Profession, Merchant Volume 8 Chapter 14 (Patreon)

Chapter 14 – The “Hero” VII

“Prepare yourself, fake hero!”


The blond boy’s high-pitched voice rings out. He lunges at the woman with all his might.


The sword looked sharp, but it was still a notch or two below the level of the woman and the hero.


If it were this woman, she could crush him in a heartbeat.


But she did not.


Instead, she was just concentrating on defending herself.


Helplessly.


But why, even in this situation, does she seem like a senior enjoying a sparring match with a cute junior?


And rather, all of a sudden, she’s acting like a demure woman now, a far cry from when she confronted the hero.


Is there some special, significant reason why she cannot attack this boy?


A sibling who has been cut out of her life?


No, it can’t be because of his race.


A woman who looks like she could be beaten at any moment but who takes the blows without faltering.


There was no reason for the hero not to take advantage of this.


The hero aimed his sword at the woman with full force, who responded to the boy’s slash.


“Shi-”


The woman’s eyes widen, but it is too late.


The hero’s sword, accompanied by a bolt of lightning, struck her through, hitting her so hard that the roof of the building caved in, exposing the upper floors.


“Ka-ha!”


She moans with vomit and blood, then stops moving.


“We did it, didn’t we?”


“Yes, we did!”


The hero and the boy go to the woman with joy.


I, on the other hand, couldn’t help but be curious, so I quickly followed them.


The hero points his sword at the woman’s throat.


“The situation is reversed now. But I will not accept your surrender.”


The hero grins at the woman, who is panting from her severe injury.


“But I’m sure you’ll have something to say at the end, so I can at least listen to one last request. Then I’ll take care of your corpse and all that.”


At this, the woman began to raise her voice, as if to express her pain.


“I’ve been dead for… tens of years now… so I have nothing more to ask. There is no country I can go back to, even as a corpse, so do what you want.”


Her glossy black hair swayed slightly with the breath of each word.


“But if I have anything to say… it’s to you…”


The woman who said this was definitely looking at me, though there was no power in her eyes.


I was surprised and pointed at myself.


“M-me?”


“Yes, you. First of all, I must thank you.”


I tilt my head to the side because I don’t understand.


“From the day we parted on the Island of Thirst until now, I have been all alone in the vastness of the world. I was not allowed to belong anywhere, so I had no place to base my values and ethics, and I could not find the meaning of life. I was able to survive because I was armed and strong, but it was so painful that I didn’t know if it was a blessing or not. It was very sad to know that I was just breathing and sustaining life for the sake of being ‘alive’.”


This sounds like a very difficult story. I really didn’t want to get involved, but I couldn’t stop listening.


“But it is only when I hear rumors of your… reckless work that I can feel warmth in my heart. Because of you, I guess you were really serious about trying to do that pipe dream of buying a country. Whether it came true or not, I knew you would keep your contract – your promise – and that was all the connection that pushed me to live. So… thank… you…”


“I…”


I was at a loss for words.


Apparently, before I lost my memory, it was obvious that I had been a deep friend to her.


But I have no memory and don’t know the details.


However, I didn’t think it would be appropriate to say, ‘I’m not sure. I’ve got amnesia now’, so I just kept quiet.


Inevitably, I slowly nodded my head, and the woman smiled faintly but cheerfully.


“Well, it’s about time.”


The hero clinked his sword and muttered solemnly.


The woman’s face was still peaceful, and to me, it seemed very precious and beautiful.


If there is an afterlife, please take special care of her – I hoped at that moment.


GOOONNGG… GOOOONNNNGG…


The sound of bells filled the blue sky, and everyone looked up.


“Sir Hero. It’s the cathedral bell. It’s time. You must go.”


“Yes.”


“I’ll finish off the Fake Hero in your place.”


“Alright. I’m counting on you.”


I don’t know why he stopped, but it probably had something to do with the fact that he had said earlier that he didn’t have much time.


All I could feel was relief that this hero was finally going to leave.


But that was naive thinking.


“‘Alright then, let’s go.”


“Huh?”


Before I knew it, I was once again carried by the hero in the arms like a princess, without even having time to question what I had heard.


I was terrified as I floated into the sky, for this time was worse, as we flew at a speed unparalleled by the previous one.


In an instant, the hero leaves the building where the battle took place and flies through the sky at high speed.


High in the sky, cutting through the wind.


“UHHM, WHERE ARE WE GOING NEXT?”


I shouted, my ears being blasted by the current, and the hero answered.


“The execution grounds. For I’m going to attend the priestess’s execution.”


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