I will never let my friends down.
The roar of the hero shall awaken another me that slumbers inside,
opening my third eye.
The indomitable hero...
Aldean!
Say what?
Mission 03: Hero's Epic Burning
He transformed.
Hero Al— what?
Here I come!
High-speed sacred lightning!
Aurora Shining Destination!
Where's the "lightning"?!
He stopped?
Why did you stop your fist?!
I'm not the one to judge you.
The law is.
Kyoshiro-san, it would be easy for me to punish you right now.
But that would take away your chance to atone for what you've done.
Judged by the law, you must regret your sin and be reborn anew.
Seiji-san, you're too nice.
You win, Hero Aldean.
If you commit another crime, I'll show no mercy.
Seiji-san, don't show them your back!
You fell for it!
Oops, I tripped.
You damn pig!
Get lost!
You ugly face!
Take this!
My bad.
Hey, Aldean's friends are here!
What?!
What just happened?
That was Aldean.
What?!
What power!
That was my booger, though.
But he'll take it from— hey!
Why are you surprised too?!
Did I really do that?!
Crap, I need to keep this story going.
I-I saw it with my own eyes.
A white-winged hawk descended,
as if to respond to the anger of the hero.
And he saved me from dire peril!
You caused a miracle!
Did that happen?
Sure it did.
Please forgive us, Aldean-sama!
Now they know they can't win.
We didn't really mean to do it.
We'll never do evil ever again!
Please have mercy on us.
Oh, yuck!
We'll mend our ways.
Please!
That's an awfully casual change of heart.
Very well.
All of you, line up!
Y-Yes!
Aldean, give them your special attack.
What? But I couldn't...
I know.
So, give them a face slap with your passionate fist!
Face slap?!
They don't understand the pain of others.
You need to teach them that.
You're the only one who can wield the whip of love they need, Aldean!
Checkmate, you villains.
If you truly had a change of heart...
This light of my hand will penetrate any and all evil.
...then you shouldn't be scared of his fist.
Very well.
Huh?
Why did you transform back?
Because I no longer have a reason for anger.
What?
The whip of love shouldn't come from anger.
That would be nothing but self-serving satisfaction.
Carving the pain of your hand and the one you hit into your heart...
That is love!
Really?
Stand up straight!
Yes, sir!
Clench your teeth!
Thank you!
Next!
Thank you!
Next!
Thank you!
What am I being made to watch?
White Soda
And then Seika-san.
Sorry to make you exert yourself over your limit.
Touching a girl could kill me, so...
Seiji-san?
The drug finally kicking in?
Maybe we have a chance against him now.
So, no change of heart.
I know. Hey, pig!
Come join our side.
Staying in a good-looking party must be tough.
Join us, and we can get you some women.
And we'll pay you plenty.
Seiji-san is stronger than me.
An ugly mug like that has a heart of justice?
He looks the epitome of greed!
He seems less popular with girls than I am!
Do you not know how to hold back?
Great work, leader.
I can't believe it!
He's, like, the worst ugly mug I've ever seen!
He can't be anything but a lousy pig!
Damn, they piss me off.
Here's Kyoshiro and his party's bounty of 100 thousand riras.
Worth about 10 million yen.
Those kidnappers must have done some evil deeds.
Damn it!
I want you to have a share of this money.
But we were asleep, so we didn't do anything.
I put you in danger,
because I carelessly trusted Kyoshiro.
But you're the one who defeated those bad guys too, right?
That's amazing.
It was something, I'll give you that.
Shigeru-san, were you asleep too?
Huh? Oh, I...
Shigeru-san was braver than anyone.
He used himself as a shield to protect me.
Not that I received any damage.
Defense
Incredible! Then he's the MVP.
Uh-huh.
Indeed.
Shigeru-san, please accept the money.
Oh, no...
Dexterity Agility Special Notes Growth Rate: 13000 Earnings: 1/10000 Experience Gain Boost: x10000 Lose 10% HP every second I directly... Be dismembered and die if I...
Not to mention my earning rate is 1/10,000,
I'm kissing goodbye to this party once I repay my debt to Seika-san.
I have no choice.
I'm exercising my former salesperson skill: lip service.
Seiji-san, to tell you the truth, I'm a spendthrift.
My money disappears in no time.
So I want someone I can trust to use it wisely.
Can you?
Very well.
I'll take this money and distribute it to everyone to strengthen the party.
Don't you know how to give in?
Everyone, I'd like you to use this for your preparation and be ready for what's to come.
Okay!
Understood.
Here! It's for you.
No, I'm more comfortable if I don't have any money.
Let me!
As a person of wealth, I will manage your money for you!
Huh?
You, Seika-san?
Yes!
Shigeru-san, when you want to buy something, you tell me!
This isn't a kid's allowance.
Hold on!
You tend to buy things impulsively, right?
Then...
Seiji-san is only mean to me.
Oh no, I didn't mean to!
Oh man.
But giving it to Seika-san might be a good idea.
Shigeru-san, you can wait here.
It's my treat!
In the end, my share of the money went to Seika-san.
25,000 riras should be enough as payment for a night's lodging and a meal.
I can get by with my skills.
I have no obligation to stick around, but...
I guess this is our last supper.
This is lunch time
Penniless Shigeru-san!
Guess what it is?
It's a burger!
You said the answer again.
Now, can you show your gratitude?
Cheers.
Not "cheers."
Thank you very much.
You're very welcome.
Good grief.
"Thank you," "You're welcome."
Seika-san seems to enjoy this exchange.
She used to be rather unfriendly, but in reality, she's the complete opposite.
Forget your diet, let’s eat!
Shut it.
Do you like burgers?
I do! I fell in love two days ago!
For real?!
If she never had one before then, she must truly be a sheltered girl.
Klutzy too.
By the way, what are your stats like, Shigeru-san?
W-Well... they're pretty boring.
Is that so?
Too bad you didn't notice "that thing."
"That thing"?
I actually found a little trick.
When you lower the value of Looks in stats, your bonus points increase.
So she noticed it.
But it doesn't look like you did that.
Lowered it to -16.
Are you serious?!
How could that be?
Even if her Looks value was high to begin with...
Am I pretty?
Huh? Y-Yes...
I made a request.
You know how there's a special note under the status?
I entered, "I want to be pretty."
I didn't know you could do that!
Then I could've entered, "Make me look like the handsome actor from that commercial."
Image for reference only
Ugh, it's no good. I don't know his name.
Is that... a cat?
Huh? Oh, yes it is.
I've never seen one up close.
So cute! I wish it would come over here.
Why don't you go pet it?
Wh-What is it?
Oh, yes! I forgot that I could stand up now!
Wait. Does that mean...
She'll f—
Kitty!
Shigeru-san, what's the matter?
Oh, um, a little post-meal exercise.
Kitty.
Let me pet you.
I must use the restroom.
No?
Oh, okay!
Kitty.
So that's her deal.
Earlier, she showed me her hands.
After that, she stared and touched her own hands.
Normally, when you wish to look pretty, you'd touch your face, not your hand.
Not just her hands.
She must have a disability affecting her legs so she couldn't stand on her own.
A girl only in her teenage years...
Is there no god or buddha in this world?
Oh, that's me.
Holy crap, I'm the Almighty God, aren't I?!
Shigeru-san?
Is your belly upset?
Do you want me to go get medicine?
I-I'm all right!
I'll be out in a sec.
Seika-san has no social experience.
She's so pure.
At this rate, everything about her will make her an easy target.
With the title of the Almighty God, what I can do is...
Shigeru-san! I was so worried!
I'm sorry. Thank you.
You're welcome!
Come on, everyone's waiting.
What can I do?
Now that I've become a "god,"
I'll make sure you become fully competent.
Speaking of our future plans,
what do you think of deciding on an occupation?
Occupation?
Distributing points with occupations in mind
should help us in battle, since our Attributes will be more dynamic.
I see, good point.
With that said,
I aim to be a Hero!
That remark itself makes you one.
You should be a Mage.
Okay.
And Shigeru-san will be an Epic Fighter.
Why did you add "epic"?
I kinda don't like it.
Seiji-san! I want to be a Hero too!
What? But...
Seika-san, do you want to be an Epic Fighter?
Never!
I knew that.
Hunter, Hero, Mage, Epic Fighter
Even though Seiji-san is cautious, he splurged on this.
I guess that shows how invested he is.
Shigeru-san!
Whoa?!
Behold, I have become a great Mage!
Yeah, sure.
She insisted that she wanted to be a Hero for a while, but...
You look great.
Right?
Now, our next destination is the biggest city in this area, the Principality of Valleria.
But before that, there's something I'd like to tell you.
You're allowed to bring treats worth three riras!
Is this a school trip?
Fine.
Why cry?
Let's meet up tomorrow morning.
Dismissed!
Are bananas considered treats?
E-Excuse me.
Well, um...
Her first friend.
Seika-san, you can do it!
Um... J-Jump rope!
Do you want to jump rope with me?
Jump rope?
I can teach you how!
Because I trained!
Sure.
Then let's go to the park!
You can jump in that outfit?
Oh, I'll change.
To explain the jump rope...
There's not a lot of weapons for a Mage.
Well, your magic is your weapon.
Oh!
That's for an Epic Fighter.
Seika-san, are you going to be an Epic Fighter?
I don't want to.
Good, I managed to avoid a dangerous weapon.
Then, what about that?
That's a weapon for an Epic Kung fu Fighter.
Are you going to be an Epic Kung fu Fighter?
I'll take this!
So it wasn't the "epic" part she didn't like?!
This nunchuk?
Oh, no, no.
The one next to...
That's a jump rope.
Huh?
You've got good eyes, young lady.
This jump rope is the most elementary yet supreme weapon for the Kung fu fighters.
You're no amateur, are you?
Say what?
Good luck with your training!
I don't really get it, but thanks, old man from the weapon shop.
Wow, that's pretty impressive for how fat you are.
I've gotta teach her well, so she won't get injured.
Do you think I'm good?
Yeah, your rate of improvement is incredible.
What's the matter?
I wish I could teach it to her.
Her... You mean that girl?
Yes. She still hasn't told me her name.
Do you think she doesn't want to?
Well, she did run from the previous world, so...
I want to get to know her more.
Then there's a perfect way to do that.
What?
And that's how we found ourselves in this situation.
Lower your hands when you jump, and...
Turn the rope twice in one jump, and that's a double under!
Wow, you're good.
Now, you try.
Okay.
Wow, you're very good!
But my hair... Maybe I'll cut it short.
I think short hair also suits you!
I love your curly hair now too, though.
And, you know...
about your name.
Oh, are you okay?
Yeah, my feet got caught.
It seems she doesn't want to talk about it.
The thing is, I came up with your nickname.
My nickname?
I spoke with Shigeru-san, and...
I thought about words that had soft images.
From French "brise" and English "breeze"...
How about Reeze?
May I call you Reeze?
U-Um...
What's with her physical abilities?
Come to think of it, she didn't even get a scratch in our first battle.
Who exactly is she?
That was cool!
Are you an acrobat?
Show us again!
Amazing!
No, I...
E-Excuse me.
Hey, are you an adventurer?
Do you want to join my party?
We'll pay you well.
Hey—
Hey! Not fair!
Huh?! What?!
What's wrong?
Ugh, darn it.
So ugly!
Call security!
No! He's a member of our party!
For real?
He looks like a monster.
I-I wanted to make Seika-san happy.
Well then... You could respond, at least.
Being completely ignored is actually really tough.
I'm so sorry!
H-Hey...
Here we are.
Now let go of my cape.
Okay.
Don't do that.
Here, your treats for tomorrow, three riras worth.
Okay.
Hm?
I'm sorry about earlier Thank you for the wonderful nickname Let's be friends From Reeze
Shigeru-san! It's a letter from that girl!
Really? What does it say?
"I'm sorry about earlier.
Thank you for the wonderful nickname.
Let's be friends. From Reeze."
Wow. I'm glad.
I'm going to look for that girl!
Okay.
Well, Seika-san's gone now.
I'd like to speak with you.
Can we go into one of the rooms?
Please don't sue me afterwards.
I'm sorry!
Huh?!
A jumping grovel?!
Her physical abilities were too advanced to grovel?!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
N-No, please stand up.
I mean, why are you apologizing to me?
Shigeru-san.
Your last name isn't actually Sasaki, is it?
Your real name is Yoshioka Shigeru.
You're Mr. Y, who saved Seiji-san, aren't you?