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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: How to Become a Hero - 3
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[Listen well. Everyone has secrets they want to hide. And I have the power to unveil those secrets. As long as the conditions are met.]
'Conditions?'
[It's nothing difficult. The name of the target. And the names of people connected to that hidden secret. That's all I need.]
'...'
[Hmm. Now that I think about it, those are tricky conditions. Secrets are secrets because they're not revealed. Knowing the name of someone tied to an unrevealed secret is a real challenge...]
'No.'
Not for me.
It's simple.
I scanned the Blood Letters floating above the heads of the sprawled-out thugs.
As expected of men who'd committed heinous acts, they'd each sinned against an average of 50 to 60 people.
I looked for common names among them.
'Hmm.'
-Sinned against Lena McCree and 52 others.
-Sinned against Lena McCree and 68 others.
-Sinned against Lena McCree and...
A few didn't have it, but over 70 percent of them had Lena McCree listed among their victims.
She was even registered as the primary one.
In other words, it was the sin they most desperately wanted to hide.
I roughly kicked the bald guy rolling around in front of me.
Thud.
"Gah!"
"Hey. What's your name?"
"I'm sorry!"
"Is 'I'm sorry' your name?"
"No!"
"Then is 'No' your name?"
"R-Rion. Rion Swin."
I shrugged my shoulders and said to the voice.
'Fine, I'll bite. Tell me the secret between this guy Rion and Lena McCree.'
[Hmm? Looks like you've got a hunch. Alright.]
Suddenly, the screen popped up again.
[Used Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 1. Viewable secret rank is D-rank.]
[Selection condition: 'Secret between Rion Swin and Lena McCree.']
[Corresponding secret rank is D-rank. Displaying.]
The next moment.
The screen flashed black, and then a video began to play.
The bald guy was laughing along with the bandits sprawled out in front of me right now.
On his shoulder was a blonde girl who looked about 15 or 16, passed out.
I could tell at a glance she was Lena McCree.
"Kuahaha. Boss. We hit the jackpot today, huh?"
"You're telling me. For her to wander into our turf without a care."
"What do we do with this girl? No, where do we sell her?"
"Tch. You're bad at everything, but your head's especially rotten. Don't you know who this little one is?"
"Huh?"
"You idiot. This is the only daughter of that big-shot merchant from Drucker territory!"
Whoa. Really?
"Why would a lady like that be out without guards..."
"Looks like she came out for a picnic, ditched her escorts, and wandered deep in. When I found her, there were guys desperately calling her name from the base of the mountain."
"What an idiot."
"Better than you."
The boss chuckled and continued.
"For a girl like this, ransom's way more profitable than selling her off."
"Won't there be backlash?"
"What's the problem? We were planning to skip town soon anyway. Let's make one last haul and vanish."
"As expected of the boss. Uhahaha."
Click.
The screen cut off there.
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
'I see. So this is the power that shows secrets.'
Pretty intriguing.
My 'Blood Letters' only show the names and numbers of victims from a person's sins—it doesn't reveal the specifics.
The voice's 'Eye of Omniscience' can't view secrets without names.
In other words, these two abilities perfectly complement each other's weaknesses.
'What a match made in heaven!'
[One letter feels a bit off there.]
'Anyway, this is definitely a chance to boost my fame.'
Before my regression, I'd beaten these guys up and just left.
Back then, I'd seen Lena McCree's name in their Blood Letters too.
But I thought it was none of my business.
At the time, I didn't care what others did as long as they hadn't sinned against me.
But now, things have to change.
I need to build fame.
Pile it up, stack it higher, until I rip off that fake Kaild Wake's mask and prove I'm the real hero.
[Yeah. Save the world from the Demon King like that...]
'For my glorious retirement plan!'
[...]
'Alright. Let's do this.'
I steeled my resolve and opened my mouth.
"Get up within 10 seconds."
"Ughhh."
"No, 5 seconds."
"Ughh."
"3 seconds."
They shot up like they'd been lying.
I scanned around and spotted the boss from the video earlier.
The guy with knife scars all over his face was trembling like a child.
I grinned and asked.
"Hey. Where's Lena McCree?"
Two days later.
I visited Drucker territory, guided by the girl named Lena.
"Mister. Over here. Here."
Lena, who now wouldn't let go of my hand, pulled me along eagerly.
The bandits must've seen her as a valuable hostage—they hadn't roughed her up much beyond tearing her clothes a bit.
"Not mister."
"Ah. Sorry. Big brother."
Much better.
[Watch your conscience.]
"Thank you... really, thank you so much."
"I've heard that over a hundred times already."
"I could say it a thousand times and it wouldn't be enough. Sniff."
Tears welled up again in Lena's already puffy eyes.
I'd heard her birthday was just a few days ago.
She was supposed to picnic with her father the merchant, but an urgent meeting came up, so she'd gone out with just her escorts and maids.
Lena had been furious about it.
So, to spite her dad a little, she'd slipped away from the escorts and gone deep into the mountains.
"Be careful from now on. There are a lot of guys like this in the world."
Thwack.
I lightly smacked the bald guy's head trailing behind me.
For the record, twenty-two bandits were tied in a line with rope behind me.
After finding Lena in their hideout, I'd kindly and carefully tied them up one by one and brought them here.
The bald guy, hit on the head, glared at me.
"Grr. You... remember this."
"..."
"This isn't the end for us. Let us go now, and we won't come after you."
"..."
"But if you hand us over to the merchant like this, we'll find you. Find you and..."
"Yeah. Keep going."
"Find you and... buy you a drink or something. Heh heh."
While I bantered with the bald guy, Lena alerted her home to her safe return.
The merchant came running barefoot to the gate.
He swept Lena into a hug and burst into joyful sobs.
"Waaah. You brat! Where the hell have you been!"
"Dad. I'm so sorry. It was my fault. Sob sob."
"No. You're safe—that's all that matters. But who's this?"
"Ah! Right. Dad, don't be shocked. This is the 'Unyielding Sword Emperor' Maide Mohan!"
Don't call me that.
Why do I have to blush over a title I never asked for?
[Unyielding Sword Emperor. Kekeke. Kuhahaha.]
'Shut up.'
[Why 'unyielding'?]
'I don't take assassination gigs. Just lop off a limb or two at most.'
[Oh. And that's 'just' to you? Sure.]
'Why the formal speech all of a sudden?'
[But why avoid killing? Mercenary work isn't cushy enough to be picky.]
'I'm a top-tier merc. Even if I'm selective, jobs pour in from everywhere on the continent.'
No exaggeration.
That's why I was planning retirement at thirty-four.
[Hmm. Still, hits pay better.]
'...'
I held my tongue.
He had a point.
But I can't see my own Blood Letters.
Not seeing them makes it scarier.
How many sins have I racked up?
The condemned man from when I was seven is still vivid in my mind.
My father's name floating over my mother's head.
As long as those scenes linger in my brain, killing feels impossible.
[Lopping limbs isn't a sin?]
'I'm not trying to be a saint. Just avoiding the worst.'
[Hmm.]
'Enough. How could a dragon know a sparrow's heart?'
[Feels like it changed?]
I realized it myself after saying it. Damn it.
Anyway, Lena and the merchant's talk wrapped up.
The merchant bowed deeply to me.
"It's an honor to meet the renowned Maide."
"Please don't. I'm just a wandering merc."
"Maide saved my one and only daughter. Kneeling here wouldn't express my gratitude enough."
His voice was thick with emotion.
Trembling with joy and gratitude, he continued.
"Come inside first. I'll serve you with all my heart."
"What about these guys behind?"
I pointed to the bandits led by the bald one.
The merchant's face flipped 180 degrees from when he'd faced me.
With a voice full of murderous intent, he said.
"By imperial law, I should report them as is, but..."
"..."
"No need to bother the higher-ups with such a 'minor' matter."
When I came to, a crowd was pouring out from behind the merchant.
All sturdy men who looked like they could handle themselves.
Some even had the sharp aura of honed warriors.
"You were mounting a big search."
"Yes. Gathered all the notable mercs around."
"..."
"No need for search now, but it was prepaid. They'll have to earn it somehow."
"As a merchant, you can't take a loss."
"Thank you for understanding."
The merchant nodded to one merc.
Probably the leader of this ragtag group.
He glanced at me oddly, then ordered his men to take the bandits away.
"Urk. Where are you taking us!"
"You'll see."
"This is insane. Spare us. Please!"
Their voices faded into the distance.
Hmm. Did it work out well?
First time meddling in others' business, so I'm not sure.
[Good job. You'll see.]
Huh.
The familiar semitransparent screen appeared before my eyes again.
I glanced at it with just my eyes.
[Ding! Gained 50 Fame Points.]
[Fame Points to next level: 170/1,000]
[Your name will echo through Drucker territory from now on.]
[Total Fame Points to acquire from this incident: 700]
[Oberg McCree thinks of you as 'the savior of my daughter's life.']
[Lena McCree thinks of you as 'the white-horse knight mister.']
...
White-horse knight mister?
Isn't that an oxymoron?
[Why not mister! What's wrong with mister!]
'Saying that means you're plenty old yourself.'
[Shut up. Thirty-four.]
'Minus seven years from regression. Twenty-seven.'
Then the merchant said.
"Maide. Shall we go in now?"
"Then I'll impose on you for a few days."
"A few days? Don't say that. I'll serve you for life."
"..."
"If that's a burden, I'll employ you for life. Please don't talk about leaving."
Lena suddenly hooked her arm in mine.
"Yeah. Mister. Live here with us. Okay?"
"Ahem. Lena. That's not what Dad meant."
"What did he mean?"
"That."
"...?"
I brushed them off vaguely.
I did plan to stay a bit to sort my thoughts, but...
Lifetime? No way.
[Why? Doesn't this auto-set your retirement?]
'Sigh. No. I can't stay long in one place.'
[Hm?]
'I'm not in a position to mingle with people.'
The voice fell silent, not getting it.
But what can you do.
I looked above the merchant's head.
-Sinned against Id Blackett and 71 others.
This nice-seeming old guy had sinned against more people than that bandit leader just dragged off.
That's why.
Why I'm a wandering merc.