Chapter 148

Translator: Lizz

Proofreader: Xemul

Loren had heard the stories, but had never witnessed it himself . That was why he hadnt been able to call up the memory right away .

He knew that it was already too late to say Run!, but he did anyway .

Run!

Loren didnt know if the adventurers facing Tizona realized that it was directed at them or not . Because the moment he had recalled Tizonas identity and shouted out the warning to them, he had also picked Lapis up and ran away .

Gula also had set off after them just one moment later, and at almost the same time, Tizona had opened her mouth .

Burn . Ashes to ashes . Trashes to ashes .

The words were spoken as if sung . As soon as they left her mouth, the adventurers burst into flames .

The red flames enveloped their whole bodies and, without a single scream or a single whiff of smoke or smell of burning flesh, the adventurers became piles of ash in the blink of an eye . Despite how violent the flames were, it didnt spread .

The massacre was over too soon, and it had happened so seamlessly that no one was able to utter anything . Those presented could only turn their gazes towards the piles of ash lying on the floor .

The sole perpetrator, Tizona, slowly lowered her arms and looked around . After confirming that no one had anything to say, she slowly walked towards the wall, where Loren had escaped to with Lapis . Her expression was so indifferent that it was impossible to imagine she had just burned several people to death .

You seem to know about me, dont you?

Tizona was coming closer and closer with a clacking of heels, and Loren found himself unable to answer her . He had the experience of imagining scenes after hearing stories about this before, but it was probably the first time that he saw the actual scene . It was so shocking that he was at a loss for words .

Wha what was just now?

Gula, who had run to the wall like Loren, asked with dumbfounded words . Hearing her questions, Lorens stiffened lips finally moved to say the following:

Hellfire Sword

That means you know me, dont you? I also feel like I know you . Maybe weve met somewhere before?

I dont know . At least, this should be the first time Ive met you .

Then maybe it was on a battlefield . In that case, its very likely that only I saw you Have you always used that greatsword?

Tizona glanced at the greatsword on Lorens back and asked .

Loren had used a similar sword during his mercenary days, but it had been a very ordinary steel sword, not entirely black like this one . That sword broke when he became an adventurer, so he bought this one as a replacement as per Lapis advice . Loren suspected that this sword was the reason why Tizona felt like she had met him before .

No, Ive just bought this one recently . The sword I used to use was broken .

Was it similar to this one? A steel greatsword?

Yeah, you can say so .

Loren had considered lying, but he wasnt sure what Tizona would do if she knew she had been lied to . Rather than taking that risk, he believed it was better to just tell the truth .

Is that so? Are you the mercenary called Decapitating Wind?

No, Im not . Isnt he the one said to be able to turn the tide of a battle by himself, and thus have a nickname, just like you? Im not such a big shot .

It felt like Loren already had a similar conversation before . Still being carried by Loren, Lapis watched him and Tizona . Loren looked very earnest, his face saying Im not lying . Meanwhile, Tizona nodded multiple times as if she was satisfied .

You really are Decapitating Wind . What are you doing here? I heard the mercenary company you belonged to was annihilated . Did you quit working as a mercenary?

Thats why I said Im not him . My company was indeed annihilated, and I did quit being a mercenary, but I dont have a nickname . I was just an ordinary mercenary .

Loren kept insisting that it was not him . But Tizona already made conclusion and looked at him with an expression of understanding his need to deny the truth .

Uhm, excuse me, but is it alright for me to say something?

Feeling that the conversation was going nowhere, Lapis timidly said to Tizona from within Lorens arms .

It seemed like Tizona hadnt noticed Lapis existence until then . She turned towards her and nodded after a brief consideration .

If Loren keeps insisting that he is not that mercenary, then maybe there really is some misunderstanding here?

Thats right But he really is Decapitating Wind . I have no doubt about it .

Tizona said with such confidence that Lapis wondered if it really was the truth . Loren didnt look like he was lying, but it was possible that he himself didnt know . Whatever the truth was, there was something Lapis felt like she had to say .

Anyway, Im not saying that those adventurers werent at fault since they did take up arms themselves, but I cant help but think that there will be a lot of trouble if you kill people that easily .

Hearing Lapis words, Tizonas face stiffened at once . Just as Loren realized that she had killed them without much thought about consequences, Tizona turned her eyes towards the piles of ash on the floor and murmured:

Is that bad?

Well, for adventurers, theres a term about killing someone during quarrels I myself did get quite serious in quarrels sometimes, but to kill others is Have you done that, Loren?

I havent . Probably .

Loren recalled having done rather terrible things during quarrels, like hurling his opponents away or strangling them . They might be unable to recover, but they probably hadnt died, or so he thought .

But Im not an adventurer .

If Tizona really was Hellfire Sword as Loren said, then she was a mercenary and not an adventurer . What Lapis had mentioned only applied for quarrels between adventurers; no one here knew what it would be like for quarrels with non-adventurers .

In that case, would you mind coming with me? Id like to have a talk with you .

It was Ivy who suddenly cut in . The receptionist had a smile on her face, but her aura was terrifying somehow . She was keeping a tight hold on Tizonas shoulder from behind .

Meanwhile, Tizona, who could easily resist Ivy if she wanted to, looked to have frozen . She looked towards Loren for help, but he immediately averted his eyes . Getting involved with Tizona or Ivy? Thanks, but no thanks . Loren didnt want to get involved with either of them .

Well then, let us go to the back . It wont take too much of your time; itll end quickly and it wont be painful at all, so please follow me obediently .

Follow you? Wait, Decapitating Wind! Help a fellow mercenary, will you?! Wait!

But didnt I tell you?

Tizona hadnt lost a fight here, but she was letting Ivy drag her away by the shoulder . Lapis face indicated very clearly that she didnt want to get involved, and Lorens answer was very blunt:

I dont know you . Ive already told you, Im not the mercenary called Decapitating Wind, and I only know the name of Hellfire Sword by rumors .

Lapis felt like Loren wasnt lying or trying to trick Tizona . She couldnt tell if Tizona had told the truth or not, but rather than reflecting on it, distance themselves from her was a higher priority .

Well then, lets pretend that we didnt see anything here . First of all, lets look for some jobs to pay for Gulas food expenses, shall we? Otherwise, at this rate well end up on the street .

Does she really eat that much?

Loren looked dazed at Gula, to which she shyly scratched her head .

Eh, there was a long period when I couldnt eat anything, you know? And right after that I was eating a lot of strange stuff So to stop eating an ordinary meal for a change became irresistible

I know how you feel, but its still no excuse to make us go bankrupt .

I know its rare, but itll be nice if we can find some high-paying jobs . Its even better if Gula can take them on her own .

Lapis-chan, thats too cruel

Gula began to butter up Lapis, who had just told her to earn the money for her food herself . Loren, who had never heard of any parties getting bankrupt due to food expenses, began to thoroughly investigate the jobs still left at the reception . The Tizona incident had completely vanished from his mind .

In the end, they couldnt find any jobs with decent pay that day, so they decided to return to their inn and come back later for a fresh start . But the next day, when they came back only to have Ivy suddenly drag them into a backroom, and Loren was reminded of Tizona once more .