Category: TFHITS

While I stayed at the guildmaster’s residence for a few days, Rena came to see me every single day without fail, chatting away endlessly.

But aside from my time with her, I devoted all my hours to talking with the ‘voice’.

[You did well. Only fifty points have come in so far since the incident hasn’t spread much yet, but this father and daughter will soon start making your name known.]

‘Ah. So the points I’ll be getting from this incident are…’

[Right. Over the past few days, I’ve seen many people celebrating Rena’s safe return. She must’ve been a local celebrity. You made a lot of people happy. That means you’ll be getting an extra 700 points.]

‘……’

[Now do you get it? Before you start anything, always think of “the greatest happiness for the greatest number.” This absolute principle will elevate your fame, and one day, it’ll make you a hero.]

Sure. I get it.

But hey, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.

‘Why were you talking down to me from the very start?’

The voice went silent for a moment.

Then, in an unusually hesitant and cautious tone, it asked:

[……Is that… not okay?]

‘No need to sound so dejected about it.’

[Then I’ll keep talking like this. You can speak casually to me too.]

‘Still, I can’t keep calling you “you” forever. You already know my name, so tell me yours.’

[Hoo. I’ve forgotten it. Call me whatever you like. Or you can give me a new name.]

You sure you won’t regret it?

I’m notorious across the continent for my naming sense.

‘Invisible.’

[What?]

‘You’re not visible, so… Invisible.’

[Ah, I just remembered. My name is Trail.]

‘……’

[It’s Trail. Really.]

Got it, Trail.

I rubbed my palms together.

The new ability was great and all, but what I was really interested in now was something else.

My memories from before the regression.

All the countless quests and information I went through until I defeated the Demon King—they’re all still in my head.

‘Let’s see. I went back 7 years, right?’

Kaeld once said, “The hero died from the very start.”

In other words, by this point in time, the real hero, Bion Kunze, is already dead.

Tracking him down to disturb Kaeld’s scheme is impossible.

But there’s no need to be discouraged.

‘Yeah, for example…’

Tap tap.

I tapped the table with my index finger, deep in thought.

‘For example, Kaeld hasn’t even gathered all his party members yet.’

I was the last member of his party.

According to my memory, it’s still three years until he comes looking for me.

And I remember when each of the other party members first met the hero—down to the year and month.

‘At this point, there are probably three of them still left. Heroes the hero hasn’t met yet.’

Soon, I smirked.

Then I should be the one to meet them first.

With the memories from before the regression, and my new abilities…

‘Just wait. I’ll be the one to unmask you.’

Fake hero Kaeld.

[It’s Trail. Believe me.]

I said I got it.

‘More importantly, tell me what you want.’

[Hmm?]

‘From the look of it, you’re going all out to help me with some weird power, but I don’t accept favours without knowing the reason.’

[You’re a cold one.]

How could I not be?

Every day, I’m surrounded by “sinners.”

Of course, no one lives without committing a single sin—including me.

But being aware of exactly who you’ve wronged and how many times… that’s something else entirely.

‘So, what’s your goal?’

[The world is still beautiful and worth living in. It would be good to fix your habit of viewing kindness with suspicion—]

‘Okay. Let’s go our separate ways.’

[W-wait! What’s the rush? Calm down.]

‘Why the sudden polite speech?’

The guy seemed flustered for a moment, then spoke in a placating tone.

[My only goal is to kill the Demon King of Lies and Deception, Idria.]

‘……’

[Before the regression, you succeeded in exposing Kaeld’s “lie.” But when it came to the actual Demon King, Idria, you couldn’t even lay a finger on her before dying.]

‘Nice and tactful choice of words.’

[I have my reasons for needing to kill Idria. But a Demon King can only be killed by a hero.]

Ah, so that’s why.

‘So that’s why you want to make me a hero? Helping me gain fame and all?’

[Yes. It’s what you wanted before you died too. You become a hero and gain glory, and I defeat the Demon King. A perfect win-win relationship.]

‘……Hmm.’

To be precise, all I ever wanted was to enjoy a peaceful retirement.

Well, I suppose it all leads to the same place in the end.

Someone has to kill the Demon King.

Kaeld can’t do it.

So I will.

It’s a logical conclusion and a perfectly aligned goal.

I smiled softly and said,

‘Alright. Let’s work well together, Invisible.’

[It’s Trail.]

‘Well, that’s not really important.’

[It is important.]

‘Anyway, it’s time I got moving. You said fame is what makes someone a hero, right? There’s no way I’ll gain any sitting around in one place.’

[Hmm. A fine idea.]

Tick.

Suddenly, the same large screen appeared before me again.

But unlike before, it now displayed a large map of the continent.

‘You can do stuff like this too?’

[Of course. Look closely. This is the Drucker Territory where you currently are.]

At those words, a point on the map began to glow.

[Think of the brightness and size of this white light as the fame you’ve earned. Over the past three days, your fame has spread enough to reach about 450. Even if you squeeze out the rest, you probably won’t even hit 1,000.]

‘……’

[In short, you’re a firefly.]

‘Nice metaphor.’

[No. I mean it. Compared to this.]

Snap.

There was a sound like someone snapping their fingers.

Then, in the southwestern region of the map, a gloomy and malevolent black mist began to rise up.

Unlike me, who was barely a glimmer at a single point on the continent, that mist had already completely engulfed three or four territories.

In both scale and darkness, it was incomparable.

[That’s the fame that bastard Kaeld has right now.]

‘What?’

[He’s already acquired three heroes. Since the oracle hasn’t descended yet, his name hasn’t spread across the entire continent. But in the southwest, he’s already considered on par with a Champion.]

‘……’

[That’s the size of the fame you have to catch up to. Getting the picture now?]

I swallowed hard.

Looking at that, my light really is nothing more than a firefly.

‘I’m in the northeast right now. The continent is long from top to bottom… so I’ll have to build my fame gradually starting here. I shouldn’t even glance at the southern regions for a while.’

[I think the same. So, what’s your next plan?]

‘Hmm.’

I crossed my arms and fell into thought.

What should I do?

What famous event happened around this time before regression?

Something that may not have shaken the whole continent, but at least caused a stir in this region…

“Ah!”

I sprang to my feet.

“That’s it!”

[Indeed!]

“Don’t act like you know. I haven’t said anything yet.”

[I read your mind, remember.]

Trail spoke in a subtle tone.

[It’s been a while since the last reunion. Right?]

The voice was right.

Soon, not far from here, in the Quelk territory, a fairly famous—and brutal—incident will take place.

There’s a terrifying woman who’s kept the entire continent on edge for years.

A villainess who roams from region to region committing all sorts of atrocities.

The so-called Witch of Carnage.

Neril Slane.

She was once a member of my former party.

To be more precise—

‘At this point in time, she’s still a party member Kaeld hasn’t sunk his claws into.’

Then I have to get to her first.

Time to go see that lady again.

---

“Huaaah. Mister, don’t go. Don’t gooo.”

Rena, who still thought of me as her ‘white horse-riding uncle,’ clung to me, bawling her eyes out.

The guild master, seeing his daughter like that, gave a strange expression somewhere between a smile and a grimace.

“I have to go. I’ve got something to do.”

“What is it! Just stay here. I’ll make you happy.”

“Sorry. But I’ll come see you again someday.”

“…You promise? You’re not lying, right?”

“Of course.”

Rena soaked my clothes with tears and snot before finally letting go.

“Sniff… Fine. But you have to come back. By then, I’ll have grown so much that you’ll regret the choice you’re making today.”

“Heh. Alright.”

She wiped her tears and stepped back.

Then the guild master stepped forward and spoke.

“It’s truly regrettable to send you off like this. You’re just as the rumors say.”

“Huh?”

“I heard the Sword master of No Killings never stays in one place.”

Please stop calling me that.

Just call me Swordmaster!

[So you did like the sound of it.]

“Was the treatment I gave you lacking?”

“It’s not that. Besides, wouldn’t it be uncomfortable if I really decided to stay?”

“Huh?”

I gestured with my chin toward Rena, who was still sniffling in the back.

The guild master’s expression stiffened slightly as he caught the meaning.

I whispered to him.

“A man of your standing surely has things more important than your daughter’s romance.”

“……”

“Don’t make that face. I’m not against political marriages or anything. I’m just saying, no need to keep up appearances with me.”

His expression turned a bit unpleasant.

“You think I’m that kind of man?”

“……”

“I’m disappointed, Sir Mide. I swear I have not a speck of shame before the heavens…”

“What sin did you commit against Id Blaket?”

At my words, the guild master’s eyes wavered.

He was a seasoned merchant, so his expression didn’t betray anything—but the eyes, the window to the soul, couldn’t fully hide it.

“W-what… What do you know?”

Truth is, I know nothing.

I didn’t bother using the Eye of Omniscience to uncover his secrets.

But I do know one thing for sure—that he wronged that person.

“Guild Master.”

“……”

“Live a good life. Let’s not meet again.”

Leaving the stunned guild master behind, I departed from Drucker territory.

---

Inside the carriage headed for Quelk territory.

I reviewed the plan with Trail.

So far, Kaeld had secured three party members.

And the remaining ones—excluding me—numbered three.

If I want to balance the scales, I have to get all of them first.

‘Neril was the one most aligned with me, at least in terms of opinion.’

It’s a bit of a late regret, but sometimes I wonder—what if I had spoken to her while standing watch the night before our final battle with the Demon King?

Told her that Kaeld was guilty of crimes against 148 million people.

She probably would’ve laughed in disbelief.

Maybe even twirled her finger at her head like I was crazy.

‘But eventually, she would’ve listened seriously.’

[Sounds like you trusted that woman, Neril, quite a bit.]

‘Not sure if “trust” is the right word. But at the very least, she wasn’t someone I could dismiss lightly.’

[Hmm. But even if you’d said something earlier, it wouldn’t have changed anything. You wouldn’t have stood a chance against the Demon King anyway.]

God, the way you phrase things.

In any case, she was the only one besides me who ever doubted the Hero Kaeld.

Unlike me, she didn’t have concrete evidence—her doubts were more like “Does Kaeld really have what it takes to be a Hero?”—but that alone puts her leagues above the others.

[Still, “Witch of Carnage” is a pretty fearsome title. Not as bad as the “No Killings Sword-whatever,” though.]

‘Nah. Even the Swordmaster of No Killings is nothing compared to the Two-Syllable Name Guy.’

[…My bad.]

‘Besides, the title “Witch of Carnage” is honestly pretty unfair. I didn’t even realize it until I joined her party later on.’

[Huh?]

I stayed quiet for a moment, then answered.

‘Most of it was false accusation.’

[Listen carefully. Everyone has secrets they want to keep hidden. And I have the power to pull back the curtain on those secrets—if the conditions are right.]

‘Conditions?’

[It’s nothing difficult. The name of the person. And the names of the people related to the secret they want to hide. That’s all you need to know.]

‘……’

[Hmm. Now that I think about it, it is a tough condition. Secrets are called secrets because they haven’t come to light. Knowing the name of someone connected to an undisclosed secret… that’s quite a challenge……]

‘No.’

It’s not a difficult task for me.

I looked at the blood-letters above the heads of the ones sprawled on the ground.

As expected of those who had been up to vile things, each of them had sinned against an average of 50 to 60 people.

I focused on the names that showed up in common.

‘Hmm.’

—Sinned against Rena McCreary and 52 others.
—Sinned against Rena McCreary and 68 others.
—Sinned against Rena McCreary and…

There were a few exceptions, but over 70 percent of them had the name Rena McCreary among their victims.

She was even registered as a representative.

In other words, it meant she was tied to the crime they most desperately wanted to keep hidden.

I casually kicked the bald guy rolling around in front of me.

Thud.

“Gurk!”

“Hey. What’s your name?”

“I was wrong!”

“‘I was wrong’ is your name?”

“No, it’s not!”

“Then is your name ‘No, it’s not’?”

“L-Lion. I’m Lion Swin.”

I shrugged and spoke to the voice.

‘Let’s see what happens. Show me the secret between this guy, Lion, and the person named Rena McCreary.’

[Hmm? Sounds like something caught your attention. Very well.]

Suddenly, a screen appeared again.

The next moment, the entire screen flickered black, and then a scene began to play.

The bald man was laughing alongside the bandits now lying crumpled in front of me.

On his shoulders was a blonde girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old, unconscious.

I could tell at a glance that this girl was Rena McCreary.

“Kehaha. Boss, we hit the jackpot today, huh?”

“No kidding. She just wandered into our territory without a care.”

“What should we do with her? Or rather, where should we sell her?”

“Tsk. You’re trash, but especially stupid trash. Don’t you know who this little brat is?”

“Sir?”

“You idiot. This girl is the only daughter of the merchant lord from Drucker Territory!”

Whoa. Really?

“What’s a girl like her doing out without guards…?”

“Looks like she sneaked away from her escort during a picnic and wandered deep into the woods. When I found her, I heard people frantically calling her name from further down the mountain.”

“Idiotic.”

“Better than you, at least.”

The boss grinned as he continued.

“Selling her off would be a waste. We’ll get a much better price if we ransom her.”

“Won’t that cause trouble?”

“What’s the issue? We were planning to leave this place soon anyway. One last job before we vanish.”

“As expected of the boss. Hahaha!”

Click.

The screen vanished after showing that much.

I stroked my chin thoughtfully.

‘So this is the power that reveals secrets.’

Fascinating.

My ‘blood-letters’ show the names and number of a person’s victims, but not the specific crimes.

The voice’s ‘Eye of Omniscience’ can’t reveal secrets unless you know the names involved.

In other words, the two abilities perfectly complement each other’s shortcomings.

‘What a killer combo!’

[You mean “perfect” combo. That word’s a bit… off.]

‘Anyway, this is definitely a chance to raise my reputation.’

Before regression, I had punished these bastards and just walked away.

Even then, I had seen the name Rena McCreary among the blood-letters.

But I thought it had nothing to do with me.

Back then, unless someone had wronged me personally, I didn’t care what they did.

But that has to change now.

I need to build up my reputation.

Pile it up high, over and over, until I strip that bastard Kaeld of his mask and prove that I am the true Hero.

[Right. To save the world from the Demon King—]

‘For the sake of my glorious retirement plan!’

[…]

‘Alright. Let’s do this.’

Having resolved myself, I opened my mouth.

“You have ten seconds to get up.”

“Urgh…”

“No—make that five seconds.”

“Ugh…”

“You have three seconds. Get up.”

Snap.

As if lying had never been an option, they scrambled to their feet.

I glanced around and spotted the boss from the earlier scene.

The guy with a face full of knife scars was trembling like a child.

I smiled sweetly and asked,

“Hey. Where’s Rena McCreary?”

Two days later.

I visited Drucker Territory under the guidance of a girl named Rena.

“Mister! Over here, this way.”

Rena now refused to let go of my hand as she led me eagerly.

It seemed the bandits had at least considered her an important hostage—her clothes were a bit torn, but she wasn’t badly hurt.

“I told you, I’m not a mister.”

“Ah! Sorry—oppa.”

Much better.

[Get a grip, would you.]

“Really… thank you so, so much.”

“You’ve said that more than a hundred times.”

“A thousand times wouldn’t be enough. Sniff.”

Rena’s eyes, already swollen, welled with fresh tears.

I heard it had been her birthday just a few days ago.

She had planned to go on a picnic with her father, the merchant lord, but an urgent meeting had come up, and only the guards and maids could accompany her.

Apparently, she’d been so upset that she’d decided to slip away from her escort and wander deep into the mountains, just to make her father worry a little.

“Be more careful from now on. There are plenty of people like that out there.”

Thump.

I lightly smacked the bald guy who was following behind me.

For reference, behind me were twenty-two bandits, all bound together in rope.

After finding Rena at their hideout, I had very kindly and personally tied them up and escorted them all the way here.

The bald guy who’d been struck on the head glared at me.

“Ghk. You bastard. Remember this.”

“……”

“This isn’t over between us. If you let us go now, I won’t come after you.”

“……”

“But if you hand us over to the guild leader like this, I will come for you. I’ll find you and…”

“Oh. Go on.”

“I’ll find you… and maybe treat you to a drink or something. Hehe.”

While I was chatting with the bald guy, Rena had gone home to let them know she’d returned safely.

The guild leader literally ran barefoot to the gate.

He grabbed Rena in a tight embrace and burst into tears of joy.

“Huwehh. You little brat. What were you doing all this time before showing up now?!”

“Daddy, I’m really sorry. I was wrong. Sniff sniff.”

“No, it’s fine. You came back safe, that’s all that matters. But who is this gentleman?”

“Ah! Right. Daddy, don’t be too shocked. This is the very ‘Swordmaster of No Killings,’ Mide Mohan!”

Don’t call me that stupid title.

Why do I have to turn red in the face over some nickname I didn’t even come up with?

[‘Swordmaster of No Killings.’ Heheh. Hahaha.]

‘Shut up.’

[Why ‘No Killings’?]

‘I don’t take assassination jobs. I just cut off arms and legs, that’s all.’

[Ah. Of course. That’s “just” cutting off limbs. Sure.]

‘Why are you suddenly being polite?’

[But why avoid killing? Being a mercenary doesn’t exactly make for a luxurious living.]

‘I’m a top-tier mercenary. Even after turning down jobs, I get flooded with work from across the continent.’

It’s no exaggeration.

Why else would I be planning retirement at thirty-four?

[Hmm. Even so, killing jobs would pay more.]

‘……’

I didn’t answer.

Because the voice wasn’t wrong.

But I can’t see the blood-letters over my own head.

And that makes it even scarier.

How many sins have I committed?

I still remember the death-row prisoner I saw when I was seven, clear as day.

And the name floating above my mother’s head — my father’s name.

As long as those images remain burned into my mind, I don’t think I could kill someone.

[And cutting off limbs isn’t a sin?]

‘I’m not trying to be a saint. I just want to avoid the worst.’

[Hmm.]

‘Enough. How could a dragon understand a sparrow’s thoughts.’

[I think you got that backwards.]

Yeah, I realized it too after saying it. Damn it.

Anyway, Rena and the guild leader had finished their conversation.

The guild leader gave me a deep bow and said,

“I am honored to meet the great Mide.”

“Please don’t. I’m just a wandering mercenary.”

“You saved my one and only daughter. Even if I knelt here and now, it wouldn’t be enough to express my gratitude.”

His voice was thick with emotion.

Trembling all over with joy and gratitude, he continued,

“Please, come inside. I’ll welcome you with all my heart.”

“What about those guys behind me?”

I gestured toward the bandits, bald guy included.

The guild leader’s expression changed completely from when he’d been facing me.

His voice turned cold and full of menace.

“By Empire law, I should report this… but…”

“……”

“There’s no need to trouble important folks with such ‘trivial’ matters.”

When I came to my senses, I noticed a crowd of people behind the guild leader.

All of them looked strong.

Among them were fighters who gave off the presence of well-honed blades.

“So you were preparing for a full-scale search.”

“Yes. I gathered all the renowned mercenaries in the area.”

“……”

“We might not need the search now, but I paid them in advance. I can’t just let them stand around.”

“Well, you’re a merchant. Can’t be taking losses.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Saying that, the guild leader gave a nod to one of the mercenary.

He seemed to be the temporary leader of the group.

He kept glancing at me for some reason, then ordered his subordinates to take the bandits away.

“Ghk. Where are you taking us?!”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“This is madness! Spare us! Please!”

Their voices grew fainter as they were dragged away.

Hmm. So… is that handled?

First time I’ve ever gotten involved in someone else’s business like this, so I’m not really sure.

[Well done. This should help you figure it out.]

Huh?

That familiar translucent screen appeared in front of me again.

I moved my eyes to the corner to check the display.

<Ding! You have gained 50 Fame Points.>
<Points needed to level up: 170/1,000>

<Total Fame Points to be gained from this event: 700>
<Overk Meckri sees you as “the man who saved his daughter’s life.”>
<Rena Meckri sees you as “the uncle on a white horse.”>

…….

Uncle on a white horse?

Isn’t that a contradiction in terms?

[What’s wrong with “uncle”? Huh? What’s wrong with being an uncle?]

‘Judging by how defensive you’re being, I’d say you’re no spring chicken yourself.’

[Shut up. You’re thirty-four.]

‘I came back 7 years in the past, so I’m twenty-seven.’

 

Just then, the guild leader spoke.

“Maide-nim. Please, come inside now.”

“Then I’ll be in your care for a few days.”

“A few days?! Don’t say such things. I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.”

“……”

“If that feels too burdensome, then I’ll employ you for life instead. Please, don’t say you’ll leave.”

Slip.

Rena suddenly clung to my arm and said,

“Yeah. Mister, live here with us. Okay?”

“Ahem. Rena. That’s not what I meant.”

“What did you mean, then?”

“That… thing.”

“……?”

I soothed the two of them as best I could.

I was planning to stay here for a while anyway, to sort out my thoughts…

But I had absolutely no intention of settling down for good.

[Why not? Isn’t your retirement plan falling into place automatically?]

Sigh. ‘No. I can’t stay in one place for long.’

[Huh?]

‘I’m not in a position to live closely with others.’

The voice fell silent, as if it didn’t understand.

But it couldn’t be helped.

I looked up at the space above the guild leader’s head.

— Sinned against Id Blaket and 71 others.

This man, who seemed like a kind uncle, had sinned against more people than the bandit leader who’d just been dragged away.

This is why.

This is why I’m a wandering mercenary.

“Urgh?”

Suddenly, the core that Kaeld was holding began to vibrate.

It pierced into Kaeld’s body in an instant.

“What, what the hell—?”

Kaeld writhed in agony.

Blood gushed from every hole—his eyes, nose, mouth—thick and dark red.

A few seconds later.

His eyes had turned golden.

And with Kaeld’s voice—but not his voice—he spoke.

“What a dull conclusion.”

“What the hell are you?”

“Did you think I played dead just to watch it end like this? I merely stepped off the stage for a moment to become part of the audience—but I was so disgusted, I climbed right back on.”

“……”

“You’re all fired. Actors who can’t entertain their audience have no reason to exist.”

Someone muttered in a daze—

“The Demon King…?”

The Demon King of lies and deception—Idria.

No, wait.

His head had clearly been cut off…

No, I’m the one who said we shouldn’t assume that was enough to kill him.

But to come back to life?

So quickly?

And he says he voluntarily stepped down from the stage?

Because he wanted to watch how we played around?

Kaeld’s schemes, my desperate struggle—were they just entertainment for him?

“Lies must be eternal. A lie that doesn’t last, a lie that gets exposed, is no longer a lie.”

“……”

“That one named Mide did something I despise most. He’ll have to pay. I’m not the forgiving type.”

The Demon King of lies and deception, Idria, raised his index finger.

And at that very moment—

Flash.

It felt like something struck my pupils.

Neril whipped her head around and screamed—

“Mide! Get aw—”

But she couldn’t finish her sentence.

Her entire body disintegrated in an instant, vanishing.

Just like the other party members.

Just like me.

Ah… I see.

Only a true hero can kill the Demon King.

But the real hero, Bion Kunze, is dead. Kaeld killed him.

‘Which means, from that moment…’

The continent’s fate was already sealed.

Stupid bastard Kaeld.

If you deceived the entire continent, then you should’ve taken responsibility for it.

If you couldn’t, you should never have killed the real hero, Bion Kunze.

Because of you, all my glorious retirement plans were destroyed.

‘If it were me, I wouldn’t have done that.’

[Then what would you have done?]

‘I’d have taken responsibility. I would’ve actually killed the Demon King. Not stepped off the stage—I would’ve thrown him out of the whole damn theater.’

[Oh? But wasn’t the Demon King only able to be killed by the true hero?]

‘Then I’ll become the true hero myself.’

I burst out laughing the moment I said it.

Become the hero? What the hell does that even mean?

A hero is someone blessed by the gods to oppose the Demon King.

A miracle determined from the start.

Kaeld was still a fool, but even if I were in his place, nothing would’ve changed.

But the voice rejected my thoughts.

[That’s an excellent idea.]

“What?”

[Become the hero. Not a half-wit like Kaeld, but a real hero.]

……

Uh, now that I think about it—this is kind of a weird thing to say at this point, but—

‘Who are you?’

And with that thought, my memory cut off.

—

Fwoosh.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was brilliant flames.

Ah. So it really is Hell.

Through my eyes, I can’t see the sins I’ve committed.

Still, I thought I’d tried to live sincerely and decently—but I guess that wasn’t enough.

I let out a small sigh.

‘The flames of Hell, huh. They really are scarily ho—’

…they’re not?

The flames are weaker than I expected?

Rather than hot, they feel… warm.

What the hell?

Is this some kind of special section of Hell reserved for model prisoners?

[It’s a campfire. Not Hell.]

Startled, I jumped to my feet.

The scenery slowly came into focus.

A deep forest.

Thick trees and underbrush.

From the chill, it looked to be somewhere between fall and winter.

[Let’s have a little talk.]

Then came a heavy voice, echoing in my ears. Huh?

‘Wh-What is this?’

[Calm down.]

‘You try calming down in this situation!’

[…]

‘What is this?!’

[Calm down.]

‘You try calming down!’

The voice chose silence.

I wandered about, breathing heavily, and after a while, I finally calmed down.

Then I quietly sat down and crossed my legs.

‘Whew. To think you got me so worked up… you’re not ordinary, are you?’

[I didn’t even do anything.]

‘Ever since I started mercenary work, it’s been a while since I met someone of your caliber. In honor of your skill, I’ll spare you a moment for conversation.’

[Even now, you won’t admit you got excited all on your own.]

‘What the hell are you? Why don’t you show yourself first?’

The voice replied calmly.

[Don’t you already know? You can tell where my voice is coming from. And besides, you’re not speaking out loud either.]

“……”

[Anyway, take a look at this.]

I summoned every ounce of my life experience and mental discipline to barely keep my expression from faltering.

‘What… is this.’

A translucent screen floated in front of my eyes.

At the top, it read:

<How to Become a Hero: You Can Be a Hero Too!>
<User: Mide Mohan>
<Level: Novice>
<Reputation Points to Next Level: 120/1,000>

The voice returned.

[Didn’t you say this before you died? ‘Then I’ll become the true hero myself.’]

‘…I did. But just saying it doesn’t make it happen, does it? Wanting it, trying—none of that matters.’

[Who says it doesn’t?]

‘I mean, heroes are chosen by divine prophecy!’

[Then how do you explain that Kaeld, or whatever his name was, became a hero?]

……

That bastard wasn’t even a real hero.

Which is why he couldn’t kill the Demon King.

[Half right, half wrong. He was a half-baked Hero. In other words, he was half a proper Hero.]

‘I don’t get it.’

[You said a Hero is someone who receives an oracle, right? But that doesn’t mean the gods of the heavens directly bestow the power of a Hero.]

‘…….’

[The oracle’s role is simply to inform everyone that ‘this person is a Hero,’ so that they can build up ‘fame.’ The fact that a god personally guarantees it is what makes an ordinary person a Hero.]

It’s only half making sense.

The voice continued on calmly.

[In other words, what makes someone a Hero is the recognition and belief of the people on this continent. I call that fame.]

‘You’re saying someone becomes a real Hero just because people believe he is?’

[Yeah, sounds easy, right?]

‘…….’

[Of course, it’s easier said than done. Gaining that belief and recognition… in other words, building fame, is a grueling task. We’re not just talking about a knight commander or general here, but a Hero. You need to build a truly unparalleled level of fame.]

‘…….’

[Well, you don’t have to understand it all right away. You can learn it step by step. For now, just memorize the main point—‘To become a Hero, you need to accumulate fame.’]

Fame, huh.

It didn’t quite click with any strong sense of conviction.

And just then—

Rustle.

Along with the sound of bushes being disturbed, someone’s voice rang out.

“Heh heh. What do we have here?”

“Seriously. Boss, our luck’s finally turning around.”

“Hey there. I’m not asking for much—just leave us two things: the money pouch and your head.”

Before I knew it, more than twenty rough-looking thugs had surrounded me.

…….

Wait a second. Déjà vu?

I’m sure I’ve seen this scene before, long ago.

[Of course you have. It happened seven years ago.]

‘What are you talking about now?’

[It means we’ve gone back in time. The Demon King hasn’t even appeared in the world yet.]

‘Wh-What did you say?’

[Calm down.]

‘Would you be calm in this situation!?’

[Ah, this again……]

Anyway, just like the voice said.

I clearly remembered this scene.

Seven years ago.

When I was starting to make a name for myself as a wandering mercenary.

I’d been staying in one place too long and was about to move on to the next territory when I ran into this scene.

To put it simply, it was your typical group of bandits.

“Tch. Look at the punk flinch.”

“Don’t worry. Our bro’s got a sharp blade. Won’t hurt a bit.”

“Got any last words?”

They sneered as they slowly closed in on me.

Just like I did seven years ago, I instinctively checked the blood letters over their heads.

‘Hmm. My name’s not on any of them. As expected.’

[What were you planning to do if it was?]

‘I’d have made sure to destroy them more thoroughly and mercilessly. I don’t forgive anyone who commits a crime against me.’

…….

But wait a second?

‘Do you even understand what I’m saying? Can you see the letters too?’

[No idea what you’re talking about. I’m just reading your thoughts like usual.]

‘Yeah, sure. “Usual.”’

Just then, the most hot-headed-looking guy charged at me.

“Die! Uhaaaaaaaaargh!!!”

His laughter turned into a scream.

Thud!

I had launched a front kick straight into his stomach.

He flew through the air and slammed into a giant tree.

Boom. Whoooosh…

The tree, already weakened by the weight of deep autumn, couldn’t withstand the impact and gave up its leaves.

It wasn’t until the fifth maple leaf landed on the fallen man’s face that the rest of the bandits snapped back to their senses.

“Huh? Wh-What the hell, Dreil!?”

“Bastard! What did you just do?!”

I slowly lowered my raised leg and said,

“I was in the middle of interrogating this fool, you know? Don’t interrupt.”

[Hm? Are you talking about me?]

“Come at me all at once. I’m already in a foul mood.”

When faced with an unbelievable situation, most people start with denial.

Even though they had just seen a clear display of my skill, the idiots foamed at the mouth and charged.

“This bastard’s hiding some moves, but it won’t work—urk!”

“Die! Guh!”

“Arrogant little—hek!”

“Deht!?”

“Het!?”

“Thwok?”

“Swoosh?”

Who knows how many colorful screams rang out.

After about five minutes, twenty grown men were sprawled on the ground before me.

I casually dusted off my hands.

The bandits sobbed like children and rolled around on the ground.

“Ughhh… It hurts… it really hurts…”

“Sniff… Mom…”

“Grandma… I miss you…”

“Shut up.”

At my final words, the wailing stopped.

Now it was finally quiet.

‘Alright. Let’s continue the conversation.’

[You’re really something. Your skills are no joke—doesn’t match your appearance.]

‘That’s kind of a backhanded compliment.’

[I wasn’t trying to hide it.]

‘Anyway, let’s move. This isn’t a good place to have a deep talk.’

I gathered my things and was about to put out the campfire.

That’s when the voice hurriedly stopped me.

[No no, wait wait. Hold on a sec.]

‘You don’t have to repeat yourself. I get it the first time.’

[You’re just going to walk away from this golden opportunity?]

‘Opportunity?’

[Sigh From the look of it, even before the regression, you just beat those guys up and left. Try a different approach this time. Before your death, your total fame barely hit 10,000. Not even close to the soles of Kaeld’s feet.]

‘…….’

[If you live your life the same way as before, your fame will just hover around that same 10,000.]

I didn’t know if 10,000 was high or not.

But the transparent screen I saw earlier definitely said this:

< Fame points needed for next level: 120 / 1,000 >

In other words, my current fame was 120.

If this really was seven years ago, then it was a time when I was already known in the field as a fairly skilled mercenary.

And yet I only had 120. That made it easy to imagine just how impressive the 10,000 from right before my death was.

But even that 10,000 wasn’t enough to reach the soles of Kaeld’s feet?

[Remember this. When raising your fame, you always need to consider the happiness of the greatest number of people.]

‘That’s suddenly very philosophical.’

[It’s practical advice. In a single event, you need to bring happiness to as many people as possible. That’s the shortcut to quickly raising your fame.]

‘Easy to say. But how am I supposed to know which choice makes the most people happy?’

[I don’t know the right answer either, but I can give you hints.]

At the word “hint,” my ears perked up.

The night our party finally became whole for the first time—the night I joined as the final member—Kaeld brought up a suggestion.

“Let’s bury our pasts.”

“Huh?”

It just so happened that I’d made up my mind to ask him who “Bion Kunze” was.

When there are multiple victims shown in the blood-writing I see, there’s a rule to the order they appear. The higher up they are, the harder it is to determine what sin was committed.

In other words, the higher ones are covered in deeper mystery.

To put it simply, that bastard Kaeld committed the most hidden of sins against Bion Kunze—out of over 148 million different sins.

How could I not ask?

As if he’d been expecting it, Kaeld met my eyes squarely and continued.

“Not everyone has lived a life full of glorious deeds, you know.”

“Are you saying that because of me?”

Probably. But before I could say anything, Neril raised an eyebrow and spoke up.

Kaeld shook his head as if the idea was absurd.

“Of course not. This applies to everyone here.”

“……”

“Now that we face the Demon King, our shared enemy, we can’t afford to argue about each other’s pasts. If anyone tries to stir up conflict over that, I’ll expel them from the party in the name of the Hero.”

Ah. That would be bad.

The overwhelming reward I’d be getting after killing the Demon King… With it, I’d planned to spend the rest of my life in luxury.

“Everyone agrees, right?”

“Yes!”

“Good. It’s only natural when you think about it.”

“Truly wise.”

The hero-obsessed idiots of the party agreed without hesitation.

I was the last to nod—reluctantly.

“Fine. But after we kill the Demon King, there’s something I want to ask.”

“……”

“Especially you, Kaeld.”

Kaeld replied with a dazzling smile.

“Ask anything.”

That smile was so bright it could be called blinding, and in that moment, I made up my mind.

One way or another, the Demon King must die.

And only the Hero can kill him.

So for now, I’ll wait. But—

“You… I’ll never trust you to the end.”

---

My resolve to never trust Kaeld didn’t change, even years after I joined the party.

Not even now, in this final battle against the Demon King.

“Finish it! Kaeld!”

This was probably the first time in my life I’d shouted like that.

Maybe that’s why my blood-soaked teammates—barely clinging to life—looked at me in shock.

What, is it that strange for me to raise my voice?

There are more important things to focus on right now.

Like, say, watching our Hero cut off the Demon King’s head.

At my shout, Kaeld—the god-blessed Hero—calmed his breath and replied.

“It’s rare to hear you yell like that.”

“Quit the nonsense. Just do it.”

“Heh. Very well. This is the end. Demon King of Lies and Deceit, Idria—perish!”

Kaeld’s holy sword flashed so fast it couldn’t be seen by the eye.

“Guh.”

The head of Idria—the one who had driven the world to the brink of darkness—fell to the ground with shocking ease.

“We… we did it.”

“That’s our Hero.”

“It’s finally over… that cursed war.”

“We literally saved the world. Whew.”

Our teammates staggered to their feet.

Kaeld, the Hero, didn’t respond. He just stared down at the Demon King’s fallen head.

I was the only one watching his back.

Everyone else was too preoccupied, too happy over the fact that we had just slain the Demon King of Lies and Deception.

“Serein. Heal me. I’m seriously about to die.”

“Sorry. I’m out of divine power. Anyone got a potion left?”

“No way. We all used every last drop.”

“Yeah, the battle was way too intense. Still, I’m in real danger here…”

They chattered among themselves, then turned to look at me.

I shrugged.

“I used mine too.”

“So nobody has any healing left?”

The voice came from Kaeld.

At last, everyone’s attention turned to him.

He still had his back to us, still staring at the Demon King’s corpse.

And the moment I saw that, a jolt of lightning struck my brain.

No way. No way.

It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. But as always, reason triumphed over emotion.

I swallowed and spoke.

“How long are you gonna stand there with your back turned?”

“……”

“Come to think of it, you didn’t use a single item during the battle, did you? You must have a bunch of potions left. Share some with us.”

Suppressing the pounding of my heart, I forced the words out.

The Hero, Kaeld, slowly turned around.

He pulled a pouch of items from his coat.

Then he began pulling out legendary items—ones said to be able to even resurrect the dead.

Seeing that, Lisel, one of the party members who trusted Kaeld the most, spoke with admiration.

“You really defeated the Demon King without using a single item? As expected of the Hero.”

“The Hero, huh.”

“First, please heal Serein. Then she can take care of the rest of us.”

“The Hero died from the start.”

At Kaeld’s words, everyone fell silent.

Their faces showed that they couldn’t comprehend what they’d just heard.

But I already understood everything.

“You… You don’t mean…”

“Mide Mohan. My final companion. The one who’s known me the shortest but doubted me the most. Of course you’d be the first to figure it out.”

“Grrk.”

“You’ve always been a thorn in my side. Still, I’m glad. You’re always the type to plan for a way out. Did you really just go headfirst into the final battle without one? That’s not like you.”

Whip.

He dropped some of those incredibly rare potions—items only high-ranking nobles could even hope to obtain—onto the ground.

They didn’t break; the enchanted containers kept them intact.

So he crushed them underfoot.

Crunch. Crunch.

Like someone stomping out a wriggling worm, Kaeld ground them meticulously into the dirt.

Exposed to outside contamination, the potions would now be completely useless.

Seeing this, Neril—after me—was the second to understand.

“Wow. Holy shit.”

“……”

“Mide. This is what you figured out, huh? For real?”

Even in this situation, the look of utter disbelief on her face was oddly amusing.

At that moment, Lisel shouted again.

“Cough. Kaeld, what on earth! Without that, we…!”

“You really are clueless to the end, Lisel.”

“…What?”

“In short, Mide was right. He was the only one who saw the bottom of who I truly am.”

Kaeld grinned slyly and continued speaking.

“I told you earlier. The Hero died from the very beginning.”

“…”

“To be precise, I killed him.”

“What are you even saying?! I don’t understand a thing. You are the Hero! Ugh…”

Perhaps due to exerting too much strength while already dying, Lisel began coughing up blood.

Kaeld paid it no mind and went on.

“Everyone was completely fooled. All of you, the Emperor and the nobles waiting for our return, and the entire world.”

“…”

“Everyone except for Mide.”

Kaeld turned his gaze to me with a strangely kind expression that didn’t suit the situation.

“Mide, can you tell me before you die? Why did you suspect me? My performance should have been flawless.”

I gave a dry chuckle.

Now I understood.

How he could commit crimes against 148 million people—nearly the entire continent.

He had deceived them all.

He had committed the sin of falsehood.

I finally spoke the name I had wanted to ask from the very beginning.

“Bion Kunze.”

“…!”

“So now I understand. That’s the name of the real Hero you killed, isn’t it?”

Kaeld’s face twisted in a way I’d never seen before.

“H-How… how do you know that name?”

He shouted, his composure breaking.

“Answer me! Mide!”

“You answer me. Only a Hero can kill the Demon King. That’s an unchanging truth etched into history.”

“…”

“In other words, the Demon King isn’t dead. Because you’re not the Hero.”

“…”

“If you get complacent just because you lopped off his head, you’re going to regret it. I don’t know what your grand ambition is, but you should deal with him properly first before worrying about anything else.”

Kaeld glared at me, then shook his head.

Then, in a voice that sounded disturbingly sly, he said,

“Kill the Demon King? Such a cruel thing to say.”

“…What?”

He turned around and reached toward the Demon King’s corpse.

A deep wound—clearly Kaeld’s doing—was visible on the Demon King’s chest.

As if pulling something from a bag, Kaeld plunged his hand into the wound.

Rustle, rustle.

What he pulled out was the Demon King’s heart.

The Demon King’s core.

“As you said, only a true Hero can destroy this core. But let me ask instead—why should I destroy it?”

“…”

“With this core, I can control all the monsters on the continent. I intend to put it to better use.”

“Better use…?”

“Listen, Mide. A Hero needs a crisis.”

A twisted smile spread across his face.

“If the Demon King is dead and peace arrives, the world will no longer need a Hero.”

“…”

“We’ll be forgotten from people’s memories, their gratitude will fade. In a few generations, our names will just be bedtime stories for children.”

“…”

“That can’t happen. The continent! The Empire! They must always be in crisis. That’s the only way they’ll keep needing me. My power. The power of a Hero.”

I understood now.

He planned to use the core to periodically unleash monsters and threaten the continent.

Then, as the ‘Hero,’ he would appear to resolve each crisis.

So he could be worshipped forever.

So he could be loved forever.

Without ever considering how much blood would have to be shed for that.

“I’ve watched you all for a long time, and I realized—none of my party members understand my deeper intentions.”

“Of course not, you lunatic.”

“That’s why, unfortunately, this is goodbye. If you won’t answer my question, that’s fine. Once you’re all dead, everything will be buried in darkness anyway.”

I slowly reached into my cloak.

It really was the right decision not to trust him until the end.

I’d prepared for this.

I spoke.

“Fine. I won’t answer. But you will.”

“…What?”

“What do you think this is?”

In my hand was a communication orb.

A long-distance communication device developed in the past by the Archmage Iori Otix.

The so-called Hero’s eyes went wide.

“I never trusted you, not even once. So I made preparations of my own.”

“Y-You…”

“This orb is directly connected to various guilds across the continent, every major noble, and even the Emperor. Your confession just now? They all heard it loud and clear.”

“Mide! You bastard!”

“You said the continent needs a crisis? Well, now you are the crisis. If we catch you, we might just be generous enough to only chop off your limbs.”

With that, I quickly pulled out spare potions.

Saying all the items were gone earlier was a lie.

I just wanted to see how Kaeld would act, so I kept it hidden.

“Everyone, drink this.”

“M-Mide…”

“Drink and get up. Surely none of you are dumb enough to still be hoping Kaeld will save the day, right?”

Everyone’s eyes filled with fury.

They hurriedly downed the golden potions and rose to their feet.

It was a complete reversal of the situation.

No matter how strong Kaeld was—even if he used to be a ‘Hero’—thinking he could take on all of us now was just arrogant.

“Grrr… Mide! Mide!!”

“What?”

“If it weren’t for you… if only you didn’t exist, everything would’ve gone perfectly. I’ll kill you with my own hands!”

At that, my party members—now recovered—stepped in front of me like they had agreed to it in advance.

They didn’t look back at me.

They couldn’t, probably because they had always disapproved of my suspicion toward Kaelid.

Without turning their heads, they spoke.

“If you want to kill Mide, you’ll have to go through me first.”

“Not that it’ll happen.”

“Ugh. I can’t believe we followed this guy around thinking he was a Hero.”

“From this moment forward, it’s judgment time.”

Kaeld flinched.

Neril turned to me with a smug expression.

“In the end, you were right. You really live up to your name.”

Well, that’s how it turned out.

It was a wild ride, but I’m glad it ended well.

And then—

When I was a child, there was a public execution held in the territory where I lived.

It wasn’t the kind of shocking event you’d normally have for just any death-row criminal, but this particular prisoner was… special.

A heinous criminal who had committed dozens of serial murders over the past seven years in the territory.

His motive? Something incomprehensible—apparently a twisted personal hobby.

Everyone who had ever crossed paths with him wanted to see his death with their own eyes.

Considering the public sentiment, the lord gave the special order to set up a public execution ground.

He even announced that anyone who wanted to could come and watch the man die.

“Mide, it’s time to go.”

My mother didn’t want to be a spectator to such a brutal spectacle, but in the current mood of the territory, saying “I don’t want to see it” was practically asking to be stoned to death.

Even I, just seven years old, was no exception.

After all, someone from our village had been one of his victims.

“Stay behind me and cover your eyes.”

“Okay, Mom.”

And so, reluctantly, we made our way to the execution grounds.

The crowd was overwhelming—as if the entire territory had gathered in one place.

Looking over the event himself, the lord stood while the executioner slowly read out the criminal’s list of crimes.

“This man arrived in our territory seven years ago from elsewhere and took a job at the butcher’s. According to his own words, he ‘slaughtered’ six people there. The victims are as follows.”

He began reading the names of the victims.

Screams, curses, and sobs erupted from the crowd—likely friends and family of those listed.

“Then, at his next job at the lumber mill…”

But I couldn’t concentrate on the executioner’s voice any longer.

Huh? What’s that?

Faint.

There were words—writing—above the prisoner’s head, whose face was wrapped in a sack and twitching.

It wasn’t handwritten.

The letters looked as if they were smeared in blood across an invisible surface, slowly dripping down.

It was the first time I had seen something so bizarre. I clung tightly to my mother’s hand.

“Mide. It’s okay. I’m right here.”

“Mom, don’t you see that?”

“I told you not to look.”

I pointed to the words above the prisoner’s head, but my mother thought I meant the man himself and quickly covered my eyes.

I wriggled out of her arms.

“You really don’t see it? Is it just me?”

“What are you talking about?”

The text read clearly:

—Has sinned against Maiken Knal and 31 others.

What does that even mean?

And why am I suddenly seeing something like that?

Just then, the executioner’s voice continued.

“Furthermore, this man managed to become the lord’s personal gardener, during which he murdered maids and stewards. The victims are as follows: Eisen Thral, Darkus Miem, Maiken Knal, Sele…”

“Ah! Maiken!”

Suddenly, the prisoner shouted from beneath the sack.

The executioner scowled and barked,

“Silence!”

“Maiken, huh? That was my most thrilling kill. You guys tracked me down using clues from that corpse, didn’t you?”

“I said, silence!”

“Hey now, bit harsh on a man about to die, don’t you think?”

Outraged voices burst from the crowd at the man’s shameless words.

But my attention was fixed elsewhere.

Maiken Knal—that was one of the names written above his head.

Could it be?

I focused my entire attention on the letters above the prisoner’s head.

Fwoosh.

As if responding to my will, the translucent panel grew larger.

The “and 31 others” part disappeared, replaced by dozens of full names.

—Drian Leila
—Hans Fon
—Rian Dique
—Eisen Thral
—Darkus Miem…

Suddenly, it hit me.

These are the people he killed!

I had just heard the judge read off those very names moments ago.

Then—

SLAM.

The lord banged the armrest of his chair and shouted,

“That’s enough. Carry out the execution!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Huh? I’m really dying now?”

Clack.

The noose tightened around the man’s neck.

The trapdoor fell open, and his body thrashed in agony.

Time passed.

When his body finally went limp like a chunk of meat, I heard my mother’s voice.

“Whew. That was hard to watch. Are you okay, Mide?”

“Yeah…”

I was about to tell her about the strange blood-like writing I’d seen.

But she spoke first.

“Sigh… It should’ve been your father here instead of me.”

“….”

“Times like these make his absence feel even heavier. Ugh, what am I saying in front of a child?”

My father had been a hunter.

He was good at what he did and was well-known in our village.

But during his last hunt, he was torn apart by a bear.

His name was—

“Let’s go. We don’t need to stay here any longer, right?”

“Um, Mom.”

“What is it?”

“Above your head…”

—Has sinned against Arald Mohan and 7 others.

That blood-red name.

Hovering above my mother’s head.

It was my father’s name.

---

Twenty years had passed.

The fifth Demon King had descended upon the continent.

After a long and twisted journey, I had ended up as a member of the hero’s party destined to face off against that Demon King.

One night, after we had dealt with the entirety of the demon army and were left with only the final battle ahead…

“Mide, wake up. It’s your turn.”

“Auntie?”

“Call me ‘noona.’ How many times do I have to tell you before you get it?”

Clicking my tongue once, I got up from my seat.

My head throbbed like it was about to split open—probably because of the foul old dream I had just seen.

The one who had woken me, Neril Slane, a member of the hero’s party and my comrade, sat beside me.

“Looks like you had a bad dream.”

“A bad memory came back. It feels ominous to have a dream like that the night before fighting the Demon King. I think I should sit out tomorrow.”

“Well, that might actually help the party’s unity.”

I let out a short chuckle at her words.

Neril gave me a sidelong glance and continued.

“You always keep to yourself, after all. Everyone avoids you.”

“I’m the one avoiding them.”

“A wonderful case of mental gymnastics. And technically accurate, too. You don’t trust anyone in this party, do you?”

How could I?

And that includes you.

I glanced up above Neril’s head.

—Has sinned against May Enerika and 287 others.

That number was enough to make the lunatic we executed in our territory look like a timid child.

And it wasn’t just Neril.

For a party supposedly destined to save the world, the names and numbers floating above each of their heads said otherwise.

Well, I’m sure each of them has their reasons.

But it’s hard to swallow heartwarming tales about trusting your comrades when those numbers are staring you in the face.

Meanwhile, Neril kept talking.

“No one’s going to like someone who can’t show trust first.”

“We were brought together out of necessity. Once the Demon King is dead, we’ll all go our separate ways.”

“Some of them are planning to stay together even after this quest ends. I’m not one of them, though.”

“Yeah, your social skills are just as bad as mine.”

Neril simply shrugged.

She leaned in toward me slightly.

I tilted my head and asked,

“I’ll just say this ahead of time—don’t suddenly confess or anything.”

“Still half-asleep, aren’t you?”

“Then what is it? You’re making this weird atmosphere.”

“I just wanted to talk about him.”

She gestured with her chin toward one of our comrades still deep in dreamland.

The hero, Kaeld Wake.

Whenever a Demon King descends, a hero always rises—and he was the fifth in the continent’s history.

I was a little surprised by the cold look on Neril’s face as she stared at him.

“Your expression’s kind of icy. Don’t like Kaeld?”

“Who knows.”

“That’s a vague answer.”

“Well, I’ve lived a long time. My emotions have worn down over the years. Whether I like or dislike someone doesn’t matter much to me anymore. What matters is results.”

“…”

“I acknowledge your skills, Mide. Even before joining this party, you had a name for yourself as a mercenary. If you’d settled down in a guild instead of drifting around, you’d probably be the guild leader by now.”

“Hmph.”

“On the other hand, if we’re being objective, Kaeld hasn’t really shown the qualities of a hero.”

I gave a short, mocking laugh.

Quite the opposite of how the other party members see things.

“You say that now? The night before the final battle?”

“It’s precisely because it’s the night before that I can reflect calmly.”

“…”

“You couldn’t trust anyone in this party—but especially not Kaeld. That distrust only worsened your already shaky position. I used to think you were just being dumb… but maybe you were seeing the same things I was.”

I stayed silent.

Neril idly picked up a twig and began scratching strange drawings into the dirt before speaking again.

“What about Kaeld can’t you trust?”

“I’ve got pretty sharp instincts.”

“So what did those instincts pick up from Kaeld?”

I moved my lips several times but said nothing in the end.

I had never told anyone about this ability.

Not even my own mother, of course.

Neril waited a little longer before suddenly stretching.

“Not that it really matters now. We’ll find out tomorrow anyway.”

“Exactly. So get some sleep, Auntie.”

“Fufu. Old folks don’t need much sleep.”

“…”

“And if you call me ‘Auntie’ one more time, I’ll kill you.”

Didn’t she just say she was old herself? Is she expecting me to call her ‘granny’?

After she went back to bed, I was left alone with my thoughts.

Naturally, they led back to Kaeld.

I could see people’s sins.

And if I ever saw my name—or someone connected to me—among them, I’d start digging.

And I always found the truth.

I always made them pay.

But that guy…

I stared quietly at his peacefully sleeping face.

Or rather, at the crimson blood-like letters floating above his head.

—Has sinned against Bion Kunze and 148,304,291 others.

Roughly 148 million people.

…

As far as I know, that’s about the population of this entire continent.

An absolutely absurd number.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of crimes he had committed.

I dug like mad dog, but I still couldn’t find out whether my own name was on that list.

Just what the hell has he done… that bastard.