Chapter 17: Hero Yerin, Part 1

I met Allen in a forest.

I was a high school girl living in Seoul, with everything anyone could want: looks, popularity, wealth… Then a strange pattern appeared on the ground, and I was sucked into another world.

The first person I saw was Allen.

Well, not exactly saw.

I tripped and fell as soon as I arrived.

It was mortifying. I blushed crimson.

It was the kind of embarrassing stumble you wouldn’t even see in a cheesy web novel.

But Allen…

“…Are you okay?”

He looked at me with genuine concern, his voice gentle as he offered me a hand.

And I fell in love.

I had everything, but I lacked one thing: sincerity.

My parents were always busy, never home. My grandmother, who raised me, only saw me as a source of money, the heir to the family fortune.

My “friends” were only interested in my wealth and popularity.

Even those who genuinely wanted to be friends eventually changed.

No one had ever shown me such genuine concern.

Allen led me to the capital.

He must have been busy gathering potion ingredients, but he dropped everything to help me.

The forest was far from the capital, and he even carried me on his back when I complained about my tired legs.

When we arrived, he gave me money, telling me to use it for food and lodging.

No one had ever helped me so selflessly.

Then, as if on cue, the royal knights appeared, searching for the hero with the holy sword.

Allen explained that they did this every day after the Demon King’s revival.

Anyone who could hold and wield the holy sword, causing it to glow, would be recognized as the hero.

Half-jokingly, Allen suggested I try. And… well, here I am.

The holy sword, which had remained inert for countless strong and righteous individuals, reacted to me.

As the crowd gasped in surprise, Allen clapped and cheered, a genuine smile on his face.

At the palace, I met Lilia, the proud daughter of the knight captain, and Angelina, the talented mage.

We formed the hero’s party. The king instructed us to find two more members, and I immediately chose Allen.

He was surprised, hesitant at first. But when I insisted, he looked so happy. That smile… it was the purest expression of joy I’d ever seen.

After Allen left, we returned to the palace, as Lilia suggested.

We received recognition for defeating the Demon King, participated in parades and festivals, and basked in the cheers of the citizens.

But I’m not happy. I’ve dreamed of this day, but I can’t bring myself to feel joy. My smiles are forced.

Because Allen isn’t here.

It’s late at night. We’re staying at the palace, each of us in our own rooms.

Allen…

I’m still in shock. His words, his departure… everything.

I tried to convince myself that he was under some kind of mind control, a lingering effect of the Demon King’s magic. But I know that’s not true.

It was his own choice.

But I have to believe it, or I’ll go crazy.

I was barely holding on during the battle with the Demon King.

When Allen was struck down, I froze, terrified of losing him. My vision went white, and I thought it was over.

But then…

“Wait! I think I can save him! I’ll support you with my magic while you heal Allen…!”

Angelina’s words snapped me out of it. I knew Allen would be disappointed if I didn’t do anything, so I fought.

I fought so he wouldn’t have to struggle when he woke up.

And he did wake up.

I was so relieved.

But… he was different.

He threw a strange potion at the Demon King, a potion we’d never seen before, instantly inflicting a critical injury that negated all our efforts.

He smiled, but his eyes were filled with annoyance, anger, and resentment.

He cursed at us.

He broke our promise and left without us.

And I… I know why.

He reached his breaking point.

He endured our whims, our tantrums, our abuse… and when it was finally over, he let it all go.

I knew we were being harsh.

Angelina, taking out her stress on the easiest target.

Helena, insulting him constantly, hating him from the moment we recruited him from the elf village.

Lilia, treating him like a servant, disappointed that he didn’t live up to her expectations.

And me… I did the least, but I still did nothing to stop them.

I was a bystander. I just leaned on him, acted spoiled, never offering any support in return.

Sometimes… I even… enjoyed seeing him suffer.

It was wrong.

It’s our fault he left.

Once the ceremonies in the capital are over, I’ll find him.

I’ll apologize.

I should have done it sooner.

During our journey, whenever I felt like we were going too far… I should have said something.

But I didn’t.

Because I was tired too.

I wanted to lean on him, to rely on him. I was afraid that if I apologized, he wouldn’t let me anymore. I was afraid he’d stop indulging my whims.

But now… it’s too late.

He’s gone.

So I have to apologize. I have to bring him back.

I can do it. I’m smart. I can figure it out.

I know where to find him. He’s probably at that inn. I even remember his room number.

What will the others think? They were shocked, they wanted to stop him… they’ll be happy if I bring him back.

I don’t like the romantic feelings they seem to have for him, but… I need a reason to stay with him.

“Hehehe… just wait, Allen…”

I couldn’t sleep, spending the night thinking about what to say, how to apologize.

Their methods of torment were… varied.

Angelina used him as a test subject for her magic experiments. She was a talented mage, so there were no lasting side effects, but it was still painful for Allen.

Helena was just… cruel, constantly insulting him and belittling him.

She’s the most arrogant elf I know, and for some reason, she seemed to despise Allen from the moment they met.

Lilia treated him like a servant, ordering him to give her massages, cook, and set up camp. She knew Allen’s only skills were potion making and navigation, but she still exploited him.

But the worst offender was probably Yerin.

From an outsider’s perspective, she didn’t seem to do much. She just… loved him, obsessively.

The other three had the potential to be heroines, but Yerin was already there, bordering on obsessive stalker.

But her affection, her clinginess… it was a burden for Allen, who only understood familial love.

Helena’s insults could be forgiven with an apology, but Yerin’s actions were different.

Her constantly shifting moods, her unpredictable desires… Allen couldn’t figure her out, and it stressed him out.

Whenever he gave Lilia a massage, Yerin would become furious, taking out her anger on him.

She didn’t even remember her outbursts afterward, but those were the times when Allen suffered the most.

Even the other party members would try to restrain her.

Of course, from our perspective, her “anger” was just childish tantrums.

And the others, harboring their own feelings for Allen, would intervene out of… concern?

I guess 20% of Allen’s suffering was due to his own naivete.

But the remaining 80%? That’s on them. There’s no justifying their actions.

“Ugh, too much thinking. Time for bed.”

I don’t need to think about them now. They won’t come looking for me during the festival, and I can plan my strategy later.

For now… I want to enjoy my peaceful, slow life.