Will I End Up As a Hero or a Demon King (WN)

Chapter 177

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Chapter 177 – Each Path

Day 3 at Biblon Marsh.

Even though I didn’t hunt at all yesterday, it’s actually day 2. Today, I went to the dismantling site for the second time and put my special basket on the counter.

It’s really easy to get back on track.

I’m already flying around the town without a care in the world, so I’m working hard at hunting without losing any time, and I’ve decided to take my basket to the dismantling site as soon as it’s full of magic stones.

If I go during the day, the counter at the dismantling site will be empty, and while I’m waiting for them to count the magic stones, I can eat the food I bought from the stall, so it’s a two-for-one deal.

“When B-rank gets serious, they’re amazing… Here you go. This is the second batch.”

The men handing out the materials at the other counter next to me looked at me in surprise at the mention of a second batch, but I didn’t mind.

While responding appropriately to the number of each magic stone, I checked the status screen to see the progress of my skills.

“(If it weren’t for the dinner party at the mayor’s house, I might have been able to finish today… but oh well.)”

Tomorrow, I wonder if I’ll be able to go to the marsh until around noon and then go hunting for fairies in the afternoon?

Speaking of which, what were the other types besides fairies?

While I was thinking about these things, I received the wooden board and went to the money exchange.

“Loki-san!”

I was called over in a slightly strong tone of voice, and when I turned to look in the direction of the voice, I saw Reimi-san in civilian clothes.

Amalie-san and Estelle-san were also in the distance, and they seemed to have heard the voice and ran over to us.

“(Could it be that they were waiting separately, one at the dismantling site and the other at the reception?)”

Yesterday, I couldn’t stand the atmosphere of the place and finally ran away.

The atmosphere was so unpleasant…

“I’m sorry about yesterday! I couldn’t thank you properly for all your efforts, and all I could do was break down and cry…”

“I’m sorry… I knew the reality, but when I saw the equipment he used, it was like my heart would burst…”

“I’m sorry. What we should have done first was to thank Loki-kun for your efforts in searching and rescuing us, but I’m really sorry…”

As soon as they arrived, Estelle-san and Amalie-san, who were also crying and holding their husbands’ equipment like Reimi-san, were quick to apologize.

No, that’s not what I wanted to hear.

“Wait… First of all, please raise your heads. It’s not your fault that someone close to you died. Please don’t apologize.”

Even so…

I guess I couldn’t stand their behavior, so I opened my mouth to say something. The three of them didn’t stop apologizing, so I lost my patience and spoke up.

“Instead of apologizing to me, I’d be happier if you thanked me!”

After I said that, they finally calmed down and thanked me.

Yes, this is better.

I can be proud of what I did.

They nodded in agreement,

“So, Loki-san, is it okay if I come over tonight?”

“””Eh?!”””

Reimi-san’s words made the three of us let out a startled scream.

All the adults present seemed to sense that something was wrong, and a strange atmosphere began to fill the air.

“Uh… what? What do you mean?”

“It’s about the reward for your quest. I think it’s a reward for a job well done…”

Even though I asked her the reason, all I could think of was the question mark in my head.

“(Wait a minute…did I say that…?)”

I tried to remember our exchange the other day, but I couldn’t remember saying anything like, “I’ll definitely get results, so… what do you think?”

Could it be that I didn’t tell her properly that I didn’t want the reward because it would be bad for Riste?

Just as I was about to open my mouth to make that judgment,

“W-well, then I can only do so much…”

“If you don’t mind a dirty body…”

“Hohyo…”

The only sound that could be heard was the pathetic air escaping from my lungs.

“(Whoa, whoa, whoa, this is unbelievable! Could it be a combination game?!)”

It’s not just a case of being excited.

Not to mention Reimi-san, Amalie-san is a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties who seems nice, and Estelle-san is especially assertive about her chest.

“(T-t-t-this is getting really serious… I’m not prepared for this tonight…)”

Just as my imagination was about to burst with the night, I suddenly felt a catch in the word ‘tonight’.

“Oh… it’s dinner with the mayor…”

“Eh?”

“Oh no, the mayor invited me to dinner tonight. Apparently, they’re going to pay me for rescuing the children… haha…”

I could only manage a fake smile.

In my heart, I cursed that ‘rare gorilla’.

“I see… Since this was the last night I wanted to spend in Lipsum, that’s a problem.”

“What? Is that so?”

Those words calmed me down a bit, and when I asked for more details, it seemed that Reimi-san’s hometown was the small town of Mir that I had just passed through the other day. She had married into the family and was working as a receptionist at the guild to support her husband, who was from Lipsum.

However, since she has no children and her husband has passed away, she has no reason to stay in Lipsum, so she resigned from the guild yesterday.

It seems that she had already discussed this with the guild master. Assuming the worst for her husband, she plans to return to her parents’ house in Mir tomorrow and, once she settles in, either work as a receptionist at the Hunters’ Guild in Mir or do some sort of clerical work in the back office.

That’s why she was dressed so neatly today.

I think it’s a rather sudden development, but I guess there are feelings that only people who have lost someone close to them can understand, so it’s probably not something that outsiders should comment on.

“(Limited to tonight… already reserved… a combination of the inexperienced… no, no, no)”

As I calmed down, Riste’s figure appeared.

Maybe she doesn’t think she’s been betrayed, but from my point of view, if things continue like this, it will be a spectacular betrayal.

“Phew~… it’s okay. I don’t want anything like that, so please don’t worry about the reward. Oh, and Amalie-san and Estelle-san don’t have to come either.”

“…..”

“Well then, how about taking the rare occupation of Shamaness with you on your hunt? I thought about it, but… Loki-kun is a B-rank, right? Even among those, you seem to be exceptionally strong…”

“Ha-hahahaha…”

The exceptional thing Estelle-san is talking about is the fact that her memories were switched. It’s being made out to be me, but it’s probably actually about that thing Ria did to the men.

When you’re shown something like that, it’s hard to keep up with your understanding.

In reality, I was just crawling on the ground in a pitiful state after being poisoned!

But Shamaness

I thought it was an unusual occupation, so I asked her about it in detail, and it seems to be a female version of Sorcerer. In this world, there is a growing demand for both sorcery and medicine, and it seems to be a rather rare intermediate occupation that only women can choose.

Personally, I can’t hold down a job, so I was curious about the Spell Magic that I didn’t have yet, and I ended up asking her to teach me the requirements for obtaining it as a way of returning the favor for saving her life.

Estelle-san tilted her head as if to say, “Is that really enough?” But then she whispered, “Dark Magic, Level 3,” so seductively that I could almost see a heart mark at the end of her words, and I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine.

It’s true that I felt a rush of air in my ear, but it’s not like Estelle-san has any dark magic.

So you can’t judge a book by its cover.

And I don’t know what kind of magic it is, but if it can be used in conjunction with medicine to heal, then this world is really deep.

“Well, Loki-kun, thank you for taking on this emergency quest. I’m only good at arithmetic, but if you ever need any help, please call on me. I’m going to work for the Hunters’ Guild in Mir from now on.”

“Me too. I think I’ll look for a party in Lipsum as planned, but I’ll definitely remember this favor, so if there’s anything I can do as a healer, I’ll definitely help.”

“You saved my life, Loki-kun, so I’ll do the same. I don’t have to stay in Lipsum anymore, so I’m not sure what I’ll do, but if you need me, I’ll follow you anywhere.”

“Fufu, I don’t like it when things get so urgent that I have to ask everyone for help, but if anything happens―if anything at all―I’ll come to you.”

And so they went their separate ways.

Perhaps because I had become interested in their occupations and skills, our parting ended up being a kind of farewell speech in which we announced our areas of expertise.

Perhaps some people would have chosen to include the two hunters in their party here.

But I couldn’t do that.

I must continue to work alone in the future because I will be subject to tremendous restrictions in all areas.

“I think Estelle-san was trying to say something even if it was hopeless, but Amalie-san probably wanted to say something but couldn’t…”

It was just a feeling.

But looking at their expressions, I felt like I was being overconfident.

Now, I’ll go to the mayor’s house after I get my reward for today’s quest and the urgent request search.

I wonder what I should talk about at dinner with the mayor, who has such a mysterious atmosphere.

While thinking about such things, I finished dealing with the Hunters’ Guild and went to the mayor’s house alone.

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