episode_0003

‘Sylvie.’

“Huh… .”

Sylvia, the mage of the first hero party, woke up from a nightmare.

I was glad that the person I missed came out, but it was a nightmare because it was a dream and not reality.

It’s strange.

How can you miss someone you kicked out with your own hands?

“Ha… .”

I have been having persistent headaches for several days for no reason.

When I touched my forehead, there was water on my fingertips.

It was tears.

Suddenly, my spacious tent came into view.

Although it was a temporary camp tent, Ian’s hand was in every corner.

The arrangement of the furniture, the color of the lighting, even the herbs that give off your favorite scent.

He’s not here anymore.

His scent was everywhere.

It was noisy outside, so I was about to leave and looked in the mirror.

Full-length mirrors, which were difficult to obtain, were prepared in each of the four warriors’ tents.

Ian emphasized this again and again.

‘A warrior must become a symbol of hope. What this means is that you have to pay attention not only to what is on the inside, but also to the outside.’

Luxury robes and shoes equivalent to the price of a decent building.

A wand from a thousand-year-old tree that even the wizards of the Magic Tower covet.

An unknown cone hat that is impossible to put a price on.

The beggar girl who used to beg at the same level as a pack of rats has now become a warrior praised by everyone.

Sylvia still remembers the beginning of that day.

‘Are you hungry?’

Ian suddenly came and led me, and by the time I got used to being full rather than hungry, I had become a warrior.

Afterwards, I met my current colleagues one by one, cleared dungeons, hunted demons, and grew.

At the end, she pushed Ian’s back.

‘My heart feels strange…’ .’

It feels like someone is poking the center of my chest with a needle.

I couldn’t believe it when I heard from Penny that Ian was a party breaker.

When I received the ledger and understood and accepted her detailed explanation, I couldn’t sleep because of the feeling of betrayal.

I heard that he was in charge of the first hero party to use it for his own benefit.

When the moment finally came to ask, or rather order, him to leave.

There was something similar to the joy and conquest of confronting someone who had treated him like a child his whole life.

There was also a desire to enjoy more freedom with the increased salary.

I was a little surprised when Ian wrinkled his face and got angry.

No matter how much he hated it, he never got angry.

After the embarrassment, there was anger.

I thought it was shameless for them to get angry in return after using us and eating us away.

When Ian, sitting down with a sad expression, finally left.

I felt something was wrong.

It was an anxiety that could not be expressed in concrete words.

Beatrice commented on Sylvia’s anxiety as follows:

‘It’s because you’re still young. You spent the longest with Ian, and out of all of us, you tended to follow him. It must be difficult to accept reality easily. ‘What are you going to do with being so nice?’

Is it really like that?

Is it because he is still young and immature that he is shaken by even a fair breakup?

It was difficult for Sylvia to be sure.

I feel like a baby bird leaving the nest.

It’s a funny analogy.

I didn’t leave the nest, but I destroyed it with my own hands.

“─!”

Someone’s loud laughter outside the tent caught Sylvia’s spirit.

As usual, Sylvia dressed neatly and left the tent.

*

Penny looked at Kylie in front of her with a satisfied smile.

In her similarly smiling hands, she held a heavy bundle.

“This is the promised price. Ian’s share was taken out, unnecessary expenses were taken out, and everything was returned to you.”

Kylie smiled slightly and nodded.

“I counted it and it was clear.”

Aria, the priest next to her, also smiled softly.

“I feel like I finally got my due.”

“Ensuring that the right price goes to the right person. That’s my job. Because I have a personality that cannot tolerate injustice.”

Despite Penny’s arrogant words, the atmosphere was warm.

Next, around the time Beatrice received the money, Sylvia also came out of the tent.

“Silvia. Did you have a good night last night?”

“Yes… . Why are you all out this morning?”

Sylvia’s gaze returned to the other warriors.

To be exact, it was a bundle the size of a human head in their hands.

“Silvia’s share is also ready.”

Penny immediately held out the bundle she had prepared.

Sylvia, who received it, rolled her eyes as if she was anxious.

“You don’t like it? Sorry, I can’t give you more than this.”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that. thank you… .”

The weight of the bundle in Sylvia’s arms is considerable.

It can’t even be compared to what I received from Ian.

My mind was complicated.

Ian always calculated and distributed the compensation for the work.

The joy and reward I felt when I first received money faded away with each passing day.

However, the moment I receive this money today.

Thinking about the achievement he had achieved by kicking out Ian himself, a sense of accomplishment from the past came back to him.

Meanwhile, I was anxious.

I wasn’t sure if this was really the right thing to do.

The water had already spilled and seeped into the ground, and Sylvia didn’t know what to do with it.

Should I be happy or sad?

“I can finally go shopping for earrings with peace of mind.”

“Hmm. What kind of accessories are there to attach to a sword? .”

“Guys, what do you think of golden arrows?”

Unlike Sylvia, the other three were already excited.

Penny also smiled happily when she saw them.

So, Sylvia couldn’t help but laugh along with them.

I didn’t want to laugh, but I felt like doing so would put my mind at ease.

***

It’s been four days since I left to look for Vivian.

Finally, the village of Arche came into view in the distance.

“Hmm~ It’s a peaceful rural area.”

Mercy, who was sitting on his shoulder, took a deep breath.

Kati is sleeping buried between piles of luggage.

“Of course, a place where life sprouts gives off a refreshing scent.”

“It only smells like livestock poop.”

“A guy without romance!”

The village was bigger than I expected.

There was a fence erected far away, and cows were grazing in the field beyond.

I sat in the coachman’s seat and went on to watch the cows grazing.

There is no driver who knows Arke Village, so I am driving it myself.

“It’s been a long time since I ate beef.”

“That’s right. If you go to a big city, it would be nice to cut it into large pieces.”

“… Sometimes I forget you’re an elf.”

“Does this mean that he has adapted well to the human environment?”

“If that makes you feel at ease. Let’s put it that way.”

Elves are basically vegetarian.

It’s not that there aren’t elves who eat meat, but they try to be vegetarian whenever possible.

Mercy is different.

She doesn’t care whether she’s a vegetarian or a meat eater.

It wasn’t like that originally, back when I was imprisoned by humans… .

“Wait.”

As soon as we reached the entrance, a guard stopped us.

Because it’s a big town, there are security guards.

The armament is a bit shabby, though.

“What is your business?”

“I came to see the aspiring warrior.”

The expressions of the two guards distorted grimly.

Why are you like that?

“Are you a manager?”

“That’s right.”

The two of them made eye contact with stiff faces, then spoke as if they were giving me a command.

“Go back. There are no aspiring warriors here.”

“But you came after looking at the list of applicants?”

“You saw it wrong.”

That’s strange. Why are you so adamant?

I got off the carriage and thought briefly.

It is common for managers to welcome applicants when they come to see them.

The value of the village increases just by producing a warrior.

But why are they like this?

“Isn’t it Arke Village?”

“That’s right.”

“It was definitely here… . Please let me at least confirm.”

“What was the name of that inquirer?”

“The name is… .”

It’s even more strange.

They say there is absolutely no such thing as an aspirant, so why are they curious about the name?

“It’s been a while so I don’t remember. I think I’ll find out if I go in and look for it.”

“No… .”

“What’s going on?”

A large man came striding from behind.

“Security leader.”

A guard ran over and announced the situation in a whisper.

I’m sorry, but I can hear everything.

In the previous episode, he had grown to the point where he could reach the Demon King’s castle as an official hero, and his body was inherited as is.

“They say they came to visit the aspirant. He said he couldn’t remember the name. Maybe not Vivian… .”

The security chief frowned upon hearing this.

“There’s nothing like that here, so go back.”

It’s not. I think there is.

Shall we sneak past it?

“I can’t help it. Then, I will enter as a passing traveler.”

“Are you kidding me?!”

It doesn’t work.

The security guard walked towards me as if he were going to hit me.

When you face him instead of avoiding him, he bursts into laughter.

“Anyway, all these bastards who are managers or something are like this. Going around with a warrior and putting pressure on your neck, knowing what’s going on.”

Are there such managers?

What happened inside while we were at the border?

During the second round, there was no manager, so I have no memories to refer to.

“Quickly turn it off.”

“Hmm… .”

It’s annoying, but should I just ignore it and go in?

Although it is a fairly large town, it is not difficult to find aspiring warriors.

As I stood there thinking about it, the head of security got angry.

“I can’t say it in words… .”

“That.”

The moment he put the handle on his sword, I spoke.

“Do not pull.”

“What?”

“Don’t pick it.”

“Heh, heh, everything is creeping up.”

The security guard laughed and pulled out the handle.

Ah, you’re pulling it out.

I clearly warned you.

I don’t know anymore.

“… .”

The moment he opens his mouth.

It fell forward.

His face fell to the floor and his arms were bent behind his back.

“Keuuk… !”

“I told you not to pick it.”

I sighed as I looked at him lying down.

Above him, who had fallen, was a woman with long silver hair whose eyes were covered with a black cloth.

Because he rushed at me all at once, his hair was flying wildly.

The pink lips that matched her fair skin were twisted with anger.

She overpowered the security guard.

We’ve been together for a long time, but I still can’t get used to it… .

More than that, why the maid uniform? When did you buy those clothes?

Let’s stop it before it becomes a big problem.

“Kathi. Stop it now.”

“… Yes.”

White cat, Kati.

This is his humanized appearance.

To be precise, she is a demon who can polymorph into a cat.

“Master.”