EP.75
“Cloud. It sounds like you’re going to leave us here and go somewhere… is that right?”
At Eri’s words, Cloud nodded.
“Where are you going to go?”
“I plan to visit the Kingdom of Alicia, the Empire, and the Principality of Polycia. Maybe even the Kingdom of Carta will stop by.”
“That’s enough to go around the continent once… It’s not at the level of a brief visit. Cloud, be honest. You don’t need us anymore?”
Eri was persistently bullied at a Lorian party. Her bullying was not as direct as beatings and swearing.
The core of the party, Lorian, hated such vulgar behavior.
Because of that, they ignored or persecuted Eri in an indirect way, that is, by turning them around.
That’s why Eri is a little sensitive to this way of speaking. It was only natural for her to feel like he was going to abandon them when he said that he would leave the three of them in the kingdom capital and travel around the continent once.
“Is that really true..?”
Neria asked in a trembling voice.
‘The Cloud says he don’t need us… me…? why..?’
Numerous thoughts ran through her mind.
Leaving the party behind Cloud.
The story that Cloud knew her secret.
She was pushed by Mars in simple swordsmanship.
Cloud, who was closer to Frilite than her.
There were too many things that came to mind.
Neria’s complexion turned pale blue.
Her head was stiff and she didn’t even know what to say.
Eri said while she was muttering.
“Tell us if there is anything we lack. We’ll fix it. If you want, I will work harder than I did in the dungeon.”
Eri didn’t put her pride ahead of herself as usual. She went out as an author, saying she would accept anything he wanted.
Neria also came to her senses at that moment and nodded her head vigorously.
“I, I will try harder than before. I’ll try my best not to be a burden…”
Neria’s eyes trembled.
Looking at her face that looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment, Cloud let out a deep sigh.
“When did I say I was leaving you? It’s just breaking up for a while for a purpose.”
“That’s it…”
“Different.”
Cloud interrupted Eri with a more serious attitude than before.
“As you all know, I am a Hero. I have a duty to protect citizens from demons. In order to fulfill that duty, there are times when you have to be away from each other for a while. Now is the time.”
Cloud had a lot of work to do.
Before the Four Heavenly Kings descend, you must recruit new colleagues and find the equipment left by the heroes.
In the meantime, if something goes wrong and you are late, there may be a terrible situation in which you meet the Four Heavenly Kings without a hero.
Therefore, it is necessary to delay the advent of the Four Heavenly Kings as much as possible while the existing party members catch the Demon Ganja.
“And did I ever try to give up on you, even if I roll a little hard? there is no I always tried to bury the past and treat it like it used to be. As such, I am very embarrassed by your attitude now.”
Eri and Neria’s mouths were shut.
Because they’ve been so innocent lately, they often forget what they’ve done to him in the past. Realizing that it was also Cloud’s consideration, he realized how rude the remarks he had just made were.
A long silence followed.
Neria, let alone Eri, couldn’t figure out how to open her mouth.
Their lips felt heavy because they were so ashamed of their carelessness.
“You seem to need some time to organize your thoughts. Let’s take a break today and talk again tomorrow.”
After breaking the long silence, Cloud left his seat and went upstairs.
After he left, the table was still.
After a while, Eri leaned her back on the chair, pulling her bangs back. She turned her head to look at the other two.
Neria stared blankly at the table. Seeing her sad expression on her face, she seems to know what she’s thinking without asking.
After eating, Ophelia was quietly praying.
Eri spoke to her.
“Ophelia, are you okay? There was no sign of agitation from the beginning…”
Ophelia stopped praying and opened her eyes.
What should shr tell Eri?
The reason Ophelia was not agitated was thanks to Cloud’s recent behavior.
Cloud did not respond to the Archbishop’s proposal to change the candidacy of the saint. He said he’d rather go back for granted by hitting Ophelia in the head, which is infringing on the prosecution’s indictment.
Ophelia cannot forget the tingling pain of that time.
She can’t forget the expression on his face as if he was looking at something pathetic.
As long as they remain in her mind, her faith in the hero will not be shaken.
However, she said it concisely because it was a bit difficult to explain this in detail.
“I know that the hero is not like that.”
At Ophelia’s words, Eri smiled bitterly.
“That’s right… I’ll go up first.”
She still have leftovers to eat, but she doesn’t feel like eating.
Eri went up the stairs and entered her room.
She lay down on the bed and organized her thoughts.
‘I understand Cloud’s saying that we have to break up for a while because of our obligations. However…’
The thought of being separated from Cloud makes her feel confused.
For some reason, it was expected.
Cloud is one of the few people who recognizes and respects her. She wouldn’t want to be separated from such a person.
‘…Neriana and Ophelia are the same to acknowledge me.’
Cloud is not the only person who acknowledges Eri.
Neria and Ophelia also recognized her.
Even if Cloud left for a while, the two of them remained, so she shouldn’t be depressed.
There was another strange thing.
If things go well by acting as Cloud said, she can stop the evil plans of the demons with her hands.
If that happens, not only will you be recognized by the royal family, but you will also be treated as a hero by the citizens.
It was something Eri had been dreaming of for the rest of her life.
It’s a different story from being recognized by one Cloud.
Still, her heart was not moved.
Of course, it would feel good to receive that kind of recognition, but thinking that Cloud was not there, something felt empty.
Conversely, what if there is a Cloud?
What if he put his hand on her head and complimented her like he did at Roberton?
pounding-
A thrilling sensation rose from her chest, and at the same time, a great sense of satisfaction filled her.
This phenomenon continued after Robertton’s work was over.
At this point, Eri had no choice but to admit it.
Eri has come to yearn for the approval of Cloud more than everyone’s approval.
His smile.
His hand made her this way.
After admitting it, she felt relieved.
‘…I’m going to have to follow up tomorrow somehow.’
Eri thought of an apology to Cloud and a way to solve the problem in the capital.
After staying up all night, she was able to perfectly articulate the words of apology.
However, there was no particular way to solve the problem of the capital.
‘…if the four of us put our heads together, something will happen.’
Thinking roughly like that, Eri cleaned up her messy appearance.
Then she went to Cloud’s room and knocked on the door slowly.
-smart.
“Cloud? I am Eri.”
-smart.
“Cloud? Are you sleeping?”
After that, she knocked a few more times, but there was no answer. The more she knocked, the more anxious she got. In the end, Eri couldn’t stand it and grabbed her doorknob.
– profit.
The door wasn’t locked.
Eri swallowed her saliva and entered the room.
The room was neatly empty.
Except for the paper on the table.
Eri unfolded the paper with trembling hands.
To Eri, Neria, and Ophelia.
By the time you read this letter, I must have already left the capital.
I’ll apologize for leaving like this after we said we’ll talk tomorrow.
It would be sudden and you would feel betrayed, but I couldn’t help it.
Seeing your reactions, I didn’t think you would understand what I said. I don’t have enough time to convince you all.
That’s why I ended up using this hard line.
After reading the letter, don’t even think about moving amongst you guys to find me. Then, if the roads get twisted, it’s a hero’s party without a hero.
Okay?
Then I’ll ask for the capital.
＜PS>
In fact, it’s up to you to decide what to do next.
Because you are not a warrior.
But if you leave the capital, I will personally be greatly disappointed.
Eri’s hand holding the letter trembled.
She had thought she wanted to run after Cloud right away, but the word ‘disappointment’ written on the letter caught her attention.
For her, who longs for Cloud’s approval, the disappointment he mentioned came very heavy.
In the end, all she could do was sit down helplessly, bound by the shackles of ‘Cloud’s disappointment’.
“Eri? What are you doing in Cloud’s room…?”
Neria thought it was strange that Cloud and Eri did not come down even though it was dinner time.
“Huh..? uh..??”
After reading the letter, she shook her head.
“Ah… no… this is… this is a dream!”
After denying reality, she started banging her head against the wall of the inn saying she had to wake up.
It would have been nice to be stunned, but the level 40 body was very strong.
-clattering.
Unable to withstand Neria’s repeated headbutting, the inn wall collapsed.
Ophelia paid for the collapsed inn wall.
* * *
A paradise of crime and nightl*fe, the Kingdom of Alitia.
Although it is a kingdom, the king has few real powers. Because the royal family was nothing more than an imaginary scarecrow, and there was a separate black screen to control them from behind.
It’s a criminal organization.
There are four heads, not one.
True Ancestor/Jinjo (眞祖), each with their own family.
They who live eternal life long ago settled in the kingdom of Alitia and ruled the kingdom for hundreds of years.
And one of the great ancestors, Kelly Dan, said with an expressionless face.
“Is it true that Yeo (余) heard correctly? Group 3 was annihilated?”
The three survivors trembled at True Ancestor/Jinjo’s voice. Even True Ancestor/Jinjo’s voice was a feared object for him, who was only a low-level vampire.
“One survived, but even he said that he was sent deliberately, so it would be correct to view it as an actual annihilation.”
“I can’t believe it. Even though the three sets are half a piece, it’s still not one of a woman’s fingernails. Although the opponent was a hero, he was also a bastard. It’s disgusting that things that can’t deal with a single guy like that have been self-deprecating women’s nails…”
Kelly’s eyebrows, which had been consistently expressionless, twitched slightly. At the same time, Kelly Dunn’s lieutenant, Raymond’s hand pierced her lower vampire’s chest and grabbed her heart.
“Keep, Kuk, Heh… Ji, True Ancestor/Jinjoo… Please have mercy…”
“Your master’s mercy is not worthy of being bestowed upon you.”
Raymond pressed his fingers to the lower vampire’s heart.
The lower vampire collapsed.
Raymond wiped the dirt off his hands with a handkerchief.
“Raymond.”
“Yes, Master.”
“How strong is the Assassination Team 3? But is it enough to be defeated by a hero?”
“If it had been in the past, I would have shook my head without hesitation. Even if you say it’s inferior, a family is a family. However, if the rumors about the hero I heard recently are true, I cannot give you a definitive answer.”
“The result is there, so I can’t be sure?”
Kelly Dan pointed to the dead vampire.
“There is a possibility that he didn’t show his skills as his mission was to suppress rather than assassinate.”
“We even took the method of surprise in numerical superiority. Saying that they didn’t show their skills is just an excuse.”
Kelly Dan looked at the dead vampire.
‘I thought it was easy, but I was wrong.’
Not long ago, a spy that had been planted in the Haley family brought with him an important piece of information.
The news was that Haley had ignored Gis’s request. From what he heard, it wasn’t an unreasonable request. He wasn’t asking her to send an assassin to kill Cloud, but to intimidate him in moderation.
For Kelly Dan, he wondered why Haley had not granted such an easy request.
However, it was an opportunity that was too precious to miss just because it was curious.
It was an opportunity to bring the trust of Gis, who had been uniquely directed only to Haley, to Kelly Dan.
Taking advantage of this opportunity could have lowered Haley’s position and raised him.
‘I thought it was just sweet, but at least slightly poisonous.’
But it is a fruit that is sweet enough to be poisonous.
Just having a single nail peeled off wasn’t something to give up on.
Kelly Dan ordered Raymond.
“Send Joe and Shedia.”
“…I’m sorry, Master. Unlike Group 3, Group 1 is a noble lineage. It would be considered an insult to stand in the same position as Shedia.”
“I hope this opening will definitely be successful. Shedia is undoubtedly of dirty blood, but it’s also true that she’s the only successful one. Bring anyone who complains here. I will stop breathing myself at leisure.”
There was a slight anger in Kelly’s voice. All Raymond could do before True Ancestor/Jinjo’s anger was to bow his head.
“…Yes, I will take orders.”
Raymond left True Ancestor/Jinjo’s room with his head bowed.
His face was dark.
“Grou0 1 shouldn’t do things wrong because of emotions.”
If the hero dies, there will be a riot on the continent.
Raymond sighed as he walked down the hallway.
* * *
I lay down on the bed and threw the crumpled paper up and snatched it up, killing time.
By the way, this roll of paper is a warning letter from Adreana.
A warning letter telling him to stay away for a while because Gis will send an assassin.
Thanks to this warning letter, there was no fuss in the city.
‘By the way, the time has come…’
I took the moonstone necklace out of my arms. This item was given as a gift by the Empress of the Empire.
“Is this really going to work?”
If you were a werewolf, it’s something you would be delighted with.
Shedia is one of the allies he wants to have…….