Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: 16. The Liberal Alliance and Ian (1)
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“Oh ho...”
Lucia peered into the mirror at her reflection, admiring every little detail.
“It's been so long since I've seen my bare face. It's quite fascinating.”
Her skin looked so much cleaner now, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from it.
Unlike her admiration, I was a bit worried.
It hadn't fully healed.
I didn't know what it looked like before, but red rashes still lingered.
Even if it wouldn't soak the bandages with pus and blood after just a little time had passed, it was better, but that didn't mean it was completely cured.
The fact that even a tiny amount of elixir couldn't heal it completely meant that my suspected 'real reason' was indeed the root cause.
It was a problem I couldn't fix right away, so easing it with elixir was the best option for now.
“How's your condition? Your mood, energy levels...”
“Hm... I feel like I could run around for half a day straight.”
“That's a big improvement.”
Her breathing was even clearer now, too.
And her movements seemed more natural and light.
“Let's take another eighth of it.”
“...Will I have to sleep again after that?”
“The elixir makes you sleep to heal your body, so getting a good rest is better. Since we're using something so precious, don't you want to get the full effect?”
“True... but sleeping all the time feels a bit off.”
Even as she said that, Lucia obediently downed the elixir.
“Oh. About that Lorenzo guy.”
“Yes?”
I explained what had happened while she was asleep.
“...Lorenzo started a rebellion?”
“Doesn't seem like he planned it... but he's not entirely blameless. Apparently, a few others from his family were involved too. So, the duel tournament's canceled.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Lucia tapped her glass thoughtfully, then smiled brightly.
“Good riddance. He toppled himself for us. I wasn't interested in the duel tournament anyway. But what's this about the 1st Hero Party?”
Some people were like that—rare, but they existed.
People utterly uninterested in the hero ecosystem.
“...You know what a hero is, right?”
“Of course. Hard not to after Lorenzo.”
And Lucia might be one who'd deliberately avoided learning more because of him.
“Think of it as the strongest hero party among them.”
“Got it... You're their manager, right, Ian?”
I'd mentioned it while explaining.
“Yes. Not anymore, though.”
“So Ian's pretty impressive too, then?”
“Well... It's weird saying it myself, but yeah, to some extent. Not amazingly so.”
“Hmm. I figured you weren't ordinary when you casually gave me an elixir.”
She didn't seem particularly impressed, probably due to her lack of interest in heroes.
For me, that reaction was somehow relieving.
“I don't know much, but I'll do my best going forward.”
“No need to feel burdened. Anyway, I have to step out, so how about hanging out with the others? You can introduce yourselves.”
“Sure. It'll be good to get to know the people I'll be living with. Who are they?”
“Hm...”
The shy strawberry and the confident orange that might bolt anywhere at times...
“They're all good, capable, kind people without any rough edges.”
“Like Ian?”
“Hm... Hard to rank.”
Lucia burst into pure laughter.
Her voice was much more pleasant to hear than before.
*
“I'm Lucia di Fiorelle, and starting today, I'll be traveling with you all.”
Lucia gave a formal greeting, full of noble grace and etiquette.
She might hate this place, but the education she'd received here was ingrained in her.
“Fiorelle...”
“Yes, that's right. But please forget the family name and just call me Lucia casually.”
Not knowing the circumstances, Vivian and Helena accepted her request.
“I'm Vivian.”
“Helena, the feeble kindling!”
Mercy, now awake, welcomed her with applause.
“I'm Mercy! Not a hero, but nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too.”
Naturally, it was Kati's turn next.
“Kati.”
She introduced herself briefly, as always.
Anything more was my job.
The problem was, I couldn't reveal it right now.
“We should chat more with the new member, but sorry, I have to head out urgently. You can share this room for now. Lucia might fall asleep soon from the elixir, so please bear with it.”
Vivian and Helena were slightly surprised at the mention of elixir.
But they nodded in understanding soon enough.
Knowing I was Philip, an elixir wasn't that shocking.
“And I might call Kati away midway, so don't be startled then either.”
At the mention of possibly needing Kati, Vivian and Helena looked worried.
It wasn't certain, but I needed to reassure them now.
Over-worrying wasn't good.
Besides, this matter wasn't that dangerous.
Not compared to Kaily, anyway.
“No need to worry. It'll be fine. Sorry I can't explain more since it's urgent. I'll fill you in when I get back.”
“Okay.”
“Yes! Take care!”
After their goodbyes, along with Lucia and Mercy's, I left the room.
The moment I stepped out and moved away, a subtle presence nearby latched onto me.
'So, the target's me after all.'
While talking underground with the emperor and others, I'd sensed someone eavesdropping.
And that presence had followed me ever since, and still was.
Not the crown prince or the holy emperor—me as the target was unexpected.
I needed to find out who it was.
And what they wanted.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ian left the city late at night.
As he walked a secluded path, he conversed with Kati.
'Kati. You sure you're really okay? No hidden injuries I can't see, or internal damage you're concealing?'
[No.]
'For sure?'
[Yes.]
'Alright...'
Kati rarely showed her true feelings outwardly, but Ian could easily pick up on even the subtle changes.
When he'd checked earlier, there was no sign of her lying, so it was probably fine.
Still, he couldn't help worrying.
It was one of Kaily's secret techniques, after all.
He knew Kati was strong enough to block it, but he hadn't expected her to come out unscathed.
He'd even been prepared to use up all the remaining elixir.
[It might be due to the diet.]
'...Ah. Right.'
Kati had been pondering Ian's concern, and the answer wasn't hard to find.
Since traveling with Vivian, Kati had been eating the superhuman diet too.
[And...]
'And?'
[...Never mind.]
'What? Don't leave me hanging.'
After a brief silence, Ian spoke.
'Sorry.'
Without Kati, even if the sword path had deviated, he would've been seriously hurt.
This wasn't the first time.
Whenever things got too tough for Ian, Kati had always stepped in to protect him.
Because of Kati, Ian could push into somewhat risky situations.
Ian looked down at his ring.
A ring of two snakes biting each other's tails.
His had originally been white, but now one snake was black.
Kati's ring was the same.
Using the summon ability kept them in this state for 12 hours.
The summon was sealed until the ring returned to normal.
[Master.]
'Yeah.'
[Protecting and helping you brings me endless joy. So, no need to apologize.]
'...Thanks.'
By now, they were quite far from the city.
The presence pursuing him grew steadily calmer.
'An ambush.'
A dark path thick with trees.
A time when no one passed by.
Amid the wind gently rustling the bushes, Ian's sharp hearing caught the anomaly.
The slow sound of a sword being drawn brushed his ears.
[Be careful.]
'I will.'
He knew it was weaker than him, but Ian said it anyway.
*
Edgar, representative of the Liberal Alliance, secretly tailed Ian out of the city.
He couldn't invade private spaces, so he didn't know why Ian had come out.
But that didn't matter.
In these chaotic times with even the gendarmerie and city guards in disarray, what mattered was that Ian had ventured into the darkness outside the city.
'What an idiot with zero sense of danger. How the hell did this guy wipe out that branch...'
No reason to hesitate.
They were now far from the city gates.
The surroundings were dirt paths, dense trees blocking visibility in the dark, and scarce foot traffic.
No lights, barely enough to make out the path ahead.
'No way he dodges this.'
Even among B-rank heroes, none had sensed, let alone survived, this ambush.
A one-strike kill with blinding speed.
Perfect for the safety-first Liberal Alliance.
Edgar, tracking silently through the bushes, leaped onto the path and ambushed Ian from behind.
-Whoosh!
The sharp sword pierced through Ian's back and protruded forward.
“......”
But there was no sensation of hitting flesh.
“Wha...”
The blade had passed precisely between Ian's arm and side.
“Th-this...”
Panicking, Edgar tried to pull the sword out, but it wouldn't budge.
It hadn't even stabbed into anything, yet it was firmly stuck.
Only after his eyes adjusted to the dark did Edgar see.
Ian had clamped his arm down on the blade, holding it tight so it couldn't be withdrawn.
'Wh-what strength...'
Without turning, Ian asked,
“Who are you?”
“H-how...”
He was calm, as if he'd known the ambush was coming.
Even with all his might, the gripped sword wouldn't move.
Ian spoke low, like a final warning.
“Asking again. Who are you?”