NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16 - Episode 16: The Hero Receives a Weapon as a Gift, but...
Episode 16: The Hero Receives a Weapon as a Gift, but…
Cea was feeling down because he couldn’t obtain any items. His usual arrogant attitude was quite annoying. Seeing him like that, his mentor Gebarugonza couldn’t bear it anymore. She locked herself in the workshop. What exactly was she making? She hammered heated iron with a wooden mallet. It seems like she’s making a greatsword.
“Hehehe. It’s for my cute disciple.”
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
So, she intends to give Cea a greatsword as a present. Giving a weapon to someone who can’t acquire weapons himself. That would ruin Zaus-sama’s plan. After some thought, I decided to send a letter. It was anonymous, addressed to Cea. He retrieved it from the mailbox and read it.
“To Cea-sama, your training efforts are always so impressive.”
The content hinted at flirtation, making him smirk.
“Am I your fan? Hehehe. Well, I am pretty cool, after all.”
The letter continued:
—Indeed, a man destined to become a hero is different. By the way, is that strength genuine? It’s become a topic among the girls in the capital. Could it be that you’ve been given powerful weapons by someone and become strong? If that’s the case, it’s disappointing. I’ll despise you from the bottom of my heart. After all, you’re meant to be a hero. If it turns out that you’ve become strong because someone gave you powerful weapons, you’ll be confirmed as trash. The epitome of trash. The Hero of Trash. If that’s the case, I’ll spread the word throughout the capital. Everyone will mock you. …Well, I don’t think it will come to that. After all, you’re destined to become a hero.
He trembled as he finished reading the letter.
“W-What is this letter!? Don’t underestimate me! I’m destined to become a hero! I wouldn’t accept powerful weapons from anyone!!”
And so, a week later…
He was diligently training as usual.
“Muscles! Muscles!! After 10,000 push-ups, it’s time for 30,000 squats!”
And then, his mentor Gebarugonza appeared.
Her face was completely gentle.
“Hehehe. Cea, let’s do something nice.”
“W-What is it, mentor?”
“Tadaaa! Here it is!”
“A g-greatsword!?”
“I made it for you, my dear. I’m presenting it to you.”
“P-Please don’t look down on me! I’ll get my own equipment!”
“Even so, there were no items in the infinite dungeon or in the pots in the houses, right?”
“W-Well, that’s true but…”
“In that case, I’ll give it to you as a gift from your mentor. Just become a strong hero with this greatsword.”
“Ugh…gulp.”
He stared at the splendid greatsword, swallowing his saliva.
Even from a distance, you could see the greatness of that greatsword.
Surely, it would lead to a significant increase in stats.
He must have wanted it so badly that it was like reaching for it from his throat.
But…
“I-I don’t need it! It’s something I don’t need!”
“Hey now…a woman is giving a present to a man. At least accept it as courtesy.”
“No, I can’t accept it! I’m a man destined to become a hero!”
“That’s why! With this greatsword, become a splendid hero!”
“I don’t want it! You gorilla woman!”
He pushed away the greatsword.
“What did you say!! You brat!”
The difference in strength was evident.
No matter how much he trained, he couldn’t compete with his mentor Gebarugonza.
He was pinned down, and his buttocks were smacked.
“A man who calls a woman a gorilla is the worst! It’s educational guidance!”
“Ahhhhh!”
Hehehe.
It worked out perfectly.
With this momentum, I’ll make sure he doesn’t receive any weapons or items.
☆
~Zaus’ Perspective~
Cea’s weakening is going smoothly.
He’s not getting any weapons at all.
Now, the problem arises with the weapon shop.
There’s nothing we can do about the weapons displayed in this shop.
If he saves up money and goes shopping, there’s a possibility he’ll get powerful weapons.
There are still three years until he’s certified as a hero.
By then, we absolutely must do something about the weapons in the weapon shop.
“If I could buy them all up, he wouldn’t be able to purchase any…”
There are over a hundred weapon shops in Breque.
If we were to buy up all those weapons, the amount of money needed would be unimaginable.
Just then, Meel came to inform me of this month’s vegetable sales.
“The sales of crops harvested in the Demon Duke’s territory are increasing.”
Hmm.
The monsters are diligent workers. They’re producing high-quality and delicious vegetables.
By the way, we started trading because of the surplus harvest.
“How are the sales of vegetables sold to the neighboring Tonari Kingdom?”
“They’re going smoothly. The demand for high-quality vegetables seems insatiable.”
The profits from the surplus harvest were tremendous.
I have a considerable amount of money.
“As expected of Lord Zaus. The Demon Duke’s territory under Lord Zaus will surely continue to prosper!”
The Hero will attack in three years.
Until then, I’ll strengthen to the limit.
So, the best use of money would be to enhance my subordinates. With high-quality weapons, further growth can be expected.
In that case, purchasing high-quality weapons…
“Oh, I see! With this money, I can buy up the weapons from the shops Cea can reach!”
When I think about it, Cea is not yet a hero. He’s just a 12-year-old child. The weapon shops accessible to Cea are only the five in the royal capital, Lontmelda Territory.
Visiting the various weapon shops in Breque would be possible when he turns 15 and can display the Hero’s Mark on his right hand. With the Hero’s Mark, crossing borders becomes easy.
But for now, crossing borders is not possible.
So, if I buy up the weapons from the five shops, Cea won’t be able to buy powerful weapons.
What everyone absolutely desires after starting Breque is the Dragon Sand Iron Sword.
This costs 360 cozons.
Even though I receive 100 cozons from the king as an allowance, it’s still a precious weapon that can’t be bought with that money.
In the early stages, it’s an absolutely desired weapon.
In the world of Breque, defeating monsters turns into cozons, the currency. However, this transformation is due to the Hero’s Mark.
That means, for Cea, who hasn’t received hero certification, the only way to earn money is by working directly.
100 cozons are worth about 100,000 yen in Japanese yen. So, the Dragon Sand Iron Sword would cost 360,000 yen.
It’s impossible for a 12-year-old child to earn that much money. Even if he saves up, it would require a considerable amount of effort and time.
Hehehe.
Excellent.
I’ll buy up powerful weapons.
☆
~Cea’s Perspective~
“What!? You want to stop training and work?”
My mentor, Gebarugonza, raised her eyebrows.
“I really need money.”
“Isn’t it more important to train and become stronger?”
“I’m already training enough! I want weapons more than anything else!”
“In that case, there’s the greatsword I made, isn’t there?”
“No, I can’t accept gifts. That might make some mediocre village boy happy, but I’m destined to become a hero. I can’t use gifts as my equipment.”
“You’re quite prideful. You’re just a 12-year-old kid, you know. Well, I don’t dislike it, though.”
“I’m destined to become a hero. I’m the center of this world.”
That’s right, I’m the protagonist.
I will save this world.
And I will become the greatest existence in the world.
That’s the kind of guy I am. I want to be surrounded by beautiful girls who scream with excitement.
“Kyaa, Cea-sama, you’re amazing!”
“Cea-sama, you’re so cool!”
“I want to be Cea-sama’s wife!”
Hehehe.
That’s what it means to be a hero.
I’ll create a harem and embrace different girls every night.
I have talent.
The strongest power and the greatest intellect.
And I have a cool appearance.
What I need are equipment!
I need equipment so cool that girls swoon over it.
I’ll get the Dragon Sand Iron Sword.
If I equip the Dragon Sand Iron Sword on the day of the Hero’s certification ceremony in three years, I’ll surely be admired. Even the king will respect me.
Kukuku.
I’ll definitely get it.
I’ll save up 360 cozons no matter what and buy the Dragon Sand Iron Sword!
And so, my efforts began.
I woke up early in the morning and worked until it was dark. I mastered every job in the village.