Sentenced to Be a Hero (勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録)

You did well, Xylo.

Allow me to praise you as well.

Xylo Forbartz.

Let's talk about what happened after you defeated Demon Lord Iblis.

I'm not in the mood for all that politicking crap.

No, I'd like you to hear this.

I need you to, in fact.

Bring that over here!

S'more where that came from!

Everything's fresh!

Get it moving.

As such, you and Goddess Teoritta...

have officially been allotted to my Thirteenth Order of Holy Knights.

"Allotted to"?

What are we, equipment?

The military and the Temple are still debating

Goddess Teoritta's questionable standing,

but your incredible accomplishments at the fortress have caused a sea change.

Xylo. I want you to continue protecting Goddess Teoritta.

If you want me to protect her...

We haven't had a single day off in ages.

Take us off the front lines.

That was already the plan.

Yeah?

I'm assigning your hero unit to protect Goddess Teoritta, here in Port City Ioff.

You're saying this city's more dangerous than the battlefield?

Your assessment is correct.

A group of heretics expelled from the Temple

are refusing to accept this new goddess.

They've joined with a religious order of assassins and intend to do her—

Enough. You can fill me in later.

Xylo.

You shall protect me.

We and the heroes...

We have time off, Xylo!

I hear you've put down a few Demon Blights, Xylo.

Oh. Hey, Jayce.

I heard about those three Demon Lords you dealt with.

It sounded like Dotta and Norgalle did most of the work,

but I'm willing to accept that Iblis was all you.

I got two, though.

You're not inflating those numbers?

Rhyno was on the western front with you.

He was being insubordinate again.

He'll be in a cell for a while.

A prison cell for a penal hero, huh?

Either way, I've taken down two to your one.

That means I win, loser.

I-I beg your pardon?

Xylo is my knight.

You will not malign him so.

So you're the goddess? I hear Dotta found you.

Must be nice to have a kid to keep you safe.

Th-The sheer insolence!

I have never experienced such a total lack of respect!

Don't bother. He won't change just because you get mad with him.

And Dotta didn't find her. He stole her.

From the Holy Knights.

Same thing, if you ask me.

Like I give a damn about human legalities.

Now, pony up. I gotta get back before Neely starts sulking.

Give my best to Neely.

Xylo! What is wrong with that man?

That's Jayce. He's our unit's dragoon.

He's an idiot who grew and sold illegal substances for dragons.

They made him a hero for that?

That and insurrection.

They say he went against the military in hopes of freeing their dragons.

Normally, they would've had him in custody in a day,

but he's from a big-name noble family, and dragons love the guy.

It became a big enough deal they named it: "Jayce's Revolt."

Heroes truly are an eccentric bunch.

If I may...

L-Let's keep a cool head, Xylo. Please.

W-Wait a minute. If the Mastibolt cavalry hadn't showed up when they did,

it would've been much worse, don't you agree?

Yup. That's why I'm only hitting you twice.

Xylo! Violence is not the answer!

I disagree. There's still something he's not telling us.

Th-That's not true.

W-Well, Frenci may have said she wanted to speak with you,

and that she'd kill me if I didn't make it happen right away...

Frenci? Who might that be?

My former fiancée.

You're in an awful state, Xylo.

What's wrong with you? Sit down at once.

You haven't grown in the slightest.

You were on the level of a fly before, but now, you're like a caterpillar.

A grave situation.

Think you could be less insulting with your comparisons?

Oh? Do flat-landers consider that expression insulting?

I am merely encouraging you to behave in a way

that befits a future member of the Mastibolt family.

I guess it's a cultural difference.

I'll revise my thinking.

I did not mean to cause offense.

So this is the goddess in question?

Don't glare at her. You'll scare her.

I-I am not afraid of her.

I am a goddess, you know.

Nor should you be. I am not glaring.

Frenci was your name, yes?

What precisely is your relationship to my knight, Xylo?

I told you that earlier. She's my former fiancée.

"Former" is inaccurate.

Our oath remains intact, Xylo.

Oh, come on. I'm a hero, remember?

I don't have the right to get married.

Legally, I'm not even considered human.

Frenci, was it?

This man is a hero and my knight.

He has devoted his life to offering me reverence and praise.

Therefore, I regret to inform you...

He cannot be married!

Xylo, another curious creature has taken to you.

I'm reminded of the time my father's long-eared armadillo took a liking to you.

Yeah, while it scratched you.

Only because that western merchant—

W-Wait one moment! It is unfair to recount your shared history in my presence.

And it is the height of disrespect to compare a goddess to an animal.

Regardless, I am attempting to arrange a pardon for you.

Wait a minute. I—

I will remain in this city for some time.

You see...

I must locate the Demon Blight.

What do you mean by that?

How it sounds.

About one month ago,

the night-gaunt chiefs and I embarked on maneuvers to track a Demon Blight.

But a few days ago, their entire force disappeared in the vicinity of this town.

Disappeared?

Yes. Demon Blight Number Fifty-Nine: "Spriggan."

I believe...

it has disguised itself as a human.

A Demon Lord disguised as a human? Spriggan?

A rare ability among Demon Lords.

Damn. That's a real headache.

It may already have infiltrated the city.

Be careful.

The creature has already laid waste to one of our territories.

This concludes our discussion. However...

May I ask who is eavesdropping over there?

Oh, I didn't intend...

It's a rule. As their supervisor, I must monitor interactions with the heroes.

I see. I will be leaving, then.

I advise you to come up with a better excuse next time.

I very much wish to go.

Venetim and Dotta told me all about it.

The west and north sides of the city are full of rare goods,

and all of the food is free.

It's only free for that sticky-fingered Dotta.

And we're not going sightseeing.

We're trying to lure out those Temple heretics after you and arrest them.

Yes, we are. I am well aware.

Just a bit of advice:

Don't tell anyone about that Holy Sword.

If those Galtuile bastards find out about it, our lives will get a lot harder.

Worry not.

I am a goddess. I know just what to do.

I'll accompany you in town.

I'll be the goddess's sword and shield should anything happen.

Now, the question is...

Who else to bring?

Venetim's no use as a bodyguard.

I can't let Dotta stroll around town without shackles.

His Majesty will make a fuss about how he himself needs bodyguards.

As for Tatsuya...

It's best we keep him out of the public eye.