Quit The Hero Party

EP.66 Aftermath (2)

A mage must be a calculating being, Raniel.

Honestly, there’s no choice but to be.

Mages handle mana. They must trade with stars. So, they always have to think.

What must be sacrificed and how much?

How much mana is consumed to operate this circuit?

Calculate, and calculate again.

Mages crunch numbers dozens, even hundreds of times a day. That’s what mages are. If you can’t be calculative, it’s hard to reach high places.

Keep everything under control. Move under meticulous calculations.

That’s a quality a good mage must possess.

In short, you mustn’t be emotional. No matter who makes you angry, observe the situation objectively.

…So, what I mean is?

You should think about the loss you incur if you smash that guy’s head, not how exhilarating it would be to smash it.

Stay calm.

Please, do it calmly and systematically.

I beg you!

“…”

Recalling her master’s words, Raniel slowly took a deep breath. She steadied her breath and thought calmly. She looked at the situation objectively.

‘What do I gain by landing a blow?’

Incredibly satisfying.

The kind of satisfaction that would make a hundred years of stress vanish.

‘What do I lose from it?’

The risk of revealing my identity.

The hassle of dealing with poking the hero.

‘…Huh?’

No matter how I look at it, the profit seems greater, right?

‘No, no. Stay collected…’

Raniel exerted superhuman patience and opened her mouth.

“Eat shit, you bastard.”

A thick curse slipped through her lips.

She didn’t swing a fist. She didn’t unleash physical or magical violence.

‘Instead, isn’t cursing okay?’

With her middle finger raised, Raniel looked at the man before her. She recalled his name.

‘Kyle.’

Once a friend and companion, now neither of those anymore. Looking at him, Raniel bit her lips tightly.

‘That bastard.’

Frankly, Raniel thought she’d be fine facing Kyle.

Sure, it’s awkward, but it’s all in the past. It’s not like they would get entangled again… as long as they went their separate ways, Raniel thought.

‘That’s what I thought…’

But facing him like this, she realized how big of an illusion that was.

‘This sucks.’

Regrettably, that was the first thought that came to her after their faces met. The somewhat organized feelings flared up the moment she saw that shameless face.

Flames were thrown onto the embers.

The fire that seemed to have died down reignited.

The blazing fire was annoyance and anger.

‘If it were up to me, I want to throw a punch right away…’

But doing so would only complicate things further.

Raniel took a slow, deep breath and closed her eyes. Staring at that face for too long would lead her to swing a fist unwittingly.

‘…Wait, now that I think about it, this is strange?’

As she calmed down and thought, something felt off.

Raniel opened her eyes slightly to a sudden question.

‘There’s no way this bastard wouldn’t recognize me?’

As Raniel recalled, Kyle had the same eyes as Cardi. Eyes that pierce through souls… there shouldn’t be a reason to miss her.

‘Cardi, that elf recognized me.’

Raniel glanced at Kyle.

Could he be pretending not to know, was the thought, but it quickly faded.

‘At least he’s not the kind to joke around with this.’

He’s the kind who doesn’t know what joking is.

As Raniel sent him a questioning gaze, Kyle slowly opened his mouth.

“…That’s a very unique name.”

“What?”

“I’m talking about the reply I got when I asked for a name. I don’t think it’s a very fitting name.”

Is this bastard crazy?

Seeing Kyle mumbling such things with a very serious face, Raniel sighed.

‘Let’s not engage with this guy.’

It’d be better if he didn’t recognize me.

It’s a problem easily resolved by just walking away.

“So, what’s your name?”

“I told you I don’t want to tell you.”

“Okay, then I’ll change the question.”

“Who’s going to answer?”

Raniel was thinking to ignore whatever Kyle said and move on.

“Raniel.”

However, Kyle’s next words stopped her in her tracks. Raniel slowly turned her head. She locked eyes with Kyle.

“What’s your relationship with Raniel?”

A platinum light shimmered above his black pupils.

Those eyes resembled Cardi’s yellow eyes. Having walked with Kyle, Raniel realized instantly what that light was.

‘Eyes that read souls.’

Realizing this made Raniel uncomfortable.

‘…Why is he asking when he can see?’

Did he fail to notice?

Why on earth?

“Although it’s different from Raniel, you give off a very similar vibe. I think you’re tied together in some way. What’s your relationship?”

His following words gave Raniel assurance.

This bastard really doesn’t recognize me.

“Are you perhaps, Raniel’s lover?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Couldn’t be your daughter… age-wise.”

Kyle, fiddling with his chin, asked.

“I find you very suspicious right now. Something feels eerie. You’re in the forest where that guy appeared.”

He stepped a bit closer.

“Why are you here? In a place overflowing with mana just now?”

“…I just came to find a student.”

“You’re an Apuria professor then. Looking for a student in a forest full of this mana? What a great model educator.”

“Are you mocking me, you bastard?”

“I’m just amazed.”

Kyle still had no expression.

He pointed toward one side of the forest.

“I checked on my way, and if it’s a student, that’s where they were. Since I gave you one, then can I ask one too?”

“Who asked you to tell me?”

“Have you seen Raniel the Ashen Mage? In this forest?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Is that so.”

He simply nodded.

It looked as if there was no more to ask. Raniel glanced at Kyle for a moment before turning her back. Kyle also turned to leave, walking along.

The distance between the two grew.

From the clearing, Kyle headed deeper into the forest while Raniel made for the outskirts.

“Hm.”

When they had created enough distance.

“That’s unfortunate.”

Suddenly Kyle mumbled.

In a tone seemingly meant for someone to hear.

“I should have come just a little sooner.”

Ignoring those words, Raniel kept walking.

“Your body doesn’t seem normal; I’m wondering if it’s wise to be pushing yourself. Coming to a place like this after retirement…”

Raniel’s pace hesitated for a moment.

However, she didn’t stop. Even if her speed slowed, Raniel continued to walk.

“If I had known this would happen…”

Thunk.

“Then I’d have rather…”

Finally, Raniel stopped.

“Taken him along with me.”

She turned to look back.

Her gaze fixed on Kyle.

“Maybe it would have been better.”

Kyle also finished his words and turned back.

Their eyes met across the clearing.

The setting sun was behind Kyle, casting a long shadow.

The end of that shadow touched Raniel’s feet.

“You.”

Raniel opened her mouth.

“What did you just say?”

To her question, Kyle replied.

“Just talking to myself. Did it bother you?”

His voice remains unchanged.

His eyes also unchanged.

“Ha, haha.”

Gazing at that shameless face, Raniel bowed her head.

She chuckled, head lowered.

“Ha…”

Her laughter trailed off. When she raised her head again, the smile was long gone.

Crackle.

Sparks flew above her body.

—

2.

The situation settled, on the outskirts of Apuria Forest.

Kalt faced Raniel, who approached from the place where he had positioned the knights.

“Hmm?”

Looking at Raniel walking over, Kalt tilted his head. She seemed strangely exhausted.

“Eh? Are you hurt?”

“I’m not injured.”

“No, you don’t look so good. Are you sure you’re not hurt? It seems the fight was intense.”

“No, I said I’m fine, you bastard.”

“…Why are you swearing?”

“Do you think I would get hurt by that skeleton bastard? I’m fine. Not a single hit. I completely beat him senseless.”

“Ah, I see…”

Seeing Raniel’s grim expression, Kalt swallowed hard.

‘If I say any more…’

I’ll get hit.

Kalt sensed it.

This was a moment to back away. If he asked any further, he would definitely get punched.

But still…

‘But I’m curious.’

His curiosity outweighed his caution a bit more.

Kalt cautiously continued with the question.

“Then why do you look so drained?”

“Mentally, mentally drained.”

“…Did something happen?”

Crack, crack.

As she cracked her fingers, Raniel stared at Kalt.

“Well, technically it’s your fault.”

“…Huh?”

“Still, well…”

Muttering like that, Raniel lifted the corners of her mouth. A grin mixed with annoyance and laughter.

“I guess I feel a bit better.”

“Eh?”

“I thought it’d feel more painful, but… well, I hit him enough that he should’ve bled.”

“…Are you talking about Skebal?”

“Hey.”

Raniel chuckled.

“Do you think a skeleton bleeds?”

Kalt’s complexion turned pale.

—

3.

“Oh, Kyle? What are you doing here?”

“Why are you just standing there? Is the incident over?”

—

With the situation now settled, Sara and Remia headed toward Harmain Forest to assist Kyle. Of course, in most incidents, their support proved to be useless.

If it were in the demon realm, perhaps, but in the human realm, especially about the incident in the royal capital… there was really no need for Sara and Remia to provide assistance.

Kyle could swing his sword once or jump around a few times, and the incident would be resolved.

However, this incident was different.

They both understood well what the black barrier and altar symbolized.

-Listen carefully. Remember this.

-That barrier appearing means the altar is about to activate… that coward is appearing.

They had heard this repeatedly from a mage who had recently left the party.

-The Ancient Lich, Skebal.

That disastrous mage had appeared in the heart of the royal capital. This was something Kyle could not accomplish on his own.

Especially in a situation where the Ashen Mage was absent.

Therefore, Sara and Remia dashed into the forest and… not long after, they stumbled upon Kyle.

“…I was just thinking for a moment.”

Kyle stood with his back to the sunset.

Sara and Remia approached him, puzzled. He didn’t seem injured. His clothes were clean.

‘…It doesn’t look like he fought, does it?’

Sara thought to herself.

Kyle didn’t have a good matchup against the Ancient Lich, Skebal. While he could fight, he should still expect to sustain minor injuries.

“…”

The feeling of confusion was mutual with Remia.

‘Above all, it doesn’t seem like this will have ended so quietly and quickly…’

Remia checked the atmosphere of the forest.

Though the life energy lingering in the woods was disrupted, the scale seemed minimal. If Kyle had gone against Skebal, the situation certainly would not have ended quietly.

They both tilted their heads as they gazed at Kyle.

“Is the situation finished? The skeleton, Skebal?”

“I handled it.”

“Already? Goodness, Kyle…”

Kyle interrupted Sara’s sentence as he added.

“Not me, but him.”

Sara and Remia stiffened.

There was no doubt about who he was referring to.

‘Raniel.’

The mage who had left the party not long ago.

Are you saying that mage had entered the forest and taken down Skebal?

“…Did you meet her?”

“Not yet. It seems she has already left the forest.”

“…Well, isn’t that better? Instead, it’s good. We won’t have to exert ourselves, right? I don’t have to use my moonlight arrows either.”

Remia shrugged her shoulders.

Though she didn’t show it, relief sheen was evident in her fingers, fiddling with her bowstring.

There was no other way.

They wanted to avoid battle with Skebal as much as possible. No, a battle with Skebal was okay.

That skeleton was relatively bearable to fight.

They knew how to counter him, so it was fine.

The reason Skebal was bothersome was due to his meticulously crafted plans. In a situation where the plans were exposed, Skebal really wouldn’t pose much of a problem.

Simply put, Sara and Remia did not want to face what was called a disaster.

The apostate, Gletus.

The Death’s Blade, Ganikalt.

The fear they felt facing those two still lingered deep within them.

The trauma they experienced when confronting the Demon Lord made them reject the very term ‘disaster.’

“Then it’s all sorted out? Should we go? Kyle?”

“Yeah, let’s head back, Kyle. Since it’s been a while since we visited the royal capital…”

Sara and Remia urged to leave the forest.

Ignoring the prompt, Kyle merely stared blankly at his palm.

“Eh? What? Did you get hurt, Kyle?”

Sara, noticing it late, blinked in surprise.

Kyle’s palm, the skin was peeling off.

“What happened?”

“Well…”

To that question, Kyle suddenly let out a laugh.

“I met a somewhat unique mage.”

“Eh? What does that mean?”

“It’s nothing. I plan to search the forest a bit more and head back. What about you two?”

Sara and Remia exchanged glances before nodding.

When Kyle shifts the topic like this, it’s often the case that he wouldn’t give an answer if asked.

Remia cautiously replied, picking up on Kyle’s mood.

“…Well, I’ll head back with Sara first. I need to check on the students’ conditions too.”

“Okay. Let’s make sure to come back quickly.”

After Remia and Sara shifted away, Kyle stood in place for a moment before stepping into the deeper forest.

His palm throbbed.

With the peeling skin on his palm stinging, Kyle lightly tapped his head a couple of times.

Drip.

The pooled blood trickled down his nose. Feeling slightly dizzy, Kyle enveloped his body in starlight. The injury healed in an instant.

‘…I was thinking of taking at least one hit.’

He must have blocked it with his palm.

However, the subsequent shock shook his head beyond just his palm. Even if he hadn’t enveloped his body in starlight… his skin would still have peeled.

The shock that occurred right after the girl’s fist made contact was something magical. Kyle may have been ignorant of magic, but he recognized that spell.

It was a spell he had grown tired of seeing over the past five years.

‘Strike, or Crush.’

That’s how it was known.

A striking-type spell powerful enough to shake the skull after hitting the palm. That was something that girl often used.

At this point, it’s almost comical.

The distinctive appearance, voice, unique sharpened atmosphere, and spell system all seem identical.

‘The only difference is gender.’

Gender, that is, the physical body.

It’s a girl that’s astonishingly similar to her except for the appearance.

Honestly speaking, Kyle thought that girl was Raniel.

‘Has she disguised her body and soul?’

There’s no other explanation.

In the first place, it’s questionable whether there’s even a method to disguise them both… but if such a method were used, Kyle was confident he’d recognize it.

‘When casting a spell, the form should waver slightly.’

Transformative spells.

If such a spell were cast, the form would typically waver a little when mana is used. Kyle had tracked down many demons that way. Thus, Kyle taunted the girl. He made her cast a spell.

-Perhaps it would have been better to take her along.

By bringing up a statement that Raniel would never fall for.

-What did you say?

And that provocation had been successful.

The girl lunged at him and cast a spell at once.

Kyle read all those movements.

However, there was no sign of wavering form.

So, it was her own true form.

Not a disguise, but her true body and soul.

‘Really, she’s not her?’

So why did she react to those words? Did she hear it directly from her?

Questions spun around in Kyle’s mind.

‘It’s impossible to know.’

In the end, there’s nothing to know. Only questions remain.

As someone connected to the stars, he knows very well how absurd it is for the body to change and for the soul to transform.

‘That should be impossible.’

In every possible deal with the stars, the only exception to that is the distortion of the body and soul one is born with.

The stars assert it.

Such a thing is absolutely impossible.

‘…Then, is she really a different person?’

Just someone tied to Raniel?

Kyle squinted his eyes. He recalled the girl he had just faced.

Ashen-haired, blue-eyed.

The sinister gaze pierced through him.

A person too similar to Raniel.

Kyle’s intuition indicated that she was the same person as Raniel. However, the stars say she is not Raniel.

Which one should he believe?

Kyle’s intuition has been wrong before. Many times. However, the stars have never been wrong.

“…….”

But this time, he felt doubt.

The prophecy given by the stars was ambiguous.

‘In whatever way, I will face the Ashen.’

No matter how much he looked around the forest, that person does not appear.

If so, it means the “ashen” in the prophecy is not her. And… the one Kyle saw upon entering the forest was only that girl.

‘…What on earth do you want me to believe?’

Kyle furrowed his brow as he grasped the hilt of the holy sword.

Starlight flared up around his hand. A feeling he had that the connection with the stars was fading more than before.

“Is the time coming?”

Or.

“Or is it just an illusion?”

It was still a matter unknown.

Author’s Note: This episode will likely be completed by tomorrow or the day after!

And before entering the next episode, I think I’ll write a brief side story about the hero party encountering the Four Heavenly Kings on the battlefield.

I figured that would make it easier to understand the level of the hero party.

The Death’s Blade, Ganikalt. The apostate, Gletus.

Which one would you like to see?

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