Arako leads me to a small camp and I can see two people there. Daichi-kun, who quickly puts on his helmet and readies his axe. Eri-chan, who points her staff at me. I touch the ring on my finger to reassure myself.

I hate to admit it, but most of this mess is my own fault. Lies of embarrassment growing more and more until they become huge misunderstandings. If I hadn't let them in the belief of a mind-controlling ring, how would have all of this turned out?

The only thing that counters a lie is the truth. I knew it, because these are words that my personal heroes believed in: Truth, friendship, justice. I have to be honest with them.

Still, my stomach acts up, my feet grow cold, and it becomes increasingly harder to breathe. It has been a long time since I’ve been so nervous. Talking was never so difficult. I wish Masahiko-kun was here; it'd be much easier to talk to him.

Daichi-kun comes closer. “Kyou-san! You could escape!?” Despite being alarmed, he also seems to be happy. This is another dart of guilt right into my heart.

Eri-chan stays doubtful. “Wait Daichi-kun. Kyou-chan, why are you here?”

“...to come clean with you.” Slowly, I take Arako's hand, I need some support. For some reason she nods at me... She doesn't understand at all what I meant and the way she changes to [Acrobat] makes me sure that she has some stupid idea what I want to do! “*sigh*” At least she's not doing whatever she thought of yet. “Eri-chan, Daichi-kun... I'm sorry!” I bow to the two of them earnestly. “I messed up! Big time!” It becomes easier to say it after the initial words: “There is no mind-control ring, Ken doesn't have any control over me, it's just a huge misunderstanding!” Oh, that feels so good! Yet I also feel sick because of these feelings of guilt flowing through my body, so it feels almost as bad as good. So in total, only a little good.

“Kyou-chan...” Eri looks at me... why are you pitying me. “Did Katsuragi make you do this?”

“...no! Why would he!?”

“Sorry. I didn't mean to... I mean, even if I ask, you can't answer that.” What-

Daichi-kun comes closer and puts his hand on my shoulder. “You don't need to pretend.” He says a bit clumsily.

How... how am I pretending!? I'm honest! “Seriously, listen to me. I made you believe a big, fat lie!”

“Momo,” Arako says to me while her ears start twitching. “I think they're ignoring you.”

“...what is she doing here anyway?” Eri-chan looks at Arako with disapproval. “I thought you fled, elf.”

...this isn't good. She called Arako elf! She hates being reduced to a word that others use on their species because of ignorance! “Duman,” she starts with a biting tone: “your ignorance is only topped by your immaturity.” This is rich, coming from you, Arako!

“What did you say!?”

“Don't talk to Eri-san like that!”

Both Eri-chan and Daichi-kun are furious by Arako's tone and words. I need to calm everyone down: “Stop it! All of you! I'm not here to argue. Stay calm and listen. First, we can call each other by first name. And second, I don't know what happened between all of you, but that's not important right now. We're all played by Correo-san, Yoshimura-kun, and Hoshibashi-kun! So we sho-”

“It's Katsuragi!” Daichi-kun interrupts in an angry voice. “He's out to kill us!”

“If he were, you would be already dead,” I try to talk sense into him.

“...has he killed people?”

“Yes, he has. I have as well. It-”

“Oh, Kyou-chan.” Eri-chan pulls me into an embrace. “You have gone through a lot. What has he done to you?”

Why aren't they listening to me? “Eri-chan, stop it. Whatever you think of Ken, he's not like that.”

“Kyou-chan, don't worry. We will take care of him. By any means necessary.” At this moment, I understand. Eri-chan isn't interested in the truth. She just wants Ken to pay for what he has done to her.

“Eri-chan, please!”

“Daichi-kun.” Eri-chan pushes me into Daichi-kun's arms.

I can't move a bit. Daichi-kun has quickly put me into a hold. “Sorry, Kyou-san. You're not yourself.”

With a swift strike of her staff, Arako hits Eri-chan in the face. My Japanese friend starts crying out in pain, yet my alfr friend isn't finished: “[Chin-upper]!” Arako's skill hits Eri-chan under her chin and is strong enough for her feet to leave the ground. Yet this isn't enough, Arako changes her class to [Druid] again: “[Fountain Gun]!” Since the Spirit Swamps, she became very skilled at changing classes mid-combo.

“Eri-san!” Daichi-kun still holds me, so he can't jump in to support her without letting me go.

“Uaaaahhh. My nose!” Hit by the [Fountain Gun], Eri-chan lies on the ground while groaning. “You bitch!” Despite the pain, she gets up and eyes full of hatred look at Arako.

But the alfr is eerily calm. “You started it.”

“So you're working with Katsuragi after all! Give us our friend back! [Dirt Sling]!”

“[Watershield]!” The spell is repelled by a barrier made out of water. “Baldy, what she said. Give me my friend back.”

“Don't you dare ignore me, elf!”

“I don't ignore you. I just think you're not worth my time.”

“Grr... [Airshot]!” It also hits the [Watershield] without much effect. “[Earth Grasp]!” This time she attacks from below, but Arako just evades that attack.

She doesn't even look at the hand made out of earth that tried to get her ankle. “[Icicle Knives]!” Instead she creates blades of ice she throws at Daichi-kun.

He turns around and takes the attacks with his armor.

… “[Itching Breath]!” I take one pinch of powder from my arm pouch and blow it into his face, his skin becomes red and he starts jerking. He still doesn't loosen his hold though. “Sorry.” I start resisting, then I cheat a [Mirrored Moon] in, Daichi-kun sees a me that's outside of his grasp and this makes him falter.

Therefore he's open for Arako's next attack. She changes to [Acrobat]: “[Scoprion's Tail]!” and makes a somersault attack. Daichi-kun grunts. His hold is now weak enough for me to break free.

“Ugh... huh...huh...” He breathes sharply as he holds his side.

In this situation, Ken would usually call for a retreat. However, I know that the only way to make these idiots listen is to make them. “I'll take care of Eri-chan.”

“Why do I get the big baldy?” Arako complains.

I don't answer her and face my friend and something that lingered on my mind for a long time is finally spoken out: “If it weren't for you...” Eri-chan was the one who convinced the others to leave me in Feuerberg. “You know nothing about Ken!” He never left me. I remember vividly how he saved me from falling down when we were attacked by those ostrich-like birds. The moment the curse wed us... Of course, he was dependent on me, but nonetheless... “I knew nothing about him! We were all wrong!” Ken never wanted to actively antagonize any of us. He might think ill of us, but he was fine with leaving us alone, he didn't care. “He's a massive moron, he's an asshole, but he also has his good sides!” They are hidden very well, but the moment he cares about something, he sees it through.

“Listen to yourself! [Dirt Sling]!” It's a spell strong enough to render me unconscious, given that I don't have the beef and endurance of a warrior. Yet I have attained my own experiences. Avoiding straight attacks at this speed and distance is nothing. “Wha-!” Eri-chan staggers as I activate [Mirrored Moon] to create an illusionary doppelganger.

With this, I tackle her, bringing her down. I slap her face twice before she can hit me back. She may be stronger in battle, but it's obvious that she's currently in a bad spot. She could always rely on people protecting her. On the other hand, I had to fight monsters on my own since they left me behind. Since joining Ken, I faced innumerable dangers.

I was so ready for this! Hey, stop scratching, bitch!

Arako starts attacking Daichi-kun who tries to get between Eri-chan and me. ...I hope Ken and Rine-chan are alright at least.

―○●○―

Why am I here? Woah, that one looks dangerous! I better evade it, one, two, three more steps. I have learned that keeping a bigger distance to attacks that look as heavy as that one is better. Now that I think about it, my instructor always palavered about the 'frame' of an attack: You may see the weapon but it's the frame that you need to dodge.

Back to my last memories before I woke up, I was kinda hurt. No, disappointed? I sure wish Ara would be here, she would throw me some words I could choose from. For some time, I have had all these feelings that are more distinct than the ones I knew before, so I lack the words to describe them properly.

Yes, Kenta and I faced that hero with the beard... Yoshimura-dono. I don't remember that well, because I was overwhelmed with my own emotions. Yes, it's because of Kenta. In the last few days he made some choices I'm not content with. Bad choices as well.

The attack of the bandits. While I think decimating bandits is a good thing as they attack and rob innocent people, we didn't raid them for this reason... I think I can live with it, I mean, here I can think of the result.

Another giant swing, I jump at the wall and run some steps on it while the weapon follows me, plowing its path through solid rock. It also slows down with all that resistance, so I'm still quicker. No problem.

Then the incident in the inn, when he and Ara pranked the bard... While I can understand Kenta being angry, I also think it was in bad taste. I think Kenta resents this as well, so let's not dwell on that as well.

The wall I'm running on is falling apart, so if I jump at that falling rock and use it to propel myself further, I'll be fine.

Now we come to the fight with that giant rocky-bear. I'm ashamed that I was taken out that easily, my instructor would have laughed at me, asking me why I didn't just cleave through the rock before it hit me. Maybe I could have done it, to be honest. I was kinda unprepared for it, a sign of my inexperience. It was scary being trapped there! I had almost no space to swing my sword and without force behind my strikes, it's hard to cut rocks. It was especially scary when the water came... Kenta may have explained everything afterward, but... I still want him to apologize.

Rocks are shattered and hurled into my direction, I deflect most of them back.

The fight between Kenta and Kyou... it hurts. Why does it hurt me so much more than it does the two of them? Why is Ara thinking that it's good that they fight? No matter how much I think about it, Kyou likes Kenta, and Kenta likes Kyou. They may be not always on good terms, but... how can I put it into words... Kyou and Kenta are so close... they understand each other... while I...

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

They have what I want. I don't even know exactly what it is anymore, but whenever I see the two of them together, be it arguing, be it getting along, be it holding hands, or just openly ignoring each other, I feel something I yearn for so desperately.

Two weapons at once flurrying at me, I parry most attacks while balancing on some of the larger rocks.

The plan to ambush Kyou's friends... couldn't we have just talked it out? I mean, if Correo has manipulated them, why not beat up Correo on the spot? Why is everyone tip-toeing around this matter? I mean, we can easily confirm what’s going on if we ask them, and even if we’re forced to fight them, then at least we figured out what’s up.

Maybe it's easier to say now, as there are less people involved than Kenta feared. If there had been another mercenary army... last time, it didn't go well. Haa really helped us back then.

Suddenly, I'm alone here, but there is danger from the left. I jump aside and avoid another quick attack.

Then Kenta's decision to leave Ara with them and make another attempt, this time only he and I with the help of the cougars. When he asked me to speak to them, I hadn't thought that he would use them as a distraction to feed the chaos. When he explained it to me later, I was angry! Oh, he shouldn't have done that! In his original plan, he would have kidnapped a cub or two and thrown them onto Kyou's friends! Good that I could at least talk him into not doing something this horrible! Though I still believe that this may have been a trick to make me somewhat agree with the actual version.

The two weapons are exchanged for the big one again, now wildly swinging, I duck under the first, jump over the second while spinning in the air to get a bit more momentum.

When I faced Kyou's friends, the only thing I could do was run away. I know that Kenta wanted me to defeat them, but I was so unsure of what to do. I mean, they're Kyou’s friends, I don't want to hurt them! Yet I also didn't know how to strike a conversation at that point! When someone approaches me with a drawn weapon, I usually hurt them very badly!

I'm an easy target while airborne, that's why I use my foot to push me away from the only solid surface in reach, it's fleshy and hairy.

When I decided to look for Kenta using [Spouse-Location], I ran into Yoshimura-dono. I was at the end of my emotional resource, but that was one of the bad guys that had attacked Aroahenn, it should have been so simple. Why did Kenta even consider their offer?

Is it me, who isn't smart enough to understand it or is it he, who lacks the morality to see that this decision would have been wrong? Or was it a ruse, as he has attacked Yoshimura-dono nonetheless? Then why did he tell me to remember that feeling?

A shockwave, I cancel it with my own. “[Crescent Moon]!”

Yoshimura-dono said something to me... yes, it was like something deep inside had started to unleash. Chasing something I desired, making it my own. It almost felt like I felt before the Spirit Swamps, yet much more primal. It felt good, it was simple. I feel like I had it for a moment, that I was about to finally get a taste of what I was waiting for so long...

Lust. I mean, I can feel how hot and wet my crotch is. It's only like this when I have my most romantic and most sensual dreams... or when I do that. Yes, I was overwhelmed by my desire to finally be one with Kenta.

Yet, it's in contradiction to what my mind starts to believe. Kenta asked me to observe him, to make my own picture of the true him. I think I'm about to have it, but I'm not sure if I like it. I think this might be the scariest thing of all, having this lust for someone who I don't like... wouldn't that make me a dirty girl?

A rush attack, I step aside, one, two, three. I really get the hang of the frame of the attacks. At least something that goes right! Who am I fighting anyway? I look at the long-haired man with the blonde tips and a rough beard. It's not a beard someone grows but a beard someone doesn't shave.

The massive man looks at me with a wide grin. He seems to enjoy our bout. I feel bad, because until this moment, I haven't even properly looked at him. His name was Hoshibashi-dono, if I recall correctly. Should I tell him that I'm sorry? Maybe not... I mean, he's enjoying it.

Sometimes I don't think it makes a difference whether I actively think about a fight or not. My body moves on its own, it's just like my instructor trained me. He said that making decisions is a waste of time for me.

...suddenly, I realize that this sure is an insult!

“Are you in despair?” Hoshibashi-dono asks me, most likely seeing my face after learning the true meaning of my instructor's words.

“No, I'm shocked.”

“You haven't even tasted my true strength.”

“Not about that. I was thinking about someone else.”

“...” Oh, I think I hurt him after all. “Have Lent talked to you?”

“About us joining you?”

“Yes.”

“I decline.”

“Good.” Ah, didn't Yoshimura-dono say that they will kill us if we refuse? “Then it's time for my true strength.” Suddenly, his smile becomes wider and somewhat scary. It's so maniacal! His muscles grow even stronger, then he lifts his big, metallic clubsword and swings at me.

Feeling reminded of the fight with the oni, I jump back and get some distance. Even from here I feel how much power is in this strike as the attack is sharp enough to blow wind into my face. He may even have more power than the oni?

“UAAAAARGH!” He jumps, swinging his weapon overhead. I jump back again, this time it's rubble that I need to be concerned about as the clubsword opens the rocky ground and hurls pieces around. One is as tall as me!

I jump at it and push it back with my feet, Hoshibashi-dono lifts his arm and catches it, but he can't see me now, so I swiftly keep myself at the ground and cut his left leg from under the rock piece. Yet the wound isn't that deep as I need to retreat because he is about to hit me with the rock piece which instead crumbles and creates a dust cloud.

Despite not seeing me, he charges through the foliage directly at me. I evade him while spinning once to land a kick at the back of his head, but I'm not sure if it did anything except making him angrier.

He turns around and tries to overwhelm me with a barrage of attacks. If I take the safety distance into account, I'm barely able to dodge them. I would love to parry him, but he uses the length of his weapon to full effect and is somehow able to wield it without losing his balance for a moment despite its weight. It's too heavy for me to parry it without being bashed around by its force and I can't cut his fingers off this way.

I need to remember that this is one of the bad guys, so I should be able to just cut him down in a cool manner, but my body does its best to keep me outside the frame of his attack. “[Crescent Moon]!” With a fast backstep, I use the skill, hoping to make him block it and then seize the moment.

He doesn't block. He doesn't even care. Maybe it's too weak? Kicking him doesn't work, [Crescent Moon] doesn't work, and while my sword can cut him, I need to put my weight into it to have a long-lasting effect. His leg-wound has closed, so shallow wounds won't be that helpful either.

Could it be that I'm in trouble? Hoshibashi-dono attacks are fast and strong, which makes them difficult to properly counter. Yet even if I land a hit, he can just ignore it and it will heal in time.

“[Swishstride]!” This means I need to land in a good attack, and to do that I need to create a time-frame to do it. His big weapon swings around, but I step around its arc: “[Dismember]!” At this moment, I realize that this is a mistake.

My body moves on its own. The first attack hits, but is repelled with a *clank*, it sounds like Hoshbashi-dono's skin is made out of iron, then I'm grabbed by my head and hurled against the wall, while my body is actually still going through the [Dismember]-movements. I can't stop them to land on my feet!

“Urgh!” This hurts! I can't breathe. Yet this made me stop my skill and I get back on my feet. I'm still fully capable.

“UAAAAAH!” Hoshibashi-dono is also charging at me, but he stops suddenly. “Ugh?” He looks at his arm which is penetrated by an arrow. I know these heads, it's Kenta! “Grr...” Hoshibashi-dono turns around, looking from where the attack came from.

I'm also looking while standing up, as my body moves like I want to again. Kenta is so good at canceling skills, I also need to learn that.

Speaking of Kenta, he's running at us, he looks... not really angry, more angrily annoyed. “Finally snapped out of it?” He says while looking at me. I cock my head, unsure what he's meaning. “Just take him out and we'll rejoin the rest.”

I feel stronger with Kenta here! “[Sweep]!” This skill worked during our last encounter, so I'm sure that this will give me an advantage, especially given that Hoshibashi-dono is distracted by Kenta. It's not like this is a duel, so I don't need to adhere to any rules.

My kick hits him, but he swings his arm in the meantime, again while I'm moving my body accordingly to my skill. I should stop using skills against him.

Hoshibashi-dono and I hit the ground at the same time, we both also stand up simultaneously. Kenta rushes at me and takes my hand: “Quick! He got reinforcements!” He points behind him, where more of Kyou's friends are, one is just lowering his bow. Why though?

“AAAAAAAAH! [Titan's-]” This is a dangerous skill, so I step in-between and thrust my sword right through his torso, this time it went through without a problem, causing a fatal wound. This time it's you who couldn't dodge due to your skill! But the injury doesn't stop him. “[-Blo-]

Kenta let go of my hand and “[Whirlwind]!” sweeps with his spear close to me and Hoshibashi-dono is hurled away with great force. This is one of Kenta's powerful attacks. It must be the third in short succession, as he begins to fall on one knee while holding his head, his face distorted in pain. “...ughhh...”

He needs to recuperate! I grab his hand again and now I'm the one who drags him away.

Hoshibashi-dono is standing up. Any normal person would be knocked out, but he's a hero. For even a hero it would be so painful that it'd be impossible to stand straight for a while, yet he just ignores it.

So many battles, ambushes, and skirmishes with little breaks in-between. So many wounds that are just carried over... is this why father summoned the heroes?

Yet now there are more important things to do. Like getting our party together. Maybe I can then decide what I want to do. “Where to, Kenta?”

“Ugh... section A, this way.”

We run with all we have. Hoshibashi-dono seem to want to give chase for a moment, but suddenly, Inoue-dono stands in front of him: “STOP IT, HOSHIBASHI-KUN! YOU'RE HURT!”

This is the chance we need to get away.

―○●○―

Correo looks at the fleeing princess and the teenage boy who has escaped him before, almost spoiling the assault of Aroahenn. Katsuragi Kenta seems to be at his limits, yet he pushes forward. Correo knows how resilient heroes are, yet he also knows that heroes are neither invincible nor inexhaustible.

In fact, when hunting heroes, using a decent amount of pressure over time is more reliable than using too many forces at once. Yet this time, Correo decided to use other heroes and witness by himself what exactly made these particular heroes able to escape him. The fact that Wood-dono was so desperate to take over leadership also made the merchant decide to use that opportunity to observe. It doesn't matter if Correo gets the princess this time for his own plans.

Princess Katarine, the Irregular. A hero, who shouldn't be one, by means Correo doesn't know. After the mess in Aroahenn and learning about her from the Lady, he has visited Feuerberg himself, using a recommendation of a fellow merchant and offering some particular relics to gain the trust of the king. Of course, this is a long-time project, as he only engaged in this to learn more about the princess, despite his former demurrals to be involved with their royal family.

Momokawa Kyou, the Mastermind. When Correo met her, he was sure that she had some of the nastiest traits a person can have: Charisma, empathy, and desires. His investigations in Feuerberg ended up hearing a lot of praise for her, she fooled most if not everybody. What she lacked, however, was firepower, which she now commands.

Katsuragi Kenta, the Renegade. He left Esse the day after he was summoned, a big unknown factor for most people. During their first encounter, Correo saw a young man who didn't trust anything. Usually an easy target for manipulation, yet Correo underestimated him.

Seeing them and their elven friend in action makes Correo glad that he hasn't put any of his own resources into this mission. There is something off about these heroes, the way they move and quickly adapt plans... it's like they had superior communication and used it as a base for their plans. Communication is the key component for any planning involving other people.

The real question is what to do with this information.

Thinking about this and many other observations he could do at his current position, physically and figuratively speaking, Correo walks to Star Killer who is hard-pressed by Inoue Masahiko to be treated. “I say, this heals fast enough!” Star is about to hit his ally.

“No! You need treatment! There is a hole in your stomach!” Inoue-dono, however, stands with much more determination than the one who called himself 'true hero' before.

“Excuse me,” Correo says to them.

“Correo! Good to see you. Tell him that he can't chase after Katsuragi and the princess in his condition.”

“They're right, Hoshibashi-dono. Don't worry about him, Inoue-dono. You and your friends may catch up if you run, I'll take over his treatment. That's the least I can do.”

“Thank you! Teruko, Katsuo. Let's go.” Inoue-dono is a curious person who is ready to let his chance of success escape to do whatever he thinks is right. The best way to manipulate that sort of person is to support them.

“Hoshibashi-dono, please get your first aid kit.” Correo doesn't have a hero's backpack, so he carries only what he needs on his person.

“Grr...” Killer-dono does as Correo asks and the merchant starts treating the hero. At least until Inoue-dono is out of sight. “Dammit, Correo! I would have ripped them apart! I was so close!”

“I know. Yet there is no need to rush. Remember Wood-dono's plan, let the others weaken each other.” Wood-dono has many good ideas, but he's still too impatient. The moment he sees the first opportunity, he grabs at it. This is the result of inexperience. After grasping the first opportunity follows waiting for the best opportunity and after this mindset is proven flawed, it's waiting for a good opportunity.

“Where is Lent?”

“He's close.” Correo knows that Wood-dono is looking for him, but Correo needed to get a better look at the whole situation. “Do you think you can take on the princess in your [Berserker]-class?” A very important piece of information for every further planning.

“On her own, I'll eventually win. She's good, but I'll outlast her. Katsuragi just now was strange though. Suddenly, he was much more dangerous. Only for a moment though.”

Correo nods as he has seen that one attack from afar. “Most likely a special [Skill].” Trusting Killer-dono's instincts, it seems like a [Skill] that provides a momentary power-surge.

“Correo! I was looking for you!” Wood-dono has finally caught up and starts complaining. “Partner? Are you wounded?”

“Just a scratch. Was caught by surprise, nothing to be concerned about.” With [No Pain] and [Regeneration], Killer-dono is able to receive massive damage without even flinching, while his wounds slowly heals. Supported by the hero's body, even the most basic treatment is enough to reduce even mortal wounds to minor setbacks.

“Tell me what happened.” Wood-dono listens to the story. “I tried to influence Katsuragi, it didn't go well. The princess was an easy target though. If they fled together, she must have snapped out of it which makes it impossible for me to use [Order] again on her for a while. Inoue is after them... let's return to the original plan. Make them all fight against each other while we recuperate. Star, you'll use [Berserker] immediately and I'll take care of what's left. Correo, you act as our scout.”

Correo smiles, this is exactly what he would have decided in Wood-dono’s shoes, so he's curious whether this is a good decision or not.