kscans

Chapter 115 - Get the Shut-In Hero Back on Her Feet

After fleeing the Hobgoblin's cavern in tears, the female hero Ares Scarlet took refuge in the small village of Himeria, near the cavern. But there, instead of trying to fight, rumors spread that she had become a shut-in, hiding in the corner of her room under a blanket.

"So, she's really... just been shut in, sleeping all this time?"

Tiris the Dark Elf stood stock-still in front of the inn in Himeria village. Behind her, Amy the Lizardman stood with her arms crossed, Defray the Orc tilted his head, and Koni-chan the Troll was eating a rice ball.

"That's what the old lady at the inn said. 'She's been shut up in her room lately, having nightmares every night'...."

"It feels like she brought it on herself... but leaving her like this won't change anything, will it."

"Even if I make my love-bomb rice balls, she won't come out to eat... That girl, her heart is empty."

Koni-chan murmured sadly.

"Being told to fight, having nothing but expectations heaped on her... maybe no one prepared her for any of it."

Everyone fell silent at Tiris's words.

After a moment, Tiris said softly.

"Perhaps the first thing she needs... is for us to help her break the belief that 'I'm no good.'"

"So, you mean cultivating her self-esteem?"

Mamoru appeared from behind them. He had come all the way from his cavern throne to the village.

"And we also need to foster her 'independence' so she can make her own choices and act without relying on others, or she'll never stand on her own as a hero."

His comrades looked at Mamoru.

"So, what's the plan?" Amy asked.

Mamoru took an old piece of parchment from his pocket and grinned.

"...I thought of something. It's called the 'Hero Training Program.'"

【Hero Training Program Ver. 1.0 (Draft)】
First, plant the seeds of self-esteem.
・Give her simple chores and tasks to provide a sense of accomplishment.
・Consciously tell her "thank you" and "that was a big help."

Nurture the sprout of independence.
・Increase the number of things she chooses herself (today's clothes, today's actions, what to talk about).
・Don't compare her to others; let her value her own pace.

Strengthen interaction with comrades.
・Tiris will hold a reading group (thought training).
・Defray will cook with her (life skills UP).
・Amy will instruct her on weapon maintenance (to get used to the feel of fighting).
・Koni-chan will accompany her on muscle-training walks (physical fitness).

Set low and small goals.
・"First, just go out to the village square."
・Small mission format, like "feed the animals" or "greet a goblin."

"...Uh, what are all these detailed items...?" Amy looked slightly taken aback.

"Amazing... Koni's about to cry... it's like parenting..." Koni-chan was deeply moved.

"Hee hee, you're... surprisingly good at this kind of thing, aren't you," Tiris smiled.

"Heh... well, this is actually my second run through this world. I've gotten a little better at reading people."

Mamoru puffed out his chest.

Everyone stared at me blankly. The air felt like I'd just said something weird.

However, the trust of the comrades with whom he had once fought as an enemy and shared hardships was still strong.

"Alright, let's start trying to approach Ares little by little starting tomorrow. Tiris and Koni-chan, I'm leaving the initial 'icebreaker' to you. Don't push it."

"Understood. It might be easier for her to talk if it's with other girls."

"Okay. Koni will bring her love-bomb rice balls every day."

The Hero Training Operation is a go.

To turn a crybaby hero into a full-fledged one, the monsters' 'lovingly unconventional program' is now in motion.