Slap!
The sound of someone being slapped reverberates through the quiet office of Crow Pay.
Slap! Slap!
The sound continues in a steady rhythm, disrupting the silence.
“…I’m sorry…”
Slap!
The woman’s apologies muffle as her cheeks start to swell.
“Sorry again…”
Just as she almost stumbles, Sara Cervantes forces herself to stand straight.
The one delivering the slaps is the Guild Master of Crow Pay, Rezilus.
“I specifically told you to stick to what you’re good at.”
“…I’m sorry.”
It was clearly Sara’s mistake.
The first confirmation of the existence of the Pleasure Lord came from Crow Pay.
In other words, they hold the decisions about expedition priorities and participation conditions.
But instead of monopolizing the rewards, Sara returned empty-handed.
Moreover, all the bribed personnel were dead.
Covering this up and cutting off the tail will probably cost a significant amount.
‘What terrible luck…’
It became a major problem that I left checking on Caeran to subcontracted mercenaries.
Of course, it wouldn’t have escalated if the Pleasure Lord had only been a mid-tier monster.
With a reward that dismal, it wouldn’t have been a significant issue either.
But the Pleasure Lord was a leader-level monster with a complete body.
In other words, a report needed to be made to the Crow Pay headquarters, and a separate attack team should’ve been formed.
Additionally, the discovery of a monster is a rare occurrence, which magnifies the problem.
“How… how could someone kill the Pleasure Lord without me knowing?”
“….”
“Did you not properly check your personnel?”
“….”
“What were you doing while other guilds sent spies? I asked.”
Under Rezilus’s soft but scolding voice, Sara squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’m sorry…”
“Your apologies.”
Slap! Slap!
“What value do they hold?”
With only days left until the loot auction, Crow Pay will bear all the hardships while some bastard will waltz off with the rewards.
It’s as if I went through the effort of cooking just to feed a dog.
“Find out immediately. Bring the bastard who took the rewards before me.”
“…Understood.”
Creak!
After taking a substantial beating, Sara finally manages to leave the office.
*
Thanks to defeating the Flame Demon, I, Yeriel, Aria, Edwin, and Lily got to participate in the awards ceremony at Hwangdo.
“Lily, I’m tired…”
The noble figures did not attend, instead sending agents.
Many guild representatives came to watch, hoping to recruit Yeriel, Aria, and Lily.
“The student, although a member of the Academy, handled a crisis calmly and defeated the demon creatures, shining a light on us all…”
Yeriel listens attentively on stage as she receives instructions from the staff.
Yeriel receiving the award was part of the original story.
Originally, the Flame Demon would have been defeated by a coordinated attack from Edwin and Yeriel.
Yeriel would be highlighted, while Edwin would receive no attention.
Yet, thanks to Edwin’s considerate nature, which likely kept Yeriel from feeling uneasy, his likability rose.
And just like that, my absurd presence disrupted the writers’ plot, causing that scenario to vanish.
Perhaps the bond between them isn’t as deep as in the original work.
Still, while I was learning Wind Archery from Selena, Yeriel likely supported and watched Edwin as they faced trials and training together, establishing some level of relationship.
Turning to Edwin, I see him genuinely congratulating Yeriel.
Then, looking at me, he asks, “Aren’t you a bit disappointed?”
I guess he noticed I caught the Flame Demon, yet didn’t receive the attention.
“Isn’t being in a good place what matters?”
Despite this being a relatively formal event, Yeriel’s pure appearance has drawn the attention of numerous attendees.
We can’t overlook the external factor. Many guilds will likely send love calls.
Edwin, witnessing this, says to me, “Thank you.”
What is this eerie feeling?
“Somehow, I feel like I could win against Caeran because of you.”
“That’s good.”
“Haha, you said that in a crisis moment, I can grow stronger…”
Honestly, I don’t remember exactly what I said the day before the fight with Caeran during our last training.
‘It was just a few pittance at stake…’
I probably just told him that he’d never lose, so don’t give up until the last moment.
Maybe it’s more about his latent abilities and the Jewel of the Black Dragon doing their fair share.
“Do you remember the day before the positioning?”
“….”
Was that the day I first sparred with Edwin and used the demon transformation?
“Wasn’t it so that you wanted me to join… for my sake?”
“….”
Honestly, it serves both my purposes and his.
But, Edwin seems to be a good person—or a total sucker.
He appears to have completely forgotten about getting slapped and knocked out.
“I realized something after that day.”
“Oh, really.”
Edwin seems to have regained some self-esteem.
According to the story, he must lose to Caeran here, and while Caeran is in Crow Pay, he engages in heroine affinity work.
Eventually, he’ll lose the heroines when Caeran returns.
Yet during the vacation, Edwin gains a new unique trait.
So that’s why I held my breath and stuck to the novel…
“Let’s not talk about it.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.”
To be honest, I still don’t entirely trust Edwin.
While he won against Caeran, the approaching demon creatures are much stronger, and can he really handle them?
Of course, it’s much better than trusting the Red Pepper Paste hair.
Clap! Clap!
Suddenly, the sound of applause distracts me, causing me to shift my gaze forward.
The face of the presenter was familiar.
“The award will be presented by the war hero, Sir Dustin.”
He spots me and gives a subtle nod.
Then from beside me, I hear Edwin say, “Just between us… you might laugh, but…”
“…?”
“I want to become a hero.”
Is this just what being the protagonist means?
His eyes are filled with passionate conviction.
“…Go ahead.”
*
“Yeriel! Just this way!”
“Yeriel! Can we have a quick interview?”
“Ah… yes! Just a moment!!”
Yeriel is… incredibly busy.
Her pure beauty shines and draws attention even among the crowd.
Besides the congratulations for the dungeon investigation practice, as a second-year student, many guilds are vying for her attention.
Her qualities are renowned beyond the Academy, and her background as a descendant of a war hero is noteworthy.
I can vouch for that.
‘Of course, the Tarchangel transformation is a problem…’
“Lily! Do you have a moment?”
“Ah? I’m tired…”
“Edwin!”
There are quite a few who show interest in Lily and Edwin as well.
Especially Edwin, as the newspaper seems eager to boost sales with gossip about Caeran.
“Just luck, I suppose.”
Let’s leave it to them to enjoy themselves.
In the end, only Aria and I remain.
Naturally, Aria’s looks and abilities draw interest too.
Yet due to her healer status, she cannot participate in tiered competitions, and her recruitment is strictly limited.
In this world, healers are precious.
During the Pleasure Lord incident, we couldn’t even get a healer with sacred powers for a mid-tier raid.
The reason is simple.
While any magician can use basic healing magic, without sacred abilities, they can’t amplify healing magic’s effects or use higher-tier healing spells.
Thus, students with the [Sacred] trait face various recruitment restrictions until they come of age.
Especially among believers, clergy, and priests, they could potentially exhibit the qualities of a Saint, making it even stricter.
So, currently considered a Saint is indeed the war hero, Psyche.
Her whereabouts are currently unknown, but she dies in Chapter 5 during a bloody battle with the true demon, Yellody Latashia.
Afterwards, the Saint’s powers are passed to the worthy.
‘In this case, the worthy is… Aria.’
So, I’ll have to make a choice later.
Should I help Psyche to change her fate…
Or…
This purple-tinged silver-haired girl…
Swish.
At that moment, Aria looked up at me, glaring with her rabbit-like eyes.
-…?
She stared like that for a while.
Her intense blue eyes are incredibly cute.
“…What?”
“…”
“It would be better if you told me what you were doing over the weekend, Reb.”
“Ah.”
The formal tone from Aria means only one thing.
But… why is she so interested in my every move…
‘No…’
Thinking back, the last place I took Aria was a tavern near the red-light district…
That’s a rather suspicious situation.
I casually said to her, “Aria, did you know?”
“…What is it?”
“There’s a chocolatier in Hwangdo that makes better chocolate than the Academy…”
“Chocolate?”
“Yeah, wanna go together?”
Aria answered as if unimpressed.
“…Am I a kid? Why would I feel better about something like that?!”
“Sorry.”
“Really, really, I was worried again when you suddenly disappeared this time!”
“You were worried again?”
“No, well, you see…”
Alright, I got through.
I said a bit sadly, “Just as I thought, Aria, your heart is kinder than I expected.”
“…”
“You’re always worried about me, the so-called delinquent in the Academy.”
“……”
Aria struggles with compliments or being belittled.
She’s not a character that’s just devoted for nothing.
“I’m sorry for always making you worry with my subject….”
“……….”
It seems that my self-deprecating remarks make her uncomfortable, as her gaze begins to waver.
“That wasn’t my intention…”
“What then?”
“I thought… you went to one of those places again, like last time…!”
“What kind of place?”
As I started to press her, Aria cast her gaze away.
Instead, her face began to flush.
“Okay, stop! Stop!”
I smiled faintly and said.
“Then, shall we go together now?”
“Y-Yeah? Y-Yes, yes, yes?”
With five responses, her face started to turn red.
This is quite… fun.
“This way, please.”
“Have a good trip.”
“Please wait a moment.”
“Then for this time, I’ll turn a blind eye.”
The grown-up Aria from Reincarnated Hero is meticulously thorough and left no gaps.
This Aria, still a minor, is full of holes.
“What are you thinking? I’m saying since everyone else looks busy, why don’t we just go by ourselves?”
“Ah…”
Since I need to assess the ring anyway, it would be best to hurry to the commercial district of Hwangdo.
As I turn to lead the way,
Thud!
“Ah!”
A cute punch strikes from behind.
*
Meanwhile, in front of the main hall of [Divine Valhalla].
With her reddish-orange hair and freckles, the girl Emma, describable only by these two traits, was causing a ruckus with the guards in front of the headquarters.
“Please let me in!!!!”
“You’re at the wrong address, kid. This is the Knight’s Guild.”
“I told you, you read my letter! I’m the one who has a life debt to them!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
“And I’m not a kid! I’m already old enough to enter the Academy!”
“Oh really? Do as you wish.”
“Wait! Are you letting me in?”
“No way. I’m not letting you in. I have no intention of letting you in. Just go back.”
“Eeeek!”
Thud!
Emma kicked the guard’s shin, genuinely infuriating him.
‘You’re in for it…!’
That’s when…
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, Lady Aveline!”
It was Aveline Valantes, the guild leader’s daughter.
“Here’s the thing. This kid keeps saying she has a benefactor in Lady Aveline’s guild and insists on meeting them…”
“Benefactor?”
When Aveline reacted, Emma answered instead of the guard.
“Yes! It was someone who used a crossbow! I need to thank them in person!”
“Lady Aveline, there aren’t any knight members in [Divine Valhalla] who primarily use crossbows, right…?”
Now that I think about it, the information I heard from Raymon matches this.
While Aveline was contemplating this, Emma’s eyes sparkled as she pointed to the square where people were gathered.
“Ah, that person! They look just like them!”
The couple Emma pointed out appeared to be academy students dressed as students.
