Chapter 46: Karichu Hero

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Translator: Soafp

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After Cannon Fodder Dog's briefing ended,

Lidiel was banging her head against the wall over and over, regretting what she had said.

“Ugh, I'm such an idiot, idiot, idiot!! Why did I say I'd do something I can't even do!?”

Lidiel trembled with tears in her eyes.

It was hard to believe she was the same woman who had just talked back to the highest-ranking person in the Hero Corps.

However, Lidiel recovered quickly.

She stopped smashing her head, rubbed her slightly reddened forehead, and turned to face me.

“What's said is said!! Let's come up with a plan!!”

“Oh, so you're really doing it.”

“I don't go back on my word!! Ask-kun, you're helping too!! …Y-you will help, right? Right!?”

I was curious what kind of reaction she'd have if I refused, but I decided not to try it.

“Sure. I can't do anything amazing, though.”

“Then let's go meet the vanguard right away!!”

We headed to the training grounds.

A large number of knights, soldiers, and mercenaries were maintaining their weapons or training.

But among them was one group that clearly lacked motivation.

They carried old weapons, their equipment was in tatters, and overall they seemed apathetic. Some were even drinking alcohol.

“…Hey, Ask-kun. Could it be that the vanguard I'm supposed to command is…”

“Those people, yeah.”

“…You're kidding, right? Why are they drinking in the middle of the day instead of training!?”

Don't ask me.

Lidiel steeled herself, slapped her cheeks lightly, and walked over to them.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Hm? Oh, you're that strange hero candidate who said she'd command us.”

“Why are you drinking alcohol in the daytime?”

“Pfft—gyahahaha!!”

The vanguard soldiers burst into loud laughter.

“Hahaha, what a funny thing to say.”

“We're gonna die soon anyway, right? Then we might as well drink!!”

“And we fifth-class citizens hardly ever get a chance to drink booze!! Might as well drink till we die!!”

Yikes.

They'd completely given up—burned out, resigned to death.

No matter how hard Lidiel tried, it would be difficult to rally people who had no will to live.

Just as I thought that—

“…Don't screw with me.”

Lidiel's quiet mutter somehow rang clearly.

The vanguard members frowned at her words.

“Hah, a kid with a cushy future as a hero candidate wouldn't understand how fifth-class citizens feel.”

“Yeah, yeah. We've got no value, so who cares if we die.”

“Don't lecture us when you don't know our hardships.”

In response, Lidiel—

“Are you done talking?”

“Huh?”

She faced them with a serious gaze and a dignified voice, nothing like the girl who had been banging her head against the wall moments ago.

“My father was a fifth-class citizen too. Which means I was one as well.”

“…What?”

“He worked every day in dangerous mines, came home covered in dirt and dust, and always smiled as he said ‘I'm home' and hugged me.”

“S-so what?”

“When I was little, I asked him something. I didn't know he was being forced into labor because he was a fifth-class citizen, so I innocently asked, ‘Why do you work in a mine where you might die?' Do you know what he answered?”

What did he say?

“‘Because it's a job someone has to do. But I don't plan on dying. I want to see you grow up,' he said, smiling.”

“……”

“And yet, what about you? Just because you're fifth-class citizens? Because you think you have no value, dying wouldn't matter? Don't make me laugh!!”

Before we knew it, the vanguard soldiers had stopped drinking and were listening to Lidiel.

There was a faint light returning to their eyes.

“It's true that the mission you've been given is dangerous and you might die. But I won't allow you to go in planning to die from the start!! Live with the resolve to die if you must—but live!! That will become an irreplaceable value for you!!”

“E-even if you say that…”

“Y-yeah, we're not that strong…”

“No matter what we do…”

They still hadn't completely shaken their resignation.

Facing them, Lidiel puffed out her chest confidently and declared:

“You are the vanguard under my command, you know? The future great hero, Lidiel Rhydiel!! As long as I'm in charge, I will not allow a single death!!”

Not allowing even one death.

Realistically, that sounded impossible—but when Lidiel said it, it felt like it might actually happen.

Maybe this was what people called charisma.

For some reason, listening to her made me feel like I had to do my best too.

There was definitely more light in the eyes of the vanguard now.

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“H-hey, Ask-kun. I have a once-in-a-lifetime favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“To carry out the mission without letting anyone die, please give me any idea you have!! Anything!! Please!!”

The same Lidiel who had boldly declared herself moments ago was now begging me, prostrating herself on the ground.

Where did that charisma go? This was more like karichu [TL: word play, could refered to: Now she just looks pitiful instead of charismatic.]

“…Why are you asking me for ideas?”

“B-because, you know, Ask-kun, you had that talent for sculpting, right? I thought maybe you'd also show some incredible strategic brilliance as a tactician or something.”

“That's just wishful thinking.”

“Ugh…”

…That said.

“It's not like I don't have a plan.”

“Really!?”

“I know someone called No-Name who's been active in the Empire recently.”

“No-Name? I know No-Face—are they relatives?”

“Nope.”

They're the same person, after all. Not a lie.

If we brought No-Name along with the vanguard and pulled off a zombie-style assault, it might work.

But there was still another problem.

“And then there's the equipment… They're treated as expendable, so they won't get good weapons or armor. What should we do…?”

“If we have wood and rope, we can make small ballistae and catapults.”

“…What? Why!? I thought maybe we could make some weapons, but why can you make siege weapons!?”

“I took a look at the ballistae and catapults on the city walls earlier. I'm not a professional, so they'd probably break after half a day, but if I have one day, I can make about ten of each.”

“Ask-kun… would it be okay if I started calling you Ask-san? And from now on, please call me Lidiel from now on.”

“As you wish, Lidiel-san.”

Bit by bit, the preparations for battle moved forward.