No to Being the Suffering Heroine! – Chapter 129

Ord Zenbel, a high-ranking Abyss Priest of the Reversal Society.

The identity of the suspicious man wrapped in a robe was surprisingly that of a heinous criminal who would make all the Paladins in the vicinity gather with fire in their eyes the moment his whereabouts became known.

To the extent that his name was mentioned even in the original novel, though it was just setting.

“Ord Zenbel…? Could it be that Ord, the Nightmare of Bizenwerk, the Beast Implanter?”

Friede cried out in surprise. As if she knew well of the other’s notoriety.

“…What an impertinent brat. Is she your follower?”

Follower, he says. Well, looking at her appearance, it’s inevitable to make such a mistake.

…Which means, he doesn’t know anything about Friede? That was fortunate.

If he had known that Friede was the hero of the holy sword, he wouldn’t be talking so calmly like this, but would have tried to kill us right away.

“If she’s your follower, teach her well. Carelessly uttering the other party’s derogatory nickname is no different from challenging them to a duel.”

There was a slight hint of anger in Ord’s voice.

He doesn’t like the nickname Beast Implanter, it seems.

While ‘Nightmare of Bizenwerk’ was an alias that could be considered evidence of his fame from his perspective, ‘Beast Implanter’ was a derogatory nickname full of contempt and sarcasm.

“You speak well. Don’t you think ‘Knight of Betrayal’ is a derogatory nickname?”

He called me Knight of Betrayal as soon as he saw me, but now he’s getting upset about being called a nickname. Befitting a villain, his double standards were at the level of Jekyll and Hyde.

“…That was impolite of me. I thought it was a better title than ‘Iron Face’, so I used it.”

Ord apologized for his rudeness. His way of speaking was so ambiguous that it was hard to tell if it was an apology or sarcasm, but at least he made a formal apology.

“You know my nickname very well. You must have done your background check very thoroughly? I don’t like it.”

I glared at him while slightly drawing my longsword from its sheath.

Although he went on about not being wary because he wasn’t an enemy, I couldn’t really lower my guard.

If he really was Ord Zenbel – in other words, one of the executives of the Reversal Society – it meant he was a more formidable enemy than any pursuer I had faced so far.

Ord Zenbel was a slaughterer who used the abyss magic that controls monsters to destroy seven villages and the city of Bizenwerk.

He doesn’t seem to have brought the monster army that made this possible… but he must have something he’s relying on to stand there so calmly with just his bare body.

“Moreover, the fact that you suddenly appeared before us like this… Does this mean you’ve been tailing me all this time? Surely you’re not going to say it’s a coincidence.”

One of only five high-ranking Abyss Priests in the entire world. What are the odds of encountering such a being by chance on the street?

Probably similar to the winning odds of a gacha item that a money-crazed game company has quietly and slyly lowered?

So, this encounter could only be seen as inevitable, not coincidental.

Just like the numerous pursuers I had faced so far, he must have been tracking me.

Despite taking care to hide my traces lately, to think I’d be caught so easily like this. What method did he use?

“Not tailing, but tracking. You were careful in hiding your traces, but not perfect. It was easier than expected using a ‘dog’.”

“Dog? You say dog?”

Did he use hunting dogs to find me?

No, that can’t be. If tracking me was that easy, there would have been fifty times as many pursuers by now.

“I’ll show you if you want to see. If you don’t mistake it for a threat and charge at me.”

Ord let out a snicker as if he found my reaction quite amusing, then lightly flicked his finger to summon something.

“Grrrr…”

The sound of a beast growling from behind him. In the darkness of the forest hidden by shadows, a pair of red eyes flickered like small torches.

Is that the ‘dog’?

I stretched out my left hand to stop Friede, who was about to draw her holy sword at any moment, while staring intently at the ‘dog’ slowly revealing itself.

A head resembling a dog as its name suggests. Rough black fur covering its entire body. A body resembling a monkey and three tentacles sprouting instead of a tail.

It was a monster called a demon dog, on par with a wight.

“A demon dog’s sense of smell is incomparably better than that of an ordinary hunting dog, making it perfect for tracking. I imprinted your scent on this one and followed you.”

Ord explained how he had tracked me while stroking the demon dog’s head.

There was a strange affection in his touch, which made me understand why he had gotten the infamous nickname of ‘Beast Implanter’.

“I had some trouble because the scent was cut off due to you moving along the river… but there was a particularly strong scent permeating this area. Did you have some business under the river?”

“That’s none of your business. More importantly, you say you imprinted the scent? How did you manage that?”

“Are you curious? Hmm, alright. It wouldn’t be bad to give a piece of advice while building rapport.”

Ord laughed as if showing off. It was a tone that would make even an existing friend feel sick and cut ties.

“Advice?”

“If you were planning to hide your identity and sneak around, you should have paid attention to disposing of your belongings. Your management of such aspects was quite lacking.”

Ord pulled out a dirty piece of cloth from his bosom.

Although it was dark and hard to see clearly, I could understand what he was talking about as soon as I saw it.

“…That clothing looks very familiar.”

“Of course it would. It’s the clothes you wore. They were selling for five times the price of good new clothes.”

The quilted armor and pants that I had sold to a merchant for money during my active days as an adventurer. What he was holding were those clothes.

…

So… this bastard actually managed to find and obtain the clothes I used to wear, and then tracked me using their scent.

Doesn’t that sound a bit like a crazy stalker bastard?

Ugh, it gives me the creeps.

I reflexively shuddered slightly. It felt like goosebumps were rising all over my upper body, from my forearms to my back.

“Kuh…!”

Friede seemed to feel similarly, as she was glaring at the clothes Ord was holding with an even fiercer look than before.

How should I put it, it was a look like that of a hunchbacked monster staring at a golden ring that reveals writing when put into fire.

“Well, does this answer your questions?”

“…Tracking the scent left on clothes, it’s a bit disgusting. To the point where I want to snatch and burn them right now.”

“If that’s what you want.”

Ord nodded readily, then created a small flame and burned my old clothes to ashes.

…What’s this, why is this guy being so kind? His attitude was bizarrely friendly. For an Abyss Priest.

He said he wasn’t an enemy or whatever, could it be that those words were sincere?

“Has your curiosity been satisfied? Then let’s get to the main point.”

Ord, after blowing away the remaining ashes in the wind, even sent the demon dog back behind him as if he really had no intention of fighting, and showed me his right palm.

An ordinary palm without even a trace of magical energy, as if suggesting a handshake.

And then.

“I’ll get straight to the point. Won’t you join us?”

Suddenly, he uttered nonsense on par with Gunther.

Abyss Priest Ord, extending his hand as if he were some kind of pirate king in training, inviting me to become a comrade.

“…What? Join what?”

I forgot what to say and stood there blankly with my mouth wide open.

Shock, bewilderment, incredulity.

And a hint of displeasure.

Isn’t this how women feel when they receive a confession attack from a much lower-class person?

That feeling of self-loathing and displeasure, thinking ‘Even this kind of guy is eyeing me now?’ It was a feeling similar to that.

No, really.

The whole world might be treating me like a serious criminal, but even so, come on. What kind of Abyss Priest bastard comes looking for me to become comrades?

Doesn’t this mean that in these bastards’ eyes, I look like human waste just like them? It was a terrible insult.

“How dare you…!”

Friede twisted her expression fiercely in my stead. She was even emitting killing intent, seeming several times more enraged than me.

“Wait, wait a moment. Calm down for now.”

“But Hilde…!”

“I’ll handle this. So just stay quiet for a moment.”

I grabbed Friede’s shoulder to calm her down, then turned back to look at Ord and asked.

“What do you mean by those words? Are you trying to recruit me into the Rever… no, the Exorcism Reversal Society?”

What the hell do you mean by joining together?

“Similar, but a bit different. You’re neither a magician nor a priest, so you can’t become our comrade serving the abyss. However, even if you can’t become a comrade, couldn’t you become a companion?”

Ord shook his head and answered. He wasn’t trying to make me an Abyss Priest of the Reversal Society, but literally meant to join hands, he said.

“It’s a proposal that wouldn’t be bad for you either. If you join hands with us, you can escape from the threat of those annoying pursuers, and our goals align with yours as well.”

What, are you trying to achieve world peace or something?

“Well, I don’t think so.”

“…You’re more talkative than the rumors suggest. Don’t interrupt and just listen to the end first. The conversation isn’t progressing, is it?”

As if finding it very annoying that his words kept getting interrupted, Ord grumbled while putting his hand inside his hood to press his forehead.

“…”

“Haah… I’ll explain again. Our – the Exorcism Reversal Society’s goal… that is, our immediate goal is just one. To dispose of the trash who call themselves heroes.”

Ah, is that so?

Of course you would.

I nodded with an indifferent face. It was really not a surprising statement at all.

Since it’s the role of Abyss Priests to get beaten up by paladins and heroes, of course they would grind their teeth among themselves saying they’ll kill the heroes.

Not even knowing that one of those heroes is standing right next to me.

…Hmm, would he pounce immediately if he found out?

Could we win if we fought? I deliberately dragged out the conversation to recover some stamina… but I’m still not sure.

“To be precise, to slaughter Heid Gardarik Hervor, the self-proclaimed hero of Hervor. That is our goal.”

Ah, I agree with that too.

These guys were trying to do a good thing for once. Though the intention itself is trash-like, even if the result is good.

“You were certainly aiming for Gunther Hagen of Burgundy, right? I heard you failed in trying to assassinate him and the vermin following him.”

…That’s just a false accusation.

What assassination, I was almost done in by them instead. The first time I barely survived thanks to fleeing quickly, and the second time thanks to Friede’s help.

“If you become our collaborator and lend a hand in eliminating Heid, we will also help you deal with Gunther. How about it, isn’t it a satisfactory proposal?”

Ord extended his hand to me once again and said. In a tone full of absolute confidence, saying there was no reason to refuse such a proposal.

“Hmm…”

I removed my right hand from the sword hilt and cupped my chin, pondering for a moment.

About his proposal. About what choice I should make.

And.

“…Well, not bad. If only we could trust each other.”

I nodded while relaxing my guard stance. Answering that I was willing to accept that proposal.

Friede, standing beside me, looked at me with a shocked face, but she soon calmed down when I firmly pressed down on her shoulder.