This Kind of Hero Chapter 61

In a Sudden Moment

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Indeed this was His Holiness the Pope’s handwriting. . . .

Daeniste read these two lines over and over again, but could not find any other meaning hidden in the message. It seemed as if these two sentences really just meant that the church did not know why the Spring of Light was contaminated and that his old man, the Pope, wanted him to quickly return. Furthermore, he couldn’t bring Xu Jun along.

But why?

Daeniste could accept the fact that the Spring of Light had been contaminated, as both the Holy Light Elves’ and the Moonlight Elves’ Trees of Life were invaded by the dark element; it therefore seemed quite reasonable that the Spring of Light would be the next to fall victim. However, why couldn’t Xu Jun come with him to take a look?

The Pope even specifically wrote that he should send Xu Jun away. . . .

Daeniste wondered if his old man, the Pope, had gone stupid. Who was Xu Jun? He was the one who killed the Demon King! He must be adept at dealing with the dark element! They should be asking for his help in this kind of situation! 

He shook the letter before Nar. “Say, what is His Holiness the Pope trying to say?”

Without a single change in his expression, Nar looked at Daeniste with a calm expression. “Your Highness, to the Bright God Church, Brave Xu Jun is an unknown outsider.”

Daeniste froze.

Nar tried his best to explain things in a tone that wouldn’t agitate him. His Holiness the Pope’s meaning was quite easy to comprehend, however His Highness, Holy Son Daenite, was not thinking straight due to his care for Xu Jun. . . no, perhaps it was because His Highness the Holy Son had begun treating  Xu Jun as one of his own, and so was temporarily unable to consider many things. However, even if Xu Jun was the one who killed the Demon King, he was still an outsider to the Bright God Church.

Under ordinary circumstances, the church could rope him in to increase their influence and prestige, however as soon as an event occurred that could cause upheaval within the Bright God Church, it was no longer convenient to bring Xu Jun in.

During such times, a Brave who had killed the Demon King, but had yet to receive the recognition of the masses, was simply an unknown force. He might be of help, but he might also be a hindrance. Had Daeniste and Xu Jun’s relationship been shallower, things would actually be better, since they could exploit this Brave or make a deal with Xu Jun. 

However, currently. . . Daeniste and Xu Jun had too good of a relationship. Furthermore, the matter of the Spring of Light being contaminated was a rather embarrassing affair, so it really was not appropriate for an outsider with some relation to the church to be mixing in. 

After all, the Bright God Church did not just have the Pope’s faction, but also the Elders’ Circle.

It did not matter whether or not Xu Jun could actually help, for him to be brought in would be seen by the Elders’ Circle as a ploy to increase the Pope faction’s popularity and power. They would be completely unscrupulous in preventing this from happening, which would likely worsen the situation. 

After some serious consideration, Daeniste finally understood. Although the Spring of Light was not very important to the Bright God Church, it was their mascot, which in some ways represented and symbolized the Bright God Church. Now that it was contaminated, who knew what sorts of nonsense that group of elders would say. According to what the Pope meant, Daeniste feared the Pope was rolling up his sleeves and about to fight that group of elders until the end.

Indeed, this kind of matter did not suit Xu Jun. 

–If it was possible, Daeniste felt it was best to never ask for Xu Jun’s help in any situation  similar to this. The relationships within the Bright God Church were much more complex and filthy compared to that of the Holy Light Elves.

“Will the Holy Light Elves’ Tree of Life be able to recover. . . forget it, we should return first,” Daeniste frowned while writing on Nar’s palm with a finger. After all, outside the treehouse, there was a large crowd of tree spirits and a deathly fig; the Holy Light Elves’ eyes and ears were everywhere. In regards to this, he still knew he needed to be somewhat on guard. _(:зゝ∠)_ 

Even if an old hand like Xu Jun had brought him along, Daeniste knew better than to truly think the Holy Light Elves thought of him as a friend. 

His fingertips,which drew words across guardian knight Nar’s hand, were quite ticklish, like the gentle scratch of a kitten’s claw. Nar did his utmost to ignore the strange thoughts and feelings in his heart. Perhaps it was because he had been relaxed for too long that he could no longer become solemn or tense.

However, life should soon return to its proper track. 

Daeniste quickly bid farewell to Xu Jun and Her Majesty the Holy Light Elf Queen, Ellie. He had come this time under his own name, so his farewell was a convenient matter. All he needed to say was that the Bright God Church’s Elder’s Circle was stirring up trouble again and His Holiness the Pope needed him to return and help out. Without a shred of doubt, Xu Jun simply patted his shoulder and commented, “With those kinds of elders, you and the Pope sure don’t have it easy.”

Daeniste agreed wholeheartedly. “Right? Why can’t they be more like the Holy Light Elves’ elders?”

The two let out a sigh in unison. 

Xu Jun patted Daeniste’s shoulder. “If you ever need help, just come and find me. I’ll most likely also be leaving the Sacred Highlands next month and will be heading for White River Town. You can send letters there. Just say it’s for Xu Jun; the tavern’s owner will help hold onto it for me.”

As for the Holy Light Elves’ higher-ups, Daeniste’s leaving. . . no one cared about it at all. Their focus was entirely directed towards the Moonlight Elves. 

–While crying in the bathroom, the Tree of Life has fainted. 

Three days after Daeniste left, the preparations were finally done for the last attempt at saving the Tree of Life. This day just so happened to also line up with the Holy Light Elves’ Spring Festival. Previous Spring Festivals had all been held thirty days after the Spring Market, with the Holy Light Elf King or Queen giving a speech before the entire race. The speech’s main topics were on the Holy Light Elves development and prosperity, their plans for next year, and their relation with the Moonlight Elves.

“Usually we say some fierce words, such as something along the lines of, this year we will invade the Moonlight Elves’ old home. It’s all to excite everyone and get them riled up a bit,” Ellie explained to Xu Jun.

Xu Jun: “. . . You Holy Light Elves have such a. . . strange and elegant style_(:зゝ∠)_”

Say, why is it that the elves, whom all the bards describe as uncontaminated by the mortal realm and free of worldly desires, are so violent in handling their matters!  

Even him, a Brave who has always maintained neutrality, did not dare to say anything! 

During the Spring Festival assembly, Queen Ellie, in regal dress, brandished her fists, “This year! Let’s fight our way into the Moonlight Elves’ jadeite dreamland!”

The dashing, pretty, and pure Holy Light Elves below also followed along and waved their fists, “Fight our way into the Moonlight Elves’ jadeite dreamland!”

Xu Jun who was on the side, listening in: “. . .”

Damn, had he not known any better, he’d have thought this was some bandit boss encouraging their gang.

The Alchemist Elder, with his baby face, solemnly explained to Xu Jun, “It wasn’t always like this. When Her Majesty Queen Aikar had led us, it was all very formal and dignified. However, Queen Ellie is still young after all and will come up with some very hot-blooded ideas. You should be able to understand that, right?”

Xu Jun stiffly nodded his head. That Prince Ryan who was dwelling in his heart stabbed another blade into him with perfect timing. “The current elven races are already much better than before. A few tens of millenia ago, they were even crueler than demons. They were pure elemental bodies that had evolved into living beings so their emotions had been quite weak and they had little awareness of other life forms. Back then, not only did different races of elves constantly battle each other, fights would occur daily within a race of elves as well. They didn’t fear death and would also often conflict with the demon race.”

His Majesty the Demon King let out a sigh. “Ah, those were matters from a long, long time ago.”

Thinking back, had the demons not had the four great Lords and the Demon King, they would’ve become pathetic targets for the dragon and elven races to bully.

As his attention returned from his memories, he simply heard Xu Jun sincerely sigh, “Even the Demon King has it hard.”

Rozenke couldn’t help but feel as if his years of hard work had finally been acknowledged. “Indeed, it can’t have been easy.”

Xu Jun: “But I still can’t really remember his name; was it Radishke or something like that?”

His Majesty Demon King Rozenke: “. . .”

You just fed my feelings directly to Cerberus! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

. . . . . . 

In his hand, Xu Jun held a bottle of Divine Spirit Elixir. The elixir inside had not been diluted and was as thick as honey, letting off a flickering, sparkling light. He stood before the Tree of Life, looking at this pitiful, old tree which had given the Holy Light Elves their strength and prosperity, but was now wrapped within layers of the dark element. Behind him, besides the elders of the Holy Light Elves and their queen, were a few tied up and gagged Moonlight Elves that had sought their own demise.

Although Ellie never said what she was going to do with these Moonlight Elf Elders and their disfigured Prince Linka, Xu Jun had a feeling. . . if not even his Divine Spirit Elixir could save the Tree of Life, what followed was a blood sacrifice. 

Even he, who felt no goodwill towards Moonlight Elves and had a heart full of loathing for Prince Linka, felt this was too cruel. 

Prince Linka deserved to  die, but the Holy Light Elves had made their decision before even fully understanding his past deeds.

In this world, blood sacrifices, executions, and putting to death a still living being couldn’t have been any more common. 

This was different from killing invading beastmen, fighting with bandits, fighting in close quarters on a battlefield, or beheading, in forests, kobolds or gnolls that were disturbing the populace. This was greatly different from the killing that Xu Jun could approve of. Even if it was in a game, Xu Jun detested senseless massacres or the imposing of criminal punishment for no reason. However, back then, Xu Jun could still comfort himself with the reason that “this is a game.”

He couldn’t do that anymore. Not when this world was now reality.

This was a real and cruel world.

Therefore, even the innocent and cute Holy Light Elf Queen Ellie, with her slight trace of childishness, was also just an ordinary person of this world. 

He did not know if it was because the pressure was too great, but Xu Jun felt somewhat cold. He looked at the darkness which covered the skies and earth. Truthfully, it was much better than the time he had battled against Demon King. . . was it Rozenke or Radishke? Even wearing the emblem sent by Gale dad had not stopped him from shivering back then. The darkness had been like dripping water, spreading throughout his entire body. 

He lifted his hand which held the Divine Spirit Elixir. Originally he had planned to uncork the elixir bottle first, but almost as if he were under another’s control, his hand pressed right into the darkness.

The emblem Gale dad sent suddenly lost effect. Something in his body seemed to be attracting these dark element particles¹. Xu Jun opened his mouth and let out a powerless groan. 

–What kind of situation is this. . .

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Author has something to say: 

You know. . . when a person is invaded by the dark element, their entire body loses strength, and even though Xu Jun has an emblem, he won’t be able to resist the Demon King’s invasion♂. This is a setting with a hidden wagon!

As for how they will harmonize. . . that wagon will forever be up to everyone’s imagination qaq

Translator’s Niche: 

[1] Decided to take the liberty of calling them particles instead of just  dark elements cause that’s what I’ve always imagined it as and the author described the element as plural so yes, words.⏎

Additional note, in the author’s notes section, the last two sentences were a pain in the butt for me since the author made use of the word “车”, which means car or cart or wagon and I had no idea what it meant, cause it obviously  didn’t  seem to literally mean any of those. Assumed it was some kind of euphemism based on the. . . . general tone of the note. 

From my digging around on the internet, it seemed like it was? Closest thing I seemed to find was in the context of hopping on a bandwagon for a certain ship (thus why I chose the word wagon) and going along with the journey or ”出租车“， which means taxi and is used to describe a person that anyone can board *cough*. 

Anyways, trying to figure out those two sentences took way too much of my time, and I was half out of it for most of it before finally deciding to give up, since it probably doesn’t even mean much anyways and is more along the lines of seasoning or something for the text, a small little input from the author to get a little chuckle. 

Still, if anyone knows anything, maybe from another translator or the words themselves, please let me know, not for the translation, but for the sake of my sanity. If you don’t, well don’t try ruining your own sanity  trying to figure it out. Also if for some reason you decided to read all of that (don’t know why anyone would read this wall of text), thanks. The word for ‘car’ has destroyed my soul. I feel nothing but pain.

Raws for first sentence (with my translation): 

这是一个隐藏车的设定啊！！！ (This is a setting with a hidden wagon!)

“然而和谐……车就永远只能由大家想象了qaq (As for how they will harmonize. . . that wagon will forever be up to everyone’s imagination qaq)

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