The Former Hero Wants To Live Peacefully - Ch. 12 - The Hero Manages Poorly

[BananowyJE]

I wonder why people are expecting a perfect being?

Because he is shown as a perfect being from the start.
Ultimate Sword Master
Ultimate Magic User
Beloved by all gods
The paragon of justice chosen by the heavens.
Saves girls left and right and they instantly fall in love with him, doesn't matter the race or their past.

 

[jjones292]

Siiiigh.

I wonder why people are expecting a perfect being?

Noel got fucked over, and his job is done. His sacrifice is done.

Noel was never meant to be sacrificed at all and was betrayed by his allied.

And he wasn't paid for it in any way, shape, or form. And why are you expecting him to save everyone?

With how the story has portrayed him he's seen as selfless and forgiving with his actions and with the impersonation of his name he's actively indirectly harming innocent people by ignoring it.

That's some unrealistic expectations right there. And it's not inconsistent. He can't help but help people in need, sure, but that's not to the extent of stupid self sacrifice or overextending.

It's not unrealistic when impersonation is a crime in both this world and the real world and can active harm many people. It's inconsistent because from what he is portrayed as from the previous chapters is "Selfless" and "forgiving" with the people he's interacted with. Realistically all he needs to do is just show that he's the actual hero (doesn't even need to reveal he's Noel) and then the people won't be afraid of protesting and the royal family will lose a lot of support, no need for sacrifice or overextending.

And nothing's going to bite him in the ass in terms of kingdom harassment. They don't even properly know he's still alive, and none of them are interested in looking.

The Kingdom doesn't know he's alive but the fact remains that they wanted to get rid of his village at some point and if the coup failed then it would result in the eventual discovery of his by the royal family which would then cause the harass to continue. Then you have the fact of dealing with the problem immediately and snuffing out any form of harassment that could've been a nuisance to begin off with.

Spoiler: Besides (Spoiler)

They aren't going to have time to harass. That last panel? That's a rebellion about to happen.

Spoiler: Further (WN) Spoilers For Fates

In the WN, Gudal gets ganked by a wraith that was one of the women he'd ruined, along with his entire mansion. The rebellion goes off without a hitch, minimal casualties. The Saintess isn't meant to have worldly relations, so her powers are stripped, and she's re-educated by the Great Saintess. All of this probably within the next few chapters.

Regardless of how things turned out in the end it doesn't take away of the fact of this could have all been made extremely simpler and quicker if the hero had participated and the reason why he didn't was cause he wanted to continue building his village in which if by some chance the coup had failed then it'd result in the eventual harassment of his village.

Simply put Noel doesn't need to be perfect but his decision contradicts his character and what the reader's impression of him is. He comes off as selfless and forgiving but doesn't stop his impersonation and leaves the people to continue suffering even after being told all of this. Noel's decision and reasoning comes off as ignorant due to how this could've potentially gone bad for him and how much he actually affects the people. Noel actively allowed the innocent people to continue suffering to just continue building his village.

 

[ShinduPK4]

Bro summoned an accountant

 

[Coldlight]

Noel's stance on the brewing coup reminds me of the US pre-Pearl Harbor. Supporting the Allies with material supplies, but no troops until directly attacked. Except he won't get caught by surprise unless it's a betrayal.

I don't care that he's not scrambling to help the coup or anything, I know for a fact he doesn't see himself as the "hero" anymore and he is not the Lawful Good hero other commenters want him to be, which they just cannot accept. Man wants to be True Neutral, I'd say let him. He's strong enough to afford it and protect the friends around him. Is it selfish? Sure, but he doesn't owe that rotten kingdom anything after all that's happened. Neither does he owe the coup plotters who want to destroy the kingdom, although there are long-term benefits to helping that side.

It's like if Clark Kent decided not to continue being Superman after permanently beating the big bad and just settle down in his hometown to be a farmer instead. It's an interesting take, and I appreciate how things in this world are not really all black and white, simple good or evil. Flio from Lv2 kara Cheat datta Moto Yuusha is another example of a protagonist not being the Lawful Good superhero, just a neutral (OP) guy wanting to live peacefully with his friends and family.

But oh man, this lazy writing LOL. Just when they had a need for something, instead of having someone train or learn to fill the role, it just introduced a new haremette instead. Need some skill? Here's a new girl, instant expert.

I don't suppose this will just introduce a new girl for each need they have? Sounds ridiculous but I guess it's a bit better than just having the male lead suddenly become a competent expert in certain fields as needed. Can't be worse than "his powers are based on need".