I’m a Hero, but I’ve Given Up on Saving the World

Although it hadn’t even been a week since life without a hero began, the people of Aurelia were already complaining of discomfort.

As the amount of mana in the atmosphere decreased, each system operated by magic began to malfunction. The automatic torches that were supposed to brightly illuminate the night streets became weaker than candles and became useless. As a result, people have recently disappeared from the streets at night. To put it bluntly, they were scared of the pitch-black darkness where no one would know if someone stabbed them with a knife and ran away.

The disappearance of the chamamak, allowing demons to frequently fly through the air, also greatly contributed to the decline in quality of life. Although there hasn’t been a large-scale invasion yet, gargoyles circling the sky all night making ominous cries made it impossible to sleep properly due to anxiety.

The soldiers who might have to face the demons in the worst-case scenario were not trustworthy either. Or rather, they had been transformed into mummy-like creatures hanging on a strange tree, so the capital’s defense power had weakened miserably, obvious even to ordinary residents.

Still, there would be hope if only the interception systems installed throughout the country functioned properly, but the catch is that they only work normally when the hero wields the holy sword.

The people of Aurelia desperately hoped with one heart that Faust would become the hero.

If not, it wouldn’t be strange if any disaster struck from now on.

The elderly say that they’ve never seen public sentiment this grim.

Looking at past history, opinions are emerging that it wouldn’t be surprising if a coup d’état occurred at any time.

The king’s nerves must be fraying considerably. Especially since the fate of the princess kidnapped by the dragon is still unknown.

Without the princess, the royal bloodline will be cut off, and the dynasty will end. The reason Isabel’s existence was precious to the king wasn’t just because she was family. An heir is also an important political tool that strengthens royal authority.

In other words, the current king, with Isabel kidnapped and the hero invitation failed, was in a more dangerous situation than ever before.

——While everyone was worried about what would happen to this world from now on, Faust, who had gone to the academy, returned and declared that he would accept the hero appointment.

“Master. What’s the reason for your sudden change of heart? Have you decided to forgive the humans?”

“As if. This is all part of my revenge.”

“Hmm… I don’t really understand, but Misha is unconditionally on Master’s side!”

I headed to the royal palace with Misha as my escort.

At the palace, as I had requested in advance, the members of the party that Kwak Dong-su had formed were already waiting. I could see Serena with her head bowed low, unable to stay still. Saint Beatrice, Thief Diana, and Knight Alice also showed their faces in a row, but Elf Tiffania was nowhere to be seen.

“I’m sorry, Faust. We couldn’t get in touch with Tiffania… I hope you won’t be angry.”

“It’s fine. I already heard from the Great Sage about where that elf is and what she’s doing now.”

“What? Then tell us her location. We’ll go fetch her right away.”

“I said it’s fine.”

“Ahem. I said that because I was afraid you might change your mind due to the elf’s absence.”

The king’s attitude had become much more polite than before. His authority had not just softened but even seemed servile. To come with such a humble attitude, he must be under a lot of stress from various threats.
Well, it’s his own doing.

“Anyway, I’m relieved that you’re willingly accepting the fate of being the hero. Now, let’s proceed with the formal appointment ceremony.”

“Before that, there’s something I want to ask.”

I stopped the impatient king who was trying to get straight to the point.

The palace was full of people who had gathered to watch the hero appointment ceremony.

The birth of a new hero is a major event.

It’s natural to want to witness this historic moment with one’s own eyes.

On the other hand, there seemed to be some who came to check if Faust, who had refused the hero appointment, had really changed his mind.

Perhaps because of this, when I interrupted the king’s words, there was a chain reaction of startled responses, and the atmosphere became tense.

In effect, I was holding their lifelines.

These are people who belong to the upper class, living in the capital. Among them, those present in the palace are influential figures who wield considerable power. They probably find life enjoyable and absolutely don’t want to die.

Originally, when a revolution occurs and the world is turned upside down, these vested interests are the most at risk.

Therefore, it must be they who desperately want me to become the hero without any fuss.

“…………”

I deliberately stalled, clasping my hands behind my back and slowly walking around the corridor. People watched me with anxious expressions, and even the king didn’t dare to open his mouth.

It was quite amusing to watch people’s expressions as they flinched and broke into cold sweat at my every little movement. Most of these people had sent me letters of hatred.

Especially the members of the hero’s party, including Serena, had expressions like they had bitten into a bug.

“Fa-Faust. What’s wrong? Is there something displeasing…”

“”

“…………”

When I took out a letter I had specially kept and read it aloud, the king broke into a cold sweat like raindrops. This was the letter the king had sent to me before Kwak Dong-su died.

“Wow, this is really a masterpiece. Every sentence is engraved in my heart and won’t be forgotten. What does Your Majesty think? Isn’t the burden of being a hero too heavy for someone who was just cleaning horse dung?”

“…Ahem! Ehem!”

I can’t let him get away with just a fake cough.

“Th-That was… The previous hero was so insistent that I had no choice but to write words I didn’t mean. I hope you understand my position.”

“For something like that, didn’t you ignore me in your usual life too? Not just the king, but most of the people gathered here.”

“”…………””

“Do you intend to blame everything on Kwak Dong-su? Do you think you have no fault at all?”

As I thought.

These are expressions that say, “Finally, it’s come to this…” All of them.

If you’re naive enough to think the appointment ceremony would proceed smoothly, you’re a fool.
It would be disappointing to skip the sharp revenge drama.

They say the king stands at the pinnacle of the kingdom, but right now, my momentum is stronger. The king’s fate was being determined by my decision.

“Ahem! Ehem! O-Of course, I can’t say I’m without fault. I-I apologize, Faust. The hardships you’ve endured… I deeply sympathize with them too.”

“Sympathize my ass. How can you, sitting in that high position and just giving orders comfortably, sympathize with my feelings? You’re talking bullshit.”

“…Fa-Faust. This is the palace.”

“So? What about it? Are you telling me to watch my language? If you keep this up, even the tiny bit of willingness I had to become a hero will disappear. Ah, let’s just forget about all this. I’ll go down to the countryside and farm, so you all find someone with nice words and make them the hero. Goodbye then.”

“W-Wait a moment, Faust!”

“Fuck off.”

“No, really! Please wait, sincerely!!”

“Let’s go, Misha. Do you know any good rural land for farming?”

“Misha will look for it!”

Having nothing to lose, I started walking out of the palace with Misha. Everyone started murmuring with anxious looks.

“What do we do? We thought we’d finally have a hero…”
“I haven’t slept for a week because of the gargoyles. I can’t endure even one more day.”
“I heard the soldiers are very disgruntled after being defeated by the elf when they rashly attacked because of the king.”
“Why is His Majesty ruining everything by pointing out such trivial things as speech patterns?”
“Sigh… This country is finished now. We need to either emigrate or change the leadership.”

Perhaps feeling threatened by the growing unrest, the king lifted his heavy bottom and came running in his socks. He fell badly on the stairs midway, injuring himself, but he dragged his injured leg and finally grabbed my elbow to stop me.

“Listen, Faust. That’s not what I meant. My point is… Unlike Lucy von Letlerea, you’re an educated intellectual. I thought there might be an elegant way of speaking that suits you, and I presumptuously stepped in. Please forgive me.”

“Ah, what’s this? Let go of my hand. Don’t act so disgracefully.”

“No, really… please reconsider just once. We’re in a situation where we can’t even endure a day without a hero anymore. We desperately need your help.”

“This person is annoying. Why is he being so clingy?”

Clingy?

It was a word the king had never heard in his life. Everyone considers it a lifetime honor to have an audience with the king, but clingy… clingy!
The nobles of Aurelia have a tradition of meeting the king on their 20th birthday. It’s believed that one becomes a true noble only after formally meeting the king and being recognized as an adult.
He had seen countless times how the children of famous and powerful families would put on all sorts of airs, craving even a slight glance or touch from the king.
The bourgeoisie who weren’t nobles were even worse. They would use all sorts of tricks and flattery just to make their names known to the king, to the point of annoyance.
The king is someone everyone wants to meet, wants to have a connection with, and wants to boast about their acquaintance with.
But, clingy? Is that something to say to the king now?
He couldn’t believe it.
It was almost like a culture shock.
For a moment, he wanted to swear out of anger, but the recent sparks of rebellion spreading within the palace calmed the king’s fiery pride.

Even now, there must be those watching with hawk-like eyes, hiding among the spectators.
He mustn’t give them any excuse.
The fact of being clearly abandoned by the hero would be a substantial justification for impeachment.

“Pl-Please withdraw your anger and forgive us.”

“Forgive us? Your words are too short?”

“…Are you telling me to use honorifics?”

“Isn’t it the thirsty person who digs the well? This isn’t even asking you to prostrate yourself… If you have no thoughts, why don’t you just let go of this hand? I have nothing to lose.”

“…………”

“Master told you to let go, so hurry up and let go.”

Now even a lowly elf is disrespecting the king.
The elf quietly grabs the king’s wrist and twists it.
This was truly a tremendous humiliation.

Even the prime minister would be charged with sacrilege and brought to trial for touching the king’s body, yet an elf dares to?

When it comes to elves, the general perception is that they are the dirtiest and lowest race, with a status even lower than commoners.

For such an elf to twist the king’s wrist.

This was a humiliation that would go down in history. In a normal situation, the king could have cut off Misha’s head right there without any problem.
No, rather, it would be a loss of honor if he just let it slide.

However, Misha is Faust’s property.

She can’t be touched carelessly. This point made the king even more angry.

“An, an, an elf da-dares to touch me… How, how, how dare…!!”

“Hey!!!”

Hey?

The king doubted his ears.

Hey?

Hey?

He had never been called like that even once.

“Why are you pointing at my disciple? Are you crazy? This really won’t do. I’m in a bad mood and can’t possibly be the hero. I’ll say this clearly to the spectators gathered here too! Honestly, I was going to be the hero with a big heart for your sake, you know? But this king keeps irritating me, so my mind has changed? Yeah, it’s all because of this guy. If someone else was king, I might have become the hero. What kind of king is this, just ruining the mood.”

The king, feeling a chill down his spine, just broke out in a cold sweat helplessly.