I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [344] [40 PS]

Although Darkness expressed her desire to join the dragon-slaying battle, it wasn't possible. She had her duties—protecting Kazuma took priority.

As someone deeply aware of her responsibility toward the future of the Belzerg Kingdom, Darkness knew how to prioritize. Just as she could suppress her... peculiar tendencies in front of Princess Alice, she would restrain herself when necessary.

Once Darkness had departed, Nero and Kazuma continued their conversation.

"Umu! The golden dragon posed a major threat to this country, especially since it had occupied the largest gold mine. Even though this nation thrives on gambling, the loss of that mine would eventually cripple its economy. So, the bounty for slaying it should be significant."

"Money?!"

"Hey, hey, didn't you just make a fortune today? The amount you earned is equal to 40% of what Elroad sends to support Belzerg in its war against the Demon King. That's enough to outfit several armies with brand-new equipment—an astronomical figure for an individual."

Kazuma's eyes practically turned into glittering gold coins at the mention of money.

"But that's not my money... No matter how much it is, it'll just go toward Belzerg's war expenses. None of it stays with me."

Hearing this, Nero rolled her eyes.

"Do you take me for a fool? With your personality, there's no way you didn't pocket at least a bit for yourself."

Kazuma's smile froze for a second before he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Uh… ahaha."

Seeing his guilty reaction, Nero crossed her arms and sighed.

"Relax. I'm not unreasonable. I understand the principle of 'If you want the horse to run, you have to feed it well.' Keep earning, and as long as you achieve the goal, I'll ensure you get 20% of what you've earned these past few days."

"Twenty percent?!"

"Really?!"

The unexpected windfall nearly knocked Kazuma out cold.

After all, this money was supposed to support a kingdom at war. Even if Kazuma was sneaky, he could only skim off a tiny bit without drawing attention.

But now Nero was outright offering him 20%—a staggering portion of what was meant for national defense.

With careful planning, Kazuma thought, I might never have to work another day in my life!

His face flushed with excitement.

"Is this it? Is this the moment where Kazuma Satou finally ditches his loser persona and steps into a life of luxury?!"

"Top-tier ingredients! The finest wine! And… I can visit that shop every day! I'll even order triple the service each time! My life is about to become a paradise of extravagance and indulgence!"

Glancing at Kazuma's increasingly deranged expression, Nero's gaze turned sharp with disdain.

She knew exactly what "that shop" referred to—the one where succubi provided custom dream services.

This guy… what a pathetic excuse for a rich man.

Ordering three services per visit? Do you even have the stamina for that?

Nero shook her head. Succubi drew some of their clients' life force as payment. For someone like Kazuma, with his subpar physical condition, such frequent indulgence might actually kill him.

"Oh, by the way," Nero added, "we'll be heading to the royal capital tomorrow to collect the bounty for slaying the golden dragon. Once we receive the payment, I'll hand that over to you as well. You can probably win even more money with it, can't you?"

"Wait… what?!"

Nero had faith in Kazuma's absurd luck, and rightly so. It had already been proven time and again.

In fact, she'd heard that Kazuma not only gambled on roulette colors but also placed bets on individual numbers—combining both for astronomical odds. Despite the odds being one in hundreds, he still managed to win.

If it weren't for the prince's pass and Darkness's presence, the casino would've probably confiscated his winnings and tossed him out, maybe even cutting off a few fingers for good measure…

As Nero pondered, Kazuma suddenly dropped to one knee with a loud thud.

"Lord Nero!"

"…Huh?"

Kazuma's bizarre move left Nero momentarily stunned.

"Through years of wandering, I've yearned for a worthy master! If you'll accept me, I shall call you my lord and serve you for life!"

Kazuma knelt, one knee to the ground, and clasped his hands together in a formal bow.

Nero's expression shifted through a series of emotions before she finally managed to choke out a single word.

"...Leave."

"Got it!"

---

Nero sat on her bed, gazing out the window instead of sleeping.

"Even at night, many places are still brightly lit…"

The glowing buildings, likely casinos, stretched across the landscape. Nero's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Umu! Such prosperity. Though gambling can dull one's will, this imperfect yet hopeful future is also a part of Rome."

To Nero, Rome meant the ever-advancing human civilization.

Humanity was the furthest thing from perfection, but it was precisely because of this imperfection that they could create endless miracles—reaching for the stars, accomplishing feats even gods would marvel at.

Always advancing. Never stagnant. Always shining like the stars.

That was the essence of Rome.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of knocking drew Nero from her thoughts. She jumped off the bed and dashed to the door, opening it quickly.

Standing outside, bathed in the moonlight, was the familiar figure of Princess Alice. The silver light made her look both sacred and stunning.

"Can I sleep with you again tonight?"

"Umu!"

This had become a nightly ritual over the past few days, and Nero was more than used to it.

After all, sharing a bed with the ultimate, unbeatable beauty wasn't exactly a bad deal for her.

Wrapping her arms around Alice's soft body, Nero rested her chin against the princess's neck, inhaling the sweet fragrance lingering on her skin.

Must've just taken a bath. After the fight with the dragon, everyone had been filthy, and Nero herself had taken over an hour to clean up.

Oddly enough, though she and Alice used the same soap, their scents were subtly different.

Could it be due to their natural body fragrances?

How strange…

Pushing a stray strand of hair from Alice's forehead, Nero gently whispered goodnight before closing her eyes to sleep.

Tomorrow, they would visit the royal capital to collect the bounty for slaying the golden dragon.

At least, that was the plan…

Suddenly, Nero's eyes snapped open. Her emerald-green gaze sharpened, all traces of drowsiness gone.

The next moment, the window shattered.

Sharp shards of glass scattered midair as a dark figure lunged toward the bed where Nero and Alice lay.

---

...

If you're reading this, then you've wandered all the way to the end. I'm impressed. Stories are like wine—meant to be savored, not rushed. So if you took your time? Thank you.

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Until next time—read well, rest often, and maybe come visit me at the Hostess of Fertility sometime.

– Syr ✨