Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero 47

Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero 47

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Shaderic

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The unfortunate truth is that the average person is pretty dumb.

The terrible truth is that being average intellectually is being better than most.

Life is harsh and unfair. Some individuals are gifted with more intellect than others. While wisdom and knowledge can be gained over time, it’s definitely also true that you’re pretty fucked if you’re born stupid. Unless, of course, you’re born into a time and place where a society exists and has the resources necessary to bring you up to speed with everyone else. 

Some would say that society shouldn’t do such a thing, that we should let people get sorted out as nature intended, and let the naturally gifted be successful while those who are born with less rot. Those people overestimate their intelligence immensely, thinking themselves above the average, when they are in reality incapable of even just keeping their mouth shut. Seriously, by all means, try being someone hated and opposed by literally everyone. There’s no way in hell people will ever give up on something that benefits everyone involved. 

However, I’m digressing.

What I’m getting at is that the individuals I met thanks to Kuzunoha are few in number, because the system in place is far better than I anticipated, in that simply being naturally intelligent isn’t enough.

You actually have to be pretty stupid and hard-headed to want to overcome it too.

Allow me to explain.

The lowest common denominator of mankind will be completely fine with learning anything to procure sexy times with Kindred. As evidenced by the lack of male uprisings all over Kindred territory, even in territories where men are gained from raiding, there comes a point where men just accept their fate of getting fed, cared for, and fucking everyday without thinking. 

So, that’s about 90% of men handled by the existing, non-Kuzunoha system.

The Kuzunoha system deals with the other 9.9%. 

The men who, in other territories, would carefully horde supplies, procure maps, and find a way out don’t exist here. In the places where we flew through, depressed Kindred who lost their husbands existed, and some even asked my Amazons to keep an eye out for their wayward husbands. Again, however, those people won’t exist in the Kuzunoha system, because those intelligent, capable men would simply take a look a everything that was offered and decide that it’s good enough.

Rationally, and logically, you take the better option offered to you.

The Kuzunoha system elevates your position in Kindred society. You’re not simply a stud to be passed around, but an OP Harem Protagonist with auto-cast aheagao skill against whatever Kindred you touch. If you’re a good enough courtesan, you’ll probably be sent off to seduce a powerful, Kindred noble somewhere that Kuzunoha Mai wants on her side, and you’ll easily monopolize that woman as you stand above every one of her other husbands.

Therefore, with the intellectuals and idiots taken in by Kuzunoha’s system, the only people left to rebel against it is the thin line between idiot and intellectual.

The moronic idealist.

Eh?

Did you think I was going to say that the most intellectual and logical individuals would be the rebel?

Pfft.

As if.

Logical, intelligent people accept reality, look at the system in place, and choose the path of least resistance that benefits them the most.

No, one and all, they’ll accept what Kuzunoha Mai has made as an alternative without hesitation.

The only people’ll who’ll rebel against it are idealists pretending to be intelligent.

Or, of course, people with very, very big grudges like myself. 

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Kurama was wearing nothing but a few ribbons on my bed when I arrived, and I covered her up by having A’Bel dump the ten scrolls of the kids I’d met in the afternoon on her.

Nothing ruins the mood more than dusty, old paper.

“What are these? Rivals for my affection?” Kurama took her rejection in stride, sighing, before unfurling the scrolls. One of the Kunoichi draped a bathrobe on her, before putting on the ribbon herself in a way that covered even less than on the Kitsune. I ignored the woman wearing scarlet dental floss in favor of defending myself. 

“Hell. No.” I took a seat at the foot of my bed, and unfurled one of the portraits. Naturally, it was the red-haired, emerald-eyed shota. I felt Kurama’s silent question boring into my back as she looked at the picture in my hand. “They’re kids your father told me are troublemakers. I’m thinking about taking them to Ylstu.”

“Oh? Then, I’ll commit everything towards getting them all for Ylstu.” Huh, well, that was quick. “I don’t wish to share you with any more women than I have to.” 

Well, it looks like a misunderstanding is in play that’s to my benefit. 

If I say nothing, I’ll get everything that I want… at the cost of Kurama finding out later and giving her ammunition against me.

Therefore, I can’t let the lie continue.

“No. I’ll be training them as commanders, officers, and managers. They’re not going to be studs or husbands, unless they want to be in a few years or so.” While I didn’t need to admit that I just wanted actually people to talk to from time to time, I had to admit the practical reasons I needed them. While I had the Amazons totally allied with me, I still needed an officer-corps that were completely loyal to me, and could control swathes of Mamono themselves. “They’re going to be my eyes and ears, my representatives, and sent back here if they can’t manage the training.”

Fat chance of that happening though. They were smart kids, judging from their grades, and physically capable too. They weren’t the best of their class, but I couldn’t exactly get those guys in the first place, both because they’re not available and wouldn’t want to leave a. 

Anyhow, I expected Kurama to object to my words, since there was nothing directly in it for the Kindred. They weren’t going to get husbands, or studs they could use for relief, and instead see ten people being trained to live and act the way that I do. As my political rival, Kurama should be opposed to it completely, since I’ll be able to extend my reach past the military. 

However, instead of the words I expected, Kurama dropped the scroll in her hand and went pale.

“M-more like you?” Oi. Why the hell do you look so damn terrified of that, huh!? Sure, I’ve done a few crazy things, and there’s no one sane who’d ever want two of me to exist at the same time… but think about my feelings! At least, try to hide how terrified you are of the thought, dammit! “You’re going to raise ten, young men into becoming like you, my future husband?”

Stop shivering and holding yourself, woman, I am not that scary.

“They’re not young men. They’re boys and no Kindred is going to touch them until I’m sure that they can handle themselves perfectly.” Huh, the Kunoichi have also frozen in place and forgotten to keep up whatever they’re doing to hide themselves. Is… is the idea really that scary? Don’t you know that I’m just a regular guy with a deep-seated hatred for an entire way of life? Look, A’Bel’s fine at the idea, and Reiser’s acting as miserable as ever. You all really need to be more considerate of my feelings. “And, they’re not going to be like me. I can treat you all the way I do because I’m in charge. They need to treat you all like I’ve told you all to treat each other.”

Am I taking these kids, since they’re beholden to me, and can’t be anything but loyal to my ideals?

Yes.

Absolutely. 

They’re going to allow me to manage Ylstu better than I could hope to alone.

However, I’ll also protect them, because I’m going to put my money where my mouth is and make Ylstu into a place where men aren’t just fucktoys for Kindred with differing specs and rarities. 

“And… you’re sure that you can do this?” Kurama’s retort was weaker than I expected. However, after my words, she didn’t seem afraid anymore. In fact, she seemed very interested in what I proposed. The Kunoichi managed to stop shivering too, and were instead leaning forward too. Wow. Perky. Dammit, brain. “Do you truly believe that you can turn the Kindred under your control away from what they wish?”

I answered Kurama’s question without hesitation.

“Kindred are just people. You are all worthless alone, want to be successful, and are willing to do anything to keep the lives you already have.” Making Ylstu a place filled with good, cheap food, entertainment, and booze, as well as homes and jobs wasn’t out of the goodness of my heart. As is always the case with every civilization, while people rebel against the strong for imposing against the weak, they’ll always push up and obey the person who controls leisure and luxury. In Ylstu, I have a monopoly on all of that. “And, in Ylstu, I control all of that. I can exile whoever I want. I can imprison whoever I want. And, finally, I can take away everything I’ve given away from anyone I want.”

Everyone in Ylstu is tracked, logged, and registered. My database of information takes up ludicrous amounts of money, required me to make a paper-making industry to support it, and still needs support from Roseanne in order to continue growing. However, all of the recordkeeping was made with the singular purpose of giving me the ability to act off of information with speed and precision that any Kindred noble will envy, especially since courts, juries, and judges don’t exist in this day and age.

“Ylstu is in the palm of my hand. Everyone who lives in it lives as they do, because I allow it. Those who disobey me will be punished, if they don’t do as I say.” I never tried to be fair from the start. If I were I good person, I’d have instituted a system of government that would give people more of a voice, but I did the exact opposite. I took everything I can from modern times, and used them to consolidate and amplify my control over my land. I ruled Ylstu with an immense amount of carte blanche from Roseanne, and as long as I stayed behind that thin line, I’m allowed to do anything I want. “Do you understand, Kurama? From the very start, even before we met, I’d meant to make a place that would give me everything I wanted, while letting me keep it however I want. That’s what Ylstu is.”

Ylstu is a weapon, but it is also a place where I can stay sane, where I can work, and where I’d hoped I’d find people who were normal.

Naturally, no matter what, I’ll do everything in order to keep it mine and force it into what I wanted it to be.

“I’m not living in your world any more than I have to. It’s disgusting, vile, and a dozen other shitty things I can’t even think to say. I hate it.” The Kindred might be the better option, but everything’s a better option compared to a dogmatic, racist empire that kidnaps people from across dimensions. Just because they’re a better answer doesn’t mean that they’re right. They’re only “good” because the bad is so incredibly horrific that that the scales are utterly fucked in their favor. However, I don’t need to settle. I have fame, I have power, and I have a way to make it happen. “So, I’m making my own world with my own hands, a place that’s mine, and a place that’ll win over not just the Empire but the Kindred, too.”

Are my words treasonous?

Only if I forced my ideas and actions upon the rest of the Kindred, but that isn’t the case is it? They’re taking what they can from me, so that they could compete with the world I’ve unleashed, and that’s before I even introduce things like the telegraph and make the world a much smaller place. The Kindred aren’t blind, even if they’re slowing things down so that they can continue to retain their power and prestige, they know they must change or be overtaken by the times.

I couldn’t care less what they did with my ideas, as long as they continued to let me do what I wanted to Ylstu.

As long as those who opposed me in Ylstu could only fail when directly confronting me, then the rest of the Kindred could do whatever the hell they want.

As long as get to keep the little slice of sanity I’ve made, and somehow defeat the Empire in the process, the rest of the world can do whatever the hell it wanted. 

I’ll keep what’s mine forever.

I awaited Kurama’s answer for a few moments, while luxuriating at the knowledge that I can, indeed, fuck over anyone who tried to take what I had away… when I suddenly felt ominous pressure on my back… and for two wings composed of shadow to block my vision.

“That was magnificent, my dear summoner. Truly, you’ve shown these feeble mortals what humanity is supposed to be. Terrifying, ambitious, and conquerors.” Oi, I’m already aware that I scared these girls. There’s no need to salt the wound, even if I do enjoy knowing that my subjects are afraid of me and what I can do to them, if they don’t do as I say. “Heh, that is indeed the case my beloved contractor, they truly can’t stop thinking about your absolute control over them… so, why don’t we leave them to ruminate in their thoughts for now, hm?”

Even though A’Bel posed that as a question, it wasn’t.

Before I knew it, was outside of the guest house, flying through the sky in the Demon’s grip, with Reiser running upon rooftops beneath us. 

Figures the Demon wouldn’t let me enjoy winning.

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A/N: This is closer to 2400 words than 2500, due to the fact it ended better on this, and the previous two updates were around 2600 words already.