Sabach. In other words, Hyran Gois.

Hearing that name, Offense’s face twisted.

I lightly patted his shoulder and said:

“You know as well as I do…”

“…Haa. Yeah. We can’t settle things with him here and now. This isn’t a territory that’s fully on your side yet.”

“Mm. Sorry about that.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I stepped to the edge of Agril. The source of thɪs content is NoveIꜰire.net

“Let’s go down.”

Whoosh.

With Neril’s flying magic, we landed. Immediately, shouts from the soldiers erupted.

“Ah! Those people…!”

“Mr. Mide Mohan. The Sword master of No Killing!”

“So it’s true! Just like the rumors said, when the monsters appears, the two Heroes descend!”

“I heard Lord Mide is the real one…”

“Shh! Quiet. What if Lord Kaeld hears you?”

Among the murmuring soldiers, I spotted Kaeld.

I grinned and waved.

He scowled and jumped down from the wall.

Tap, tap.

Kaeld and Hyran approached me.

I spoke first.

“Yo. We meet again.”

“Mide.”

“Your master never seems to get tired of this, huh? No matter how many times it happens, I will always show up wherever you appear.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“How have you been? And the other lackeys?”

Hyran’s face darkened.

Offense smirked.

“So this time you’re not going to poison this territory’s citizens?”

“Watch your tongue, damn cursed disciple.”

“I don’t see why I should. And calling me disciple is wrong”

“……”

“My teacher is long dead. I killed him myself.”

Hyran’s face twisted.

Serein chuckled.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough bickering. It’s tough without a mediator today.”

“A mediator?”

“Oh, right. Not a person. Pirensha the ‘second finger,’ wasn’t it?”

“……”

“Haven’t seen her around lately. Guess that failure in the Havel territory must have really hit her hard?”

Serein’s talent for provoking others was, as always, unmatched.

Hyran ground his teeth.

“Don’t mock her. She was truly heartbroken.”

“……”

“She was there when things fell apart in Havel territory. She wept bitterly, saying she had ruined her mother’s work.”

“My, such camaraderie. Anyone listening might mistake you for a real Hero’s party.”

“Hmph. You’re not worth my words.”

His lips moved.

He was calling Idria.

The smoke, which hadn’t even fully manifested, began being absorbed beyond that space.

From atop the wall, thunderous cheers erupted.

“Wooooah!!”

“The monsters are retreating!”

“Yeah! Get lost! This is the Heroes’ territory!”

“But which one scared them off?”

“Lord Mide, obviously. The rumors all say so.”

“Mm… though honestly, those stories are hard to believe.”

“Even if Lord Kaeld isn’t as… strong as Lord Mide, there’s no way he would side with the Demon King.”

That was the kind of talk being passed around.

I asked Trail to bring up the display.

<Mide Mohan / Total Fame: 430,400>

<Kaeld Wake / Total Fame: 378,850>

Since the last time I checked, my fame had risen by ten thousand. Kaeld’s had gone up five thousand.

Double the difference.

This is the power of the statement released by Havel Territory.

I turned to Kaeld.

“If we’re done here, shouldn’t you be heading back? To Idria’s embrace.”

“You…”

He gripped his sword.

Shiver.

But his hand only trembled. He couldn’t draw it.

Too many eyes were watching.

I stopped provoking him and instead spoke in a grave tone.

“Listen, Kaeld Wake.”

“……”

“Give it up already.”

“…What?”

“Stop trying to fight me.”

I lowered my voice further.

“By now you should have realized it. After all these times clashing with me, don’t you get it yet?”

“……”

“You can’t win against me. So quit it.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Before long, I’m going to seek out Idria.”

Freeze.

At that, Kaeld’s body stiffened.

Hyran interjected cautiously.

“Why tell us that? From your side, that should be a major secret.”

“I didn’t say when I will attack. As long as the timing stays hidden, what’s so secret about a Hero marching against the Demon King? Even Idria must expect it.”

“……”

“And needless to say, if you’re there when it happens, Kaeld, I will kill you. This time, not even Idria will be able to snatch your soul before it reaches the Underworld.”

Crunch.

Kaeld bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

I paid it no mind and continued.

“So don’t get in my way. Unless you have got a death wish.”

“Damn you. How long will you keep mocking me? I’m a Hero just like you.”

“Hardly.”

I raised my voice.

“You don’t understand what it means to be a Hero at all.”

“What?”

“If you did, you wouldn’t have cling to Idria so desperately.”

“Hah! And what about you? Don’t you rely on your Celestial God? You have received oracles through him, haven’t you?”

“Not anymore. I have realized something.”

My voice dropped.

“Heroes are made by people.”

“…What the hell does that mean?”

“Never mind. I have said too much already.”

I turned away.

My companions glared at Kaeld and Hyran for a moment, then followed me.

Neril asked:

“Heroes are made by people? What do you mean by that?”

“Mm. Just a vague thought.”

“Vague is fine. Tell me. I want to know.”

“It’s just… since Demon Kings are born from the negative energies of mankind… why should Heroes be any different?”

“……”

Everyone tilted their heads.

I shrugged.

“Forget it. More importantly, let’s head into the territory.”

“What? But we’re finished here, aren’t we?”

“My fame just went up a little, but still… shouldn’t I leave a stronger impression? That way, good rumors about me will spread everywhere.”

Serein burst out laughing.

“Pfft! As expected, Mide, talking about fame and reputation suits you best.”

Idria received a short report from Hyran.

She had already been watching, but hearing it aloud made it feel even more vivid.

Another failure.

Idria closed her eyes gently.

Hyran trembled with shame as he spoke.

“I have no excuse.”

“No. It’s the same outcome as the last two. I expected this one to end the same way.”

“……”

“We need something different. A special method. We can’t keep going like this.”

She absentmindedly raised her hand to bite her fingernail, then caught the gaze of her children staring at her.

As a mother, she must never show such weakness. She quietly lowered her hand.

It was then.

“Still struggling, I see.”

“Velosian.”

Without a hint of presence, Velosian appeared.

Kaeld narrowed his eyes at him.

‘Who the hell is that guy’

Even Idria seemed unsure of his true identity.

Idria had failed several times recently.

Should he… switch partners?

Could Velosian be a better ally?

Just as Kaeld was having such thoughts.

Velosian smiled faintly at him.

“What are you thinking?”

“Huh? Nothing in particular.”

“Were you perhaps considering abandoning Idria and joining me?”

At those words, Idria and her followers snapped their heads toward Kaeld.

Kaeld forced a sly smile and shrugged.

“That’s a ridiculous accusation. I have had enough of false charges being pinned on me by Mide.”

“Hm. That’s not how it looked to me.”

“Don’t start a fight. Just say what you came to say.”

“Hm. Then let me be clear.”

Velosian’s voice was soft, but his words were poisonous as he addressed Kaeld.

“You ought to be more grateful to Idria.”

“…!”

“She may not enjoy it, but without extraordinary patience, no one would bother taking care of an incompetent fool like you.”

Grit.

Kaeld ground his teeth.

‘How much could he possibly know about me? How much has he even seen, to speak like that? Why am I always despised like this…’

Then Idria spoke.

Her expression was surprisingly gentle, far too kind to be directed at Velosian.

“At the very least, you and I share one thing in common.”

“There are many more. Shall we discover them together?”

“Spare me the nonsense. State your purpose.”

“I think it’s about time you seriously reconsider my previous proposal.”

“That matter was already…”

“Ah, wait.”

Velosian raised his hand.

“Your other children are here. Let’s change locations.”

“……”

So Mide wouldn’t be able to secretly peer into our plan.

Idria understood the unspoken part.

She had already intended to refuse, but it was always best to be cautious when it came to Mide.

“Children. Wait here for a while.”

“Mother. That man is dangerous.”

“He doesn’t intend to harm me. Don’t worry.”

And with that, Idria and Velosian stepped outside.

The Finger of Lies began chattering among themselves.

“Well, it makes sense. Mide can see our secrets, after all.”

“But Velosian’s secret can’t be seen? Who knows… maybe he just made that up himself.”

“……”

“You don’t have anything to say, Batore?”

“……”

“Quiet as always. That’s just like you.”

Except for Batore, who was lucky to say a single word a day, the rest were noisy.

No, today there was one more silent figure.

Hyran glanced at Pirensha and asked:

“You’re still brooding over what happened at Havel, aren’t you?”

“…At last, Velosian has come.”

“Huh?”

“No, nothing.”

Resolve had settled in Pirensha’s eyes.

Since the last monster invasion, peaceful days had continued for some time.

From a normal perspective, it was good news. But for me, who still needed to raise my fame, it was dull.

We were staying in Venti Territory, where the last invasion had taken place.

Over dinner at the inn, I asked:

“Where is Adwin?”

“He is talking with Mariana.”

“Hm? Ah.”

“He tries to act grown-up, but he is still a child. He probably wanted to hear from her after so long.”

True enough. Any ordinary boy would long for his mother’s arms.

But then Offense cut in.

“I don’t think that’s it.”

“What do you mean?”

“He said there were a few things he had to ask his mother. Ever since that meeting between Lisel and Grade.”

“What things?”

“Heh. Not my place to say. Anyway, Mariana must be having a rough time right now.”

I understood, and a small grin escaped me.

Neril tilted her head and asked me:

“By the way, shouldn’t we be deciding our next destination soon?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s been a whole week without a move from Idria. She has probably given up on the speed attack strategy.”

“Hm.”

“She is probably wracking her brain for the next plan. And you say there aren’t any new secrets to uncover, either.”

I nodded.

Xenia spoke up.

“In that case, we should probably look for quests that can raise our fame in the meantime, shouldn’t we?”

“Yeah. Got any good ideas?”

“Hmm… nothing comes to mind.”

Most of the major incidents before my regression had been caused by Idria.

But my presence had already warped her plans considerably compared to before.

And outside of her schemes, there weren’t many fame-worthy events to pursue.

‘Trail, anything? Use that instinct of yours.’

[Well…]

‘So that’s a no. Got it.’

[Would you just listen for once?]

‘Oh? So you do have something?’

[No. I don’t.]

How shameless.

Just then, Lisel’s voice rang out.

“Serein? Are you not feeling well?”

At that, all our eyes turned to Serein.

Huh. Why hadn’t I noticed sooner?

Her face was much redder than usual.

Her eyes were hazy, and her breathing ragged.

She answered in a lower, slightly cracked voice.

“I just felt a strange chill. I think I might have caught a cold.”

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