9 08 – I am Going Solo!

"Ren! You can't even use five people! Let's share!" Naofumi suddenly called me.

I turned my attention to Naofumi and made a pensive expression.

I asked myself a question: Do I have an obligation to help him and become the enemy of this whole nation?

Even though I was stronger than the common people, I was still alone. My power was not enough to fight against a whole nation.

I was not strong like Motoyasu in the Spin-Off, who could help Naofumi and preserve his innocence. Perhaps, I could destroy a nation by dropping meteors, but would I waste my last free use just like that?

(Well, he is not my problem anymore. As the saying goes; 'each for their own,' I suppose.)

"Ren! Are you ignoring me?!" Naofumi called me.

I snapped back to reality and turned my attention to him. I feigned an apologetic expression and said, "Sorry. I was thinking about something. Anyway, you want these guys behind me, yes?"

Naofumi nodded, and I turned around to face the burly men lining up behind me. When my indifferent gaze landed on them, they showed uneasy expressions.

(They do not want to join Naofumi, huh? Still, I have to ask them, if only for the sake of appearance.)

"Any volunteer?" I swept my gaze upon my 'companions.'

However, they shook their heads.

I turned my head to Naofumi and feigned an apologetic look. I spoke, "As you can see... Sorry, Naofumi."

Naofumi's expression fell. He looked like he was going to cry.

"Motoyasu! What do you think of this? Is it not horrible?!" Naofumi went to Motoyasu.

"Well…" Motoyasu turned his head to the girls behind him, but when they weren't keen to join Naofumi, he shrugged.

Knowing that it was pointless to ask Motoyasu, Naofumi turned his head to Itsuki.

"Well I don't want to be biased here…but, uh..." Itsuki seemed to have a hard time before recomposing himself. He continued, "I suppose it would be fair to split them evenly, with each of us getting three. But then again, it is not gentlemanly to deny them once they've made their decision."

"You mean I need to go it alone?" Naofumi was appalled.

"Sir, if it pleases you, I could serve with the Shield Hero." Malty raised her hand to volunteer.

"Hm? Are you sure?" asked Aultcray.

"Yes." Malty nodded.

Aultcray eventually spoke, "Are there any others among you that would throw your lot in with Mister Naofumi?"

…No one moved a muscle. Aultcray sighed heavily and began speaking again.

"I suppose there is no way around it. Mister Naofumi, you'll have to recruit others to accompany you while you are traveling. Each month, I will supply all of you with the necessary funds for your journey, though in compensation for today's events, Naofumi's first payment will be higher than the others."

"Y-yes, sir!" Naofumi answered, flustered.

"Now then, Heroes, I have set aside these funds for you. Please accept them," said Aultcray.

After that, the attendants came and handed a bag filled with coins to us. When I received my share, it was heavy and producing metallic rattling sounds.

After we accepted our funds, Aultcray spoke, "I have set aside 800 pieces of silver for Mister Naofumi, and 600 pieces for the rest of you. Please take these funds and begin your journey."

"Yes sir!" We all answered in unison.

※※※

The adventurers that chose to be my traveling companions and I left the castle.

"Stop," I suddenly told them after we went through the castle gates. I turned my body around and spoke, "You do not need to follow me. I will go alone."

"Sword Hero?! What were you saying?!" said Adventurer A.

"What did that mean, Sword Hero? Are you throwing us away?" asked Adventurer B.

"You were joking, right? Tell me it was a joke!" Adventurer C showed a disbelieving expression.

"Please reconsider, Sword Hero!" pleaded Adventurer D.

"I swear I will not become a hindrance! Allow me to follow you!" Adventurer E tried to change my mind.

(What a persistent bunch…)

I kept my irritation to myself and gave them an indifferent gaze.

"I was not joking! I do not want you to follow me anymore! Now, you can go with your own life!"

"But, sir..." Adventurer A opened his mouth, but he stopped when I glared at him

"My decision is final! Now, go! Do not bother me! Follow me and we will be enemies!"

They silently exchanged glances, at a loss for words. I turned around and walked off.

(Fortunately, those guys don't follow me. If they follow me, I have to use force to show how serious I am.)

After that, I headed to the Church of the Three Heroes. I could easily navigate my way using [Map].

I arrived at a large building, something like a church with a domed roof and the clock tower that extended from the top of the dome. The doors to the building were open, and people came and went as they pleased. There were women dressed as nuns, and they shot me curious glances.

When the women who looked like nuns saw my sword, or to be precise: its gem, their eyes lit up in recognition. They became restless and excited.

"You must be the Sword Hero, yes?" One courageous woman approached me.

"Indeed." I nodded at her.

When I inspected her appearance closely, I could not deny that she was pretty. She would be an idol back in my original world. However, I had no interest in her. I was here for business, not picking chicks. Maybe another time…

"I want to register my weapon to the Dragon Hourglass. I also need some Holy Water and the sand of the hourglass," I explained.

She nodded and then spoke, "Please follow me, Sword Hero. I shall lead you to the Dragon Hourglass."

I followed the woman―let's call her Nun A. Soon, we were walking in a spacious corridor that gave off a solemn and dignified vibe. It just screamed, "Be quiet! Don't cause a ruckus here!"

We arrived at the elevated plinth, on which a massive hourglass with golden decorations and red sand stood. It looked like how it was in Anime.

I approached the hourglass and the blue gem in my Legendary Sword started glowing brightly. A beam of light shot out from my sword to illuminate a jewel that was affixed to the center of the hourglass. A pop-up window appeared in my [HUD]. I had around three weeks before the next Wave of Calamity.

I left the hourglass and returned to Nun A, after which I spoke, "Could you give me the sand and the Holy Water now? For the Holy Water, I want all qualities from bad to good, a bottle each."

Nun A was perplexed, but she immediately recomposed herself. "It shall be done," she said and lowered her head, after which she went off somewhere.

Nun A returned with a helper, another young woman dressed as a nun―let's call her Nun B. They were carrying a tray. The tray on Nun A's hands carried a vial filled with red sand, and Nun B's tray carried four vials of Holy Water. They stopped in front of me and politely offered the items. I took the red sand first and poured it into the gem of the Legendary Sword.

[Requirement met! Unlocked: Dragon Hourglass Sand Sword]

[Dragon Hourglass Sand Sword (R) (0/65) (UM) | Equip Bonus (UM): Teleport Sword]

[Teleport Sword: Teleports the hero and his party to a marked waypoint. Carry limit: 2 Party Members. Cooldown: 30 Minutes. Cost: 500 SP]

I strengthened this useful sword, and after a few moments, the result was like this―

[Dragon Hourglass Sand Sword (AR) (0/300) (M) | Unique Ability unlocked: Time Reversal | Equip Bonus: Teleport Sword V]

[Teleport Sword V: Teleports the hero and his party to a marked waypoint. Carry limit: 10 Party Members. Cooldown: 30 Minutes. Cost: 100 SP]

[Time Reversal: Automatically activated upon your death; return to the beginning while retaining your progress]

(Well, this is good. With this, it is like I have a 'Load' function.)

Underneath my indifferent expression, I was extremely pleased.

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