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

My knight.

This is not the road we initially took.

We got new orders.

There's no one road for heroes.

There are more people on the road with us now.

The place we're going...

is holding a bit of a festival.

By the way, Xylo.

Yeah?

Can we take... a break... already?

We just had one.

Can't... go on...

Is that our destination?

Yes. That fortress is an important part of the Second Capital's defenses.

A natural stronghold protected by a river and sheer cliffs...

Mureed Fortress. Also known as the Wayfarer's Nest.

Low prices here!

Everything's fresh, but only for today!

Why, you have excellent taste, sir!

Whoops. You'll need more military scrip.

Could I have five of these?

Anyone want to send letters?

We can take 'em anywhere in the Federated Kingdom!

Take this to my mother.

Fresh out of the repair shop and indulging already?

You're incorrigible, Dotta.

Hey, it's no biggie. They won't get mad over a little stealing. It's a festival.

I know we haven't attended the Great Exchange in a while, but make sure you don't get caught.

Verkle Corp merchants are very tight-fisted.

Aw, c'mon. Loosen up. We don't get vacations often, so let's enjoy this one.

Heroes like us don't get vacations.

Even now, we're "on standby."

Of course, that's not to say we're not allowed the occasional rest period.

You sure love to sound smart, Venetim.

Now if only we could get some girls...

Stop now.

Even if there were such an establishment nearby, we'd never be allowed to use it.

You got that right.

Commander-in-chief! Where are you?

Commander Xylo!

Yeah?

Commander Xylo.

The traveling merchants have arrived.

Go buy me wine.

Sorry, but our treasury's bare.

Did you forget spending all of our scrip?

If you want booze, you'll need someone to take out a loan.

I'm sure Venetim's got time to kill.

The chancellor is keeping an eye on that sticky-fingered Dotta.

He's always got some excuse, huh?

What about Tsav?

He's not back from his mission yet?

Yeah, he's still out on loan to another unit.

This is insubordination.

Does no one have respect for their king?

Tch. Can't I get a moment's peace to do some reading?

My knight! I have been looking for you everywhere.

Not a single quiet moment.

The door was unlocked. Does that not seem incautious?

Dotta unlocked it and left. He took the key with him.

My knight, are you not attending the Great Exchange?

I don't wanna talk to any Holy Knights.

Then come make merry with me!

Why should I?

Just go to the Great Exchange yourself.

I-I am a goddess, and therefore have no interest in such things.

You don't want a Holy Knight escort, is that it?

Let us speak no more of it.

Instead...

I shall grant you the honor of playing with me.

Does that not make you happy?

Zigg?

Venetim taught me the rules.

I shall prove a formidable opponent.

By employing the venerable "hidden spear" strategy

used by the royal family in the Kingdom of Meht...

Don't do that.

If Venetim taught you that, he was probably messing with you.

Anyway, I'm busy right now.

What? Reading?

Can you not save that for later?

I even made you a bookmark.

Don't care. Use it yourself.

Although I must say, it is a surprise to see that you love reading.

What manner of boo—

It's poetry.

Poetry?!

Xylo... Y-You...

What's the big surprise?

What manner of poetry is it?

I shall grant you the honor of reading it to me.

Rejected.

Then, at least allow me to read over your shoulder.

That is surely permissible?

I can't see what a goddess would get out of this.

It's a book of old poems called Dragon-Drunk.

It was written by a drunken poet by the name of Altoyard Comette.

In his later years, he began dreaming of becoming a dragon,

and practiced flying every night until it was the death of him.

What a curious story.

There were a lot of poets like him back then.

I might've been a poet, too, if I hadn't joined the military.

A poet?!

What's the problem? Why is that so—

Xylo Forbartz.

So this is where you were.

I didn't expect Goddess Teoritta to be with you.

Kivia. I did not expect to see you here, either.

Funny seeing the noble captain of the Holy Knights demean herself by coming here.

Has our punishment been decided?

Or do we have our next mission?

Both are true.

But that's not why I'm here.

I want to talk to you.

To me?

Follow me. I'll unlock—

I shall accompany you.

It appears the Great Exchange has begun.

Let us talk as we shop.

If Kivia is in attendance, then I, as a goddess, will surely be allowed to go.

Yes, it surely must be so.

Now, let us proceed, my knight.

For heaven's sake.

Xylo, behold!

Is that some kind of food? Or a decoration, perhaps?

It's candy. You've never seen it before?

"Can-dy"?

This did not exist in the time I was created.

They look very much like jewels.

What is that long, thin food?

Fried noodles.

A western dish. Cut wheat dough into strips, then fry 'em in butter and fermented sauce.

Yes, I see.

And that?

Look. The one with the bear sign.

That's...

The hell? I've never seen that before.

Miwoolies Creams.

An iced treat popular in the First Capital.

Shaved ice is placed atop whipped cream, then sprinkled with honey and nuts.

The flavor is exquisite.

That bear is their mascot. They're currently holding a contest to name it.

Magnificent. The constant advancement in culture is on full display!

Never heard of it.

Surprised you have.

Why wouldn't I know it? I enjoy iced treats as much as anyone.

What exactly is going through your head right now?

My knight.

It looks delicious, does it not, Xylo? Truly delicious indeed.

Well? Do you not wish to try it?

If you insist.

Pick out two you think look good.

Wait, three?

I'll pass. I'm saving my scrip.

You heard her. Just the two.

Go ahead.

Of course.

Leave it to me!

Xylo. You've given me reason to reevaluate you.

You saved my men at Couveunge.

At Zewan Gan, you saved the people we were ready to abandon.

And the people you saved were all grateful.

Yeah?

Guess it wasn't for nothing, then.

I see you're capable of smiling, at least.

There's just too many things that piss me off.

Regardless, you've proven yourself quite capable.

And by forming that pact with Goddess Teoritta,

I believe you may have saved her, too.

What's that mean?

Goddess Teoritta was discovered in the northern ruins.

After her excavation, we of the Thirteenth Order of Holy Knights, assigned to pact with her,

were dispatched to handle oversight and operations.

But conflict soon arose between the military and the Temple.

Sorry to hear it.

How dare you! It's because of you! Because you killed Goddess Senerva!

What?

That incident gave the military an idea.

"If goddesses can be killed,

maybe we can make more goddesses."

So the military wanted us to analyze Teoritta.

Analyze her, huh?

Dissect her, you mean.

Of course, the Temple opposed it,

but the military won out.

However, that situation is now beginning to change.

In a very short time, your unit has taken out two Demon Lords,

and proved the usefulness of Goddess Teoritta.

Her usefulness?

You're saying they thought she was useless before?

They'd just found her. How would they know?

We knew her power was to summon swords.

That was written in the ruins where she was found.

It's said the goddesses first came to us during the First War of Subjugation,

in what is known as the Great Civilized Era.

The goddesses act as a kind of "gate," with each one having a different nature.

One produces various poisons.

One calls down lightning and raging storms.