Hell Mode: Volume 7, page 31
“Gugagagaga!”
A high-pitched laugh echoed around him, and he hurried to his feet. What had attacked him, he saw, was a small, green-skinned figure. In its hand was a rusty sword.
“A goblin!” Helmios had heard about this type of monster from his father. They were said to live in forests and mountains, and they attacked in groups, eating both livestock and humans.
Helmios lowered the basket he was carrying to the ground and drew the wooden sword attached to his belt. He glared at the goblin and raised his weapon. In this situation, he felt he had no choice but to fight. However...
“Gugagagaga!”
Cackles erupted from all around him. He was surrounded by goblins. While glaring at the one in front of him, he cast a sweeping glance around the area. Through the darkness of the forest, he saw several grinning goblins.
Helmios looked at the glow of the starry grass beneath the goblin’s feet before him.
“Wait for me, mom.”
With that, he imitated the stance he had seen his father take up the day before, thrust out the wooden sword in his right hand, and took a swift step forward.
“Guga!”
The goblin in front of him, not expecting the human child to go on the offensive, let out a cry of surprise. However, it quickly tightened its grip on its rusty sword and stepped forward as well.
Helmios swung his wooden sword and the goblin swung its rusty sword at the same time. When the two collided, the tip of the wooden sword was cut off. Then, the goblin slashed at Helmios himself, who had lost his balance from the force of his swing.
“Guga!”
“Whoa?!”
There was a pain in Helmios’s right arm, and he jumped back, immediately placing his left hand over it. His right arm hurt and his left palm felt wet.
He glared at the goblin. His opponent was standing in the same place as before, grinning broadly. Several goblins appeared behind him, also grinning as they looked at him. It seemed they had no intention of killing him right away. Their obscene laughter and their aura made it clear that he would not be getting away.
Helmios looked at the starry grass again. Even if he were to escape from this place, his trip would have no meaning if he did not return with it. But how in the world could he both get the starry grass and escape from the goblin assault? Helmios racked his brain; the situation he was in did not cause him any fear, nor did the fact that his right arm was wounded. However, he was surprised when the goblin to his left threw a rusty machete at him.
“Wha— Whoa!”
Helmios immediately held up what was left of his wooden sword and took a defensive stance, but the machete never reached him.
“Flying Blade!” Just as his father’s voice reached his ears, a mass of wind struck the machete right in front of him, shattering it into pieces.
“Dad!”
Lucas came running in from the direction the shock wave had come from, kicking up snow as he moved. When he reached Helmios, he raised his short sword and glared at the goblins.
“Are you okay, Helmios?”
“Y-Yeah. But how did you—”
“When I woke up this morning, you weren’t there. The wooden sword was gone too, so I knew right away that you had gone to look for your mother’s medicine. I’m glad I rushed after you.”
“Right. I found some starry grass over there and—”
“Forget that. Let’s get out of here,” Lucas interrupted. Before the goblins could come at them, he readied his sword and made sure not to give them any openings.
“B-But without it—”
“You’re more important. Kalea understands that.”
His father began to back away while holding up his sword. Seeing this, the goblins moved forward, but they did not try to attack. Helmios understood that this was because they were frightened by his father’s aura, but he also felt that he could not go home without getting the starry grass.
The father and son slowly retreated, looking around, waiting for the right moment to escape from the goblin siege. However, they were looking in completely opposite directions.
Helmios was the first to find his opening.
“Hey!”
By the time his father shouted, Helmios had already started running. He pretended to run sideways, but at that moment, while they were confused as to whether to go toward him or his father, he ran between the goblins that had been eyeing him. A goblin with a rusty sword appeared in front of him when he did, and as it stepped forward, he ran toward the starry grass.
However, Helmios was distracted by the starry grass and did not notice what was waiting behind the goblins.
“Whoa! What the hell are you?!” the boy gasped.
The next thing Helmios knew, he was being held high in the air by a pair of giant hands.
“A-A goblin king?!”
Only when he heard his father’s surprised voice did Helmios figure out that his captor was the leader of the goblins.
“Guguaaa!”
A terrible scream came from beneath his feet, and upon turning to look at the source of it, he saw a group of goblins attacking his father.
“Gugagaga!”
“Shit! Give Helmios back!”
Lucas wielded his sword and cut down the attacking goblins one by one.
As he watched, Helmios felt a mysterious power rise up, just like he had when he had defeated the horned rabbit. At the same time, he felt like the goblin king’s grip on him was getting weaker.
“Hey, you bumbling oaf! Let go of me!” he shouted, putting strength into his arms to try to force open the goblin king’s hands, which were squeezing his body from both sides.
“Gugau?!”
The goblin king was surprised to find that its prey, which he had a firm grasp on, had begun to resist with unexpected strength. In response, it redoubled its efforts in squeezing him. The muscles in its arms bulged as it tightened its grip, but its opponent pushed back with gradually increasing force, refusing to give in.
It was not long before Helmios had created a small gap between himself and the goblin king’s palms. Taking advantage of it, he shifted his left hand and grabbed the goblin king’s finger. A dull snap rang out as he broke it.
“Guga?!”
With a hideous groan, the goblin king opened its hands and turned its face upward. Helmios, who was now falling toward the monster, thrust the wooden sword he had been holding in his right hand downward.
“Raaah!”
“Gugaoa?!”
His sword, which was sharper as a result of its tip having been cut off, pierced the goblin king’s right eye and bore into its brain.
The goblin king was dead. Seeing the massive creature slowly fall onto its back, both Lucas and the other goblins stopped moving for a moment.
“Helmios. Did you just pass a Trial of the Gods?” Lucas muttered.
The goblins quickly ran away. From beside the corpse of the goblin king he had defeated, Helmios watched them flee deeper into the forest, making a sound like falling snow as they went.
“I did it. They all ran away. Dad, now...”
Lucas looked at Helmios, who had a vague expression of relief on his face.
“That power... I see. Helmios, you are a Sword Lord. Lord Elmea, you have given this child a wonderful Talent.”
“A Sword Lord?”
Helmios did not understand what his father was saying.
“No matter what kind of Talent you have, it won’t change the fact that you are my precious child. Let’s hurry and get the starry grass, then return to the village. Your mother is waiting for you.”
His father’s words reminded Helmios of the reason he had come here and risked his life fighting.
“Right!” the boy said.
He threw away his wooden sword and ran to the first starry grass he saw, shoved his hand through the snow, grabbed it by its roots, and pulled it out with all his might.
“Yes! Now mom will be okay!”
Seeing his son so overcome with emotion that he had started crying, Helmios’s father took a deep breath and finally smiled in relief.
After that, Helmios and Lucas harvested most of the starry grass that was growing in the area and put it in the basket with the other medicinal herbs. They also retrieved the three horned rabbits Helmios had buried in the snow, then returned to the village before the daylight had faded.
At home, his mother, Kalea, was waiting for them. She heard the front door open and rushed out of the living room.
“Mom, look! We got a lot of starry grass! You can get better now!”
She ran up to Helmios, who was smiling proudly and showing her the contents of the basket he was carrying, and audibly slapped him across the face.
“I’m sorry... Mom?”
The moment his mother’s hand hit his cheek, Helmios could sense her worry. Yet he was confused by the way she was holding that very hand and giving him a strange look.
“Helmios passed a Trial of the Gods.”
Kalea looked surprised when she heard Lucas’s words.
“This boy definitely has a Talent. He might be—no, he is definitely a Sword Lord. Lord Elmea, the God of Creation, has given him an incredibly rare Talent.”
“Wh-What? He’s not a Swordsman like you?”
While Kalea was stunned, Lucas continued to talk excitedly.
“He’s far better than that. Even a Sword Master could never become this strong.”
“A-A Sword Lord...” Kalea murmured.
“And even if that’s not the case, Helmios is our precious child. We must take good care of him the way we always have.” Lucas tousled Helmios’s hair with his right hand.
“You’re right. My darling boy,” Kalea said, bending down in front of Helmios and hugging him gently.
“Wait, what’s going on? I don’t get it.”
Helmios did not understand what was happening all of a sudden, but when he saw that his parents were sobbing with joy, his heart felt full and he burst into tears as well.
Thus ended the first adventure of Helmios the Hero. His Appraisal Ceremony, at which he and his parents would find out his true Talent, was fast approaching.
Afterword
Welcome to the afterword for volume 7 of Hell Mode. Thank you for picking it up.
As you know, in the world of Hell Mode, Allen was thrust straight into a new battle as soon as he conquered the Rank S dungeon. Volume 7—this volume—and volume 8, which is scheduled to be published soon, are referred to as the “heretic” arc, and the next one will be the conclusion.
I would like to apologize for the fact that, due to the story and the number of characters, the heretic arc has been divided into two parts, just like the Rank S dungeon arc, which was divided into volumes 5 and 6. Regardless of it being broken up, I wrote a lot of new material, so I hope you enjoyed it.
Speaking of newly written stories, I think I was able to write a lot of interesting scenes, such as the battle between the Guildmaster General Makkaron and Bask, the King of Shura, as well as the various questions surrounding the Great Pope and Pontiff Gushara. I even touched on religion in this volume, including Daemonism and its founder.
Originally, Hell Mode was a story about a world where the gods bestowed Talents on people and where there were statuses such as royalty and serfdom. I also wrote about stories between nations that were members of the Five Continent Alliance. There was a wide variety of nonhuman races too, like elves, dwarves, and beastkin.
I never dreamed that the day would come when I would be able to write and share with my readers something so close to the thoughts and ideas I have experienced in my own life. For me, conveying my worldview is the most important thing.
As I write in this afterword, I hope that readers can enjoy the work without thinking too much about it. I would be happy if you could read the story with an open mind, even if it differs from your own worldview or ideas.
Next, as a continuation of the previous afterword, I would like to write a review of the life of Hamuo.
Last time, I think I had just dropped out of university because I had become so obsessed with gaming that I neglected my studies. I fell off the track to use the mass hiring system available to Japan’s new university graduates and ended up working part-time night shifts. I remember that when I first told my father that I wanted to drop out of school, rather than being angry, he was very shocked.
I returned home and worked part-time for several years, but my parents didn’t say anything. I started searching for a new job, thinking that things would never work out quite right, and I think I kept away from games while I did that.
Perhaps because I was born at a good time, me looking for a job coincided with a large number of baby boomers retiring. The company where I worked part-time was also expanding its hiring opportunities, so I took the recruitment exam.
I was rejected the first year but got a job the following year. I feel like my parents were happy. After all, I remember buying a bag for my mother because I wanted to use my first paycheck to get something for the people who raised me.
Even after I got hired, I still commuted from home because it was within walking distance of my parents’ house. When the new employee training was over and I was busy actually learning how to do my job, I heard from my mother that my father was sulking. When I asked her to elaborate, she said that he was angry that I’d only given her a gift with that first paycheck. So, I asked my sulking father about it.
“Dad, is there anything you want?”
“I work on my feet, so I need to wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in.”
The reason for his quick response was probably that it’s a parent’s dream to have their child buy them something with their first paycheck.
Thinking that I’d done something wrong, I went to a nearby Aeon-slash-shoe-store over the weekend and bought a pair to give to my father, who was still working. It made me feel like I’d done something good. I don’t think I was able to repay all of his kindness, but that was how I felt. I recommend that you use your first paycheck to give your parents a gift, or that you go out to eat with them and pay for their meals.
Well, it looks like I’ve once again reached my word limit. Next time, I would like to write a continuation of the afterword that follows the life of Hamuo.
I hope that you will continue to purchase these books as we continue to publish them. Also, there are currently five volumes of the comic version of Hell Mode that have been published. I would appreciate it if you would support that version as well.
See you in the next volume!
Bonus Short Story
A Study Session between Thomas and Princess Leilana
Viscount Granvelle and his son, Thomas, walked quickly through the halls of the Ratashian royal castle. Outside the hallway window, white snow could be seen falling from the gray sky. Every breath they took emitted a white mist.
Upon reaching their destination, they found the Minister of Internal Affairs waiting for them at a table. In terms of political power in the Kingdom of Ratash, he was third in line after the king and the prime minister. Lying on the table in front of him was a pile of folded parchment booklets.
“I, Butler von Granvelle, and my son, Thomas Granvelle, have arrived.”
After the viscount and Thomas bowed, the minister of the interior rose from his seat and gestured across the table with his hand.
“Please, have a seat.”
The viscount thanked him and took his seat. Thomas sat down next to him.
“I heard you wish to discuss a matter that is ‘vital to the very survival of the nation.’ But why, then, did you ask my son, Thomas, to attend?” the viscount inquired.
“I understand your misgivings. They’re only natural. Actually, this is something to do with your son. You see, the princess is in a very, very bad situation.”
“Her Highness Princess Leilana? Thomas, do you know anything about this?”
The viscount could not help but look over at Thomas, who was in a relationship of sorts with Leilana, the Ratashian princess. Ever since they had met at a ball when they were attending Nobles College, where nobles without Talents studied, the princess seemed to have developed a fondness for Thomas. She summoned him from time to time for various reasons. However, Thomas merely shook his head, a troubled look on his face.
“No. I haven’t seen her lately.”
“That’s correct, and therein lies the problem. In the time that Thomas here hasn’t been meeting with the princess—that is, since he left Nobles College... Well, it seems that the princess has lost all interest in studying, even for the Academy’s mock exams. Just between us, this is truly a wretched situation. If things continue, it will look like His Majesty forbade his daughter from pursuing higher education. There’s no telling how the other countries might react to such a rumor.”
In recent times, in order to prepare for the intensifying battle against the Demon Lord Army, the need for Academies was only increasing. The royal families of each country felt that they needed to send their sons, especially those with Talents, to an Academy, even if only for the sake of formality. Were they to not do so, it was commonly seen as an unwillingness to respond to the global crisis.
“I can certainly see how that could be a matter vital to the very survival of the nation,” the viscount agreed.
“We’ve invited prominent instructors from all over the kingdom, of course, but things haven’t gone well. In the end, word has spread among the private instructors, and those we’ve invited have begun to turn us down.”
“But what does this have to do with my son?”
“Right, about that. I’ve heard that Sir Thomas graduated from Nobles College at the top of his class.”
Thomas was taken aback by the minister’s words.
“A-Are you by chance saying that you want me to be her instructor?” Thomas asked.
“Indeed I am. There’s less than half a year left until the exam. I have to ensure that the princess passes, no matter what it takes! In that case, Mr. Thomas, there’s no one I can rely on but you. I hear that you work quickly in the royal castle, completing tasks that would take others ten days in a mere two or three. You are not only good at academics, but also good at practical work, making you the perfect person to deal with this crisis.”
A high-pitched laugh echoed around him, and he hurried to his feet. What had attacked him, he saw, was a small, green-skinned figure. In its hand was a rusty sword.
“A goblin!” Helmios had heard about this type of monster from his father. They were said to live in forests and mountains, and they attacked in groups, eating both livestock and humans.
Helmios lowered the basket he was carrying to the ground and drew the wooden sword attached to his belt. He glared at the goblin and raised his weapon. In this situation, he felt he had no choice but to fight. However...
“Gugagagaga!”
Cackles erupted from all around him. He was surrounded by goblins. While glaring at the one in front of him, he cast a sweeping glance around the area. Through the darkness of the forest, he saw several grinning goblins.
Helmios looked at the glow of the starry grass beneath the goblin’s feet before him.
“Wait for me, mom.”
With that, he imitated the stance he had seen his father take up the day before, thrust out the wooden sword in his right hand, and took a swift step forward.
“Guga!”
The goblin in front of him, not expecting the human child to go on the offensive, let out a cry of surprise. However, it quickly tightened its grip on its rusty sword and stepped forward as well.
Helmios swung his wooden sword and the goblin swung its rusty sword at the same time. When the two collided, the tip of the wooden sword was cut off. Then, the goblin slashed at Helmios himself, who had lost his balance from the force of his swing.
“Guga!”
“Whoa?!”
There was a pain in Helmios’s right arm, and he jumped back, immediately placing his left hand over it. His right arm hurt and his left palm felt wet.
He glared at the goblin. His opponent was standing in the same place as before, grinning broadly. Several goblins appeared behind him, also grinning as they looked at him. It seemed they had no intention of killing him right away. Their obscene laughter and their aura made it clear that he would not be getting away.
Helmios looked at the starry grass again. Even if he were to escape from this place, his trip would have no meaning if he did not return with it. But how in the world could he both get the starry grass and escape from the goblin assault? Helmios racked his brain; the situation he was in did not cause him any fear, nor did the fact that his right arm was wounded. However, he was surprised when the goblin to his left threw a rusty machete at him.
“Wha— Whoa!”
Helmios immediately held up what was left of his wooden sword and took a defensive stance, but the machete never reached him.
“Flying Blade!” Just as his father’s voice reached his ears, a mass of wind struck the machete right in front of him, shattering it into pieces.
“Dad!”
Lucas came running in from the direction the shock wave had come from, kicking up snow as he moved. When he reached Helmios, he raised his short sword and glared at the goblins.
“Are you okay, Helmios?”
“Y-Yeah. But how did you—”
“When I woke up this morning, you weren’t there. The wooden sword was gone too, so I knew right away that you had gone to look for your mother’s medicine. I’m glad I rushed after you.”
“Right. I found some starry grass over there and—”
“Forget that. Let’s get out of here,” Lucas interrupted. Before the goblins could come at them, he readied his sword and made sure not to give them any openings.
“B-But without it—”
“You’re more important. Kalea understands that.”
His father began to back away while holding up his sword. Seeing this, the goblins moved forward, but they did not try to attack. Helmios understood that this was because they were frightened by his father’s aura, but he also felt that he could not go home without getting the starry grass.
The father and son slowly retreated, looking around, waiting for the right moment to escape from the goblin siege. However, they were looking in completely opposite directions.
Helmios was the first to find his opening.
“Hey!”
By the time his father shouted, Helmios had already started running. He pretended to run sideways, but at that moment, while they were confused as to whether to go toward him or his father, he ran between the goblins that had been eyeing him. A goblin with a rusty sword appeared in front of him when he did, and as it stepped forward, he ran toward the starry grass.
However, Helmios was distracted by the starry grass and did not notice what was waiting behind the goblins.
“Whoa! What the hell are you?!” the boy gasped.
The next thing Helmios knew, he was being held high in the air by a pair of giant hands.
“A-A goblin king?!”
Only when he heard his father’s surprised voice did Helmios figure out that his captor was the leader of the goblins.
“Guguaaa!”
A terrible scream came from beneath his feet, and upon turning to look at the source of it, he saw a group of goblins attacking his father.
“Gugagaga!”
“Shit! Give Helmios back!”
Lucas wielded his sword and cut down the attacking goblins one by one.
As he watched, Helmios felt a mysterious power rise up, just like he had when he had defeated the horned rabbit. At the same time, he felt like the goblin king’s grip on him was getting weaker.
“Hey, you bumbling oaf! Let go of me!” he shouted, putting strength into his arms to try to force open the goblin king’s hands, which were squeezing his body from both sides.
“Gugau?!”
The goblin king was surprised to find that its prey, which he had a firm grasp on, had begun to resist with unexpected strength. In response, it redoubled its efforts in squeezing him. The muscles in its arms bulged as it tightened its grip, but its opponent pushed back with gradually increasing force, refusing to give in.
It was not long before Helmios had created a small gap between himself and the goblin king’s palms. Taking advantage of it, he shifted his left hand and grabbed the goblin king’s finger. A dull snap rang out as he broke it.
“Guga?!”
With a hideous groan, the goblin king opened its hands and turned its face upward. Helmios, who was now falling toward the monster, thrust the wooden sword he had been holding in his right hand downward.
“Raaah!”
“Gugaoa?!”
His sword, which was sharper as a result of its tip having been cut off, pierced the goblin king’s right eye and bore into its brain.
The goblin king was dead. Seeing the massive creature slowly fall onto its back, both Lucas and the other goblins stopped moving for a moment.
“Helmios. Did you just pass a Trial of the Gods?” Lucas muttered.
The goblins quickly ran away. From beside the corpse of the goblin king he had defeated, Helmios watched them flee deeper into the forest, making a sound like falling snow as they went.
“I did it. They all ran away. Dad, now...”
Lucas looked at Helmios, who had a vague expression of relief on his face.
“That power... I see. Helmios, you are a Sword Lord. Lord Elmea, you have given this child a wonderful Talent.”
“A Sword Lord?”
Helmios did not understand what his father was saying.
“No matter what kind of Talent you have, it won’t change the fact that you are my precious child. Let’s hurry and get the starry grass, then return to the village. Your mother is waiting for you.”
His father’s words reminded Helmios of the reason he had come here and risked his life fighting.
“Right!” the boy said.
He threw away his wooden sword and ran to the first starry grass he saw, shoved his hand through the snow, grabbed it by its roots, and pulled it out with all his might.
“Yes! Now mom will be okay!”
Seeing his son so overcome with emotion that he had started crying, Helmios’s father took a deep breath and finally smiled in relief.
After that, Helmios and Lucas harvested most of the starry grass that was growing in the area and put it in the basket with the other medicinal herbs. They also retrieved the three horned rabbits Helmios had buried in the snow, then returned to the village before the daylight had faded.
At home, his mother, Kalea, was waiting for them. She heard the front door open and rushed out of the living room.
“Mom, look! We got a lot of starry grass! You can get better now!”
She ran up to Helmios, who was smiling proudly and showing her the contents of the basket he was carrying, and audibly slapped him across the face.
“I’m sorry... Mom?”
The moment his mother’s hand hit his cheek, Helmios could sense her worry. Yet he was confused by the way she was holding that very hand and giving him a strange look.
“Helmios passed a Trial of the Gods.”
Kalea looked surprised when she heard Lucas’s words.
“This boy definitely has a Talent. He might be—no, he is definitely a Sword Lord. Lord Elmea, the God of Creation, has given him an incredibly rare Talent.”
“Wh-What? He’s not a Swordsman like you?”
While Kalea was stunned, Lucas continued to talk excitedly.
“He’s far better than that. Even a Sword Master could never become this strong.”
“A-A Sword Lord...” Kalea murmured.
“And even if that’s not the case, Helmios is our precious child. We must take good care of him the way we always have.” Lucas tousled Helmios’s hair with his right hand.
“You’re right. My darling boy,” Kalea said, bending down in front of Helmios and hugging him gently.
“Wait, what’s going on? I don’t get it.”
Helmios did not understand what was happening all of a sudden, but when he saw that his parents were sobbing with joy, his heart felt full and he burst into tears as well.
Thus ended the first adventure of Helmios the Hero. His Appraisal Ceremony, at which he and his parents would find out his true Talent, was fast approaching.
Afterword
Welcome to the afterword for volume 7 of Hell Mode. Thank you for picking it up.
As you know, in the world of Hell Mode, Allen was thrust straight into a new battle as soon as he conquered the Rank S dungeon. Volume 7—this volume—and volume 8, which is scheduled to be published soon, are referred to as the “heretic” arc, and the next one will be the conclusion.
I would like to apologize for the fact that, due to the story and the number of characters, the heretic arc has been divided into two parts, just like the Rank S dungeon arc, which was divided into volumes 5 and 6. Regardless of it being broken up, I wrote a lot of new material, so I hope you enjoyed it.
Speaking of newly written stories, I think I was able to write a lot of interesting scenes, such as the battle between the Guildmaster General Makkaron and Bask, the King of Shura, as well as the various questions surrounding the Great Pope and Pontiff Gushara. I even touched on religion in this volume, including Daemonism and its founder.
Originally, Hell Mode was a story about a world where the gods bestowed Talents on people and where there were statuses such as royalty and serfdom. I also wrote about stories between nations that were members of the Five Continent Alliance. There was a wide variety of nonhuman races too, like elves, dwarves, and beastkin.
I never dreamed that the day would come when I would be able to write and share with my readers something so close to the thoughts and ideas I have experienced in my own life. For me, conveying my worldview is the most important thing.
As I write in this afterword, I hope that readers can enjoy the work without thinking too much about it. I would be happy if you could read the story with an open mind, even if it differs from your own worldview or ideas.
Next, as a continuation of the previous afterword, I would like to write a review of the life of Hamuo.
Last time, I think I had just dropped out of university because I had become so obsessed with gaming that I neglected my studies. I fell off the track to use the mass hiring system available to Japan’s new university graduates and ended up working part-time night shifts. I remember that when I first told my father that I wanted to drop out of school, rather than being angry, he was very shocked.
I returned home and worked part-time for several years, but my parents didn’t say anything. I started searching for a new job, thinking that things would never work out quite right, and I think I kept away from games while I did that.
Perhaps because I was born at a good time, me looking for a job coincided with a large number of baby boomers retiring. The company where I worked part-time was also expanding its hiring opportunities, so I took the recruitment exam.
I was rejected the first year but got a job the following year. I feel like my parents were happy. After all, I remember buying a bag for my mother because I wanted to use my first paycheck to get something for the people who raised me.
Even after I got hired, I still commuted from home because it was within walking distance of my parents’ house. When the new employee training was over and I was busy actually learning how to do my job, I heard from my mother that my father was sulking. When I asked her to elaborate, she said that he was angry that I’d only given her a gift with that first paycheck. So, I asked my sulking father about it.
“Dad, is there anything you want?”
“I work on my feet, so I need to wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in.”
The reason for his quick response was probably that it’s a parent’s dream to have their child buy them something with their first paycheck.
Thinking that I’d done something wrong, I went to a nearby Aeon-slash-shoe-store over the weekend and bought a pair to give to my father, who was still working. It made me feel like I’d done something good. I don’t think I was able to repay all of his kindness, but that was how I felt. I recommend that you use your first paycheck to give your parents a gift, or that you go out to eat with them and pay for their meals.
Well, it looks like I’ve once again reached my word limit. Next time, I would like to write a continuation of the afterword that follows the life of Hamuo.
I hope that you will continue to purchase these books as we continue to publish them. Also, there are currently five volumes of the comic version of Hell Mode that have been published. I would appreciate it if you would support that version as well.
See you in the next volume!
Bonus Short Story
A Study Session between Thomas and Princess Leilana
Viscount Granvelle and his son, Thomas, walked quickly through the halls of the Ratashian royal castle. Outside the hallway window, white snow could be seen falling from the gray sky. Every breath they took emitted a white mist.
Upon reaching their destination, they found the Minister of Internal Affairs waiting for them at a table. In terms of political power in the Kingdom of Ratash, he was third in line after the king and the prime minister. Lying on the table in front of him was a pile of folded parchment booklets.
“I, Butler von Granvelle, and my son, Thomas Granvelle, have arrived.”
After the viscount and Thomas bowed, the minister of the interior rose from his seat and gestured across the table with his hand.
“Please, have a seat.”
The viscount thanked him and took his seat. Thomas sat down next to him.
“I heard you wish to discuss a matter that is ‘vital to the very survival of the nation.’ But why, then, did you ask my son, Thomas, to attend?” the viscount inquired.
“I understand your misgivings. They’re only natural. Actually, this is something to do with your son. You see, the princess is in a very, very bad situation.”
“Her Highness Princess Leilana? Thomas, do you know anything about this?”
The viscount could not help but look over at Thomas, who was in a relationship of sorts with Leilana, the Ratashian princess. Ever since they had met at a ball when they were attending Nobles College, where nobles without Talents studied, the princess seemed to have developed a fondness for Thomas. She summoned him from time to time for various reasons. However, Thomas merely shook his head, a troubled look on his face.
“No. I haven’t seen her lately.”
“That’s correct, and therein lies the problem. In the time that Thomas here hasn’t been meeting with the princess—that is, since he left Nobles College... Well, it seems that the princess has lost all interest in studying, even for the Academy’s mock exams. Just between us, this is truly a wretched situation. If things continue, it will look like His Majesty forbade his daughter from pursuing higher education. There’s no telling how the other countries might react to such a rumor.”
In recent times, in order to prepare for the intensifying battle against the Demon Lord Army, the need for Academies was only increasing. The royal families of each country felt that they needed to send their sons, especially those with Talents, to an Academy, even if only for the sake of formality. Were they to not do so, it was commonly seen as an unwillingness to respond to the global crisis.
“I can certainly see how that could be a matter vital to the very survival of the nation,” the viscount agreed.
“We’ve invited prominent instructors from all over the kingdom, of course, but things haven’t gone well. In the end, word has spread among the private instructors, and those we’ve invited have begun to turn us down.”
“But what does this have to do with my son?”
“Right, about that. I’ve heard that Sir Thomas graduated from Nobles College at the top of his class.”
Thomas was taken aback by the minister’s words.
“A-Are you by chance saying that you want me to be her instructor?” Thomas asked.
“Indeed I am. There’s less than half a year left until the exam. I have to ensure that the princess passes, no matter what it takes! In that case, Mr. Thomas, there’s no one I can rely on but you. I hear that you work quickly in the royal castle, completing tasks that would take others ten days in a mere two or three. You are not only good at academics, but also good at practical work, making you the perfect person to deal with this crisis.”
