'Radey...?'

　I'm a little surprised that she cracks people up and advises.
　She's usually not that assertive.

　Come to think of it, though, she hasn't been seen at all since she arrived at the center guild.
　Where and what was she doing until now?

Wait, Radey, you need to calm down...

　But I couldn't stop her from breathing harder than usual.

''I understand your motivation. It's true that fighting the Four Heavenly Kings is a brave man's job. But.........!

　It's a different story when your opponent is 'Heaven and Earth'.

I'm sure it's not the case, but if it's really the Ida of the world's once dominant force, you have no chance. You are a mage of a different dimension than the Four Heavenly Kings you've faced in the past.

　We shouldn't take any unwise moves until that identity is clear.

"I'll go over there and find out what they are first. If you go out there, then that's enough...
No, no.

　For some reason, Radey was stubborn today.

''I am a brave man. A brave man's job is to protect innocent people from the threat of the demon race, and I cannot leave that mission, even in part, to someone else.''
You're right.

　An old man's voice joined the conversation. It was the President of the Center Guild.
　He seemed to agree with my argument.

He said, "Sun-son-in-law is right, the enemy that has invaded is very mysterious. In order to make sure everything is in order, it's best for you to send your son-in-law into battle.
How very, very much.
You're right.

　Even the other board members are coming on board.

　The only thing they want is to make me more useful as a pawn. I'm sure they want to get as many achievements as possible and a chance to get a more rigorous assessment of their abilities.

　They even try to push the current brave man away if he's in the way for that.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.

''Very well, why don't you ask Lady Arantzill's son to go?
Aunt Lorraine?　You too?

　Even the female board member spoke up and said she agreed with us.
　That seemed to surprise Radie.

Radie, get down. It's a good idea to get out of the way now, because if you don't know what's going on, there's no way you're going to be able to get back in the game. You can't afford to fail right now.

　I whispered to her, but she heard me whole.
　Is that old lady a patron of Radey's or something?
　They don't trust Radie to such an existence, and the isolation is deepening.

　But for once, my decision was the same as theirs.

"Radie, I'll go first this time. You stay here.
But...?
Leave the ida to me.

　The sense of déjà vu that accompanies the situation of the heroic Four Heavenly Kings coming back from the distant past makes me uneasy right now.

　Inferno.

　He told me the name of an outlaw hero from a long time ago.
　I have no idea if he is really Siegfriedgel or not, but at least his sword skills are even better than those of a brave man.

　The Ida of 'Heaven and Earth' appeared after Siegfried's name in succession, as if there was a series of connections.
　Even if it wasn't the real thing, even if it had some kind of relationship with Inferno, and even if it was only as good as or close to Inferno, it was definitely.......

　.........Radey will be killed.

　Having fought Inferno myself, I can feel this.

"I'm not here to take credit for your work. I'm just saying that when all this is over, I'm willing to bet all the credit goes to you. So please be patient...
"Dariel.
Yes?　

　I was struck.
　For some reason, a fist suddenly stabbed into me and repelled me a couple of steps.

　When I looked back to see what it was, Arantzill-san was holding up a clenched fist.
　So this person hit him.
　But why?

"Don't tread on a brave man's resolve.

　Mr. Alanziel said.

'A brave man is one who stands on the fate of all men. When a serious crisis arises, he is the one who rushes before anyone else.
But this time it's too...?
Even if it's dangerous, the person who sends a man ahead of you and steps over his dead body is not a brave man. A person who is afraid of death can't wear the name "bravery".

　The surroundings went silent with a thump.
　This is because the air froze and the liver of everyone present was crushed by the fierceness of Mr. Alanziel's outburst.

　They were especially vulnerable to the violence in front of them as much as those board members who had risen to prominence through talk and intrigue alone, and had no choice but to remain silent like children.

Dariel is not a brave man. I was also removed from the office of a brave man a long time ago. Who is clearly the brave one now?　It's Radey. Radey is the one who should be leading the charge into battle.

　Aranziel-san's eyes turned to Radie.
　She herself remained stout while almost being consumed by the great brave man's spirit.......

''.........It's just as Alanziel-sama says.
Are you ready to die a brave man?
''Of course. From the day I was chosen to be a hero, I have been thinking only of dying on the way to defeat the Demon King. I will die defending my fellow humans.
'Then it is our task to support that resolve to the best of our ability. Isn't it?　Board members?

　None of the board members had the gall to shake their heads when asked that.
　Even an ordinary adventurer would have, and even more so if they were non-combatants.

'Then go, Radey. As the bearer of the survival of the human race.
'Yes!　I'm going!

　Radey ducked decisively and left the boardroom with a firm step.
　Mr. Arantzill said to the rest of the people.

'Now, aren't you guys going to start your work too?　We must announce the arrival of the brave men on the ground and order them to be ready to support us.
Yeah, yeah, yeah!　Your predecessor was right!
Call the messenger!　I'll pass on a direct order from the board of directors!　And then get the wagons ready for the brave men to ride out!　He's the best and fastest guy!

　The board members suddenly became noisy and only me and Arantzill-san were left behind.

''I'm sorry...''

　Mr. Alanziel cut in. With a somewhat frightened wind.

'Well, I hit you...'
'No. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have been able to turn the tide in an instant.

　It might have been the best procedure in this emergency, rather than wasting time arguing over a languid argument.
　Also, I was trying to hold off Radey too........

''........So this is the strength of a brave man....

　A brave man is one who wields courage and moves forward.
　Now, finally, the difference between a brave man and the Four Heavenly Kings has been clarified in my mind.

　In the first place, I'm a brave person who continues to advance in the dark under the unreasonable belief that I will defeat the Demon King.
　You can't be a brave man for fear of death.

　A brave man has no need for reason.
　I'm not interested in my own interests, and I've thrown my heart and soul into defeating the demon king and protecting my people.
　I'm aware now that I've been feared for decades as an assistant to the Four Heavenly Kings because of their fierceness.

'The caustic and fierce nature of putting lives outside the bounds is what the brave men are afraid of. That's why you can fight more than evenly against the Four Heavenly Kings.''
''I survived after all, though. It's a joke for such an old soldier to tell a young man to 'die'...

　The reason why Mr. Alanziel couldn't die.
　He was too strong.

　Aranzir had lost his wife and children to the demons and everything he had to protect them.
　He was able to give up his life because he had nothing.

　No matter how much he threw away his life, he could not die against a weak enemy who could not harm him.
　And the only person who could block him was Lady Grandparza, the strongest person he had ever met.

　I just missed my chance to die.

'Radie was about to lose himself as a brave man. I'm not sure if I'm right or not. But now he seems to have regained it.

　Touched by the caustic spirit of the great hero

Will she come back alive, too?
Trust them. You've trained him in person. You've already got enough power for a brave man.

''And........'' added Arantzill.

The only way to do that is to trust her. And it would be too unfair not to trust her.
''You're right...!

　I can't imitate the strength of Mr. Arantzill and Radie.
　Because I have too many things to protect.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.
　Both are present and both are terrifying.

"I operate on my own.

　Still, I'm not going to wait around quietly either.

''I'll leave the 'Heaven and Earth' ida entirely to Radey. But there's something I can do too. That's what I'm going to do at full speed. I'm going to do it so that Radey can come back alive.

　Whether she's ready to die or not, I want her to come back alive.
　I don't care what you think about it.
　I'll make every effort to help you do so.

Very well, that's my boy.

　However, Arantzill, who had only recently been left out of the picture, finally showed his dignity as a great hero.
　He is a hero of his day, after all.

　I felt suffocated and proud at the same time, as I was shown that fact as if I were being beaten to a pulp.