A Hero's Generosity

Once he had made up his mind, Pan Long spent each day killing monsters. During his breaks, he scanned the surroundings from the highest platform of the Lookout, and before dark each evening, he circled Black Skull Island to check for signs that anyone else had come ashore.

While hunting monsters, he also often visited the Seal to make sure it had not been damaged.

If someone really came to the island to break the Seal and release the Demon King, Pan Long would fight that person to the bitter end.

I might not be able to beat the Demon King, but you? I can beat you!

A few more days passed like this. He saw no ambitious schemer coming to break the Seal, but he did see a warship approaching.

"Oh, it's July already," he murmured with a sigh.

The soldiers from Pike Town patrolled Black Skull Island every two months. Apart from a slight delay around the New Year, they arrived on the first day of every odd-numbered month.

...Of course, it was no ironclad rule. If heavy wind or rain struck, they would postpone the trip by a few days.

The weather had been good lately, so naturally they had not postponed it.

Only when he saw the ship did Pan Long realize July had arrived.

He had come to Black Skull Island in late May. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

"Time really flies!"

The warship entered the harbor, and a dozen or so soldiers disembarked, keeping a wary watch. Then they saw Pan Long walk out of the Lookout.

"Are you soldiers from Pike Town?" he asked. "I'm a Hero-in-Training from the Royal Capital Hero School. I came here to train by killing monsters."

The soldiers froze. They had