Maou to Yuusha Volume 1 Prologue 3

Prologue 3/3 "The Hero Who Hates 'Justice'"

I dislike anything spoken of as "justice."

Because justice does not come to aid people.

I had a happy childhood in a wealthy family.

But everything changed when my father was arrested for tax evasion.

Life became poor, our clothes worn-out.

Food became scarce and tasteless.

Even friends—those who were once friends—began to scorn and bully me.

My father was deemed a villain, deserving of justice.

He claimed innocence until he took his own life before the trial's verdict.

Justice and law did not protect me.

Instead, they continued to harm me.

When my mother remarried and we moved, I thought things would improve, but they didn't.

My stepfather, with a taste for young girls, attempted to violate me as if it were his right.

I meticulously smashed his head with a glass ashtray and shattered all the bones in his fingers before being apprehended.

Adults deemed me a bad child for defending myself.

I underwent pointless psychiatric evaluations and was confined in a hospital with bars, under the guise of protection.

My mother screamed that my life had been ruined because of me.

I hate justice.

If justice existed in this world, why must I suffer so much?

Why are there so many unsaved people like me in this world?

That's why I detest justice.

Neither saving me nor me saving anyone else is justice; it's my egoism and self-satisfaction.

So, I gladly accepted that invitation.

"You qualify as a hero. Please save the people tormented by the Demon Lord in another world."

At the confirmation prompt "Do you want to become a hero in another world? → Yes No," I decisively pressed "→ Yes" without hesitation.

I will save them without uttering a word about justice.

With my own strength and will, I will save people and the world.

A hero? Fine. I'll become one, so wait for me—

◆

When I came to my senses, I was floating in a completely white space from top to bottom.

I was still in hospital clothes, but it was better than being naked.

"Please set your ability values."

Ability values? Is this world I'm summoned to like a game with status points?

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Name: Raim Mukouji (Raim Mukouji)

Race: Earthling Occupation: Hero

LV: 1 EXP: 0/100

<Stats>

Stats Points: 80

Strength (STR) = 7

Vitality (VIT) = 4

Agility (AGI) = 10

Intelligence (INT) = 9

Mind (MND) = 24

Charisma (CHA) = 11

Life Force (LFE) = 8

Magic Power (MAG) = 14

<Skills>

Skill Points: 200

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

It seems I can set ability values like in a game.

Do I consume status points to increase stats?

I'm not sure about the balance. I wonder what the average stats are for normal people and adventurers.

"Response: The average status value for a normal human is 10 at LV1. Skill points average 5."

"Response: The average status value for an adventurer is 13 at LV1. Skill points average 6."

Hmm, they manage with quite small numbers. If that's the case, do heroes really reach 30 in their best stats among humans?

Heroes are truly exceptional among humans in this fantasy world.

I efficiently set my ability values based on the games I used to play.

I wanted to quietly change the name my deceased father gave me, but it seems like name changes aren't allowed here.

Honestly, I have a bit of a complex about this name. But in a fantasy world, it should be fine, right? After all, there won't be any kanji or anything.

After finishing the setup, I confirmed my ability values and pressed the confirmation window to embark on a journey to another world.

◆

As a result, right after arriving in the other world, I suffered from respiratory distress and was rescued.

The one who rescued me was an older man. Probably around college age? I envy his height.

Neatly styled hair, small glasses, and a first impression of intelligence. His demeanor was friendly too.

I don't really get his fashion sense, but he seems to look good in anything. Though anything he wears would give off the same impression, a unique atmosphere.

"...Ah, no. I'm the Demon Lord."

However, the person who saved me claimed to be the Demon Lord.

Before I could catch up with my understanding, several dazzling lights flashed across the night sky.

"Over 100,000 human deaths have been confirmed. It is the victory of the Demon Lord over the defeated Hero who failed to protect humans."

"The survival of the Hero has been confirmed. Due to the Demon Lord's victory, the Hero will now be enslaved."

I suddenly found myself defeated by the Demon Lord.

And around my neck was a metal collar, from which a chain dangled.

"...What is this? What's going on?"

It wasn't a choker, but a tough-looking metal collar around my neck.

The chain hanging from the collar unnaturally broke off in mid-air, pointing towards the man who called himself the Demon Lord.

Could it be that this person is going to...?

"I don't know. I've just been summoned myself. Why a collar?"

I thought it might be a plot of the Demon Lord, but he seemed genuinely perplexed too.

It didn't seem like an act. I'm good at distinguishing lies and acting.

"Over 10 companions have fallen in battle. The Hero's Sword is unlocked."

Suddenly, my right hand felt a heavy weight.

In my right hand was a strange blade, decorated with gems, like a small knife.

"...Do I stab him with this?"

I look at the man who claims to be the Demon Lord.

"No, no, no! I was prepared to fight the Hero, but could you spare me from being stabbed by a knife by someone like you? If I'm going to be stabbed, I'd at least like it to be by a beautiful woman I discarded after a tangled love-hate affair, like something out of a daytime drama!"

He was genuinely anxious. And it irritated me.

Wait, there's a metal bracelet on this person's hand too... Is it connected to my collar? I should really just stab him now.

"Over 50 companions have fallen in battle. The Hero's Sword is enhanced."

"Over 100 companions have fallen in battle. The Hero's Sword is further enhanced."

"Over 200 companions have fallen in battle. The Hero's Sword is further enhanced."

"Over 500 companions have fallen in battle. The Hero's Sword is further enhanced."

One after another, I hear these messages.

What was once a knife turned into a dagger, then a short sword.

Finally, it became a simple yet elegant silver sword.

With overall mystical decorations added, it looked like a sacred sword.

"Over 10 family members have fallen in battle. The Hero's Armor is unlocked."

"Over 50 family members have fallen in battle. The Hero's Armor is enhanced."

"Over 100 family members have fallen in battle. The Hero's Armor is further enhanced."

The messages kept coming, and pieces of armor—like bodysuits, gauntlets, greaves, and breastplates—continued to increase.

Whose idea was it for the helmet not to be a helmet but a circlet?

The entire suit of armor, with shiny white metal and edged in gold and green, looked truly heroic.

But I'm already defeated by the Demon Lord...

"Hey, I've been hearing messages like 'So-and-so has died, so I'll enhance it' since earlier. Are you getting those too?"

Seems like he's experiencing the same thing.

As a hero, it's a bit awkward to think that I won't be enhanced until someone dies, even if it's okay for the Demon Lord.

"Yeah. Same here."

"Sigh, humans are dying left and right without the Demon Lord doing anything. With this death toll and the spectacle in the sky, this world feels more like science fiction..."

The older man... No, the Demon Lord sits down on the sand-covered ground with a dark crystal deposited.

"Agreed. It doesn't feel like fantasy."

"Would you like to sit down too? In this situation, it's not exactly the time for lines like 'Hero, I'll give you half the world, so join me' in a high-spirited manner. Personally, I'd like to say that line, but it wouldn't be convincing coming from a bewildered Demon Lord..."

Yeah, there's not an ounce of conviction.

I sit down too. I debated where to sit, but I sat down back-to-back with the Demon Lord.

Both of us sat there, bewildered.

Looking up at the endless sky, watching the ongoing battles of humans beyond the starry sky.