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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Everyone Has a Story - 2
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No. Wait.
...I hadn't even finished saying that when the screen popped up.
[Error. The secret between 'Neril Slaine and Dame Side' is B-rank.]
[It can be viewed starting from Eye of Omniscience level 3.]
'...'
[...]
'You got nothing to say?'
[Well. A woman with lots of secrets is attractive by law.]
Ignoring Trail, who was playing coy, I sank into thought.
The secret with a person named May Enerica was also B-rank.
If it was on the same level as a core secret of Neril's, then whatever 'that item' Dame possessed must be quite valuable.
Just then, Neril's voice came.
"Sorry. I still can't tell you..."
"By the way, what's the reward?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah?"
"The reward Dame was going to give. I'm quite interested in shiny things."
Noticing I'd deliberately changed the subject, Neril's expression softened.
She matched my rhythm with a light tone.
"A crow?"
"More than that."
"Pfft. Just jewels or gold coins. And Dame's mistaken. I'm not hung up on rewards anymore."
Because the person who was supposed to give the reward is already dead.
That was what Neril seemed to imply.
"You must've joined hands with the Empire for that gravekeeper old man's comfortable retirement."
"As expected, you're quick on the uptake. Yeah, the butler's storeroom was piled high with treasures taller than a person. He didn't spend a single one, just hoarded them."
"And you knew that but kept taking the rewards he gave?"
"I thought of it as the bare minimum atonement."
I didn't bother asking what she meant by that.
Neril continued.
"Of course, all that treasure got cleaned out by Gray's gang."
"Ah. They all lived successful lives on the continent, huh. I wondered how such trash managed that, but they must've grabbed a share there and set themselves up."
"Gray's tool shop was probably the same."
She let out a light sigh.
Scratching my head, I asked.
"So? If Jenia shows up, you gonna cooperate with the interrogation willingly?"
"Hmm. I'd love to cut loose, but that might go against your 'path of the hero,' right?"
"Guess I'll know when I meet her."
"Then meet her and decide, and let me know. I'll do whatever you say."
I hadn't expected her to say that, so I widened my eyes.
Then our eyes met.
We both awkwardly turned our heads away at the same time.
Trail spoke.
[Don't tell me you two are gonna keep acting like this from now on?]
'What're you talking about?'
[Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this.]
'Huh?'
[Jenia Side. Nicknamed God's Proxy. A monster who blasts out more holy power than most high priests despite being a holy knight. And above all.]
He continued in a sly tone.
[She's your former party member.]
That's true.
Jenia Side was one of the hero party members.
The fourth one Kaild successfully recruited.
Since he's recruited three heroes now... in other words, the next one he's targeting(?) is Jenia.
[In other words, Kaild hasn't reached her yet. Take this chance to recruit her as a comrade.]
'It's not as easy as you make it sound.'
[Eh?]
'Neril and Jenia. They got along terribly.'
I recalled my memories from before regression.
Jenia was Kaild's fourth recruit.
And Neril was the fifth.
When they first met, Jenia treated Neril like an arch-enemy... and if Neril was to join the party, she'd quit on the spot.
[Hmm. Well, witch and holy knight.]
'No. It's not just bad compatibility. They have some history.'
[History?]
'Yeah. And the one who resolved that history was Kaild. It was the decisive reason Jenia came to believe in and follow Kaild as the hero.'
I said that much and quietly watched Neril, who had somehow pulled out an apple and was biting into it.
"What? Want one?"
"Yeah."
"Here. 10 guild."
"Okay. Hold on."
"Never mind. It was a joke. Why're you pulling out money? It's embarrassing."
Flick.
Neril tossed me an apple.
And this time, she bit into hers a bit hastily.
[So what's the history?]
'Anyway, in my current position, I can't antagonize the capital. It's hard to mend their relationship right away, so what to do.'
[No, what's the history?]
'For now, as a stopgap, I gotta prevent them from killing each other. If I promise to fix it later, will Jenia believe me?'
[Excuse me? Ignoring me again?]
'Well, I'll do what I can. If I build up a ton of trust in this incident, it'll work out somehow.'
[Hey, I'm gonna cry? For real.]
As if harmonizing with my gloom, a sniffling sound came from somewhere.
Of course, I must've misheard.
As we neared Rior Territory, one piece of good news arrived.
[Ding! Level up!]
[Level: Slightly Famous.]
[Your name is spreading in Drucker Territory. (All points recovered!)]
[Your name is spreading in Quelk Territory. (All points recovered!)]
[Prestige points needed for next level: 1,760/20,000]
All points from Quelk Territory were recovered, so I leveled up.
Thanks to that, I was happy for 10 seconds, then depressed for 30 minutes.
Because of what Trail said.
[Good job. Now that you've leveled up, you can see Kaild's prestige value specifically. Well, precisely, everyone's prestige values in the world.]
'Tell me right now.'
[You sure you wanna see? Mentally prepared?]
'I'm a so-called 'slightly famous' person now too. Don't worry, show me.'
With a groan, Trail brought up the screen.
On the continental map as usual, Kaild's and my territories were marked separately.
And numbers appeared in the center of each territory.
[Maide Mohan: 1,760]
[Kaild Wake: 20,450]
Huh?
"Something seems wrong."
I muttered aloud without thinking, and Neril tilted her head.
"What?"
"How to explain. It's like starving on bread crumbs for years, finally getting a chicken leg in your mouth, then watching the guy next to you toss a turkey dinner on the floor saying he's full."
"..."
Neril said nothing.
She seemed to have given up understanding.
Thanks to that, I had time to complain to Trail.
'What the hell has this bastard been doing to have that much prestige!'
[First time seeing you yell like that.]
'Haa.'
[Calm down. He's been playing 'hero' years ahead of you. Different starting lines, can't be helped.]
'If that's the case, why not rewind me 10 years instead of 7.'
[Hmm. Should I say sorry... in this situation?]
My sighs just deepened.
The carriage arrived in Rior Territory.
When paying the coachman, he said.
"By the way, guests, you're mercenaries, right?"
"Yes."
"No."
Neril and I gave opposite answers.
The coachman tilted his head, then spoke.
"If you're mercenaries, it won't be easy finding work in this territory."
"Sounds like a peaceful place."
"Well, more like it's a lazy town to begin with."
Lazy town.
The coachman wasn't mocking.
Around this time before regression, Rior Territory was synonymous with lethargy.
People barely got up around 10 a.m., as if by agreement.
Then by 4 p.m., they were already done for the day and heading home.
Bed by 9 p.m.
That bizarre childlike schedule was already infamous in neighboring territories.
Neril said.
"I get it. So lazy they don't even have mercenary requests?"
"Exactly. Ironic for a territory with the Martial King."
"Who's the Martial King?"
At Neril's question, the coachman looked dumbfounded.
I cut in smoothly.
"Forgive her. This young lady grew up sheltered, doesn't know the world."
"Ah, well, her speech does have a noble air. If I was rude."
"No such thing, don't worry. We'll be off."
"Safe travels."
The coachman bowed 90 degrees, thinking we were some noble lady and her guard knight.
As the coachman left, Neril said.
"Young lady, huh. Hmm. Nice ring to it."
Watch your conscience.
[You watch yours. The guy who got 'big brother' from Lena.]
Ignoring that, I spoke.
"But seriously, you don't know who the Martial King is? You're connected to the Empire."
"You keep saying Empire this, Empire that, but strictly speaking, the one I dealt with was just Knights of Light Captain Dame Side. You think we're bosom buddies sharing secrets?"
"Hmm."
"The only Imperial group tracking me is the Knights of Light anyway. I just need to know about them."
"Start building some common knowledge from now on."
"Hearing that from the ultimate unconventional guy feels weird."
Harsh words from a model citizen like me.
"Anyway, who's the Martial King?"
"Ters Kline. One of the Empire's power players—you line them up, he's around tenth. From this territory, entered the capital's martial tournament as the lord's proxy 10 years ago and won."
"Hmm."
"Not just won—utterly dominated. Alcahad scouted him, but he turned them down. Deep attachment to his hometown Rior Territory."
I'd explained eagerly, but Neril already seemed bored.
She looked around.
2 p.m.
Time when everyone should be bustling at work, but the territory was eerily quiet, like ghosts built it.
Neril spoke in an intrigued voice.
"Coachman was right. Bunch of lazybones."
"Listen properly when someone's answering."
"I did."
"What's the Martial King's name?"
"Atwill Galen."
No way.
Not even one character right!
"Right?"
"Yeah."
Too annoying, I gave up explaining.
Neril asked.
"So where to now? How're we making a name here?"
"Mercenary guild first."
"Huh? The lord said people here are so lazy there won't be work."
I grinned and replied.
"If there's none, make some."
Rior Territory is famous now as the lazy territory, but a few years later, it becomes famous for another reason.
One of the quests the so-called 'hero party' led by Kaild took after becoming complete was here in Rior Territory.
[The quest wasn't to kill the Demon King?]
'Kaild judged the Demon King too strong. Instead of charging straight in, he took continent quests to bond the party and level up.'
[Hmm. So? What was Rior Territory's quest?]
I hesitated, then answered.
'Kill the Martial King.'
[What? What does that mean?]
'You'll see soon enough.'
[...]
'Besides, right now, there's something more pressing.'
Saying that, I stopped walking and looked up at the sky.
Neril took a few more steps, then turned back.
"What? Standing there spacing out."
"You don't see that?"
I pointed to a spot in the sky.
Neril squinted at where I pointed.
"Something flying around, maybe. Just a bird?"
"Bad eyesight."
"Yeah. Bad. Must be nice for you."
"Hmm. It's far from magic, so I get it."
"What the hell is it?"
Instead of answering, I drew a dagger.
Then leaned back until my hand nearly touched the ground.
Neril realized what the stance meant and stepped back.
Crunch crunch.
My right arm muscles bulged, enough to call them hypertrophied.
And.
Screeeeech!
The dagger shot toward the sky at terrifying speed.
I caught my breath lightly and straightened up.
'Instead of a greeting. Long time no see, Jenia.'
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