The Flawed Hero’s Unreliable Team

(Otherworld Time)

Hero Moon was a flawed Hero, one deemed unworthy.

This casually disheveled blond girl, lacking proper posture and showing no signs of professional training, hardly seemed fit for the role.

Consequently, the human king harbored no belief that she could defeat the Demon Lord and save their world.

Nevertheless, to prevent the summoning ritual’s preparations from utterly going to waste, he tentatively provided her with companions, equipped her with a satchel and a carriage, and sent her forth on the fated journey to vanquish the Demon Lord.

Given that the teammates assembled for such a ‘flawed’ Hero were themselves fraught with various issues.

On the day of their conscription, the members of this Hero’s party were summoned from across the kingdom to the throne room, where they would partake in a symbolic assembly ceremony under the King’s blessing.

Naturally, this also marked the first formal meeting for the members of the Hero’s party.

A taciturn warrior, shouldering a massive greatsword, entered the reception hall of the royal palace’s side wing.

He wore a vibrant red scarf and brand-new armor, a stark contrast to his appearance.

This was a young man with a perpetually scruffy beard, tall and powerfully built, yet his face bore a weary, almost unlucky expression, complete with unhealthy dark circles beneath his eyes, suggesting a man whose daily routine was utterly chaotic.

He glanced around, realizing he was the first to arrive in the reception hall apart from the Hero, and thus, he was the first to approach Hero Moon.

“You must be Miss Moon, the Hero summoned by His Majesty the King, aren’t you?”

Indeed, there was no one else in the reception hall save for this blond girl in her peculiar attire.

Brit felt certain he hadn’t mistaken her, so he continued, “I am Brit, the warrior chosen by His Majesty to follow you on your quest to defeat the Demon Lord! Please guide me!”

He offered a friendly, enthusiastic greeting, but the blond girl merely scrutinized him with an untamed gaze.

“Hmm, are you strong?” she asked.

Brit pondered for a moment before replying, “I am the chief disciple of the legendary Sword Saint…”

“Then why isn’t your master accompanying me on this adventure?”

“Please don’t trouble the elder.”

“Besides, even if you say that, I still don’t know how strong you truly are.”

Brit considered this, then unstrapped his sword from his back.

The weapon appeared to be a colossal slab of iron; its sheer weight was palpable just by looking at it.

He then pointed to a potted plant beside the reception hall.

“Now, I shall sever the highest flower.”

Having announced his intent, he swung the heavy sword with an astonishingly light motion, as if merely fanning out a gust of wind.

Yet, it was this very breeze that cleanly sliced the flower from the potted plant.

“Wow?”

Such a level of mastery astonished even Hero Moon, who had only just arrived in this otherworld.

“I never imagined people in this world could cultivate their swordsmanship to such an extent.”

“This world?” Brit asked, a hint of confusion in his tone.

But the girl Hero merely placed her hands on her hips and declared, “From now on, you’ll be my sword instructor!”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t that old man tell you? Before I came to this world, I didn’t receive any sword training, but the weapon I must wield is the Holy Sword, for only it can truly slay the Demon Lord.”

As she spoke, Hero Moon drew a gleaming golden weapon from her back.

“Teaching me to use a sword shouldn’t be a problem for you, right? After all, your sword doesn’t seem to have much of an edge.”

Brit looked down at the Holy Sword, his already weary face appearing even more distressed.

“…”

Hmph, it wasn’t just lacking an edge… it was practically a stick!

Brit began to suspect that Miss Hero was indeed as unreliable as the rumors claimed.

Just then, the reception room door opened again.

This time, two people entered.

Leading the way was a smiling man, clad in heavier, silver-grey plate armor than the warrior, and bearing a short warhammer on his back… no, perhaps it was a scepter?

Hiding behind this man was a woman draped in a red robe, though the attire glimpsed beneath the robe was somewhat revealing and scant, reminding Moon of the paid cosmetic items in online games from Earth.

Moreover, numerous spellcasting materials hung from the inside of her robe: from glowing potions to various colored gems, and even sinister items like bones.

It looked impressive, but it might just be a case of ‘all the gear and no idea’.

While Moon was still observing the two, Brit had already stepped forward to greet them.

“May I ask who you two are…? I hadn’t heard there would be a second warrior joining.”

“My name is Halin, and my profession is Priest. Please guide me.”

“…A Priest?”

Typically, a Priest was envisioned as a character clad in robes, holding a scepter and prayer book, standing at the back of the party to heal allies or unleash divine attacks through prayer.

Yet, this Priest seemed… capable of taking more punishment than even he, a warrior?

But upon closer inspection, a Holy Law prayer book was indeed tucked into his belt.

The book itself was bound within a metal-spiked frame, connected by a chain, appearing as though it could be wielded as a flail.

“Melia, Mage.”

The woman tugged at her robe, then moved from behind Halin to behind Moon.

She timidly mumbled, “However, I… I’m not very good at combat… and I’m a little afraid of men… Hero Moon, I’ll leave dealing with them to you!”

Moon’s lips twitched; so that was why she had hidden behind her.

Being afraid of men yet wearing such revealing attire seemed a little contradictory, didn’t it?

But for now, to protect Melia’s delicate sensibilities, it would probably be better not to inform the people of this world that she was, in fact, a man.

It would be best to keep that secret as she departed.

These two teammates seemed rather unreliable; in comparison, Brit actually appeared the most normal.

Could a party haphazardly thrown together like this truly return alive after challenging the Demon Lord?

No, perhaps there was no need for such worry.

After all, the Goddess had solemnly guaranteed that the prophecy would undoubtedly come to pass…

So, they should be able to defeat the Demon Lord successfully, right?

“Is everyone here?” Moon asked.

“No, there should be one more person.”

Priest Halin reached into his breastplate and rummaged for a moment.

“…Was that a pocket?!”

Halin then pulled out a rolled-up list.

Upon unrolling it, the name of the still-absent teammate was clearly inscribed.

Halin read aloud, “Alezno, the scout from the Elven Forest.”

“Um…”

A faint sound emerged from the corner of the reception hall.

Only then did everyone notice an elven girl cloaked in green, timidly raising her hand.

“I… I am Alezno… my profession is Ranger. Please guide me.”

Contrary to the typical tall stature of elves, she appeared somewhat petite, yet her distinctive pale golden hair and pointed ears confirmed her elven identity.

However, her presence and shadow were so faint that without focused attention, she would simply fade from people’s sight.

Halin asked, “Wait, when did you get here?”

She cast a humble glance at the blond girl Hero.

“Actually, I was the first to arrive.”

(The flashback ends here.)