Profession, Merchant Volume 8 Chapter 13 (Patreon)

Chapter 13 – The “Hero” VI

It was a close call.


I don’t know what that sound is, but I’m really grateful for that roar.


“Damn, that “Fake Hero” again..”


In front of the hero, whom he calls the “Fake Hero”, is a dark-haired woman astride a powerful motorbike powered by magic.


I see. The roaring sound is coming from the magic motorbike.


“Fufufu. “Fake hero”, eh? Well then, my righteous hero, you’ve finally isolated yourself from the crowd. There are no people here, so I can attack you as much as I like. Prepare yourself.”


The woman – the “Fake Hero” – did not look like a “hero” at all, even though she was a “fake”.


She is about 30 years old, with stern goggles raised to her forehead, a necklace glinting in the soft cleavage that can be seen through the white tank top she is wearing, loose-fitting cargo pants, and a black sword with a scabbard.


The jingling sound of the attached strap in the sword has a certain motif, mimicking a certain lotus leaf.


This slightly outlaw feel is cool and all, but isn’t it the custom with fakes to make them look like the original?


From every angle, she bears no resemblance to this disgusting hero who is interested in me.


“Hey, why are you so hostile to me? Is it because of the stigma of being branded a ‘fake’?”


The hero asks with a sigh.


“Maybe it’s the stigma, maybe it’s not… but how can I put it… I just can’t bear to like you. You don’t attack the Demon Lord’s country, you plot to overthrow the government here and there, and you say that it’s justice. As a ‘former’ hero, I can’t accept someone like you as my successor.”


“Ha, what can I say? You can never understand. That’s why you’re nothing but a “fake”. Even if the Demon Lord is defeated, it is impossible to eradicate the Demon race and the monsters if humanity is still bound by their so-called system. That’s why we must first get the humans to change and unite as one…”


“Forget your nonsense. Let’s get on with it.”


She drew a beautiful black sword with a gently curved blade and held it ready.


But the hero snickered.


“Sorry, I don’t have time to deal with you right now. See you later.”


The hero floated again, trying to move from place to place.


Yes, indeed. He jumped into the air, as he had done before.


But one thing was different.


I was not floating up with him.


Before I knew it, I was in the arms of the “Fake Hero” astride the motorbike, not in the arms of the hero from before.


This is no longer in the realm of being ‘fast’.


She took my body in the blink of an eye, without the hero even noticing.


So much so that I think ‘lightning fast’ is the perfect alias for her.


I feel a sense of euphoria at the sight of her breasts squeezing against my shoulder and think that I’d rather have this woman hugging me, even though she’s a ‘Fake Hero’, than the male one, but I quickly dismiss such flirtatious thoughts.


“You seemed to like this maid very much. You erotic hero.”


“What, when did you…”


“Hey, if you want this girl back, all you have to do is beat me. Simple enough, isn’t it? But I can’t believe you fell in love with this girl… eh?”


The ‘Fake Hero’ stares at my face, which is trying its best to hold back the hem of my skirt so it doesn’t roll up in my arms, and a look of astonishment comes over her face.


“You…”


What?


Don’t tell me this isn’t another development like you fell in love with me at first sight.


I was very self-conscious about it, but the reason she was staring at me and opening her eyes was for a completely different reason.


“You’ve grown up! But wait, did you trigger the wrong growth spurt or something that turned you into a girl?”


●○●〇


“Taking hostages is cowardly!”


As I was taken by surprise in the arms of the “Fake Hero”, the angry voice of the hero rang out in the air.


“I’ll be back in a minute, okay?”


The woman said softly, putting me down and drawing her black sword with a quick movement.


As if that was a signal, the hero also began to leap out of the air.


His bright red armor and ornate sword shone in the blue sky, looking like a single-minded, powerful force.


Just when you think you can’t avoid a collision, it happens.


A moment later, the woman at my side disappeared.


No, it is impossible for a person to disappear.


It must simply be that my dynamic vision is weak, and my eyes cannot keep up with the speed at which she is moving.


However, I am not the only one who did not catch the movement. The hero seems to be the same.


Because when the woman appeared behind the hero the next moment, he didn’t seem to notice.


Then there was a flash, whiter than sunlight.


The woman had swung her sword.


But the aftermath was tremendous.


The hero’s red figure was blown far away by the physical impact.


It looked like he was going to crash directly into the roof of the building, but he avoided the crash by stopping in mid-air as if to defy its inertia.


The hero stared up at the sky, seemingly not losing his will to fight.


But as if not to be outdone, the woman’s sword bared its fangs mercilessly once more.


This time, however, he reacted correctly and took the blow with his sword.


Their swords and blades then clashed with metallic and thunderous sounds, and the battle began to take on a protracted aspect.


No, it would be more accurate to call it a war than a battle.


There was no doubt that it was a clash on a scale that could be described as such.


But even to the untrained eye, it was clear that the woman had the better part of the battle.


It may be difficult to generalize, as the woman was good at speed, and the hero seemed to have the advantage in toughness, but her advantage became clearer as time went on.


Finally, the woman’s sword was thrust at the hero’s throat, and time seemed to stand still.


“Do you wish to surrender?”


The woman says with a pout.


“Ghh…”


The hero grunts, and for a moment, he seems to be on the verge of weakness, about to throw away his gains.


But then he regains strength in his eyes and even smiles.


In his heart – a helping hand.


Suddenly, a blonde-haired boy appears, gripped in the claws by a giant eagle and flying through the air.


He slashes at the woman from behind with his saber.


Just as the saber is about to reach the woman’s neck, she too reflects the presence and turns her sword to defend herself.


“Are you all right, Sir Hero?”


“Yes, I’m fine, thank heavens. You did well.”


I see. The boy must be a hero’s companion or something. He was happy to be praised, as a broad smile appeared on his innocent face.


It is now two against one, and I thought that with the woman’s speed, she could defeat the boy early on and then drive the hero back.


But it’s strange.


She did not attack quickly with her speed, nor did she move on the spot.


“C-cute…”


Or rather, for some reason, she mumbles something ridiculous while looking at the boy with a kind of passionate gaze.


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