Chapter 25: What I Like Are Interesting People
Her heart raced.
Faster than before and increasingly intense.
The the hero killer really?
Her head spun with the quickening blood flow, her body trembling and gradually stiffening.
I-if it goes any further, I-I might really die
No, perhaps it was already too late.
His cold gaze, looking down at her with a spear in hand, showed no mercy towards her.
This realization dashed her soaring self-esteem, filling the void with fear
G-gasp!
Her breath, which should have been quickening, suddenly choked at that moment.
A feeling of suffocation pierced her chest like a stake, causing Yi Ga-rams body to convulse with acute pain.
In a corner of her left chest, an organ that should never stop halted, and everything that should flow stopped.
Ah, ack!
At the moment when all the muscles in her body stopped at once, even her airway didnt move properly, stopping her breath.
Even though she tried to breathe forcefully, her efforts were only enough to cover her tongue with foam created by her saliva.
My my heart my heart has stopped
A sudden shock in a brief moment.
Unable to withstand it, Yi Ga-ram collapsed with her eyes rolled back, and the crowd, sensing the situation belatedly, began to approach her one by one.
Whats up with that hero?
No way. Is it a curse? Did that guy cast a curse?
Damn it! Call a priest quickly!
The new hero, just like the other heroes, fell into a miserable state.
But the man who overpowered the girl, unlike the confused adventurers, remained unbothered, just turning away.
Holding the spear aimed at the heros head.
This way.
He grabbed the minstrels hand, once a sacrificial offering, and pulled her towards the exit.
Ah, there
Do you want to stay here?
He turned to the bewildered minstrel, looking at her silently with narrow eyes.
The minstrel, watching him, soon bowed her head and quietly followed.
And
To reduce a hero to this state without blinking.
Was the rumor true?
The crowds whispers continued as he left.
The notoriety of the Hero Killer spread beyond the adventurers guild to the entire empire, but that was a story for later.
Huh.
After leaving the guild, I wandered the streets holding the minstrels hand, still feeling uneasy and looking for a place away from prying eyes.
I was almost running.
Even for someone like me, who had seen everything in this world, the earlier event was enough to make my heart race.
Damn it, showing up in front of a hero, just relying on my infamous reputation.
If my life hadnt been at stake, it would have been madness, wouldnt it?
Um
How long had I walked with the woman I had risked so much to save?
As we entered a secluded alley, she called my attention, glanced down at our clasped hands, and gently spoke up.
You wanted to get away from the tavern, right? I think were far enough now
Without a word, I turned to her and released her hand.
Now that we were here, there was no need to pretend.
I was no longer on edge. I softened my gaze and quietly observed the minstrel I had brought with me.
From the hood on her head to the robe she wore, and even her skin and hair coloreverything about her was dyed in pure white.
Her appearance seemed innocent, yet her eyes were so narrow that it was difficult to tell if they were open.
Um, I still dont quite understand the situation, but
Looking at me with those eyes, she tilted her head inquisitively and asked,
Did you mean to rescue me back there?
Haha.
I had saved her
Well, that was not incorrect.
Normally, I wouldnt care about heroes making a scene, but the woman before me was special. Airi, who foresaw my death, had given her to me as a lifeline.
After enduring a confrontation with a hero to save her, I collapsed onto the ground, releasing the pent-up emotions.
With a force that produced a thud,
Im so sorry for being nosy!
My head hit the ground, and I burst into tears as I apologized.
I felt no hesitation.
Having begged for my life several times before, bowing to the ground had become second nature to me.
Those who find it pathetic should try standing up to the demon armys officers.
Theyd soon find themselves dead without feeling any pain.
Why are you suddenly apologizing?
The minstrel tilted her head, not understanding.
Werent you there to help me?
She tilted her head the other way, looking cute, but now was not the time to be charmed.
Well, even so, I was too rude to a stranger.
Rude?
You know
Trying to explain it to her, who still didnt understand, I paused to reflect on my earlier words.
Particularly what I had spat at the young hero.
You dont seem to have been summoned here long ago. Its better for you to back off when told nicely.
Indeed, even though I had to save her, I didnt rush in blindly.
Newly summoned heroes almost always crash with the adventurers guildit was sort of a traditional start for them.
They would grow from such encounters, becoming contemptible people who treated others poorly.
If she was such a newcomer, my infamy alone shouldve driven her away.
Ive seen countless fools like you who relied solely on their abilities and died arrogantly.
You, if you go any further, youll really die.
The other threats were meant to instill fear, relying on my reputation, but most of them stemmed from a bit of sympathy or concern.
Not all heroes were doomed, and the emotions of those newly summoned to this world werent much different from those of modern people.
Maybe a young one, not even of age, would learn after being harshly treated.
Of course, her resistance was stronger than I had anticipated, and I nearly got the worst of it, but fortunately, the spear veered off course, and the hero went mad on her own.
It didnt go as planned, but in the end, thankfully, I emerged unscathed
You, what are you trying to do to my woman?
But even so, this wasnt right.
A perennial bachelor like me, saying my woman?
Im sorry for saying my woman without knowing my place!!
I bowed my head again, remembering the embarrassment of what I had uttered at the time.
I needed a pretext to help, but it was clear that without proper coordination with the person involved, it would have been uncomfortable.
Yes, she must think that I went too far now that the crisis has passed.
I had been certain that would be the case.
Pfft.
What came back, in a situation where an expression of displeasure wouldnt have been surprising, was
A faint laugh, its subtle sound reaching my ear.
Ah, sorry. I couldnt help but laugh. I found your actions amusing
What? Amusing?
Yes, not that they were bothersome or anything I just found you to be an interesting person.
Was she simply being polite?
As I pondered this, she kneeled down to meet my gaze while my head was still bowed to the ground.
I heard the people talking earlier Is your name Woo Hyo-sung?
Ah, yes. Woo Hyo-sung. My family name is Woo, and my given name is Hyo-sung
Nice to meet you, Mr. Hyo-sung.
Swoosh.
She extended her hand toward me.
Her face, as she extended her slender, pale hand, held a smile as elegant as the gesture itself.
Guided by the hand I took, and entranced by her smile, I found myself standing, and then she faced me again, taking out her lute.
Well, since weve met like this, it must be fate. I should introduce myself, too.
-Ding~
A clear melody arose as she plucked the strings.
My name is Merilyn Sutherland
She spoke as the sound ceased.
Im a humble jester who travels through this chaotic world, collecting stories and proving their worth through new encounters.
Merilyn.
The name of the new connection that was forged by the fortune teller who foresaw my death.
But with her candid introduction, I couldnt help but feel a question arise.
A jester? Not a minstrel?
Hehe, you could say that.
So, her introducing herself as a jester didnt deny that she was also a minstrel.
Good, I hadnt made a mistake.
And another thing about me what I like most are interesting people.
Ah, yes. Interesting What?
Her words, seemingly insignificant, lingered in the air.
There, with a dazed expression, I pondered her words.
Her favorite thing was interesting people
So, what did she mean by her standard of liking?
Pure interest? Or an ideal type?
But before that, hold on. What did she say when she heard my apology?
I like interesting people.
Flinch.
Merilyn repeated the same thing just as I was pondering it.
When I realized that, she soon grabbed my extended hand and began to close the distance.
Mr. Woo Hyo-sung.
Huh, y-yes?
If you feel sorry for me, could you do me a favor now that it has come to this?
A f-favor?
Yes, I also happened to enter this city today to become an adventurer, but coincidentally, I am not familiar with the activities in this empire and am at a loss about what to do next.
Merilyn smiled and slightly tilted her head.
So, could you please be a guide for just a moment on this humble jesters journey?
Just hearing her soft and warm voice that followed made me feel my body stiffen for no reason.
Tacchia Philoi, who made my armor, and Airi Haven, who read my future, had touched my body, but they didnt approach me with such direct affection as she did.
Yes, at a glance, what she is showing now could certainly be called affection.
Yes, yes. If Im, Im alright, then by all means Uh!
Despite trying to deny my subconscious expectations, she soon began to twist my hand, moving up to my arm and shoulder.
Oh dear, your body is quite tense. Are you nervous?
Ah, no. Its just
Sigh~
Woah!
A sudden, warm breeze engulfed my ears.
As I let out a silly groan and shivered, she stepped back from me with a playful laugh.
Hehe, sorry. I did it to help you relax, but did I surprise you by doing it without warning?
Uh, um, no. Its fine. Yes.
I stutter, looking at her uncertainly.
Standing there, facing her smiling figure, I feel a nagging unease.
Damn, this was indeed dangerous.
Well, since youve asked for guidance, shall we go to the guild? Ah, it might be a bit noisy there, so maybe to another guild
Yes, then please lead the way, Mr. Woo Hyo-sung.
Merilyn answered kindly, positioning herself behind me.
After accepting her request, I went back to the guild, but my steps inevitably became stiff during the process.
Behind that innocent and naive-looking face.
I faintly suspected that there was something deceitful that disturbed peoples hearts
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