Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Volume 2  Chapter 11   The Danger of the “Hero”

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After the New Year’s festivities, school resumed, and life returned to its usual routine.

“Now, let’s talk about what lies ahead for all of you… There’s a possibility that you may encounter danger in the future. That’s why, as we’ve done before, the training from now on will focus on improving your crisis detection abilities.”

“Hold on a second! What do you mean by ‘danger’? Are you saying there’s something beyond the dungeon that we should be concerned about?”

As I had previously mentioned to Saeki-san, I intended to train them to enhance their crisis avoidance skills, but Asada objected and confronted me.

Considering that I’ve been training them all along, is it really so strange for me to bring up this topic?

If they’ve noticed even the slightest difference in my words, then they must be observant. Is that what I should say?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“…. How well do you understand the meaning of the title ‘Hero’?”

I had originally intended to explain, so I directed my gaze towards Asada and especially Miyano as I posed the question.

“Huh? Meaning?”

“Um, someone who possesses superior power even among the Special Class, right?”

Miyano responded, and the other three nodded, but no further words came out.

“Is that all?”

As I asked again, the four of them exchanged glances, as if wondering if there was another reason.

“Someone who excels in their human qualities?”

After a brief pause, Abe tilted her head slightly and suggested.

Indeed, while both physical strength and personal strength are necessary for becoming a hero, they are merely conditions for attaining the title of hero. The “weight” of the title ‘Hero’ goes beyond that.

“That’s not wrong either… but being a hero is much heavier than what you guys think.”

Even as I said that, it seemed that Miyano and the others hadn’t fully grasped the concept, as they furrowed their brows.

“In the current world, there are more new Gates appearing than the destruction caused by adventurers. Yet, the numbers are evenly matched. The reason for this is that the ‘World’s Strongest’ individuals, who are beyond the norm, have been destroying the excess Gates. However, if something were to happen to them, it would be dangerous.”

In recent years, the existence of the ‘World’s Strongest’ individuals has contributed to maintaining the balance, but if they were to die due to accidents or illness, it would be a serious problem.

“A few years ago, they were reporting on TV that the number of Gates was increasing. Well, it’s going to happen again. The number of Gates continues to rise, but there aren’t enough adventurers to handle them. That’s the situation we’re facing.”

If the rate of increase surpasses the rate of decrease, it’s only a matter of time before our current way of life collapses.

I don’t know if it’s because they want to avoid causing anxiety among the general public or if they genuinely believe it’s safe, but the media doesn’t report much on the dangers posed by the Gates.

However, our world is not in a state where we can afford to be so optimistic.

“That’s why the existence of ‘Heroes’ who can single-handedly handle the Gates becomes crucial. Even if the World’s Strongest were to disappear, we need to ensure our own survival.”

That’s why the mindset of that intelligent and strong-willed Lady Tenshi, who wanted to become stronger and destroy Gates, is not entirely wrong. Well, I don’t think she should impose her ideals on others, though.

“…But there are those who see it as an obstacle. They have no concern for the survival of the Earth. Their goal is to cover the world with Gates. Those are also the kind of people we’re dealing with.”

To be more specific, I’m referring to the Salvation Army, as seen on TV. They engage in acts of terrorism against those who try to destroy the Gates.

Naturally, adventurers are targeted, and being a hero makes you a prime target.

“But those people are still manageable. After all, they are clearly evil, so we can use the police and other means to eliminate them easily. The real trouble comes from a different group.”

“…What kind of people are they?”

“They are those who don’t like to see a single country gaining power.”

That’s right. The idiots who engage in acts of terrorism are indeed a threat, but dealing with them is relatively simple. When they come at you, you just knock them out. That’s all there is to it.

However, the group I mentioned earlier is a different story.

“In Japan, there are ten heroes, which is a lot considering the proportion of heroes of that caliber worldwide.”

Considering that there are no more than a hundred of heroes in the world, having ten heroes in Japan is undeniably significant.

“If the number of heroes in Japan continues to increase, it would cause concern for other countries. After all, even a top-tier hero can defeat a thousand opponents. Depending on their abilities and methods, they can single-handedly bring down a nation… and Miyano, you’re capable of that too.”

“But, even if I’m called a hero, I couldn’t possibly bring down a country–”

“You can.”

Miyano shook her head in confusion, but I firmly denied it before she could finish saying it.

“You can. Bringing down a country doesn’t just rely on direct destructive power.”

In Miyano’s eyes, which had been denied by my words, there was a deeper sense of seriousness and a hint of fear mixed in.

“Your power is lightning. Imagine what would happen if the electricity in today’s society was cut off. What if you could make every electronic device explode through electrical manipulation? It may not be possible right now, but in the future, who knows?”

In fact, Miyano’s power is far more terrifying to the current world than a straightforward crisis like fire.

After all, if she can not only generate electricity but also manipulate electronic signals, she could take control of machines worldwide.

We don’t know if she can achieve that level of control, but those in higher positions would certainly believe she can.