Bab 328: Chapter 48. Heroes
[Arc5] - 48. Heroes
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The Boar Hat Tavern is a well-known tavern, famous not only for its delicious food and ale but also for its beautiful female servers: an innocent, but full-figured young girl, a mature woman with an alluring smile, and an androgynous "boy."
These three iconic servers don't actually work—they're just the tavern's "faces." All the real work, from cooking to serving, is done by the men. Patrons may feel a twinge of disappointment but also relief, as glancing at the servers brings terrifying glares from two men in the bar. Those who linger too long find themselves passed out at their tables—rumor has it the servers treat ogling patrons to a special dish prepared by the owner himself.
But the Boar Hat's true charm lies in it being a mobile tavern—and a talking pig.
"Have you heard about the wandering undead knight around these parts?" a bearded patron murmurs to his companions as he takes a mug from a blond boy. "He rambles, pacing back and forth, mumbling about the 'Seven.'"
"Ah, speaking of the 'Seven'…" The bearded man pauses at the wall of wanted posters every tavern seems to have, sighing at the sight of eight posters. "The eight sinners who tried to overthrow the kingdom ten years ago."
"The 'Seven Deadly Sins.'"
"They still haven't been captured, have they?"
"They must be dead by now; I heard that [Gluttony] and the Vice-Captain were executed by King Camelot."
"The Holy Knights of Liones won't spare them, not after they murdered the beloved Commander of the Holy Knights."
"So maybe this rusted knight is the Vice-Captain's ghost, searching for his companions?"
"It's possible." The bearded man chuckled, turning to the blond boy. "What do you think, little tavern assistant?"
"I'm not some little guy! My name is Meliodas," the blond boy said, setting down a mug with a disgruntled hum. "And I'm the tavern owner, not some server."
"Huh? The kid is—"
Crash!
"Meliodas, how many times have I told you not to let Hawk eat your cooking? Even if he's a pig, he has the right to decent food."
The tavern door swung open as a young man in a hood entered, grumbling at the blond boy. Behind him was one of the tavern's beautiful female servers.
"It's fine; Hawk's right to food only applies when he's not destined to become Diane's emergency rations."
"Hawk would cry, you know." The young man took a seat, lifting his glass to the surrounding patrons. "Everyone, enjoy this peaceful life while it lasts."
"Ohhh!"
As the patrons grew rowdy, the young man slipped into the back, pulling off his hood to reveal a head of white hair. He was none other than the wanted Vice-Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins. Time hadn't left a mark on him.
Cyd, Vice-Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins, now worked as the Boar Hat's intelligence gatherer, using his ability to detect lies to collect patron reviews and secret recipes.
"Ban, here's the new ale you wanted. Don't drink it all at once." Cyd placed a small bottle beside the fierce-looking but apron-clad white-haired man cooking nearby.
"That won't even wet my whistle. Anyway, I bet you've stocked up for Escanor's cocktails."
Ban, the Sin of Greed, was the Boar Hat's chef and the key reason it stayed afloat. His unique ability, [Snatch], allowed him to perfectly debone and purify ingredients—even removing parasites from living creatures.
"Where's Arthur? I thought he'd be chopping firewood."
"He's out back, but honestly, is it right to make the future King of Camelot do grunt work?" Ban tapped his spoon on a pot, preparing yet another dish to rescue the Boar Hat from financial ruin.
"He volunteered, and he seems to enjoy it." Cyd shrugged. This future "King of Kings" had a noble heart, treating everyone with kindness. At the Boar Hat, though, Arthur was on the same level as Hawk.
"I'll go check on him. Keep it up, Ban."
"Got it."
Cyd pushed open the back door to find Arthur splitting wood. Once a naive boy, he'd grown in both body and mind, turning even mundane chores into training for his swordsmanship.
"Sir Cyd, you're back! How's the survey?" Arthur greeted him cheerfully, his smile as unclouded as ever, despite the past ten years.
Arthur had once idolized heroes. Now, working among them, he was learning their unseen side—a dream come true.
"You don't actually believe I was on a survey, do you? That was just a side mission." Cyd picked up a log and placed it on the stump, signaling Arthur to continue. "Dreyfus and Hendrickson now control half of Liones's authority, and many knights support their plan to start a Holy War, while Bartra has disappeared."
"So Liones is in danger," Arthur murmured, splitting another log. Behind him was a pile of identical logs.
"Bartra's power isn't stable. The current crisis has probably spiraled beyond his control, and he may soon seek our help." Cyd waved Arthur closer, who excitedly swung his sword toward him.
"We've all been idle for years. Only King's power has truly evolved; the rest of us are unchanged. Our chance to grow will come in battle with the Ten Commandments."
"That will involve sacrifices, won't it?" Arthur's eyes narrowed as he aimed two shadows of his sword at Cyd's neck and eyes.
Ding!
Cyd flicked his finger, creating a spark that blurred the shadow strikes, deflecting the real sword that lunged at his chest.
"I'll do everything to prevent the seal from breaking, yet I'll prepare for battle with the Ten Commandments. But… I doubt the seal will hold. Both the Demon Clan, seeking revival, and the Goddess Clan, eager to eradicate them, are pushing for Holy War."
"Sir Cyd, can I join the battle to help you?"
"Your power may not be defined yet, but your disciplined mind and body are ready to draw the Holy Sword. The swordsmanship you've trained is more than enough to fight lower-ranked demons."
"So I'm no help to you at all, am I?" Arthur panted, collapsing as his arms turned to noodles, fingers too weak to hold his sword.
"It's been nine years, and I haven't even forced you to make me move beyond a finger," Arthur sighed, falling to his knees.
"To make me go all out, nine years isn't enough," Cyd chuckled, tossing a towel from Medusa onto Arthur's head. "Don't lose sight of what's close to you. You're not a hero—you're meant to lead people. You will take care occasionally for the ordinary people."
"But there'll come a day when I face something a king can't solve!" Arthur clenched his hands, tightening his grip on the sword, though he couldn't move the finger.
"That's why 'we' exist." Cyd pointed toward the Boar Hat, smiling. "Heroes, ready to face crises alone or together."
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