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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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A week after Saten’s late-night visit, a long-awaited presence finally arrived, announcing herself with a resounding knock.
Bang, bang-!
“Teacher’s here! Open up!”
“…She finally arrived.”
I had begun to wonder if she was still alive. I opened the door to greet the woman I hadn’t seen in a while.
“You’re late, Zealot Daniel.”
“Drop the Zealot, will you? I’ve outgrown that nickname.”
Zealot Daniel.
Despite her nun’s habit, she exuded a distinctly delinquent aura. We had met in the mountains, where she agreed to become Estia’s teacher. I wondered what had taken her so long.
“Why are you so late? The mountains aren’t that far from here.”
“I had some things to investigate. Almost died, actually. I went to the capital.”
“The capital?”
“Yeah, the capital.”
Daniel pulled a cigarette from her pocket.
“Want one?”
“No thanks. I quit a long time ago.”
I had smoked heavily after Aina’s death, but not anymore. I had something more pressing to ask.
“You said you almost died in the capital?”
“Yeah, almost. I was caught by those bastards in the Church. They showed no mercy.”
As I suspected.
If Daniel almost died in the capital, it could only mean one thing, Grimiore.
Grimiore had close ties to the Church.
I didn’t know why they had betrayed the Goddess and sided with Grimiore, but… I had a feeling I needed to deal with the capital before Grimiore gained too much power.
“I’ll hear about the Church and Grimiore later.”
“Sure, we can talk later. Should I come by tonight?”
“…Come at lunchtime.”
“Hmm, too bad.”
Daniel didn’t sound disappointed at all. She tossed her cigarette to the ground and turned to enter the house.
“Wait…”
I stopped her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turned, frowning.
“What? Changed your mind? Should I come tonight after all?”
“Enough with the jokes. I have a question. Where’s your base?”
“At an inn near the Adventurer’s Guild.”
“…Alright. And before you go inside…”
I retrieved a small bottle from my subspace and sprayed it at Daniel without hesitation.
“What the-! What did you spray me with, you bastard?! Is that- is that an aphrodisiac?!”
“It’s perfume. Get rid of the cigarette smell before you come inside.”
“…It’s perfume? Why didn’t you say so? And why should I?”
“The children don’t like it.”
No child enjoyed the smell of cigarettes. It wasn’t healthy. It was best to eliminate the smell when interacting with children.
Daniel scoffed, as if I was being ridiculous.
“You’d think they were your daughters.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Right, mistaken. Anyway, I’ll go teach that little brat Estia. Where is she?”
“Go upstairs, it’s the room right next to mine.”
Daniel headed upstairs without looking back. Now that the cigarette smell was gone, Estia should be fine.
‘I’m a little worried about whether she’ll listen to Daniel…’
Well, I had given Daniel some general instructions, so it should be alright. Estia was currently the most well-behaved of the Hero’s party.
I closed the front door and headed towards the courtyard. Today, I was scheduled to oversee Luna’s training.
‘I should talk to her as well. I shouldn’t delay any longer.’
I quickened my pace, the headache that had been plaguing me gradually subsiding.
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For two weeks, Luna had lived in a state of near-total indifference.
Silence during meals.
Silence during training.
She couldn’t even remember the last time she had a proper conversation with Mister.
“But today! Mister said he would give me personal training!”
Despite the silence, Luna had persevered.
Every time she saw him, she apologized. She trained relentlessly, even when he wasn’t watching. Perhaps her efforts had finally paid off.
Luna gripped her wooden sword, her voice thick with emotion.
“I… reflected! I reflected a lot…!”
I won’t be greedy again!
I won’t act for my own benefit!
I’m the Hero!
“I have to think about the whole Hero’s party!”
Haa-!
Luna swung her sword, the culmination of thousands of hours of practice evident in her clean, efficient movements.
‘Mister seemed angrier at me than at Hare and Saten.’
Why?
Hare and Saten were always like that. Perhaps Mister wasn’t as surprised by their actions.
‘Or is he angrier because I’m usually well-behaved? Or because I’m the Hero of the Hero’s party?’
Or maybe…
“Does he… think of me more highly… and see me as special!?”
“What was that, Luna?”
“N-Nothing! I didn’t say anything! Really!”
Luna whirled around in surprise. Standing there was Mister, and for the first time in weeks, they were alone. Luna straightened up, her mind racing.
‘I can’t mess this up! I have to show him that I’ve reflected and changed!’
Despite the indifference, Luna hadn’t given up hope. She believed that if she worked hard and showed remorse, Mister would eventually forgive her.
‘Mister remembers me. He remembers the path I’ve walked.’
No one else remembers.
Mister is special to me.
I can’t disappoint him.
Luna bowed deeply.
“G-Good morning, Mister! I’m sorry! I’ll do my best today!”
“…Alright.”
A short reply.
Not cold, which was good. Luna hid her relief and raised her sword.
“What are we training today, Mister? I’ve been practicing on my own!”
“Then let me see what you’ve been practicing. What have you been working on?”
“Overhead strikes! The basics are always important! I’ve been practicing overhead strikes!”
“…Show me.”
“Yes!”
Luna took a deep breath, calming her nerves. She cleared her mind of any thoughts of making mistakes, focusing on what she had always done.
‘Use my whole body, not just my shoulders.’
Using her legs for balance, ensuring the power flowed smoothly through her body, Luna exhaled.
“Haa-!!”
With a shout, her wooden sword sliced through the air. The force behind the swing was impressive for her small frame. Dust and dirt swirled around her as she coughed.
“Cough-! Cough-! I put too much power into that… My hair’s a mess…”
I can’t let Mister see me like this!
Luna quickly smoothed her hair and emerged from the dust cloud, feigning composure.
“He… Hehe! Mister…! Is that alright…?”
“…Hmm…”
Lee Jun-woo stroked his chin, seemingly in thought. A wave of anxiety washed over Luna.
‘What if… what if he says it’s not good enough?’
Panic set in.
‘Should I run and get my real sword to commit seppuku? Is that what it’s called?’
One more time, for honor?
As Luna wrestled with these dangerous thoughts, Lee Jun-woo nodded slightly.
“…is good.”
“Yes?”
What did he just say?
Did I hear him correctly?
Luna asked again,
“W-What did you say, Mister!?”
“…is a good idea.”
“You think I should use less shoulder strength?”
“No.”
Seeing Luna’s confusion, Lee Jun-woo enunciated clearly.
“I think… it would be best if you left home, Luna.”
“Huh…?”
I thought my form was good…?
Why…?
Indifference, followed by banishment. It was a scenario straight out of a fairy tale about a failing Hero’s party.
Luna crumpled to her knees in despair.
“T-This is a dream…”
Mister wouldn’t do this to me…
I worked so hard…
I wished the wooden sword in my hand was real.
This was the fate of a Hero who tried too hard.
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“Hee hee, serves her right…! Serves her right…! Trying to get Mister’s attention… Luna’s disqualified…!”
Hare was in a good mood as she walked through the market. With a competitor eliminated, her position was more secure.
A wide smile stretched across her face.
“It’s even better that she eliminated herself…!”
Compared to Luna and Saten, Hare had largely escaped Mister’s indifference. Unaware of her own wrongdoing, she had retained more of his affection.
“Hare, second in the hierarchy…! I’m almost there…! Oh, Mister, wait for me…! Hare’s coming…!”
Though the indifference had been somewhat painful, the market vendors were used to Hare’s eccentric monologues during her errands. They knew she was… different.
“She’s normal when she comes with that young man… but alone, she’s like she’s possessed.”
“Shhh, be quiet! She has incredibly good hearing!”
The vendors fell silent. Despite her demure appearance, Hare’s occasional sharp glares haunted their dreams.
Hare tilted her head, pulling a piece of paper from her pocket.
“Hmm… is this enough ingredients for one person for 30 days…? It’s too much for just me…”
What is Mister doing?!
Luna’s a monster, he could have just thrown her out…!
“Mister’s too soft-hearted…!”
Hare added a little extra to the list of ingredients on the paper. Despite everything, Luna was still a friend. This was Hare’s way of showing concern.
“It’ll be a little quieter with Luna gone…”
Hare purchased everything on the list, hoisting the heavy bag onto her small back. She might be small, but she was determined.
“Luna wouldn’t get praised even if she did this…! But I will…! This much is easy for praise…!”
Driven by the desire for praise, Hare walked briskly towards home.
Always alert to her surroundings, she noticed a discordant note in the usual rhythm of the market.
‘Wait… is someone following me?’
Who?
It wasn’t Mister’s scent or footsteps. She knew those better than anyone.
Hare detected a gaze following her from a nearby alley.
‘Red hair, red eyes… I’ve smelled this before.’
When Mister defeated the Demon Lord.
‘This must be a Demon Lord…’
Demon Lords were powerful. Even Mister couldn’t guarantee victory against one. But Hare walked towards the alley without hesitation.
‘A rogue needs to gather information…! I have to tell Mister…!’
Crucially, this Demon Lord wasn’t at full strength. Its presence wasn’t that strong.
Having assessed the opponent’s power, Hare felt no fear. She gathered as much information as she could from her surroundings before entering the alley, coming face to face with the red-eyed Demon Lord.
“W-What’s your name…!!”
-You’re quite bold for a stranger. Allow me to introduce myself. I am-
“Y-You’re a Demon Lord…! You idiot…! I need to tell Mister your name, so tell me now…! You’re weak anyway…!!”
-…You knew. I can’t fool you.
The red-eyed man emerged from the shadows, his body wrapped in bandages. He extended a hand towards Hare.
-Since my plan failed, I’ll get straight to the point. How about making a contract with us?
“Huh…?”
-My name is Greed. Any desire you have… money, love, fame… if you join me, I’ll give you the power to achieve anything you want. How about it? Will you make a contract with me?
“Achieve anything…?”
-Yes. This world is skewed, where power is everything. I, a Demon Lord, will give you that power. You can use it however you wish. Isn’t it tempting?
Greed extended his hand closer. Hare doubted the Demon Lord’s words, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his outstretched hand.
‘Anything I want… even… Mister… can I have him…?’
Everything about Mister…
Can I have it all…?
Hare had fantasized about a future with Mister every day.
When she woke up.
When they ate.
Before she fell asleep.
She always imagined it.
‘And you’re saying… you can make that happen?’
Gulping nervously, Hare made up her mind.
“G-Get away from me, Demon Lord-! I’ll tell Mister everything…!!”
Hare bolted from the alley, screaming. She had always ruined things with her greed and desires.
“I-I won’t lose this opportunity…! Not again…!!”
She refused to repeat her past mistakes.
And…
-I’m running out of time. At this rate, I’ll die first…
Left alone in the alley, the Demon Lord clutched his Grimiore and whispered to himself.
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