Her silky silver hair, expensive-looking dress, and ornate accessories. She had the appearance of a young lady who had been raised with care.
She had probably never imagined finding herself in such a dire situation.
Even in a well-patrolled region, criminals were never completely absent.
“If you’re just a passing swordsman, you should’ve kept walking. Looks like you’re in a hurry to die!”
Ten bandits surrounded me from both the front and back.
They moved in perfect coordination, blocking off my escape route like well-trained soldiers.
They were quite experienced.
The fact that they prioritized surrounding me before attacking showed as much.
Rather than charging in recklessly, they targeted my blind spots first. This was proof that their leader had some sense of strategy.
That must have been how they had pulled off such a well-planned ambush on the carriage.
“You’re all going to die here. So come at me with everything you’ve got.”
At my words, the bandits exchanged bewildered glances before bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha! This guy’s lost his mind! Boss, what should we do?”
“What do you mean, what should we do? We stick to the plan! Our pocket money just walked right up to us!”
The one who looked the strongest, the bandit leader, pointed his huge greatsword at me.
“Kill him!”
At his command, the underlings charged all at once.
Without hesitation, I kicked off the ground.
Nine against one.
But no matter how good their teamwork was, openings were inevitable.
Their attacks were so slow it was almost yawn-inducing. I dodged with ease, cutting them down one by one.
When it came to speed, there was no class quite like a thief’s.
But compared to me, these men were nothing more than amateurs in combat.
The fight was hardly any different from dealing with goblins.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…! Boss, this guy isn’t normal!”
“That black sword… something’s off about it…!”
Only after half of their group had been cut down in an instant did the remaining bandits grasp the situation and retreat behind their leader.
This is beyond what I expected.
Mastering various weapons and tools had always been my specialty.
I had trained in using different weapons to survive, but today, the sword felt especially familiar in my hands.
Had my abilities improved without me realizing it?
Even compared to the last time I wielded a sword, my movements were far more refined.
I handled the magic sword as if it had been an extension of my body for years.
On top of that, its sharpness was incredible. It cut through leather armor like it was nothing.
With such a weapon in my hands, these bandits didn’t stand a chance.
“Pathetic.”
The bandit leader clicked his tongue.
“Watch closely. I’ll show you how a real warrior fights!”
Gripping his greatsword tightly, he took his stance, and in an instant, flames erupted along the blade.
“Ooooh, incredible!”
“Boss, burn that arrogant bastard to a crisp!”
It was an enchanted sword.
It seemed to activate when the user channeled their mana into it.
So that’s what had set the carriage on fire.
“Getting cocky just because you have a fancy weapon, huh?”
He clearly wanted a one-on-one duel.
Well, it would be rude not to oblige.
“Die!”
The bandit leader swung his greatsword straight down.
In an instant, flames exploded outward, engulfing my vision completely.
Fwooooosh!
The scorching heat licked at my skin, but I didn’t so much as flinch.
Shadow Fang absorbed the flames, swallowing them completely without leaving even a trace of ash.
I remained unscathed, not a single strand of hair burned.
Magic absorption.
That was Shadow Fang’s ability.
If the magic was weak, it nullified it entirely.
If the firepower was too strong, the absorption speed couldn’t always keep up, but even then, it still reduced the impact and protected its wielder.
“This… this can’t be…!”
The bandit leader’s eyes widened in shock.
But he quickly clenched his teeth.
Closing the distance in an instant, he swung his sword.
A powerful horizontal slash, executed with all his strength.
It was a strong attack, but something that sluggish would never land on me.
I lowered my stance and dodged with ease. His blade barely grazed past my hair.
No matter how many times he attacked, the result would be the same.
We exchanged several blows, but all it did was highlight the gap in our skill.
He was inferior to me in every way.
In the end, he backed away and unleashed another burst of flames, but once again, Shadow Fang devoured the fire.
And in that moment of vulnerability—
I closed the distance in a single breath.
The bandit leader froze for a split second and was caught off guard.
Seizing the opportunity, I swung Shadow Fang down at his shoulder.
“Graaaaaaagh!!!”
His severed right arm hit the ground and rolled away.
Letting out a scream, the bandit leader collapsed to his knees.
As he writhed in agony, I looked down at him. Then, without hesitation, I struck his neck.
“Hiiik!”
His subordinates let out terrified gasps as their leader’s head tumbled across the ground.
In panic, they lost all will to fight and turned to flee.
Of course, I had no intention of letting a single one escape.
More than half of them were already dead, with only four remaining.
I cut down the two in the lead before swiftly pursuing the others, ending their lives as well.
Once I had finished eliminating the stragglers, I made my way toward the overturned carriage.
“Are you all right?”
The sole survivor, a girl, was quietly crouching in the shadows.
She seemed deeply shocked and her face was pale as a sheet.
“My name is Theo. I was part of a hero’s party until recently. You’re safe now, so don’t worry.”
“…Theo?”
The party had been formed just a month ago.
There were no devices like cameras in this world, so my face wasn’t widely known.
That’s why the bandits hadn’t recognized me, but they must have at least heard my name.
“Yes, though the newspapers painted me as a villain… I’m actually a decent person.”
It wasn’t like this would restore the trust I’d lost.
Still, I awkwardly smiled and reached out my hand.
***
The carriage had burned down, but fortunately, one horse had survived.
I dug a grave to bury the coachman and then escorted the girl to her destination.
“Lady Rosary is here!”
“She’s so beautiful!”
“Thank you so much for coming!”
When we arrived at the small rural village, the residents cheered and welcomed her.
I had assumed she was a well-bred noble lady, but surprisingly, she was a famous healer.
She traveled across the kingdom, tending to patients while also training herself.
Healers were rare even among mages.
Though their fees were usually high, Rosary didn’t charge anything.
Her selfless service earned her a warm welcome wherever she went.
Mourning the deceased coachman, she asked the villagers to help retrieve his body for a proper funeral.
We had buried him temporarily, but she cast a preservation spell on the grave.
It was so his remains could be sent to his family later.
After finishing her conversation, Rosary returned to me.
“You’re even more popular than a hero.”
“You flatter me. I’m just an ordinary mage, nothing special.”
“Haha, you’re being modest.”
Was it because she was a healer?
Unlike how frightened she had been in the forest, Rosary now spoke with the villagers as if nothing had happened.
Her recovery from trauma was remarkably fast.
“You said you’re embarking on an adventure for yourself, right?”
As we prepared to part ways, Rosary asked.
“Yes, though my activities probably won’t change much.”
I would hunt monsters to protect myself and grow stronger.
If it was for the party and the kingdom before, now it was solely for myself.
“Then, would you like to travel with me…?”
“Huh?”
“You’re not a hero anymore, and you don’t need to be bound by any duty. Let’s work together to benefit the kingdom.”
A skilled healer was an invaluable asset.
It was a tempting offer, but I shook my head.
“I’m sorry. The journey ahead will be too harsh for me to travel with someone.”
Though I had gained my freedom, I wasn’t free from my trials yet.
I couldn’t rest easy until I was completely free from the ill fate tied to Claria.
Every moment was precious.
Even bringing her this far had been a big decision on my part.
“I see…”
Rosary tilted her head slightly.
But soon, her eyes sparkled again.
“What if I followed you, Theo? I won’t get in your way. Just let me stay by your side…!”
She stepped so close that I could feel her breath, looking up at me with pleading eyes.
What’s this…?
I thought she was quiet and reserved, but she’s bolder than I expected.
“You won’t be able to focus on your training as a healer.”
“I don’t care! Helping you will ultimately lead to world peace!”
“I’ve already quit being a hero, and I think you’re overestimating me…”
“No, no matter what anyone says, I believe in you!”
Rosary clasped her hands together as if in prayer, showing her unwavering determination.
When was the last time someone placed such absolute trust in me?
It was touching, but I still couldn’t accept it.
“…I’m sorry.”
I didn’t bother listing reasons.
I simply and firmly declined.
Perhaps realizing it was no use to persist, Rosary’s expression turned gloomy.
“…I understand. I’m sorry for bothering you.”
“Not at all. I’m actually glad you said that.”
Rosary hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“If it’s alright, could you at least tell me where you’re headed? I’d like to hear news of you, even if it’s just a little.”
That much wasn’t a problem.
“I’m planning to head east. I’ll stop by dungeons along the way and stay in nearby villages.”
Rosary nodded slightly, then pulled something out from her pocket.
“Will you accept this? It’s nothing much, but it’s a small token of my gratitude.”
She gently took my hand and handed me the gift.
“This is all I can give you right now… It would be rude not to offer something to my savior.”
I had already told her on the way that no reward was necessary.
But refusing again felt a bit awkward.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
I accepted the gift and put it in my pocket.
Seeing this, Rosary smiled brightly.
“Let’s meet again someday!”
***
After obtaining the magic sword, I returned to Alto immediately.
“The healer’s name is Rosary?”
It was during a break after lunch.
Fran who had been listening to my story made a rare expression of surprise.
“Yeah, do you know her?”
“She’s famous both as a mage and as a noble.”
“Her outfit was fancy, so I figured she was a noble.”
“She’s even been considered for sainthood as a healer. You’ve made a valuable connection, so you won’t have to worry about money.”
Fran’s words were as calculating as ever.
This corner truly had the eerie, witch-like atmosphere one would expect.
“So she was a candidate for sainthood…”
It was a title given only to the most exceptional among healers.
But the future saint I knew of wasn’t Rosary.
In no timeline did she ever become a saint.
If she had been a candidate, how could I not have known?
“Ah.”
I unintentionally let out a sound.
So that’s how it was.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
I brushed it off with Fran and recalled the events of that day.
A pitiful girl attacked by bandits.
If I hadn’t shown up, she would have suffered a fate too grim to speak of.
Her end would likely have been death.
There would have been no miracle of someone else arriving to save her.
After all, it was right after my regression.
It was too early for any butterfly effect to take place.
Only I, who had taken an extremely different action compared to other timelines by going to the ruins, could have saved her.
In other words, Rosary had met her death within a few days every time I repeated my regression.
No wonder she never became a saintess.
“What’s that?”
“It’s something I received from Rosary.”
I showed Fran the brooch I had been absentmindedly fiddling with.
It was a gift I received just before we parted.
“………….”
Fran silently stared at the brooch.
Her expression seemed to harden, though it was hard to tell since she rarely showed her emotions.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s not a big deal.”
“It seems like a big deal. Is it some kind of mage culture or tradition?”
“No, it’s not like that. Just forget it.”
“Forget it? The more you act like that, the more curious I get.”
“You brushed things off earlier too, so just drop it.”
She answered with a hint of irritation, avoiding the question.
How strange.
This wasn’t like her at all.
“It’s time to open the shop. I’ll get going.”
Fran mumbled something and left her seat.
I thought she had closed down from taking so many breaks, but it seemed she was still running the place.
Leave a Reply