New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/3 chapters)
Prologue: Stranded
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The sun shone brightly on the Lucur Beach. On this peaceful beach, a boy had washed ashore.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed about my age. His body and clothes were tattered and worn. For such a serene coastline, it was a rather unsettling sight. From the shade of the nearby forest, I aimed my bow and observed him for a while.
If he turns out to be a ferocious Demon, I’d be ready to take him down instantly…
But the boy didn’t move a muscle. As I cautiously approached to examine him, I quickly realized he wasn’t just any ordinary boy. On his right cheek was a black tattoo. Its script resembled cursive demonic runes.
Despite his ragged clothes, his right arm was neatly wrapped in a pristine bandage, and beneath it, black markings, similar to the ones on his cheek, traced across his skin. Even the attachment of his arm seemed unnatural. As if a different arm had been forcibly grafted onto him.
Clearly suspicious.
“…” (??)
I turned him on his back to check, but he wasn’t breathing, and I couldn’t hear a heartbeat either. When I looked at his face, my heart skipped a beat for a moment. I could tell from his features that he came from a good upbringing.
“……” (??)
I had no idea how he ended up here, but seeing his peaceful face made me feel oddly compelled to help him. Even though I didn’t have the luxury of playing hero, perhaps meeting him in such a desolate place held some meaning.
First, I cast a healing spell.
*Crackle, crackle! Purple sparks flew.*
It was repelled.
This is the first time I’ve seen healing not work, but maybe this child is already dead? Or maybe he’s just suffocating. In that case, an electric shock with lightning magic might help clear his airway and restart his heart.
*Crackle, crackle! The purple sparks flew again.*
Another failure. It isn’t that he is dead and impervious to healing, but rather, his body itself seems to reject magic. But there is no time to dwell on that. If so, I’d have to perform manual chest compressions. Not only that. I’d also have to do artificial respiration…
I instinctively looked around.
It’s not like I’m really conscious of it. This is a lifesaver. This is not a first kiss because it saves a life. It doesn’t count.
Alright, here we go.
—
I woke up. My mind was hazy. Even so, I could remember that someone had saved me. A girl with shimmering golden eyes and hair as blue as the sea…
“…Ah…!” (Jack)
My head hurt. Trying to recall anything triggered a splitting headache.
What on earth had happened?
The feel of sand beneath me and the salty sea breeze suggested I was on some beach. I stood up, brushing off the gritty sand clinging to my body.
“Ahh…” (Jack)
Where am I? Who am I?
That was exactly how I felt. A vast beach stretched before me, flanked by a forest. None of it was familiar. Even when I tried to remember myself, nothing clear came to mind. I checked my limbs and clothes. My outfit wasn’t exactly normal. It was definitely not something for a seaside vacation. A rugged leather suit, now in tatters. And my exposed right hand and arm? They didn’t belong to any ordinary human.
What should I do now…?
As I wandered aimlessly along the coast, I heard voices from somewhere.
“―――…so that’s what happened, eh?” (??)
“―――Our village’s doomed, I tell ya!” (??)
The voices came from the forest. I ran toward them. I didn’t know who they were, but maybe they’d help me. Surely, if I could find someone I could talk to, things would work out. For all I knew, they might even be acquaintances.
“Hey! Excuse me!” (Jack)
“…?!” (??)
The two figures were unusually short. They barely reached my chest, yet both sported impressive beards and muscular builds. When they saw me, they immediately grew wary. Each held a woodcutter’s axe, ready to strike at any moment. But given their stature, they weren’t all that intimidating. Honestly, I found them kind of cute.
“Who’re you, eh?” (??)
“He’s bad news! He’s gotta be one of those raiders attacking our village!” (??)
“For real?! Let’s get outta here!” (??)
Though their dialect was strange, the language itself was familiar. Still, communication wasn’t happening.
“Uh, hey, wait…” (Jack)
“But ain’t he just a kid?” (??)
“Yeah! Let’s catch him and use him as a hostage!” (??)
Uh, hold on a second—what?
“Get the rope! Tie him up!” (??)
“Got it! Let’s do this!” (??)
“Hey, no, I’m not—wait, stop!” (Jack)
I’d let my guard down because of their size, but they were ridiculously strong. Their sheer force overwhelmed me, and before I knew it, they had tied me up tightly with a sturdy rope.
“Alright, let’s haul him to the village!” (??)
“Yep, let’s go!” (??)
The two of them easily hoisted me up and carried me through the forest.
Ah, I’ve really done it now. What should I do? Still, they don’t seem too scary. Maybe I can explain and get them to understand.
—
The place they brought me to was a small village nestled deep in the dense forest. Two large, twisted trees formed an arched entrance. The village houses were built along the tall trees, connected by ladders, planks, and branches. Windmills spun in the breeze, powering pulleys and gears that lifted buckets and transported goods. This was a pretty clever race, it seemed.
But the villagers all regarded me with wary eyes.
“Whoa…” (Jack)
“This here’s our Dwarf village, see?” (??)
“Wow.” (Jack)
Dwarves, huh? I think I’ve read about them before. Though I couldn’t remember where.
“Let’s report to the village chief!” (??)
“Right, let’s go!” (??)
They carried me over to a house that seemed to belong to their village chief. On the way, I gazed up at the sunlight filtering through the canopy, thinking how beautiful it was. The chief’s house stood near the largest tree in the village. It was a truly magnificent specimen.
I was shoved inside. Despite the size of the house, the ceiling was low. Given their height, I supposed that made sense.
“Chief Dodoroto! We’ve caught a Demon kid!” (??)
“Hm, hm, hm…” (Dodorot)
The elder, Dodorot, sat cross-legged in a daze. His long white beard and eyebrows obscured his eyes. He almost looked like he was asleep.
“We’ve tied him up! No more raids on our village!” (??)
“Hm, hm, hm…” (Dodorot)
The two dwarves were eagerly reporting their deeds, but the chief just nodded lazily.
Was he even listening? Probably not.
“Chief Dodorot! Chief Dodorot!” (??)
“Hm, hm, hm… What?” (Chief Dodorot)
The chief finally seemed to notice the two standing before him and spoke in a leisurely tone.
Yep, he’d definitely been asleep.
“We caught a Demon kid!” (??)
“What should we do? Hostage? Execution?” (??)
“Hm, hm, hm… I dunno.” (Chief Dodoroto)
This chief had zero enthusiasm. Then again, maybe that was why I wasn’t in any real danger.
—
After some back-and-forth, they took me to a large tree at the village’s center. Its massive roots jutted out from the ground, leaving a gap that seemed to lead further inside.
“It’s Sylphid-sama who will teach you.” (Dodorot)
“Sylphid-sama?” (Jack)
“You don’t know Sylphid-sama, the spirit of this forest?” (Dodorot)
Passing under a massive tree root, we entered an open space. A flat altar stood at the center, with faint sunlight streaming through gaps in the tree roots. When Dodorot, the two from earlier, and I drew closer to it, Dodorot suddenly knelt. The other two also abruptly dropped to their knees, pressing their faces to the ground.
“Oh… It’s Sylphid-sama…” (Dodorot)
“Huh? Huh?” (Jack)
“Sylphid-sama…” (??)
There was nothing on the altar in front of us. The sight of the three paying their respects to an empty space was almost comical.
“Are ya stupid?! You bow your head too!” (??)
“Ah, okay.” (Jack)
I was forced to bow my head too. Still bound with my hands tied behind my back, it took considerable effort to manage… My abs hurt.
Why am I doing something this ridiculous?
“―――…” (??)
But as I bowed my head, I felt a presence.
“Welcome, all of you.” (Sylphid)
“…?” (Jack)
The voice clearly came from the altar. I instinctively looked up, but there was still nothing there. There was only the altar bathed in white light.
“Can’t you see me?” (Sylphid)
“No, I can’t… Whoa!” (Jack)
As soon as I answered, a gust of wind hit my face. It felt like something cold was brushing against my eyelids, forcing wind into my eyes.
“How about now?” (Sylphid)
Slowly opening my eyes, I saw a divine woman with green hair and green eyes. She floated in midair, her white silk dress billowing around her.
Is this Sylphid-sama?
“Dwarves, this child is not a Demon. He seems to be human.” (Sylphid)
Sylphid-sama gently addressed the village chief and the two others behind me.
“See? I told ya! I was against tying him up!” (??)
“What’re ya talkin’ about?! You’re the one who said we should catch him!” (??)
They both captured me, though.
“You, human child, what is your name?” (Sylphid)
“Uh… Sorry, I don’t remember anything…” (Jack)
“Oh?” (Sylphid)
Although I was relieved to finally meet someone who could understand me, nothing had progressed.
“This is troubling. I’ve never encountered a lost child in this forest before.” (Sylphid)
“I see…” (Jack)
Even Sylphid-sama didn’t seem to know much about me.
“I could guide you to a nearby human settlement, but this village is currently facing some issues.” (Sylphid)
“Issues?” (Jack)
“The orcs in the forest have been acting strange. Though we used to coexist peacefully, they’ve recently been causing trouble, disturbing the dwarves.” (Sylphid)
―― Everyone doing whatever they want only makes others suffer.
A familiar sight flashes before me. It was a plaza in some town, with festival stalls being prepared. A red-haired man turns to look at me.
“Ow…!” (Jack)
“Are you alright?” (Sylphid)
But a headache interrupts my thoughts, preventing me from recalling anything further.
As this exchange went on, a loud thud thud thud noise and tremors shook the ground from the village’s direction. Even the earth seemed to vibrate slightly. Sylphid-sama sighed upon hearing it.
“…Ah, they’ve come again today.” (Sylphid)
Aside from the chief, the dwarf men began to panic and fled from the altar.
“Orcs are coming! The village will be ravaged again!” (??)
“This is bad! I’ve gotta get back to my house!” (??)
“Hmph, hmph…” (Dodorot)
The chief alone remained calm.
—
When we reached the village, the dwarf villagers were hurriedly climbing ladders to their homes and pulling the ladders up after them. Clearly, they didn’t have the leisure to help me. Not to mention, I was still tied up.
“Hey! At least untie me! Hey!” (Jack)
None of the dwarves responded. Meanwhile, the sound of the orcs’ thundering footsteps grew closer.
I hid behind the trunk of a nearby tree. Peeking out, I saw a horde of orcs riding boars, charging forward. Pigs’ faces, bloated green bodies covered with warts, and drool spilling disgustingly from their mouths gave me a strong sense of revulsion. Their crude chest plates and loincloths suggested they had some intelligence. About ten orcs smashed through the village’s wooden gate and began wreaking havoc, destroying everything in sight.
“BWOAHHH!!” (Orcs)
Their war cries echoed through the forest. It seemed as if they were possessed by something. All the orcs’ red eyes gleamed menacingly. Even from a distance, they were intimidating, with their grotesque green skin and hulking frames.
“Archers! Ready!” (??)
From further behind, a loud voice rang out, taller than the orcs’ yells.
“Fire!” (??)
Looking toward the voice, I spotted four or five human figures. They weren’t dwarves, so they must be regular humans. They worked together, attacking with bows to keep the orcs at bay. I instinctively understood who they were.
“…Adventurers?” (Jack)
“Hmph, hmph… Looks like they made it in time.” (Dodorot)
“Village Chief?!” (Jack)
Beside me, where I was hiding, Dodorot had also quietly concealed himself.
“I submitted a request to the Adventurers’ Guild. They’ll handle the orcs now.” (Dodorot)
Dodorot appeared completely relieved, watching the battle unfold. I observed too. The Adventurers’ Guild… That sounded familiar. A place where adventurers accept quests to travel the world, handle tough tasks, slay monsters, or find lost items, earning money in return. That’s what adventurers did, I think. If I still had such knowledge, maybe my memory loss was only temporary.
The adventurers fought skillfully. Two archers kept the orcs at bay, while two tanks managed the orcs’ “aggro,” and an attacker dealt damage. The attacker seemed like a magic swordsman, combining close combat with magic in a flashy manner. But despite their efforts, the orcs held the upper hand. Their strength lay in numbers.
The archers’ arrows barely injured the orcs. The tanks and attacker struggled to take them down quickly, and before long, the attacker was defeated. The tanks were also overwhelmed, and the archers fled.
“This isn’t looking good, is it, Chief?” (Jack)
“Hmph, hmph… They’re supposed to be a high-ranking party…” (Dodorot)
One of the archers was finally caught by the orcs. A sniper-type adventurer, she seemed less agile and slower on her feet.
“Kyaa! Someone help me!” (Archer)
Moreover, she was a woman. A woman caught by orcs could lead to a very dangerous situation.
――――…!
Suddenly, a loud, repetitive sound reverberated from somewhere. It sliced through the air, growing louder like cannon fire. The source? A single arrow. An arrow shot from nowhere struck an orc with deadly precision.
“Oh! There’s still another adventurer!” (Dodorot)
From the trees, a blue streak descended like a shooting star. Long, flowing blue hair fluttered as she gracefully nocked an arrow mid-air and loosed it before landing. Each arrow hit its target with incredible power, piercing through the orcs and killing them one by one. Then she landed, and I saw her clearly.
―――A girl.
She had ocean-blue hair and golden eyes. It was the same girl who had saved me at the beach.
There is no doubt.
“BUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” (Orc)
Only two orcs remain. One of them let out a high-pitched roar, echoing through the forest. It sounded like a howl to call its comrades. Immediately afterward, the sound of footsteps, much louder than the earlier horde, could be heard. These footsteps shook the ground with each step, creating heavy vibrations that reverberated through my stomach. One formidable enemy after another. This world truly embodied survival of the fittest.
“Ah…!” (??)
A voice, almost a scream, escaped from the blue-haired girl. Her gaze was fixed on a massive boar… no, its size was far too immense to be an ordinary boar. Though it resembled a boar in form, it was monstrously large. Two sizes bigger than an orc.
“…Be-Behemoth!” (??)
The monster was called Behemoth. Its body was twice the size of an orc’s. Its eyes bulged, and fangs jutted out from its mouth. A black, ominous aura of magic oozed from its surface. It was clearly no ordinary monster.
“Village Chief-san, what’s a Behemoth?” (Jack)
“………” (Dodorot)
“Village Chief-san…?” (Jack)
The village chief remained motionless.
“Um, excuse me?” (Jack)
“Do not talk to me now! At this moment, I am a corpse! I’m pretending to be dead to survive!” (Dodorot)
“Your appearance hasn’t changed at all from earlier, though.” (Jack)
“Never mind that! You too should play dead quickly! The Behemoth is said to be the finest masterpiece created by the gods.” (Dodorot)
“Uh… seriously…?” (Jack)
Why would such a monster lend its power to the orcs?
――Boooooooi… Boooooooi… Boooooooi…
The Behemoth let out a strange growl, digging its hooves into the ground.
“Tch…” (Jack)
The blue-haired girl, realizing the Behemoth was a powerful foe, made a grimace as if she had swallowed something bitter. Even so, she shot several arrows, but they didn’t pierce its body, nor did they even stick. The arrows disintegrated in mid-air with a sharp crack just before they could touch the Behemoth’s jet-black body. The aura of magical power surrounding its body seemed to function as a protective barrier.
――BRUOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIII!!!!
“Hiik…!” (??)
The Behemoth charged toward the girl at an astonishing speed as if to counterattack. That girl had saved my life back at the beach.
I have to repay her…!
With just a flex of my right arm, the ropes easily snapped, freeing both of my arms. The bandages wrapped around my right arm unraveled, floating lightly in the air. My right arm was now marked with red and black lines glowing faintly.
I know how to use this right arm.
Light particles burst out from the nozzle on my right wrist, and my body lifted into the air.
“Wh-what is that, young man?!” (Dodorot)
There’s no time to answer the village chief.
I dashed straight toward the Behemoth.
My body remembers how to fight. Apparently, I used to be a warrior. And warriors wield swords.
I knew of a sword created by sheer force of will. I drew the sword from the trees. A crude red-and-black wooden sword formed. I swung it at the Behemoth. Two orcs, seeing my sudden appearance, chuckled mockingly, thinking such a flimsy weapon could never fell the beast.
“…Take this!” (Jack)
When I swung it, I found swordsmanship to be second nature. My arm, my body, moved instinctively, slashing upward from beneath the Behemoth’s massive frame—!
For a wooden sword, its sharpness was exceptional. The Behemoth’s body split clean in half. I followed up with a chain of attacks, slicing it into small pieces with ease. The shattered remains of its body dispersed into nothingness with a final punch. For something said to be the Gods’ finest creation, it felt utterly anticlimactic.
“Bu-buwe-buwiii!!” (Orcs)
The two remaining orcs panicked and fled after witnessing the scene. Although I couldn’t understand their language, it was clear they grasped the situation after seeing my attacks.
“Phew…” (Jack)
This should settle the score, right?
I turned to look at the blue-haired girl, who had fallen on her rear. She was stunned, sitting motionless. It was clear from her expression she couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed. I reached out my hand, intending to help her up.
“Are you okay?” (Jack)
“…” (??)
The girl silently opened and closed her mouth, unable to form words. Whether it was fear or something else, I couldn’t tell. Seeing her like that, I realized something belatedly.
She’s still a child. Probably around eleven or twelve years old. How could such slender arms shoot arrows with that kind of destructive power? And…
“You were the one who saved me on the beach, right? Thank you.” (Jack)
I wanted to thank her first. Startled, she hesitantly took my hand and stood up.
“…Y-You’re welcome…” (??)
However, she avoided making eye contact and blushed deeply.
—
I was invited to ride in the wagon that the earlier adventurer party had brought. This forest, known as the Lucur Great Forest, has a single road leading to the town. Both Sylphid-sama and Village Chief Dodoro were very grateful and gave us pocket money and food as thanks.
It seems the adventurers, as well as the blue-haired girl, were also generously rewarded. According to Sylphid -sama, “Please feel free to visit anytime,” but how often will I pass through such a remote forest?
Even so, while adventurers are supposed to be cheerful and lively, the atmosphere inside the wagon was awkward. Only two of the archers, a man and a woman, were still conscious. The other three large men remained passed out. Maybe they were ashamed of their near-defeat against the orcs and their disgraceful display.
“So, what’s your name?” (??)
Unable to bear the silence, the female archer broke the ice, addressing the blue-haired girl. It seemed she wasn’t familiar with the adventurer party.
“I’m Shia Randall.” (Shia)
“Shia-chan, huh. Are you an adventurer?” (Female Archer)
“I’m not an adventurer. I do hunt, though.” (Shia)
“Wow! Then maybe you could join our—” (Female Archer)
Shia, the blue-haired girl, became the center of conversation. Meanwhile, they didn’t seem interested in me.
I was the one who took down the Behemoth! What’s with this blatant disregard?
The three continued chatting, excluding me. I didn’t even know how to join in.
Apparently, I’m terrible at socializing.
“Um—” (Shia)
Then, it was Shia who spoke to me.
“What’s your name?” (Shia)
Though I was glad she talked to me, I realized I didn’t know anything about myself. That made it even harder to join the conversation.
“Uh…” (Jack)
As Shia tilted her head, her hair swayed to the side, revealing pointed ears. She wasn’t a normal human.
Pointed ears… an elf? No, focus on my name. My name. Forget it, just be honest.
“Actually, I don’t know my own name…” (Jack)
The atmosphere froze. I could feel their perception of me as an enigmatic, mysterious figure growing.
I want to know my identity just as much as they do.
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