Chapter 443: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today [R-18] (33)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 443: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today [R-18] (33)
The one who had summoned the ogre wasn't as far as I'd expected. Following the presence, I arrived at a tall tree where a figure in a black cloak stood.
‘There he is.’
Unaware of my approach, the man was muttering to himself on a branch.
"Damn it, what the hell is that…?"
Just then, his hand fumbled inside his cloak. He pulled out a refined magic stone shimmering with a blue light.
‘A magic stone inscribed with a teleport spell.’
It was an incredibly expensive item that even high-ranking nobles possessed only a few of. Using it would allow him to escape hundreds of kilometers away in an instant.
I immediately drew my sword and swung.
Slice!
The man’s arm was severed below the shoulder.
"Aaargh! My—my arm—!"
He screamed, tumbling from the tree along with the magic stone. Blood splattered everywhere as I landed on the ground and brought my blade to his neck.
"Who are you?"
"Hiek… You—you're the one who… my summon…!"
"Just answer my question."
I pushed the tip of my sword a little deeper, and a line of red blood trickled from his neck.
"Kugh… Hmph… Do you really think I'd tell you that…!"
"Making you talk isn't difficult."
I lifted my sword slightly and precisely sliced off one of his finger joints.
Snip.
"Gyaaaargh!! My finger—!!"
Listening to his scream, I spoke calmly.
"Next is your tongue. Then your eyes. Think you can endure that?"
As I pressed the sword tip further, the man's jaw trembled. He looked like he was about to piss himself.
"…I-I was hired by… the Berseran Empire…!"
The Berseran Empire.
Beyond the southern border of the Sibern Kingdom, past the Kaisern Kingdom, lay the greatest superpower on the continent.
"What was the request?"
"Th-that is…!"
"Do I need to cut off another one before you'll talk?"
As I slowly raised my sword, the man, terrified, blurted it out.
"Hiek! I was hired to… to capture the Hero!"
"The Hero? You mean that black-haired guy?"
"I-I wasn't sure if that man was the Hero… I was just trying to confirm it!"
"Why do you suspect that black-haired man is the Hero?"
"I-I don't know…! I just follow the targets my organization assigns…!"
"In other words, you don't actually know much."
"R-right…!"
I stared at the man for a moment, then smirked.
"You're not a very good liar, black magician."
The moment I said that, his expression changed. The face that had been trembling in fear just moments before was instantly replaced by a cold, sharp gaze, as if a mask had been removed.
"…How did you know?"
"It's ridiculous to pretend you're not a black magician when you're reeking of demonic energy."
The man dropped the act.
"Die! Dark Flame!"
Kwoooaaaargh!!
With an explosive burst of magical power, black flames erupted from his fingertips. A massive pillar of fire engulfed the surrounding trees and undergrowth. Heat and smoke momentarily obscured my vision.
But I didn't move an inch. I slowly raised my sword through the flames and swung it once.
Swish!
A sharp sword strike cut through the darkness, and the man's head was severed from his neck.
I flicked the blood from my blade and slowly sheathed it.
"Next, I should check if that guy is the real Hero."
*
When I emerged from the forest, knights and soldiers were standing on high alert. Beside them were the men and women Bi-yeon had given food to.
"Eat a little slower. It'd be a waste of effort saving you if you choke to death."
"Yesh!!"
At Bi-yeon's words, a man shoved a whole piece of bread into his mouth, looking ready to lick his fingers clean.
I casually approached and scanned the two women next to him.
One was clearly a priestess. Brown hair, a torn priestess's robe. It was stained with mud and the fabric was frayed, but… the body it revealed was quite serviceable.
‘Her breasts are about a D-cup. With thighs and hips that big, she'd be delicious to fuck doggy style.’
The mage next to her was the complete opposite. A small, slender frame. Her chest was lacking, but her skin was fair and her face was prettier than the priestess's.
‘Her ears look a little strange. Is she a half-breed?’
Her ears were slightly pointed, but not long like an elf's.
It was then that my eyes met with the black-haired man who was busy chewing on two pieces of bread.
"Ah! Thank you so much for your help earlier!"
He scrambled to his feet and bowed deeply.
I ignored his gesture and asked directly.
"I know. Are those two your women?"
"Huh? Ah, no! They're just… just companions!"
Good. That means I can touch them as I please.
"What's your name?"
The man hesitated for a moment before answering.
"It's Aaren."
"Alright, Aaren. Then let me ask you. Are you the Hero?"
As soon as I said that, the atmosphere subtly changed. All eyes turned to him.
"Uh, no. I'm not… I'm not the Hero."
He said the words, but his expression told a different story.
The two women beside him were the same. The priestess put a hand to her forehead and sighed, while the mage lowered her head, avoiding my gaze.
"Hmm, are you sure?"
"Y-yes, I'm not."
"Fine. If you say so… I guess there's nothing to be done."
I pretended to let it go. There was no need to press further. His reaction was enough.
"In that case, where were you headed?"
"Um…"
Aaren hesitated. He glanced at the women beside him, as if seeking permission to speak.
This time, the mage spoke first.
"Haa… We're heading to Lienos, the capital of the Holy Kingdom."
"Lienos, you say. I'm heading that way myself. If you don't mind, would you care to join me?"
The three of them exchanged glances. They were hesitating. Though they had been saved by me, they seemed reluctant to travel together.
"Come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself."
At my words, all three of them looked at me.
"I am Marquis Jin Alcladion of the Sibern Kingdom."
In that instant, the priestess's face went pale.
"Ah… If you are Marquis Alcladion…"
"Hilla…?"
The mage called the priestess's name.
The priestess, Hilla, quickly bowed her head and whispered something into Aaren's and the mage's ears.
The expressions of the other two hardened at her words.
"M-Marquis… I-I'm sorry. We were so rude…"
Aaren quickly bowed his head, stammering.
I didn't recall them being particularly rude. But to commoners, a noble was not an object of respect, but a being to be feared. Especially if that noble possessed great power and a high title.
"There's no need to be so frightened. If you don't need my help, we can simply go our separate ways."
Just as I was about to turn away, Hilla quickly stepped forward.
"Um… Marquis. If it's alright with you… may we accompany you to the Holy Kingdom?"
Aaren and the mage both looked at Hilla. Receiving their gazes, she quickly whispered to them again.
‘You know I’m from Sibern, right? I’ve heard Marquis Jin Alcladion has a good reputation and is highly respected. This is a dangerous road, so it’s better to accept his help.’
I heard every word of her whisper but pretended not to. Aaren and the mage seemed a little relieved after hearing Hilla's words, but they still hadn't let their guard down completely.
"Then… we will go with you, Marquis."
I gestured to the waiting soldiers.
"Prepare a space for them in this carriage. They are guests who will be accompanying us to the Holy Kingdom."
"Yes, Marquis!"
The soldiers moved briskly, and a carriage was quickly cleared out.
The three of them climbed aboard cautiously, and the rest of the knights reformed their ranks.
*
As the carriage rumbled forward, Ivril, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up.
She tilted her head slightly and asked cautiously.
"My Lord… do you truly believe that man, Aaren, is the Hero?"
"Yes. I dealt with a black magician in the forest. He claimed he was hired by the Empire to confirm if Aaren was the Hero… but I can't be sure if that's the truth, so I plan to find out for myself. And I suspect there's a high probability he is the Hero."
I glanced out the window for a moment before continuing.
"He can't even lie properly. He couldn't hide it on his face."
"I see… For so many Heroes to appear like this… it makes me worry about how dangerous the world is becoming."
"There's no need to worry. Whether it's the Demon King or the Seven Deadly Sins, none of them can do anything before me."
I turned my gaze to her.
"More importantly, Ivril, I haven't given you your reward in a while. I'll give it to you now."
"…Ah, yes…"
Ivril blushed and carefully moved closer to me. Then she lowered her head slightly and glanced over at Bi-yeon. Bi-yeon was looking out the window with her arms crossed, but I didn't miss the slight twitch at the corner of her eye.
Ivril sat beside me and looked up.
"You know what to do without me having to say it, don't you?"
"Yes… I do."
She nodded obediently and carefully stuck out her crimson tongue.
"Ah…"
Her tongue was moist, and her eyes trembled slightly, as if in longing.
"You've gotten prettier lately."
I slowly raised a hand to cup her chin and pulled her face closer. Ivril's eyes widened for a moment before she gently closed them.
The moment her lips met mine, a hot breath spread between us.
*
Meanwhile, a hushed conversation was taking place in the carriage behind them.
"Hilla, how could you just decide that on your own!" the mage whispered sharply, her brow furrowed.
"Rien, it's a dangerous road. That's all the more reason to make the safe choice. And I told you, Marquis Alcladion has a good reputation…"
Rien looked like she didn't understand at all.
"A reputation? Is that it? I've seen countless nobles who act respectable on the outside but are filthy behind the scenes!"
After speaking, Rien turned her gaze to Aaren, who was sitting beside her.
"Aaren, what about you? Do you think Hilla is right?"
Suddenly put on the spot, Aaren shook his head in confusion.
"W-well… I… Let's just not fight… I'm just thankful we're alive right now…"
"Don't evade the question. At an important moment like this, you, as the leader, need to state your thoughts clearly."
Aaren flinched at Rien's words, then let out a small sigh and spoke.
"…I don't know. I don't know what kind of person the Marquis is yet… but still, if it weren't for him… we might already be dead."
Hilla nodded slightly at his words, and Rien tilted her head as if telling him to continue.
"It's true he helped us. So for now, let's trust him and judge him slowly."
Rien still looked unconvinced, but she didn't argue any further.