Chapter 27 /// Emotional(?) Reunion ///
The people in line were mostly asking for advice on how to heal their injuries and minor illnesses.
Athena seemed to have healing powers, and she would grant their wishes. After about three hours of waiting, the other believers were on their way home, and it was Shion and the others turn at the end of the line.
[ Sorry to keep you waiting ]
“No problem. By the way, I heard you were a goddess”
It is common knowledge in the world that gods died out a long time ago, so it is strange to call them goddesses.
[ I’m actually a Mutated Variant of Pixie. I’m just here to play God. I don’t hate people after all ]
“I see. So, I’d like to get down to business. Are you in possession of a [Demonic Robbing Stone] ?”
[ This one? ]
Athena pulls out a piece of stone from her pocket without any sign of hiding it.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take it”
To show his sincerity, Shion also explained the situation properly. Athena tilted her head a little and was troubled, then nodded pleasantly.
[ It belongs to you in the first place, so I don’t mind. But will you do me one favor? ]
“I’ll do it”
[ Thank you for agreeing so quickly. It’s simple though. I just need you to go and talk to someone. I’ll explain in detail ]
I said people, but it’s my friend, Athena said, who’s currently staying in a village a few dozen kilometers away from here.
The reason why she knows this is because she has an extraordinary magic sense and can generally tell where people she has had contact with in the past are.
[ She was the Water Hero who originally worked out of the country, and she’s easily recognizable because of her beautiful light blue hair ]
“Water Hero… huh…”
[ Tell her that I called for her urgently. Bring her to me and I’ll give you the stone ]
“I understand ……”
Negotiations were concluded, so Shion headed for the village. Fortunately, Haku knew where the village was, so there was no problem with the route.
After a quick exit from the street, the marshland spread out and the liquid demon slime swarmed Haku one after another.
Crush, Crush, Crush!
Haku crushed it with his foot.
But it regenerates almost immediately.
Slime is very resistant to physical attacks.
‘I guess I’ll have to burn it’
“I’ll take care of it”
The [Dark Ball] spewed fire as it slowly circled around Haku, sweeping away the slime.
Haku sighs in admiration.
When Shion was still a Dark Hero, he had a large stock of magic in his Dark Ball. As you can imagine, light magic is incompatible and impossible, but most other attribute magic is in there.
After passing through the marshland while killing slimes, they finally saw the village they were looking for.
‘Water Hero, is she really here?’
“I’m sure she’ll be there. She’s got a rather wide range of activities’
‘Arara, do you know her?’
Shion nodded his head and smiled slightly awkwardly.
In fact, more than a few years ago, we had been working together. Like party members.
We had good chemistry, but had to break up due to pressure from others.
This was because the king to whom Shion worked for and the king to whom she had sworn allegiance were not on very good terms.
Also, a Hero is required to be a leader. I was pressured that it was strange to have two leaders in the party, so we parted ways and somehow never met again.
In other words, this meeting will be very awkward.
As soon as Haku moved to the entrance of the village, the villagers he encountered were surprised to see him fall on his butt.
“There’s another demon over here!”
‘Ah, don’t worry, I won’t harm anyone~. Sniff, Sniff. I’m a cute Tamed Demon, sir’
“Hello. We’re traveler”
The villagers finally calmed down when they found out that there was someone to protect them. As for Shion, his earlier line bothered him.
“You said there was another one, does that mean demons came out?”
“Rampaging Ox! They didn’t just tear up my field, they tore up the walls of my house!”
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll take him down”
“Really?! Then, follow me!”
The villager leads Shion to his house. There was a rough hole in the wall, and when he looked through it, he saw a two-meter-long, three-horned cow.
He was rummaging around inside, searching for food.
Shion enters the room. The other party immediately sensed the noise and prepared to rush in.
Because he didn’t want it to get too violent, Shion produced his [Black Wings] and sent a large number of feathers flying. The moment they touched it, the Rampaging Ox rotted away and died.
“Hopefully, with the next [Demon Robbing Stone], I can take out both of my wings”
The power has returned, but it can only produce one wing. When it becomes a double wing, it will have the ability to fly, and Shion strongly hopes that its function will be restored.
“Where’s the demon?”
Then a clear female voice came from outside the house and echoed inside.
When a villager tells her that there’s a demon rampaging in the village, she immediately runs to the scene.
“Missus Hero, a Traveler defeated it just now”
It was definitely the Water Hero outside the building, which made Shion stop in his tracks. But when Haku called his name, he gave up and went outside.
“H…Hey”
“―――― !?”
Shion raises his hand awkwardly, and the Water Hero puts her hand over her mouth and rolls her eyes wide.
Shion’s eyes are looking down, so he doesn’t notice yet.
Her eyes began to moisten quickly, and she finally felt tears welling up in her eyes.