Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 2 Prologue (section)

===Part 2===

“Hey are you seriously leaving?!”

“You're persistent, I've been telling you I am, haven't I?”

Said Akatsuki with a face filled with disdain.

As to not disrupt his pace the conversation happened as they were walking with the man and woman walking behind him.

The red-haired man was called Zeks Doltrake while the half elf with silver hair reaching to her waist was called Rutie Trum.

These two fought along side with Akatsuki as comrades.

“But right now you are the hero that defeated the demon king, if you stay here your whole life you would be living a life without troubles” as one of his close friends, Zeks said with a slight tone of regret.

“That's not true and you know it, because of the demon king starting with Sherfied and then the other countries I'll probably end up going all over the world as a symbol to help the restoration process, right?”

To Akatsuki's bitter smile,

“Well that's true, since a hero is the symbol of hope to the citizens. You're practically a slave because of that”

“It's rare for you Zeks to say something wise like that but...”

Having kept quiet thus far, Rutie spoke out: 

“But for Akatsuki who comes from another world we can't forcefully make him stay here.

As he didn't have any obligations to help us defeat the demon king, but since he did help us I think the aftermath should be dealt with the citizens of this world. 

Like us he also has a world he loves. So we have no right to stop him.”

“Yeah, that's right you tell him Ru.”

While saying that Akatsuki grabbed Rutie by the shoulder and embraced her, as she let out a voice of surprise and her face became flustered, Akatsuki faced Zeks and spoke: 

“You're gonna be Sherfied's army's top commander so what are you gonna gain by leaving it to other people, you perverted commander.”

“Who's the perverted commander!? You pervert hero, even though you're trying to say something convincing, you're touching Ru's ass so nonchalantly it's not persuasive at all.” 

While pointing towards Akatsuki's hand that was currently rubbing Rutie's ass, Akatsuki retorted,

“You sure are an idiot, since it's the last time of course I'd rub it.”

“Um, Akatsuki...”

With a flustered face and a bewildered expression Rutie looked up towards Akatsuki, with a serious expression Akatsuki spoke: 

“That's the reason, so is it okay if I rub your breasts too, as a memoir?”

It seems that request was impossible as Rutie struck at Akatsuki's cheek.

The gate behind the castle of Erdia surrounded by nature became their farewell.

“Akatsuki, I guess this is where we part ways.”

“It's still a bit regretful but take care, Ru.”

With his hand that was suppressing the stinging feeling in his cheek he firmly shook Rutie's hand.

He then moved his gaze towards Zeks, but as if sulking his back was towards Akatsuki.

Chuckling a little,

“See ya Zeks once you become Sherfied's official commander keep the womanizing in check, if you act like you did on the journey until now it's instant dismissal from the position, you hear me?”

“I don’t wanna be told that by you.”

Wanting to prolong Akatsuki's leave Zeks asked: 

“What are you gonna do about Risty?”

“...”

Akatsuki's mouth was shut tight. That was definitely an effective method to stop him.

The person Zeks had mentioned was the sole survivor of the royal family who had escaped from the slaughter five years ago and was now the queen of Sherfied, Risty da Sherfied.

She is a talented magic user as well as one of Akatsuki's comrades. With the four of them they had fought together to defeat the demon king.

Akatsuki had definitely felt himself being attracted to her since their first meeting after being summoned to Alayzard.
But she already had the best partner...

Alayzard's symbol of hope and the strongest hero, Leon Esperio.

Ousawa Akatsuki knew just how much those two loved each other. The whole world wished for their happiness and that includes Akatsuki himself.

But that wish never came true.

Because five years ago Leon was slain by the demon king, in front of his own eyes.

Even now the image of that moment was burned into his mind as well as Risty's expression when she found Leon in a puddle of his own blood and Akatsuki who was sitting next to him in a daze.

After that incident Akatsuki had successfully escaped to the religious kingdom of Alecrasta and temporarily disappeared.

Seeking power Akatsuki proceeded to the High Sanctuary where the gods lived.

After gaining the ability of Renkan Keikikou<ref>錬環勁氣功 - Akatsuki's ability that allows him to manipulate ki(energy), I think in the anime they named it Link Energy Manipulation, or something similar to that. </ref> and descending from the High Sanctuary Akatsuki had fallen into another dilemma.
After saving Risty and the others, his status had been raised to being a hero but after losing the hope of Alayzard the majority of the citizens could not forgive him, for letting Leon die and having only him who wasn't even from this world live and to make matters worse he had abandoned Risty when she was in a period of suffering. That's why to this day, they criticize him as being a coward and although they praise him as the new hero, with a slight tone of cynicism they began to call him the “Rogue Hero”.


Akatsuki thought back to the days after he had started being called the rogue hero, he had traveled with Risty throughout numerous lands and they had survived on the battlefield together and during that time he had seriously thought that they had established an emotional bond.

But even so Akatsuki showed a bitter smile as he declared.

“I'm the rogue hero, even if I went to see her she would just be dazzled by my appearance.”

For the new queen as someone who is the complete opposite of her, Akatsuki was not fit to be by her side.

Moreover, even if they aren't tied by any sort of political bond. The influence of having defeated the demon king will never disappear, even if it ends with having countries being split because there were people who thought of using that influence or people who didn't even think much about it.

Akatsuki had decided he would defeat the demon king on his own and take all the citizens praise and everlasting grudges and forever carry them on his shoulders and disappear.

That was the best choice for him, the rogue hero to make which is why he left the castle without telling anyone. To return to his own world.

Risty had probably realized what Akatsuki was thinking which is why she didn't show up, this was her way of saying farewell.

But Zeks didn't seem satisfied as he shouted

“Whatever, it's not like you, the rogue hero to suddenly have a conscience.”

It seems he couldn't take it anymore as he turned to face Akatsuki, while looking at his expression that was about to cry Akatsuki thought to himself, it looks I wasn't wrong. This was his friend's way of displaying his understanding.

To that: 

“Idiot.”

As Akatsuki said that while whispering the words “thank you” in his heart.

Silently hitting his comrade on the shoulder while smiling,

“It's fine like this, she probably understands that too.”

Saying farewell he continued walking.

“Please wait a moment, Akatsuki-sama.”<ref>Japanese honorific that is way to refer to people with a higher status than your own.</ref>

Hearing this new voice that seemed slightly familiar he turned around, positioned behind Zeks and Rutie lining up at the gate behind the castle were maids, starting with the head maid Valkuria these were Sherfied's prided Beautiful maid alliance.

With such a spectacular view of these maids who were lined up so uniformly Akatsuki scratched his cheek
“This is embarrassing did all of you come to see me off, Valkuria?”

“Yes, we have come to deliver a message from the princess.”

Getting straight to the point and not bringing emotions into factor was Valkuria's style.

To everyone who knew her well they could tell she was being thoughtful in her own way, Akatsuki was also someone who knew her well and as such had understood.

“Is that so?”

Not being honest to the end and sending a message was very much like Risty, that's why,

“Let me hear it”

Nodding Valkuria spoke with a smooth and rhythmical tone,

“A hero who has saved the world and thinks about leaving the next day, don't look down on me! You should have your body beaten and cool off... That seems to be the message”

“Huh?”

As Akatsuki tilted his head in puzzlement, the maids had all got their weapons prepared and assaulted him.