Neril had always been cold and composed, both before and after my regression.
Even after I spoke her true identity aloud, she didn’t get flustered or lash out.
Of course, her rigid face alone was enough to make it clear that if I misspoke even slightly, she would take my head off right then and there.
She spoke.
“Shall we talk?”
“I was waiting for just that.”
At that moment, a new customer entered the tool shop.
“Uncle Grey! …Huh?”
“……”
“W-Who are you? Where’s Uncle?”
“Ugh, so noisy.”
Snap.
Neril flicked her fingers lightly.
The customer who had entered immediately collapsed to the floor.
Whish. Clack.
With a wave of her hand, she locked the tool shop’s door and windows.
In a matter of seconds, the shop was enveloped in darkness—and now, the only ones still conscious were Neril and me.
‘Still the same as ever.’
In the meantime, I had started making black tea.
“Did you kill him?”
“Just put him to sleep. These days, killing people carelessly tends to bring on unsettling dreams.”
“That’s just age catching up to you.”
“Mm. But you? You could kill without remorse and sleep just fine.”
I gave a casual shrug.
Clack.
Then I placed the tea in front of her and spoke in a serious tone.
“Pardon the rudeness for our first meeting. Have some tea.”
“I’ll pass. The aroma’s too faint—it’s clearly low-grade tea.”
“……”
“Let me ask the important thing first. You said you were waiting for me… how did you know I was coming to this territory?”
Naturally, I didn’t answer with my memories from before regression.
But of course, she’d be curious.
As far as I know, there have only been two people in the entire Empire who managed to track down Neril after she disappeared.
One was Krotz, vice-commander of the Empire’s elite unit, Alkahad.
The other was Dame Seide, commander of the Holy Knights of Light.
Incidentally, that was 50 and 30 years ago, respectively.
Hopefully that explains why I call her “madam” and she lets it slide.
“Hmm. Let’s start with introductions.”
“Oh my, but I couldn’t care less about your name. Just answer my question first.”
“Mide Mohan. Freelance mercenary. Nice to meet you.”
“You really know how to get on someone’s nerves, don’t you? Wait—Mide, Mide Mohan?”
“Doesn’t that answer your question? That name should explain it.”
Not to brag, but I’m a fairly well-known mercenary across the continent.
Even the title of Sword master, which mercenaries don’t normally get, has been attached to me.
[Not just any Sword master either.]
‘Shut up.’
Almost as if responding to Trail’s words, Neril spoke.
“The Sword master of No Killing. You look much younger than I imagined.”
“Compared to you, everyone must seem young.”
“You’ve got a real knack for saying things that get under the skin, huh?”
“Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood.”
“Hmm. If someone like the Sword master of No Killing managed to track me down, then perhaps your reputation is actually underestimated. Still, I’m not exactly thrilled.”
At least her curiosity seemed satisfied.
I carefully gauged the mood before speaking.
“Mind if I ask something now?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why don’t we work together?”
Her expression shifted into something subtle and hard to read.
It was the look of someone not quite sure they’d heard correctly.
But I kept speaking calmly.
“I don’t think it’s that strange of a proposal. There are plenty of mages who work as mercenaries. If you’ve got the skills, no job pays better.”
“This is so absurd I don’t even know where to start.”
“Take your time. I’ll wait.”
I folded my arms and made a show of waiting patiently.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
“Hand over Grey and get out.”
“……”
“Whatever he paid to hire you, I’ll double it.”
“I told you—I wasn’t hired.”
“You said you’re a mercenary, didn’t you? Mercenaries do anything for money. Guarding a murderer is nothing to them.”
She studied my face, noting my lack of reaction, then continued.
“You don’t seem surprised. I take it you know something about his past?”
“So you’re rejecting my offer to work together? Why?”
“Hmph, kid. Do you know why I’m called the Witch of Carnage?”
“……”
“If you’re looking to recruit me, you probably know many of those infamous accusations are false. But isn’t it strange? Just claiming ‘Neril Slane did it’ is enough to pin any crime on me.”
Of course I knew that.
I’d heard it from Neril herself before regression.
Still, I put on a face like I was thinking about it for the first time.
Then I looked as if I’d suddenly figured it out and said:
“I see. You made a deal with someone high up in the Empire.”
“…Oh?”
Neril didn’t hide her surprise.
“You’re sharp.”
“I looked at the timing of the crimes attributed to you. Every time there was a disaster—drought, flood, public unrest—it matched with your alleged ‘appearances.’”
“……”
“Now it makes sense. The higher-ups used you as a scapegoat for all the people’s rage and grief. That way, the resentment wouldn’t turn toward the Empire or the royal family, but toward you.”
Neril was silent for a moment.
I went on.
“The Empire fought you twice, right? Once 50 years ago, and once 30 years ago. I heard those battles were intense. You were in real danger.”
“……”
“Especially 30 years ago. I heard you came close to dying. That must’ve been when it hit you—the Empire’s getting stronger. Next time, they might actually kill you.”
“……”
“So you sought a deal. Or maybe the Empire came to you first. Suggested cooperation instead of continued war.”
At first, she looked only mildly surprised, but now Neril’s eyes were wide open in astonishment.
This is why, before regression, Neril hadn’t been especially moved when Kaeld cleared her name.
Those accusations were something she had willingly taken on herself.
She asked, her voice now deeply cautious.
“…Just what are you? Even for a top-tier mercenary—how do you know all this?”
“Still doesn’t explain why you rejected my offer.”
“I still have ties to the Empire. If they need something covered up, they contact me. I get paid, go to the designated location, and… well, leave just enough evidence behind.”
“You scatter your magic, so investigators can pin the blame on you.”
“You figured that out too? You really are sharp.”
That was something she’d often told me even before regression.
Neril crossed her arms and continued.
“I hate smooth talkers who only say what people want to hear. That stuff’s fleeting. In the end, only results matter. And to get results, you need real skill.”
“……”
“In that sense, I do like you. So I’ll spare your life.”
Wow. Thanks so much for that.
“It was quite the memorable conversation. But my answer is still no.”
“……”
“I made those dirty deals with the Empire because I had something I desperately needed to protect. I can’t just go roam around for fun like you.”
…
Something to protect?
‘Don’t tell me she means that old man.’
[That seems to be the case.]
With the Eye of Omniscience, the image of the old gentleman who had met a tragic end at Grey’s hands surfaced in my mind.
Operating under the assumption that my hunch was correct, I opened my mouth.
“It sounds like you’re saying ‘there was’—as if there isn’t anymore.”
“…Yeah. He’s dead. Grey and his gang killed him.”
“So you came here for revenge. And the rest of the gang is already dealt with.”
“…”
“Then if I hand Grey over to you, will you cooperate with me? You don’t have anything left to protect anymore, do you?”
Neril seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Her eyes wavered.
“Looks like I misunderstood. You’re not working for Grey.”
“I told you that from the beginning.”
“Fine. If you hand Grey over, I’ll join forces with you.”
“Hahaha.”
I burst into cheerful laughter.
Neril looked conflicted, as if unsure whether she was supposed to laugh along.
Just as she tried to force a small smile to match the mood, I spoke again.
“Don’t lie.”
“…What?”
“You’re planning to disappear after killing Grey, aren’t you?”
For the first time, Neril’s expression showed a hint of panic.
I resurfaced a memory from before the regression.
Back then, Neril had clearly said this.
That the owner of the tool shop had been the final tragedy.
That she accepted Kaeld’s offer to join him because she wanted to find a final place to make her stand against the Demon King.
Which meant—
“You don’t seem to have any lingering attachments to this world anymore.”
“…!”
“A fifth Demon King will soon descend upon the continent.”
“What? What are you suddenly talking about?”
“And a Hero will surely appear as well.”
“…From the certainty in your voice, it doesn’t sound like a bluff. Which means you know this somehow… Wait, don’t tell me—are you the Hero?”
“Let’s say… I’m a candidate.”
Neril tilted her head in puzzlement.
But I pressed on without concern.
“The Hero will be publicly revealed elsewhere through an oracle. But I’m going to become the true Hero of this continent.”
“You… You’re insane.”
“To do that, I need capable companions. I’ll take down the Hero chosen by the oracle and rise as the real Hero myself.”
“…”
“Seven years. Just work with me for seven years. That’s how long it’ll take for me to become the Hero and defeat the Demon King.”
She didn’t answer.
A heavy silence settled between us.
It was so quiet, I could almost hear the flow of the air itself.
Only when my eardrums began to ring did Neril finally speak.
“When will you hand over Grey?”
“In seven years. After I’m done. Payment upon completion.”
The air froze in an instant.
I thought I’d grown used to her due to our past dealings, but I was wrong.
The murderous energy Neril exuded when she was dead serious was overwhelming even for me.
Crack. Clink.
The teacup between us couldn’t withstand the pressure and shattered.
“Is he hiding underground? Grey?”
“Yeah.”
“What if I burn down this whole tool shop right now?”
“In front of a top-tier mercenary? You’d be the one to die first.”
“…Hoo. Fine.”
Neril slowly rose to her feet.
“Looks like I’ll have to kill you first.”
Neril set the time and place and left.
Though her rage was boiling over, she must’ve decided that causing a scene in the middle of the village wasn’t a good idea.
‘Even that alone proves something. There’s no way someone that rational would go around committing atrocities. All that talk of wiping out entire villages… it was all a false charge.’
[Is this really the time to be talking so leisurely?!]
‘Don’t shout. My head’s ringing.’
[What are you doing? Just hand over Grey and get her on your side already.]
‘Then I’d just end up boosting Neril’s infamy, like in the previous timeline.’
[Would that be so bad?]
‘Of course it would. The infamy of my allies reflects on my reputation too.’
Trail fell silent, seemingly not having considered that.
I explained calmly.
‘Even Kaeld, who had the god-tier support of the oracle in the previous timeline, took a lot of criticism for working with Neril.’
[Hmm.]
‘If my interference can raise someone’s reputation, the reverse is also true—someone else’s reputation can drag mine down.’
[You might understand this stuff better than I do now. I can retire.]
‘I never asked you to hike with me in the first place.’
[You’re surprisingly thoughtful. If Neril causes any more atrocities, it’ll definitely hurt your image.]
‘Yeah. In fact, I’ll eventually need to clean up her existing reputation too. But we’ll deal with that later.’
Trail seemed satisfied, but then posed another question.
[One more thing. Why did you blurt out your whole plan like that?]
‘Huh?’
[That bit about becoming the Hero. Which means you’re not the Hero yet. Why’d you say that out loud?]
‘Ah, that.’
[There were a dozen ways to spin that. Even if Kaeld gets the oracle, you could’ve played it off as a mistake or misunderstanding. You’re good at lying, aren’t you?]
‘…’
[So why open with a full-on confession that you’re a fake Hero? You think she’s going to side with you after that, seriously?]
Trail’s point was valid.
But this was one thing I couldn’t change my mind on.
‘Then I would be no different from Kaeld.’
[…What?]
‘Kaeld was a fake, but he lied to his party and companions, pretending he was the real thing. If I start by lying to Neril, I become the same kind of person.’
[Well… that’s true, but still.]
‘And more than anything, I can’t trust a relationship built on lies.’
I’ve lived my whole life without trusting others.
In a world where I saw every sin committed by everyone around me, mistrust had taken root deep within me.
This time, I want to build a team I can genuinely believe in.
If I hide the fact that I’m a fake Hero, then I’d be lying to them from the start.
How far could I possibly go, putting my faith in a relationship built on lies?
‘If I do that, I’ll just repeat the same failures as before the regression.’
[…]
‘I’m not asking anyone to understand. I doubt anyone else in the world could understand this.’
[Hmph. You should’ve been a philosopher instead of a mercenary. Picked the wrong career.]
Judging by the sarcastic tone at the end, Trail had decided to drop the topic for now.
Step, step. Tap.
As I chatted with Trail, I arrived at the rendezvous point.
It was an abandoned clearing at the northern edge of the Quelk territory.
The time was exactly midnight.
Neril was already there, sitting atop a small rock.
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