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

Name: Tsav.

That's me!

No surname. Codename: Man-Eating Ghoul.

Yeah, that's pretty much how us Gwen Mohsa assassins roll.

Eight people in a month, huh?

That's quite disturbing.

Nah, ya got it all wrong.

I'm an honest guy, so I'll lay it out straight for ya.

I killed twelve people. That's 50% more.

See how honest I am? I'm such a pushover.

I'm always the guy drawin' the short straw.

You killed all those people, yet you feel no remorse at all?

Aw, shit. Sorry. Were we talkin' about what's "right and wrong"?

I was never great at that whole "morality" stuff.

I do kinda feel like crap if I hafta kill someone I like,

but everythin' beyond that don't make no sense to me.

The Gwen Mohsa brainwashing never took hold, either,

'cause that stuff seemed so silly and dumb.

We're aware of how the Gwen Mohsa operate.

They use pain, drugs, pleasure... all kinds of methods to make children—

Hey, are ya thinkin' I'm some kinda chosen one?

Gosh, that's such a big responsibility.

You aren't afraid?

At best, you'll get a life sentence. At worst, death awaits.

Aren't you afraid?

I'm hella scared, man.

But bein' scared won't change much, so I'm just gonna enjoy it while I'm here.

That isn't a normal human reaction.

Do you lack imagination?

That's mean, dude! I'm imaginin' the hell out of it all right now.

It's just...

I can't wrap my head around that stuff.

I mean, outside of what's good for me and the people I like...

Is there anythin' else that matters?

How interesting.

Tsav, was it?

How did you choose who to kill?

Dunno.

Guess those guys were just easy to kill.

"Easy to kill"?

What about this man, Taldy?

He vanished from the government office where he worked

in a mere seventy seconds in broad daylight.

You're saying he was easy to kill?

I don't mean the method. It's more about, uh, the feeling?

I mean, I can kill anyone if I set my mind to it.

So when I'm pickin' who to kill...

I pick the ones I won't feel bad about.

What's your standard for that?

Um, I guess it's just kinda like instinct, yeah?

They just seem... y'know. Easy to kill?

I see. Yes, yes.

Magnificent.

Tsav, my boy.

I think death is too good for you.

A sentence worse than death?

Yes. I am sentencing you to be a hero.

N-No!

Wait a minute! The hero penalty—

Yes, that's right.

You won't even be allowed to die.

Sentenced to Be a Hero

Sentenced to Be a Hero

See? I was a total pushover when you got right down to it.

The more I'd look into a target, the more I'd think, "Whoa, I can't kill this guy!"

"He's got a wife and kids at home!" y'know?

So I'd never kill the guy.

But the organization'd get mad at me if I didn't have proof of the kill,

That man is also a hero?

Death has repeatedly failed to change him.

We've heard this story a few dozen times, too.

so I'd mess up some other dude's face and bring him back with me instead.

Total sweetheart stuff—

Tsav.

Shut up.

Ah, sorry 'bout that, bro.

Am I talkin' your ear off again?

Can we put a muzzle on this guy already?

He'll be talking all night if we have to share a room.

I just can't stand it when it's quiet, y'know?

You know my tragic past, right? I was basically tortured as part of my training.

At times, they put me in this dungeon—

Shut up.

Don't make me say it again.

See? Now Xylo's mad.

Aw, shit! Sorry, bro!

C'mon, Dotta. Say you're sorry, too.

Why should I apologize? This is why I hate you. Get some perspective already.

Aw, seriously, Dotta. Ya gotta learn to take a joke.

They've advanced quite far.

They'll likely arrive tonight at this rate.

Y-Yes.

So? How many knights of the Order are staying?

About fifty. All trustworthy knights.

Still not enough.

Even with the prisoners Venetim rounded up from Milnid Jail...

Prisoners? Was a bribe involved?

Yup. "They're all on death row, so do what you like with 'em," was the response.

Same treatment prisoners get everywhere.

Hey, look. Those are faerie scouts, I think.

For real? Let's have a look-see.

Looks kinda doglike.

Must be a cir sith.

He can see it from this distance?

The man's vision is inhuman.

Tsav, can you handle it?

Guess we'll find out.

Just...

don't kill me if I screw it up, 'kay?

A Daisy made by Verkle Corp?

Yeah. His Majesty retuned it for long-range sniping.

Say, you sure about this?

If he's in a pack, I'd hate to rile his buddies—

Can't you shoot without talking?

Copy that.

See that? Bullseye, right?

Yeah. But there's more coming.

Yep, on it.

Can we trust them with this?

They're an obnoxious pair, but they'll get the job done.

Particularly Tsav. I've never seen him miss a shot.

Now, let's go set the trap.

More coming. Hurry.

Ah, it's hard to fire fast at this power and speed.

Just hurry!

It's a hit.

Some days, I think I'm a genius.

Okay, there's another.

Mr. Dotta never listens to me.

What?

You're not giving up? Even in this situation?

Some people want us dead. I'd rather not give them the satisfaction.

Besides...

All that stuff about her usefulness...

I'd heard you were a man who imperiled his unit in his eagerness to climb the ranks.

That's funny. What noble family are you from, anyway?

I'm not a noble.

That seems unlikely.

Galtuile let a commoner become an Order captain?

My uncle is a high priest.

So a bigwig at the Temple, more or less.

That explains why I didn't know.

There! There! Beside it, see?

Copy.

There's some left.

Man, give a guy a break.

Okay, we got most of them.

Time for a break?

No, there's another.

Gotcha.

Huh? Is that a faerie?

Behind that boulder? Yeah, that's a faerie.

Bro, we're all done here.

Every shot a hit.

Dotta, Tsav, stay here and keep watch.

Kivia, let's go.

Carry it all inside!

We need more materials here!

The captain's heading out already. Get it done!

You're staying, Captain Kivia?

Staying to watch the heroes die seems in poor taste to me, but I'll pray for your safety.

I shall also pray for your well-being, Kivia.

Pelmerry, stay close.

That's the goddess killer.

You bastard.

Yes, Hord. I'll stay close.

Hord, was I useful in my role?

You were perfect. There can be no room for doubt.

In that case...

Won't you say, "Well done, Pelmerry"?

Very well.

Well done, Pelmerry.

Excuse us, then.

That's the ninth goddess?

Yes. The Goddess Pelmerry.

She's pacted with the captain of the Ninth Order of the Holy Knights, Hord Clivios. Know him?

His family holds a lot of land in the south.

Clivios-made wine is considered quite a delicacy.

But...

What he's left in there is nothing at all like wine.

Boy, looks dangerous.

So we're luring the Demon Lord in here and detonating the barrels, huh?

Yeah. To continuously kill Iblis with poison.

And that'll kill all of us as well, huh?

Man, that sucks.

Kinda ticks me off, even.

Might even drive me to kill someone!

Huh? What'd you just say?

You looking for a fight?!

You disgusting heroes had better watch what you—

Stop, Zofflec.

Fine.

Why do you have to kill anyone?

Gotta vent my frustration.

Don't tell me you've never kicked a rock when you're ticked off, bro.

Humans aren't rocks.

Hey, that's human exceptionalism!

Humans are just one part of our big wide world.

It's not good to give 'em special treatment.

I have found you, Xylo!