Chapter 64 (1/2)

Chapter 64 – The Hero’s Conclusion

This time I’ll ask the people in town.

First I’ll try ask the people around the stores.

「Black-eyed black-haired? Aah, is it about Sakura-chan? She’s a good child. I think of her like a grandchild you know.」

「Is it Sakura-chan? You, asking those sorts of things, you’re not thinking of doing something weird to Sakura-chan right? If you do such a thing, I won’t let you off you know?」

「Sakura-chan? Aah, I know her. It seems she’s living by herself na. She occasionally comes here for shopping you see.」

「Ahn? Aah, that jou-chan huh. She sure is an interesting kid na. Ah, if you’re an acquaintance, tell her to come make an appearance.」

「Yes? Aah, that girl, is it? Yeah, my magic tools that were called useless are selling like hotcakes thanks to her…」

「Sakura-chan? You, are you that child’s acquaintance? Then take these with you too. Aah, there’s no need to pay okay.」

「Sakura? You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, are you sniffing around for Sakura!?1 n? You’re not? fumu, so it’s like that huh… If that’s the case, I’ll tell you about her. Sakura is… (omitted) … ah, oi! Wait!」

Haa, haa… What, that last guy was?2 He gave off the same impression as that lady from the Adventurers’ Guild…

No, more importantly…

For the time being, although I went around various places and asked, there wasn’t a single bad rumor. Rather, everyone is favourable towards her.

Did the King lie to me after all…?

At the very least, that girl shouldn’t be the Demon King. If that’s the case, it means the royal family sheltering the Demon King is also a lie.

For now, I’ll return to the inn and consult… oh? Isn’t that Eleanor over there? Who’s the man that’s together with her? Mu, it appears they’ve entered an alleyway. Why, in such a place…?

Somehow or another, I ended up following after the two people but…

But I wonder why they came to a back alley like this?

「……If that’s the case, does it mean this plan is a failure?」

「Yeah, I think the Hero has various doubts after hearing the words of the target wa. As long as he’s not a complete idiot, he should realize he’s being deceived. It’ll be bad when that happens wa.」

「Understood. We’ll eliminate him before that happens. I’ll leave leading the Hero. The place will be the Great Western River. Okay?」

「Leave it to me. Will it be fine to carry it out tomorrow afternoon?」

「No problem.」

Ending with those words, Eleanor and the other man disappeared somewhere.

「……What is this… I was being deceived after all huh…?」

My pathetic voice echoed though the empty back alley.

I wonder how much time has pa.s.sed?

The surroundings have already begun to turn dark.

I sluggishly stood up and thought about what I should do from now on.

But my thoughts were jumbled up.

……At this rate, I’ll be killed tomorrow. Do I escape? But where to? In this unknown world, where could I escape to?

Ideas were rus.h.i.+ng thr

ough my head, but not a single decent one came to mind.

When I was about to give up thinking, a voice echoed though the supposedly empty back alley.

「What are you doing in this sort of place? Uhm…… Takahas.h.i.+-san?」

When I looked at the direction of the voice, that girl was standing there.

「……Fujino-san? Why are you here?」

「I’m on my way back from shopping you see. This is a shortcut. Well, I rarely go through here though. Leaving that aside, what’s going on? Your expression is as if it’s the end of the world…」

The girl has a concerned expression.

It’s somewhat strange to see that. To worry about someone who chased and aimed at your life just the other day… When I thought about that, I stopped caring about just about everything.3

「HAHAHA! It was just as Fujino-san said! I was being deceived! By that King, by Eleanor, by the country! It seems I’m going to be killed because I realized it. Summoned against my will, deceived, then killed in the end, what sort of s.h.i.+tty game is this…!?」

How frustrating. I, who was deceived without even doubting it.

How frustrating. I, who got carried away after being called a Hero.

How frustrating. I, who was going to kill a girl who worried about someone like me.

And, how hateful. Those guys who deceived me, who are going to kill me.

But there’s probably nothing I can do with just me alone. I have no way to make a living even if I escape. Still, I don’t feel I can win even if I fight.

Even though I’m called a Hero, I’m still a human after all. It’s impossible for a single human to win against a country.

「So, what will you do? Are you going to wait to be killed just like that?」

Her voice echoed. It was a cold voice.

「What do you insist I do!? I have neither the ability to fight against a country, nor the power to make a living by myself! I can’t return to j.a.pan either, what do you insist I do!? Even I don’t want to die! But, I can’t think of anything…!」

I shouted. Although I knew it was futile even if I shouted, nevertheless, I couldn’t help but shout.

Hearing me shout, she still calmly spoke.

「Then, shouldn’t you find someone to rely on? Shouldn’t you appeal to a place that can oppose a country and get help? You don’t want to die, am I right?」

What did she say? Rely on? Where? A place that can oppose a country? Is there such a thing?

「Will you come with me? If you’re interested, for our connection of being from the same town, I’ll open a way for you, okay?4」

After saying only that, she turned her back towards me and began walking.

I didn’t know what I should do, but since I couldn’t think of anything else, I chased after her.

She bought me to a detached house.

She opened the door without any hesitation and entered inside the house.

I timidly followed along.