Chapter 13 - I Didn't Know That (6)

I'll say it again. Deep Sea Pearl is a god, and 'Legend of Heroes' is god-tier.

"Either my one remaining eye is blind, or your earholes are clogged. The possibilities are one of the two."

I had just spent the rest of the night after wandering the dark streets and finding another inn. After finishing a shower—the first inn was actually better. This place didn't even have a full bathroom—I had ordered a decent meal to solve my depleted satiety.

But then someone joined me at the hall table where I had sat down alone. Naturally, it was the Priest and the mage.

BANG!

"Do I really have to cut off your tongues for you to understand my words?"

I roughly set down the glass I was drinking water from. At that, the Inquisitor flinched. Seeing her red face, it seemed even a lowly NPC knew this was a shameless situation.

On a separate note, my mind was split half in admiration for Deep Sea Pearl for programming such emotions, and half in speculation that joining those two was actually the correct story path.

Of course, unless it was the story, there was no way they would follow me like this.

"Do not be too angry. We will not cause any more offenses. We won't make any mistakes either... and this conversation will absolutely not be of any detriment to you. I can swear to that at least."

*'Even if you say that... wouldn't it be out of character for my concept to not get angry?' * I thought. It wasn't the first time I had ignored the story and stuck to my concept.

Ah, of course, this is my first time acting so recklessly too. In other games, whether I acted recklessly or not, the NPCs wouldn't play along, so I had to adapt to them a bit. Otherwise, the story progression would get completely blocked, or there were times I had to restart.

"Are you trying to joke around with me?"

But since this game responds to whatever I do, I can try out my concept roleplaying without any hesitation. This is so much fun.

"... Your."

At that moment, the Inquisitor mumbled. As my gaze turned toward her, her face, which already looked like a ripe persimmon, turned even redder. Her skin color was the exact same as her hair color. Enough to make me think she was a bit cute.

"I came here because I want to learn that tolerance!"

But why are the words she's shouting so absurd?

"... What?"

'The game isn't glitching right now, is it? There's nothing wrong with my ears, right? I'm still keeping up my concept well, right?'

"Show mercy and consideration to others, and distance yourself from arrogance and stubbornness. I have been taught that my whole life, yet in the past, I failed to follow any of it. However... you were different. Not only did you overlook the insults I committed several times, but you also bestowed forgiveness upon me even in the final moment."

I firmly gripped the glass that almost slipped. At the same time, I barely suppressed my twitching lips.

"I-I saw the side of what I wanted to become in you...! That is why I stand here again, braving the disrespect! I know I have caused you the utmost trouble and rudeness so far, but even so, I...!"

There is a famous saying that has been passed down eternally among otakus. You don't choose your favorite character; your favorite character is the one who suddenly comes to you one day, grabs you by the collar, smacks your cheek, and claims their spot.

And what I'm trying to convey right now with this saying is.

She just grabbed my otaku heart by the collar and smacked its cheek.

"... If your goal was to ruin my mood, it was a very effective strategy."

I barely maintained my concept while internally grabbing my head and screaming.

'I thought she was cute, yeah. I was quite anxious earlier because she was a bit in my strike zone when she knelt and showed that honest attitude.'

'But she's coming at me like this?! She's hitting right in my strike zone with how she awkwardly apologizes?!'

'Isn't this crazy? Isn't this totally crazy?! Even in the original game, the Priest's setting and personal story were my favorite settings, but isn't this really too much?!'

"Did I, fail to mind... my tongue? Have I committed an offense this time as well...?"

"..."

'And amidst all this, she takes my words way too literally. It's driving me crazy. How did they even know that a strict but clumsy character is my eternal type!'

'She already looks exactly like a kimchi dumpling with her hair cut into a round bob...'

"I understand now. It was an amusing attempt. It's refreshing, as you're the first person to try and commit suicide in such a manner."

Unable to ruin my concept, I barely managed to tremble my twitching mouth.

Perhaps mistaking that for the peak of my anger, the Archmage showed a tense attitude.

"It's absolutely nothing like that. Please, just hear me out."

It was a massive relief that my concept didn't seem ruined. Even though the sudden selection of a favorite character wasn't pleasant at all.

"No, there is no need."

'But it's a fact that she's cute. Coming in head-on to apologize without any tact because she's so stiff and inexperienced with social life, it's so like a newbie to society and it's cute. Isn't this an unavoidable reaction?'

"Because the only thing I will share with you lot is a blade."

SCRAPE.

Swallowing my tears, I roughly stood up for now. My hand, naturally, went to the two-handed sword strapped to my back.

Regardless of kimchi dumplings or the story, I couldn't give up my concept. With this temper, how could I stay still after hearing such bullshit—even if it was meant as a compliment?

"Even if it means you can kill the king of demons, Satan?"

However, the moment I tried to draw my sword, the Archmage casually tossed out a single comment.

The hall, which had been moderately filled with people, fell into silence, and my hand abruptly stopped.

"Even if you can drive out the Great Demon Satan and the demons from this land, will you truly draw that sword?"

*'A wise man truly is a wise man,'* I thought. Seeing him pierce right into the weak point of my chosen concept even though we hadn't talked much.

"... That talk."

I could be certain of this even if I were rolling on the ground. This was a topic my concept could never ignore.

"What do you mean?"

I drew my sword and let it hang with eyes tinged with irritation and madness.

It was my will to immediately swing it if his words sounded like nonsense, and that was conveyed to the Archmage exactly.

"Before that, hold on a moment. The story will be a bit long, so I shall quench my thirst first."

"Blood would also count as something to drink."

He seemed to be trying to lighten the mood in his own way, but with a temper that wouldn't be satisfied even after tearing all demons to death, there was no way I would allow such a thing.

I tightly gripped my two-handed sword with a creak. The Archmage let out a dry cough.

"... I believe I told you that the Inquisitor is fresh out of the temple."

He was indeed wise. The wise man sensed my momentum and immediately stayed within his boundaries.

"Even though she is very young for an Inquisitor, there is a reason she left the temple. It is all because of a revelation."

He subtly gave the Inquisitor a look. Catching the hint, the Inquisitor urgently opened her mouth.

"Undeservedly... He delivered a message that I have the destiny to vanquish Satan."

'That... was a story that flustered me a bit. A revelation is already appearing? And a Priest has the destiny to vanquish Satan?'

"However, He said that I would not be enough on my own and that I must gather companions."

'That revelation was definitely meant for the player. Not the Priest.'

"So I sought out the Archmage first... and next, I planned to travel to various regions to rally those who would join me."

'Could it be that the remake completely changed the story to center around the Priest?'

"That is the reason we came to find you again, even knowing you would be displeased."

"...? Archmage, didn't you say it would be fine earlier...?"

"Ahem, hem."

While I was tensing up so much that the veins on my face bulged out at this bewildering fact, the Archmage hurriedly declared.

"Do you have any intention of joining our journey to defeat Satan?"

「※ One Step Towards Defeating the Demon King ※」

That single sentence brought up a quest.

The special marker that let me know it was a main quest even if I drank a whole crate of alcohol beforehand pierced my chest like a dagger.

"Looking into it, I found out you're quite a famous mercenary. They said you never back down from killing demons. That is why I'm making this offer. If Satan is killed, all demons in this land will retreat."

'... First of all, my prediction that joining those two was the story was correct, so let's move on.'

'And about almost killing a main character... well, it's a shame there was no warning or notification window, but even if I had killed her, I would have just restarted from the last save point, so it's fine.'

'If it didn't restart, that would be good in its own way. That means I can change the story however I want.'

'I was only flustered because 'Legend of Heroes' wasn't a game pushed with the catchphrase that everything is possible and you can do anything, but since it wasn't unprecedented, I quickly accepted it.'

'Of course, it's not like the question of 'just how many people did they grind to dust to adopt this level of freedom with these graphics?' doesn't cross my mind, but... well, it must have been possible, which is why it was released.'

'I was only bewildered because it was a setting thrust upon me without warning, but from the perspective of a player playing for fun, anything is welcome. Even the concept roleplaying is completely free here. How could I refuse this!'

"Something like her, is the hero."

'So let's focus on my concept and ponder what kind of reaction to show to that offer.'

'It's a bit out of character to just agree obediently, right? Between those two and me, it's filled with nothing but one-sided contempt and anger, let alone trust.'

"It is certain that she received a revelation. If you desire proof, we can accompany you to a temple. Because any temple recognizes that she is the hero."

'Even so, if the wise man comes at me like that, I can't refuse until the end.'

'Why? Because my hatred for demons would still be greater than my annoyance toward those two.'

'And in the midst of that, an opportunity to eliminate Satan, the source of the demons, comes? From the stance of wanting to completely uproot all demons, I can absolutely never miss this. The grudge against demons in the concept I set was so deep that it would burn even himself away.'

"... As I thought, I am..."

"Those words."

'Therefore, if it meant being able to kill all the demons, traveling with a couple of annoying punks would also be nothing to him.'

"They better be true."

I tightened my grip on the drawn sword even more, deeply moved by the NPC giving me the perfect setup for my lines.

"Because the moment they aren't, I will carve your limbs into pieces and offer them to my homeland."

As if I would swing it at any moment. But making sure not to actually swing it in the end.

"Then I welcome you. To having joined our expedition."

「You have begun acting together with ??? (Inquisitor).」

「You have begun acting together with ??? (Archmage).」

「※ One Step Towards Defeating the Demon King ※

◆ Speak with the Archmage」

The quest was updated.

* * *

"It's not necessary. I only allowed you to accompany me because it aligned with my goals. I don't have the slightest intention of forgiving your arrogance and impudence."

The Inquisitor etched the man's words into her mind, letter by letter. His tone was fierce and cold, but because of the sins she had committed, it didn't offend her much.

"Throw away any thoughts of treating me as a companion. If it wasn't for killing Satan, I would never have occupied the same space as you lot."

On the contrary, he seemed amazing to her for being able to suppress his anger and maintain composure in the face of his goal.

The bishop's teachings to always maintain reason must have been with exactly that kind of figure in mind.

"Did you understand?"

"Yes!"

'Is it a shame to not even be treated as a companion? Still, I am thankful just to be able to accompany him.'

Because as they traveled together, there would be opportunities to apologize for her disrespect and learn from his conduct.

"..."

The Inquisitor's eyes sparkled, regardless of whether the Demon Knight narrowed his brow at her resounding shout.

At first, her knowledge had been lacking, and she had denied and suspected him simply because there was no precedent... but now, things were different.

["Offering him your life, do you even realize what that means?! Inquisitor! Do you know how immense your mission is?! If he hadn't shown mercy...!"]

["I know my actions were impulsive and irresponsible. Your reprimand is justified, Archmage."]

She no longer disliked the Demon Knight. Rather, whenever she recalled her shortened hair, she came to respect him.

["But Archmage, my narrow perspective caused harm. Fortunately, we could resolve it with money this time, but what if someone had died? Could we have resolved it with money then?"]

["And so you threw your life away because of that?"]

["Justice refers to justified violence, which is why justice must be treated with even more weight and caution. God even told us that we must not be absolutely certain of our own justice. However, did I follow those words at that time?"]

["... That is the 9th Commandment."]

["I ask you, how can I, who failed to properly follow even the words of God, save the world? I don't think I can do it at all. I truly don't have the qualifications to be the hero..."]

She recalled the conversation she had with the Archmage yesterday, and once again looked at the man standing before her.

["Even so, I was forgiven. I was given a next time. I was given the opportunity to atone."]

["Inquisitor..."]

["If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to forgive. If it were me, I would have cut out their tongue at least. If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to act like him."]

Behind those fierce eyes was the mental fortitude to push aside murderous intent and malice despite harboring a demon, and behind that menacing tone was the tolerance to swallow his displeasure and bestow mercy.

It was a hidden side she had failed to see.

["Doesn't he seem more like God's proxy than me, who dared to take the position of God's proxy?"]

She had thought about the Demon Knight while praying all night. The reason he came to harbor a demon, and the things he must have experienced and the thoughts he must have had to reach this point. And herself, who had pointed a sword at him while blinding her eyes with prejudice without knowing anything about him.

The more she did, the more nothing but regret and respect for him grew. It was even more so because, as a result of her investigation with the Archmage, she had learned that he went around helping people while vanquishing demons.

["I want to know him. And I want to learn. Enduring the demon coiled within his body, the mind to overcome even anger, and the generosity to forgive those who condemned and insulted him."]

Although his words were harsh and his conduct vulgar... the Archmage had said that if one's education was lacking, their words would also become blunt. He had also said that education wasn't provided to everyone.

So she could understand. Rather, it was amazing that he was a better person than her even without an education.

'As expected, I want to know about that man, and I want to become a person like him.'

Twenty years old. It was the moment the admiration of a still-young youth began.

Although it would be a long time before she realized that it was a delusion.