Chapter 156

EP.156 The Lost Lamb (04)

Everyone has their own unique way of managing anger.

Some, like Apis, express it immediately without holding back.

Others, like Bigtim and Dawna, bottle it up for a while and then gradually work it off during their leisure time.

As for me, I belong to the foolish type that just keeps it in without ever letting it out, simmering quietly inside.

However, our overly straightforward Hero had quite a clumsy way of dealing with his anger, both positively and negatively.

“I’m s-sorry I’m late, Hero-nim. Did you wait long?”

“It’s okay! Priest-nim! I just arrived too!”

His anxious tone was met with an innocent, bright smile that welcomed me warmly.

“To just have arrived…” I thought, knowing he was lying since it’s easy to read someone on their first meeting, but I decided to let it slide for now.

At first glance, he looked as cheerful as ever.

But I could clearly see the faint darkness subtly lurking in that sunlit face.

Forcing my stiffened lips to stretch into a smile, I glanced around for a moment.

The bizarre spectacle of birds soaring and bugs crawling, even the leaves tossed by the wind, all avoiding the Hero’s vicinity pierced my retina.

“Haha! Unfortunately, this investigation has turned out to be a total bust! I even used the secret Hero search to comb through this city, and yet… not even a hint! The Hero’s name will cry! If there’s a hole, I’d want to hide in it!”

“Th-that’s just…”

With a dazzling grin plastered on his face, the Hero confidently approached me, and I braced myself, not for a getaway, but to withstand the fierce charge that was about to strike my waist.

It was a desperate measure to survive.

“Hero-nim… it feels odd talking in the middle of the street like this. Let’s find a nearby restaurant first—”

WHAM!

My words barely finished when the heavy impact rocked my body.

Not collapsing on the ground like before was a significant improvement, but the relief I felt was swiftly extinguished by the vile motions slinking into the inside of my clothes.

“Hero-nim. W-wait! Just wait a moment!”

The once gentle tone erupted into a loud exclamation filled with panic.

Fighting with all my might to escape, by the time I regained my senses, my arms were already caught in her hands.

My body was swiftly shoved against a nearby wall, and soon enough, I was completely buried in her soft form.

“W-wait, Hero-nim! I-I can do this later at the lodging! Right now! Right n-ack!?”

I desperately called out her name, hoping her consciousness would return, but the Hero seemed oblivious to my heartfelt pleas, sequentially unbuttoning my outer garment with her teeth.

Struggling to look up at her face, her vibrant sapphire-like eyes were wide open like a beast’s.

“…”

Without a word, as she placed her nose all over my body, it felt like watching a hunting dog looking for a rat underground, and chills ran down my spine.

“Two women and two men… The former must be that lady and Sister, but… the other two are scents I don’t recognize… Are they people from this town? Though the smell of blood is strong, it doesn’t seem to be Priest-nim’s…”

Those emotionless sentences felt devoid of the warmth one should inherently have.

The Hero’s obsession with me has always been unusual, but ever since the Saintess’s party joined, it had worsened to a worrisome level.

Unlike the Saintess, who could somewhat suppress her murderous intent toward the Hero with her single-minded desire to be with me, the Hero absolutely could not tolerate her contaminating his merry party.

If there hadn’t been any negotiations involving Wish Granting Tickets, our party would likely still be stuck in the capital.

Moreover, my official recognition as a Priest of the Hero Party had significantly contributed to the Hero’s growing anxiety.

Seeing the people who didn’t even know there was a Priest in the Hero Party treating the rumors of a shadowy hero named Regis Lowville supporting their adventures with reverence was unbelievable.

With the montage already spreading like wildfire, unlike before when attracting someone’s attention was rare, now, it became impossible to stroll comfortably through any reasonably sized city without the necklace of identity protection, due to the throngs of spectators.

When an unknown love letter was discovered in my pocket, the Hero’s rampage, armed with a knife, could only be stopped by the entire party rushing in.

The Hero sniffing my body and beginning to interrogate the gender of everyone I encountered surely began around that time too.

Huff, haah… Huff, haah…

How long did that awkward silence, filled only with sticky breaths, last?

The breaths that were distinguishing the scents around me slowly morphed into breaths inhaling my true scent.

This was an unspoken signal that the Hero’s temporarily evaporated consciousness was gradually returning.

I had joked a few times that she was like a Golden Retriever, but her recent behavior was more akin to a large dog with separation anxiety.

“Ah! I-I’m sorry! Priest-nim! I’ve committed a faux pas again!”

Suddenly, the Hero raised her head, and I could see clarity in her eyes.

It felt a bit late for that, but I was just grateful she regained her sanity, even if belatedly.

“Hero-nim. I’m okay. Could you please just back off from me for now?”

“Ah! Yes! Understood!”

As if shaking off heavy regret, the Hero gradually distanced herself from me.

Leaving her flailing clumsily like she had fallen into water, I began to button my outer garment, which had loosened.

“Ugh. The guys are such cowards. And here the girls are trying to make a play. Just grow a backbone!”

“Ugh! We’re in trouble! Let’s go, guys!”

“Wait! Didn’t the Hero just say something about a roleplay? Is that why she’s wearing the Priest’s robe?”

The jeering from the crowds that rushed in like clouds was rather fierce, making me want to escape this spot as quickly as possible.

And then it happened.

SNAP!

Suddenly, the Hero grabbed my sleeve, her eyes filled with anxiety as she looked at me.

“Y-you, Hero-nim…?”

I surveyed her face, bewildered, and the Hero spoke in an overly cautious tone.

“A-are you angry…? Priest-nim…”

The tiny tremor transmitted from her grasp conveyed the magnitude of unease she was currently feeling.

If I had known things would turn out this way, I never should have threatened her so abruptly back then.

A profound regret brushed through my thoughts for a brief moment, but dwelling on it now was pointless.

“I’m not angry. Have I ever gotten angry at you even once?”

“But… but last time…”

“That wasn’t anger; I just raised my voice a bit. I’ve told you that countless times. I could swear to the gods; I’d never get angry unless you walk the wrong path.”

“Uuu…”

I gently patted the Hero’s head, who looked as if she was about to burst into tears, and comforted her for a while.

The entrance of the Saintess’ party and my suddenly rising fame.

But what had truly disturbed the Hero’s emotions the most was the intimidating threat I issued to stop her from confronting the Saintess.

“Is there anything you want to do today? As I mentioned before, unless it’s something that would clash with the doctrines of chasing the Saintess out of the party, I’ll do anything for you.”

“But… I haven’t even managed to find a clue about the Holy Sword today…”

“It’s okay… Your past achievements are more than enough to deserve a reward… And I just want to do this for you…”

“Then, what about that candy kiss I read about in a book recently…”

Just then…

“Hey, are you looking for clues about the Holy Sword?”

A voice from outside my consciousness buried the Hero’s trembling voice…