Will I End Up As a Hero or a Demon King (WN)

Chapter 198

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Chapter 198 – First Time

What’s going on?

As I turned to face the voice, a middle-aged man stood there.

He had pale skin, which was unusual in this area, and striking blue hair.

The man didn’t seem particularly nervous, and he had a wry smile on his face.

“Pet…?”

“Sorry about that. I came here thinking something bad had happened to Lokish, but I didn’t expect to find just a boy.”

He seemed to be talking, but he wasn’t really.

That’s how it felt.

I could hear what he was saying, but my head was too full trying to sort out and understand the situation.

I looked back at the higher-ranked creature,

Perhaps the effect of my Provoke had worn off, but it no longer showed the hostility it had before, and it was now crouching with its head lowered.

Seeing it like this, the word “pet” was certainly not wrong…

But first.

Where did this man come from?

I had activated my Presence Detection.

I kept my guard up, determined not to let it down until the very end.

But before I could detect his presence, he was already there.

He appeared behind me as if out of nowhere.

Was he moving at a speed that could be mistaken for warping, like Ril?

Or could it be…

…I regretted what I had done.

I was frustrated that the battle was interrupted.

I also felt like I had missed out on an important skill.

Most importantly, I couldn’t help but admit that I had succumbed to my curiosity.

Still, I’ll probably continue to use this skill.

I had no choice but to think that I would have to use this skill every time I felt this way.

With Insight, I realized the strength of my opponent…

“Ah!”

Even though my body should have been exhausted, I tried to retreat with all my strength and stumbled over the body of the higher-ranked creature behind me.

(Huff! Huff! Calm down, calm down, calm down!!!)

I grabbed my knees with all my strength and bit my lower lip hard, trying to sit down somehow.

Immediately after turning off Insight, I couldn’t even sit down without using all my strength.

That’s how much I felt that this man was clearly stronger than the old lady.

“Hey, kid, are you okay?”

I couldn’t see his face.

But there was no edge to his voice, and on the contrary, his deep voice seemed to have a certain effect on calming me down.

“Ugh… Ugh… I’m… I’m okay…”

“What’s going on? Lokish, did you do something?”

The one he’s talking to is the monster crouching behind me.

It growls several times, but to me, it just sounds like it’s holding on to the pain from earlier.

Still.

“Huh…”

The man in front of me seemed satisfied with that, and his attitude changed.

As before, I couldn’t look directly at his face or even his body.

But I could tell that the tone of his voice had changed.

“I have a question…”

This is what it means to feel like you’re not alive.

I understood that he held the power of life and death in his hands, and I just didn’t want to die.

I didn’t know it was a pet, and all I could do was regret why this had happened.

He must have been trying to make eye contact with me.

I crouched down and continued the conversation.

“Who are you?”

“I’m from another world…”

“…Well, I guess so. You can fly, right?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re here alone? You’re not weak if you can take on Lokish, but is this world difficult to live in?”

“Eh…?”

I thought he would ask, “Why are you here?” or “Why did you attack my pet?”

I thought it would be a series of questions where the wrong answer would mean death.

But the question I heard was different from what I had imagined, and I couldn’t help but look up from my lowered gaze.

I found myself staring directly at him.

But strangely, I didn’t feel the same intense fear I had felt before.

The man was sitting cross-legged, resting his cheek on his hand, and staring at me.

It wasn’t a gentle expression.

He wasn’t smiling either.

But I could feel that he really cared about me.

Maybe that was why my brain and my heart finally began to function normally.

I honestly answered the man who was silently waiting for my words.

“I think there were parts of my life that were difficult. There were many things that made me different from other people in this world. But I think I was blessed with good people. Not everything was perfect, but there were a lot of good people who helped me.”

“I see. So you were pretty blessed.”

“I guess so.”

“But are you alone now?”

“…”

Honesty and openness are two different things.

I hesitated to answer, and in the end, I had no choice but to remain silent.

If I’m not mistaken, I already know who the man in front of me is.

Although reincarnated people are common, I don’t think it’s common for people to be transferred.

“Well, whatever. Where are you from?”

“Huh?”

“You’re from Earth, right? Your country!”

“U-um, Japan.”

“Oh, so you’re the same as that guy Takuya. Are you also one of those otaku?”

The man talked to himself and laughed loudly, but I was no longer afraid.

“No, it’s not… well, it’s not exactly the same, but… is Takuya the hero an otaku?”

“Yes, he’s a hardcore otaku. What was it called again? Middle school mentality or something?”

“Huh? Could it be ‘Middle School Syndrome’?”

“That’s it! He always mixes fantasy and reality, so he’s quite dangerous. His real self is his bottom half!”

“Guh.”

For some reason, this unexpected turn of events hit me right in the heart.

But the man in front of me didn’t seem to care.

He began to introduce himself at his own pace.

“By the way, I’m a former American who used to make a living as a dairy farmer. Now I’m… well, I do something like represent my country, but I don’t really understand it. I’m your senior in this world. If you need help, you can count on me; I’ll do my best.”

I stared at the right hand he offered.

People are nothing but impressions and prejudices.

If your first impression is somewhat negative, that perception will linger, and it will take considerable effort, time, and a significant reason to change it.

Conversely, a good impression is also just a perception.

There are many people in the world who are deceived in this way.

But the first encounter is always one or the other, to varying degrees.

I actually had a good impression of this man, Hans-san.

I felt that way based on my direct encounter with him, independent of any information I had learned beforehand.

How did he get here? What is this pet? Why is the pet here?

There are still many things I don’t understand.

Still, he’s the first person I’ve met from my homeworld, and one of four people who claim to be from another world.

For now, I’ll try to trust the leader of the Republic of Elion.

I’ll take his hand firmly.

“I am Loki, a Japanese. I used to work as a salesman. Now I’m thinking of traveling the world as a free-spirited hunter. But I only know this country so far.”

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