How a Delinquent Commander Dotes on the Hero C8

Chapter 8

Contrary to my worries, there wasn’t anything particularly unusual about the contents.

Character Information

Helior

Affiliation: Royal Central Command Elite Hero Squad

HP: 8,212 / 35,430

Mana: 4 / 2,390

Divine Power: 24 / 190

== SYSTEM LOG ==

Blessing Hand of Salvation (10:32:02 remaining) is active.

Blessing Indomitable Shield (44:21 remaining) is active.

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Although his HP and mana were dangerously low, it didn’t seem like an immediate problem with his companions supporting him.

During battle, HP often dropped sharply in an instant.

With Joanna’s Hand of Salvation and Gillian’s Indomitable Shield, they should have enough time to recover. His poor condition alone wasn’t the real issue.

But the moment I checked the debuff window, every optimistic thought disappeared.

You are afflicted with the Curse of .

You are afflicted with the Curse of .

You are afflicted with the Curse of .

You are afflicted with the Curse of .

You are afflicted with the Curse of .

⋮

<Goddess’s Blessing> has been disabled. HP and Mana no longer regenerate.

The curses went on and on.

It looked as though every possible handicap the game could create had been piled onto him.

There were so many that I couldn’t even see them all at once.

Then it hit me.

I had possessed this world just before attempting the highest difficulty.

The game’s rule…

Every increase in difficulty added new curses and harsher penalties.

“…Damn it.”

That was the problem.

“What kind of insane game is this…?”

I couldn’t understand how Helior was still alive.

No—

Not only was he alive, he was still fighting to stop the world’s destruction.

All of his companions but one had already fallen.

Any ordinary person would’ve broken mentally long ago.

And yet…

Helior hadn’t given up.

He continued defending the battlefield alone.

He looked like someone who no longer even felt the pain of death looming over him.

I stared silently at his back.

Watching that unwavering figure stirred emotions I couldn’t put into words.

If I’d been looking at him through a monitor…

I probably would’ve loved this scene.

This was what a Hero should be.

Living for justice.

Never compromising with evil.

That was exactly why I liked Helior.

But…

Not like this.

I didn’t want to watch him die a glorious death.

Even if he had to flee in disgrace…

Even if he had to crawl through the mud…

I wanted him to survive.

“…Gillian. Can he still be saved?”

“The supplies from the forward outpost can’t remove those curses.”

“…”

“Please answer me.”

“If Helior falls, everyone here dies.”

“What happens to this war?”

I forced myself to stay calm as I asked.

Gillian remained silent.

“…This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”

“Helior’s the Hero.”

In the end, my emotions overflowed.

It felt like every memory that had supported me until now was collapsing like a sandcastle.

“I’ve… I’ve known Helior since I was fourteen!”

“Back then I was just a kid! I didn’t know what I was doing, so I died over and over!”

“But…!”

“I always came back!”

“Even if Helior died for a moment, he was never truly gone!”

While I rambled through my grief, saying things Gillian couldn’t possibly understand…

He simply remained silent.

His composure only made me feel more suffocated.

When this was just a game…

It would’ve been disappointing.

Now that it was reality…

It felt like someone was squeezing the air from my lungs.

Is Helior really going to die?

Is it already too late?

Unable to believe it, my mind instead became colder.

Barely holding onto my reason, I desperately searched for a way out.

Getting angry wouldn’t solve anything.

While I stood here wasting time…

Helior was still suffering.

I had to find a way.

A way to remove the curses…

As countless battles replayed in my mind…

One possibility surfaced.

A blessing…!

Blessings temporarily allowed one character’s traits to be shared with another.

The caster lost that trait for a time, while the recipient received an amplified version of its effects.

Joanna’s Hand of Salvation.

Gillian’s Indomitable Shield.

Both were examples.

But those had already been used.

There’s still one left.

Allen Kalstein’s trait—

Coward.

The moment I remembered it, my decision was made.

No matter the cost…

I would save Helior.

It wasn’t even a difficult choice.

I’d already survived because others had sacrificed themselves.

After shamelessly living this long…

There was no reason to hesitate now.

I handed the healing potion to Gillian again.

No—

This time, I forced it into his hand.

Gillian shrugged and rubbed his wrinkled forehead.

“You know this is pointless, don’t you?”

“I don’t have much time left anyway.”

“…That’s exactly why I’m giving it to you.”

“I need someone to stand in front and take the hits for me.”

At my utterly heartless reply, Gillian looked genuinely surprised.

Then he burst into hearty laughter.

“So you intend to use an old man as a shield?”

“Yes!”

“Please!”

“Damn it—we’re all going to die anyway!”

“I won’t even make it that far!”

“The only thing I’m good at is running fast!”

“Without your help, everyone really is going to die!”

“So you’re planning to use this old man until we reach him?”

He laughed as though he loved my answer and emptied the potion in one gulp.

His wounds immediately closed.

The flesh covering old scars regenerated.

Of course…

His ruined eyes did not return.

Healing potions could only mend injuries.

They couldn’t restore what had already been lost.

Dusting the dirt from his face, the old warrior picked up his shattered shield.

Blue mana flowed into it.

The broken fragments slowly floated back together.

Piece by piece…

Like a puzzle.

The aura of an experienced veteran radiated from him once more.

“Very well.”

“I suppose I can die a little more slowly.”

“What do you need from me, young man?”

“Do you simply need me to hold those monsters back?”

For that brief moment…

The blind vanguard commander of the Hero Squad looked every bit as imposing as he had in his prime.

“Yes.”

“There aren’t many here…”

“But Helior’s surrounded by them.”

“Ah…”

“So Helior left his blessing with me.”

“It’s one of the little tricks he possesses.”

“Though for some reason, he rarely uses it.”

“…Ha.”

“Then why’d he waste a blessing on someone else?”

“He should’ve used it on himself.”

As I grumbled under my breath, Gillian patted my shoulder sympathetically.

“Isn’t that what Heroes do?”

“They sacrifice themselves for others.”

“…That’s a pretty outdated way of thinking.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“These days people like Heroes who actually feel human.”

“The kind who lie, scam people, and outsmart everyone.”

“Those are the popular ones now.”

“…Goodness.”

“You young people really do speak a difficult language.”

He shook his head in confusion while continuing to pat my shoulder.

Even so…

He didn’t scold me.

Perhaps…

He had sensed the concern in my voice.

The concern I had for Helior.

“You know…”

A moment later, Gillian spoke.

“I think someone like you would make a fine friend for Helior.”

“…Out of nowhere?”

A friend?

What was he talking about at a time like this?

“You’d look after Helior whether he was a Hero or not.”

“…But I like Helior because he’s the Hero.”

“And if he weren’t?”

“Would you abandon him?”

“…That’s not what I mean.”

“But what makes you think that about me?”

Had my feelings for Helior really been that obvious?

Feeling strangely embarrassed, I replied with forced irritation.

“I can just tell.”

“…Aren’t you blind?”

“Brat.”

He flicked my forehead.

Honestly…

I didn’t mind.

If stupid little jokes like this could suppress the fear and despair constantly rising inside me…

I could keep talking with him for hours.

After calming myself just a little…

I climbed back onto my horse.

The old veteran stood before me holding only his shield.

There was no point asking him to ride with me.

A soldier who still fought on the battlefield despite his age represented only one thing.

He had survived.

Which meant…

He was strong.

The enormous shield slammed into the ground.

A roar like a wild beast shook the earth.

Blue mana wrapped around Gillian’s body, blazing with holy light.

Though completely blind…

He charged toward the battlefield as if everything lay clearly within his grasp.

Immediately, the monsters hiding from the Hero’s blessing emerged from every direction.

Some possessed hundreds of eyes.

Others lashed out with grotesque tentacles, trying to wrap around our necks.

A monster made entirely of stone swung its spiked tongue like a club.

For a moment I thought Gillian’s shield would shatter again.

Compared to these creatures…

Everything we’d fought before felt almost harmless.

Even so…

Gillian’s shield smashed skull after skull.

Crushing weak points with every strike.

I covered him from behind while urging my horse forward as quickly as possible.

But—

“Damn it!”

“The horse’s legs are gone!”

“What?”

“Your legs, young man?”

“No!”

“The horse’s legs!”

Losing its balance, the horse collapsed.

I was thrown off and rolled across the ground several times.

When I opened my eyes…

A fang the size of a man glittered directly above me.

Just before it pierced straight through my skull—

Gillian smashed the monster across the forehead with his shield and saved me.

“Whew!”

“It really doesn’t look like we’re getting out of here alive, my friend!”

The old man wiped away his cold sweat and laughed.

His tone was light…

But he wasn’t wrong.

Our mounts were gone.

Monsters surrounded us.

“…Ha.”

“Isn’t there any other way?”

“We’ve come this far.”

“It’d be such a waste to die now.”

“True enough.”

“But what can we do?”

“I don’t think we can push any farther…!”

Even while helping me to my feet…

Gillian continued battling the monsters.

“…As long as we don’t die.”

“I won’t ask for anything more.”

“For someone so young…”

“You certainly don’t lack courage.”

“Very well.”

“I understand your resolve.”

“Give me a moment.”

“I’ll think of something.”

He fell silent.

Even while smashing monsters apart with his shield…

He searched for a way forward.

Eventually, he suggested simply charging through with the shield raised.

I nodded immediately.

We didn’t have time to waste.

Even if I get hurt…

We’ll have to force our way through.

Just as anxiety tightened my chest…

Gillian’s expression suddenly changed.

He turned toward the distant battlefield.

His face twisted instantly.

Though he couldn’t see…

He had clearly sensed something ominous.

Thud…

Thud…

A mysterious vibration traveled through the earth.

The old warrior slowly raised his shield.

Planting his feet firmly…

He spoke.

“…He’s coming.”

Following the trembling direction of Gillian’s hand…

I slowly turned my gaze.

Toward the Hill of Gestation—

The spawning ground of the monsters.