I've Left the Demon Army. Please Let Me in a Hero Party. Chapter 4

"Hurry up and hide! You won't last two seconds if you get bit!"

"Guys! Get inside! Go in and lock the doors!"

"Hero-sama, please! Can you chase those violent dogs far away!?"

The two Cerberus ran through the fields, crushing everything under their paws.

The villagers were panicking and locking themselves in their houses, while across the fields in front of the forest Garlock was smoking a cigarette with a satisfied look in his eyes.

"I've never gone up against a colonel in the demon army before, but I'll pummel him down, dammit!!"

Louise shouted and darted off all by herself.

Her white pointed ears twitched and her pink ponytail swung from side to side at her eagerness to fight.

"Wait Louise. If you run in like that without a plan, you'll fail miserably again."

"That's right Louise! He'll understand once we talk to him! Let's go convince the Cerberus together!"

"Humph!!"

Louise put down her fist, disappointed, as Suzette and Nasha told her to stop.

Suzette stood next to the old woman with her arms crossed.

"First, we need to do something about the Cerberus. If I remember correctly, their weakness is--"

Suzette, the tactician for『Deared』, went over their options.

Give them hard bread, give them bread soaked in wine mixed with sleeping medicine. Every one of them were consistently effective against Cerberus.

This party's main means of offense was the combination between Louise and Suzette.

Louise was a offensive heavy melee fighter using her strength and agility.

Suzette was a back line sniper that used a gun the size of herself, loaded with her mana to shoot magic bullets from far away.

Nasha was staring at the Cerberus the whole time while the other two were trying to set up a plan.

I took out a small pouch, the only thing that I had brought with me when I ran away from the demon army.

"This should be the most effective against Cerberus. It's a pastry made from honey and flour."

Suzette looked back at me, surprised, as I put three of them in Nasha's hand.

"You have something that is the most effective against Cerberus!? You would need to go really deep into demon territory to know these things! Eric, just how far did you--!?"

…Looks like I said something I didn't need to.

But I don't mind. I'll use all that I can.

"So you can use a pastry like that to keep those dogs down? That makes it easier."

"Not really, since Cerberus are sensitive to killing intent. So Louise isn't meant to do this."

"That's true. Then the one who should do it is--"

Louise, Suzette, and I all looked in the same direction.

Then--

"Huh!? M-me!?"

The one standing where our glances met was Nasha.

Suzette raised her red glasses and started explaining like a tactician.

"Cerberus will attack anyone who comes near with killing intent, but are not aggressive towards those who don't want to fight. So the only one who can get near them and give them the pastries is you, Anastasia. Only you."

Nasha would indeed be the most suited because she has no intention of fighting, but instead wants to talk it out.

But the enemy wasn't just the Cerberus.

Louise sensed that and reminded them.

"So, what are we going to do after we win them over with those pastries? It doesn't change the fact that the demon colonel is quite powerful."

"That's…!"

"If you don't have a plan I'll make sure to go and kick his ass."

Louise stepped up as Suzette tried to think of a plan, but with no success.

"Fighting a colonel in the demon army isn't an opportunity that comes by often. This is where I vent all this built up anger and irritation! I want to check how strong I am right now too."

"Reckless, as usual. Fine. I'll support you from behind. Go ahead and fight to your heart's content. Please fall back when you think it's dangerous. I'll make sure to slow him down."

"--Got it!"

"What will you do Eric? This is your very first quest with us--"

"W-well, umm…I guess I'd like to join the Cerberus group with Nasha."

--I have no idea what that bastard of a boss will say when he sees me.

I mean, I don't want to meet him. I really don't want to meet him.

I don't. I don't. I don't.

I really don't.

"U-umm, Eric? Are you alright?"

As my body was shaking from the traumatic memories, Nasha gently looked into my face from underneath.

Seeing her gentle blue eyes looking straight into mine was angelic enough to melt all the hardships, pain, and bitterness I've felt until now.

"Yeah, I'm alright now!"

"I'm so glad! This is your first job as a member of『Deared』, but let's do our best together!"

While Nasha held my hands in hers with a smile, the Garlock group were facing each other.

"Our goal is to drive the Cerberus away. We can't let them ruin the fields any longer! Louise!"

"Hell yeah!!!!"