Ch.65The Corrupted Trio (4)

The people around me seem desperate to tease me. First, Agath teases me so much it might as well be her life’s joy, and everyone else joins in whenever they get the chance.

Now even people I’ve just met are trying to mess with me. Am I really that fun to pick on?

They say if you respond with indifference, the other person will get tired first, but I’m not patient enough to just sit there and take it.

“I swear to God, we’re just friends with absolutely ZERO romantic feelings between us!”

So here I am, passionately explaining away these rumors. But if she saw my memories, wouldn’t she already know that Ju-an and I are just friends?

That means this person is deliberately lying just to mess with me. There’s no way she’s being serious, right?

Anyway, while I was still arguing heatedly, Leo returned covered in blood.

“What happened to you this time?”

“Playing with that damn brat.”

Leo pointed to a girl being carried on Agath’s back, covered in blood from head to toe. Then Selena spoke in a trembling, quiet voice.

“…Miss?”

The girl showed no response, as if she had fainted. So Leo answered instead.

“Her life isn’t in danger.”

“What on earth did you do to put the young miss in this state?! More importantly, how is she?! Is she really alright?!”

Selena, who had maintained an expressionless face and calm voice until now, was speaking with an excited tone and a pale face. That child must be really precious to her.

“She’s perfectly fine—won’t have even the slightest problem living her life.”

“That’s a relief. So why exactly did you do this to the young miss?”

“For the honor of magicians.”

Leo wore a refreshed expression. And Selena glared at him like she wanted to kill him.

How many years in prison for child abuse again? But can a Hero even be punished by law?

“But didn’t you avoid using magic while fighting her? I’m pretty sure you only used your fists and daggers.”

Agath asked Leo with a puzzled expression as she laid the girl down on the sofa.

“Magic isn’t designed for combat, so why would I use it in a fight?”

“Then how is that fighting for a magician’s honor?”

“The world only remembers results. No one remembers the process.”

“But even the result seems wrong here.”

“History belongs to the victors.”

It seems Leo beat that kid with magic (physical). Well, today’s just like any other day. I was worried for nothing.

…I think I’m getting used to this madness. Am I going to end up like them someday?

While I was seriously contemplating my future, Taeyang returned.

“Have you calmed dow—”

And Taeyang fainted the moment his eyes met Leo’s. Isn’t fainting just from eye contact a bit extreme?

Although Leo is covered in blood and reeks of it, is that really enough to make someone faint?

…Is it?

“Miss? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? More importantly, did anyone do anything strange to you?”

“I’m fine. Rather refreshing, actually.”

“You’re clearly mentally disturbed. Perhaps trauma has caused you to—”

“That’s not it. I’m satisfied because I’ve settled things with my soul’s nemesis.”

The girl walked toward Leo with a bright smile, looking satisfied. Then she stood in front of Leo and proudly exclaimed:

“My soul’s nemesis, I’ve learned much thanks to you!”

“What lessons?”

“That fists are much stronger than magic…”

WHAM!

Leo’s fist struck the girl’s face. And she lost consciousness again.

“Miss? Are you alright?! Miss? Miss!”

“…I’m sorry, I’ll heal her right away. Please wait a moment.”

Rebecca sighed and went to heal the girl. So how many years in prison for child abuse again?

While I was still marveling at Leo’s insane behavior, Agath sighed with relief and said:

“At least today ended quietly…”

“…You call this ending quietly?”

“Yes. Last time was truly… horrific.”

“What exactly happened last time?”

“A Cthulhu-like monster appeared, meteor showers fell, multiple massive explosions occurred—all sorts of things happened.”

It’s clear something incredible happened, but I have no idea just how incredible it was.

Did they destroy an entire village or something?

“I’m having trouble grasping the scale.”

Agath suddenly went to the window and pointed to an extremely vast wasteland in the distance.

“See that wasteland over there?”

“Yes.”

“That used to be a mountain range.”

“…What?”

“Does that help you grasp it now?”

“…Crystal clear now.”

Neither of them is sane. I already knew they weren’t in their right minds, but I didn’t realize they were this crazy.

They obliterated an entire mountain range just for a sparring match? Then if something had gone wrong this time, could this entire city have been wiped out?

And so another confusing day was passing by.

***

It was around evening when the girl finally regained consciousness. By the way, Taeyang had regained consciousness but fainted again upon seeing the blood-covered girl.

“So how did you two meet?”

“I don’t know her.”

“Come on, tell us the story.”

“We just ran into each other often on the battlefield. That’s it.”

The girl began telling the story proudly in Leo’s place, with a triumphant smile.

“The fate between me and this fellow began when a high-ranking demon appeared on the battlefield.”

“Bullshit.”

“The moment I first met him, I realized…”

“Don’t force me to recall shitty memories.”

Leo cut her off with a sharp voice.

“It seems you can’t talk about it now. I’ll tell you next time. By the way, my nemesis, is there anything you want? I’ll grant you one wish to commemorate your victory in our duel.”

“Get out of my sight. And never come back.”

“Instead of that, how about I tell your fortune…”

“There’s nothing good about seeing the future.”

Rebecca rejected the offer with a disgusted tone as soon as the word “future” came up. But the girl continued regardless.

“Then I shall divine the biggest event that will happen soon!”

She says she’ll tell fortunes when there’s someone right in front of her who can see the future. How ridiculous must this look from Rebecca’s perspective?

Anyway, the girl drew a black magic circle and dropped a few drops of blood onto it. After a short while, she spoke.

“It says there will be a traitor.”

A traitor? Does that mean someone here will switch sides to the Demon King?

“It’s not me.”

Leo was the first to claim his innocence. And everyone else followed suit, claiming their innocence.

“Not me either.”

“Not me.”

“Not me either.”

“I will always be on the young miss’s side.”

The only people left are Taeyang and Agath. But Taeyang is definitely not the type to become a traitor.

With how scared he is, he’d just tremble about consequences and faint again.

So the only person left is Agath…

“Of course I’m not a trait—”

“Finally showing your true colors.”

“Agath? Why would you do such a thing?”

“I knew it would be Agath.”

The traitor is Agath.

“No, I’m really not a trait—”

“What do you think, Miss? Wouldn’t it be better to eliminate the threat before it’s too late?”

“That’s right. Let’s deal with Agath before it’s too late!”

“…Lite?”

Agath called out to me with a trembling voice. Probably because she didn’t expect to be caught as a traitor.

“Honestly, something felt off from the beginning. Why was Agath always attacking me mentally and looking for opportunities to pounce on me? Now I understand. It’s because Agath was a traitor.”

“I never thought Agath would do this… But if you repent now, I’m sure you can be forgiven. It will take time, though.”

“You know that while traitors are normally executed immediately, those who turn themselves in can get reduced sentences. Turn yourself in before it’s too late.”

Agath wore the most wronged expression in the world. She probably never imagined she’d be caught because of this girl.

While everyone was glaring at Agath, the girl opened her mouth awkwardly.

“Um… I just mentioned one possibility. Perhaps no traitor will emerge from among you.”

“…So Agath isn’t a traitor?”

“I only said a traitor would appear. I never said there was a traitor among you.”

Do you know about mob psychology? We just fell victim to it. Since Leo started it, this is entirely his fault.

But there’s no need to dwell on that. I don’t want to create bad blood between teammates.

Anyway, Agath asked us with a tearful voice:

“Do you all have some grudge against me?”

“Well… you do act pretty strange.”

“That’s right, judging by your usual behavior, it’s easy to think you could be a traitor… I’m sorry.”

“I never thought the young miss’s judgment could be wrong.”

“I’m sorry, but Agath, you have done quite a few questionable things, haven’t you?”

Receiving her karma, Agath stood up with a tearful expression and said:

“I’m going home… I hate you all…”

And so Agath trudged out.

…I should make something delicious for dinner tonight.

While feeling a bit guilty, Leo spoke up.

“Shall we get going too?”

“Yes. There’s nothing more to do here, so let’s head back.”

“My precious day off is already over.”

I was planning to rest at home today, but how did it end up like this?

Still, I did gain something. Utopia, artificial Demon King, ruler. I must ask the Goddess about these in my dream tonight.

As we were about to leave, I suddenly became curious about something.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“That is not something I can easily reveal…”

“The young miss’s name is Partia.”

“…Selene, refrain from unnecessary comments.”

Partia puffed her cheeks and scolded Selene. It’s like watching a parent and child.

But since Partia has already indirectly committed filial impiety against her real parents, Selene will soon…

…I think I’m becoming strange too, being surrounded by all these weird people.

“Well then, take care.”

And so we finally returned home.