My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

I stared straight into those eyes full of fury and said.

"Your explanation was too long for me to fully follow, but what you're basically saying is that everything happening right now is my fault, right? So I'm to blame for people like you who always shift the blame onto others existing in this world? I'm to blame for you thinking other races' lives are nothing but trash? No. You are the one who thinks and acts. You're the one who kills other humans as magical power resources. Don't drag things back to the era of the first generation hero and force a connection."

"What...?"

If the demon king's plan proceeded as he intended, he'd be a mass murderer of the century, but he probably doesn't have the mental composure to calmly face that. So he tried to find the cause in me and the first generation hero and pin all the responsibility on me. Judging by his reaction, it might have been unconscious. How human. Still, if it had been commander Saran, not a single eyebrow would have twitched.

I wasn't heartless toward the demon king — whose beloved wife had been killed even though he had tried to approach them — just because I hadn't done anything. I didn't object to Mahiro summoning the magic circle and enjoying our reactions; I thought it was a nasty personality, but whatever.

But I couldn't forgive him for hurting Yoru with those words. From my perspective, the demon king's treatment of Yoru was just lashing out because things didn't go his way. The same went for his attitude toward Lattice Nail; how could someone treat those who adore him like that?

"No matter how important something is to someone, it doesn't mean it's important to others. What matters to me can be trampled by others without a second thought. Just like you invading our world and reaching for my family. ...If there's any responsibility to assign, it's you — for failing to protect what was precious to you. Even though you invited other races into your castle as an ally, you didn't act to protect your loved ones."

Once, when I punched a man who molested my sister and adults other than my mother scolded me for going too far, I realized something. The humiliation done to my sister and my single punch could never be equivalent to me, but to others, visible physical pain seems to carry more weight. People told me I should have handed him to the station staff instead of hitting him, and I couldn't help but laugh.

What I want to protect is something others don't care if it gets hurt. What is precious to me can be trampled by others with indifference. Acts I felt were too mild to kill for are, to the vast majority, balanced by a single punch — sometimes even seen as the aggressor being excessive, garnering sympathy.

From that I learned: if you truly care, you must wrap it in silk and protect it so nothing can harm it.

That's why I want to get home as fast as possible. The thought that my family might be hurt right now terrifies me more than death. I'm sick of realizing something's importance only after losing it.

"Dad told me while he was gone that I'd protect Mom and Yui, Akira. It's a promise between men."

Somewhere, I felt like I heard that voice.

I know. Dad didn't mean it in that exact way. Mom and Yui don't expect that either. Still, unlike my mother or Yui, I'm a man with a stronger body and more strength, so it's my duty to protect them.

"You were treated by that so-called hero of the Human race once. Now you're going to lay a hand on things that are precious to us. You'll be reduced to the same thing as that so-called hero who killed your beloved wife. At least to me, that so-called hero and you are no different."

The demon king's face darkened at my words and he opened his mouth to say something. At that moment, Mahiro snapped his fingers.

While we braced ourselves, a magic circle appeared on the door and it opened automatically, just like when we entered. A Demon Clan member walked into the audience chamber.

He proceeded to the throne as if we were invisible and knelt politely.