I draw the heat sword and, in a single stroke, sever the Demon Flute hanging from Misaro’s neck.
The useless goddess said this is what binds Misaro. Then I’ll destroy it first!
I immediately gun down the robe-clad Midari Goblin to Misaro’s left with the P90.
It seems she did a proper job this time, allowing me to perfectly control physical abilities and magic power on par with a hero.
With just a glance, I can grasp the positions of the goblins and gather water from the air in an instant.
I pull the stunned Misaro in with my right arm and thrust the heat sword, raised to two thousand degrees, into a sphere of water gathered to about three meters in size.
The water sphere explodes from the two-thousand-degree heat, striking the surrounding goblins.
Perhaps due to the heat sword’s defensive function, it doesn’t hit us. But it’s still hot!
I immediately wrap myself in a film of water and control the steam to kill the goblins.
The visibility is nearly zero due to the dense fog, but thanks to physical abilities comparable to a hero and the ability to sense goblins, I take down more than fifty in less than a minute.
Fewer than forty remain. Time left: two minutes and five seconds. Plenty.
I kill the rest in thirty seconds and stop the cheat time.
The three-minute cheat time per day is not an ability that runs until it is fully consumed once activated. If used properly, it should allow me to control the situation to my advantage.
Once I stop the cheat time, my physical abilities return to normal, so I can no longer hold Misaro with one arm and end up dropping her to the ground.
「Are you alright?」
There’s no way she could be fine after being carried through that kind of movement, but Misaro seems to have a body beyond that of a human, and her eyes are clearly focused.
「…W-why…?」
「To fulfill the responsibility I spoke of before」
Even I wonder what I’m doing. I think about throwing away responsibility and walking away. But I don’t want to be the kind of scum who breaks promises. I want to live a proper life.
「This is the last time. If you want to live as a human, come with me. I’ll make sure you can live as one」
I don’t know what to do yet. But at the very least, in a place where giants, elves, beastkin, and dwarves exist, even a human-goblin half should be able to live.
「You decide. Whether you live as a human or as a goblin」
In this world, idealistic compassion doesn’t work yet. There is discrimination between races. It’s a harsh and cruel age where you can’t survive unless you belong to some faction, and living in the human world doesn’t necessarily mean happiness.
「…The Demon King’s army will become your enemy…」
「According to the goddess, once Rodos of the Roaring Thunder is defeated, the threat in this area will disappear. I don’t know the Demon King army’s objective, and I don’t know the extent of their forces. But they can’t be that abundant. They have to direct most of their strength toward the hero, who can be considered their natural enemy」
If they are called the Sixteen Generals, then that means there are sixteen armies. An army with weapons and an established chain of command would be a threat, but if they are leading monsters like goblins and Mokudan that live by instinct, then they are not that dangerous. They can only attack with brute force.
「…Don’t you hate the goddess…?」
「I do. If she were nearby, I’d punch her. After all, I’m bound to a fate where I have to keep exterminating goblins」
Whether you call it fate or a curse. The only way to be freed is to die.
「But as long as I’m exterminating goblins, the goddess won’t interfere. In that case, I’ll create an organization to exterminate goblins, gather people, and build a safe zone for survival. Ironically, I’m seen as an apostle of the goddess. No one would openly defy someone like that」
Well, not openly, at least.
「Stop dwelling on hatred. Stop looking down all the time. If you have time for that, think about how you can become happy. Then act on it. Use whatever you can, whether it’s the goddess or those in power. The only one who can make you happy is yourself」
Even if someone else makes you happy, that isn’t your happiness. It’s theirs. If it isn’t happiness you gained yourself, then it isn’t real happiness. At least, that’s how I see it.
「If you say you’re human, then live in the human world and make a place for yourself among humans. I’ll see you as a human, Misaro」
I extend my hand to Misaro.
If she takes it, I’ll bring her with me. If she doesn’t, then we simply return to being enemies, where one of us kills or is killed.
After a moment of hesitation, Misaro takes my hand.
「Misaro. I appoint you as a goblin exterminator. Do you accept?」
「I accept. Because I want to live as a human」
──Piroon!
Another electronic chime. Hearing it over and over feels like it’s killing my hair roots.
──Misaro-san has joined the team of Ichinose Takato-san. Blessings upon the fourth exterminator. Ah, a kind piece of advice from me. Have her take one recovery pill each day. If she continues for forty days, Misaro-san’s genetic abnormality should be corrected.
Genetic abnormality? What does that mean?
──Please continue to exterminate goblins even more diligently. After one year, I’ll grant you a small bonus. Don’t let your guard down and die.
Don’t end with something ominous like that! Finish with encouragement!
「Was that the goddess just now?」
「Yeah. The root of all this」
If she had properly created this world, it wouldn’t have turned into such a terrible place.
「Hmm? Ladarion is getting closer. Misaro, for now, go into Home. I’ll introduce you to everyone later」
The useless goddess’s announcements reach the exterminators. Contractors sometimes receive them too, depending on her whims.
「Understood──」
As soon as she replies, Misaro enters Home.
Now then. How should I explain Misaro to Ladarion and the others? Goddess, please give me some advice!
──Piroon!
Oh, is this divine guidance?
──(*゜▽゜)ノ!
A “do your best” emoticon is sent into my mind.
「You useless piece of trashhhhhh!!」
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