I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [252] [30 PS]

Some battles are planned, others are unexpected—but a true Champion embraces them all. Consider this bonus chapter one of those surprises.

---

"Alice, you've been staring at your Adventurer card for quite a while now. Do you enjoy being an Adventurer that much?" Nero asked, noticing Alice had been gazing at her card since they left the guild, tilting it under sunlight and examining it from every angle.

"Yes! Absolutely!" Alice replied, her excitement palpable. "Not only have I left the castle, but I've also registered as an Adventurer! One day, I'll find trustworthy companions to face powerful monsters with. We'll camp by a fire under the dark sky, explore cities I've never been to… Oh, what should I do, Sister? I can't wait! I want to start adventuring right now!"

"Understood! Your enthusiasm is crystal clear, Alice!"

Compared to the obedient and reserved girl back in the castle, the current Alice was brimming with energy. This was how someone her age should behave—vivacious and full of dreams.

Since their mission was to subjugate giant frogs, Alice and Nero were heading out of town.

On their way, a commotion caught Nero's attention.

"What the heck?! This is supposed to be another world! Why am I stuck doing soul-crushingly mundane tasks like bricklaying?! This is supposed to be the dream of countless people, and I'm out here building walls?!"

"What are you even talking about, you NEET? If you don't work, you can't survive. That's a universal truth, no matter which world you're in. Now, stop complaining and get back to work. If the boss catches you slacking off, your pay will get docked."

"I don't care about your so-called universal truths! I came here to defeat the Demon King, not to be a construction worker!"

Nero glanced toward the source of the argument and saw a man and a woman bickering near a short wall.

"What is it, Sister? Are those two in trouble?" Alice asked curiously.

"Not really... Let's keep going. I heard giant frogs are quite popular as ingredients. While their level isn't particularly high, they're supposedly delicious when fried. We can sell them to the guild for extra rewards."

The giant frogs were somewhat of a specialty in this world. Their notoriety had been amplified by their consistent ability to annihilate Kazuma's party time and time again.

Due to being eaten by giant frogs so often, Megumin had even discovered that their stomachs were warm enough to keep her comfortable during winter. She'd also figured out how long it was safe to stay inside before being digested.

Currently, it seemed to be the breeding season for the frogs, so they were out in large numbers. To prepare for laying eggs, they sought out human settlements with ample food, swallowing livestock like goats whole.

Though their appearance might seem oddly cute, these frogs were dangerous monsters. Their elephant-like size allowed them to easily devour a full-grown adult, and every breeding season brought reports of missing persons.

"Extelion!"

Alice's sharp cry echoed as a brilliant slash of golden light cleaved a giant frog cleanly in two.

Their quest required them to subjugate five giant frogs within three days, but at this moment, nearly ten giant frog carcasses surrounded Alice.

In fact, if not for the area being cleared of frogs, Alice's tally would likely have been even higher.

The golden slashes she unleashed seemed immensely powerful, yet even after using the technique ten times, Alice showed no signs of fatigue.

Turning back to Nero, Alice's face lit up with a sweet smile.

"Sister! Sister! I defeated those fearsome monsters! How did I do? Was I good?"

Clutching her longsword, Alice jogged over to Nero, her face glowing with anticipation.

"Magnificent! As expected of Alice!" Nero praised, reaching out to ruffle Alice's hair.

Alice closed her eyes, purring contentedly like a kitten, leaning into Nero's hand. Instead of resisting, she nuzzled Nero's palm affectionately.

Just then, a loud explosion echoed from deep within the forest, followed by a massive mushroom cloud accompanied by streaks of crimson fire.

"That kind of power… Could it be Explosion Magic?"

Alice's eyes widened as she watched the mushroom cloud rise in the distance. "Why would anyone use Explosion Magic in a place like this? Could it be… the Demon King's army?"

"The Demon King's army has no reason to show up in a beginner's town, do they? There's nothing of value here," Nero replied.

"Y-Yeah, you're probably right…"

Nero glanced in the direction of the explosion, her sharp gaze cutting through the distance like an eagle's.

"Hmm… The one who cast the Explosion Magic seems to be a girl with red eyes. Likely a Crimson Demon."

"A Crimson Demon? That would explain the Explosion Magic..."

The Crimson Demons were a peculiar race in this world—every one of them was a high-level mage afflicted with an extreme case of chūnibyō syndrome.

They were easy to identify, with their quirky names, glowing red eyes, and the way those eyes shone when they got excited.

Explosion Magic, considered the most powerful offensive spell, was capable of injuring even high-level demons and deities. Its terrifying strength came with significant drawbacks, such as its massive area of effect, which could harm both the caster and their allies, and its extreme mana cost. Even skilled mages could only cast it once a day before being completely drained.

Because of these limitations, many viewed Explosion Magic as more of a novelty than a practical tool.

Alice squinted toward the explosion site, watching the mushroom cloud rise higher.

"Sister," she said.

"Hmm?"

"How can you see all that?"

Alice strained to see beyond the fiery mushroom cloud and dense forest, but aside from the smoke, she couldn't make out anything.

"Not only could you spot someone near the explosion, but you also saw the color of their eyes… Do you have a Clairvoyance skill?"

"This is an imperial privilege! Because I'm the Emperor, of course!" Nero replied smugly.

"Ugh… Sister, you're dodging the question again," Alice pouted, clearly unconvinced. Still, she quickly broke into a smile.

"But you're amazing, Sister. I've always known that… And you're so cool, too!"

With their mission complete, Nero and Alice decided to return to the Adventurer's Guild.

The quest had required them to defeat five giant frogs within three days. In the original tale, Kazuma and his party had struggled significantly with the frogs, often relying on the tactic of having a teammate swallowed to create an opening for an attack.

If the number of giant frogs exceeded the size of Kazuma's party, it usually ended in disaster.

Alice, however, single-handedly dispatched twice the required number of frogs, each with a single strike.

Indeed, Alice was incredible.

Though the quest allowed three days for completion, Nero and Alice had finished in under an hour, most of which was spent traveling. The actual combat took almost no time at all.

---

T/N: NEET heh

A true Champion knows that every battle, every choice, and every unexpected twist shapes the path to mastery. Consider this bonus chapter a rare encounter—one that wouldn't be possible without the right support.

That's why you should support WiseTL at [patreon.com/WiseTL]—where every pledge helps bring more high-quality translations to life, staying true to the original while flowing naturally in English. After all, excellence is in the details.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more to prepare for. But you? You should take this opportunity—you never know what rare finds await.

—Cynthia