Sophia was obviously acting out of jealousy, while Ariel clearly wanted to tease this silly girl who had the "Jealousy" title and was easy to bully, and drag Ash into it along the way.
So he silently cut his finger again and directly stuck it into Sophia's mouth. She instantly forgot all about her jealousy, happily hugged his hand, and while enjoying sucking on it, proudly lifted her chin toward Ariel in triumph.
Ariel wasn't angry. She simply smiled and pointed at herself.
"What about mine?"
"You're not a vampire."
"This isn't about vampires. It's about fairness. Yes, fairness~", Ariel said confidently with her hands on her hips.
"Haa..."
A vampire drinking blood was one thing, but if a spider monster did it too, then what would that even count as? It could only be flirting, right? Thinking that, Ash felt he should refuse outright.
But Ariel lightly pressed a fair fingertip against her lips and answered first with an innocent smile.
"But~ let's save that for now~ I'll come collect it when I need it."
"..."
Looking at Ariel's cute smile, he had mixed feelings.
Although he thought the girl's smile was genuinely adorable, he also knew that nothing good could possibly be hiding behind it.
Being sucked on the finger by a mature beauty, then receiving such a cute smile from a girl, somehow, although he had wanted to complain, he vaguely felt... things didn't seem that bad after all?
———
While Kumoko was still evolving, Ash, Sophia, and Ariel naturally had no reason to show mercy to the reincarnators.
Although they wouldn't go so far as to kill that teacher, there was no need to be merciful toward the other reincarnators who refused to cooperate.
And fate seemed to enjoy arranging coincidences.
At this very moment, the third... Hero... just happened to be studying at this kingdom's academy, and was one of the reincarnators.
Perhaps being the Hero really did have something to do with status. The person in question was the Crown Prince of the Renxandt Empire. In his previous life, his name had been Natsume Kengo. In this life, he was Hugo Baint Renxandt.
In this world, every emperor of the Renxandt Empire inherited the title of the first emperor. The world called them the Sword Emperor, and as crown prince, he was naturally regarded as the future Sword Emperor, making him one of the most prominent figures of his generation.
But not long ago, an unexpected accident during a magic class shattered his lofty yet ordinary daily life.
An adult earth dragon had broken into the outdoor training grounds and burned their teacher to death.
At that critical moment, Hugo had tried to show off his abilities by joining everyone in attacking it.
But in the end... the decisive blow had been delivered by Fei, Yamada's pet, while Yamada landed the finishing strike afterward, taking all the glory and earning the applause and cheers of the entire class.
Although he had fought alongside everyone and should have been stronger, because of the other side's pet, all of his efforts ended up becoming someone else's achievement.
That made him unable to resist looking for an opportunity to kill Yamada, because...
"This is my world! This world exists for me!! In my world! How could anyone steal my glory?"
In the silent corridor, Hugo roared like a crazed beast and threw a punch, smashing the window in front of him.
The sound of shattering glass rang sharply through the empty hallway. Fragments flew everywhere, several cutting his hand and causing blood to pour out.
Yet he paid it no attention.
Instead, a savage smile spread across his face as he made his decision with madness and obsession.
"My world! It doesn't need you... Yamada!"
It didn't matter if Yamada had been his fellow countryman or classmate.
Anyone who stole his spotlight had to die.
Even though this was another country's territory and Yamada was this kingdom's prince, as long as no one found out... then there wouldn't be any problem, right?
After all, if it were him, it definitely, definitely wouldn't be exposed.
But just as he was planning how to get rid of Yamada, a familiar announcement suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Conditions fulfilled. Title acquired: Hero]
[Based on the effects of the Hero title, acquired skills: Hero Lv.1, Holy Light Magic Lv.1]
The sudden voice shattered the silence.
Hugo froze for a moment, as though unable to believe his ears.
Then ecstatic joy spread across his face.
"Hero? Ha... Hahaha! I knew it! This world really was born for me! It exists for me! Hahaha! Ahahahahaha!"
He had been furious only moments ago.
But after hearing that announcement, he doubled over laughing.
Every trace of anger and frustration seemed to vanish in an instant.
Because once again, he was completely convinced that he was the protagonist of this world.
No. Rather... He was the reason this world existed.
Wasn't that only natural?
After all, he had been born as the empire's prince, its noble crown prince.
However... just as he laughed wildly, one of his classmates hurried over with news.
The king was summoning several of the academy's most outstanding students, intending to bestow the kingdom's inherited divine sword upon the strongest among them.
"Good! Very good! Next... I'll generously save humanity! Let everyone kneel beneath my sword! Hahaha! This truly is... the greatest world!"
Hugo held his forehead as he laughed uncontrollably.
His laughter echoed through the corridor with triumphant arrogance.
Led by the student, he strode proudly toward the plaza to meet up with two classmates from his previous life.
———
Under the tight protection of a group of soldiers, they headed toward the royal castle.
Along the way, Hugo's mood was as carefree as an eagle soaring through the sky.
"When Yamada sees that I've become the Hero... I wonder what kind of terrified expression he'll make... I can't wait!"
As he walked, Hugo imagined Yamada's horrified face over and over.
The more he imagined it, the wider his grin became, until it was nearly twisted.
Because the Hero title was unique.
Only one human in the world could possess it, and once someone obtained a title, it could never be abandoned.
The only Hero previously known had been Yamada's greatly admired older brother.
Which meant... that older brother was now dead.
Just thinking about Yamada's admired brother being dead and the title ending up in his own hands made Hugo so happy he could hardly stop smiling.
Though he had never tried to.
Following the group openly all the way into the audience hall of the royal castle, the moment he stepped inside, he couldn't help freezing.
Because... soldiers wearing unfamiliar armor stood in perfect ranks along both sides of the hall.
Their armor radiated a mysterious, imposing presence.
Every soldier stood straight like a statue forged from steel.
Just standing there, they gave off an indescribable pressure.
But what Hugo found hardest to believe was... every single soldier seemed stronger than he was.
His average stats were already around five hundred, with some exceeding six hundred.
Even so... even after adding the boost from the Hero title... he still had the feeling that he couldn't defeat any one of those soldiers.
'What is this? Don't tell me every single one of them is Hero-class? You've got to be kidding! Even the empire doesn't have this many Hero-class people!', In shock, Hugo slowly raised his gaze until it settled on the steps at the far end of the audience hall.
Three strangers sat there.
Each had a different aura, yet all of them gave him an uneasy feeling.
Especially the one sitting on the throne.
Hugo had never seen him before.
He wasn't the king he knew, nor was he any member of the royal family.
So why was someone like him sitting on the throne?
The person on the throne looked back at him with cold eyes, as though examining a group of ants.
That immediately filled Hugo with unconcealed displeasure.
He raised his head proudly and strode toward the throne, every step carrying the arrogance of a crown prince.
As he walked, he shouted, "Who are you people? Why are you sitting on the throne? Where is the king?"
Ash didn't answer immediately.
He simply watched Hugo quietly, as though looking at a clown performing.
After a while, he turned toward Ariel beside him and asked in confusion, "Have you noticed... aren't these reincarnators all a little off in the head?"
"You're telling me?", Ariel replied with a chuckle, "Maybe only people with something wrong with their heads become reincarnators."
"Wait... aren't you forgetting that I'm a reincarnator too?", Sophia interrupted unhappily with a cold face.
Ariel blinked, then laughed and shook her head before offering a completely insincere apology.
"Ahaha... True enough. Sorry, sorry."
"Ahem... Anyway, let's get back to business."
'This kid really has no self-awareness at all,' Ash grumbled beneath, but on surface only shook his head, cleared his throat, changed the subject on his own, and looked back down.
Standing below the steps, the black-haired young man with the slicked-back hairstyle at the front was exactly like the reports described.
His sharp features were full of pride.
By now, Hugo was already extremely displeased.
After all, no one in this life had ever ignored him like this.
"Are you people even listening to me? How dare you ignore this crown prince! Is this how your kingdom treats its guests?"
Hugo glared and shouted again.
He couldn't believe these people dared look down on him like this.
He felt deeply humiliated.
"Hugo, calm down. This place...", The red-haired girl frowned as she looked at the three strangers above with wary eyes.
She knew something about the situation was wrong and tried to persuade Hugo not to act rashly.
But in his fury, Hugo wasn't listening at all.
Beside her, the silver-haired girl with braided hair quietly took half a step back and muttered,
"This atmosphere feels strange... What's going on?"
"Hah? What are you afraid of? I'm already the Hero! I'm destined to stand at the top of the world! Who would dare disrespect me?"
Hearing his two classmates' warnings, Hugo threw back his head and laughed as though he'd heard the funniest joke in the world.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he had already become the strongest person alive...
Instead of a small fry who couldn't even beat a single soldier.
"Ah... I really hate people like this," Listening from above to Hugo's words, which reminded him of that idiot messenger from before, Ash unconsciously frowned, annoyance flashing through his eyes, "I was originally planning to spare your life. Looks like there's no need."
"Then let's just kill him," Ariel immediately understood what he meant.
A faint smile curved her lips as she gently flicked a slender finger.
A gold coin flew from her fingertips.
It traced a golden arc through the air.
It looked light and harmless, yet contained terrifying power.
Seeing it, Hugo felt a sense of danger rise in his heart.
But his pride wouldn't allow him to retreat.
"A cheap trick!"
He shouted loudly as he drew the ornate sword at his side, preparing to receive the sudden attack.
However...
Halfway there, both Ash and Ariel remembered something.
Ash hurriedly used repulsion magic to propel it forward.
In an instant, the gold coin suddenly shone brightly in midair and accelerated once more at an unbelievable speed, shooting toward Hugo like a burning golden meteor.
It moved so fast that it left only a golden afterimage.
Before Hugo could even react, the coin flashed past his sword like lightning, throwing off dazzling sparks with a harsh metallic screech.
The next instant, it pierced straight through his chest as easily as a hot knife cutting through butter.
Hugo's eyes widened in that instant.
They were filled with terror.
The arrogant expression on his face froze in place.
The two girls beside him likewise stared at him in utter shock without moving.
Time itself seemed to stop.
"H-How... how is this possible..."
His lips trembled as he stared blankly at his chest.
His body slowly collapsed beyond his control.
His skills and stats, which far surpassed those of ordinary people, kept him from dying immediately.
He clung to life, blood constantly pouring from his mouth.
He had far more breaths going out than coming in.
"Ugh! Blood all over the floor again. Someone drag him outside and throw him off the city wall. If he isn't dead after the fall, jump down and stab him a couple more times."
Ash waved his hand in disgust, as though disposing of a piece of non-burnable trash.
"Yes, sir!"
Two soldiers immediately stepped forward, one on each side, and dragged the once-noble crown prince out of the audience hall like a dead dog without the slightest mercy.
"I... I can't! Th... wasn't this... a world that existed... for me to rule? Why... why is my world... Gwah?"
Even gravely wounded, blood pouring from both his mouth and chest, Hugo still stared furiously at the three people above and struggled with all his strength.
But his weakened body couldn't break free from the soldiers.
One soldier grew impatient with his struggling and stomped hard on his face, finally forcing him to quiet down.
Soon afterward, everyone in the audience hall heard the sound of something heavy hitting the ground.
Then came Hugo's miserable scream.
Before it had faded, two more heavy impacts followed.
Finally, the pitiful cry of the young man as he died, filled with despair and pain.
That series of sounds echoed through the silent audience hall.
The two girls, already frozen in shock, were completely unable to recover from the sudden change or their terror.
Their bodies trembled.
Their eyes were full of fear and confusion.
Only after the final scream disappeared did the audience hall become completely silent.
"The world's finally quiet again. Seriously... why is every person I meet like this? It's making me develop an intolerance for idiots... Good thing he died quickly. Otherwise I'd really have gotten goosebumps."
Listening to Hugo's bizarre speeches had given Ash goosebumps.
He had never expected this guy to be even more chuuni than Yamada.
Now he patted his head and smiled with obvious satisfaction.
As though he had merely chased away a few annoying flies instead of taking someone's life.
"What do we do next?", Sophia asked curiously.
"What about these people too?", Ariel pointed at the two girls, who were still terrified and had even collapsed onto the floor, "Should we deal with them as well?"
"These two reacted a little more normally. Lock them up for now. They might be useful someday."
Having already appraised the two of them and confirmed that neither was the next... Hero, Ash waved a hand, signaling the soldiers to take them away.
From beginning to end, neither girl got the chance to say a single word.
Still in a dazed state, they were simply dragged away.
———
Over the following period, as the kingdom was brought under control with ease, the reincarnators there were rounded up one by one.
Ash naturally wasted no time heading for the empire.
Using the same method as before, he once again cast space magic, opened a portal, and let the demon elite forces enter to assist the surrender faction.
Under Ash's leadership, they acted without the slightest delay and easily seized control of the empire's center.
At that point, the empire, the kingdom, the demons, and all kinds of spider monsters began their final pre-war mobilization.
Ash also steadily deployed several corresponding teleportation arrays.
Although preparations on the other side were not yet complete, once everything here was finished, they would be able to put them into use immediately.
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