116. The Hero Party's Regret (3)
A week after Saten visited my room, the person I'd been waiting for finally knocked on the door with confidence.
Bang bang-!!
-Teacher, I'm here! Open the door!
"...Finally."
I thought she might have died, considering how long it took. I opened the door to greet her after such a long time.
"You're late. Fanatic Danuel."
"Drop the 'Fanatic' part, will you? I don't need that old nickname."
Fanatic Danuel.
Though she wore nun's robes, she gave off a distinctly thuggish vibe. We'd met in the mountains and agreed she'd become Estia's teacher. But why had she arrived so late? I asked Danuel about this.
"Why so late? That mountain wasn't far from here."
"I had things to investigate, so I was delayed. Almost died, actually. I went to the capital."
"The capital?"
"Yeah, the capital."
Danuel said this while pulling out a cigarette from her pocket.
"Want one?"
"No, I'm good. Quit a long time ago."
I'd smoked a lot after Aina died, but I don't anymore. More importantly, I had something to ask Danuel.
"You just said you almost died in the capital?"
"Yeah, almost died. Got caught by those guys from the Church, and they showed no mercy. Phew-"
As I thought.
If Danuel almost died in the capital, her opponent could only be the Grimoire. The Grimoire, which had formed close ties with the Church. I didn't know why they'd betrayed the Goddess and sided with the Grimoire, but... I felt we needed to clean up the capital before they could expand their power.
"I'll hear about the Church's Grimoire information later."
"Sure, I'll tell you later. Should I come by at night?"
"...Come at lunch."
"Hmm, that's a bit disappointing."
Danuel didn't look disappointed at all. She threw her cigarette on the ground and tried to enter the house.
"Wait..."
"Hm?"
I grabbed Danuel's shoulder as she was about to go in. She turned around with a frown.
"What? Changed your mind~? Should I come at night after all?"
"Stop joking around. First, let me ask one thing. Where's your base?"
"An inn near the Adventurer's Guild?"
"...Got it. And before you go in..."
I pulled out a small bottle from subspace and sprayed it at Danuel without hesitation.
"Wha, what-!! What did you just spray on me, you bastard-! It's, it's an aphrodisiac-!!"
"It's perfume. Always get rid of the cigarette smell before entering the house."
"...If it's perfume, you could've said so. But why do I have to do that?"
"The children don't like it."
No children like the smell of cigarettes. Just smelling it is bad for their health. It's right to remove it when meeting children. As if finding me strange, Danuel let out a hollow laugh.
"Anyone would think she's your daughter."
"You're mistaken."
"I'm sure it's a mistake, as you say. But you know, your atmosphere has changed a bit. It feels like you're slowly sinking into water."
"..."
"Well then, I'll go teach that little brat Estia~ Where is she?"
"Go up to the second floor, the room right next door."
Danuel headed to the second floor without looking back. With the cigarette smell gone, Estia should be fine.
*Though I'm worried whether she'll listen to Danuel...*
Well, I gave her a rough explanation, so she should manage. Currently, Estia was among the top students in the Hero Party. Thinking this, I closed the front door and headed to the yard. Today was the day I'd watch Luna's training after a long time.
*I need to talk to her too. I shouldn't be late.*
I quickened my pace slightly as I walked toward the yard. The headache I'd been feeling was getting somewhat better.
For about two weeks, Luna had lived in indifference.
Silence at mealtimes.
Silence during training.
She couldn't even remember when she'd last had a proper conversation with Uncle.
"But today! Uncle said he'd give me personal training!"
However, Luna had steadily worked hard through that silence. Every time they met face to face, she cried out "I'm sorry," and she trained diligently and worked hard where he couldn't see. Had those efforts finally borne fruit? Luna gripped her wooden sword tightly and vented her frustration.
"I reflected...! I reflected so much...!!"
I won't be greedy again!
I won't act for my own benefit!
I'm the Hero!
"I have to think about the entire Hero Party!"
Hyah-!
Luna swung her sword forward. Within her passionate movements lay the effort of thousands of repetitions. It was a clean posture without any excess.
*Uncle seemed angrier at me than at Hare and Saten.*
Why was that?
Because Hare and Saten were always like that, so the shock wasn't as great?
*Or maybe because I always lived virtuously, Uncle got angrier at me? If not that, is it because I'm the Hero of the Hero Party?*
And if it wasn't even that...
"Ma, maybe he thinks more about me! And considers me more special!"
"What did you say, Luna?"
"N-nothing! I didn't say anything! Really!"
Startled-
Luna turned around in surprise. There stood Uncle, meeting alone with her after so long. Luna pulled herself together sharply.
*I, I can't make mistakes! I have to properly show him my wrongdoing and that I've reflected! This is my chance!*
Though she'd lived in indifference, Luna hadn't given up. She thought if she worked hard and reflected, Uncle would look back at her. So Luna could never give up.
*Uncle remembers me. He remembers the path I walked!*
No one else remembers except Uncle. Uncle is special to me. I can't disappoint such an Uncle. Luna bent at a 90-degree angle.
"H-hello, Uncle! I'm sorry! Please take care of me today!"
"...Alright."
A light response.
Not cold, so not bad.
Luna raised her sword while hiding her joy.
"What's today's training, Uncle! I've been practicing alone until now!"
"Then let me see what you've practiced. What did you practice?"
"Overhead slash! Because basics are always important! I practiced overhead slashes!"
"...Show me once."
"Yes!"
Luna cooled her head and calmed her mind. Erasing the thought of not making mistakes from her head. Just as she'd always done.
*Without using my shoulders, using my whole body.*
Supporting with her legs so the power transfers properly. Luna exhaled the breath she'd inhaled.
"Haaah-!!"
The wooden sword cutting through the air with a battle cry. A sound hard to believe came from such a small frame. Amid the dirt scattering from the wind, Luna coughed.
"Cough-! Cough-! Ugh, I used too much force... My hair's a mess..."
I can't show Uncle this state!
Luna quickly tidied her appearance and emerged from the dust as if nothing had happened.
"Heh, hehe! Uncle...! Is this good enough...?"
"Hmm..."
Jun-woo stroked his chin as if pondering for a moment. Luna felt anxious.
*Wha, what if Uncle says it's not good?*
Worry took precedence.
*Should I bring a real sword to turn back time? Is this what they call seppuku?*
For honor, one more time?
As Luna broke into a sweat contemplating dangerous thoughts, Jun-woo nodded slightly as if he'd decided and spoke.
"...-guna."
"Pardon?"
What did Uncle just say?
I, I must have misheard.
Luna asked again.
"Wha, what did you say, Uncle!?"
"...would be better."
"You said I should use my shoulders less?"
"No."
For Luna who hadn't heard, Jun-woo spoke clearly.
"As I thought, Luna, it would be better for you to leave the house."
"Eh...?"
I thought my posture was good though...?
Why...?
Indifference followed by expulsion.
A development she'd seen in fairy tales about Hero Parties falling apart.
Luna fell to her knees in despair.
"Thi, this is a dream..."
Uncle wouldn't do this to me...
I worked so hard...
She wished the wooden sword she was holding was a real sword.
It was the end of a Hero who had tried too hard.
"Hehe, serves her right...! Serves her right...! She tried to get Uncle's attention...! Luna is disqualified...!"
Hare walking through the market was in a good mood. With a competitor automatically eliminated, her own position had become more solid. A smile hung in the sky at the corners of her mouth.
"If she falls on her own, that's good for me...!"
Hare, who had relatively avoided indifference compared to Luna and Saten. Because she didn't know her actions were wrong, Hare had lost less of Uncle's heart.
"Second place Hare...! Not much time left...! U-Uncle, please wait for me...! Hare will come soon...!"
Still, the indifference had hurt her mind a bit.
The surrounding merchants knew she was that kind of child, as Hare performed strange acts with her monologues every time she came on errands.
"She's normal when she comes with that young man... but when she comes alone, she's weird like she's possessed by a ghost."
"Sh, shush! That one has really good hearing!"
Shh-
The market merchants closed their mouths. Though she looked gentle on the outside, the sharp look Hare occasionally showed appeared even in their dreams. Hare tilted her head and pulled out a paper from her pocket to read.
"Hmm... this is about 30 days' worth of ingredients for one person...? Too much for eating alone..."
What is Uncle doing...!
Luna's a monster, so he could just kick her out with nothing...!
"Uncle has too much affection, that's his problem...!"
Hare shouted this and gathered a bit more food than the amount written on the paper. Still, a friend was a friend. It was her way of caring.
"It'll be a bit quieter when Luna leaves..."
Hare purchased all the food written on the paper and put the heavy bag on her back. Though her body was small, it was an area somehow resolved with grit.
"Luna won't get praised even if she does this...! But I can get praised...! For praise, this much is easy...!"
Hare walked hard toward home to receive praise. Because Hare always paid attention to her surroundings, she noticed a small dissonance in movement.
*Huh, huh? Someone's following me?*
Who is it?
It's not Uncle's smell or footsteps.
I know that better than anyone.
Hare caught the gaze felt from the alley.
*Red hair and red eyes... I've smelled this before.*
When Uncle said he'd defeated a Demon King, I remember smelling it.
*The one staring at me is probably a Demon King...*
Demon Kings are strong.
An opponent even Uncle can't guarantee victory against.
However, Hare walked toward the alley with her own feet.
*Thieves must gather information...! I have to tell Uncle...!*
Crucially, that Demon King isn't the main body.
The presence isn't strong.
Having finished assessing the opponent's strength, there was nothing to fear.
Hare grasped all the surrounding information, entered the alley, and met eyes with the red-eyed Demon King.
"Yo, your name, what is it...!!"
-You're bold for a first meeting? Let me introduce myself, I am-
"A, a Demon King...! You idiot...! I have to tell Uncle your name, so tell me now...! You're weak anyway...!!"
-...You knew. Can't fool you, I see.
Sigh-
The red-eyed man revealing himself from the darkness. Appearing with bandages wrapped all over his body, he reached out his hand to Hare and shouted.
-Since the job's ruined anyway, I'll be direct. Won't you make a contract with us?
"Huh...?"
-My name is Greed. All the desires you want. Money if it's money. Love if it's love. Honor if it's honor. If you take my hand, I'll give you the power to achieve everything you desire. How about it, won't you make a contract with me?
"I can achieve everything...?"
-That's right. This world is a tilted world where everything is possible with power. I'll give you the Demon King's power. You just use that power however you want to achieve your goals. How about it, aren't you tempted?
Greed brought his hand closer and closer to Hare. Though the Demon King's words didn't seem true, Hare kept having her gaze stolen by the hand.
*Everything I want... even Uncle... can I obtain him...?*
All of Uncle...
Can I obtain him...?
Hare imagined a future with Uncle every day. When waking up. When eating. Before falling asleep. She always imagined it.
*But he's saying he'll make those imaginings come true...?*
Gulp-
Hare made a big decision and shouted.
"G-go away, Demon King-!! I'm telling Uncle everything...!!"
Dash-
Hare screamed and escaped the alley. Hare, who had always ruined things with greed and desire.
"Ho, how could I lose this chance I caught...! I absolutely can't lose it...!!"
She had no intention of repeating the past.
And...
-There's no time. At this rate, I'll die first...
The Demon King left alone in the alley touched his grimoire and muttered quietly.