People around me kept chattering non-stop about some blonde hero from ancient times.
This "Chosen One" skill is terrifying. I just made a man unconscious with a single look. Wait, no—I have a hazy memory of making someone pass out as Rudra, but there were a lot of factors involved. I had a reputation for being an unhinged bastard, and I think I had everything that man cared about hostage? So, yeah, making an adult man faint just by my presence is downright scary.
Suddenly, the girl approached me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Big bro, that guy has been ogling me like a pervert for quite some time. Thank you for teaching him a lesson!"
Why the heck is she calling me "big bro"? I'm younger than her—well, maybe not mentally, but definitely physically.
"Yeah, you're welcome," I replied simply, trying to get back to more important thoughts.
I definitely heard the system voice say something like "Hero's Haki" and "Heroic Coercion."
Hero's Haki seems straightforward—it's basically the Conqueror's Haki, which is what knocked that guy out. But Heroic Coercion? Hmm… Coercion means persuading someone to do something through force or threats. So... if I threaten somebody, they'll be persuaded? Isn't that more of a villain thing? Well, considering my personality, it actually fits—not gonna lie.
I raised my hands, trying to pacify their unnecessary chatter, but they didn't stop until the unconscious guy suddenly woke up and spoke in a booming voice next to me, "Back down, all of you! How dare you try to befriend the mighty chosen hero who defeated me in one blow!"
I looked at him with one eyebrow raised. Who does he think he is? It's kind of funny, though.
Now the question is, everyone thinks I'm some kind of reborn hero… Well, I'm definitely reborn as somebody, but that somebody is definitely not a hero, I can tell you that.
But should I play along with them? My impulses are telling me to.
No, no—bad Masayuki, don't let your impulses control you. You know what happened to your past self.
But… but it would be funny if I played along with them.
Grrr, I'm going to do it...
"Hello, everyone. Can you please calm down? I'm in a tough spot right now. I lost all of my belongings fighting a… powerful dragon…"
"Did he just say powerful dragon? He must be talking about the True Dragons."
"Chosen Hero, thank you so much for saving us!"
"Yeah, Chosen Hero, thank you very much!"
They started chattering again, thanking me profusely. But wait—did they say something about a True Dragon?
"I am sorry to have offended you," the guy whose name I forgot looked at me with sparkling eyes and apologized. "I didn't know that you were the chosen hero…"
"Yeah, it was a dick move," I replied with a nod, taking a few steps back from him. Seeing a grown man with sparkling eyes is seriously creepy.
"Yes, I'm really sorry. My name is Jinrai. People around here call me the 'Crazed Wolf,' and I'm quite a well-known adventurer. But I was too full of myself, and I again, sincerely apologize. Having experienced the truly wonderful techniques of the chosen hero—"
What do you mean by "wonderful technique"? You just got knocked out by one look from me. I really, really wanted to say that out loud but held my tongue. Jinrai continued.
"I realize I still have much to learn. While I am far from being a master, I still wish that you may take me in as your subordinate."
Hoh. Another thing I noticed—his accent changed for some reason. Well, I don't know anything about this place, so having someone who can give me information is a no-brainer.
"Okay then, I will take you as my subordinate."
"Thank you very much, Chosen Hero. And please, if you're okay with it, could you tell me your name?"
"Oh… Yes, my name is…" My mind started racing. Wait—based on my Crime Lord and Otaku experience (but mostly Otaku experience), giving my true name in another world is a bad idea. I have no clue what kind of magic (or is it called a skill here?) could be used to curse me with my name.
"Rudra."
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Author's Note: I just wanna see everyone freaking out when a Rudra lookalike arrives saying his name is Rudra and he has Rudra's skills, lol.