Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Fate is More Often Bad. (2)
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Fate tends to bring more misfortune than good.
Mersenne arrived in Hasler, chasing after Jenny.
"...This is the place."
Hasler.
A hub of exchange where travelers and merchants heading south from the capital mingled with those coming up from the southern ports and forested continent.
And though they weren't numerous, even non-human sub-species wandered the streets.
The city brimmed with such vibrant energy that no one could imagine the tragedy wrought by the Troll Lord just days ago.
"The goddess is here..."
Of course, none of that registered in Mersenne's eyes.
His mind was consumed with a single thought: he had to bring the goddess... Jenny Harkur... back to the empire.
'Has the goddess forgotten her own destiny? Why would she abandon being a hero and come to a place like this?'
He was utterly convinced that Jenny was the goddess who had bestowed upon him the power of light.
A divine power stronger than his own light—he believed it was no different from the might of a god.
'Your apostle is here. Why?!'
Jenny was the goddess.
She was born with the fate of saving the world.
And she had granted him the power of light, making him her apostle—or so he thought.
'I don't know what circumstances led to this, but you are the goddess destined to save the world. I will bring you back, no matter what.'
He had arbitrarily concluded that they must become lights to save the world together.
He vowed to drag her back and force her to resume her role as a hero.
But finding Jenny in this sprawling city without any leads was impossible.
If she were nearby, he might sense her immense hero's power, but he could only detect it from close range.
"Guess I'll have to ask around."
For someone like him—a hero who stood above all others—to humbly inquire of the lowly masses who could only pray for salvation...
It bruised his pride terribly, but if it meant finding the goddess, he could endure it.
"Hey."
He grabbed a passing pedestrian to ask, when...
"Hey, did you hear? They say Jenny's switched to being an adventurer."
"Yeah! I heard it from an adventurer buddy. The guild's in total chaos."
The conversation between two other passersby drifted into his ears.
Jenny.
That name.
The name of the goddess.
Grab!
The moment he registered it, Mersenne seized the two men mid-conversation.
"Gah, you scared me!"
"Wh-who are you?!"
The pair startled and tried to wrench free, but escaping a hero's grip was, of course, impossible.
"Tell me more about that."
Overwhelmed by the subtle intimidation radiating from Mersenne, they froze in place.
"Uh, um... Y-you mean Jenny...?"
#
Learning that Jenny had become an adventurer, Mersenne bolted straight for the Adventurer's Guild.
'Adventurers are just barbaric thugs, aren't they? Why would the goddess go to such a place...'
Adventurers were rough and savage.
That was the common image.
Of course, some caused chaos while "resolving" requests.
Or they'd show up at a village posting a request, demand free booze and food, then squeeze them for extra pay.
There were those unmanaged barbarians.
Not that they were all like that, but heroes and champions from various nations spread negative tales about adventurers, cementing their poor reputation.
Why? Because they couldn't stand people doing similar work without the prestige.
This bred the image of rough savages, leading some to think, If that's how we're seen, might as well lean into it. More went wild, perpetuating the vicious cycle.
Thus, the stereotype of barbaric adventurers was born.
Naturally, plenty of good adventurers existed too.
Hasler was especially well-managed, with Scarlett serving as an exemplary model.
Of course, Mersenne knew none of this and couldn't fathom why a goddess like Jenny would enter a den of barbarians.
"Or perhaps the goddess extends her mercy even to these savage humans."
Was her boundless compassion impartial, even toward brutes?
Did she intend to let them feel her strength and holy light too?
Still, he couldn't understand.
The goddess was a being of destiny.
She had to save the world alongside her apostle—himself.
Something impossible in a filthy dump like this.
As he pondered how to persuade Jenny...
"We're back... Huh?"
A familiar face appeared.
Sky-blue long hair.
A haughty yet elegantly beautiful demeanor.
She wore leather armor and carried a staff now, unlike before, but there was no mistaking her.
She was the woman he had tried to kill.
"Demon possession."
It was undoubtedly Lin Pacific, the woman expelled from the academy after causing a demon possession incident.
He remembered her being purified by Jenny's holy power back then.
'She was here all along.'
She must have come to Hasler after her expulsion.
"...Uh, ugh."
Hearing "demon possession," Lin flinched, her face twisting in distress.
A man who looked like a hero had shown up, staring at her and saying that. She wondered if the academy or Pacific Kingdom had hired him for a clean sweep.
Separately, Jenny had saved her from demon possession and advised her to head to Hasler.
Her second... well, chronologically first, but Kane had become more important, so second—benefactor of her life.
She smiled warmly at the sight of Jenny.
'Jenny said she'd be here soon. It was true.'
She recalled Kane mentioning it before.
If not for the weird atmosphere, she'd rush over, greet her like an old friend, and chat happily.
"...!! I see."
At that moment, Mersenne looked at Lin with a look of realization.
"Is it because of this woman, O goddess?!"
He was convinced Jenny had come here knowing the student she'd saved from a demon was in this city.
Perhaps out of worry that the girl might cause trouble again.
So she'd come to Hasler, learned she was an adventurer, and become one herself to keep watch.
That was his theory.
"How merciful, as expected. But..."
"...??"
Lin, Jenny, Kane.
And everyone else there wore baffled expressions when...
"For the goddess to sacrifice herself over a filthy wench like this is too great a waste."
With those words, his eyes sharpened.
And suddenly, he drew his sword from his waist.
"Wh-what...?!)
People gasped at the sight, and Jenny rushed to intervene.
But Mersenne was faster.
His blade was already flying toward Lin's neck—the woman seemingly anchoring Jenny here.
Shrieeek—
Of course, Mersenne knew Lin was a talented hero candidate.
But her body was tainted from yielding once to demonic temptation.
For the goddess's destiny to be squandered on such a dirty woman was an unacceptable loss—or so he thought.
Of course, it was all his delusion.
"...!!"
Krunch!!
A swift ambush.
Even Jenny's reaction was a beat slow.
But Lin, who had suspected he might be an assassin sent to eliminate her, reacted quickly to his attack.
She blocked his sword with her staff.
The staff dented slightly, but infused with mana, it was sturdy enough.
She parried the strike, which lacked full mana due to the surprise nature.
"Tch..."
Mersenne moved for a follow-up, but Jenny had already dashed in to restrain him.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
She grabbed him from behind, pulling him away from Lin to prevent further attacks.
Yet Lin's expression darkened as she fended off the assault.
She should have sighed in relief that she'd blocked it.
Staring at her slightly dented magic staff, her eyes lost focus.
"...I swore I'd never let it get damaged."
She muttered in a low voice.
Then Lin lifted her head slightly, scanning the surroundings.
Spotting Kane watching her with concern.
"Ah, aaaah... How dare you, dare, Dare!!"
She suddenly went berserk.
Rumble rumble rumble—
"How dare you damage the staff Kane gave me... the staff...!!"
With her rage, frigid frost began settling over the area.
"Whoa?!"
"C-cold...!"
Nearby adventurers tried to help Jenny restrain Mersenne.
But the air froze solid, blocking their approach.
"How dare how dare how Dare how DARE!"
In the icy domain no one could enter, Lin slowly advanced on Mersenne.
"W-wait a sec..."
Jenny tried to stop her as she approached with a chilling expression.
But Lin seemed deaf to her calls.
Her eyes were unfocused.
It gave even Jenny chills.
This wasn't from the cold.
Sensing it, Jenny released Mersenne and stepped back.
It felt like Mersenne had touched something he absolutely shouldn't have.
This wasn't her place to intervene.
Anyway, the real danger now seemed to be that weirdo spouting nonsense.
Of course, if things got truly bad, she'd step in again.
"Wh-what is this?!"
Freed from Jenny's hold, he still couldn't move.
Seeing Lin's eerie approach, he toppled backward.
He realized that chilling aura was directed at him.
Fear crept in.
'Sc-scared? Me?'
Lin was clearly weaker than him.
Her will was frail enough to yield her body to a demon.
For him to fear such a person?
'Impossible. It's just the cold...'
Clang!
As he rationalized his shivers as mere chill, a massive, razor-sharp ice spike suddenly impaled the ground between his legs.
"...H-heh?!"
It had lodged perilously close, right between his thighs.
A little higher, and he'd be crippled for life.
He hadn't even perceived it.
Where the ice formed, how it plunged there.
He hadn't registered it at all.
In that instant, Mersenne realized.
This woman was stronger than him.
He didn't know how.
But she'd surpassed her potential limits, becoming stronger than him right now.
"I'll kill you. Kill you... No. I won't kill you. I'll make you suffer. Yes, make you live in agony forever."
And this woman, now stronger than him, intended to torment him painfully for some reason.
He knew it.
"Hiiik..."
Mersenne Remnant.
Born the Hero of Light, he had never faced death's brink before.
All foes were weaker; stronger heroes might exist, but no evil surpassed him.
Because he wielded the power of light.
But now.
For the first time, he faced an unbeatable "enemy."
He experienced the terror of death for the first time.
No—perhaps the fear of something worse than death.
"Sp-spare me..."
The proud bearing of one who believed himself destiny's hero was gone.
He was just begging for mercy from the terror before him.
He had become the same as the lowly masses he scorned.
Just sitting, praying for salvation.
"W-wait a minute, Miss Lin!"
And before the man seeking salvation...
"C-calm down first."
Salvation appeared.