I Became a Hero With a Lot of Experience

12 – 012: Farewell (1)

“Hey.. Have you heard that rumor?”

A knight started spreading a vulgar rumor along with the opening of his mouth.

The rumor, with only suspicions and no evidence, was the kind that, if it reached the ears of higher-ups, would leave no room for defense, even if one’s neck was on the line.

As knights of the royal family and enforcers of the law, they knew this fact better than anyone, but knowing and actually acting were two different things.

Even with rational thinking, it doesn’t necessarily align with actual behavior.

If that were the case, there would be no one in this world who makes mistakes, and disciplines such as mental training and ascetic practices wouldn’t exist.

Speaking in a remote place, these casual thoughts, such as assuming no one would hear due to the sounds of marching, made light of the seriousness that should weigh down their lips.

Despite being close, the scandals of those high and mighty individuals, never to be reached, were sweeter than any dessert and more alluring than any adventure.

Perhaps the patience of the knights had fallen short of what they had hoped for, but what did that matter now?

There were more entertaining and perilous gossips right before them.

“I heard. But is it really as the rumors say? That princess…”

Penny’s reputation wasn’t particularly bad among the knights.

Didn’t they say in the land of the blind, a man with two eyes is considered a fool?

In a world where everyone scoffed at innocence, even if one was a princess, having been with only one person before marriage placed her relatively in the innocent category.

Of course, whether the number of experiences was one or two, a non-virgin remained a non-virgin, never becoming purely innocent.

Just as the moon could never become the sun no matter how hard it tried, virginity and innocence could never coexist, never touching in parallel lines throughout one’s life.

Yet, in this world, everything was relative.

If a pickpocket were sandwiched between murderers and rapists, amidst the qualifiers of ‘relatively,’ they’d become an upright, ordinary citizen.

Under certain conditions, even a maiden who had given herself away but then abandoned her partner for a transfer, joining the ranks of those with a double-digit number of s*xual encounters, became a somewhat virgin-like presence.

That’s why it was shocking.

The evil deeds of a villain and those of a virtuous person were never the same.

The disappointment among the knights was indescribable, given how they had thought of her as pure and innocent until now.

“Sir, when we are together, it’s never a big deal, is it? But would you react like that over just one woman?”

“Well… if it was truly only with Lady Rass, I wouldn’t have thrown myself off a carriage.”

“You never know in people’s affairs. Hey, maybe even among us, there’s something going on with Lady Rass…”

“You fool!”

The knights exchanged vulgar gossip and hearty laughter.

Unbeknownst to them, someone might be listening from behind.

“…”

Though they had been cautious in their own way, the moment a secret is made, it tends to leak.

Rass, once again, wiped his face in disgust at the vulgar rumors tainting his ears.

Was wiping his face while diligently cleaning his ears an attempt to rid his mind of those foul words?

Even if he scrubbed his ears to a winter-red sheen, the words that had filled his mind didn’t trickle out.

Instead, futile attempts at evasion only magnified a single question in his mind.

The doubt harbored by the knights was like a sharp, veiled dagger to Rass, something that seemed to lightly touch but could potentially strike with razor-like sharpness.

The mental dagger that scraped his chest, not his body, momentarily blinked in and threatened Rass with its sharp tip.

He thought it couldn’t be true, yet in his mind, one possibility lingered.

How many times had Penny been away from Las’s gaze until now?

Or perhaps it was the reemergence of old memories, like the sight of her with another man, which would have been insignificant in ordinary times, that tormented Las.

‘It’s a relationship that’s already over…’

Was there a lingering attachment deep down?

Or did he still believe there was a chance because the hero turned out to be more pitiful than he thought?

In the midst of these good questions, when was it that he wavered between the two?

Suddenly, Las turned his body, surprised by the hands tapping on his shoulders.

“…Oh, it’s you.”

Priest Uria and magician Rubia.

The two, who could be considered Las’s academy peers and colleagues, asked with worried expressions.

“…You don’t look well. Is it because of the rumors about Princess Penny?”

Las shook his head with a deep sigh. No further words were needed, and the two nodded as if understanding.

“…Because of that person, strange baseless rumors are circulating, causing hardship for both you and Princess Penny. Perhaps intentionally aiming for such behavior…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Las, who ran to the hero before anyone else, could understand.

The dark eyes, as if feeling the despair of having all human evils in front of them, were not expressions that could be feigned.

Moreover, would a human who didn’t even know what sacred power was commit suicide just to create a rumor?

“Yeah… I, I also think that way. There’s no evidence, but…”

“But what?”

Rubia, as always, interjected slightly, and Uria, with a furrowed brow, nudged her.

“That person… Even if I don’t know about anything else, it doesn’t seem like someone who would lie about being a virgin.”

“….”

As much as Rubia, who had resentment toward the hero, and Las himself, disliked it, it was a fact that they couldn’t deny.

Although he claimed not to be one, the hero, who pathologically obsessed with virgins, was not someone who would lie about virgin-related matters.

Knowing this fact, Las agonized.

Perhaps Penny was not that kind of person, like the hero or other knights claimed.

“Uh, did I say something unnecessary again…? But… rather than worrying about it so much, why not ask the hero directly?”

“…What?”

“…No, because the hero doesn’t lie about virgin-related matters… If you ask, wouldn’t he answer honestly?”

“….”

He glanced up at the roof of the carriage where the knight resided.

Unaware of Ras’s thoughts, he, having peacefully awakened from sleep, stretched his arms high while yawning.

“Ugh, this persistent maiden’s scent!”

“……”

It’s a wonder that someone muttering such nonsense since morning isn’t fixated on maidens, a passing dog would surely find it amusing.

The knight who descended from the carriage headed toward the fire pit where a stove was set up, scratching his head in preparation for a meal.

He had even wielded the ladle and knife himself, claiming the dishes prepared by the knights were tasteless, but they were unbelievably delicious, made from seemingly the same ingredients.

Ras had tasted it once, and despite comparing it to the finest restaurants in the kingdom, he remembered being astonished by its unmatched taste.

“…Sh-should I ask now?”

Ras had not entirely dismissed the thought.

The knight may detest Penny, yet he’s not one to lie about maiden-related matters, as Rubia had mentioned.

Moreover, he showed no interest in politics or anything else; surely, if asked, he would provide an honest answer.

It was just a word, a simple question, but Ras simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.

His lips trembled when standing before the knight. Even though there shouldn’t be any lingering attachment, he couldn’t help but imagine the worst scenarios flooding his mind.

“……”

“I-I’m sorry, j-just forget what I said.”

“If your heart isn’t settled… Shall I come by tonight?”

Both of them almost simultaneously grasped Ras’s hand.

Was it because of the repeated touch that the warmth of their palms felt so comforting to Ras, or was it because his heart had turned cold due to the scars of disappointment?

Or perhaps it was merely because, in his long tenure as the king’s guard, he hadn’t felt the touch of a woman for so long.

It didn’t take long for Ras’s head to bow under the compassionate gazes of the two.

“Behaving like a rag from morning… “

The three, blinded by imminent physical pleasure, failed to notice the knight muttering briefly as they passed by.

To suspect an old lover’s infidelity while being unable to resist the temptation of another woman—what a fitting behavior for a man who doesn’t believe in the truth of a woman who preserved her chastity despite having been with seventeen men.

What a pathetic bastard.

*****

“Haah~!”

Perhaps it was because he knew he wouldn’t die even if he fell.

Traveling on the roof, where one couldn’t afford to relax for even a moment, was starting to become familiar.

The rooftop wasn’t exactly a comfortable place, but compared to the carriage permeated with a virulent maiden’s scent, it might as well have been heaven. The cool breeze greeted me, unveiling a night sky adorned with stars unseen from Earth when I lifted my head.

Occasionally, the noise of a prostitute banging on the ceiling drifted up from below, but each time, I repaid the disturbance with a little leap on the carriage.

Besides, although the internet wasn’t accessible, the songs nestled within my smartphone kept me company, so boredom didn’t stand a chance.

During the journey, unbeknownst to me, thanks to the goddess’s power, the Bluetooth earphones and smartphone batteries seemed to be inexhaustible.

Originally, there seemed to be plans to connect to the internet, but a lengthy apology message indicated it might be challenging to do so.

Why has a religion so compassionate towards this benevolent deity been disregarded until now?

Excluding the fact she dragged me to a place teeming with maggots like a garbage dump, she has never been harsh with me even once.

I’m not particularly someone who discriminates between virgins and non-virgins, but if this is the goddess I’ve encountered, I might consider worship even after returning to Earth.

Anyway, thanks to the music and stars, the tedious journey passed in the blink of an eye.

Now, there’s barely a day left until the royal road. We’re currently staying at a camping site in a certain forest, and they say that once we leave this forest, it’s the royal road.

As I tried to recall the enjoyable journey, about to close my eyes, the eerie silence of the forest was disrupted by a particularly grating creaking sound.

“Those bastards are at it again.”

The carriage shook from behind. That carriage belongs to that magician and priest.

Inside must be Las, probably. We recognized each other from the moment we locked eyes with a sarcastic gaze.

That so-called commander is busy playing around with his subordinates instead of being on duty.

“What a jerk, seriously.”

I’ve endured it until now, but I can’t take it anymore. Just when I was about to rise to repay them for disturbing my sleep, at that moment…

“Huh?”

Suddenly, a violet light, emanating from the other side of the forest untouched by the torchlight, flew towards me, propelling my body far away.

When I brushed off the dust and stood up, I found myself flying across the forest, far away from the carriage.

For such a grand flight, it wasn’t particularly painful, but the evident intent of the attack brought my thoughts to a halt.

Rather than properly understanding what was happening, I swiftly noticed flames surging from the direction of the carriage with the knights’ screams, rapidly spreading through the forest.

I’m not sure what’s going on, but I need to get back. I tried to rush back, but the perpetrator of this assault, appearing behind me, wouldn’t allow it.

“Are you a warrior? (Experience points: 19)”

When I turned my head at the commanding female voice, I saw a woman, wielding a sword as big as her, smiling at me.

Crimson skin, and an odd form of horns that almost claimed she wasn’t human.

Before I could fully grasp the overwhelming influx of information, the woman charged at me.

“Under Commander Shabrina, an officer of the Demon King’s army, Embasada! Your life ends now! (Experience points: 19)”

The massive sword came crashing towards me.

“In a situation where death loomed before me, what I saw wasn’t the sword rushing toward me or her clothes, which were oddly revealing. It was the number above her head.

＜Experience Points: 19＞

Yes, she was the virgin I could kill after transitioning into this world for the first time.

So, as a hero, I had only one thing to do.

“Kill her!”

Though I didn’t discriminate between virgins and non-virgins, I truly didn’t want to kill her. But as a mere mortal facing this cruel fate, what else could I do?

“Rip her dress into 19 pieces!”

“Wow, what an impressive feat! (Experience Points: 19)”