***
The garden of Count Toledo's estate was beautiful beyond words.
Kiera and Lucy sat in outdoor chairs, taking in the colorful flowers for a long while.
They were not passing the time leisurely.
Currently, Kiera was convalescing—or rather, in a state that wasn't quite convalescence.
It was time to regain the Hero's power.
“Kiera, don't you want to eat that samgyeopsal the mutt used to make for us?”
“It was delicious. But it's not something I'd go out of my way to eat.”
“Really?”
Lucy smiled as she gazed at the distant scenery.
“I've been thinking about that mutt lately. I wonder if I chased him away for nothing. I'm bored because I don't have anyone to torment these days. If I'd known this would happen, I would've bullied him to my heart's content before kicking him out.”
Kiera's expression hardened.
“Why are you bringing him up all of a sudden?”
“Honestly.”
Lucy paused for a moment before continuing.
“According to the judgment of me, Lucy, the wise magician—this loss of power you have right now. Isn't that because of Maru? You might act like you hate him, but deep down, weren't you terribly heartbroken when he left? Your Hero's power was affected by psychological factors.”
“Heh heh.”
Kiera's shoulders shook softly with laughter, and soon her voice grew louder.
“Haha, hahaha!”
Laughing like a madwoman, she suddenly put on a serious face.
“Lucy. Listen. Just a minute ago, a person named Maru didn't exist in my memories—no, in my life. But because of you, I remembered him. Do you know what that means?”
“So you haven't had a single thought since the mutt left...”
“Why should I think about him? We broke up. That means it's over. We're complete strangers now.”
“You lost your power, and the only thing that's changed in our lives is the mutt leaving, so that's why.”
“It has absolutely nothing to do with him. If anything, having him by my side was more harmful.”
Lucy laughed.
“You really hate him. Didn't he take good care of you when you were sick in the past? What happened to that gratitude?”
“I don't hate him. It's just that being kind was all he had. Our work can't be done with kindness alone. You need ambition. And I paid back the debt from that time while living as the Hero. A commoner who followed the Hero around, met various nobles, and enjoyed luxuries beyond his station—that should've been enough.”
“You cut him off so coldly.”
“Cold? I gave him plenty of opportunities. He just couldn't seize them. I think I did everything I could. Honestly, looking back now, I think he was far too lacking for me. He was someone I could associate with when I was poor. That dragged on tiresomely for too long and ended up hurting us both. We should have broken up at the appropriate time. Breaking up now just means we waited too long.”
“He spent a ton of money on your expensive armor too. If you were going to break up, you shouldn't have taken it.”
“He bought that for me because I was his girlfriend. That was only natural. It was money that would've been useless to him anyway. Besides, I expressed my gratitude plenty.”
“How?”
“The Hero herself sleeping with him—wasn't that enough?”
“I don't think you two even held hands for the past year.”
“I'm talking about before that.”
“Lady Kiera. So you were out here.”
Suddenly, a man's voice was heard from afar.
“I was just thinking of meeting you.”
A handsome man with beautiful orange hair was approaching.
It was Yosef, the eldest son of Count Toledo's family.
Kiera sprang up from her seat and greeted him with an elegant smile.
“I was out for a brief stroll. What brings you here?”
“I've just finished a financial meeting. Please rejoice.”
Yosef flashed a brilliant smile, revealing his white teeth.
“Our House of Toledo has decided to sponsor Hero Kiera's operational funds for the next three years. And you mentioned wanting to change the horse you've been riding, correct? We will prepare the finest steed for you within a few days. Please look forward to it.”
“Oh my!”
Kiera covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes welling with tears.
“Thank you...! Thank you!”
“Think nothing of it.”
Yosef patted the back of the woman shedding tears of joy and wished her well.
After the atmosphere calmed, Yosef spoke.
“Ah, right. Might you have time tonight? There's a ball exclusively for noble children, and I wish to invite Lady Kiera. Everyone would consider it an honor.”
Without a hint of hesitation, Kiera smiled brightly.
“I happen to be free today, so that's wonderful. When do you plan to depart?”
The two quickly became engrossed in conversation about the ball that evening.
Beside them, Lucy, who had been sitting bored with her chin in her hand, pouted.
‘Kiera sure has a strong stomach. I don't think I could do that even if I died.’
Maru suddenly came to mind.
She giggled.
‘I wonder if our mutt is alive or dead? If Han Maru saw this situation right now, he'd burst with anger and drop dead.’
***
Hundreds of kilometers away, at the bandits' main base.
A middle-aged man in a robe was collapsed on the ground.
“Gurk... s-save me...”
“I was only going to beat you three times, but you acted up so I beat you ten. It's your fault.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the alchemist passed out.
Maru dusted off his hands and moved on.
He saw half-naked women screaming and rushing out of a thatched house.
“Is that the place?”
As he reached the entrance, a hulking muscle pig of a man walked out from inside.
He was over two meters tall, bald, with extremely thick, bulky trapezius muscles around his neck.
Anyone could tell at a glance that this guy was the boss.
Maru stood facing him head-on.
The bastard's mouth opened as he glared down with angry eyes.
“Are you the one who turned my place into a mess?”
“Yeah.”
“You bald bastard want to die?”
He suddenly swung his hand and delivered a slap.
Smack!
Maru's head turned.
Maru turned his head back into place, and this time he swung a hard slap of his own.
Smack!
The boss's body flew like an arrow and crashed into the building beside him.
“Kurk! F-fuck...!”
“Surprised it hurt like hell?”
Any other guy would've passed out by now, but as expected of a boss, he was pretty tough.
The bastard hurriedly cleared the debris and got up, grinding his teeth.
His face turned beet red, and heat flared right up to the crown of his head.
“I'll chop you to pieces and chew your raw flesh!”
The boss started grabbing and throwing anything within reach.
Rocks, building debris, even people flew through the air indiscriminately.
Maru dodged every which way before stepping back.
“He'll come on his own.”
Leaving the guy wasting his strength behind, Maru entered the boss's house.
The boss hurriedly followed.
The moment he tried to go inside, Maru's fist shot out and struck his face hard.
“Guh... urgh...”
“You didn't see this coming, did you?”
“F-fu... fuck...”
The massive frame thudded backward onto the ground.
Maru sat on the bastard's stomach and rained down a few punches.
Then, perhaps his rage boiled over, the bastard spewed vile curses rivaling trash talk and suddenly began to transform.
“Kieek...! You basstard...! I won't let you live!”
Several spider-like legs burst from his sides, and his two legs fused into one, transforming into a scorpion-like tail.
Maru watched as the guy who had been struggling beneath him wrapped his multiple legs tightly around his body, more dumbfounded than panicked.
“What the hell. You were a demon?”
“Kieeeek!”
To think a demon had infiltrated the bandits and become their boss.
Maru ripped out all the legs that had restrained him and gleefully tore apart the demon's entrails.
The monster boss was no match for Maru.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
He died, torn to shreds just like that.
“I followed the Hero's party for so long that now I get angry just seeing a demon and end up doing terrible things... It's an occupational disease, an occupational disease. This is bad, this is bad.”
Maru shuddered at his own brutality, despite being the one who had done it.
“Found it.”
He found the Mirror of Truth in the boss's house.
Maru wrapped it carefully in cloth and brought it out.
Afterward, he looked around the bandit base.
Everyone who could flee had fled, and fires were burning everywhere.
“I can't believe I did this...”
It was unbelievable that the despised porter had single-handedly wiped out an entire bandit group.
Not much time had passed, and it hadn't been long since he left the Hero's party.
“I guess I won't have to worry about making a living from now on.”
He rubbed his nose and moved on.
He needed to take Prince Edward and leave quickly.
It was then that—
a burning watchtower collapsed to the left without warning, blocking the entrance to the cave prison.
“Edward!”
The moment Maru tried to run toward it, he suddenly felt pain in his chest and collapsed.
“Ugh! What is this! Something... is trying to burst out!”
It hurt so excruciatingly that he wanted to scream.
It felt like his flesh was tearing apart.
He didn't know the cause, but the feeling was certain.
He had an ominous premonition that if he unleashed whatever was writhing inside, it wouldn't be him but the world that would be fucked.
Maru endured it desperately.
“Hah! Hah!”
He rose with difficulty and ran forward.
He stopped in front of the blocked prison entrance.
Flames soared from every piece of the collapsed watchtower debris, and the inside of the cave was completely invisible.
“Edward!”
Fortunately, a voice came from the other side when he called for the prince.
“Oh, Maru! Are you hurt!”
“Worry about yourself! *Cough*”
“Th-that sound just now! Are you hurt!?”
“Don't breathe! The smoke will get in! Hah, hah!”
“If you're hurt, I'm fine! It's dangerous, so take care of yourself first!”
“Don't talk nonsense!”
Maru endured the pain and began clearing the burning debris.
“Cover your mouth with a wet cloth until I clear everything! Ugh!”
“Rest if it's too hard! I am this country's prince! I won't die before ascending to the throne! Even the flames will avoid me!”
Inside the cave prison.
Edward shouted brightly but was actually in a state of despair.
Black smoke entered his nose, making breathing difficult.
“Cough, cough!”
He felt like he would soon die of suffocation.
Even so, he worried more about Maru than himself.
“You look like you're struggling, so stop! At this rate, it will take ages to clear! I'd rather you escape safely. I'm a fool anyway, so even if I live, no one will be happy for me. Everyone will actually be glad.”
Sensing death, Edward smiled bitterly and muttered to himself.
“For my whole life, you're the first person who has sincerely tried to help me. Some blessing this is, late as it is... I think I can go feeling good.”
He shouted loudly again.
“Don't suffer for a useless human like me! Leave quickly before the remaining members outside return!”
But from beyond the debris, Maru's voice was heard, struggling as he cleared something away.
“Why is your self-esteem so low! Listen well! There are no worthless humans in this world! Not me! Not you! Our time to shine just hasn't come yet! We're just slower than others, so survive, you bastard!”
At that moment, countless pieces of debris were lifted high, and fresh air flowed into the smoke-filled prison.
Maru threw the burning pile of debris far away.
Then, looking at Edward, who was crouching with a dry cloth pressed to his mouth, Maru smiled brightly.
“See? You can survive. Why give up in advance? Hah, hah...!”
“Maru!”
Edward burst into tears of emotion on the spot.
He said this was the first time someone had saved him not for money, but simply because they were Maru.
As he kept bawling, calling him admirable, a hero, the best, Maru couldn't stand it anymore and kicked his butt.