Chapter 39: And you, my friend, are the true hater of Mi!

Several tents were pitched on the western side of the training camp’s clearing. Long wooden tables were set out, allowing the Hero candidates to grab their meals and dine nearby.

Lak sat in a corner with his food, feeling disheartened. Even if he could use interference magic to deny that Dane the chance to become a Hero—thereby removing one troublesome "Mino No. 2"—the grander plan to drag a Hero into the darkness was essentially a failure.

"A miscalculation..." Lak frowned, teeth gritting as he thought of Jenny and Tonk from earlier. They were such promising, corruptible sprouts... and yet, Mino had dragged them right back onto the righteous path!

As the strongest Hero in human history, Mino was an icon among these youths. His influence was so profound that everyone dreamed of becoming a Hero just like him.

Near the tables, candidates who had finished their training gathered to eat, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Groups of young people chatted excitedly, their faces filled with longing:

"I’m so nervous. I wonder if I’ll be chosen."
"I want to be just like Hero Mino and become a nightmare for the Demon race."
"Actually, I only came to the training camp to avoid becoming a Hero in the first place..."
"Once I become a Hero, I’m going to marry Lord Mino!"
"Whether I become a Hero or not, one day I’ll be a savior just like him!"

As these voices reached his ears, Lak muttered a curse, feeling utterly annoyed. *Mino, Mino, all they ever talk about is Mino.*

These candidates were hopeless... Damn it! When it came down to it, wasn't "Hero candidate" just a synonym for a bunch of bleeding hearts? Finding a seed of chaotic evil among them was a pipe dream. Besides, everyone here held Mino in such awe that even if he managed to corrupt one, what kind of threat could they possibly pose?

With a flicker of deep disgust in his eyes, Lak scoffed silently. He decided to abandon his plan and settle for a backup: he would simply pick the weakest candidate at the ceremony and frame them as the next "Mino No. 2."

He stood up, ready to leave, when—

"Mino? That idiot who can't even mount a horse? What kind of savior is he?"

Hm?

***

Lak, who had been about to walk away, widened his eyes and stared at the source of the sudden, discordant voice in the crowd.

Although he harbored similar thoughts himself, even he wouldn't dare say such things out loud. Especially not here, in a training camp where Mino’s spirit left such a heavy footprint... Was she not afraid of getting beaten up?

Sure enough, the area went silent the moment the words were spoken. All eyes turned toward her, and Lak immediately locked onto the girl. Unlike the other groups, the girl with red hair and red eyes, Shana, sat alone at a table, tearing pieces of rye bread and eating them bit by bit.

*It’s her?* Lak raised an eyebrow. After walking around the camp, he had learned of Shana’s nickname: "The Red-Eyed Girl with a Screw Loose." Honestly, he had dismissed the idea of approaching her the moment he heard it.

"Shana, how can you say that about the heroic and holy Hero Mino?!" someone immediately accused her.

"Am I wrong?" Facing the sea of indignant glares, Shana remained unfazed, offering a calm, sharp critique. "He’s just an idiot who got lucky enough to become a Hero."

*Eh?*

Lak stared at Shana, his heart skipping a beat as if something had struck a chord.

"Aside from his strength, which is admittedly impressive, does he have any redeeming qualities as a person?" Shana wrinkled her nose in disdain and continued, "He has no sense of propriety, his emotional intelligence is rock bottom—can't he even tell when people find him annoying? He’s always done things with that rigid, narrow-minded brain of his. Please, tell me, is there anything he’s done that didn't require others to clean up his messes?"

*Bang!*

A nearby long table suddenly shook with a heavy thud, startling everyone. Turning to look, an old man in a black robe with a white beard stood up, staring intensely at Shana. His eyes flashed with a fierce light, and his beard trembled uncontrollably.

*This old man... he’s furious,* the onlookers thought. They didn't find Lak’s presence strange; the camp was often visited by noble servants or messengers from the Adventurer’s Guild looking to scout talent—a practice tacitly permitted by the palace.

Even an outsider like him was so distressed by those words... Watching Lak’s lips quiver as he struggled to speak, the candidates felt both moved and indignant. Judging by his emotional state, he must have a deep connection to Hero Mino. Look at how angry Shana had made this old man!

Meanwhile.

***

Lak’s heart was in turmoil. He stared at Shana in disbelief, a thousand thoughts coalescing into two words: *A kindred... a kindred spirit!!!*

Tears welled up in Lak’s eyes. He suddenly felt the urge to roar at the sky. This red-haired girl had perfectly voiced his own thoughts, acting as his mouthpiece and unleashing every grievance he held against Mino! And she did it in such a public place, a sacred site still lingering with Mino’s presence!!!

*Glorious!*

Heat coursed through his eyes. It had been too long—he had waited for this day for far too long. As the Chief of the Round Tower and Mino’s number one victim, he could never openly criticize Mino’s faults. The glorious title of the "Strongest Hero in Human History" had been like a mountain, pressing down on him until he was nearly psychologically warped.

But today, he finally felt the relief of having someone else carry the burden through the long, dark night!

*At last, a fellow 'Mino-hater' to debate on my behalf!!!*

"But Hero Mino was captured by the Demon King’s Castle to protect the kingdom!" a female candidate interjected. "Even after enduring the cruel torture of the demons, he has held out until now!"

"This resilient 'Mino Spirit' is something every candidate here should learn from!"

The crowd’s spirits lifted, and they clenched their fists, nodding in agreement.

*Yes, yes, yes.*

"Ha? Mino? Resilient?" Shana looked unimpressed. "Are you all mistaken? He’s just a guy who loves to grandstand. With that spineless look of his, I bet he knelt before the Demon King the moment he arrived and handed over all the important intel!"

"Shana, how could you say that?!"
"Apologize to Hero Mino at once!"
"That is Mino we're talking about, not some spineless, pathetic coward!"

In an instant, the crowd was up in arms, their gazes burning like fire as they glared at Shana.

Behind them, Lak’s head bobbed up and down like a hungry chick.

*YES! YES! YES!*