Chapter 7

"Ah! They're here! The wolves are here!"

Saying this, the girl retreated into the tent. Margin thought about just leaving her there and running away.

However, upon closer inspection, the wolves were quite thin. Unlike monsters, wolves are animals and have a very strong sense of caution. While they might attack humans who enter their territory in the mountains, it was strange for them to come out onto the road.

Were they chased out of their territory by something?

The wolves, not showing any signs of fear, did not attack Margin. If Margin did not attack, they had no intention to attack either.

Maybe if I give them something, they'll go away.

Margin searched his item box. There were so many things from his days as a hero party member, so he went through the list pages of the item box.

Ah, this should do.

What he took out was the meat of a monster that resembled a seal, which had a strong flavor and fat that he didn't like. He divided the large chunk into five pieces and threw them in front of the wolves.

"Here, take this. If you still attack, I'll kill you."

The wolves growled and remained in a forward-leaning stance but did not move. Even if they were hungry, they would be cautious about food thrown by a stranger.

The wolves glanced at the meat. They could probably tell if it was edible by the smell. They might take it and go somewhere, but there was still a possibility they might attack the tent.

"Hey, do you have a pot?"

He called out to the girl in the tent.

"Ah, yes, I do."

"Give it to me. I'll use it to make noise and drive them away."

A pot came out of the tent with a clatter, so he took it and started banging it with a stone.

The wolves flinched, so it was almost over.

"Here, take the meat and go. Or else..."

He held the pot in front of him, projecting a sense of intimidation, and the wolves took the meat and disappeared.

"It's safe now. They were scared by the noise and ran away."

"R-Really?"

"See for yourself. I'm leaving now."

"W-Wait!"

"What? I drove the wolves away, didn't I?"

He sensed them moving away into the forest, so it was safe now.

"What will you do if they come again?"

"Bang the pot."

"But they might not run away next time."

"Who knows. See you."

"No, don't leave me!"

For goodness' sake...

"Then quickly pack up your tent and get ready to move. We'll run to the next town."

Saying this, she hurriedly started packing up the tent. She had quite a bit of luggage, but could she run?

"Sorry, my name is..."

"You don't need to introduce yourself, and I don't need your thanks. I won't tell you my name either. We'll say goodbye when we reach the next town."

"But, isn't it proper to greet someone?"

"Shut up and let's go. If a monster comes next time, it won't run away from just noise."

"Ah!"

She turned pale and Margin started running. He tried to slow down to a speed she could keep up with, but with her heavy luggage, she could only waddle along.

"Wait, wait..."

Thud.

She stumbled on a rock and fell. Margin, using night vision magic, could see clearly, but she couldn't.

She started crying and couldn't get up.

"If you stay there, a monster might come from behind."

"Aah!"

She quickly got up and dashed.

"You can't run properly. If you don't want to be food, keep up."

"That's so mean! That's so mean!"

She came to Margin and cried out.

"What's the matter?"

"Normally, if a girl is carrying heavy luggage, you'd offer to help, right?"

"I'm not normal. Plus, my family motto is to do things for yourself."

"Just a little..."

"Don't be a brat. Why should I carry your luggage after helping you? If you really want me to, at least hire me."

"Do you want me to pay?"

She said this with a pout.

"I can't pay much, but maybe 500G..."

"Let's go."

The moment she said 500G, Margin refused to carry the luggage and tried to run.

"600... no, 1000G!"

"It's not pocket money. At least pay 50,000G."

"I don't have that much! I spent most of my money on the boat fare and haven't eaten properly."

"I don't care about your financial situation. How did you plan to travel with almost no money?"

"I'll make it to the capital, I'll make it to the capital."

"What do you plan to do in the capital?"

"That's a secret."

What's that?

"If you don't have money, carry your own luggage and run."

"You're so cold!"

"Listen... I want to get home quickly. If you keep complaining, I'll leave you here."

Hearing this, the girl reluctantly started moving, but her pace was slow. Looking closely, she had a bleeding wound on her knee from the fall. She was enduring the pain.

Damn, no choice.

"Give me the luggage."

"Eh?"

"I can't get home if I keep waiting for you, so I'll carry it."

"I can't pay you..."

"Do I need your pocket money? Give it to me quickly."

Saying this, the girl dropped her luggage.

I might as well heal her knee while I'm at it.

"Keep it to yourself."

Margin said this and grabbed her leg.

"Aah! I didn't say I'd pay with my body!"

"Are you an idiot? Who would touch a kid like you?"

What a kid, saying such inappropriate things. He healed her wound with magic and yelled at her.

"See, it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Eh? Ah... it doesn't hurt."

He put the luggage in his item box without a word.

"Eh? Where did the luggage go?"

"I'm carrying it, let's go."

Margin started running without any explanation.

"Wait, wait!"

Even though he slowed down, it was difficult for her to keep up at full speed. She ran with a desperate look on her face.

Thud.

Damn, she fell again.

"Waaah!"

"You just got healed, and now you're hurting the same spot again. Watch where you're going."

"It's too dark to see."

Margin grumbled and healed her wound again, giving up on running.

"Is this healing magic? Are you a priest? But you're not wearing priest robes..."

In this era, those who can use magic exist. In the current kingdom, those who can use attack magic and healing magic either become hunters or belong to the country or the church. The pay is not bad, and there seem to be no complaints.

"Don't pry. I told you not to tell anyone I used healing magic."

"Are you a rogue mage?"

What a nasty way to put it.

"I told you not to pry. Don't ask any more questions."

Margin walked briskly and treated the girl brusquely. When he first came to this world, he wasn't like this.

- Margin in the Hero Party Era -

"Hey, Margin. I told you not to be too nice to strangers. You're too meddlesome."

After a monster hunt that doubled as training, they stopped at a town where he saw an injured girl and healed her.

"What's the matter, Misty, are you jealous?"

"Why should I be jealous of you?"

"It's fine to heal a little injury, right?"

"Thank you, hero."

"See, this girl is happy, and she calls me a hero."

Margin was in a good mood being called a hero.

"Idiot. The hero is Maverick. I told you you're the support role."

"But, they don't come to towns without nobles to hunt monsters."

Misty scolded him, and he pouted.

"We can handle it ourselves, so there's no need for Maverick and the others to come. If you're called a hero, you should deny it immediately."

"But, sorry. I'm a member of the hero party, but I'm not the hero."

"No, to us, you are a hero. You saved this town from monsters and even did this for us."

She blushed and said this.

"Come on, Margin, let's go."

Misty dragged the doting Margin away.

When they returned to the research lab at the castle, Maverick and the others arrived.

"Are you done?"

"We took care of everything. It was a good town with delicious food. You guys should have come."

"Alright. I'll go next time when I'm free."

The expressionless hero Maverick, along with the battle-axe user Gain, left the lab immediately.

"Margin, you shouldn't get too carried away."

The holy maiden Sophia added this and left.

"Don't enter a demon's nest without reporting it."

The scout Veloz said this and left.

The hero party's Maverick was a prince, Sophia was a marquess's daughter and Maverick's fiancée, Gain was a general and a baron's son, and Veloz was a viscount's daughter. All four were nobles, and only Misty and Margin were not.

"Everyone seemed unhappy."

Margin said this, looking at the party members who had left the room.

"It's because you do too much. The report for today is probably already in."

"Too much?"

"Just do what you're told for the next monster hunt. Don't get involved with people. It will just cause more trouble."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just do as I say."

Misty said this with a bitter expression.