16. Liberal League and Ian (1)
“Ohhhh… .”
Lucia admired herself as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen my bare face, so it’s amazing.”
Lucia couldn’t take her eyes off her, as if her own skin had become much cleaner.
Unlike her admiration, I was a little worried.
It didn’t heal completely.
I don’t know how it was before, but the red hives remain.
Even if a little time passes, the bandage is not dirty with pus and blood, so it is true that it has improved, but it means that it is not completely healed yet.
No matter how small the amount, the fact that even the elixir couldn’t heal it must be the root cause of the ‘reason’ I thought.
It’s a problem that can’t be solved right away, so it’s best to alleviate it with an elixir.
“How are you feeling? Whether it’s the mood, the energy… .”
“Well… . I think I can run for half a day.”
“It has improved a lot.”
In fact, breathing has also become clearer.
Even moving seems more natural and lighter for some reason.
“Let’s eat another eighth.”
“… Do I have to sleep again after eating that?”
“The elixir puts you to sleep to restore your body, so it’s better to get a good night’s sleep. Wouldn’t it be better to eat something precious and see the effect properly?”
“It is, but… . It’s a bit like sleeping for some reason.”
Even so, Lucia calmly accepted and drank the elixir.
“ah. That Lorenzo.”
“yes?”
I explained what had happened while Lucia was sleeping.
“… Did Lorenzo rebel?”
“I don’t think I know… . There will be no responsibilities at all. From what I’ve heard, besides Lorenzo, several members of the family are intertwined. So, it is said that the duel contest is impossible.”
“Hmm. okay.”
Lucia, who was knocking on her glass while thinking, smiled.
“Good for you. Do you know how to tilt and fall down? Anyway, I’m not interested in dueling competitions now. By the way, what is the 1st Hero Party?”
It’s not that there aren’t people like this, it’s very rare.
People who have little interest in the warrior ecosystem.
“… Do you know what a hero is?”
“yes. You can’t be unaware of it because of Lorenzo.”
Among them, it could be that Lucia was deliberately not aware of the details because of Lorenzo.
“You can see him as the strongest among those warriors.”
“I see… . Did Ian say he was the manager there?”
I just said that while explaining.
“yes. not now but.”
“Then Ian must be a great person too?”
“uh… . It’s a little bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of It’s not that great either.”
“Hmm. I see I thought it was unusual from the first time you gave me the Elixir.”
Perhaps it was because he was not very interested in the warrior, but he didn’t seem to be very impressed.
It was a response that made me feel somewhat comfortable.
“I don’t know, but I will do well in the future.”
“You have nothing to worry about. Rather, I have to leave, so how about being with others? Say hello.”
“yes. Yes. These are the people we will be living with in the future, so it would be good to get to know them sooner. Who are they?”
“Well… .”
A shy strawberry, and an orange full of confidence, although I don’t know where to go sometimes… .
“There is nothing particularly angular about them, they are capable and kind people.”
“Like Ian?”
“Hmm… . That’s a tough question… .”
Lucia laughed innocently.
It was a much easier voice to hear than before.
*
“My name is Lucia di Fiorene, who will accompany you as of today.”
Lucia formally greeted me.
It was a dignified greeting that felt the etiquette of a nobleman.
Even though I hate this place, I can’t help it that the education I received here is ingrained in my body.
“If it’s Fiorene… .”
“Yes, that’s right. But please forget that last name and just call me Lucia.”
I don’t know the circumstances, but Vivian and Helena also accepted the will.
“My name is Vivian.”
“Weak fire starter, Helena!”
Mercy, who woke up before she knew it, welcomed Lucia with applause.
“My name is Mercy! I’m not a hero, but please take good care of me!”
“Take good care of me.”
Naturally, the turn came back to Kati.
“This is Kati.”
As always, a brief introduction.
It was my job to reveal more.
The problem is, I couldn’t tell right now.
“Since a new member has also joined, it would be nice to have a little more conversation, but unfortunately I have to leave in a hurry. You can share the room here for now. Lucia may fall asleep quickly because of the Elixir, so please forgive me.”
Vivian and Helena were slightly surprised by the word elixir.
Even then, he nodded as if he understood.
Heck, I thought it was Philip, but it wouldn’t be strange to have an elixir.
“And I might call Kati in the middle, so don’t be surprised then.”
At the mention that Kati might be needed, Vivian and Helena put on worried faces.
It’s not clear, but I had to tell them now to put them both at ease.
It is not good to worry more than necessary.
Best of all, this one isn’t that dangerous.
How is it compared to Kylie?
“You don’t have to worry. There will be no big deal. I’m sorry that I can’t tell you more details because it’s an urgent matter. I’ll come back and explain it to you.”
“Yes, got it.”
“Yes! Come on!”
Then, after being greeted by Lucia and Mercy, she left the room.
As soon as I got out of the room and walked away, a sneaky presence nearby caught up with me.
‘As expected, I am the target.’
When talking to several people, including the emperor, in the basement, he confirmed the signs of someone eavesdropping.
And that sign followed me all along, and it still does.
It was very unexpected that I was the target, not a prince or a prosperous person.
Who is the owner of the sign?
What is the purpose, you need to check.
***
Ian left the city late at night.
While walking down the dark road, he talked to Kati.
‘Kati. are you really okay? Is it an injury that I can’t see, or is it an internal injury, but isn’t it hidden?’
[no.]
‘Are you sure?’
[Yes.]
‘okay… .’
Kati rarely reveals her true feelings, but Ian can easily detect even the slightest change.
When I checked myself earlier, there was no sign that Kati was lying, so it must be clear.
Still, I couldn’t help but worry.
It’s one of Kylie’s secret secrets.
I knew that Kati was strong, so I knew I could block it, but I didn’t know that I wouldn’t get hurt.
He even thought of using up all the remaining elixirs.
[Maybe it’s because of the diet.]
‘… oh I see.’
Carty had been thinking about Ian’s question all along, and the answer was surprisingly not difficult.
Since accompanying Vivian, Katy has also been eating according to the diet of superhumans.
[and… .]
‘and?’
[…] no.]
‘what. Make people curious.’
After a moment of silence, Ian spoke.
‘sorry.’
If it wasn’t for Kati, even if the blade twisted, she would have been seriously injured.
It’s not just this time.
During the past time, every time Ian was having a hard time coping, Kati stepped in and protected him.
Because of Kati, Ian can go out of his way even in somewhat dangerous situations.
Ian looked down at his ring.
A ring of two snakes biting each other’s tails.
Ian’s was originally white, but now one of them is black.
Kati’s ring was the same.
This state is maintained for 12 hours when the summoning ability is used.
The ability to summon is sealed until the color of the ring returns to its original state.
[master.]
‘yes.’
[I am infinitely happy just to be able to protect and help my master. So, you don’t have to apologize to me.]
‘… okay, thanks.’
It was quite far away from the city.
The momentum of someone who was chasing him became more and more calm.
‘Is it a surprise.’
A dark alley with trees around it.
A time when people don’t come and go.
Amidst the sound of the wind gently caressing the bushes, Ian’s keen hearing picked up a sense of incongruity.
The sound of the sword slowly being drawn passed my ears.
[Be careful.]
‘I’ll be careful.’
It was clear that he was weaker than himself, but Ian said so.
*
Edgar, the representative of the Liberal League, secretly pursued Ian after he left the city.
It was not possible to invade his private space, so it was unknown what he came out for.
It didn’t matter anyway.
It was important that Ian came out of the city into the darkness, in this situation where the military police and even the city guards were confused.
‘You’re an idiot with no sense of crisis at all. How did that branch get wiped out by this guy… .’
There was no reason to hesitate.
A point now quite far from the city gates.
The surrounding area is a dirt road, the trees are thick and the visibility is dark, and there are few people.
There was no fire, so I could barely see ahead.
‘I can never avoid it.’
Even among the same B-class heroes, there was no one who survived the surprise attack, let alone see through it.
A quick-sword of one-hit death.
It was the best way to assassinate the Liberal League, which pursued safety.
Edgar, who was silently pursuing him along the bush, jumped out onto the road and attacked Ian from behind.
-Hoo-wook!
A sharp sword pierced Ian’s back and bounced forward.
“… … .”
However, there was no feeling of being caught by the sword.
“What… .”
The sword passed right between Ian’s arm and side.
“this person… .”
Embarrassed, Edgar tried to draw the sword straight away, but it did not come out.
It wasn’t even attached to the body, but it was firmly fixed.
Only when his eyes were accustomed to the darkness did he recognize Edgar.
It was because Ian held the sword tightly with his arm, so it did not come off.
‘Muh, what power… .’
Ian asked without turning around.
“Who is it?”
“Uh, how… .”
He was unconcerned, as if he knew about the surprise attack.
No matter how hard he tried, he did not even think about releasing the sword that was caught.
Ian spoke lowly as if it were a final warning.
“Ask again. Who are you?”