Chapter 54: Hero Mode

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Translator: Soafp

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Several days after driving off Zenapart.

Lidiel and I had arrived at the imperial capital of the Belhart Empire, and were waiting in a room of the castle at its center—the Imperial Castle's antechamber.

“Hah… hah… I-I feel sick from the nerves…”

Lidiel gasped for breath, her eyes rolled back white.

Just the other day, while we were working on reconstruction at Kaime Fortress, a letter arrived for us.

It was from the Emperor of the Belhart Empire.

Its contents stated: “For the recapture of Kaime Fortress and the defeat of a vicious demon race, rewards shall be bestowed upon Lidiel Rhydiel and her collaborator.”

That “collaborator” would be me.

My identity as No-Name shouldn't be known to anyone other than Lidiel, so it's probably because I made various handy weapons and such during the recapture of Kaime Fortress…

It was pretty shocking, honestly.

“…Why am I getting a reward too?”

“Because without you, Kaime Fortress couldn't have been retaken. Even if you're a foreign national, failing to give proper thanks would damage the Empire's dignity.”

“Is that how it works?”

“That's how it works.”

Guess that's how it works.

While chatting with Lidiel to calm our nerves, it was finally time for the audience.

We followed a knight clad in full armor toward the audience chamber.

Inside were many people who appeared to be imperial dignitaries and members of the royal family.

And upon the throne sat a woman.

She had long platinum-blond hair flowing behind her, and beautiful blue eyes.

“I am the Emperor of the Empire—Sigurd Zan Belhart!!”

…So the Emperor is a woman.

Well, judging by her attire, it's clearly men's clothing, so maybe she's cross-dressing.

Best not to comment on it.

“Now then, Lidiel Rhydiel. Your heroic achievements—the recapture of Kaime Fortress and the defeat of a dangerous demon race that slew a hundred heroes—have been reported to me by the Hero Corps commander, Karma Sedog.”

“I-I am deeply honored, Your Majesh-tee!!”

Ah. She stumbled over her words. Her face turned bright red.

“…!!”

“Fuhahaha!! Very well, very well!! Everyone makes mistakes!! I am magnanimous, so I shall forgive you!!”

“I-I'm terribly sorry…”

Lidiel trembled, teary-eyed.

Once she had calmed down, the Emperor spoke again.

“Now, as for your reward… first, you shall be treated the same as other heroes—namely, you shall be granted the status of First-Class Citizen.”

“I-I'm becoming a First-Class Citizen!?”

“And as you know, any who become First-Class Citizens are allowed to have one wish granted. Naturally, only within feasible bounds.”

First-Class Citizens get benefits like that too?

“Now then, Lidiel Rhydiel. What do you desire? Gold and silver? Greater power? Or perhaps a reverse harem of handsome men?”

“N-no, not the last one… My wish—my wish is just one thing.”

“Oh? Then speak. What is it?”

Lidiel took a deep breath, exhaled, and looked straight at the Emperor.

This time, she didn't stumble.

“Does Your Majesty know how Fifth-Class Citizens are treated?”

“…Hmm. Of course I do. Unlike Fourth-Class Citizens, who at least receive minimal human treatment, Fifth-Class Citizens are not paid for their labor, and are given only poor food and sleeping quarters. Whether they fall ill or are injured, they are routinely neglected—correct?”

“Yes. My father was also a Fifth-Class Citizen, and so was I until my talent for sniping was recognized and I became a Second-Class Citizen.”

“I am aware. I had you investigated. You've lived a difficult life.”

The Lidiel who had been shaking with nerves just moments ago was gone.

“What I ask of Your Majesty is one thing: a chance.”

“A chance?”

“In this battle, there were many among the Fifth-Class Citizens who possessed the talent to defeat monsters. Their abilities are buried. That is why I want everyone to be given the chance to realize their own potential!!”

Lidiel's charisma is really showing…

From now on, let's call this state of hers Hero Mode.

“Of course, I don't think rules that have lasted hundreds of years can be changed overnight. But at the very least, I want people to understand that there are talented individuals even among Fifth-Class Citizens—”

“Very well!!”

“Eh?”

“Hahahaha!! A true hero must be a woman like you!! I like it!! I like it very much!! Chancellor!!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The one who responded was a pale-faced, gentle-looking man.

That's the Chancellor? He looks kind of unwell.

And I quickly understood why.

“Immediately draft a bill to improve the treatment of Fifth-Class Citizens. I leave the details to you. Have it done by next month.”

“Y-Your Majesty, with all due respect, legal reform takes time. Especially the Class Citizen Law, which is one of the Empire's foundational statutes. Even drafting an improvement bill would take at least five years…”

“That's your job to figure out. Do your best.”

“…I will do my best.”

Yeah, the Emperor's unreasonable demands are definitely the reason he looks sick.

“Next is you. Raise your head, Ask Medicus.”

“Yes.”

The Emperor's gaze turned to me.

Just being looked at carried a sense of pressure—of weight.

She really feels like an emperor.

“I shall grant you a reward of thirty million mani. Ordinarily, I would elevate you to First-Class Citizen as well, but given that you are a noble of another nation, that would be difficult. My apologies.”

“No, I am deeply grateful.”

“…Hmm. Changing the subject, I have seven wives, nineteen sons, and one daughter.”

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

What is this all of a sudden?

Also, she's a woman, yet she has seven wives and twenty children—how does that work?

“How about it? Would you care to take my daughter as your wife?”

“No.”

“W-wait, Ask-kun!?”

“Oh? You find my daughter unsatisfactory?”

“No, that's not what I meant.”

Lidiel was stunned by my instant reply, while the Emperor's gaze sharpened.

Even if it's another country's emperor, a proposal like that is practically an order.

Refusing it is extremely disrespectful—normally execution-worthy.

I answered out of habit.

Honestly, both the King of the Kishirika Kingdom and the Emperor of the Belhart Empire have a serious issue with casually trying to marry princesses off.

Still, I do have a reliable excuse.

“I already have a fiancée. I was just recently engaged to Victoria Sil Kishirika, the Second Princess of the Kishirika Kingdom.”

“Oh? Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

The Emperor smiled and said:

“Then a concubine—taking her as a secondary wife—would pose no problem!!”

“That's a whole lot of problems right there.”

“Ask-kun!? I understand how you feel, but don't say anything more!!”

“Hahahaha!! What delightful heroes!!”

But really, having a neighboring baron's son marry a foreign princess would be a political disaster.

What's her real aim?

“I'll be frank. My sons constantly quarrel, each claiming they should be the next emperor. The Crown Prince is capable, but he lacks the ability to unite the nation as I do.”

She glanced at a man who looked like the Crown Prince among the attendees.

He groaned softly and clutched his chest.

…Stomach pain?

Being Crown Prince must be stressful. He might even have an ulcer.

Maybe I'll storm into his room later and heal him.

I turned my gaze back to the Emperor.

“When I die, civil war, revolution, rebellion, and fragmentation are inevitable. At the very least, I want my one precious daughter kept far away from conflict.”

Hmm. A parent's love.

That's admirable—but far too heavy a burden for me.

Time to use the magic phrase.

“I cannot decide this on my own, so please allow me some time.”

“…Very well. Fufu, I do not dislike cautious men. If I am to entrust my daughter to someone, it must be a thorough one.”

I'll just nod along, tune it out, and hurry back to the kingdom.

…Or so I thought.

“Oh, yes. As for the Kishirika Kingdom forces dispatched as reinforcements in this battle, they will remain in the Empire for a while as an official delegation.”

“Eh?”

“You too shall stay in the Empire for some time. I will specially prepare a room for you in the Imperial Castle.”

“I must decline—”

“Surely you would not dismiss the consideration of your Emperor so lightly?”

“I am most honored.”

Damn it. Looks like I'll be stuck in the Empire for a while.

---

After staying in the Empire for some time.

Victoria suddenly barged into my room, snorting angrily.

“Mm. Ask. Let's go on a date.”

“Huh? In the Empire?”

“In the Empire.”

“…Why all of a sudden? Weren't we supposed to go on a date back in the Kingdom?”

Victoria answered my question with a serious expression.

“I heard the Emperor of the Empire is trying to marry her daughter to you.”

“Well… yes.”

“Mm. Overlap.”

“Huh?”

“Younger sister, princess, and from what I heard, the imperial princess is an unbelievably beautiful girl. She overlaps with me!!”

Do they really overlap that much?

Well, whatever. But… what do you even do on a date?