9 – I became a handyman of the hero party.
After observing the hero for a few days, I see it.
That hero is screwed up. It lacks common sense before it even gets to talking about personal maturity.
It’s not surprising since he was chosen as a hero at a young age and has constantly battled… But still, isn’t this a bit too much?
At this rate, we don’t know what the hero will do next.
Eventually, we tried to adjust the original plan a bit and secretly help the hero from the background.
“…Demon?”
“Oh.”
I’ve been caught.
Damn.
“Oh Goddess, driving out the dark…”
“Hero?! I tried to help you – .”
As if he would believe such words…
“…Huh? Why is this true? Who are you?”
“Ah.”
So, it’s there!
Come to think of it, the Blessing of Insight that Scarlett possessed was originally a hero’s ability. In other words, if I only ‘told the truth’, the hero had no choice but to believe my words.
And that was very familiar to me.
This seems easier than I thought.
“Hero. I was dispatched to assist you in defeating the Demon King at the request of the kingdom.”
“But you’re a demon, aren’t you?”
“More precisely, I’m a half-demon. A race that is called a hybrid, mixing half the blood of demons and humans.”
“Is that so? But have we met somewhere before…?”
Of course we have. The hero had left me in a critical state with his holy sword. Thanks to that, I was nearly dead.
“…We’ve crossed paths briefly once.”
“Is that so?”
Due to the drastic change in my style, it will be difficult for him to recognize me. People in this world are not good at distinguishing physical appearances if the race is different from their own. I’ve even purposely put dots under my eyes and nose.
This method proved more successful than using magic disguises which run the risk of being exposed. It’s a life wisdom I learned while working at the organization.
From Noble mtl dot com
“I would have remembered if I had ever seen a unique race like a half-demon…”
“…..”
“Ah, what’s your name? Maybe I will remember hearing your name.”
“…..”
It’s Rain. The same as the name of the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings you fought a few days ago? What a curious coincidence….
…responding like that would be crazy.
However, I am hesitant to use a pseudonym because of the hero’s ‘blessing’. There’s no need to raise suspicions by hiding my name.
One solution might be to honestly admit that I was a spy in the Four Heavenly Kings, but… would the hero believe that?
It seems more plausible that the Four Heavenly Kings have an ability to dodge the blessing rather than one of them being a spy from the human realm. Not that I think the hero could infer that. Anyway.
So, the only choice I was left with was one.
“… It’s Woocheon, Hero.”
“That’s a strange pronunciation. What does it mean?”
“It means ‘rainy sky’ in a language of a country that no longer exists.”
“So, it’s an ancient language.”
“…..”
“You said that the kingdom had sent you to help me, right?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t need it.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I can slay demons on my own as much as needed… And more importantly, you’re weaker than I am, aren’t you?”
The hero, with an irritating smile, casts a ‘you’re pathetic’ look at me. But there was no damage done.
It’s true that I’m weaker than the hero.
However, just because I have the power to cut down any demon doesn’t mean I’m invincible. There are too many factors that could endanger the hero—traps, wild beasts, betrayal, poisons, threats, fraud, and more.
In that sense, I could state it confidently.
It’s true that I’m weaker than the hero, but…
“You, hero, need companions.”
“A companion who’s weaker than me?”
“A companion who can assist you with things you cannot do.”
“I can handle most things on my own, you know?”
“Even if you can do all the tasks, doing them all by yourself is inefficient. Cooking, financial management, disarming traps, negotiating, reconnaissance, resupplying… It’s a serious waste of your time to take care of all these things.”
The hero was actually terrible at all the things just mentioned. Perhaps feeling a sting of truth, the hero’s body twitched slightly at the words.
The hero’s golden eyes trembled as if shaken by an earthquake, and the upper body tilted slightly towards me, seemingly a bit convinced.
I just needed to push a little further.
“I will help you, hero.”
“…Then, I have a few questions.”
“Questions?”
“Yes. I can’t travel with someone I can’t trust.”
“Understood.”
The questions offered by the hero were nothing special. They were to ascertain whether there was any possibility of me embezzling funds, having ulterior motives, or harboring dark intentions towards the hero.
Naturally, none of these things concerned me. My sole purpose was to ensure the hero could triumph over the Demon King.
“Lastly, I just want to ask one thing. If… only one of us could live, who would you choose to save?”
“Only one of us… you say?”
“Yes. Specifically… Let’s say, if you could save me by sacrificing yourself, would you do it?”
Hmm. That question is difficult.
My honest answer is, of course, ‘No.’ I had no intention of dying for the hero.
The hero was probably expecting that much.
The difficult part was the dilemma between telling an unnecessary lie or responding with the truth. It reminded me of a similar question Scarlet once asked. When I answered honestly back then, I heard, “Sometimes, it’s better to tell a pleasant lie than the harsh truth,” she had said.
Maybe this time, I should trust Scarlet.
“I will save the hero.”
“hehehe…That’s enough! You can follow me.”
Following behind the hero, she seemed somehow relieved, her steps light and carefree.
For a moment, I thought I could never understand the hearts of girls her age.
Maybe I can’t help being such a hopeless old man.
*
When I first heard the trust of being chosen as the hero, I don’t remember how I felt. It didn’t seem real. As for me, I liked fairy tales with animals more than those with heroes.
But I remember clearly what happened next.
That day, I lost everything.
Fire, blood, screams, trembling, my mother hiding me in the closet, the doors opening later, the screams of my mother, and, then red eyes visible from the slightly opened closet. These fragmentary memories have stuck to the depths of my heart like burns, unforgettable even over time.
That I survived that day was a miracle. For some reason, the demon who had destroyed our village didn’t kill me but withdrew. I remembered hearing him say something like “The filthy hybrid is ruining my mood… That’s enough, I’ve lost my interest.” I didn’t understand what it meant.
That sight was too terrifying for a child. It wouldn’t have been strange if I went crazy or became paralyzed.
What kept me sane was the goddess’s voice. The twisted blessing that got stronger the more hardship I faced, forcibly made my mind clear and strong. I couldn’t look away, even though I wished I could go crazy.
In the end, all I could do was cry like a child. Each time the goddess’s blessings comforted me and my tears stopped, I would cry again because I did not want to forget this sadness. I thought that crying all day was not enough, so I cried day and night for two days.
I cried until I fell asleep, woke up and cried again, and then passed out. When I came to, I was riding in a white carriage. It was the priests of the sanctuary who had received the trust and come to pick up the hero.
The priests were somewhat surprised to find out that the hero this time was a girl. From the priests of the sanctuary, I learned how to wield the power of the hero and handle a sword for several years.
It seemed, I was gifted. The combat priests who trained me praised my talent as if a ‘first hero’ had reincarnated. Soon, I had the skill to defeat the yawning combat priests by a sword and hence may have become somewhat arrogant.
Indeed, puberty came. I quietly slipped out of the oppressive walls of the temple. I believed I could keep myself safe. Even if the demons appeared again, I thought I could repel them using the power of the hero.
I, who was still young, didn’t know that humans could be more dangerous enemies than demons. I did not know that being skillful in swordsmanship and being good at fighting carried different meanings. I had no idea just how terrible and malicious criminals, humans, could be.
A young woman with conspicuous blonde hair and gold-colored pupils, dressed in luxurious clothes given by the temple, how tempting an ‘object’ she could be to criminals.
I had no idea.
The memory then, too, was clear. The one who came to rescue me was the junior combat priest who I defeated with the sword. I could only gaze blankly at him being pierced by a knife on my behalf.
Memories got mixed up. The image of my mother who hid me in the closet and then moved deliberately to the other side of the closet so it wouldn’t be noticeable. It was the same as back then. Nothing changed. There were people who died needlessly trying to save me.
This time, I didn’t
The more hardships I faced, the more I grew—a twisted blessing. It was as if that blessing mocked me.
Only then did I realize.
This wasn’t a blessing that would allow me to protect those dear to me.
This was a curse that strengthened me by devouring those I held precious.
As I recognized this truth, laughter escaped me. Surely, fate itself, which perched me atop adversities and snickered, must be laughing as well. And so, I thought I might as well laugh louder.
Though my vision blurred, and something streamed from my eyes, I laughed. This time, I did not cry. For I had lost my tears the first day when I lost everything else.
After that, I continued my relentless training. Cutting back even on sleep, I focused solely on becoming as strong as possible.
Once I had become strong enough to defeat even the mightiest battle priests of the market, I started hunting demons. The clergy of the Holy Kingdom had offered to support me with manpower, but I refused. Travelling alone was hard, but it offered peace of mind.
There were occasional crises. Whether it was the blessing of the goddess or simply fortune on my side, I managed to overcome them.
And then.
“Hero?! I am here to assist you – .”
“…Huh? Why are you being truthful?”
I encountered a strange demon claiming to help me. Given the demonic energy I felt, it was certainly a demon, which was odd.
“Hero. I have been dispatched by the Holy Kingdom to assist you in defeating the Demon King.”
“But you, you’re a demon?”
“To be precise, I am half-human, half-demon. A race scornfully referred to as half-breeds, with blood of both humans and demons in equal measure.”
Half-human, half-demon. I had heard of them. A cursed race born with the blood of both humans and demons in equal measure.
He claimed he had been dispatched to assist me. Since I continuously refused companions, they seemed to have sent me covert support. Lately, I had felt a strange presence, as if someone were watching me from the shadows.
“Ah, what is your name? I might recall if I hear it.”
“…Woocheon. Hero.”
The half-human, half-demon introduced himself as Woocheon. What an odd name.
Now that he was caught, perhaps he decided to be brazen, as he expressed his wish to become my companion.
I refused.
I didn’t need such a thing.
“Hero, you need companions.”
“Companions weaker than me?”
“Companions who can support you in tasks that you’re unable to do.”
“…I can pretty much do everything on my own, you know?”
“Even if that’s true, it is inefficient for you, as the Hero, to handle everything personally. Cooking, financial management, disabling traps, negotiations, reconnaissance, supplies… Handling all these yourself is a serious waste of time.”
…Ugh. It was hard to deny. Indeed, I was admittedly unskilled at a few things.
But… a companion of sorts….
“I’ll assist you, Hero.”
A crystal clear truth. I could feel his will to help me unconditionally.
He could easily go back if he failed the mission, yet why would this half-human, half-demon go to such lengths to help me? I was curious.
“…In that case, I just have a few questions.”
The man’s answers were predictably simple, almost stupid. But they were all genuine.
Overwhelmed by his firm determination, I felt my heart stir a bit. For some reason, I felt like he could be a suitable companion.
In particular, the enemy-like aura I felt from him swayed my decision. As he was a half-demon…. a hybrid with demon blood, he tempted me saying it would be okay even if he died.
But somehow I felt uneasy.
So I had no choice but to ask these questions.
“Lastly, I just have to ask this one thing. If… only one of us could live between you and me, who would you choose to save?”
“Only one of the two…you say?”
“Yes. Specifically… well yes. If you could save me by sacrificing yourself, would you do so?”
I hoped he’d say that he wanted to live alone, that he wouldn’t even endure death to save me.
If he were to readily die for me, I couldn’t accept him.
Then I would have to continue this lonely journey again. I never felt lonely during my solo journey until this moment of hope.
Please, I hope you’re selfish….
“I’ll save the Hero.”
From Noble mtl dot com
It was a lie.
A clear, lie.
“…Heehee. That’s enough! It’s okay for you to follow me.”
It’s a relief.
Really… a relief.