A Regressor's Bucket List Chapter 81 : Hero-Slayer (4)

“…I couldn't believe it, but.”

“……”

“So it was him. The subject of that rumor.”

Hearing the aningful mutter next to his ear, Jackson turned his head to see Colonel Hank also looking at him.

“…A rumor? What do you an by that?”

When Colonel Hank’s tone hinted that he knew sothing about Penal Soldier 4331, Jackson pressed him for an answer.

“…Last week, when I was away on a short trip to headquarters, I heard a strange rumor from another unit I visited.”

“……”

“A rumor that so battalions these days are requesting ‘Penal Soldiers’ instead of Heroes.”

“……”

“I dismissed it as nonsense at the ti… but it seems that phenonon was all because of him.”

At Colonel Hank's quiet explanation of the 'rumor', a few mories flashed through Jackson's mind.

“…Then, don't tell .”

He had heard of it, too.

Not with the exact keyword 'Penal Soldier', but he had heard so peculiar news from within the Orc Mountain Range recently.

“The fact that the 82nd and 27th Garrisons suddenly achieved a great victory right before their bases were to be dismantled…”

Nod-

“I don't know the exact details either, but from the looks of it, that's probably what happened.”

“……”

“Those places, like us, had requested Hero personnel and were dispatched a Penal Soldier from the higher-ups.”

It was shocking news.

To think that the few pieces of good news that had co from the Anti-Demon Front, the ‘Orc Mountain Range’, were all the result of a single Penal Soldier.

The fact was especially shocking to Jackson, who had personally seen the docunt summarizing his information.

‘…A Hero candidate.’

Unless he had seen it wrong, Prisoner Number 4331's original Hero rank was 'Hero candidate'.

Naturally, that was the lowest rank among the personnel drafted as Penal Soldiers.

Of course, that was his rank ‘before’ he was imprisoned for the cri of 'Hero-slaying', so it was possible he had gained skills beyond that afterward.

But that was, quite literally, just a 'possibility'.

Even for a Penal Soldier, they were locked up in a cell during normal tis, so it was practically impossible for them to have significantly improved their skills beyond their previous rank.

In the first place, even if his previous rank had been written as a 1-star Hero instead of a Hero candidate, it wouldn't change the fact that this situation was incomprehensible.

A situation that was utterly impossible to understand.

However, it was also a situation that could not be denied.

It had happened right before everyone's eyes, right before his own.

Thud, thud-

Unable to bear the growing questions in his mind, Jackson approached him.

How on earth was the current phenonon possible?

What was his true identity?

Was it true that he was once a Hero candidate?

He wanted to break the unspoken, unwritten rule of 'not asking about a Penal Soldier's past' and ask him directly.

…But.

When he actually reached Prisoner Number 4331.

“You.”

“……?”

“What was it again… Mr. Jason?”

The one who spoke first was not him, but Prisoner Number ‘4331’.

“…It's Jackson.”

“If you've got nothing to do, don't just stand around. Let's get a job done.”

Tiring-!

[The Constellation, 'Olympus's Ruffian', wears a satisfied expression and agrees with the Penal Soldier.]

[The Constellation, 'Olympus's Ruffian', says this is not the ti to bask in victory.]

[The Constellation, 'Olympus's Ruffian', offers you a Sudden Quest.]

[QUEST: Worker Hunt]

Classification: Submission

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆

Client: