Episode 15
“Kyaa♡ Hero~! Save me quickly~♡ If this keeps up, I’ll be groped all over and violated!!”
The Saint was captured by a filthy monster covered in sewage. The slimy liquid was melting her clothes, creating a bizarre scene.
…How did things end up like this? I have no idea, dammit.
#
After parting ways with Elfride and setting off on our journey again, I asked the Saint about our future plans.
“Saint, are we going back to that Guild?”
“No? There’s an Adventurer’s Guild in Habsburg too. We can take requests there, so there’s no need to go back. You really didn’t think of that, huh? As expected, you’re such a dummy, Hero♡”
“Ah, so even if we register in another region, we can still take requests here?”
“Yes, of course. Otherwise, how would adventurers travel around? You’re really lacking common sense, Hero~♡”
That makes sense. Got it.
“Let’s head to the Guild and see if there are any requests that match the level of this pathetic Hero~♡”
“…Yeah.”
Even though I defeated a high-level monster thanks to her Blessing, I’m still being treated like a weakling.
…When will I ever escape this fate?
We headed to the Adventurer’s Guild in Habsburg City. Compared to the Guild we originally went to, this building was much larger, which surprised me a bit.
“The Guild in the city is huge.”
“That means there are also a lot of problems.”
“Problems?”
“Adventurers picking fights with each other is a daily occurrence, and there are even things too horrible to put into words that happen frequently.”
Just hearing that makes it sound like a complete lawless zone.
“Doesn’t the Guild mediate those things?”
“They do. But think about it with that tiny brain of yours, Hero~♡ If a famous and powerful adventurer is the instigator, do you think the Guild can easily mediate~?”
“…Hmm, that would be tough.”
“All the Guild can do is suspend their qualifications. So, Hero.”
The Saint pointed at me with her index finger and warned me.
“Once we’re inside, don’t pick fights with anyone. Got it?”
“Yes.”
That’s easy. I’ve been putting up with the Saint’s annoying remarks all the time, so ignoring some adventurers’ provocations is a piece of cake.
I followed the Saint into the building. As soon as I entered, I tripped over something.
“Huh?”
*Thud!*
Ow, dammit!
“Hero!?”
“Ouch…”
I almost broke my teeth from falling forward.
…Instead, it seems like my nose is bleeding? Something was dripping down my philtrum, and when I wiped it, sure enough, it was blood.
As I stared blankly at the blood on my hand, a man next to me chuckled and said.
“Kukuku, you should’ve watched where you were going.”
“……”
…Wow, author. What kind of outdated cliché is this in this day and age? I really didn’t expect that.
‘My favorite author turns out to be a boomer?’
Anyway, it’s just a nosebleed, so let’s move on. The Saint told me not to pick fights, after all.
“Apologize right now!”
…But why are you the one freaking out?
The Saint was yelling at the adventurer who tripped me. It’s nice that she’s standing up for me, but she’s the one who told me not to pick fights.
And now she’s escalating things herself? Is she the type to break her own rules?
The man acted clueless and said to the Saint.
“What do you want me to apologize for, miss? Instead of getting angry, why don’t we talk logically? Lo.gi.cal.ly.”
“You tripped him, what more logic do you need!?”
“Miss, do you have proof? Your boyfriend just fell on his own, right?”
“Boyfriend!?”
Hey, why are you reacting to that word?
Seeing the Saint lose focus, I couldn’t help but say something.
“…Saint… no, Estelle, why are you reacting to the weird part?”
“…Ahem! Anyway, apologize to Abel right now! No matter how much of a weakling, idiot, or moron Abel is, he wouldn’t just trip over his own feet!”
…Are you really saying this for my sake?
“…Estelle, let’s just drop it and go. We need to take a request.”
“……”
The Saint glared at the man who tripped me until the end, and I dragged her by the arm toward the request board.
“Saint, let’s just look here. There are a lot of requests.”
“…Sigh.”
After letting out a deep sigh, the Saint regained her composure and looked at me.
“Aren’t you angry, Hero?”
“I am, but… didn’t you tell me not to pick fights?”
“That’s true, but… I didn’t expect them to be so blatant about their territorial behavior.”
As she said that, the Saint reached out her hand.
“Saint?”
“I’ll heal you.”
“Ah, okay.”
My nose had been stinging a bit since earlier. The Saint blew Holy Power into my nose. The stinging disappeared, and the slight pain I felt also vanished.
This is why there are no doctors in a fantasy world. Holy Power is just the best.
“All better now.”
“Thanks.”
“I didn’t expect you to get so angry for me, though.”
It was unexpected. I’ve never seen the Saint get so furious before.
When I mentioned it, the Saint spoke in a defensive tone.
“…If your already ugly face got even uglier, it’d be a disaster. That’s why.”
“I’m already ugly, so it doesn’t matter, right?”
Hearing that, the Saint stared at me for a moment, then smirked arrogantly.
“If you got uglier than you are now, you’d look worse than a Troll~♡”
“…That’s a bit much.”
“Exactly~.”
…But am I really that ugly? Lately, I’ve been thinking that while the Saint always teases me about being ugly, the reactions from others aren’t like that.
Especially at the banquet held by the Vaterek Count, I even heard someone say I looked cool.
Of course, I might have misheard since it was just in passing. That’s why I’m confused and want to confirm.
“Saint.”
“Yes?”
I deliberately brought my face closer to hers and asked.
“…Hero? What are you doing?”
“Am I really that ugly?”
The Saint’s pupils slightly widened.
Huh? She’s surprised? That’s suspicious.
But it was just my imagination. The Saint, who seemed momentarily startled, smirked and said.
“Of course you are. Are you asking because you want me to insult you more~?”
“…Huh?”
“So you’re into that kind of thing too. You pervert♡ Sadist♡ Masochist pervert Hero♡”
How does she even know the word “masochist”?
And I’m not into that!!!
“…No, I’m not into that.”
“Then why are you asking me that~?”
“…I was just wondering if I’m really that ugly.”
The Saint giggled.
“Hero, you look exactly like a Goblin~♡ A perfect match~!”
“…I get it, so stop.”
Dammit. I dug my own grave.
“Hehe♡ Goblin Hero, how about this request?”
“I’m not a Goblin… I’m human…”
I timidly refuted as I looked at the request she pointed to.
[Please exterminate the Slime blocking the sewer! Required Adventurer Rank: D]
Another D-rank request?
But if it’s a slime, you know what that is. It’s a very familiar liquid monster to us. It’s a low-level monster that even appeared in MapleStory, which was once a national game.
Seeing that it’s in the sewer, it seems the slime in this novel isn’t much different.
“Is the slime stronger than the forest wolf?”
“No? In terms of combat power, it might even be weaker than the forest wolf.”
“Then why are we going to hunt the slime?”
The original purpose of the request is for me to get stronger, right? The reward doesn’t seem that big either.
“The monsters you’ve hunted so far and the slime are different.”
“What’s the difference?”
“There are two types of monsters. The ones you’ve hunted so far all died when you stabbed their necks or hearts, right?”
“Yes.”
Well, if you cut their necks and stab their hearts, they should die. If they don’t, are they even living beings?
“Slimes are different.”
What? Are slimes in this novel’s world immortal?
“Then they don’t die?”
“It’s not that. Monsters without a fixed form like slimes have something called a ‘core.’ You have to destroy the core to kill them.”
“Ah.”
I get it now.
“So, you’re saying I need to learn how to deal with monsters that require destroying their core?”
“Oh my♡ Hero. Finally showing that what’s on your neck isn’t just decoration~♡”
“…Haha.”
Damn it. I’ll get my revenge someday…
“Ah.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Saintess, remember the bet we made?”
“A bet?…Ah.”
The bet between the Saintess and me. Whether I can take down a troll by myself. If I manage to defeat the troll on my own, the Saintess promised to grant me one wish.
“You remember, right?”
“…Y-yes. I remember.”
You’re dead. I’ll make you feel the same frustration I’ve felt all this time.
“…Do you have something you want?”
“Of course. I do.”
Actually, I haven’t thought about it. But since it’s a chance to gain the upper hand over the Saintess, I decided to act tough.
I’ll think about what to ask for later.
I smiled leisurely, like a winner. The Saintess seemed startled for a moment, then suddenly twisted her body.
“W-what are you planning to make me do…♥”
…Why is she like this?
“…I’ll tell you after we finish the request. Be prepared!”
“Okay~♥”
Why is she like this?
The Saintess didn’t seem like someone who disliked me. Her eyes were curved, and her lips were slightly raised.
What’s with her? It’s kinda creepy.
Because of that, I ended up flustered and urged the Saintess.
“L-let’s go.”
“…♥”
Mom, that person’s gaze is so scary. It feels like they want to eat me alive.
I tried to ignore the Saintess’s gaze and headed out of the guild, but the guy who tripped me earlier grabbed my chin.
“…What?”
“You’re new to this guild, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why are you taking requests here?”
What’s this about?
“Isn’t it normal for an adventurer to take requests at an adventurer’s guild?”
“These requests are for the regulars here, not for wandering rookies like you.”
…Isn’t it natural for adventurers to wander?
Hearing such nonsense, I started to get angry. I let it slide when he tripped me earlier, but now this?
This guy either has no sense or is deliberately picking a fight with me.
“Put the request down. If you don’t, I’ll kill you and bury you next to your mom.”
…Crossing the line?
“…You’re insane, you bastard.”
“Kid, what did you just say?”
*Wham!*
*Crash!*
…Ah, I couldn’t hold back. Honestly, bringing up my mom was crossing the line.
Even after hitting him hard, I still felt unsatisfied. I glanced at the Saintess, and she deliberately looked away.
It was a gesture to let it slide this time.
“You damn bug!!”
“Who are you calling a bug, you bastard?”
As I swung my fist again, that bastard, who’s supposedly an adventurer, tried to counter.
《 Blessing of Solaria 》
Huh?
Suddenly, strength surged through my body. And the moment my fist connected with his face, a loud noise echoed.
*Boom!*
“…Saintess?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why did you bless me all of a sudden…”
The suddenly enhanced punch slammed the guy into the floor. His head was buried in the ground.
Damn, is he dead!?
“H-hey, get up.”
“Don’t worry, Hero. That guy, even though he doesn’t look like it, is an A-rank adventurer. He probably didn’t die from that.”
“…Ah, really?”
As the Saintess said, the guy buried in the floor had an A-rank adventurer’s tag around his neck.
What kind of A-rank adventurer picks fights with a D-rank adventurer?
Then the receptionist came over and shouted.
“Fighting inside the guild, both of you are getting penalized!”
“…He started it, though?”
“Huh?”
“He suddenly insulted my parents.”
“Insulted…your parents? What’s that?”
The receptionist blinked at my words. Then, as if understanding, he coughed and said.
“…Then Abel, you get a warning. Rustan, you get a 7-day suspension.”
“Okay. I’ll be careful.”
Rustan, huh? I’ll remember that bastard’s name.
After receiving the warning, I left the guild building and looked at the Saintess.
“Saintess.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you bless me?”
“…I told you, he’s an A-rank adventurer. If you fought him bare-handed, you would’ve definitely lost.”
…She was worried about me?
“Thank you.”
“…Hero, you’re such a weakling~. I have to help you, don’t I?”
Even though she talks like that, she really cares about me.
#
“Ugh, the smell.”
The underground sewer. One of the most unsanitary places in Habsburg, and here we are.
“My nose is going to fall off.”
“Endure it~♡ It’s still better than your foot odor♡”
“…Do my feet smell?”
…I really didn’t know.
“Pfft♡ Just kidding.”
Damn it. I felt bad for nothing.
“Hero, the request is to exterminate slimes, but there are definitely other monsters here too.”
“What kind of monsters?”
“In dirty places like sewers, there’s always a certain type of monster.”
*Squeak squeak!!!*
…Rat sounds?
“Heavy Rats.”
“Ah, damn! Saintess, look at that!”
A huge swarm of rats was rushing towards us. So disgusting!
“Those are Heavy Rats, Hero. Now go catch them♡”
