I was invited to a hero's party.
　Naturally, I say no.

"Why not?

　But he's still trying to bite me off.
　It's just too much trouble.

"Joining a party of heroes is the highest honor for an adventurer!　How could I refuse to do that?
I'm not an adventurer anymore.

　I retired to be the head of the village in Lax Village, you know.

''You're still fighting with your aura. Isn't that the best proof that you haven't left the Adventurer's Guild!

　.........
　.........well, yeah.

　The power of this aura is the power that was given to me when I registered with the Adventurer's Guild.
　It seems to disappear at the same time as the guild registration is canceled.

　But as the village chief, I'm prepared to lead the fight if something happens to the village.
　At that time, I asked him to continue to register with the Adventurer's Guild, an aura of power that is necessary for that time.

　I've heard that these former adventurers are called 'reserve adventurers', and this is common for those who have made some achievements.

Yo, we're all reserves, but adventurers are adventurers.　Shouldn't we accede to the brave man's request?
This village is more important to me.

　I said it once and for all.

　The village of Lax welcomed me, who originally had nowhere to go, and became my second home.

　My second life is for Lax Village, and I will not betray it.

"..........

　The brave man felt like a mothball who was trying to say something more and couldn't think of anything to say.
　Still, he eventually summed up what he needed to say and said

'We are now capturing the Rasperda Fortress.
Oh, um...!

　This is the stronghold that the brave side must obtain in order to attack the Demon King's Castle.

　In order to reach the Demon King's Castle, which is located deep within the Demon King's territory, they have to advance through the Demon King's territory, of course, and there is no resting place to prepare for it.

　That's why we need a base of operations to support the brave men who have entered the enemy territory, and that's Lasperda Fortress.

　The fortress was built by the human race in the past and taken by the previous Granbaza-sama and made it into a defensive wall to bounce back the brave men in the opposite direction.

　As long as the Lasperda Fortress is in the hands of the demon tribe, the brave cannot tread on the soil of the demon territory.
　That was the common understanding of the Demon King's army.

''But we have failed many times to capture the fortress. It's because one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Droyer of the 'Fertile Ground', has been holding the fortress tightly and not moving at all.
"Law.
"We realized we can no longer do it on our own, and we need a new force. New weapons. New friends. It's all for that...!

　Droyer-sama........
　Another old name that has come up.

　Of all the fresh faces that took over after the previous Four Heavenly Kings retired en masse, I remember that Master Droyer was the most serious.

　When I was his assistant, one of the things I tried my best to teach the new Four Heavenly Kings was the importance of Lasperda Fortress.
　You've memorized that and incorporated it into your strategy, haven't you?

''But there's only one enemy Four Heavenly King, right?　Isn't it shameful that it takes three of us to defeat it?
Fight properly and you'll win!

　As if his pride had been hurt, one of his companions, who was standing by the side of the brave man, shouted.

''But that Four Heavenly Kings don't try to fight properly at all!　I'm on the defensive and defending myself!
It is said that among the magic used by the demon race, the earth attribute is the best attribute for defense, that it is. It's not a good idea to focus on defense, either.

　Oh.
　That's not as disgusting as it would be if the earth wizards devoted themselves to defense.

　And the wise Droyer-sama would also skillfully weave in the defensive facilities of the Rasperda Fortress.
　It was easy to see that this must be a frustrating battle.

It's not only that, we also lack companions who have the aptitude for hitting the earth attribute. The reason why we can't win is because we also lack companions who have an aptitude for hitting the earth attribute.
''Sooner or later, the four Heavenly Kings of Water will join the enemy, and they will become more and more impregnable!　We can't do anything by ourselves anymore!

　The friends of the brave were also quite crispy.

　I understand the difficult situation over there, but....

''Even so, I can't accompany you guys.
Why?　Why do you have to be so stubborn?

　I'd rather hear this one.

"The defeating of the Demon King has been a human's dream for hundreds of years!　I believe that with your help, we can accomplish this!
....
''You are familiar with all the characteristics of the aura and even have a special weapon that can make full use of it. Not only will I be able to defeat Droyer, but with you here, I'm not going to lose to any of the other Four Heavenly Kings!

　No way.
　I can't do that.

　Even though I'm an outcast, the Demon King's Army is the old home where I spent the first half of my life.
　How could I draw a bow there?

　If there was a target to protect like Knocker and the others, just like in the mine, then it's not a good idea.
　It's ungrateful to oppose the Demon King's army just to attack them.

　And...

''I have something here to protect.
...?
My home. My people. And most importantly, my family. My son was born less than a year ago. He won't even know what I look like.

　From such a small child.

Do you want to take the father away?

　If I accompany the brave men on their journey, I'll be away from the village for at least a few years. In some cases, he may never return.

''Are you telling me not to be present for the upcoming period of time, when that boy will be most sensitive?　I'm out.

　Here's what I'm trying to protect.

I can't go with you guys.

　The sooner you are armed, the sooner you will leave, the better.

You'll be ready to leave when your weapons are ready.

　Night.

　I look down at my child who is sleeping peacefully in bed.
　But the quietness is only for a short time, and after a while, she will start crying at night.
　Tonight is going to be another nighttime battle.

'Anna.........'

　Marika, who had become my wife, snuggled up to me.
　There was a melancholy look on her face.

''Is she really going to be okay?''

　She must have been able to tell and listen to the exchange with the brave man.
　It's like she can't help but worry.

'How can I continue to refuse the request from the brave master?　If you leave the village...!
It's okay. I would never do that.

　This is my home and this is the place I must protect.
　Anyone who tries to take it away from me will surely regret it.

I love LUX village. I love you, I love Gran. I won't leave this village until she grows up to be a man.
You're...!

　I held Marika as she leaned closer to me and pressed our lips to each other.

　Come to think of it, we haven't had any married life for a while now.
　They've also been talking a lot about wanting a second person.

　I put my hands on her clothes and tried to expose the skin of her chest from her shoulders to her chest, at that moment.

'HOGYAH!!!'

　His nighttime crying began.

　Tonight, the fight begins again.

"Ooooooh, ok, ok, ok...!
I'm perfectly fine.

　I rearranged the clothes I was about to untie and ran to my son with my parents.
　That's exactly why I haven't been flirting with Marika lately, and my time and Marika's time now belongs mostly to him.

　But I suppose that's the natural thing for a parent to do.

　My time that is essentially my son's.
　I can't devote it to the brave men and the world.