Chapter 30: The False Hero

Meisatsu froze, stiff as a board, utterly confused. Never had he imagined a group opposing guns—guns that hadn’t even existed until he came along.

“Looks like a Hermit’s taken an interest in you,” Gō whispered to the stunned Meisatsu beside him.

The three men stepped backward, retreating in unison to the gathering. Reacting to their movements, the Hermit said, “I told you not to call us that.”

“But it’s so catchy!” one of the men from the wall of followers called out.

The Hermit’s robe dragged along the dusty ground as he stepped forward, crystal ball raised. “You’ve come to destroy us all!”

Gō smacked Meisatsu on the head, jolting him out of his trance-like confusion. It worked perfectly.

“You called that dude a Hermit… What does that even mean?” Meisatsu asked, eyes still fixated on the approaching figure.

“They usually live in isolation, and their teachings often go against the Goddess’s ways,” Gō said as his expression became puzzled. “He shouldn’t have this many followers…”

Hermits did appear occasionally in Asturia, spreading ideas contradictory to the Kingdom’s established order. Most people ignored them—but why did this one have a following?

Behind the Hermit, the followers who had been frozen in place began to trail him, drawn as if by some magnetic presence.

Now an arm’s length from Meisatsu, the Hermit stopped. The people behind him did the same, reverence radiating from them.

Some of the townsfolk squeezed past the two groups, continuing their daily commute, but the number of onlookers steadily grew, keeping a cautious distance.

Raising the crystal ball high as he could in his right hand, the Hermit drew gasps from his followers, who clasped their hands in adoration.

“Behold!!!” His hoarse voice carried over the crowd.

From the ball, a scene projected into the air. Unlike the blue hue of from regular broadcasts, this one had a white fog swirling inside, blurring the view.

BANG! BANG!! BANG!!!

Meisatsu’s ears refused to believe what they heard...

Gunshots—several of them.

Japan?! Meisatsu’s eyes trembled as they watched the horrific scene. More gunshots rang, more people fled. A shooting?!!

The nearby spectators froze, watching the unfamiliar scenes. Some, however, recognized the sounds.

“Isn’t that the sound the Hero’s weapon makes?”

“I’ve heard them. The same ones from the Hero’s fight with the Fifth!”

The murmurs grew louder. Then they ceased as the projection flickered out.

“That is the divination I received from The One greater than the Goddess herself,” declared the Hermit, smiling wryly. “This is a False Hero!”

Gō blinked, aghast. If he was shaken, how would Meisatsu react?

He then gazed at Meisatsu—completely calm, unnerved.

But behind this unbothered exterior of Meisatsu, he was thinking, How do they know about Japan?! This makes no sense. No—think! It’ll be bad if the Kingdom turns against me as a terrorist.

“Where did you get that?!” he then asked coldly.

The Hermit smiled, his face wrinkled. “The Great One!”

He turned to face his followers. “We know where the real Hero is, don’t we?!”

Cries of affirmation rose from the group. From the crowd, a single voice called, “Where?!”

And soon enough, the entire crowd began mumbling the same thing. 

Spinning to face them, the old Hermit answered, “Moonlit Sonat.”

“That’s enough, don’t you think?”

“Umare?!” Meisatsu called out to him. 

He was stepping out of the masses, into the circle they all stood.

“Ya know, this claim is punishable by death, right?” Umare towered over the Hermit. “We Explorers have confirmed him—the real Hero.”

Gō stammered, “Y-yeah! I’ve known Meisatsu since we were kids. He might be strange, but he wouldn’t hurt innocent people!”

Hey!!! Meisatsu thought, glaring at him. But he smiled seeing Gō stand up for him.

“Ya heard him!” Umare jerked a thumb at Gō . “So beat—!”

BOOM!

✦✦✦

The ground cracked under the impact as Ayame dropped from the sky, flames trailing her descent. “Satsu…?!!”

Exactly Thirty Seconds Earlier…

Ayame had finally stepped from her room, knocking on Meisatsu’s door. No answer.

“I’m coming in” 

Inside, she saw a deflated Simuru lounging on Meisatsu’s bed.

“Where’d he go?”

Inflating, Simuru wobbled twice.

“Hmm... You don’t know?” Shutting the door she went outside. 

Ayame could hear Ragan hammering away at metal at the back of the house,

“Hey Dad, know where Satsu went? she asked, entering the forge.

CLANK!

Ragan set down his hammer, wiping sweat from his brow. “Meisatsu? I think he went to the Guild.”

“Thanks Dad!” 

The door slammed shut before Ragan could even ask how she was feeling.

Focusing completely on Meisatsu unique magical output, her eyes snapped wide. “Found you!”

BOOM!

She blazed into the sky, tracking him down.

Now Surrounded by a Crowd..

Umare gave her a brief rundown. And she was furious, preparing to scorch all who slandered her dear brother.

 “Let me at ‘em!!!” she screamed as she began her advance.

With both arms, Umare restrained her, knowing what would happen if he didn’t…

Then Meisatsu waved an arm, motioning for her to calm down. 

Meisatsu raised his other arm, Glock in hand, declaring, “I would never use my gun to hurt others!”

To everyone’s surprise, he disassembled it, explaining the inner workings. He then said, "This is how it looks on the inside!"

A silence so heavy, it felt like it could crush him followed, but he continued anyway, “This is the magazine, and this is the recoil spring! The part here is called a muzzle!”

He felt that, by explaining the inner workings of his gun to the crowd would ease their tension.But It produced a different outcome.

They gazed at him as if he was rambling in some encrypted language. Even the simplest parts he mentioned—like the trigger—received bewildered looks.

Even his allies and sister stared at him with perplexed faces

The Hermit shouted, “Deceiver! He wants to corrupt us with his blasphemous words!”

With skilled movements, Meisatsu quickly reassembled his Glock, taking a step back.

The youthful members of the group started to advance toward him—Umare reached for his sword and flames flaring to life burst forth from Ayame’s palms in defense—

CHK-CHK!

A chilling tingle went down the Hermit’s spine as well as those of his followers, and they back away.

Meisatsu racked the slide once more, driving them further back. It was like his Glock seemed to emanate with a terrifying aura…

“If being nice doesn’t work—” His aimed the muzzle at the old Hermit. “We can always settle things this way!”

“We shall return with the true savior of this world.” The Hermit said as he turned to leave, but he then muttered under his breath “Your life ends today…”

Hearing that, Ayame was about to lunge for the kill, but Meisatsu stopped her. And they watched the group depart. The rest of the town’s people resumed their movements as well and the tension slowly dissipated.

Later at the Guild…

Akane eyed Gō from head to toe. “You’re an Explorer?”

He responded by pulling out the pendant tucked in his collar—

EXPLORER Level II

“Gō Sato, Level 19,” he chuckled. “Been taking private jobs in Bac.”

The Explorers Guild allowed its members to take other jobs besides the ones directly related to the establishment. But if an Explorer was requested specifically, it was also mandatory they respond immediately.

And if in the event their private jobs they violated any laws of the Kingdom, the Explorer's association with the Guild would be expunged promptly.

“Guess I’ll be heading to Bac,” Gō said, scowling lightly. “Since someone wrecked my Magi-Mobile…”

“How’d you handle the wreckage?” Meisatsu had asked the question, trying to hold back laugh. “Is it still there?”

“Of course it’s not! I hired some Explorers to help me get it down!” Holding his head, he sighed, “It’s beyond fixing, and I didn’t get Last Save cast on it…”

Last Save… Meisatsu wondered if he heard that right.

“Well those Anti whatever people won’t be bothering you anymore now that they know the Guild’s got your back.” Go’s expression had become more mellow. “I’ll still get Ayame one of these days…”

You just had to ruin it…

Then, he winked at Ayame—who cringed, strutted past Umare, and walked out the Guild doors.

“He looked fun!” Umare commented, watching the doors close behind Gō. “I wonder what his abilities are?!”

Akane suddenly adjusted her glasses, shooting up from her chair as Gō kicked the doors open, shouting, “They’re back!!!”

They rushed outside, meeting the Anti-Gun Front. But now an unfamiliar boy now stood next to the Hermit...