Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Indirect Reunion - 3
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Jenia greeted us at the entrance to the shelter.
“Welcome. It doesn’t look like it was easy.”
She must have noticed the lingering exhaustion on our faces from barely holding off the earthquake.
“It was a bit dangerous, but it worked out in the end.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“We didn’t do much this time. Risel handled everything.”
I turned to look at Risel.
Her eye was hastily wrapped in bandages.
“Huh? Her eye?”
“I’ll explain later, but could you treat her first?”
Risel looked startled at my words.
“No, I’m fine...”
“You’re not officially in our party yet, but we can’t just leave our future comrade like this.”
“...”
“Jenia, please.”
Jenia treated Risel without another word.
Eyes were such a complex organ that it seemed to take quite a while.
In the meantime, Neril asked,
“By the way, how’s the atmosphere here?”
“You know it’s basic etiquette not to talk to a cleric or knight during treatment, right?”
“You’re answering just fine.”
“Sigh. Anyway, it’s much better. You’ll see for yourselves if you check.”
We experienced it firsthand soon after.
The second earthquake must have been big enough to feel even inside the shelter.
When we arrived, the ecstatic cheers proved it.
“It’s Maide!”
“Thank you, Maide!”
“Sob. I really thought we were done for this time.”
“And you even sent knights to protect us from the damage!”
Territory folk with teary eyes approached from all sides.
I shook hands with each one and said,
“I’m glad you’re all safe.”
“Is the earthquake really over now?”
“Yes. There won’t be any more.”
At least up until the point when I regressed, there were no reports of earthquakes in Tetra territory.
Relief washed over everyone’s faces.
Then someone asked,
“Hero! How did you know a second earthquake was coming? And it was a massive one, nothing like the first!”
I quickly wet my lips and answered.
Time to wrap this up.
“Actually, I didn’t know.”
“Pardon?”
“I didn’t stay behind to stop a second earthquake. I was checking the damage in your residential areas and making sure no one was left behind who couldn’t evacuate.”
The crowd fell silent at my words.
“For us?”
“Yes.”
“But... no one would even notice or appreciate that...”
“Saving lives isn’t about asking for recognition.”
It was an answer 180 degrees different from Kaild using Avent View to stop the earthquake while begging for attention.
That fact turned everyone’s eyes red.
“Sniff.”
“Yes. This is what a real hero looks like.”
“Where’s Kaild? Did he block their little prank earthquake and just vanish?”
“He’s gone, probably. Heroes must be so busy.”
“Honestly, it didn’t feel like he was doing it for us. More like he finished showing off and left.”
Risel, who had been listening, looked flustered.
From her perspective, they had each stopped an earthquake once, but the reactions were polar opposites, which seemed to shock her.
“Um... Mmph.”
Neril clamped a hand over Risel’s mouth as she tried to speak.
Then she whispered quietly,
“Stay quiet. We kept our mouths shut when Kaild was raking in fame earlier.”
“Mmph!”
“But now that the tables have turned, we can’t complain. I’ll let go now.”
“Pha. But Kaild didn’t badmouth Maide back then. You’re the ones badmouthing Kaild now.”
“That’s all because Kaild got obsessed with bragging at the wrong time. He brought it on himself.”
Risel looked like she’d been hit on the head with a hammer.
“You predicted this too and used Avent View to show Kaild’s exploits on purpose?”
“Hm? Who knows?”
Neril’s shrug seemed more affirmative than anything.
Risel whipped her head toward me.
“I got completely played.”
“In mercenary terms, this is like tripping over your own skills.”
“You tripped him! I was the fool for overlapping you with Grade.”
“Oh, you compared me to him?”
“W-Wait... It was just for a very brief moment.”
Brief or not, knowing how much Grade meant to Risel, a smile formed naturally.
Risel’s expression soured at my smile.
That was when it happened.
[Overlapping me with you? That feels off somehow.]
‘Trail? Your voice got deeper while I wasn’t looking.’
[Who’s Trail?]
‘Ah. It’s Grade. You’re still here?’
[You’ve been talking like you want me gone since last time?]
“What are you saying? You just had that vibe like you were about to leave any second.”
No wonder Adwin had been so quiet.
He was still maintaining the necromancy.
‘Anyway, why feel bad? You’re the one who said your ties with Risel were done.’
[...]
‘You still have feelings for her, don’t you?’
[Shut up.]
Grade let out a light sigh and changed the subject.
[By the way, Risel’s traveling with some guy named Kaild?]
‘Yes. That’s right. Kaild Wake, the so-called hero of the south—he’s in Risel’s current party. He probably overlapped himself with you too.’
[Hmm.]
He clicked his tongue as if deeply displeased.
[Risel’s gotten bad at judging people. She wasn’t like that 1,500 years ago.]
‘I’ll give her that, but you’ve never even met Kaild.’
[Everyone in this world is an idiot except me. They deserve to be called blind until they choose me.]
I was speechless.
I decided to defend Risel a bit.
‘She had no choice. In this era, you’re gone, so she’s settling for the next best thing.’
[Heh. You’re good at flattery too. Fine, here’s a tip.]
‘Pardon?’
[You seem a bit better than that Kaild whose face I don’t even know.]
He continued slowly.
[Go over there and say this to the territory folk.]
‘What?’
[“Tonight, let’s all eat and drink together. To celebrate surviving this massive disaster. To bless the future ahead!”]
‘...’
[It’s a line I often used as a hero. Risel will like it.]
Oh.
I quickly turned to face the territory folk.
And shouted energetically.
“Everyone. I’m glad you’re all safe.”
“Thanks to you, hero!”
“Tonight, let’s all eat and drink together. To celebrate surviving this massive disaster. To bless the future ahead!”
“Waaaaah! Long live the hero!”
At that moment.
Risel’s eyes changed.
I quickly crossed my arms and struck the best pose.
Good. This has to have worked.
Risel pondered for a moment before speaking.
“That line from Grade is way too obvious.”
“...”
“You thought I’d fall for it? The necromancer’s spell is still glowing over there.”
Risel was usually so oblivious, but even before regression, she’d occasionally get sharp like this.
“...”
At a loss for words, I looked up at the sky.
‘What do I do?’
[Then I’ll be going.]
‘No. Wait a second!’
[Take good care of Risel.]
‘...’
[See you later, vassal.]
I raised my fist toward the sky.
He likes “vassal,” huh.
Then Trail’s voice rang out.
[Gone? Good. Check this out.]
[Ding! Obtained 10,000 Fame Points.]
[Fame Points required for next level: 40,760/100,000]
[Your name will echo throughout Tetra territory from now on.]
[Total Fame Points to be acquired from this incident: 15,000]
[Your name is echoing in Drucker territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Quelk territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Rior territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Avis territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Raynus territory. (All points collected!)]
[Neril Slaine thinks of you as ‘the luck of her lifetime.’]
[Jenia Side thinks of you as ‘a person with a warmer heart than anyone.’]
[Adwin Ain thinks of you as ‘like an older brother.’]
[Offense Daik thinks of you as ‘definitely hero-level at scheming.’]
[Risel Vaint thinks of you as ‘someone very much like Grade.’]
Oh.
‘Someone very much like Grade, huh.’
She said earlier she overlapped us briefly.
That’s probably the highest praise Risel could give.
This is huge progress.
‘If I play it right, I might even bring her into our party this time. Worst case, at least get her to cut ties with Kaild’s group.’
Let’s check right away.
I pushed through the noisy crowd to approach Risel.
She had a sulky face, but startled when she saw me right in front of her.
“What is it?”
“On a great day like today, you shouldn’t make that face.”
“Who says it’s a great day?”
“For all of us, of course.”
“Not really for me...”
“Who knows.”
I shrugged.
“It must be a great day for you too, Risel. Two people have now promised to make you human again. Kaild must have said the same to you.”
“...”
“Think of it as higher odds. Always stay positive—that’s how you live long.”
Neril snickered.
“How much longer do you want me to live?”
“Wow.”
“What’s that mean, Jenia?”
“Just an exclamation.”
Then Risel spoke up.
“But in the end, there’s only one hero.”
“Yes. Meaning one of Kaild or I lied. Who do you think it was, Risel?”
“...”
“You said earlier you overlapped me with Grade. Have you ever overlapped Kaild with him?”
Risel didn’t answer, but her silence was the clearest reply.
“Join our party. You’ve watched Kaild so far—now watch me.”
Risel thought long and hard.
I waited patiently.
And that patience was rewarded.
“But then Serein would be left alone.”
I was extremely satisfied with her response.
Worrying about leaving Serein alone meant she had unconsciously accepted my offer.
“If I leave that party too, Serein would be stuck alone with Kaild. And it doesn’t seem like she likes him that much.”
I widened my eyes.
“You noticed that?”
“Huh? You noticed too?”
From Risel’s view, she seemed more surprised by me.
Either way, she was right.
Even combining pre- and post-regression, Serein had never directly confronted Kaild.
But I’d sensed the occasional sharpness in her expressions and tone.
I thought for a moment.
‘Wait!’
A great idea hit me.
‘...Actually, on second thought, no.’
[Why? What is it?]
‘I was going to ask Risel to convince Serein and bring her over. But it’s too risky.’
My instincts screamed it was dangerous to leave Offense in Kaild’s party any longer.
And sending Risel back now would be just as risky.
Her heart was already leaning my way.
‘The Path to Becoming a Hero might warn him.’
[It’ll be fine.]
‘It won’t. Don’t you get it?’
Right now, the Fake Hero’s Sword was in my hands.
Kaild learned it was fake through the Path to Becoming a Hero.
And the Fake Hero’s Sword lacked Idria’s spatial authority.
In other words.
‘The Path might be something Idria shows him too. Meaning Kaild’s getting Demon King support. Sending Risel back is dangerous.’
[I said it’ll be fine.]
‘Huh?’
[Risel can spiritize, right? Even the Demon King couldn’t find her then.]
I tilted my head.
‘How do you know that?’
[You forgot? Killing Idria is my life’s purpose. You think I didn’t research her?]
Come to think of it, yeah.
If my guess was right, Trail was that man.
[What man?]
I ignored him and spoke to Risel.
“Then have Risel convince Serein to join our party together.”
“Huh?”
“You two seem close, so Serein might listen to you. I’m counting on you.”
“Wait, I haven’t said yes yet?”
“But there’s a condition. Don’t go back to Kaild.”
I said,
“Don’t return to Kaild. Spiritize yourself and hide. Neither I nor Kaild can find you in that state.”
“...”
“Instead, attach a spirit to Serein. You can share sight and sound through spirits, even from afar, right?”
“How did you...”
“Magna Neros did the same. Anyway, use that to watch for a chance when Serein separates from Kaild and approach her. I’m counting on you.”
“I said I haven’t agreed yet.”
“Grade turned down my offer to let you meet him.”
Risel’s face wavered at my out-of-left-field remark.
I pressed on.
“But I’m certain. He hasn’t forgotten you. And the same goes for you, Risel.”
“...What’s with the sudden talk? This is going off-topic.”
“If you convince Serein to join our party within a month, I’ll try persuading Grade.”
“...!”
“It’s impossible to be together forever since one’s living and one’s dead, but with Adwin, at least conversation is possible.”
Risel fell silent.
After a while, she said,
“I’ll think about it.”
“Yes. That’s good enough for now.”
“Um, but...”
“Go ahead.”
Risel hesitated before speaking.
“One month is too short. Give me five.”
I fought back a rising smile.
If she planned to refuse, she wouldn’t ask for more time.
“Hm. How about two?”
“Four.”
“Three.”
“Fine. Three.”
Jenia whispered to Neril.
“Doesn’t this feel familiar?”
“You shouldn’t say it.”
“Huh?”
“It’s the same pattern as when you fell for pheasant meat in Avis territory. Little pheasant chick.”
“That damn pheasant...”
Either way, that’s how I brought Risel into our party too.
And if she really convinces Serein as well...
‘It’s not far off now.’
The day he’ll be left alone.