122 – Witch Hunt-8

“Are you sure it would be okay if we didn’t leave together?”

Wolf’s face was full of worry.

“Even that search will not be an easy task…”

“I had no intention of seeking help from others from the beginning.”

There were a lot of rumors about the middle ground. Some people said that they had been there themselves, and that it was a peaceful space without anything happening. Except the beasts are overly wild and aggressive.

And some, their friends and acquaintances, used to fear that some mercenaries had disappeared without leaving a trace after entering the middle ground.

“If it were us, nothing would happen. Just, please take good care of this place.”

“All right.”

In case something unpleasant happened, he had no confidence to protect all of the mercenaries. They could be a help, but they could also be a burden in times of need.

“Everyone is grateful. An army under the direct control of the territory. For a mercenary, I have achieved great success. There are many who want to settle down… Well, I’ll have to leave.”

“Thanks for your efforts.”

“Well, good work. The warrior and the other party did it, because there was nothing our mercenaries did.”

Behind Wolf shrugging his shoulders, Leone approached.

“It was an honorable and mythical fight. As a knight, it’s a pity that I couldn’t participate in that battle.”

“thanks.”

“I will risk my life to protect this place. Your efforts will not be in vain.”

The victories in battle and the missteps of the Weather family greatly increased their political clout.

“How are you, William?”

“To be honest, I’m not confident. Now that I’m a real lord…”

In the conflict zone at the entrance to the Middle Zone, Weather stepped out. After William peacefully handed over the territory, he sent a message with the princess’s signature to the capital.

Now, he is not Aldgild’s watchdog, but a lord directly connected to the emperor.

“The responsibility has increased. In an instant…”

William lowered his head, but Leone encouraged her.

“You’ll be able to do better than anyone else. Now that you’ve become our master, my mercenaries… no, the Knights will risk their lives to support you.”

Because of his rapidly growing size, William needed more soldiers and retainers. Naturally, Wolf’s mercenary corps and Leone’s mercenary corps joined him.

The money to hire them was a problem, but considering William’s already inflated criminal record, it was quite manageable.

Because William was the hero who defied the Emperor’s command and honor as a nobleman and defeated the endlessly hideous and gigantic monster summoned by Weather’s army and their warlock.

“It’s really over now…”

With a smile mixed with bitterness and relief, I said goodbye to them.

/////

“Eleanor.”

On the way back, he encountered the princess holding supplies in both hands.

Many people feared her, but Eleanor walked the streets casually.

“At that time, the old man’s rudeness. What was it?”

“I said it, but it only makes you feel bad. There’s no need to tell you.”

“I’m serious. If there’s still room for dispute here…”

Being weak is not good. I thought that the members of the poison scorpion mercenary group would be complicated, but I couldn’t fully trust the people left behind.

If Eleanor said something rude enough to hide from me, I didn’t think it was light.

“It’s not like that. It’s just…”

“just?”

“He’s an old man… he’s only said old things… about you and me.”

Eleanor let out a deep sigh and listened to the old man’s words.

“It’s just… Is the man wrapped up like that because he has doubts? It doesn’t seem like he’s a very clogged person, but I think we can solve it through conversation. It’s just a story like that.”

She was right.

It wasn’t something to be offended about, it just made me feel bad. To the point where I resent myself for having to listen to it because I didn’t believe it.

“okay…”

“I don’t mind, but I thought I’d offend you. I had no other intentions.”

Did that woman and I look like lovers? The good vibes never came.

One day, I had a thought like that. A long time ago, when I was summoned here for the first time and met her, a little rosy fantasy remained in my head.

Even at this moment, the fact that she looked beautiful was an undeniable fact.

Eyes full of conviction, long black hair, and cold, haughty lips.

At that time, everything in this world seemed strange and beautiful. He couldn’t help feeling that way towards Eleanor, the most beautiful of them all.

Even though she has now become my biggest enemy.

I don’t feel anything. Looking at her face, the vengeance and disgust that I had forgotten for a while fill up.

“I see…”

My face hardened. I realized why I didn’t feel comfortable.

It was because playing the hero was so much fun.

It was so rewarding and fun to intervene in other people’s lives and prevent sacrifices as if I had become something.

I was happy that others held me up as a hero and made good choices one by one.

So, I didn’t want to show myself wandering in search of a return while obsessed with revenge.

I begged others to forgive their enemies for everyone, but I didn’t want to be found out that I was a human being who couldn’t even keep that word.

I, a hero, and I, an ordinary human, are creating a contradiction. The mind that insists that there is something more important than revenge and the mind that can’t stand this are cleverly changing the order to avoid conflict.

Maybe it was all excuses. Saying that you can’t protect mercenaries, saying that you don’t need them for exploration.

It might just be because the members of the party of warriors who had debts, who had no choice but to accept me no matter how ugly I showed them, were comfortable in a different sense.

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Just because i hate it

“Are you okay?”

I unknowingly removed Eleanor’s hand, who was worried about me. Confused, my eyes met hers.

“…no need to worry.”

oneself becomes shabby

Would it have been better if he had taken revenge? Would it have made any difference if he had killed the entire warrior party on the first day he exploded his anger?

But I never thought that the future would be happy.

Because I had to continue living in this remaining world without even pretending to be a hero and not expecting that everything would disappear with my return.

“Are you blaming yourself?”

“There’s no way I could do something like that!”

Unbeknownst to me, my voice rises. Seeing Eleanor’s calm face, anger began to overwhelm him.

“sorry.”

“What are you doing… now what!”

“If only I hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have suffered so much. If you had just let everyone know that you’re a real hero… At least the others would have recognized you at least a little bit.”

There were countless things.

“Even after I came back, things would have been a little better if it hadn’t been for my arrogance that you would of course sacrifice for the empire.”

Eleanor’s bowed head made me even more angry, as if she were sincere.

“When I faced the Orc Lord, I was prepared to die. No, I accepted that. You were the one the empire needed, the one who sacrificed more than anyone else, and the one who had to survive. I was hoping you would escape. Alive. I was hoping to leave.”

“Because you say things like that, pretending to be sorry!”

Saying that I can’t hate you comfortably made me so ugly that I couldn’t say it.

“Is that so. Was I a person who was an obstacle to you until the end.”

Sadness emanated from Eleanor’s voice.

“It’s too late… but would you like to take my head?”

“What?”

“A warrior’s lineage can stand against that of the imperial family. My father… I hate to admit it, but he didn’t have long to live.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I am the only direct descendant of His Majesty the Emperor. There are serious reasons for disqualification for other members of the Imperial Family, too old, too young, or halfway. If you want, you can have everything by slitting my neck.”

She bent over and bowed her head deeply.

“I didn’t want that… no.”

Maybe, at the point I didn’t kill her, my revenge might have already ended.

There was no way I could get revenge on her who had already handed over everything to me.

It’s not just Eleanor. I don’t know the true intentions, but probably Farseer, Nerwen and Celia are in the same situation.

Even if I take her neck now, even if I slap her once a day and humiliate her, nothing will be done.

It was pointless.

“Then, my task has not changed. I have no choice but to swing the sword without rest until you return.”

“That’s enough.”

In the end, I had no choice but to go back.

To a place where I become a hero and have no one to protect, and no one to take revenge on.

To a place where I don’t matter to anyone, I don’t need anyone, I don’t get mad at anyone.

Like that, I had no choice but to live with hope in an uncertain future.