episode_0077

“Ohho… .”

Lucia was amazed as she looked at herself in the mirror.

“It’s amazing because it’s been so long since I’ve seen your bare face.”

Lucia couldn’t take her eyes off her skin, which had become much clearer.

Unlike her admiration, I was a little worried.

It didn’t completely heal.

I don’t know what it was like before, but the red hives remain.

Even if a little time passes, the bandage is not dirty with pus and blood, so it is true that it has improved, but it is not completely healed yet.

As expected, the ‘reason’ I thought was the fundamental cause of not being able to heal with elixir, no matter how small it was.

It’s a problem that can’t be solved right away, so it’s best for now to alleviate it with elixir.

“How is your physical condition? My mood, my energy… .”

“Hmm… . I think I can run for half a day.”

“It’s gotten a lot better.”

In fact, my breathing also became clearer.

The movement somehow seems more natural and lighter.

“Let’s eat 1/8 more.”

“… If I eat that, do I have to sleep again?”

“The elixir puts you to sleep to restore your body, so it is better to sleep well. Since you’re already eating something precious, wouldn’t it be better to see the real effects?”

“Yes, but… . For some reason, I feel like I just sleep.”

Nevertheless, Lucia calmly took the elixir and drank it.

“Ah. That Lorenzo.”

“Yes?”

I explained what happened while Lucia was sleeping.

“… Lorenzo rebels?”

“I don’t think that’s the case… . It’s not like there’s no responsibility at all. I heard that in addition to Lorenzo, several other members of the family were involved. So, it is said that it is impossible to proceed with the duel competition.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Lucia, who was thinking while tapping her glass, smiled.

“Good. It tilts and falls down on its own. Anyway, I have no interest in dueling competitions now. But what is the first hero party?”

It’s not that people like this don’t exist, but it’s very rare.

People who have no interest in the warrior ecosystem.

“… Do you know what a warrior is?”

“Yes. You can’t not know that because of Lorenzo.”

Among them, Lucia may have intentionally tried not to know the details because of Lorenzo.

“You can think of him as the strongest among those warriors.”

“I see… . I said Ian was the manager there?”

I just said that when I explained it to you.

“Yes. Not now, though.”

“So Ian must be a great person too?”

“Uh… . It’s a bit hard to say with my own words, but it’s true to some extent. But it’s not that great either.”

“Hmm. I see From the moment they gave me the elixir, I thought it was unusual.”

Perhaps because he had no interest in being a hero, he didn’t seem to be very impressed.

It was a reaction that made me feel at ease.

“I don’t know, but I’ll have to do better in the future.”

“There is no need to feel burdened. Rather, I have to leave the room, so why not join other people? Say hello too.”

“Yes. is it so. These are people you will be spending time with in the future, so it would be good to get to know them quickly. What kind of people are they?”

“Hmm… .”

Strawberry is shy, and Orange is confident, even if she doesn’t know where to go sometimes… .

“They are capable and good people without anything special.”

“Like Ian?”

“Hmm… . That’s a question that’s difficult to determine… .”

Lucia burst out laughing innocently.

It was a voice that was much easier to listen to than before.

*

“My name is Lucia di Fiorene, and I am accompanying you from today.”

Lucia greeted formally.

It was a dignified greeting that conveyed the courtesy of an aristocrat.

Even though I hate this place, I guess it’s inevitable that the education I received here will become ingrained in me.

“If it’s Fiorene… .”

“Yes, that’s right. But please forget that last name and just call me Lucia.”

I don’t know the circumstances, but Vivian and Helena also accepted that wish.

“My name is Vivian.”

“This is Helena, a feeble kindling!”

Mercy, who had already woken up, welcomed Lucia with applause.

“I am Mercy! I’m not a hero, but please take care of me!”

“Thank you very much.”

Naturally, it was Kati’s turn.

“This is Kati.”

As always, I introduced it briefly.

It was up to me to reveal more.

The problem was that I couldn’t report it right away.

“Since a new member has joined, it would be good to talk more, but unfortunately something came up and I had to leave in a hurry. You can share a room here for now. Lucia may fall asleep quickly because of the elixir, so please understand.”

Vivian and Helena were a little surprised to hear the word elixir.

But then he nodded as if he understood.

I knew it was Philip, so it wouldn’t be strange if he had some elixir.

“And I may call Katy in the middle, so don’t be surprised even then.”

Vivian and Helena looked worried when they heard that Katy might be needed.

It’s not certain, but I had to tell them now so they could feel at ease.

It’s not good to worry more than necessary.

Above all, this job isn’t that dangerous.

How is it compared to Kylie?

“You don’t have to worry. Nothing big will happen. I’m sorry that I can’t tell you in more detail because it’s an urgent matter. I’ll explain when I come back.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Yes! Come back!”

Afterwards, I left the room after receiving greetings from Lucia and Mercy.

As soon as I left the room and walked away, a secretive figure nearby followed me.

‘After all, the target is me.’

When I was talking with several people, including the emperor, underground, I confirmed the presence of someone who was eavesdropping.

And that presence followed me all along, and it still is the same now.

It was very surprising that the target was me, not the prince or the prosperous king.

Who is the owner of that presence?

You need to check what the purpose is.

***

Ian left the city late at night.

While walking down the dark road, he talked to Kati.

‘Carty. Are you really okay? ‘Isn’t it because the injury is in a place I can’t see, or because it’s an internal injury and you’re hiding it?’

[no.]

‘Are you sure?’

[yes.]

‘okay… .’

Although Kati rarely reveals her true feelings outwardly, Ian can easily sense even the slightest changes.

When I checked it myself earlier, there was no sign that Katy was lying, so it must be certain.

Still, I couldn’t help but worry.

It’s one of Kylie’s secret secrets.

I knew that Katy was strong, so I knew I would be able to block it, but I didn’t know that I wouldn’t get hurt at all.

He even thought about using up all the remaining elixir.

[I think it might be because of the diet.]

‘… ah. I see.’

Katy had been thinking about Ian’s question all along, and the answer was surprisingly not difficult.

Since accompanying Vivian, Katy has been eating according to the diet of superhumans.

[and… .]

‘and?’

[…] no.]

‘what. ‘I’m curious about people.’

After a moment of silence, Ian spoke.

‘sorry.’

If it weren’t for Kathi, even if Geomro twisted, he would have been seriously injured.

Not just this time.

Over the past time, whenever Ian was having a hard time coping, Kati stepped in to protect him.

Because of Kati, Ian is able to go out of his way even in somewhat dangerous situations.

Ian looked down at his ring.

A ring where two snakes bite each other’s tails.

Ian’s was originally white, but now one of them is black.

Kati’s ring was the same.

When the summoning ability is used, this state remains for 12 hours.

The summoning ability is sealed until the ring’s color returns to its original color.

[master.]

‘huh.’

[I am infinitely happy just to be able to protect and help my master. So, you don’t have to apologize to me.]

‘… Ok, thanks.’

Before we knew it, we were quite far from the city.

The mood of someone chasing him gradually became calmer.

‘Is it a surprise attack?’

A dark street surrounded by trees.

A time zone when people do not come and go.

In the sound of the wind gently caressing the bushes, Ian’s keen hearing picked up a sense of discomfort.

The sound of a sword being slowly drawn passed my ears.

[Be careful.]

‘I’ll be careful.’

It was clear that he was weaker than him, but Ian said so.

*

Edgar, the leader of the Liberal League, secretly tracked Ian as he left the city.

Since he could not invade private space, it was unclear what purpose he was out for.

It wasn’t important anyway.

It was important that Ian came out into the darkness outside the city at a time when not only the military police but also the city guards were in chaos.

‘You’re a fool with no sense of crisis at all. How did that branch get wiped out by this guy… .’

There was no reason to hesitate.

It is now quite far away from the city gate.

The surrounding area is a dirt road, the trees are thick, visibility is dark, and there are few people.

There wasn’t even a light so I could barely see in front of me.

‘You can never avoid it.’

Even among the B-class heroes, none of them survived, let alone saw through this surprise attack.

A quick sword that kills with one strike.

It was the optimal assassination method that suited the liberal league that pursued security.

Edgar, who had been chasing along the bushes without making a sound, ran out onto the road and surprised Ian from behind.

-Whoop!

A sharp sword pierced Ian’s back and protruded forward.

“… … .”

However, there was no feeling of being stabbed by the sword.

“What… .”

The sword passed exactly between Ian’s arm and side.

“This, this… .”

Edgar was taken aback and tried to pull the sword out, but it wouldn’t come out.

It wasn’t even attached to the body, but it was firmly fixed.

Only after my eyes got used to the darkness was I able to recognize Edgar.

Ian was holding the sword tightly with his arm so it didn’t fall out.

‘W-what kind of power… .’

Ian asked without turning around.

“Who is it?”

“Uh, how… .”

He remained calm, as if he knew of the surprise attack.

Even if you use all your strength, the sword you are holding will not even think of falling off.

Ian spoke softly as if it were his last warning.

“Ask again. Who are you?”