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“If it isn’t… Rouge, it’s you.”
Looking over my head, The blond man, Alexis, called out with a sigh to the redhead girl. Then, the redhead girl… Rouge also raised her voice with narrowed eyes.
“It’s not ‘it’s you’! How long do you intend to keep me waiting!? And what are you doing?”
“Ah, I was just teaching a mannerless person his place. It’ll be over soon, please wait a little longer.”
“Tsk, then hurry up! My time is valuable!”
At Alexis’s words, Rouge glanced at me as if looking at a pebble and said that. It seems that these two know each other… and they were similar. I couldn’t help but smirk at my naive hope of being saved for a moment.
“Hmph, are there only such people in this world… Truly shitty.”
“Well, it’s time to end this now–“
“What are you idiots finishing up!”
“Guah!?”
As Alexis, who was about to swing his drawn sword, was suddenly hit by a big fist from behind, his eyes, cold and looking down on me, filled with tears.
“What are you doing, Gonzo!?”
“It’s not ‘what are you doing’! What on earth are you guys doing!”
Behind the turning Alexis, or rather, standing in front of me was a huge old man, Gonzo, probably, wearing armor of muscles all over his body. Gonzo didn’t flinch at Alexis’s resentful eyes, raising his voice in anger with his bald head turned bright red.
“I thought something was wrong because you didn’t come, but why are you drawing your sword here!?”
“Ha. As I told Rouge earlier, I was just teaching a mannerless person his place… Aguh!?”
“What manners!? Speak more clearly!”
“No, so…”
“So?”
“…This rude person bumped into me, so I was just punishing him.”
“Do you think there are idiots who slash people for such a reason!”
“Guuh!?”
Gonzo’s fist exploded again on Alexis’s head, and the handsome blond collapsed to his knees disgracefully. Seeing this, Gonzo snorted lightly and then approached me.
“My companion was wrong. Here, I’ll heal you now, so stretch out your hand.”
“Thanks… Guh”
If this guy is with him, he must be loaded. I thought he would use some expensive healing medicine, and Gonzo gently wrapped my hand, which I stretched out, with his big hand.
“O pure spirit of the gathering clouds, o normal body free of illness and torment, dress in the right and dwell in the right, and just as it is, correct the body. [Healing Aura]”
“Oh…!?”
As he chanted, Gonzo’s hand glowed, and the pain left my hand. A few seconds later, when the light subsided and Gonzo’s hand separated, my right hand was completely back to normal.
“It’s healed!? Are you by any chance a priest!?”
“Hahaha, do I look like that?”
“Ah, no, that’s…”
“Don’t worry about it. Everything is according to the will of muscles!”
“Ha, huh… muscles?”
To me, who inadvertently blurted out something rude, Gonzo answered with a smile and showed a pose emphasizing his muscles. It seems that, unlike the previous two, this might not be a conversation that makes sense.
“So, you… ah…”
“Ah, I’m Ed.”
“Um, Ed, huh. Then, Ed, could you explain the situation in more detail? It’s probably his fault, but since it’s caused such a fuss, we have to confirm it properly.”
“Ha… I don’t mind…”
Surely, a brawl in the town would normally not end with ‘the parties involved talk and it’s over.’ Nodding to Gonzo’s words, which seem reasonable except for the muscle stuff, Alexis, who had recovered from the pain of the punch, raised a protest.
“Who’s the one to blame!?”
“You’re enough to blame! Seriously, just because you’re a hero doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!”
“Hmph. I am–“
“A hero!?”
At that word, which can’t be ignored, I reacted violently and raised my voice. A hero!? Is this unreasonable handsome blond guy a hero!? Why is someone like that here… ah!?
(Is this the effect of the [Flag Maker]…!?)
In my world, of course, there were no heroes or Demon Kings. Well, they exist in stories, but only young children dream of them being a real existence. But, this world is different. There really are Demon Kings and Heroes… who would ever think to randomly encounter the sole hero of the world in a town like this?
Despite that, I’ve encountered him. Not only that, I’m even involved directly with him. Though…
(I should have thought this through better! What should I do with such a meeting like this!?)
If it was just a meeting, it would be okay, but if it’s a proposition to join forces and act together, such a confrontational meeting from the start is just the worst. Damn it, how can I turn this situation into a flow where we become comrades? There’s a limit to just creating any kind of opportunity!
“Anyway, we can’t be having a standing conversation like this. How about it, Ed? Will you let me make up for this by treating you to some drinks? You can tell us about the situation there.”
“Ah, yes. I understand.”
“Hmm, so that’s what you guys do. Then, I’ll go home first–“
As I took the offered hefty hand and stood up, Rouge, in the background, spoke in a bored voice. However, before Rouge could turn on her heel, Gonzo’s hand firmly gripped her shoulder.
“What are you saying, Rouge, you’re coming too!”
“Huh!? Why, I have nothing to do with this!”
“You ignored the fact that the kid… no, Ed was getting beaten up right in front of you, right? Then, you’re as guilty as Alexis, you foolish girl!”
“What is that!? That’s an unreasonable accusation! Hey, what are you going to do about it!? Do you understand that you’re stealing my precious time!?”
“Huh!? Well, even if you say that to me…!?”
For some reason, I became the target of her anger, and Rouge advanced on me. Being pressed by a beautiful girl might be a reward for some people, but for me, who doesn’t possess such preferences, it’s just purely scary.
But even on such a Rouge, Gonzo’s fists relentlessly descended.
“Ouch!? Hey Gonzo, what are you doing by using violence on such a cute, innocent, and adorable beautiful girl!? Are you really a priest!?”
“Sadly, I’m a martial monk of the Eastern Heaven, different from the priests around here. It’s my mission to serve the gods and muscles to correct children who are about to walk the wrong path with a punch!”
“Ugh… you’re as incomprehensible as ever. Tsk, you better remember this!”
“That’s right. You’re trying to waste my time here, a simple apology won’t suffice anymore. Prepare yourself.”
“Eeh…………”
The beautiful girl and handsome guy… albeit their insides were both disappointing… started walking towards the back of the street while throwing unreasonable complaints. As I watched their retreating figures with a sigh, a large hand was placed on my shoulder.
“Hmm, then we should also go.”
“Yes…………”
Emotionally, I wanted to go to my room and sulk. But I don’t feel like I can shake off the hand on my shoulder, and I feel like if I miss this opportunity, I won’t be able to get close to the hero again. I know all of this, but my feelings have wilted more than ever.
(I want to go home… I really want to go home…)
At the beginning of my life in this world that I have no idea how long will last, I could only force a twisted smile in this discouraging situation on the first day.