A Chat with the Hero

"So, come to think of it… you proposed to Rokuko?"

Pffft!? Wataru spat out in surprise.

"Y-yes, well, I-I did. I got turned down, though… But I won't give up. I will absolutely win her over."

"Rokuko is Haku-san's precious little sister, you know? Lay a hand on her and she'll erase you."

"It's fine, I'll respect her own wishes."

If you're respecting her wishes, she already rejected you, so I'd like to tell him to give it up already.

"Rokuko already has me as her partner, you know."

"Oh? I don't see a ring though. Have you not given her one yet?"

… A ring?

"So where Hero-sama comes from, there's a custom of giving your partner a ring. I'm from deep in the mountains, so there must be differences in customs."

"Ah, then shall I gift one? If you tell me her ring size, I'll send it over later."

"Hahaha, it's an important gift for my partner. I'll manage it myself."

When I glanced at Rokuko, her cheeks were flushed and she was grinning ear to ear. Isn't this going in a bad direction?

I'm going along with the conversation, but what exactly does "partner" mean here?

With the ring and all… could it be the marriage-related meaning?

"Right, since we're partners… it goes on the ring finger, was it?"

"Yes, the ring finger."

Hey, what do you mean ring finger. So it is an engagement or wedding ring after all?

I should've just swallowed my embarrassment and asked what "partner" meant. I'm really bad at improvising.

"Well, even so, I won't give up."

"No, please give up already… Also, why Rokuko of all people? As a hero, you must be quite popular."

"There's a deep reason for that…"

Wataru looked down slightly and began to tell his story.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

It began three years ago. Summoned to this world, Wataru Nishimi joined a chivalric order to be trained as a hero, living a military lifestyle.

Wataru, elevated to the status of hero, was only seventeen at the time. A high school student. He liked games, and it wasn't as if he'd never dreamed of being a hero.

[Defeat the Demon King]. Under that banner, Hero Wataru hunted monsters and grew stronger.

Then one day, the chivalric order took on a job to exterminate bandits. It was his first time killing someone.

He was overwhelmed by intense guilt.

Even knowing that not acting would get others killed, even though he had been in a frenzy with his fellow knights about to be killed before his eyes, the revulsion of having taken a human life was something that Wataru, as a Japanese person, simply could not shake off.

Wataru shut himself in his room.

For days he skipped training, unable to move, crushed by self-reproach.

Just as he thought it wouldn't be so bad to die of starvation like this, his door was kicked open and he was forcibly dragged out.

"Idiot! If you died, Wataru… what would I do?!"

It was Palme, his comrade from the chivalric order whom Wataru had saved by a hair's breadth.

Palme devotedly stayed by Wataru's side and listened to him. He talked about Japan, about many things. He talked about trivial things too, lots of them. Palme listened to all of it. Never once denying Wataru. Accepting everything with a kind smile.

And gradually, Wataru became attracted to Palme—and confessed.

"Yeah, if you're okay with me."

Having gotten the OK, Wataru was over the moon. Elated, he threw himself into work to save up money to eventually marry Palme, taking on even difficult requests that had been left gathering dust at the guild.

Just as he had steeled his resolve to live in this world with Palme, it happened.

"… Eeeh, no way. I need someone with muscles like the captain's…"

"Haha, right? Wataru's a twig. Come on, let's go to my room."

He witnessed Palme and the captain going into the same room together.

… Even after that, Palme continued to be with Wataru with the same unchanging smile.

What he saw that time must have been a hallucination or something. Telling himself that, Wataru tried to forget.

And then, that moment came.

It was triggered by Count String's arrest.

"… Palme isn't here?"

"Hey! There's a note left in her room!"

The note read: [Sorryyy <3 The count got arrested so I'm fleeing! Everyone, take care <3 Palme Zan].

The count was arrested, so she fled. He couldn't understand the connection between those two things.

But it was soon revealed.

"Hey, just because it's an emergency doesn't mean you can barge into my Palme's room!"

"Huh? What are you on about? Palme is my Palme."

"Wait wait wait, I kept quiet about it, but Palme and I promised to get married, you know?"

"That's me! I'm Palme's fiance!"

These were all statements from different men.

And every one of their savings had disappeared. Later investigation revealed that everything had been withdrawn, converted to jewels, and taken away.

… Palme was an agent sent by the count to ensnare the hero. An internationally wanted marriage swindler.

Furthermore, somehow Wataru's savings had also vanished. Along with the mementos he had brought from Japan. He was able to buy back some of them at a nearby pawn shop, but for Palme, they had probably been nothing more than things to turn into cash.

"Palme was… Palme was a criminal? But surely there must have been some reason—"

"By the way, the marriage swindler Palme Zan is… a man. The String Chivalric Order doesn't allow women in the first place."

What even. All of his hopes were shattered.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

"… That's what happened."

"T-that's, well, my condolences."

All I could really say was that he'd been through something harrowing.

Also, those other deceived men and the captain… no, let's not go there. That's nothing but my own speculation.

"So, what does this Palme person have to do with your proposal to Rokuko?"

"No, it's not particularly related. I just fell in love at first sight."

It's not related?!

"Ah, no! It's not that it's unrelated, um, the love at first sight thing, well, I've decided to value my instincts."

"… Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all."

I had to sit through that entire backstory just for that? What a roundabout hero.

"… However, if you truly cherish Rokuko-san that much, I'd like to see proof."

"Huh? Proof?"

"That's right. If you can show me proof that satisfies me, I might be able to give up."

… Yeah, I don't really get what he's saying, but I'm starting to get it a little.

"So you're saying if I kiss Rokuko right here, that'll do?"

"Hyah?! W-wait, hold on! No no no, I can't, that's still too much for me!"

Rokuko denied it vigorously, face bright red, both hands waving wildly.

Hey, if you deny it here, the hero's just going to seize that opening. Well, if I actually kissed her, Haku-san might execute me though.

"Hahaha, it seems Rokuko-san says it's impossible. So then, it looks like I still have a chance."

"No no, Rokuko is just shy. We may not look it, but we're inseparable partners."

Wataru said it all so cheerfully.

"Then how about this… She's someone I fell in love with at first sight. Let me verify whether you can protect Rokuko-san. If you prove to be an adventurer superior to me, I can entrust Rokuko-san to you with peace of mind."

"Hahaha, you must be joking. Making the condition that I surpass an S-Rank adventurer like yourself is rather unreasonable, isn't it?"

"Don't worry. I was stuck at C-Rank myself until I became S-Rank."

Hey, was that the count keeping his rank suppressed? If he'd gone higher, Haku-san, who essentially runs the Adventurer Guild, would definitely have found out… Looks like all that scheming was for nothing in the end though.

"Well, then. How about we have a few matches? We can settle it that way… ah, no, that's not quite right. How about this instead? Sounds more exciting, doesn't it?"

Wataru stood from his seat, struck a pose, and rephrased:

"I challenge you to a match with Rokuko-san on the line, Narikin!"

"I refuse."

I answered immediately.