I was Reincarnated as an Incompetent Leader with Zero Popularity who met his downfall early on. Instead of banishing the hidden cheat Protagonist, I decided to embrace him, and somehow, I ended up being treated like a Hero instead. - Chapter 32

With Mian back in action, the fight against the giant slime finally started resembling a proper group battle.

That said, her flames weren’t directed at the slime, but at the vigilantes.

She could only conjure small flames for now, but even that was enough to make them panic. No one wanted their hair or skin scorched, so they had no choice but to charge toward the slime.

As a result, the monster’s behavior began to change.

Until now, it had focused solely on countering my attacks, but with more people engaging it, its rhythm was disrupted.

The spectators, who had been standing by, finally started using wooden boards and shields to ram into the slime repeatedly.

Even if it didn’t deal damage, the giant slime still reacted, swatting them away every time.

I took advantage of those moments when its attention shifted to the vigilantes and launched my attacks.

While they whimpered and cried after getting hit through their makeshift defenses, my own focus sharpened more and more.

I stopped thinking about how many more times I had to strike. Instead, I told myself, just one more time. One more hit.

I swung my sword, thinking only of the next attack. There was no time for despair.

I repeated the process over and over, until I reached the decisive moment.

The slime’s counterattacks had become far less frequent, allowing me to focus solely on attacking.

Though the vigilantes were practically serving as decoys now, I inwardly apologized while skillfully dodging the occasional blow aimed at me.

Something about the sensation of swinging my sword felt different.

At first, it had been like trying to hack away at thick meat with a dull knife. But gradually, that feeling was changing.

I could feel the blade cutting through.

As proof, the slime’s body began to split slightly each time I struck.

Though it quickly regenerated, I was getting closer.

Just a little more.

Once I fully mastered the technique for cutting a slime, I could rescue the boy from inside.

That was the first time I felt a clear sense of hope.

Then, a sharp impact struck the back of my head.

Instinctively, I swung my sword with full force.

The one I struck… was a vigilante.

A dull sound rang out.

“Agh… damn it!”

The man clutched his arm, groaning in pain.

At his feet lay a fallen shield. That must have been what I deflected with my sword.

Relieved that he wasn’t mortally wounded, I turned to him in disbelief.

“…Why?”

“Alva, behind you!!”

Mian’s urgent shout scolded me back to my senses.

But I was too slow.

Before I knew it, two of them had tackled me to the ground, pinning me down.

I didn’t understand why.

As I struggled, one of them grabbed my head with brute force and shoved it into the dirt.

“Mian! If you don’t want his skull cracked open, put out your flames—NOW!!”

They don’t want to fight that monster anymore.

They’re running away.

A voice spat the words down at me from above, followed by the sensation of actual spit hitting my skin.

Ah, I see.

I finally understood.

I was a hostage.

They were using me to force Mian to extinguish her flames—so they could escape from both her and the giant slime.

We had been the ones threatening them into cooperating.

I should have expected this.

Which meant—

The one who let his guard down was me.