Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A Hero Unlike a Hero
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I fitted the chastity belt onto my cock and packed up my belongings.
My heavy lower half felt incredibly uncomfortable, but I didn't let it show as I got ready to head out.
"Let's go, Puppy."
Ashy slung the Holy Sword in its two-handed sword form over her back.
After double-checking that I hadn't forgotten anything, we left the inn room.
"Safe travels!"
The innkeeper greeted us vigorously.
She bowed so deeply it looked like she might slam her head into the floor.
She was probably overdoing it a bit because her guests were Heroes.
Ashy paid it no mind and tugged on my leash.
There wasn't much force behind it.
Her small, slender hand simply gripped it tightly, as if afraid to let go.
I followed obediently behind her without resisting.
A sweet, feminine scent wafted from her ash-gray hair.
True to her role as the heroine, she exuded an aura that could tempt any man.
'In Luke's eyes, she was the perfect woman—minus her vicious streak.'
The most beautiful and stunning among all the heroines.
That was Luke's assessment, even surrounded by jealous women.
Just watching her swaying hips and slender waist was enough to make my cock twitch.
No matter how I thought about it, something seemed wrong with my head.
I wasn't some dog in heat...
"Ashy, where are we headed now?"
I stuck close behind her as we walked.
Since things had turned out this way, I figured we'd adventure as a Hero party.
I wasn't sure if I could be of any help to Ashy, who had seen the story's end and returned.
"It's been too long since I graduated from the Academy, so nothing specific comes to mind. I thought about it and decided—"
Ashy had just graduated from Hero Academy.
The academy uniform she was still wearing was proof.
It really hadn't been that long.
From what she'd told me last night, she'd come straight to this city—Roberio—after graduating.
She'd rushed here from the imperial capital Royal Kingdom to find me.
It was a distance that required nonstop travel.
Thanks to that, I could even view the chastity belt locking away my cock in a positive light.
Compared to the terror and fear I'd felt when I first arrived in this world...
This was nothing.
"...we're going to the Gertong Barony."
"Gertong Barony? Gertong?"
"Yeah."
A familiar name came from Ashy's lips.
Gertong, Auction House Lot 16, the pig bastard shit gay.
She was saying we'd go to his territory.
Why? Why bother?
I couldn't comprehend it and stupidly asked.
"...Why?"
"Revenge."
Ashy turned to me with a sly grin.
Mischief danced deeply in her upturned lips.
"I'm going to avenge your ass. And while we're at it, deliver some judgment?"
"......"
In the first playthrough, I got sold to Lot 16, the chewy-pig shit-gay Gertong.
I hadn't experienced it myself, but I could guess what he planned to use me for...
From Ashy's reaction alone.
Every time I heard the story, I imagined it unwillingly and felt Ashy's preciousness anew.
Was this how priests felt every morning when they prayed?
I wasn't religious, but Ashy felt like a religion I needed to believe in.
Ashy explained why we were heading to Gertong's mansion.
"Gertong was trading with black mages. The Church hasn't caught on to his betrayal of humanity yet, but Drake uncovers it at Gertong's mansion and kills him."
I vaguely remembered.
Gertong and Drake.
Luke had read a newspaper article after everything wrapped up.
It was probably just a single brief line.
"...You're going to claim that achievement?"
"Yeah. I'll steal it and build my reputation. If I want a noble title later, I need to start hustling now."
"......"
It felt strange.
Ashy preparing for the future was hard for me, as the reader, to accept.
Hero achievements? Reputation?
Screw that—give it to the dogs, she'd boldly declared, flipping the bird.
The unrivaled, murder-fucking lone wolf, top Hero who sucked at teamwork, the madwoman Ashy Greyfield... to think she'd matured like this—
As a fan of this world's original novel, Demon Slayer, tears blurred my vision.
Ashy tugged my leash.
I naturally ended up standing at her side instead of behind.
She turned to me and giggled softly.
"Puppy, I'll make you a noble."
"......"
"I'll set you up to live like a king. How's that? Excited?"
Could I ever return to my original world from this one?
Judging by Ashy's reaction, in the first playthrough, I'd died here.
I'd breathed my last without ever going back.
Did that mean I'd have to live here forever too?
'......'
I couldn't just be happy about it.
This world was backward in every way... to spend my whole life here...
It didn't sit well.
"...Well, if you don't want a noble title, we can take cash instead."
Ashy glanced at me cautiously.
My expression must not have been great.
I belatedly forced a smile.
My lips twitched awkwardly.
"...Sounds good. If you're offering, I'll take it. A spot for the Hero's companion?"
"Yeah. Get the title and territory, build a mansion, live it up spending all our saved gold. Have kids as soon as they knock you up—"
Ashy chattered on about her future plans.
The creepy part was how most of it sounded dead serious.
"So we need to take down the Demon King ASAP. Who knows what could happen if he stays alive."
Ashy steeled her resolve.
Her determination as a Hero felt reassuring.
I didn't expect to have much to do, which eased my mind.
We walked the streets.
All eyes turned to us.
A grown man's neck collared like a dog, leashed—it was bound to draw stares.
"Oh my, what's that about?"
"The Hero must have some weird hobbies."
"...Even delinquent nobles wouldn't..."
The murmuring crowd made me shrink instinctively.
I tried to stand tall, shoulders back, but it was tough.
This would be my life from now on—I needed to get used to it fast.
"Hee hee."
Ashy's pretty face flushed pink, her breathing quickening.
She reveled in the attention, face full of excitement.
She seemed to get a thrill from dragging me around like this.
What a unique taste.
"Puppy, this way."
We passed through the streets toward the merchant guild.
It wasn't a huge city, so there weren't many guilds.
Adventurer guilds varied in rank based on their master—
In Roberio, there was only the Wolves of the Wilderness adventurer guild.
For reference, in this world, every tom, dick, and harry calls themselves wolves.
Wolves of the Wilderness guild under that master? Dog food tier.
Besides adventurer guilds, the biggest group was the merchant association—the merchants' guild.
Formed by merchants and associates seeking fair contracts, its scale was beyond imagination.
...The guild building might even dwarf Roberio's city hall.
The Roberio branch of the merchant guild was two stories tall.
But its size was impressive.
A single massive building on a wide plot.
The front entrance had a garden for people, while the back was a stop for horses and carriages.
It gave off a bus terminal vibe overall.
Teeming with merchants since morning was a given—
We entered boldly through the main entrance of the Roberio merchant guild branch.
Ashy headed straight for the bulletin board.
The board next to the counter was filled with postings for recruiting personnel.
Among them, caravans heading to the Gertong Barony.
We started scanning for ones stopping near the outskirts town.
"It's a Hero."
"...Academy uniform. Freshly graduated rookie Hero."
"Where's she headed?"
Mercenaries, adventurers, and others shot us glances.
A Hero armed with a Holy Sword drew attention on its own.
"Where to, Hero ma'am?"
A merchant sidled up slyly to ask our destination.
A man with neatly combed-back brown hair.
Soft-featured, but a trimmed beard softened the impression.
Ashy answered curtly.
"Gertong Barony."
"...Our caravan's heading to the neighboring Yuteron Barony this time. Would you consider escorting us—?"
"Scram."
Ashy scowled and jerked her chin.
Her cursing made my breath catch.
The merchant who'd mustered his courage probably felt the same.
Killing intent—
The Hero's killing intent made it hard to breathe.
"Ah."
Ashy turned as if realizing her mistake.
She gazed at me warmly and smiled.
As if she'd never scowled at all—
In that instant, the air lightened.
Around us, a few people caught their breath.
"Sorry. Without you around... bad habits die hard."
"...It's fine."
"Now that I've got you, I need to watch it."
She'd keep her rampant killing intent in check from now on.
That was the nuance I picked up.
A Hero who considered her comrades: Ashy Greyfield.
...Gave me chills.
"Hee hee, ah, normally I'd be pissed at the hassle. But holding back for you feels this good—I had no idea."
Ashy cackled as she rifled through the board.
After scaring off that one merchant, no one else approached us.
A barrier seemed to form, clearing space around us.
Thanks to that, we could browse comfortably.
"Here it is."
Ashy spotted a posting.
A caravan stopping at Lizn, the outskirts town of Gertong Barony, then heading south.
"White Rose. Departure at 8 a.m...."
She double-checked the White Rose Merchant Group's emblem, then headed to the stop.
Current time: 6:50 a.m.
About an hour until departure.
"There it is."
With so many people, it was easy to get lost.
Ashy gripped my leash tight, afraid I'd slip away, and led me along.
I spotted the memorized emblem.
On the carriages, the flags— the White Rose Merchant Group's white rose emblem, big and bold—
More people gathered than expected.
Small parties clustered, dressed in all sorts of outfits.
Ashy approached the largest, fanciest carriage.
The Merchant Leader would naturally be in the best one.
"White Rose, Merchant Leader Prim?"
"Yes, I'm Prim. Prim White Rose."
"......"
I'd thought it was a feminine name.
But I never dreamed the Merchant Leader who emerged would be a girl—a child, even.
Below Ashy's chest.
Meaning... under 150 cm...
"Well, could happen."
Ashy shrugged once, then 'informed' Prim we'd be joining the White Rose journey.
The Holy Sword on her back was a better guarantee than any ID.
"We're honored to have the White Rose Merchant Group escorted by you."
Confirming Ashy was a Hero, Prim expressed her thanks with refined courtesy.