You’re Heroes Now, Boys!

Roars filled the air.

One by one, the giant Fire Salamanders emerged from the smoke.

“Haha! Look, Skye,” joked Kale. “These things are the same color as your hair!”

“… Kale, read the atmosphere.” Skye said. “This isn’t the time to be making jokes.”

She compared her red hair to the Fire Salamanders’ bodies.

“—Well, you’re definitely right, though.”

“Strange…” said Enzo. He pointed to his coral-colored hair.

“They’re usually the color of mine.”

Aurora shouted at her party members.

“Guys! Knock it off and pay attention!” she said. She gestured toward the large amphibians surrounding them. “Do you not see the size of these things? One wrong move and we’re going to be toast!”

Oh, that was such a bad pun. Kanie thought.

“It’ll be fine, Aurora,” Kale assured. He pointed toward Kanie and Eric.

“Don’t forget—the heroes are with us today! They’ll help us out of this mess.”

“Way to throw us under the bus,” Eric muttered. “You just lost what little chance you had for a date.”

“—Aw, come on, no!” Kale said. “I meant, ‘Don’t worry, Erika~! I’ll save you~!’”

Right then, a notification sound came from the locket in Kanie’s pocket. He pulled it out and opened it. His eyes went wide with frustration.

The inside of the locket read, ‘Good luck on your first quest! Try not to become hero barbeque! (Lol).’

… Nyle, you bastard!!! he screamed internally.

“Scout Magic,” said Skye.

She cast the spell over the surrounding area, attempting to gather information on the Fire Salamanders. Strings of glowing symbols washed over her eyes.

“… It’s no good,” she said, eyes returning to normal. “I can’t get a reading on their strength rating. I’m a C-rank adventurer, which means—”

“They’re at least B-tier enemies,” Aurora cut in. “Scout will fail if the targets are stronger than the spellcaster in rank.”

Kanie looked at Eric.

“Looks like you’re up, Infinity Mage,” he said. “Why don’t you toss out that spell yourself and have a look? Albert did say you can use any kind of magic that exists, didn’t he?”

“Good idea,” Eric said. “Scout Magic.”

The jewel of his staff started to glow with a bright, teal-colored light. A flurry of symbols scrambled across the surface of Eric’s eyes.

“… I can see everything!” Eric said, eyes darting back and forth.

He killed the spell, causing his eyes to go back to normal.

“… Well,” he said to Kanie. “The spell classified these things as high-B to low-A-rank enemies. It sucks to say, but we have to handle this one—leave it to Aurora and her party, and they’re going to die.”

“—But I don’t want to die, yet!!!” Aurora whined. “Not without ever having a single boyfriend!!!”

… I get it, Aurora. Trust me, I do, Kanie thought. I died a virgin yesterday, and it’s not an experience I’d recommend.

The lumbering Fire Salamanders screeched and broke into a run. Their burning feet left smoldering craters in the ground as they approached.

“This is bad! The temperature is going up like crazy!” Kanie shouted to Eric. “I’m fine—pleasant, even—but you and the others are going to be fried to a crisp!”

“Don’t underestimate me,” Eric said. “Defense Barrier!”

His staff’s jewel started glowing again. Teal energy gathered in his free hand.

He curled his fingers and pointed them—first at Aurora and her party, then at himself. Spherical shields surrounded the adventurers, until only Kanie was left unguarded.

Aurora and her party members flinched as several of the monsters crashed into the barriers around their bodies.

“… Good, the shields are holding up,” Eric said, watching behind his own. He could see all of the shields’ health bars on his HUD.

A salamander lunged at Kanie, who held it back with his free hand.

“… Way to leave me out to dry!” he shouted. “… And how’d you even know to use that spell?”

“You said you were fine,” Eric replied cozily from inside his shield. “And I have no idea—it was like I just knew how to do it.”

“Haha! It’s called intuition,” Nyle said from his cosmic space. “Did anyone have to teach you how to breathe or get aroused? … Nope. Some things are just built-in, you know?”

“You’re heroes, now, boys. It’s in your blood—so start hero-ing~!”

Back at Vorax Thicket, an arrogant smile spread across Kanie’s face. He turned toward Eric.

“Erika,” he said. “If you want to hide behind that pretty little shield, be my guest. Just sit back like a side character and feast your eyes on this!”

His eyes scanned the vicinity.

I count twelve in total, he noted, still holding back the salamander in front of him.

He tightened his grip on the salamander’s giant snout and slammed the creature straight into the ground. Its body hit the floor with such force that it shook the entire area. A shockwave swept through the forest, tossing burning leaves and debris into the air.

“W-what incredible power—!” Aurora gasped.

“Take this!” he yelled, spinning his sword before grabbing it again.

“Self-buff: Strength!”

Its blade’s glow increased in brightness as he plunged it straight into the salamander’s head. The monster bellowed and tried to get up, but it slumped back onto the floor, succumbing to its injury.

Kanie pulled the sword out and swung it clean of ash and soot.

Okay, he thought. I was scared before, but it looks like these guys aren’t as durable as they appear to be.

“…!”

He turned around in time to see another salamander breath a stream of scalding-hot fire straight at him.

“Yikes!” he said, leaping out of the way. High in the air, he gripped his sword by the handle and began channeling power into its blade. Once its glow reached a certain intensity, he threw it at the salamander. The sword cut through the air at sonic speed and lobbed the creature’s head clean off. Its lifeless body collapsed as its red-hot glow went out.

Kanie landed back on the ground with a satisfied grin. He stared at his sword, which was lodged deep into the ground.

“Kanie, watch out!” Aurora shouted, still guarded by Eric’s shield.

Behind him, another salamander opened its jaws wide. It belched a powerful burst of volcanic flames in his direction. The flames engulfed him as the other adventurers looked on with shocked expressions.

“… Kanie!!!” Eric shouted.