Defiled Hero c40

Defiled Hero

Parting

「I was never liked very much, but she seems to like

you quite a bit, Izayoi.」 (Guildmaster)

「...I trained her well.」 (Izayoi)

「It doesn't give off the feeling of training though?」 (Guildmaster)

About two weeks had passed,

and the guildmaster came back. Looking at Tear clinging to me, the guildmaster

was somewhat surprised, and cast me a disapproving glare.

「The guildmaster has returned. There's no reason for

me to be in this town any more... so please let go.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi, don't want.」 (Tear)

「If you don't like me then I can leave.」 (Izayoi) (TN: Feels like he's messing around with

her incomplete language here. Please confirm.)

「...No.」 (Tear)

Tear clung tightly to my

waist, refusing to separate.

「*Kukekuke.*」 (Rigolo)

Tear appeared to be persuaded

by Rigolo's troubled expression, but she buried her face in my side while

ignoring what was being said.

「I'll negotiate so you only have to bathe once every

two days. So relax.」 (Izayoi)

「...No. Even three days, one time, not want.」 (Tear)

「Then what should I do?」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi, together always.」 (Tear)

「That's impossible.」 (Izayoi)

「...Why? Why, no good, Ichayoi?」 (Tear)

「That's because, there's somewhere I have to go no

matter what...」 (Izayoi)

「...Not go, bad?」 (Tear)

「Well... That is...」 (Izayoi)

Somehow I couldn't find the

words to respond. I tried to deceive Tear, but it didn't shake her resolve at

all.

「It's like I'm the bad one if I try and separate the

two of you... Izayoi. Are you in so much of a hurry that you absolutely have to

leave today?」 (Guildmaster)

「If I was in such a hurry, I wouldn't have stayed in

this town for two weeks. However, it's not like I can afford to laze around any

more.」 (Izayoi)

「Then isn't one more day fine? Wasn't your promise to

take care of them for two weeks? Business was completed quickly, so we came

back a day early.」 (Guildmaster)

「Even if you extend it another day, I don't think

Tear's decision will change.」 (Izayoi)

「That may be the case, but look at her, don't you feel

bad for her? I think one last day would be fine.」 (Guildmaster)

Tear said the guildmaster was

supposed to come back tomorrow. Since she came back earlier than scheduled,

Tear is probably unhappy.

「I understand. Tear, we'll be together for the rest of

today... But I really will be leaving tomorrow.」 (Izayoi)

She didn't want to accept it,

but it can't be helped. She's still a child.

Although we returned to the

house and passed the time as usual, Tear clung to me the entire time.

Uri and Reri blended in

before anyone noticed it, and it returned to being noisy like it was before.

There was pointless conversation, and I passed the time sprinkling salt.

Tear was sleeping in front of

me. Though they all mobbed me, Tear held on to the very end.

Everyone was sleeping

peacefully.

Our day together has ended.

I have my concerns, but I've

taught them what they needed to learn. Even if I'm not here, there are the

guildmaster and Lilia, Uri and Reri, as well as Rigolo and the rest. She's not

alone. There are only good people nearby.

She should be fine even if I

leave. I patted Tear's head as she slept, and closed my eyes.

I walked on the darkened

road. There's a bit of time until the morning sun rises. The temperature is

low, it's somewhat chilly.

The sound of my footsteps

mingled with the sounds of shops preparing. Compared to when it's noisy, the

atmosphere is completely different. I erased my presence while they were all

sleeping, and slipped out of the bed.

Let's leave the town, just

like this.

「...Ichayoi, liar.」 (Tear)

「...I didn't lie though.」 (Izayoi)

Coming from the town's gate,

a small set of hands grabbed onto my waist.

「So, why are you here? You were sleeping a second ago.」 (Izayoi)

「...Chased after.」 (Tear)

「Chased after? I completely erased my presence though.」 (Izayoi)

I thought it was weird, so I

looked back over my shoulder.

「It's you, so of course you would think you could

leave however you wanted.」 (Lilia)

There stood Lilia with the

rest of the members assembled. Did she read my mind? There shouldn't have been

any reason at all to see me off.

「So Tear, are you going to stop me?」 (Izayoi)

「...Not it. Bye bye, ok.」 (Tear)

「Did you come here with words of parting? Let me hear

them.」 (Izayoi)

Removing Tear's hands, I

turned around to face her, then bent down at the knee to match her gaze.

「...Ichayoi, what going to do?」 (Tear)

「Those aren't words of parting though.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi, hesitated.」 (Tear)

Certainly, I am at a loss.

I'm hesitating even now. I don't quite understand. No response will come out.

「...Bad things, no good.」 (Tear)

Tear resolved to separate from

me. However, she doesn't know what she's sending me off to go do, and she seems

to be worrying about me having seen through my hesitation.

...Is such a small child

worrying about me?

「Well, it's as Tear says. I don't want to go if I

don't have to. Because it's a pain.」 (Izayoi)

「...If bad, together?」 (Tear)

「That can't be done.」 (Izayoi)

「...Why?」 (Tear)

「If I don't go, many people might be sad. I have to

go. I'm not suited to rescuing other people though.」 (Izayoi)

Tear seemed to want to say

something, but I continued.

「It might be impossible to imagine, but I was an

advocate of justice, and risked my life for the people of this world. But as

you can see, I've discarded that past.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi too, wanted to become hero?」 (Tear)

「Yeah, I wanted to. Not anymore though, I've

lost interest.」 (Izayoi)

Being burdened with the lives

of others is a pain, so I'm done. I am me. I've thrown away my past.

「Therefore, I will go. So I can be myself... I said

that I threw away my past, but I didn't completely abandon it. I still carry a

part of it with me. I've drawn a line between today and the past. This includes

saving people.」 (Izayoi)

「...Drew, line?」 (Tear)

「Right, if my business is completed, then my objective

will have been attained. If it is completed, then I'll return.」 (Izayoi)

「...Really?」 (Tear)

「Indeed, I am your master. Graduating from being a

beginner is simple if you remember what I taught you. Your training is not complete.

You want to become a heroine, right Tear? Then never stop trying to reach my

level.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi, liar.」 (Tear)

「You came here to call me a liar? Certainly, I've only

ever fed you lies. Half of everything I have ever told you has been lies.」 (Izayoi)

「...No way, lied?」 (Tear)

「Everything has been a lie. So, I won't lie any more.

I promise. If I return, I'll talk about everything. I will tell you the truth.」 (Izayoi)

「...No more, lie?」 (Tear)

「...Not to Tear.」 (Izayoi)

「...No more lie, to everyone?」 (Tear)

「To everyone.」 (Izayoi)

「...Ichayoi, honest. Promise, believe.」 (Tear)

Honesty really is number one

when it comes to being trusted.

「Tear is family. I'll certainly return without fail.」 (Izayoi)

「...Family.」 (Tear)

「We're family. Rigolo too.」 (Izayoi)

「*Kukekei!*」 (Rigolo)

Rigolo moved as if to wipe a

tear. There were no tears to wipe of course.

「I'll be back.」 (Izayoi)

Standing up, I turned my back

on Tear and the rest.

「...Take care.」 (Tear)

「*Kukkekekkeei!*」 (Rigolo)

I began to move.

「—Ah, that's right, I almost forgot. Lilia, there's

something I absolutely have to give you.」 (Izayoi)

「Eh? What would that be?」 (Lilia)

Taking something out of my

pocket, I gave it to Lilia.

「Slightly salted.」 (Izayoi)

「Slightly salted? I thought it would be salt but

that's actually its name!?」 (Lilia)

「Right, it was sold in the market. It seems to be

quite valuable in faraway places.」 (Izayoi)

「Is that so? Thank you— as if!? I couldn't possibly be

happy at receiving salt you know? And hasn't it been used? There's only half of

it left!」 (Lilia)

「I used a knife and a magic circle. It can't be

helped.」 (Izayoi)

「It can't not be helped! It should be something useful

like a carefully kept ribbon... You're focusing on the wrong things you know.」 (Lilia)

(TN: She's referring to

Izayoi "working hard" to pick a valuable* present instead of a useful

one.)

「There's something for Tear too. Take it.」 (Izayoi)

「—Tear-chan's is brand new!? How cruel! There's no

meaning in giving salt to Tear-chan, right?」 (Lilia)

「Listen well Tear. Sprinkle salt on her once every

three days. Leave it alone and it should wither.」 (Izayoi)

「...Yes, understand. Will sprinkle well.」 (Tear)

「Ehh...」 (Lilia)

Lilia's smile was cramped.

The guildmaster was exploding with laughter.

Uri and Reri didn't seem to

know what was happening but they seemed to be enjoying it.

Tear looked at the salt

expressionlessly. Rigolo was reaffirming his mission.

Fiere has been laughing the

entire time.

Turning my back to them, I

walked onward.

There is no looking back. I

absolutely won't return until it's all over.

With that determination, I

walked onward.

Their voices became distant.

「...Hm? That reminds me, Fiere was next to me.」 (Izayoi)

No looking back.

「... I forget something.」 (Izayoi)

I absolutely won't return

until it's all—

「—Time to go back..」 (Izayoi)

Volume 01 End

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