Vidion de Seiros
The streets of De Meca were packed with the captured remnants of the underworld as Bagan left the warehouse and made his way back to the bustling district. In the past, catching them had been pointless—the underworld would simply cut off its own tail and start a new operation somewhere else. But this time, the tails had already been severed. All that remained was rounding them up.
“I didn’t realize there were this many businesses involved,” Bagan muttered, genuinely surprised by the sheer number of captured underlings. He had known it was a lot, but the number of people hiding in the shadows far exceeded his expectations.
At this rate, the guild’s going to feel pretty empty.
Not all of them were like that, but judging by their attire, many gave off the unmistakable vibe of mercenaries or adventurers.
(If you include the ones who ran away, won’t the city feel a little cold?)
There was no real cause for concern, but Sally’s words would likely have some impact. The quick-witted ones had probably fled the moment trouble erupted in the guild.
It was a shame he couldn’t catch them all, but it wasn’t something worth dwelling on. Bagan nodded in agreement with Sally’s telepathic comment.
“You’re right. But they won’t be welcomed anywhere else. They’ve already been exposed.”
What happened after that was up to them—either they cleaned up their act and lived honestly, or they failed to adjust to a normal life, committed another crime, and got caught again. Still, the first option seemed unlikely. Criminals, no matter how many masks they wore, could never resist their own desires. They always ended up committing another crime.
People aren’t something you can just fix and reuse.
Bagan organized his thoughts and smiled as he imagined a cleaner De Meca. Even though his name wouldn’t be publicly announced, he felt like he had finally accomplished something meaningful since arriving in this world.
Thanks to him, the underworld had collapsed in a single stroke. The citizens of De Meca no longer had to fear walking the streets at night. The market he was passing through now was even livelier and noisier than before.
“Who knows, maybe now we can keep the stalls open late into the evening without worrying!”
“And they’re not collecting protection money anymore. It’s wonderful.”
“Serves those underworld bastards right!”
Most of the people speaking were those who had been extorted by the underworld, so their faces were bright with relief.
That was when it happened.
A group of goblins passing by spotted Bagan and tumbled over with a loud crash.
“Hiiik! It’s a scary person!”
“What?”
Bagan was dumbfounded by the way they pointed directly at him.
(I’ve never seen these goblins before?)
Exactly.
In their first meeting, the goblins immediately huddled behind their leader, who dropped to his knees in a protective stance. Looking at them, they didn’t seem like the type that made accessories. The ones who usually crafted accessories were regular green goblins. These, however, were larger hobgoblins born into a combat-oriented tribe.
From the leather armor they wore, the glass vials that likely contained poison, and the daggers gripped in reverse for easy slashing, they looked like adventurers no matter how you saw it.
“Hup! I-I’m the goblin Shib! I didn’t do anything wrong! I won’t steal anymore!”
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
“S-strong person! Just spare our kids!”
Bagan frowned at the hobgoblin who was putting on a one-man show despite having done nothing wrong. No matter how good-natured he was, being randomly treated like a villain right to his face was unpleasant.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Bagan tried to leave the awkward misunderstanding behind, but the situation only grew worse. The goblin was making such a racket that it drew everyone’s attention.
“Those guys are pretty well-known. They’re a hobgoblin group that mostly does odd jobs.”
“Looks like they picked the wrong person. That guy looks ridiculously strong at first glance.”
“Exactly. Why resort to stealing? They should just live decent lives.”
Human women carrying trays on their heads and people browsing for goods began openly commenting on the scene.
“Hey! Make way! There’s a carriage coming through!”
What business would a carriage have in a crowded market street? Before Bagan could even think, the carriage rushed past, leaving him dizzy.
The chaos of the marketplace was the same no matter where you went. He pressed a hand to his throbbing temple and let out a sigh.
Should I just teleport to the inn?
He wasn’t used to this kind of atmosphere, which only made the confusion worse.
“Over here! There’s still some underworld trash!”
At that moment, a slightly youthful female voice rang out.
“What! Where?!”
“I thought they said it was all taken care of!”
The market fell into chaos once again. People scrambled in every direction, afraid they might get caught in the crossfire. But nothing happened.
The people who had been preparing to flee froze in place.
“Who said that?! Who was it?!”
Only then did the crowd begin searching for the owner of the youthful voice to learn the truth.
From between the throng of people, a woman stepped forward.
“You! You were just about to attack those goblins!”
She pointed straight at Bagan and declared it boldly. The accusation was so absurd that Bagan didn’t even feel wronged. He nearly laughed out loud. His head was pounding so hard it felt like this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.
Was there such a thing as ridiculous false accusation? Since there was no point in explaining himself, he simply tried to walk away.
But the girl’s face looked far too familiar.
“Huh?”
Bagan stared at her, momentarily lost for words.
(What’s wrong?)
Sally asked, but his mind didn’t return. The girl, apparently uncomfortable with his gaze, spoke up.
“…What are you staring at? Underworld remnant. Do you think I’ll back down just because of that?”
She wore an elegant dress and had long red hair that reached her waist. With sharp, cat-like eyes, a high nose bridge, and delicate lips, she was a striking girl. The small but sharp fangs visible whenever she spoke left a strong impression.
Bagan knew exactly who she was. Of course, she had no way of knowing him.
He quickly regained his composure and greeted her.
“Ahem. Lady Lilia, that’s enough of the jokes.”
She was the daughter of Montihall de Kairos, the lord of De Meca.
“Huk! How did you know? I disguised myself so well!”
She was surprised that Bagan had recognized her, and she glanced around nervously, worried that people’s eyes might turn toward her. Her furtive glances said it all.
But Bagan’s eyes couldn’t be fooled.
That’s what you call a disguise? You’re practically screaming that you’re a noble!
(The outfit is way too eye-catching to begin with.)
Sally agreed with Bagan’s assessment. The citizens of De Meca usually wore plain, monochromatic clothing. Meanwhile, Lilia was strutting around the streets in a flashy dress. If this was her disguised state, just how extravagantly did she normally dress?
“There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize you. But shouldn’t you be in De Seiran right now?”
Her father, Montihall, lived in De Seiran. He was the brother of Pelion de Seiros, the king of Seiros Kingdom, and the uncle of Vidion—the prince, one of the Seven Great Heroes, and bearer of the title Divine Spear.
Naturally, Lilia was Vidion’s beloved cousin and the person he cherished most. The two were practically a set. Lilia should have been attending the academy in Seiros Kingdom, far from De Meca.
Yet here she was in the De Meca market. And soon, something Bagan could never have imagined was approaching.
A presence so overwhelming that it radiated power even from a distance. A being worthy of being called one of Pangea’s Seven Great Heroes. The man known as the Divine Spear. The one who existed in Bagan’s memories as a great Dragonian. The pillar that supported the entire Seiros Kingdom.
“Now that the wolf is gone, the dogs are running wild.”
From behind them appeared a Dragonian so massive he seemed to block out the sunlight.
“I figured Vidion would be here too.”
He had probably been following at a distance to guard her. But he really shouldn’t have revealed himself. Especially not in a place like this.
The moment Vidion appeared in the market, all hell broke loose. His massive frame, his voice, and his fame were impossible to hide.
“Kyaaak! It’s Lord Vidion!”
“No way! Why is he in a place like this?!”
“Quick, bring out the food!”
The people passing through the market were overjoyed. Regardless of race, they all rushed over and made sure to express their gratitude. They believed that the peace they enjoyed in Seiros Kingdom was all thanks to the royal family’s benevolence. To them, encountering Prince Vidion was the greatest blessing imaginable.
Bagan quietly slipped out of Vidion’s shadow and basked fully in the sunlight. Lilia, who had been watching him closely, approached and spoke.
“I don’t know when my brother arrived, but this is perfect timing. You! Once my brother steps out from the crowd, he’ll punish you severely.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Then why did you beat up those goblins lying over there?”
It was a massive misunderstanding. He had only tried to help the fallen goblins up. Bagan sighed at her baseless accusation.
“I get that you’re doing this because you feel sorry for them, but I’m the real victim here.”
“My brother will see through any lies anyway.”
“Suit yourself.”
No matter how much he explained, Lilia had no intention of listening. There was no point in talking to someone like her. It would only make his mouth hurt. Bagan let out a helpless sigh and waited.
(Can’t we just leave?)
There was no way he could.
No.
(Why?)
When Sally asked why, Bagan nodded vigorously with eyes full of determination.
How could I leave after finally seeing Vidion in person?
Bagan was also a huge fan of Vidion. So much so that in the game, he had raised Vidion’s affinity as if he were afflicted with a condition that required becoming close friends with him. He had learned every single technique Vidion taught.
There was a good reason for it. In Bagan’s opinion, Vidion was the ideal hero. His skill was beyond question, so setting that aside, his character was the very definition of a perfect hero. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, Vidion was the rare embodiment of the strong protecting the weak.
This was his only chance to speak with that very Vidion in real life. If he waited patiently, his turn would come. Leaving the fuming Lilia behind, Bagan waited for Vidion in a relaxed manner.
And finally, after finishing what looked like a fan meeting with the market crowd, Vidion approached Bagan.
“So, according to Lilia, you’re a member of the underworld?”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m not part of the underworld. Those goblins saw me, fell over, and I was just trying to help them up.”
At those words, Vidion scanned Bagan with sharp eyes. The vertical pupils characteristic of Dragonians appeared, thoroughly analyzing what kind of person Bagan was.
“You’re not lying. However, I believe what Lilia says. Look me in the eyes and say it again.”
Vidion stared at Bagan without blinking once. This was practically a test. No one could lie while looking into Vidion’s eyes.
“It’s the truth. I am not a member of the underworld.”
Ping!
Bagan felt as if lasers were shooting from Vidion’s eyes. The pressure was that overwhelming. He wasn’t even using Fear, yet the refined aura he emitted was enough to earn him the title of hero.
Bagan felt a fresh wave of emotion at the aura he could never have experienced directly in the game.
“Hmm, indeed…”
Vidion, who had been staring intently at Bagan, sensed his innocence and withdrew his gaze.
“What?! Brother! You’re saying this man really isn’t from the underworld?”
“Lilia, it seems you’ve misunderstood something.”
Vidion had suddenly turned into a doting older brother, his demeanor softening. Lilia, for her part, fulfilled her role as a spoiled little sister perfectly.
“Haa. I suppose this is enough for the inspection. I told you not to follow me.”
“I didn’t follow you. We just happened to run into each other on the road.”
It was an obvious lie that wouldn’t fool anyone. Lilia looked at Vidion with a face full of displeasure before speaking.
“Then let’s go back.”
“Shall we?”
With that, the rather dull situation came to an end. At Lilia’s suggestion to return, Vidion proudly showed off his incredibly thick forearms and lifted her in a princess carry. With a single leap, he flew all the way to De Meca Castle. It was enough to give a rough estimate of Vidion’s true strength.
“Whoa~! He can fly too.”
(That wasn’t flying, but anyway, what a pointless situation.)
“What a shame. I should have told him I respected him.”
(And yet you were speaking to him so casually?)
“That couldn’t be helped. Otherwise it would’ve been annoying later.”
(Your first impression probably wasn’t great.)
Hearing that, Bagan realized Sally was deliberately teasing him and issued a stern warning.
“Keep that up and I won’t buy you any more books.”
(T-that’s not fair!)
Sally sounded like her heart was about to break. Bagan, who had only been joking, suddenly remembered that the book’s return deadline was approaching.
“More importantly, the return period is almost up. We should return it.”
Sally nodded as if she had finished reading it as well, and the two headed toward the library.
The market was still noisy, even though both Bagan and Vidion had left. However, one person remained in the same spot.
It was Shib, the one who had called Bagan a scary person and caused the misunderstanding.
“T-that person is even scarier than Lord Vidion!”
“I’m hungry! Let’s stop and eat!”
“Shib~! I’m hungry! I’m leaving!”
Shib possessed eyes that could see strength. Because he could objectively perceive the power of living beings, he had witnessed Bagan’s ferocious aura and Vidion’s refined yet powerful presence.
Shib’s ability to see strength had this kind of side effect. The moment he witnessed overwhelming power and the biological limits of living creatures with his own two eyes, he would freeze in terror.
Having seen the Fear latent within Bagan, how could he not be afraid?
Shib remained motionless for a long time afterward. Only when hunger finally overcame his fear was he able to move again.