Diary of Guarding Monster Girls

Do heroes always appear at the most critical moment?

Can't you come a little earlier?

Is the road that congested?

Must you wait until the last possible moment to make a dramatic entrance?

However, when Herbert finally had the chance to become such a figure himself, he realized that the feeling is really...

Absolutely thrilling!

Because in stories, those who arrive too late cannot be heroes; they merely become tragic protagonists.

Arriving too early also means you can't be a hero.

You can be reliable reinforcements, but you can't be the hero who turns the tide.

Adding fancy icing on the cake can't compare to giving coal in the snow.

Only those who arrive at just the right moment, who can turn the tide with their own strength... only those people can be called heroes.

And although being a hero was not Herbert's original intention, by a twist of fate, he successfully experienced the feeling of becoming a "hero."

Just a short while ago, he was following the "luckily escaped" Ghost Wolf to hunt down the next wave of wolves.

Let one go, follow it, let one go, follow it, let one go again...

After repeating this three times, Herbert's magic resistance increased by 20% beyond the original base.

And while searching for the fourth wave of wolves, he happened upon the fleeing Paladins.

There was no time to explain more; once he understood the situation, he immediately flew towards here.

If he had been ten seconds late, Fao would have already been crushed to a pulp by the bog boar.

Thankfully, I wasn't late.

A sacrifice with noble intent shouldn't meet such an end.

"Roar!!!"

And as Herbert momentarily got distracted with his thoughts, the bog boar seized the opportunity.

It suddenly raised its head high, its sharp tusks grazing Herbert's body, nearly piercing into it.

"Tsk! Why aren't you dead yet?"

Herbert clicked his tongue, marveling at the Demon's tenacious life force.

He originally thought such a severe injury couldn't last long, but judging by its lively appearance now, it could still hold on for at least three more minutes.

Sometimes, three minutes is too short.

It can make countless men shed tears and women rage.

But sometimes, three minutes is too long.

Though Fao could still hold on for a while longer, the longer he lingered in such a near-dead state, the greater the damage to him.

Herbert squinted momentarily in thought, then suddenly took flight, quickly streaking towards Fao.

The bog boar immediately shuddered, furiously chasing after Herbert.

No escaping!!!

But it was mistaken; Herbert's purpose wasn't to flee with Fao.

Having come this far, he wouldn't let it off that easily.

In the instant he crossed paths with Fao, Herbert snatched away the longsword Fao was holding high.

"Borrowing your sword for a moment."

!!?

Fao originally thought Herbert was going to take him and flee, only to realize it was to borrow his sword.

He hesitated for a moment, then quickly called out in panic.

"Wait! My sword is insufficient..."

His own sword wasn't high-grade enough, its blade not sharp enough, unable to break through the bog boar's defenses.

If Herbert intended to fight the bog boar with such a weapon, it would certainly drag him down.

"Don't worry!"

Herbert said with a light laugh, twirling the sword before charging back at the bog boar.

"It's more than enough."

And at the moment he gripped the sword's hilt, the blade that had been dimming suddenly burst with brilliant light.

The flames ignited!

The extreme Sun Flame turned the sword blade into a crimson fire blade.

Buzz!!!

The brilliance exceeded the limits Fao could achieve before!

"This..."

Such exaggerated divine grace!!?

This Paladin, who had worshipped the Sun God all his life, felt confused at this moment.

Am I the servant of my lord, or is he?

Why is he more favored by my lord than I am!!?

Herbert, though, paid no heed to any of this.

Summoning his spirit, he launched his final assault on the boar monster!

With a flutter of his wings, his body drew a graceful arc in the air, and he stabbed fiercely at the Demon with his sword.

"Roar!!!"

The boar, at the last moment of its life, summoned its wildest ferocity, abandoning all defense, raising its tusks high at the oncoming foe.

Even in death, I will pierce you through!

But in the end, the despicable human didn't engage in an honorable knife fight.

Instead, he sidestepped at the last moment, turning the blade sideways, switching from stabbing to cutting, stabbing fiercely from the monster's eye corner.

"Feel the momentum."

In that instant, Herbert tightened his hand and arm muscles, gripping the sword hilt firmly, slicing forward with their combined speed.

Tearing—

The sword strike seemed casual but contained endless power due to the added speed, the fire-imbued blade easily penetrating the Demon's tough hide.

Slicing its body nearly in half!

"Roar—"

The Demon howled in agony under the immense pain, unable to sustain its massive body, collapsing with a thud, raising a spray of mud.

Boom!!!

Herbert floated silently beside the Demon's corpse, his blood-red wings trembling slightly, as if narrating the intensity of the fight.

The holy and bloody aura intertwined on the battlefield, making him truly seem like an invincible War Angel.

Herbert settled atop the boar's head, lifting the now partially molten longsword from the Power of the Fierce Sun.

Hiss!

Scalding blood sprayed instantly from the severed artery, erupting like a fountain into the sky, heralding the demise of a mighty Demon.

This time Herbert didn't bathe in blood; instead, he turned with both swords towards the dumbfounded Fao.

But a water column reached Fao faster than Herbert.

The water washed over Fao, cleansing the bloodstains, leaving him drenched and looking even more disheveled.

Yet Fao's sudden expression of joy showed the change in him.

!!?

At that moment, he felt an immense surge in his life force, healing most severe wounds like fractures almost instantaneously.

Has a Legendary Priest arrived!!?

He turned gratefully, only to see a woman he had never met at a distance.

Seeing a woman in a dress amidst the ancient mud-filled forest was truly a strange sight.

But Fao didn't show discourtesy, bowing his head in respect.

"Thank you for your help."

In this case... could she be a Legendary Mage?

Which esteemed figure might this be?

Yet Fremay ignored him, her gaze fixed on Herbert, relaxing only after confirming he bore only the Demon's blood, then smiling and nodding.

"Fremay, have the others been healed?"

Fremay wanted to answer, but her glance at the critically injured Fao made her finally nod slightly.

After Herbert swiftly arrived upon their meeting, she remained by those people's side, providing magic healing.

Worried for Herbert's safety, she left them after superficial healing and rushed over.

Fremay's eyes glinted as she looked at Herbert, increasingly certain in her decision.

In this expedition with Herbert, although less than half a day had passed, her impression of him had changed several times.

Previously, though she acknowledged Herbert's talent, she felt he still needed much time to grow, thinking she could protect him for a long time.

But now, after witnessing Herbert finally slay the bog boar, she realized she was wrong.

He does need time to grow, but it won't take long.

As Fremay contentedly observed the hero she had chosen, Herbert also approached Fao.

He handed over the longsword, melted halfway by the Power of the Fierce Sun, back to Fao, saying softly:

"Thank you for your sword..."

"Hero."