Chapter 10: A Hero’s Burden

The reason I didn’t want to bring 1-star characters into the party wasn’t just because of their abilities.

Honestly, since I’m planning on quitting being a hero someday anyway, the abilities of the people around me aren’t that important.

However, it feels like those 1-star characters, especially the ones with mediocre stats, always end up joining the party…

Doesn’t it kind of feel like the intro to a “foolish house” (a type of trope)?

Well, of course, those types of stories usually jump straight into the plot without that kind of introduction.

The problem is that I’m also a 1-star character, the central figure of the party.

And not only that, I’m not particularly smart, and I’m ranked last among the heroes.

So, if the party becomes a 1-star character party, I start to think that those characters will get drunk on Siwoo’s buff abilities and eventually abandon him.

My downfall would be one thing, but I really don’t want to see Siwoo suffer because of that.

…Because we’re friends.

That’s why I was planning to just pass by those two characters over there.

But then—

“What do you mean by that!? We’re not beasts! We’re just beastkin!”

“The bear next to you, isn’t it obviously a beast?”

“This one is just a late bloomer in terms of secondary traits!”

“Rrgh!”

Oh, so that’s the case.

I thought a bit about calling them beast-like in my mind just a moment ago.

But then, does this mean the cat-eared beastkin shouting right now was actually a real cat when she was younger?

“Anyway, in this inn, beastkin are charged double compared to other guests. In the capital, many places don’t even accept beastkin. You should be thankful that we’re letting you stay here at all. They say cat beastkin has bad habits, but you should be grateful that I’ve accepted you despite that.”

“But you’re contradicting yourself! If you throw us out, we’ll have to sleep on the streets on our way to the academy!”

“Well, then go ahead and do that. The academy won’t accept you anyway. The whole academy thing you’re talking about is probably a lie, too.”

“How can they say such things…”

Chloe muttered.

The money we had paid was a lot more than that.

Plus, our breakfast was included in the price.

“If you really don’t have money, why don’t you just leave your horses here and come back with the money later? I’ll return them to you. Honestly, does it even make sense for beasts to ride horses?”

Clutching her fists tightly and trembling, Chloe was about to step forward, but I held out my hand to stop her.

“Hero?”

No, I’m a candidate.

“I’ll go talk to them.”

I said that, and turned toward the innkeeper, who was arguing with the two beastkin.

“Why? Are you going to scratch me with those claws? You know that if a beastkin attacks a human, it’s considered the same as using a weapon, right?”

Is that so?

Our village is so remote that beastkin rarely visits, so I didn’t know.

But considering that the two beastkin were trembling and not attacking the innkeeper, I suppose it wasn’t entirely wrong.

…That’s what it means, I guess.

“Innkeeper.”

“Huh? Who are you?”

The innkeeper, who had been mocking the two beastkin with his arms crossed, scanned me up and down.

“Were you the guest from yesterday? If you’re leaving, just go on your way and don’t interfere. Or, are you planning to defend these beastkin?”

“30 copper coins, huh?”

It’s hard to specify exactly how much one silver coin is worth, but usually the cost of staying at an inn is around 2 to 3 silver coins, so one silver coin would be roughly 20,000 to 30,000 won.

Staying at an inn for a day and paying only 30 copper coins is literally an impossible price.

…I did the same thing when we captured goblins and only gave one silver coin per party member as a reward, but that was strictly the “nominal amount” I received, so I can’t openly treat it the same way.

That incident was, in fact, an unpaid task.

Luckily, Siwoo and I always divided our share properly after every request, so I didn’t have much trouble using “my own” money.

I pulled out a pouch from my waist.

Then, I casually took out around thirty silver coins, each the size of a 100-won coin.

I have more than just this. I’ve saved up from working as an adventurer.

And anyway, as a hero candidate, I wouldn’t need to spend much money at the academy.

“Here. Is this enough?”

The innkeeper seemed unsure whether to show a sour expression or look pleased.

After I waved my hand in front of his face once more, he slowly opened his hand and accepted the money.

He quickly counted with his fingers, then said,

“…30 copper coins, indeed.”

“So that’s settled then?”

“But who are you, exactly, trying to protect these beastkin?”

The phrase “these beastkin” made a sound of protest from the cat-eared girl, but I replied calmly without showing any emotion.

“I’m a hero candidate.”

“Huh?”

“I’m a hero candidate heading in the same direction as them. Are your ears blocked or something?”

I left the innkeeper speechless and turned to look at the two people who had been trapped by him.

The cat-eared girl certainly had the face of a cute girl.

Her eyes were slightly slanted upward but big. She had the kind of face you’d imagine if you anthropomorphized a cat into a cute girl.

She was a little short, and her chest was on the smaller side, but her top was a leotard.

If her level goes up later, she’d probably end up taking off those tight leather pants too.

And next to her… oh, it was just a bear.

A brown bear that I could barely see unless I looked up, covered in fur.

But the face looked innocent.

Honestly, I couldn’t tell whether it was a male or female face, but thinking that it would eventually take a human form, even in this state, it would still be a woman.

“Not going?”

“LF?”

“Ku-uhng?”

I passed by them, who seemed confused by the situation, and kept walking.

“Hey, wait a minute!”

Then I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

“Y-you’re saying you’re a hero…!?”

“I said I’m a hero candidate.”

“D-do you have proof? Just saying it doesn’t make it true. I… I can’t believe it!”

“Believe it or not, does it really matter?”

I didn’t stop my steps, making my way to the horses we had prepared earlier.

“If you don’t believe I’m a hero candidate, just let the 30 copper coins go. What, are you worried that I’ll stop by other territories on my way to the empire and report you? That I’ll report someone who discriminates against beastkin and damages the empire’s unity?”

At my words, the innkeeper’s face went pale.

At least this person’s not completely dim-witted.

The empire is a melting pot of races.

Due to its vast land, there are beastkin, elves, dwarves, and humans all living together.

Of course, the majority are humans, followed by beastkin.

However, many beastkin sided with the Demon Lord 200 years ago.

Interestingly, though it wasn’t just beastkin who joined the Demon Lord, they made up the largest portion of those who participated, and because of that, even 200 years later, they continue to face discrimination.

This discrimination has apparently been ongoing for quite a long time.

After all, part of the reason beastkin sided with the Demon Lord in the first place was because of it.

But from the empire’s perspective, racial conflicts like this are undesirable.

So, they passed anti-discrimination laws, but still, many people openly discriminate like this.

“Proof! Just show me the proof!”

“Why should I? Even if I show you, are you really going to believe it?”

I frowned as I looked at the innkeeper blocking my path.

“Since I’ve already paid, just let them go. I’ll handle the rest. You’ll probably just get a fine at most, right?”

The innkeeper’s face twisted in confusion, not knowing whether to be angry or scared.

The name “hero” is never something to be taken lightly.

It’s much bigger than just impersonating a government official.

If you consider the severity of the crime, it would be comparable to impersonating royalty.

So, it seems that even though I had paid, the innkeeper couldn’t just let me go after saying that.

But honestly, I had no intention of asking for my money back.

Watching Siwoo and Chloe mount their horses, I casually turned the horse’s head and passed by the innkeeper.

“No, wait! I just need you to confirm!”

They’re really persistent.

Although it seems they don’t have the courage to block my way.

Then again, if they’re scared, they could just think of it as a loss and give me the money back.

But the fact they’re not doing that makes me reconsider my initial assessment that their brain works well.

“Let’s go!”

In my words, both Siwoo and Chloe spurred their horses, looking refreshed.

I could hear someone shouting from behind, but I didn’t pay much attention.

***

“Wait! Just wait a minute, please!”

After walking for a while, I heard that voice from behind.

They must have left right after we did, because the speed at which they were running toward us—

Hold on a second.

The cat beastkin was riding a horse, but the one who claimed to be a bear beastkin was running on all fours.

It was obviously a bear.

A bear wearing full plate armor.

…Is it really going to turn into a human?

Even if it does, is it still going to run on all fours after turning into a person?

I considered just leaving, but something told me that if I kept going, they would catch up at the next outpost and I’d end up talking to them anyway.

So, I slowed my horse.

“What—”

“Take this!”

Before I could even ask, the cat beastkin, who had stopped beside me, suddenly shoved a pouch in front of my face.

“…What is this?”

When I took the pouch and opened it, I found it full of silver coins.

It seemed to be roughly the same amount I had paid earlier.

“You really didn’t have to give this to me.”

“No, it’s not like that! You didn’t have to go that far.”

“Did you take it back from him?”

“I sneakily took it from that old man’s pocket.”

I stared at the beastkin girl for a moment in disbelief, then handed the pouch back to her.

“Go return it.”

“No, it’s fine! It’s all good! I paid the fair amount with my own money.”

“Fair amount?”

“Normally, inns charge six silver coins as a basic rate, right? So I put six silver coins in there!”

“Ku-uhng!”

Usually, it’s just two or three coins.

“And I paid for breakfast just like the other places, with one silver coin!”

Breakfast was originally included for free, but—

Standing proudly in front of me with an assertive pose, the girl made me rub my face with my free hand, lowering my head in exasperation.