Chapter 5

Chapter 5: An Outing (2) 

◆

“Miss.”

“Call me Hero. It sounds lowly otherwise.”

“…Ah, yes.”

With those words, a cold atmosphere once again circulated inside the carriage.

Carlisle awkwardly looked at Gray.

Her demure expression as she only gazed outside the carriage seemed to radiate from her entire being that she had absolutely no intention of building any rapport with him.

‘The dress and ring did work to some extent, but she still doesn’t look pleased?’

[She’s in a good mood.]

‘That?’

[At least she’s in the same space as you.]

‘…What?’

[If she really didn’t like it, she would have already crushed your face.]

‘…..’

[Why don’t you try talking to her? Right now, she might actually respond somewhat.]

Her way of thinking was fundamentally different from ordinary people.

As Carlisle chewed over such impressions, he opened his mouth to speak to Gray, who was coldly staring only outside the window.

“Hero.”

“…”

“…Hero.”

When he called repeatedly, Gray narrowed her brow sharply and looked at him.

“You, you’re not afraid.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Usually, those who get hit by me once crawl around while reading the mood carefully. I haven’t seen anyone who doesn’t do that except for Father.”

“…”

Well, that would be the case.

It’s nothing other than a strike delivered by the humanity’s strongest. It would be stranger if fear weren’t imprinted after getting hit.

“I don’t like it.”

“What aspect, if I may ask?”

“You act like you’re used to it. As if you and I are equals or something.”

Indeed, a statement befitting someone who lives off a sense of being chosen.

As Carlisle formed such thoughts with a bitter smile, Gray rested her chin on her hand and leaned her head toward him.

“Actually, looking at you, that’s not the only strange thing.”

“Yes?”

As soon as she finished speaking.

A few strands of hair from the tip of Carlisle’s head slid down smoothly.

Looking at the cross-section, it had been cut by a sword.

“…”

He couldn’t see it at all.

Death.

It had just flickered before his very nose.

“See? You can’t even react.”

Gray spoke matter-of-factly while throwing onto the side seat a sword that she had somehow gotten into her hands without it being visible.

“How did someone like this figure out my weakness?”

“Well, I was lucky—”

“—Stop with that nonsense. You’re not completely ordinary to begin with anyway.”

The Hero cut into his words with a dismissive tone.

“Your pupils are unchanged, and your pulse is stable too. Your heart rate didn’t even go up.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If you’re not an idiot, you would know that I can easily kill you right now. But.”

Gray’s eyes smoothly turned toward Carlisle.

Undisguisable curiosity hung at the corners of those eyes.

“You still don’t fear me. Not at all. Even after I just did something like that.”

“…”

“You, you’re not afraid of death, are you?”

“—”

“You don’t seem to have received combat training, yet you have no fear of death. You really are a strange one.”

…What should I say?

“You’re like someone who has already died many times. Fundamentally… Something is twisted.”

No matter how small, young, and naive she might be, swayed by a dress and ring,

Her essence is undoubtedly that of a Hero.

The caliber of insight that pierces through a person’s essence with just a brief encounter is different.

Even when meeting her for the first time in a cycle, such extraordinary ability always remained the same as what he’d always seen.

‘…Well, still.’

The fact that she’s currently showing more interest in him is a good thing.

The very act of collecting information through observation is an essential process in establishing a relationship, isn’t it?

Carlisle, who had been quietly listening to those words, shrugged his shoulders.

“Since I’m a strange one, isn’t that why I came to see the person who beat me to a pulp again?”

“…”

“I received a request from the Grand Duke. To look after the Hero.”

Gray’s face crumpled.

“Just in case you’re thinking about it, don’t try to climb up. Father seems to think I need a companion, but I’m sufficient by myself.”

It’s a tone that just listening to it makes one nauseous.

She reacted to the offer to help her as if she had heard a proposal to roast and eat shoes together.

An ordinary person would be disgusted by such arrogance and fall away immediately upon hearing such words.

Right.

If they were ordinary people.

If they weren’t Carlisle, who had somehow figured out how to ‘handle’ Hero through those countless regressions.

“Hero.”

“What?”

He had expected such a reaction immediately upon hearing such words.

Discussing universal human compassion or common sense with this eccentric Hero in the first place is something only novices who haven’t experienced this person much would do.

Let’s see.

The most appropriate sentence to continue the interest she has in him would be.

“You’ll be at a loss if you cast me aside.”

Without committing rudeness.

Appropriately stimulating this person’s pride.

“…What?”

“A person can’t conquer every field in the world, Hero. Not even you.”

Gray let out a snort as if incredulous.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m saying that I’ll be helpful, I guarantee it.”

“I told you, don’t try to climb up. Setting aside whether there’s something I can’t do, do you think you could do such a thing?”

“Yes.”

It was a sentence so full of conviction that Gray’s words were momentarily completely blocked.

“What you can’t do, I can do.”

Indeed, it was so.

In the very previous cycle, it was entirely Carlisle’s achievement to have reformed the Hero herself, who is now inside the holy sword, to be closer to human.

It was something Gray alone could never have accomplished.

“…”

Gray’s eyes narrowed.

She glared at Carlisle for a long while.

“So, shall I promise just this one thing?”

As the carriage slowly reduced its speed, Carlisle continued,

“No matter what happens, I intend to protect the Hero.”

That is the fate bound to him from the beginning.

Assisting the Hero to save the world.

“If you don’t like it, you can abandon me anytime, so please try taking me along at least once.”

He’s confident.

Making the Hero pleased is something he has already made countless attempts and efforts at.

“…”

Gray quietly listened to such words and remained silent.

Continue.

Continue.

As if she couldn’t understand something, as if she didn’t know what to do with herself when experiencing an unfamiliar sensation for the first time.

“…How ridiculous.”

When such a sentence came growling out after a long while, Carlisle smiled broadly.

Well, the tone is still harsh, but.

‘I told you she’s quick-witted.’

This is a passing grade.

As was just shown, this person possesses extraordinary insight.

She probably immediately realized with such ability that there wasn’t a single lie in what Carlisle had put forth.

At least, it would be sufficient fact to maintain the interest to observe him closely, wondering exactly what he believes in to say such things so confidently.

Suddenly, Carlisle, who realized the carriage was gradually slowing down, nodded his head and opened his mouth.

“It seems we’ve arrived. Shall we go select the gift I mentioned, Hero?”

When he said that, Gray slightly furrowed her brow and spat out bluntly.

“Call me Miss.”

“Excuse me?”

“From now on, I’m going to use you like a servant.”

Then, the Hero proudly walked outside the carriage.

“…”

[…]

Carlisle stared blankly at that sight, then turned his gaze toward the holy sword.

“Hero.”

[Hmm.]

“That was her accepting me as a companion, right? Though her expression is harsh.”

[It seems so.]

“…Weren’t you originally not someone who gets persuaded this easily?”

Certainly, because she’s young, she’s more pliable than the Gray he met as an adult.

And, though it must be his imagination.

Somehow, it seemed like she was a little embarrassed too.

[She has reason to be embarrassed.]

Such words flowed out haltingly from inside the holy sword.

Somehow, it was a voice that immediately gave the impression that if the holy sword had a face, it too would be flushed red.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Embarrassed?

Carlisle, who chewed over such a sentence, let out a hollow laugh.

Not just anyone, but that Hero?

[…You, do you have no awareness at all of what you just said?]

“Yes?”

It doesn’t seem like he said anything particularly significant.

Anyway, to save the world, her help is essential.

So, he said he would absolutely never leave her side and help her, so she could use him until she’s satisfied and then abandon him or do whatever she pleased with him.

It’s something he’s repeated in every cycle. Though this is the first time he’s said it directly in words.

“…Why would she be embarrassed hearing that?”

[You.]

“Yes?”

[How about trying to drown yourself by sticking your nose in a bowl of water?]

“…”

[I have a feeling that would be beneficial right about now.]

Why are you suddenly picking a fight?

◆

[System Message]

◆ The trait ‘Hero’s Companion’ activates.

◆ Part of the ‘Rehabilitation List’ has been updated!

[ ★ Misanthropy 100% → 95% ]

◆ Rewards are granted!

◆ Open the traits tab to check!

[System Message]

◆ You have completed <Quest: Hero’s Companion>.

◆ ‘Command Authority’ 1 time is granted!

“…Oh.” 

Carlisle let out a small exclamation upon seeing the window that appeared before his eyes.

Thanks to persuading the Hero and becoming her companion, two rewards rolled in. Either way, they’re valuable, so there’s nothing to feel bad about.

What’s noteworthy is.

‘Misanthropy decreased.’

Carlisle let out a chuckle reading such a sentence.

It seems there was a change of heart from seeing Carlisle persistently approaching despite her attitude of rejecting others.

Even if it doesn’t seem like it, it appears she was secretly hoping for a companion.

“Eek.”

He almost bumped into the person in front of him while staring blankly at the window.

Zedo Kagenov is always a place bustling with people. As a human from the knight order built in the remote regions, it’s a place he rarely has the opportunity to encounter.

“Hurry up and follow!”

The Hero Miss, going ahead in the distance, shouted in a displeased voice upon seeing that sight.

Carlisle smiled bitterly and obediently followed behind her.

[…It’s been a long time.]

Meanwhile, a voice full of sentiment rose from inside the holy sword.

[Since Hell’s invasion, I could never see such a lively sight again.]

“It is quite splendid.”

It’s also the first sight for Carlisle.

The empire at the time when he started regressing was always already on the verge of destruction.

Just looking at the population density, it’s not much different compared to major cities on Earth before his possession, is it?

And, because it’s such a bustling place.

[A bug has attached itself.]

“…Excuse me?”

It was absurd when such words flowed out.

[It’s surveillance. They’ve been watching this way since we got off the carriage.]

“…”

Carlisle quietly looked around his surroundings.

People were packed densely.

“Where are they?”

[600 steps away on the outside.]

“…You can feel them following from that distance?”

[ When I fought on battlefields, I used to remember the footsteps of tens of thousands of humans individually. This much is nothing. ]

“…”

This holy sword.

It’s tremendously competent.

Carlisle sighed and organized the situation.

He doesn’t know who sent whom from where, but the very fact that they’re conducting surveillance means it’s not with good intentions.

‘The Hero is…’

He glanced at the Hero ahead.

From what he could tell, she doesn’t know yet.

She’s looking around at all the dress shops in the vicinity with sparkling eyes.

[Truly immature.]

“How can you compare her to yourself right now?”

There’s at least more than 10 years difference between them.

Comparing a completed Hero with an incomplete Hero is honestly a harsh thing to do, isn’t it?

Anyway, it’s a good opportunity.

“Shall I try to score some points?”

[How? You don’t have any fighting ability at all.]

“From now on, you need to think of the method.”

[…]

When the sound of grinding teeth came from inside the holy sword, Carlisle chuckled.

Well, even though he says that, he doesn’t intend to do anything either.

Wasn’t a reward just provided? If he can utilize this, it should be quite manageable.

[System Message]

◆ Checking rewards!

“…”

Actually.

It didn’t feel like it would end at simply the manageable level either.

Carlisle, who confirmed the reward, stared at it with a blank expression for a while.

“Hero.”

[Mm?]

“…I think I can score points more easily than expected?”

Indeed, it is.

[ You can unlock 1 function of the ‘holy sword’. ]

[ The ‘holy sword’ is the source of the Hero’s power. You can use the Hero’s power! ]

Carlisle Belfast.

A small fry recruit of the Empire’s Knight Order who hasn’t even received combat training.

…Obtained the opportunity to imitate humanity’s strongest abilities.