Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: 6:4
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The target I'd held a grudge against and seen as the object of my revenge up until now had finally appeared.
I'd even figured out where they were and what they were doing.
But they were someone far too strong for me to reach. Beyond that, my mind was in turmoil.
The resentment I'd harbored so far had been little more than lashing out.
I'd known that all along.
I simply had no idea how to reach the one I truly wanted to unleash my rage upon.
So I'd turned that fury toward beings in this world with actual flesh and blood, who breathed and lived.
And yet...
Now that I'd pinpointed the culprit, I had no clue what to do next.
I hadn't given up on revenge, nor had my anger faded, but something felt off.
This world being a game was true only from a player's perspective. To those living in it, this world was utterly real.
In such a world, could that puppet saint controlled by the player also be a victim? Doubts and suspicions like that began to creep in.
Just look at me—I hadn't wanted this, yet here I was.
Maybe the saint had ended up in a form they never desired, just like me.
Sure, they had everything in abundance compared to me, and exceptional talent to boot.
But wanting to end up in that situation versus being forced into it against your will were two entirely different things.
"First things first, I need to look into it."
Rushing in blind seemed dangerous.
I needed information.
One wrong move, and the player might switch to me and pull some insane stunt—no telling what could happen.
"The saint..."
To gather what intel I lacked, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild.
Ban probably knew more details, so I'd have to impose on him once again, embarrassing as that was.
I brushed the dirt off my clothes as I approached the guild, only to find a bizarre scene unfolding.
Ban was backed into a corner by someone.
The guy looked bigger than Ban.
Ban was so completely pinned that I hadn't noticed him at first.
The hulking figure, nearly two meters tall, was tapping Ban's cheek with the back of his hand. It didn't look painful, but it sure seemed humiliating.
Should I step in?
But if that brute kicked me, I'd probably go flying.
For now, I'd just watch quietly.
"Ban, when are you gonna pay up? The money."
"...Haha, uh, big bro? You know I've been working hard lately. Just give me a bit more time."
"I lent you gold coins, and you haven't paid back a single one. I've waited over half a year without a word—that's more than patient enough, don't you think?"
Guess he had reason to act like that.
I thought Ban was a good guy, but he's completely rotten.
Gold coins? How much was that?
I counted on my fingers, and a rough calculation put it at nearly ten million won.
"Why haven't you killed him yet?"
Pure curiosity bubbled up.
Borrowing that much was one thing, but letting half a year pass without any repayment plan? That wasn't forgivable.
As the two traded barbs, I let out a heavy sigh from behind them. Ban noticed and played it off.
"...Oh, oh! Ellie!"
"What? You know her?"
Ban called me over familiarly, and the man grilling him turned to look.
I had no set answer, so I just shrugged.
"Nah, stranger to me. Carry on with what you were doing."
"Will do."
Luckily, despite his fierce face, the guy had his head on straight. He ignored me and promptly kicked Ban in the shin.
Thwack! The sound echoed through the guild, but no one moved to stop it.
They just snickered among themselves, tossing out jabs at Ban's usual antics.
Stuff like how he blew every coin he got on gambling, always chasing a big score, and wouldn't be surprised if he dropped dead any day.
"Hey, you."
"Yes?"
Someone called out to me. Keeping my eyes on the floor, I scanned around and spotted slim feet approaching.
A woman's voice, woman's feet.
"Heard you've got a curse on your eyes?"
"...Probably."
"Probably? Yesterday that guy was making a face like he'd swallowed a bug, all worried—which is unlike him—and I asked about it."
"Worried?"
"Yeah. We were messing around yesterday, but his mind was elsewhere, so I prodded. He said yeah, his temper's bad, but he's not scum enough to hit kids—until he saw your eyes and just hated you on sight, so his hand moved first."
"Ah, that story."
It was what Ban had told me at the inn this morning.
He'd even apologized, which had touched me.
People often reacted that way to my eyes, but an apology afterward? That was a first.
"Hey, if you go over there and pick a fight with Ban, that uncle'll take care of your share too?"
Her words sounded like she was egging me on, so I furrowed my brow.
"No thanks."
"It's your rightful cut."
"Rightful or not, that's for me to judge."
"Look at you, all bold."
She ruffled my hair like I was cute, and I sighed.
Why'd someone like her butt in all of a sudden? Just then, things wrapped up—Ban promised to pay back within three months—and I sidled over to him.
"Ban."
"Yeah? Don't look at me—keep staring at the floor. I'll look at the ceiling."
"...You're really ugly."
"Can't help it. Big gambling game's coming up, I've got no cash, so I had to borrow."
I wondered what kind of thought process that was, but figured it was just how he lived. Sighing, I accepted it.
What right did I have to say anything? He wasn't family or a lover.
"Anyway, came to ask something."
"After I bullied you, you're okay with that?"
Well, if you put it that way, no.
His grip on my throat had been brutal—left bruises.
He'd slammed me to the floor; my whole body ached.
But more than that, he'd come apologize this morning. Wasn't that enough?
"You apologized. That's fine."
"Normal reaction would be 'it hurts, gimme money' or something."
"What's 'normal' even mean to you, Ban?"
The guy's not just rotten—he's twisted.
Ban flashed a hearty laugh at my words, then staggered to a chair, groped for it, and sat.
"Dunno what you're asking, but quick one? Or long one?"
"Probably need to ask a lot."
"Then order food. I'm flush anyway—split's 8:2."
"Why not pay your debt with that?"
"Gonna multiply it and pay in one go."
The more we talked, the dizzier I got, so I shook my head.
"Food? Cheapest thing."
"Cheapest? Nah, try the chicken stew? Gamey and meh taste, but huge portions—everyone loves it."
"Sure, that."
Ban ordered, declaring it decided, and returned.
"So, whatcha wanna know?"
"About the saint."
"Oh, interested? Like I said, just rumors—nothing detailed."
"Just tell me what you know."
At my request, Ban grabbed his ordered beer, wet his throat, and began.
It was the tale of the saint who appeared out of nowhere.
Half a year ago, the youngest son of a mid-tier merchant house took an interest in the sword.
The family head poured support into his prodigious talent, convinced he'd be a big shot.
Top mentors, fine blades, rare elixirs.
Treated near-nobly, and with his gifts, absorbed it all without waste.
In two months, he sparred his swordmaster. In three, he gained the edge.
By the fourth month, the head sought a temple blessing for his son.
That's when he received the baptismal name "Rie."
"Rie...?"
"Yeah, girly name, huh?"
That wasn't what surprised me.
So that's when she got the name.
Meaning her character was created then.
Just like the past events my traits mentioned, ones I had no memory of.
The saint had a backstory before character creation too.
The reason her name was stolen from me differed in timing from when it was slapped on her because, like how I became Ellie...
She'd had some other name originally, but it was overwritten with "Rie" taken from me, retrofitting her past to match. That was my theory.
"After that, word is she's helping the poor, solo-hunting monsters, exposing corrupt nobles—like some hero's epic."
Ban finished flatly and downed the rest of his beer.
Food arrived.
The untrimmed chicken stew looked grotesque, but it was decent enough.
"Unfair, right? We're scraping by at the bottom, while someone's handed talent and cash to that spot."
"...Yeah."
Anyone denying the inferiority complex would be lying.
But doubts swirled: was the saint doing all this by choice? I couldn't just curse her off.
"Where can I meet the saint?"
"She's on pilgrimage now, so next stop's predictable... Probably the village of Traks."
"How long to get there?"
"Time aside, travel alone's thirty silver. Got it?"
"...No."
"Then we both need cash. Wanna team up on a job?"
"...What job, and what's the split?"
"Like last time. 8:2."
"7:3."
"Pass if not."
"Fine, pass."
I wasn't planning to meet her right away anyway—just wanted to check the location.
I brushed it off lightly, and Ban panicked, grabbing my wrist.
"Wait, no! 7:3 it is—c'mon, join me?"
He's showing his desperation.
Can't be helped.
"What about 6:4?"
"Huh?!"
"Nothing urgent on my end, but you look desperate. Desperate one bends, right?"
"...I raised a monster."
"You didn't raise me—I grew fine on my own."
I shrugged.
Whatever the job, I had zero leverage to lose.