Chapter 111

First of all, let’s leave the talk with the Hero for later.

Right now, postponing the scolding of the Hero who can’t properly lift his head is also on hold for now.

Even though I feel the need to have a calm, one-on-one story, this isn’t the time or place for it.

“Sorry. Among the recent rumors, the ones about the Hero and the Dragon Priestess are the hottest topics.”

“Rumors about the Hero and me… Hmm…”

Well, it would be stranger if there weren’t any rumors about a Hero in his 30s adventuring with a young girl.

But even so, claiming I’m the Hero’s companion? The kid I’ve raised like my own child’s companion? Even if rumors tend to get exaggerated! This is going too far!

Moreover, my spirit is currently in a male’s personality, despite having lived as a female-bodied person for tens of thousands of years! And yet, I haven’t lost my male identity! No corruption into some kind of female form!!!!

Hmm. Wait a moment. Something feels off. I’ve been living in this body for tens of thousands of years… so why is my modern human personality still intact?

Was my personality originally strong enough to maintain itself through all these years? No, that doesn’t seem right. It was just an ordinary modern human personality, nothing extraordinary… and yet it’s still preserved somehow…

Or maybe some external factor is maintaining my personality? Ugh… I don’t know!

Anyway, it’s good that “I” can still be “me,” so let’s not dig too deep and move on. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Since there’s no immediate problem now, we’ll consider it if something comes up later.

Moving on from my personality…

“Those false rumors, I’d like to uproot them, but let’s set that aside for now. What are you folks doing here?”

“Oh, us? We’re patrolling this cursed land.”

“Patrol?”

“Yes. Though it’s a desolate wasteland now where no one lives, it was once our homeland. We’re patrolling to prevent further issues.”

Homeland, huh. Hm.

“Are you people from Arcad?”

“Arcad. It makes me nostalgic… even though it disappeared decades ago.”

The cavalry looked at the barren land with slightly wistful expressions.

“Though it’s changed due to the gods’ curse, it’s still our homeland.”

“Even though it’s a parched land where even bandits can’t survive, we believe we’ll return someday, so we patrol.”

Their faces bore faint, dry smiles.

“It’s our homeland.”

Hearing that, my conscience stirs a little. Isn’t it technically my fault they had to leave their homeland?

Ugh… Should I lift the curse…?

No, no. That guy hasn’t come to seek forgiveness yet. I can’t go back on my word.

Instead… I could help make life better for those who left their homeland, and assist in ensuring prosperity when they return…

Wait, am I showing favoritism again? Ugh…

Well, considering they’re victims of what I did… helping them shouldn’t count as favoritism, right?

Besides, while I’m at it, I might as well torment that second prince who’s still wandering around without apologizing.

If he had come to the temple to apologize immediately after the incident, as I initially expected, none of this would have happened!

It’s a bit forced reasoning, but… whatever.

“Hmm. Then, Hero and Dragon Priestess, could you tell me where you’re heading?”

“Not really moving with a specific destination in mind. Just traveling around, beating up monsters that harm people.”

Back in the day, we chased monsters based on various rumors, but now it seems the seeds of powerful monsters have dried up, as we don’t hear rumors about them anymore.

Weak monsters can be handled by soldiers or village vigilantes.

“Thanks to you, we’ve been traveling leisurely for the past few months.”

Occasionally, a monster does appear and gets cut in half by the Sword of the Hero, but it’s quite rare.

“Hmm… Since you don’t have a clear destination, how about traveling with us?”

“With you?”

The cavalry nodded.

“The famous Hero and Dragon Priestess would be welcomed by everyone. Our king would welcome you too.”

Hm. Since we don’t have a specific destination, traveling with them wouldn’t be a problem…

Looking at the Hero who can’t properly raise his head, I asked,

“What do you think?”

“Uh, uh?”

“We don’t have a clear destination, so I thought we could travel with them. What’s your opinion?”

“Oh, um, I’m fine either way.”

The Hero didn’t seem to have any particular thoughts on the matter.

Well, if the Hero is okay with it, and my journey didn’t have any specific purpose anyway…

Nodding, I turned to the cavalry and said,

“We’ll travel with you then. Since we don’t have a clear goal anyway.”

Traveling with a clear destination is much better than wandering aimlessly.

Traveling with them shouldn’t be bad.

“Understood. We’ll guide you, Hero and Dragon Priestess, to our land. To Arcadia.”

With that, we began our journey away from the arid wasteland with the cavalry.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

“So, can you explain why I’m being called your companion?”

Standing in front of the Hero with my arms crossed, I spoke solemnly.

“Um, I don’t know anything about it…”

“If you don’t know, then who does!”

After the cavalry set up a temporary base with tents and went out to scout the surroundings,

Now is the perfect time to interrogate… cough, find out the truth from the Hero!

“I don’t know either. Who started such a rumor…”

“Wouldn’t the rumor disappear if you actively deny it!”

“I’ve tried! It’s not like I’ve only denied it once or twice! But people keep asking, saying things like ‘you’re just embarrassed to admit it,’ ‘how far have you gone already?’ ‘when will you have kids?’ People just won’t listen to me!”

Ah, kids?! What is this nonsense?!

I smacked the top of the Hero’s head with a resounding “thwack!” before speaking.

“Kids?! Hundreds of years too early!!”

“Ow… I’m already in my 30s! Normally, I should be married and have plenty of kids by now! If I had married early and had a child, that child would be old enough to marry by now!!! Besides, humans can’t live for hundreds of years!!!”

Ah, that’s right.

“Anyway, we need to get rid of these false rumors as soon as possible. You need to more actively deny them.”

“That’s easier said than done. Are you telling me to boast about being unmarried at this age to everyone I meet…?”

Oops, good point.

“Sorry…”

This is an era where teenagers get married upon eye contact.

Publicly declaring that a 30-year-old Hero is single would be cruel.

“Well, well! Finding someone suitable for you would be best! Let’s recruit a companion for the Hero! While we’re at it, let’s spread the word worldwide to find someone suitable for you…”

“Are you suggesting spreading the fact that I’m an old bachelor worldwide?”

“W-well…”

Ugh… Neither option works.

Let’s just bring someone to be the Hero’s companion. Starting with that girl from the village near the Temple of Life…

“Just… Would it be alright if sister became my companion?”

“Wha…?”

My brain froze instantly.

What did the Hero just say?

“See, if the rumor becomes reality, there won’t be any problems anymore, right? The rumor has already spread far and wide, and it’s impossible to take back what’s been said…”

The Hero continued hesitantly.

“To be honest, the reason I couldn’t fully deny the rumor…”

The Hero rubbed his face nervously before making a decision.

“I like you, sister.”

Eh, um, well, that is…

“Ever since the first moment I met you.”

No, wait, really, this is…

“You completely changed my life when I was an orphan on the streets. You made me someone worthy of being called a Hero, receiving praise from countless people. I like you.”

Ah, damn, no, this is wrong, this, er, er, ergergerger.

“To be honest, I planned to bury this feeling deep inside for life. I figured Sister must have her own circumstances. Considering how you hide yourself behind the mask of the Goddess’s Representative while striving for the world… I tried to conceal these feelings.”

Uh…?

“So, I love you. Sister. Not just you as a person, but the Goddess of Life within you, working tirelessly for life.”

Eh, eh… eh? EH?!?!?!