Ch.59Chapter 59. This Kid Is That Guy…?

“…So you gave it away in the end.”

After one burden disappeared.

Someone approached the decaying dragon sitting in the abandoned ruins, slowly revealing their presence.

Was it because the other party, like herself, didn’t have much life left that she noticed them so late? Or had she grown too weak to even notice such things?

“So, how does it feel? Entrusting the fate of an entire race to an otherworlder with no power, who wasn’t even acknowledged as a Hero.”

Either way, it would be considered humiliating for a dragon, yet she made no attempt to dismiss him.

After all, he was one of the few people in this world who still remembered that child, despite the oncoming calamities and the passage of time.

“…Tashian Pailoi, a dragon who only gained a human-like lifespan at the end of his life.”

To her eyes, all humans looked the same regardless of their names or appearances, but she wanted to remember that arrogant one.

If there was someone who came to her and gave impudent lectures, she’d remember that it was probably him.

“Why do you continue this meaningless contract?”

Yes, just as humans cannot distinguish between insects with the naked eye, humans with names and lives all looked the same to her.

Even if she had killed countless humans, it was impossible for her to feel guilt or compassion toward them.

“Don’t you already know the answer in your heart? Before her death, perhaps, but to realize it afterward…”

“Hey, kid.”

Tachia Pailoi.

Using the name she had given to her adopted daughter on a whim as an alias wasn’t out of sympathy or commemoration for her death.

It was simply to fulfill the contract.

Since contracts were absolute to dragons, she felt she must never forget that one.

“Are you humans a species that neglects your own children for over ten years because you don’t want to show your ugly side?”

Still suppressing her power, she tried to define her feelings that way.

“…”

“…No matter how much you talk about immaturity like that kid did, it just looks like you’re interpreting things however you want.”

Just because they lived the same amount of time at the end of her life, nothing changed.

Having lived for eons, the flow of time during her 50 years of deterioration was faster than what humans experienced.

“That damned girl probably hated me in the end. In such circumstances, appealing to my emotions to save her own kind just seems pathetic to me.”

Because it was a life that should have faded away and ended.

Conversely, the 50 years as a dead being maintaining only consciousness felt even longer and more painful.

No matter how obvious the outcome might be, once she had started, she couldn’t just let it pass indifferently like her empty life so far.

“…Yes, even if I, a human, claim to understand you, it would ultimately be mere speculation.”

The old man, while sympathizing with the decaying dragon, finally gave up trying to persuade her.

But he too remembered the Hero’s nobility, and couldn’t let go of his attachment to the “mother” she had risked her life to protect.

“Then before I leave, let me ask one last thing.”

That’s why he turned to look at her as she was about to light a cigarette alone, instead of leaving immediately after turning his back.

“If that young man dies, are you confident you won’t regret it?”

“…”

No answer came.

A dragon who looked down on humans, maintaining silence in response to a question about humans.

Was that silence itself an affirmation, or did it mean she didn’t care either way?

“…I would regret it.”

Her mouth finally opened after the old man, tired of waiting, had left.

The dragon, now alone, put a cigarette in her mouth and lit it.

“And I shouldn’t drag it out to avoid more regrets.”

As the harsh smoke from the toxic herb-like plant seared her lungs.

She tried to forget the stirring in her chest that way, but still, someone’s name lingered in her heart.

“Don’t worry, little one.”

Hyoseong Woo.

A name more deeply engraved in her heart than her adopted daughter’s, whom she tried not to forget even by using an alias.

“At least while you’re alive, humanity won’t perish.”

The bitter murmur she uttered while thinking of that name disappeared with the bitter smoke in the wind.

When the time of destruction arrives.

As if declaring that the one person bearing that fate would never witness that destruction and fall into despair.

****

After leaving Tachia’s workshop, I took some time to check my equipment before following Irie’s prophecy.

The first thing I checked was the armor, which was my initial objective.

The black-colored armor showed overwhelmingly superior performance compared to my previous armor in terms of durability, weight, and comfort.

Moreover, the joints were made by weaving tough tendons to create protective gear, allowing free movement while protecting the joints better than ordinary joint protectors.

But what’s more surprising is that this armor also has special functions like magical equipment.

‘You won’t need to repair that equipment unless it’s severely damaged. The armor itself has some regenerative ability.’

‘Regenerative ability, in armor?’

‘Well, it just eliminates minor scratches to save repair costs, but for adventurers who risk accumulating damage that could lead to collapse, it’s the best feature.’

As she said, for an adventurer struggling with money, any excuse to save money is welcome.

Overall, it could be considered the best spec among adventurer equipment, but despite this excessive privilege, there was one disappointing aspect.

‘Too bad. If there had been a core, I could have increased the regenerative power even more.’

…Well, right.

Let’s move past this for now.

Focusing on things I can’t change is bad for mental health.

“Next is this.”

Turning my attention away from the armor, I checked the dagger sheathed at my waist.

It was something I luckily obtained from some fool while traveling, with the powerful ability to secrete poison in response to the user’s magical power.

Conversely, without magical power, it’s just a sharp dagger, so currently it’s nothing more than a secondary weapon.

Still, I consulted Tachia just in case, but all I got from her was a cold response…

‘If there had been a core, it could have filled in for magical power, but too bad.’

“Ah, that damn core really…”

I’ve clearly received more than enough compensation, so why am I so annoyed?

I almost wished I didn’t know its value, but if I remained ignorant, I’d continue to be swindled.

Of course, pretending not to know would only lead to more scams.

Besides, according to Irie’s prophecy, the possibility of getting the core back would come soon, so I’ll just consider this a cheap lesson and move on.

-Woong, woong.

Just as I was about to enter the guild following that prophecy, I felt vibrations from behind.

Looking back, I saw the spear attached to my back trembling on its own.

A mythril ego-weapon.

As Irie had prophesied, it was something Tachia had completely transferred ownership of to me.

-Woong, woong.

The fact that this weapon had been vibrating continuously since leaving Tachia’s side—was it because my abilities were affecting it?

“…Are you happy to be with me again?”

-Woooong~

The flow of mana causing the vibration felt gentle rather than rough.

It felt as familiar as a phone vibration, making me burst into laughter without realizing it.

“Alright partner, I’m counting on you.”

Well, now that this thing is completely mine, I can be this familiar with it.

I don’t know what will happen later, but thinking it’s fine for now, I turned my attention away, covered my face with a mask, and entered the guild.

‘Please… for my sake… live with this weapon.’

Though I didn’t know the reason.

I believed that surviving as long as possible with this spear was how I could repay the woman who had shown me kindness.

***

-Murmuring, murmuring

The adventurer’s tavern I visited following the prophecy was still bustling.

Finding an empty seat, I placed an order with a passing server and took time to reread the notes Irie had given me.

[When you go to receive the armor, that person will make an offer with the weapon you’re attached to.]

[Whatever the reason may be, be sure to accept her offer. Securing that weapon is the first step in preventing the dangers you’ll face later.]

I succeeded in arming myself as indicated in the first note, but I couldn’t relax yet.

According to her prophecy, this was merely “preparation” to avoid future dangers.

For this preparation to be meaningful, I needed to follow the contents of the next note.

[By the time you read this note, you’ll have entered the guild’s tavern. Watch the situation there for a while, and if a Hero looking for party members approaches you, accept her offer.]

[Being with her will not only help you avoid several deadly dangers in future adventures but also provide a path to obtaining the ‘core’ that Hyoseong couldn’t get his hands on.]

“Your order is ready~”

Just as the server placed the food on the table.

As I brought some of the side dishes to my mouth, I found my brow furrowing more and more as I read the letter.

Forming a party with a Hero…

Heroes certainly have negative perceptions, but their abilities are unparalleled enough to make up for their terrible personalities.

From an adventurer’s perspective, being with a Hero is most beneficial in terms of both compensation and safety.

What concerned me was whether there was a Hero willing to form a party with me, known as the Hero Killer, and the possibility of getting the core by forming a party…

Could it be that the core stolen by the guild had fallen into the hands of the Hero mentioned in this letter?

“Um, excuse me. Is there anyone here who would join my party?”

As I was pondering the contents of the letter, I faintly heard a voice.

Putting the letter back in my pocket, I immediately turned my head toward the source of the sound.

A cloaked girl walking alone through the noisy tavern.

With her reddish-pink hair tied in twin tails, she looked too young to fit in with the rough adventurers.

But what the people who encountered this girl gave in return were only fierce glares and sharp voices.

“Um, no one? Excuse me…”

“Get out of the way.”

“Eek, I’m sorry!!”

The girl cowered in fear at just a single word.

Despite not giving up and continuing to approach people to recruit party members, her pitiful appearance evoked sympathy, but the adventurers around showed no compassion toward her.

It didn’t take long to understand why.

“Look at that. It’s the failed Hero.”

“Wow, she’s still trying to form a party looking like that? How thick-skinned can she be?”

…So she’s a Hero.

She’s clearly young, but her equipment looks expensive at a glance.

Such attire would be hard to obtain without noble sponsorship, but her behavior and demeanor were completely different from the Heroes I’d seen so far.

Usually when those guys come to taverns looking for party members, they start by beating someone up or making them carry luggage, engaging in all sorts of power trips.

“Ah, um…”

As I was wondering about this, the girl Hero’s gaze reached me.

Having just emptied my glass, I quietly covered my face with my mask, worried she might recognize me and cause a commotion… Wait a minute.

This person looks familiar.

“Excuse me, I was wondering…”

But perhaps because I had covered my face with a mask, the girl Hero failed to recognize me.

She then raised her hand hidden under her cloak, covered her mouth, and cautiously asked me.

“…O-oppa?”

“Pfft!”

A violent breath escaped under my mask.

Her statement made my throat contract, and the saliva I was swallowing blocked my airway, causing me to choke.

“Are you okay!?”

“I’m… I’m fine. *cough*”

The inside of my mask was a mess, but I couldn’t take it off here or I’d reveal my identity to her.

“Y-yeah. I’m fine… If you have business, go ahead and speak.”

“Ah, yes then.”

Having barely regained my composure, I took a breath and stared at the girl’s face again.

Probably the Hero mentioned in Irie’s prophecy, who would provide an opportunity to preserve my life and recover the core extorted by the guild.

The rookie Hero who confronted me when I met Merilyn.

“Um, oppa…”

“If it’s okay with you, could you join my party?”

…No. Wait.

Is she really the same person who picked a fight with Merilyn back then?