Chapter 20

“I’m a bit too busy to be tattling on people to the Temple.”

“I-I’m sorry. Of course, you wouldn’t do something like that, Astell…”

He stammered, his face red, then cautiously asked.

“Then is it because of the news? The news that the Magic Tower is looking for a way to measure a Hunter’s power.”

“Well, that’s part of it.”

“I don’t mean to dismiss the Magic Tower, but honestly, who knows when that will happen… I was planning to ask Kaiel to keep the fact that I’m a Hunter a secret.”

“You’ll be in for a rude awakening if you’re only counting on the Master of the Magic Tower, you know.”

“…I believe Kaiel is a trustworthy person.”

“That’s not what I mean. The rankings will be revealed, regardless of the Magic Tower. A hierarchy of all the Hunters in the world. When that happens, everyone will know your secret, Johan. Without me having to say a word.”

Johan’s mouth fell open. His well-shaped, crimson lips parted prettily.

“In the first place, only Hunters can kill monsters, so how could you hide it? You can cover your face with a mask, but what about your voice?”

“I can modulate it…”

“The reason I recognized you today was because of your voice.”

“Th-That can’t be! I put my all into modulating it!”

“I’m sorry to say this, but you have no talent for disguise or voice modulation, Johan.”

Johan’s face turned beet red.

I bit the tip of my tongue, holding back a laugh.

A mask and a modulated voice to hide his identity. Did he think he was Batman?

*‘How cute…’*

There were plenty of decent men in this world.

Kaiel was a man I wanted to conquer, one way or another. Johan was a man I wanted to keep by my side and dote on.

Even Duke Ruthius was handsome, at least in appearance.

Johan ducked his head low and held out his hand.

“W-Well, since you already know… Give me your hand. I’ll heal it for you.”

“Thank you.”

Johan unwrapped the bandage and lowered his face over my palm. He brought his lips so close I could feel his breath on my skin, and then he blew.

“Hoo…”

A warm breath spread gently across my palm.

The next moment, the scar vanished without a trace.

There was no process of the bleeding stopping or new skin forming. It simply disappeared all at once, as if wiped away by an eraser.

Even the bruises that had colored my entire body were gone.

*‘With healing abilities like this, he’s at least A-rank.’*

Soon, once the rankings are finalized, a hero destined to save this world will inevitably emerge.

It might be their own choice, or it could be due to pressure from those around them.

“You’re so powerful, so why won’t you save us?”

“Do you want this ruin to continue? Because now, as an orphan, people pay attention to you, and you can use these unbelievable powers?”

“Conquer the dungeons. That is your duty.”

A fragment of memory surfaced abruptly.

I shook my head.

In any case, Johan had a high chance of becoming that hero.

Of course, Kaiel would be just as strong.

*‘His foundation is that of a warlock, after all.’*

But he wasn’t the type to act without personal gain, so he wouldn’t have any interest in saving the world.

Therefore, Johan’s class and rank were crucial pieces of information.

I stored Johan’s stats in my mind.

“Your healing method is quite unique.”

“I-I was told it heals better this way… Phew, we can’t have a scar left behind…”

Johan stammered, his face flushed red.

I’d never heard of increasing healing power through a specific action before.

It seemed the Constellations were teasing Johan.

Constellations don’t lie, but they can downplay or exaggerate the truth.

*‘Blowing on it. How adorable.’*

Instead of telling him the truth, I changed the subject.

“…It’ll be too late once the rankings are public, so you should prepare in advance. I think it would be best to negotiate with the High Priest, but that’s for you to decide. And if you have time, tell the Magic Tower to stop wasting their energy on pointless endeavors.”

“Do you know when the rankings will be finalized?”

In my past life, the rankings had been set at some point after the Constellations’ trials began.

I felt like something had happened in between, but I couldn’t remember the details.

“I’m not sure about that. You should ask your Constellations.”

“But I… Ah! Since you’re also a Hunter, Astell, you might be able to help me!”

“Help you?”

“To be honest, what the Constellations say is very difficult. Maybe it’s because I’m lacking, but I often struggle to understand them. It’s happening a little right now, too.”

“What are they saying?”

“A psycho? That I’ll be corrupted by one? Do you know what any of that means?”

“…”

I could understand.

I could guess how the Constellations watching over Johan felt.

They must be afraid that their good, fun-to-tease boy would be corrupted by hanging out with a bad influence.

“They’re probably talking about me. It sounds like they’re telling you not to get close to me.”

“That can’t be! The Constellations must have misunderstood because they don’t know you well, Astell. I’ll be sure to explain it to them.”

“What if it’s not a misunderstanding?”

“No, it is definitely a misunderstanding.”

Johan’s expression turned serious.

“I saw you give the potion I gave you yesterday to someone else. It was so different from the rumors about you… So I took the liberty of asking Kaiel about you, Astell.”

I wondered why Kaiel had spoken so freely.

*‘So it was Johan who asked.’*

I rested my chin on my hand.

“What did the Master of the Magic Tower say?”

“He said this: that you not only provided information about the monsters but also told him about the barrier. I’m sorry, it must have been a secret.”

“That doesn’t matter… And?”

“The Constellations told me that the barrier is the only way to protect people from the monsters. Only then did I finally understand. Your kind heart, Astell, and your desire to help people.”

I fell silent. It was the first time I’d been left speechless by something so utterly absurd.

“You are completely different from the rumors, Astell. You are more benevolent and considerate than anyone.”

“…Me?”

“If the divine trials hadn’t begun, I would have never known either. Like everyone else, I would still be misunderstanding you as… well, as that mad… person.”

“…”

“Even I, who serves the gods, was a man trapped by prejudice. It was only after receiving your help that I realized your true heart. I was so ashamed of that fact. I couldn’t bear it without meeting you and apologizing.”

I maintained my smile.

*‘Is it possible to be this bad at judging people? This guy is going to cause some serious trouble.’*

I couldn’t stop smiling as I imagined Johan’s Constellations, frustrated and thinking what an idiot he was.

Johan seemed to have made a decision as he looked me straight in the eye.

“Astell, I heard you will be attending the memorial service.”

“Who told you that?”

“Your butler mentioned it.”

He blabbed my schedule without being asked?

*‘Frank isn’t that much of an amateur.’*

“You heard wrong. I won’t be attending—”

Before I could finish, a message popped up.

[Quest: Attend the memorial service.]

[Success: 1 Item Exchange Ticket (Can be exchanged for any one item in the shop within 5 minutes, regardless of point cost)]

[Failure: None]

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

The shop was filled with incredible items.

Of course, finding a decent item in just five minutes was like finding a needle on a sandy beach.

But that was for a novice Hunter, not me. I already knew the most expensive item in the shop.

To think they’d offer an item exchange ticket to me, someone who could find it in one second, not five minutes, if luck was on my side.

*‘And for such a trivial quest, no less.’*

I had to press my lips together to keep from bursting into laughter.

“I will be going. But why do you ask?”

“Please allow me the honor of being your escort.”

“…Is a Paladin allowed to do that?”

“Paladins, unlike priests, have fewer restrictions on their actions.”

“Still, you don’t usually act as escorts. What will you do if people mistake us for lovers?”

Paladins couldn’t marry, but they were free to have relationships. That’s why they usually refrained from actions that could lead to misunderstandings.

“Um…”

Johan rubbed the back of his neck.

*‘He really is innocent.’*

To think the pale nape of his neck would turn red at the mere mention of the word “lovers.”

“There must be many people who misunderstand you as I did, Astell. My name may not be much, but many people know it. If you are with me, you will face fewer unpleasantries.”

“You don’t have to go that far for me.”

“I want to. I want to help you… even if it’s just in this way.”

I see now why Frank leaked my schedule.

I had refused to go with Duke Ruthius, so it seemed he was trying to assign Johan as my guard.

The one who gave the order was, of course, Duke Ruthius.

*‘That’s strange. Why is he doing this? It’s not like he suddenly wants to start acting like a father.’*

Is it because he thinks I’ll actually do something crazy?