Ch.63Honor and Pride (1)

I want to become stronger.

As the princess of the prestigious Okami family, Hoshino had always pursued strength.

However, there was a moment when she realized that she needed to become stronger on her own, not through textbook-style force-fed education.

It was that day when the Okami family nearly perished at the hands of the Sword Monster.

After witnessing the pleasant-smelling monster who saved her, Hoshino began to pursue strength on her own and started training herself even more rigorously.

To become the strongest hero.

And to personally protect those around her next time.

She increased the intensity of her training, swinging her wooden sword a thousand times instead of the usual hundred.

And for a princess who pursued only strength, the condition proposed by the Bow Monster was nothing short of a blessing.

“I’ll have you know, I’m one of the stronger monsters in the weapon series.”

“……”

“The three weapons heroes use most: sword, spear, and bow. Guns have clear limitations. But I can demonstrate limitless power depending on the user.”

Unlike firearms like guns with predetermined outcomes, a bow (弓) was a weapon that could be either trash or gold depending on the user’s capabilities.

In the past, before firearms became widespread, infantry who could shoot bows were treated with high regard, second only to cavalry.

Moreover, it’s often described that the price of a horse back then was similar to that of a Lamborghini today.

Compared to such “ultra-expensive equipment,” the bow—which could be made with just a stick and some sticky thread—might be humanity’s greatest invention.

…or so boasted the Bow Monster, born from the fear of humans being pierced.

And it was confident that Okami Hoshino would be able to handle it well.

“My condition isn’t that harsh. I just want to enter your body and savor this world thoroughly.”

There was no need to kill people directly.

Compared to contractors who committed murder due to their contract terms, this was a very cheap price to pay.

“Just lend me your body for 3 hours a day when I want. Of course, I won’t harm humans unless they provoke me first.”

“…Then why do you want to enter my body?”

“Hmm? Well…”

The Bow Monster, relatively hostile to humans.

The reason why this bow, which would rank 1st or 2nd among monsters eager to make contracts, wanted to become human for just 3 hours a day was very simple.

“During that time, I want to see how and why humans die!”

“…!”

In human terms, it was like an amusement park and a zoo.

It was like an entertaining TV show, an addictive social media platform, or those trending short videos.

For monsters, the greatest pleasure came from witnessing human deaths, stemming from their instincts.

Whether they killed directly or indirectly, the mere fact of death gave them genuine pleasure in their minds.

To the point where their groins became wet.

The Bow Monster, who had been hiding in the human world to avoid being hunted, had been disappointed at not being able to openly witness such scenes.

But if it could borrow Hoshino’s body, it could leisurely enjoy watching humans meet their end—whether being murdered, committing suicide, or being torn apart by other monsters—all while sipping tea.

Moreover, among monsters, being satisfied with just this much would make it seem like a “dopamine deficient” rather than a dopamine addict.

“As a hero, Hoshino, you should know well enough? Among monsters seeking contracts, few offer ‘good terms’ like mine.”

“…I know. I’ve seen people who contract with monsters and break their own fingers three times a day.”

“Hehehe. Right. Compared to that, isn’t my condition very sweet?”

Contracting with the Bow Monster.

If she did that, the immense power of a first-class monster would flow into her body right away.

Even Yoon Ha-eun had contracted with an extremely dangerous monster and became an S-class hero at a younger age than Hoshino.

‘Besides, Teacher Yoon Ha-eun was just an ordinary person with no notable achievements before contracting with the weapon monster.’

The story of an ordinary high school girl somehow meeting the right monster and becoming an S-class hero.

While it might be unknown among ordinary people.

For professionals like Hoshino with connections to the Hero Association, it was a somewhat famous anecdote.

So if a “beginner” could become that strong, how much could she, who was already an A-class hero before contracting, grow?

The reason Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

The devil’s temptation, bound to be sweet.

“No, Hoshino! Making a contract with a monster without the Hero Association’s arrangement is illegal.”

The homunculus in front of her was speaking according to the rules, but Hoshino barely heard it.

What was that saying?

Seek hardship when you’re young?

Youth is painful?

Screw that.

What if you break and can never get up again?

“Now, your hand…”

The Bow Monster released Hoshino’s hand, her eyes half-glazed.

Then, moving in front of her to block her view of Zero, it gently extended a hand.

Even if she was a sword genius, if she took this hand, her constitution would change to that of a bow mediocrity.

Of course, being from a sword mastery lineage, she wouldn’t be able to draw out her full talent when holding a bow.

‘It’s okay. It’s not like I’ll become the “strongest” anyway.’

In terms of the food chain, maybe 3rd or 4th place?

That would be enough to live happily in human society.

There’s no need to tire oneself trying to be the strongest.

Princess.

You just need to stay with me forever…

*Grab*

Just remain as one of the moderately strong ones for life.

…or so it thought, when suddenly.

“Grrrr.”

“…Ah!”

“Huh?”

Hoshino, who had almost lost herself to the devil’s temptation.

The one who grabbed the princess’s wrist midway.

It was the benefactor from her past whom she had always wanted to meet up close.

“What… is this?”

Her current attendant and also her only boyfriend.

The Horned Mask Monster.

***

About 5 minutes ago.

“…A stench?”

Kang Jang-hoon, who had been waiting in the limousine as per Lady Hoshino’s orders, suddenly caught a whiff of a foul odor that made him wrinkle his nose, and he hurriedly looked around through the window.

“The Bat Monster? …No, it’s too foul for a Level 2 monster.”

This was City B.

In the current timeline of Part 1, it was a district where no significant incidents had occurred yet.

Even the Bat Monster was just passing through, and it was supposed to become a main stage only from Chapter 2, which would open after the first anniversary.

So why was there such an unsettling stench already?

The only thing that came to mind was one thing.

The daughters of the Weapon Monster, who would officially appear from Chapter 2.

Namely, the Bow Monster, one of the “Weapon Series” monsters, had established its own forward base in the underground sewers of City B, which had the largest underground sewer system among all districts in Hero City.

‘But it’s already here at this point?’

Isn’t that too early?

…he thought, but then remembered the unexpected encounter with the Deep Sea Monster at the aquarium before.

Given that precedent, maybe it wasn’t so strange.

“Um… Lord Makoto?”

“Jang-hoon? I told you not to come out on your own because there might still be monsters around.”

“Haha… That’s true, but I urgently need to use the bathroom.”

“The bathroom?”

After coming up with various excuses to get outside.

“I’ll go to the public restroom right over there. No need to worry.”

“Hmm… Well, I suppose that’s still within my domain.”

Having received permission from Lord Makoto, he planned to quickly enter the bathroom and transform into a monster.

As explained earlier, City B had extensive underground sewers.

If he used a public restroom directly connected to the underground and plumbing, he could dig a tunnel and quickly reach Lady Hoshino.

As he was heading to the public restroom with an ominous feeling.

“Then I’ll escort you. Jang-hoon.”

“Y-Yoon Ha-eun, ma’am?!”

That’s right.

Come to think of it, there was another S-class hero here besides the Okami clan head.

He would need to dig a tunnel, which might make some noise, and Yoon Ha-eun was offering to wait at the entrance of the bathroom, if not right outside the stall.

Her intention was appreciated, but he wanted to decline right now.

However, in City B, which had become a ghost town due to a Level 2 monster, there was no reason to refuse Yoon Ha-eun’s kindness.

Especially for a man who couldn’t protect himself.

Refusing a hero’s kindness in this situation would only raise suspicion.

So what should he do?

“Hero Yoon Ha-eun. Why so shy?”

“Councilwoman Avanka?”

As he was breaking into a cold sweat.

“Waiting outside the bathroom while a man does his business? That’s too ‘conservative’ a stereotype.”

“But…”

“And there are three S-class heroes here. The Bat Monster can only approach through the air, and do you think we’d just stand by until it targets Jang-hoon in the bathroom?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Was it luck?

Councilwoman Avanka covered for me with perfect timing.

Thanks to her rational argument, I was able to enter the bathroom alone.

But was it my imagination?

*Wink*

“?!”

For a moment, it seemed like Councilwoman Avanka winked at me.