Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Heroes Grow While Fighting - 3
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Familiar faces began to appear.
Adwin tilted his head and asked,
"Bro. What's wrong?"
"I'm here."
"What?"
Instead of answering, I looked toward the inn door.
Creak.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but the door seemed to open agonizingly slowly.
Four of them appeared.
Offense. Still with that utterly unremarkable face.
Our eyes met, but neither of us acknowledged the other.
Serein. Still pretending to be cute and adorable.
For a priestess, how black is her heart? Just like with Jenia, even the gods in heaven have no eye for people.
Risel. You're still hiding behind Kaild, huh. Like a chick following its mother hen.
And...
'Kaild.'
His slightly coarse red hair tied back tightly.
A simple face with big eyes.
Behind that mask of the most innocent young man, how many sins have you committed?
I swallowed hard and said in a very low voice,
"Don't turn your head. Just listen. Kaild's party is here."
"......!"
"Offense must have told them what we look like. If we hide it, it'll just arouse needless suspicion from Kaild."
"Right. Should we go say hi first?"
"Hmm. Well."
At my ambiguous reply, Jenia spoke up.
"For now, let's just watch. They haven't noticed us yet."
"But they'll figure it out any second. Use some magic?"
"Neril's mana is too unique—it'll give us away immediately. Better if I do it."
"That little one over there seems to be a priestess. You'd stand out even more."
Then Adwin said,
"I'll use necromancy to hide us a bit. They don't seem to have a necromancer, so they won't notice."
Adwin chanted the spell.
Soon, our presence faded.
Almost like top-tier assassins deliberately concealing themselves.
'Still amazing no matter how many times I see it. I often asked him to cast it before my regression too.'
He said you could fool the eyes of the living just by slightly altering the color of one's soul.
But.
Thud. Thud.
Either Adwin didn't hear the footsteps approaching us, or he was too confident as he opened his mouth.
"Haha. See? As a friend of the dead, if I really put my mind to it..."
"First time meeting, Maide Mohan."
"Who are you. Daring to interrupt me."
"Huh? Haha, what an amusing kid. I'm Kaild Wake. Nice to meet you."
Kaild gave Adwin a refreshing smile and a wink.
Adwin, and Neril and Jenia too, all stared at Kaild in stunned silence.
Adwin's necromancy had definitely worked.
But Kaild had found us precisely, as if asking what the problem was.
For me, it was a sight I'd grown sick of before my regression, but for the others, it was their first time.
Plop.
Kaild placed a hand on Adwin's head and patted it.
"Necromancy, right? Impressive skill for your age."
"Ugh. Bro Maide. Sorry."
Adwin apologized to me with a tearful face.
I shook my head and looked up at Kaild.
Then I said quietly,
"Hey."
"Hm?"
"Who gave you permission to touch my comrade's head."
"......"
"Take it off. Unless you want to die."
The atmosphere suddenly turned icy.
Serein reacted first.
She gave an awkward laugh, deploying her natural charm.
"Ahaha. Hey. How about we don't do this and have dinner together instead? The tables here are big enough to share."
"......"
"Oh, um. Introductions first, right? I'm Serein, a priestess. This plain-looking passerby number one is Offense. This pretty sister here is Risel. And..."
When it was Kaild's turn, he cut Serein off and introduced himself.
"I said it earlier, but to repeat: Kaild Wake, hero."
"Hah."
Neril twisted her lips upward.
Kaild crossed his arms leisurely and asked,
"May I ask what that scoff means? Witch of Atrocities."
"You know me?"
"I have a pretty good information network too. The northern hero called Maide is traveling with someone as infamous as you. I thought it was ridiculous."
"......!"
"Maide, I know this advice might rub you the wrong way on our first meeting. But I can't not say it."
He sat in a chair I hadn't offered and crossed his legs.
"I'll admit it. You must have some strange talent. I hear your personal skills are top-notch too."
"......"
"But when I heard you travel with the Witch of Atrocities, I was convinced you're no true hero."
Neril trembled with rage.
"Traveling with a woman like this will only hurt your reputation. In many ways, you're an amateur."
Funny. He had Neril in his party before my regression too.
Crash!
At that moment, the glass in front of Kaild shattered.
It wasn't any great magic—just Neril unleashing her killing intent and aura without restraint.
"Hey. You. Say that again."
"I don't have a hobby of repeating myself."
"......"
"Besides, isn't that Jenia Side, agent of the gods, right next to you? Traveling and laughing with a witch who should be locked up immediately. Do you think becoming a hero is child's play?"
This time, Jenia's face hardened menacingly.
Kaild continued indifferently.
"Oh, my bad. Sorry."
"......"
"If you go back and tell your father, it'll put me in a tough spot."
"You!"
Kaild then turned his gaze to Adwin.
"Did you get proper permission from your parents?"
Hiss.
I slowly clenched my fist and raised it.
And.
Boom!
I slammed the table hard.
The sturdy wooden table split perfectly in two.
Everyone fell silent.
In that silence, I said,
"I choose my comrades. Neril, Jenia, Adwin. Taking them in was the best decision of my life."
"Ma-Maide."
"Maide."
"Bro..."
As if they never expected me to say that, they all looked at me in surprise.
I continued to Kaild.
"By the way, it's strange."
"Hm? What is?"
"From what I knew of your past actions, I thought you were pretty cautious."
"......"
"Rather than picking a fight right away, I figured you'd observe the situation first and plan how to protect your reputation while boosting your own."
At the word "reputation," Kaild swallowed hard.
"So you do know..."
"But instead, you provoke me like this."
"......"
"I see. You wanted to fight me from the start, didn't you?"
This time, Kaild's eyes widened.
He seemed shocked that I'd pierced right through him.
I sneered,
"You want to pick a fight somehow and 'accidentally' kill me in the process."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"But your provocation is too low-quality. None of my comrades would fall for it."
At that, my party members subtly averted their gazes.
Kaild leaned in close to me.
And smiled softly as he spoke.
"Don't slander me in front of my comrades. It was advice, not a challenge to fight. Since you don't get it, let me be more direct."
"......"
"Forget your foolish hero dreams and go home nicely. If you have no home as a wandering mercenary, I'll build you one."
"......"
"Our adventure with my comrades is to slay the Demon King. Not to get famous or enjoy wealth and glory. We all rose up boldly, each with our own story and noble purpose."
I had to work hard to hold back the laughter bubbling up.
"True heroes, and heroes-to-be, should be like this."
"......"
"If you want to make a name for yourself, fine. Join us and defeat the Demon King. But don't think about becoming a hero. With the continent's crisis at hand, I won't tolerate such human infighting."
Ah. Couldn't hold it.
I finally burst out laughing.
"Puhaha!"
"Did I say something that funny?"
"Hey. I was listening quietly until now."
I stopped laughing and continued.
"You're awfully arrogant."
"......"
"Only you can be the hero? Who decided that? Did some oracle come down without me knowing?"
"......"
"I hate guys who deceive people with their silver tongues. I still think your earlier provocation was low-quality, but I'll humor you for now."
Click.
I picked up the sword leaning against the wall.
Our party members and theirs alike widened their eyes.
Only Kaild watched me intently.
I slowly stood from my seat.
"Let's have a go. Self-proclaimed hero."
Thud. Thud.
We were heading to a spot for the fight.
Kaild's group walked about twenty steps ahead of us.
Neril whispered,
"Why bother rising to the provocation?"
"Personal reason and official reason. Which first?"
"......Official reason first."
I shrugged.
"As long as Kaild's aware of me, I won't get a chance to talk to his party members. He'll manage them tightly."
"Yeah, probably."
"But there's someone I really want to talk to. Risel, the key to this whole thing."
"......"
"While I fight Kaild and draw his attention, talk to Risel."
Jenia tilted her head.
"What should I say? Can't just say good evening."
"Tell her to come to our inn at midnight tonight."
"Maide... Of course you're very charming, but."
"Huh?"
"She won't come for that. She seems head over heels for Kaild. Look."
She nodded ahead.
Even in the darkness, Risel was toddling right behind Kaild.
I chuckled and said,
"Then add this: I know you're deceiving your party members."
"......! Is she hiding something? She doesn't seem like it."
"Just a hunch."
Jenia said,
"Anyway, got it. If you say so, there must be something."
"Thanks."
Then Adwin raised his hand.
"Bro. So what's the personal reason?"
"Oh. Nothing much."
I shrugged.
"That bastard mocked my comrades."
"......!"
"Neril, you're never a hindrance to me. If you ever thought that, stop right now."
"......"
"Same for you, Jenia. You trust your own eyes and travel with Neril. And respecting your father is no flaw."
"......"
"Adwin, you're young, but far more mature and thoughtful than most adults."
I continued slowly.
"It was probably to provoke me, but he still said harsh things to you all without knowing anything. So I'm going to teach him a lesson."
Everyone's faces flushed.
A while later, Neril finally spoke softly.
"Didn't I tell you? Yeah, probably not. Why didn't I? I should have."
"Get a grip."
"I'll say it just once."
"......"
"Meeting you is the greatest luck of my life."
This time, my face felt hot.
Jenia spoke up.
"I was about to say it first."
"Life is all about timing, kiddo."
"Ugh. Maide, meeting you is..."
Then Adwin jumped in shouting,
"I think it's the greatest luck too! Me too!"
"Hey!"
"Life is about timing. Neril sis said so."
Wham.
Jenia smacked Adwin's head.
What are they doing.
The outskirts of Tetra territory had a vast open field.
Probably once a training ground for soldiers, now abandoned after relocation.
Shing.
Kaild drew his sword there and turned.
"You too. Draw."
"Sure."
I drew mine and took stance.
From behind, I heard Serein whispering.
"Everyone. Don't worry too much. Kaild isn't the type to kill just anyone. Offense, say something."
"Hm. Agreed."
"Wow. No teamwork."
Neril chuckled and replied.
"We know someone who doesn't just not kill anyone—they absolutely never kill."
"Unyielding Sword Emperor..."
"I thought it was a hilarious penalty at first, but now I respect and follow that rule too."
"You must like Maide a lot."
"Huh? What?"
"What? Why pretend you didn't hear? Ahem!"
Then Kaild warned lowly.
"Serein. Don't talk to them."
"Huh? I was just..."
"Step back. Maide, why not ask your comrades the same?"
I shrugged.
"Worried we'll be swayed? You don't trust your party members."
"I just want to be thorough. That means I value my comrades, right?"
"Probably just makes you feel better."
"Can't beat you in words, huh. Anyway, tell them to back off. Or no duel."
"Not dying to fight or anything. Fine."
It was expected anyway.
I nodded to Neril and the others.
They smoothly put distance between each other.
Once they were almost directly opposite, Kaild spoke.
"I'll yield the first move."
"Arrogant. You don't even know my full strength."
"Maide Mohan. One thing."
He raised his sword with a soft smile.
"I don't lose to anyone."
"......"
"The hero doesn't lose."
......
But you got utterly wrecked by the Demon King.
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