Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero: 153

Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero: 153

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Commissioned by Shaderic

Wordcount: 2500

…

“You know what, I’ll admit it, you’re doing a great job.”

“Somehow, I detest the fact that you’re complimenting me.”

Roseanne took over Arundel and had it reinforced. It was meant to be a city that could withstand encirclement, so its defenses were just fine against any Empire attack. It wasn’t just about defenses, though. It was a place that the Kindred couldn’t conquer for centuries and it now flew her banners. Not only that, but it was the center of the Empire’s Frontier and its main logistical hub, because it was near a river that ran down the whole length of the frontier with many magic-made canals extending its range to smaller towns.

Therefore, Arundel worked exceptionally well as the center of the Frontier’s bureaucracy.

A bureaucracy which Roseanne was administering exceptionally well.

Surprsingly.

“Why aren’t you like this back home?”

“You mean the place you you’ve infused with political strife, disruptive technological advancements, and subversive cultural elements in order to create opportunities for yourself to climb?”

“Tee-hee.” Pero.

Roseanne broke the quill she was using in half.

The ancient technique was quite effective.

“Don’t you have anything to do, besides bother me while I work?” Roseanne grumbled and pressed her fingers against her temple. Her armored suit was off to the right of the office, while she was wearing a tunic and pants. It was unflattering and honestly the first time I saw Kindred not wear clothes that weren’t fetishistic. Meanwhile, I was wearing an officer’s suit across from her and enjoying a cup of tea. I felt overdressed. “Go… terrorize some poor souls and ruin their lives with a few words. That’s what you do for fun, correct?”

“I have my people doing the legwork, while I come up with the material, so I’m passing time here. I actually figured I’d come and help, but you’ve got everything done.” My various forces were split apart to stabilize the Frontier. Root out dissidents, quash rebellions before they happen, and hunt down influential people before they create headaches for me and Roseanne. In effect, I was doing my job as Roseanne’s problem solver, by trusting my employees with the job. So, I could make problems for Roseanne personally. “So, you’re good at managing less developed peoples? Back in my world, I think this would be called imperialism. Or colonialism.”

Which were both bad.

However, am I really the bad guy, if the society I’m conquering and dominating with superior technology and industry is backwards, morally reprehensible, and following a false god? (lol)

Probably not! (lol)

I’m not out to conquer them, or rule over them anyway, I just want to ensure everyone cooperates and prospers together in my sphere of influence. (lol)

Right, enough jokes.

“The Kindred have been preparing for this moment for a long time. Or, rather, the Demon Lords have always strived to rule over the whole continent.” Roseanne earnestly replied. Her eyes grew slightly faint while she recalled childhood teachings from her parents. Must be nice. Then again, it’s probably better that I don’t recall my parents much. They’ll be upset with my job. Though, for some reason, I had a feeling dad would call me a lucky bastard, and that mom would think Ur’s too good for me. They’re probably both right, but I’m not going to stop. “We have studied and prepared to rule over them. Most of it now is subterfuge, of course, but with time we will come out of the shadows.”

“The whole shadow government pretending to be the Empire was a great idea.” I nodded and agreed with Roseanne’s current plants. Deployment of Doppelgangers as messengers and officials of the Empire to make it seem everything was doing fine was paying off quickly. A lot of villages and towns were depopulated thanks to the Empire’s conscription methods. A lot of those left behind were crippled, old, or too young. Even if some of them saw through the scam, they’ll be smart enough to play along and see how things go. “I could’ve thought of that… but I’ll be honest, I’d have killed all the lords and leaders instead of getting them on my side.”

“That is because you have a long-held and likely never to be relinquished grudge against the Empire.” Roseanne pointed out with a sigh of long suffering, which was followed by a glare when I shrugged in response. “Human beings have several similarities to Kindred. When cowed and cornered, they will do their utmost to keep their lives safe and sound. However, they will plot against you… unless you give them a position of power that allows them to lord over others.”

“Kill them if they’re not worth your time, and kill them if you can’t placate them though.”

“Naturally.”

Roseanne rolled her eyes and rose from her chair. She turned and looked at the city of Arundel as it was being rapidly reconstructed. I brought in a few thousand of my new workforce, and they happily did their duty. Roseanne was leery about hiring them, instead of using her own peasants, especially when the wages were the same. Then, she realized that this workforce wouldn’t strain her logistical lines and need sleep. The deal was sealed then.

Anyway, Arundel was quickly being brought up to snuff. What I did caused a lot of damage, but they were fixing up what they could and clearing out the rest. The cobblestone streets and buildings that could be recovered were, while those that couldn’t were demolished. My workforce trawled over the city section by section. No need for rest and food and medicine. They didn’t get sick, and they could get sewn and put together if an accident occurred, with just a little numbing cold to deaden what little feeling that they had.

Perfect for construction, especially in post-war conditions.

This whole Frontier was going to be covered in government projects and I was going to have the best workforce and supply lines from coast to coast.

The future was very, very bright.

Roseanne interrupted my dreams of becoming hilariously wealthy by speaking to me.

“Image is of utmost importance now. The actions of your people under your orders will besmirch you, but rest assured that I will not let your sacrifice go to waste.” I was about to tell her it was fine, but I only managed to raise an eyebrow when Roseanne looked at me with something close to concern. She sent another glare my way in response. “Victory is near. I would be remiss to not want you to emerge alongside us all triumphant, even if you don’t care yourself.”

I couldn’t help it, I had to chuckle.

“A few successes with your own skill and you turn back to the person who single-handedly stole me from the Empire.” When considering her panic and difficulty handling the chaos that was now Kindred society and economy, it was easy to think that Roseanne was incapable. However, where an average leader would’ve utterly lost control, she kept things in check while revolution after revolution took place socially, economically, and culturally in her lands. “Don’t get a big head.”

“You’re one to talk, Hachiman.” She certainly had a hard time, but most tyrants under those circumstances would’ve died. Then, there was the fact she mounted an assault that took me from the Empire after I held the line for years against all other threats, with just her Royal Guards and a small logistics train. Couple that with her smooth administration over the Frontier after conquering it so swiftly, Roseanne was clearly showing off just how talented she was in her element. The problems she had were all related to the fact that me and my ideas were beyond her ability to control. “Go and bother someone else for the time being. I have work to do.”

I considered bowing and really fucking with her, but decided against it.

She really did way better than I could’ve thought possible, so I’ll be a good employee.

With a nod to the Demon Lord, I left her office to put myself to work for her victory without a word of complaint.

Heh.

Honestly, that’ll probably fuck with her even more.

…

I had a light security detail, while at Arundel.

Meaning that I had Ur, a few dozen Amazons, some Kunoichi, and one of the Vampire Amazons around to make sure that I don’t get captured or killed.

By, you know, an entire army.

“Yo.” I greeted Ur as I exited the main citadel of the city, which Roseanne had garrisoned. “Feels pretty good to come back here as the winner, huh?”

“It is somewhat pleasant to return the victor.” Ur nodded at me and joined my side. She was ready for conflict, so the reverse-leotard of armor plating was in play again. Her usual clothes that protected her modesty were a bit different though. She blushed lightly at my attention. “I commissioned clothes in light of our success against the shard of the Empire’s goddess.”

Oh, right.

That happened.

With how quickly things went, I’d almost forgotten.

“Mhmm, that happened. Looks great. Tell me about it?” I fell back on an old standby, since I didn’t know what to talk about. After talking to my boss, like any human being, I just wanted to not think for a while. “The markings on your skin are different too.”

The tribal markings on Amazons were usually white stripes and the like. They weren’t lewd like the Kindred, but actual identifiers for tribes. They were usually on the stomach, the back, and the arms. Places that’ll let them be identified if they died and given burial rights. White was the chosen color for the darker-skinned tribes, but the lighter skinned one from the north of Ur’s world used red. Ur’s colors were half and half.

“Well spotted. It’s to declare myself the leader of two tribes. It is a promise to hear them both out equally. I can be accused to favor another and be saying falsehoods upon my body, if I do not.” If only politics were as simple as Amazons decided it would be. Then again, they came from a world where they’d die if they didn’t focus on survival, so I guess it came with the territory that they had a system that didn’t fuck around with stupid shit that’ll get them killed. “As for my clothes, I have used some of my funds to commemorate the occasions and given myself and those who fought against the shard of the Goddess and her guards as marks of honor.”

Mhmm, yes, gold-colored pelvic curtains and tiny gold-colored bikinis with golden hoops and some inlaid jewelry here and there.

Totally marks of honor.

I waited a second, and the words I expected came.

“Please, keep these outfits in mind when you choose to do your duties as a male of our tribe, Hachiman."

My answer was ready and I launched it.

“After the war’s won… fine.” Ur blinked a few times at my words, stared over her shoulder to get confirmation of my words, and received it from a Kunoichi giving a thumbs up from the shadows. The short-haired Amazon blinked at me several times, before I grunted. “If they still want me and don’t want anyone else, I’ll do it. I trust you all and owe you that… but I’m holding the line at having at my kids. That’s completely off limits. Not doing it. Don’t care if it somehow isn’t inbreeding with your people—

“That’s fine! Absolutely fine! There is no issue with that demand at all!” Ur took hold of the deal and grasped it with all her might. Her eyes were bright, while she considered the possibilities. “Everyone will be happy—

I wanted to not say it, but I found myself having to.

“I’d be plenty happy if it were just the two of us, though.” I confessed, right then and there. It was a crude and terrible confession, right after I said that I’d impregnate dozens of other women. Still, I was surprised as Ur responded to my words with a smile and taking my hand in hers, then nuzzling her head against my arm. “Huh, I thought you’d beat me up to be honest.”

“And, give you the pleasure of being punished. No, I’m not that merciful of a woman, Hachiman. You’ll be making up for your poor confession for a long, long time.” Ur leaned against me, while we walked down the roads where we were once bound in chains to be sent to die. It wasn’t the same street. That one I’d commissioned to be the center of the refurbished sewer system out of spite. The fact that we were in the same city was still true, though. “Perhaps, if it could’ve truly been just us together, I would’ve… but I want my tribe to be happy. Both my fellow Amazons and the Kindred of Ylstu. So, you’ll have to express your love to me by doing your duty as a chieftain, Hachiman.”

I groaned at the words.

“So, Kurama’s into NTR and you want to pimp me out as a stud. I think I’m going to cry.” My poor, fragile heart as a romantic was dashed against the sheer cliff face of lewdness that was the Kindred. The ocean pushing me against the cliff was the Amazonian mentality of men being used as studs to rapidly grow the tribe and outpace disaster and death. “Why can’t I have a normal, romantic relationship?”

Ur laughed a little at that and pulled me a bit forward.

“I suppose that I can spoil you a bit, now that you’ve sworn to fulfill your duties. Come along, now.”

I grumbled but followed her lead.

Honestly, though, it felt to get those words out of my chest and hear Ur’s response.

She cared about me enough to reach out to me and follow my customs and traditions, but she also stayed true to herself and what she wanted for herself and her people.

She didn’t change herself completely for me, but she changed to reach out for me.

The least I could do was meet her halfway.

Boo-hoo, the highly attractive, tanned, and toned woman I’m interested in wants me to impregnate her entire tribe of attractive, tanned, and toned women instead of just her.

Woe is me.

I, Hikigaya Hachiman, would be killed on the spot by any man back home if they knew.