai-kun.

At his side, there's a classmate of mine too, Yokoyama-san.

Hm? Wasn't there one other?

They are wearing equipment several times better-looking and expensive-looking than that of the people around.

It is not like I am jealous, okay?

I'm just pissed... Hahh... My Weak stats.

Don't tell me this is the good meeting you were talking about, Goddess-sama.

Let's not think about it...

It's better to leave now.

"Hey, why are we leaving? Aren't they your acquaintances? Won't you meet and talk to them?" (Lucy)

"We are not that close. I think they have already forgotten about me." (Makoto)

"Really?" (Lucy)

"Yeah." (Makoto)

We left the place of the Sunshine Knights with quick feet.

It is true that I am not that acquainted with the Light Hero, Sakurai Kun.

But close by, I saw the face of someone I didn't like.

The Water Oracle, Sofia Rozes.

The woman that glanced at me once and decided that I have no talent.

But to think that even the princess of the Water Country Rozes would come as well.

Looks like it must be a fairly big matter.

"Hey hey, did you see? That was quite the gathering of big shots, wasn't it? There was even the princess!" (Lucy)

"…Right." (Makoto)

"You are not giving a good reaction there. The one in the number one spot to inherit the throne of the Sun Country, Princess Noel. She had quite the aura." (Lucy)

"I don't care that much... It will not affect us anyway and seeing them like a big shot. I don't think, I'm fit in them. So let's just adventure the two of us together Lucy." (Makoto)

"R-right... If you saying like that Makoto. Then it can't be helped" (Lucy)

"Then let's go to the guild and get our reward for defeating the minotaur and go to the hero bar."

"Leave that for later! I am hungry!" (Lucy)

"Alright alright, got it." (Makoto)

I am also in the mood for a drink.

Let's meet up with Fuji-yan.

◇◇

We soon found the Hero Bar.

Rather than calling it a bar, it was more of a gigantic beer garden.

There are tables and chairs here and they are set in an open space.

What a rough bar.

There's adventurers drinking around the place.

Maybe there are not enough chairs, some are sitting on the ground.

It is a festival, this is the venue of a festival.

"Takatsuki-sama~! Lucy-sama~! Over here~!"

Nina-san was hopping up and down with her long ears shaking to the sides as she waved her hand.

"I heard you defeated a Minotaur already! As expected of you guys-desu zo!" (Fujiwara)

There was already a mountain of food placed on the table Fuji-yan was sitting in.

"The speed you get your information, as impressive as ever." (Makoto)

"Waah, this is delicious!" (Lucy)

Lucy is munching on giant bread and bacon.

I ordered ale and took a seat.

"What were you doing, Fuji-yan?" (Makoto)

"I was negotiating a fixed schedule for the travels of the Flying Ship." (Fujiwara)

"I see. Did it go well?" (Makoto)

"No problems-desu zo. First I plan on connecting Makkaren, then Laberintos, the Water Country's capital, and then the Sun Country's capital." (Fujiwara)

"Makkaren seems to be out of place within those." (Lucy)

Lucy really says things straight.

"It was the strong push of Christiana-dono." (Fujiwara)

"Can't go against your sponsor, huh." (Makoto)

Must be rough.

"Ah, by the way, I heard that Sakurai-dono has come to this city-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan says that while munching on a big boned piece of meat.

"I saw him just now. He had an expensive-looking armor." (Makoto)

"Ooh! The rumored Light Hero-sama?! Takatsuki-sama and Goshujin-sama are acquainted with him, right?!" (Nina)

Even Nina-san has her eyes glittering.

Does everyone like heroes that much?

It must be nice...

"Takki-dono, it is true that being a hero is a skill that's popular among people, but Sakurai-dono is famous because he is the Light Hero-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

"Is it different from the other heroes?" (Makoto)

I drink the ale that has become slightly lukewarm as I ask this.

"Makoto, are you seriously saying that?" (Lucy)

"Takatsuki-sama, that's a bit too lacking in common knowledge." (Nina)

The two girls retorted.

Huh? I am the weird one?

"The ones who hold the Skill of Hero are normally affiliated under the country. The Glacial Hero of the Water Country, Rozes; the Blaze Hero of the Fire Country Great Keith; and the Wind Tree Hero of the Wood Country, Spring Log; are the famous ones." (Fujiwara)

"There's in general at least one person with the Skill of Hero in each nation, and they receive the highest of treatments." (Lucy)

"I see..." (Makoto)

So unfair. Really, I want to protest.

And there is a really hierarchy of the heroes.

"But you see, there has only been one Light Hero until now." (Nina)

"Ohh... Really?"(Makoto)

"The Savior Abel. The Skill only he had. That's the Light Hero-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

"Now he is the second." (Nina)

"Makoto, no one has had the Light Hero Skill in 1,000 years since Savior Abel-sama." (Lucy)

"Huuh…I see." (Makoto)

No wonder he is gathering attention.

No one has had it for 1,000 years.

Moreover, the Skill of the person that saved the world.

"At the time when we came to this world, the ownership of the Light Hero was apparently claimed by the Water Country. They were the first ones to shelter him after all. And so, they say that the Sun Country put pressure on them and stole him away." (Fujiwara)

"Hoh, something like that happened at the back, huh." (Makoto)

I didn't know.

"I am surprised you know something like that, Fuji-yan." (Makoto)

"It is something I learned after becoming a merchant-desu zo. In exchange for giving up the Sun Hero, the Water Country Rozes apparently gained the right to freely scout the remaining otherworldlers." (Fujiwara)

And the one in charge of that was the Water Oracle, huh.

She certainly was looking at us pretty intently.

"Thanks to that, the Lightning Hero has had his standing worsen." (Lucy)

"Right now, the Hero Sakurai-sama is engaged with Princess Noel after all." (Nina)

"Eh? Seriously?" (Makoto)

What a rough world.

"Moreover, there's rumors that the Water Oracle, Sofia-sama, is also engaged with him." (Lucy)

"Really?" (Makoto)

I don't really care.

Meaning that he has the princesses of 2 countries after him?

I now know the reason there's 2 princesses in a place like this.

" The main character of this world is really Sakurai-kun, huh." (Makoto)

I gulped down my second mug of ale.

"It is not all sunshine and rainbows-desu zo." (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan says with a bitter smile.

"I heard that the Highland Princes are aiming for his life. That's just rumors though." (Nina)

"Well, if you get the position of king taken away by a guy that suddenly appeared…" (Lucy)

"Aah, I see. Of course there would be a lot of political strife." (Makoto)

"Our classmates Yokoyama-shi and Kawamoto-shi seem to be having it hard too." (Fujiwara)

The girls around Sakurai-kun, huh.

With their rivals being princesses, it must be rough.

"There's rumors that the Taboo Dragon subjugation is part of a conspiracy by the Anti-Light Hero faction." (Fujiwara)

"Where did you hear that rumor?" (Lucy)

"Fuji-yan gets information way too fast." (Makoto)

It is a shocking information network.

After that, we talked about how we fought the Minotaur in the Water Dungeon.

How in the past Nina-san had gone to the Mid Floor of Laberintos.

The fact that the Hero Bar actually purchases a massive amount of liquor from the Fujiwara Store.

We were caught in the atmosphere of the surroundings and drank a whole lot.

◇◇

Maybe I drank too much?, is what I thought as I sipped on my water, and then…

"Is this seat free?"

That man appeared out of nowhere like the wind.

A refreshing voice like a wind chime.

""Eh?""

Lucy and Nina-san had their eyes wide in shock.

"This is surprising", Fuji-yan said.

"We were talking about you just now", is what I said.

"It has been a while, Takatsuki-kun, Fujiwara-kun."

The one who appeared was the target of attention from the whole continent, the Light Hero, Sakurai Ryosuke.