“When fighting by the river bank, you used Ditore’s magic for suppression and then had Leodor, Meshe and Farnan surround the kobold and block its path, correct?”
“And we would have succeeded without the intervention! Why didn’t you tell us about the bloody star wolf!? If we knew…”
“Ditore. Can you tell what kind of magic was cast, and the approximate position of the caster?”
He ignored the outburst and continued his questioning.
“I think it was either Blazing Inferno or Heavenly Flame Array. Likely fired from the bushes on the other side of the river.”
“And were there any traces of it being used by the young dragon who came to help the kobold?”
“…I cannot say for sure. But it is unlikely. The magic was used at about the same time as the wolf’s arrival.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
After he finished questioning them, he returned to tapping lightly on his tablet. It was as if he no longer had any interest in them.
“Sir Hero. Do you have any other orders?”
Vengras asked with a blank expression. The boy looked at him and then opened his mouth as if remembering.
“Have the giant hunting unit remain on standby within my camp from now on.”
“Standby… What do you mean? Our mission is to…”
“Your mission will be to wait here.”
The Hero said. Clearly he had no intention of explaining further. Poro let out a sigh and then walked towards the Hero.
“Look, you. I don’t care if you’re the Hero!”
“Hey…Poro!”
The others frantically gathered behind him. But he was not going to back down until he said what was on his mind.
“Your vague orders just cause confusion. You don’t listen to us at all. I don’t know if you’re that important, but surely you should have learned common courtesy!”
“Stop it! They’ll take away your tag if you cause a scene here!”
“I don’t care! If they fire me here, his whole plan and operation will fail, won’t it? Do it! I dare you!”
He had ignored all kinds of unfair treatment since joining the army. Because it had given him power that supported him now.
Still, he did not want to be silent and obey someone who treated him like this.
However, Poro regretted it immediately.
When the Hero turned to him with terrifyingly emotionless eyes.
“If you wish to be removed from the unit, please say so. And some adjustments will be made.”
“Wh-what are you saying? I just…”
“This army is made up of people who want to protect this world. And in respect of that, I have devised strategies to improve our results. We therefore need people who can move as ordered.”
The irritation was rising in his chest.
Indeed, what the boy was saying was true, but… Somehow, when it came from his mouth, Poro felt irritated and anxious.
“If you do not accept it, Mr. Poro, then you will not be included in the operations. That is all.”
“Just a thing can’t really…”
“I can be done.”
He said. Poro felt as if he was thrown into a lake in the middle of winter.
The Hero did not need him. He only saw people as disposable pawns.
“Still, I do apologize about the lack of an explanation. The reason I call you all here is so that I can see your qualities in person.”
He said, as if he was looking at the quality of cattle.
“I knew that it was possible that the kobold’s allies might come. But there were several unknown factors to it, so I thought it best to not tell you. As a result, we now know the kobold and former village Hero are working together. So there is no problem.”
“In-in other words, it is fine even if we failed our mission?”
“It would have been best if you didn’t. But finding out about the kobold’s allies was the second best outcome. The worst outcome would have been some of you dying.”
Poro felt sick by how calculating the Hero sounded.
He had no expectations for people. No ability to think of the emotions of others. Such feelings must have been lost somewhere.