I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

9 – Part 2 # Before Becoming a Hero (4)

“This place is called the Holy Temple! In the rare event that Sallen is attacked, it’s where the people evacuate!”

Perhaps it was because it had been a long time since she went out, Yulina was personally guiding Isaac and Zeke through the territory, brimming with divine energy. The problem was that she was revealing all military secrets.

The only fortunate thing is that Zig doesn’t know that it’s a military secret. Isaac was erasing it from his memory as he listened. Anyway, it’s meaningless to remember.

“What is that?”

“They call it a beacon. When something happens in the territory, they light it here to let everyone know. It’s a grateful teacher!”

“I see!”

‘Talks like a kindergarten teacher.’

Isaac knew the setting that he liked children. But seeing it with his own eyes, Isaac felt that the setting was definitely noticeable. Moreover, others were the same.

People living in Salen were strangely overflowing with leisure. Passing through the streets, merchants would offer fruits or bread one by one, urging you to try them.

Even in the blacksmith shop, the blacksmith gave away the new weapon he had just made for free. What was it? Commemorating the first hero who set foot in Salen, they just give it away.

This was because of Salen’s characteristics. It was a place considered to have all the resources of this world, and at the same time, it was a land of plenty if you just planted crops. A land where you could farm every day without a break.

That’s why.

People called it.

A blessed land.

But is it truly a blessing for everyone?

Muttering to himself, Isaac continued to walk with Yurina. After the inspection of the territory was over, the sun was already setting. Isaac sighed and said,

“I’m tired.”

“I’m exhausted too.”

“So, what do you think of this land?”

“Everyone seemed happy. Like paradise.”

Yeah, like paradise. It couldn’t be helped. In this land that was not strange to have a small country beyond the city in terms of resources and land size, only about 800 people lived.

Of course, considering this era, 800 people could be considered a large population. But considering the size of the land and resources, something seemed odd. But there was a reason for everything.

“By the way, do you remember the request?”

“Of course! It was a request to defeat the pests!”

“Then, shouldn’t we keep an eye on the target of the request?”

“Huh? What does that mean…?”

Zig blurred the end of his words and looked around. Then, his golden eyes widened like lanterns. Zig urgently stood up and continued to look around.

“Even if you look so hard, there’s nothing you can’t find.”

“My, my sister disappeared!!!”

“I’ll know when I see it.”

Certainly, just a moment ago, Yurina, who was resting beside him, is now nowhere to be seen. Of course, Isaac had already noticed her secretly slipping away.

He deliberately let it go. There were several reasons, including the reason for Zig’s growth. But the main reason was that Yurina was not dangerous at all.

“I will not harm others with my concept.”

That was Isaac’s belief. A concept that causes harm to others is not one of a true concept lover. A true concept lover does not harm others for the sake of their own concept. Isaac said:

“Never take your eyes off from now on. Understand?”

“I, I’m sorry.”

“It would be good if you understood clearly. It’s not even dangerous.”

“But, didn’t you say it’s a pest?”

“You’ll know when you see it for yourself.”

Isaac never gave them the answer. It stemmed from the belief that spoiling is sinful behavior. But to Zeke, it felt like education. Thorough education, at that.

Fortunately, finding Yulina was not difficult at all. They showed themselves openly on the streets, making it easy to trace. When they asked the people around, they got an immediate answer.

Thanks to that, Isaac and Zeke stopped their observation. They saw Yulina, who was rarely seen in a deserted area, kissing a man. Isaac quickly reached out and covered Zeke’s eyes.

“Huh? What’s this? The lips are merging…?”

“Forget it. It’s too soon for you.”

“What a surprise! What is it?!”

“Ahahahaha, you’ve come already.”

While Yulina casually responded with a cool smile, the man who was kissing her was startled and looked at Isaac and Zeke. He had gray hair and a scar.

On his back was a huge greatsword. There was no mistake. That man was none other than Cain, the protagonist of the side story of the wandering warrior and the saint. Like in the side story, Cain had a fiery personality.

“What are you guys? Have you followed behind Yulina?”

“You could say that.”

“You bastard, what nonsense have you done to Yulina?!”

“It’s not like that! Mr. Cain!”

“I was commissioned. By her father.”

“Oh, her father? Her father-in-law?!”

But at the same time, he was described as having a pure personality like water in the side story. And just as described, Cain believed Isaac’s words without a doubt, even though he may be an enemy.

“Father-in-law. It seems like they made a promise for the future.”

“T-That….”

“The request I received was to drive away the pests that approach Yulina. You understand what I mean by saying this much, right?”

“….”

The slightly lighthearted atmosphere became heavy. Cain also glared at Isaac with a serious expression. And Isaac did not dodge and responded. The moment of imminent clash.

“Shouldn’t we just leave us alone?”

“It’s useless, Yulina. Heroes like us are naturally like that. We follow the money, we’re despicable…”

“There’s not no way.”

“There is a way?! Really?!”

Cain shouted in genuine surprise. As a wanderer, he had traveled to countless places, and the heroes he had seen were nothing more than trash lusting for money.

Trash that would betray even innocent people for money. To them, there was no compromise unless they were offered more significant money. That’s what he had believed. However, Isaac was different.

“Lord Pragakh was worried that a scoundrel might attach himself to his daughter. In other words… if you get permission from Lord Pragakh, there should be no problem with your relationship.”

The hero hired by Lord Pragakh in the side story was truly the epitome of trash. Without listening to any circumstances, he tried to capture Cain, only to be subdued in return.

Thanks to that, the relationship between Cain and Yulina became strained. From Cain’s perspective, it must have felt like a trap. They then resolved the misunderstanding, leading to a story where they fell in love again.

“Yeah, yeah. There was such an option! Then it’s settled!”

“That’s right! Father will definitely approve!”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but is it resolved?”

Watching the situation from the side, Zeke felt that way. Even to the young Zeke, it was evident that the two genuinely cherished and loved each other. Isaac spoke.

“Well…”

Isaac’s expression was uneasy.

Because the ending of a wanderer and a saint…

Ultimately ends in a sad ending.

* * *

Cain and Yulina’s steps no longer hesitated. They truly loved each other. And Lord Pragakh wasn’t such a strict lord.

When Cain and Yulina came hand in hand to Yuliss, the first thing Yuliss did was interrogate Isaac. Why did he ignore the request? Isaac answered the question.

“What do you want me to do about two people genuinely in love, not pests?”

“…I see. Well, that’s how it looks to me too.”

“Father! No, sir stepfather! Please give me your blessing!!”

The moment Yuliss’s forehead flushed and blood vessels popped, was it due to his mood? Or did it mean he was that angry? Yuliss, who had been catching his breath for a moment, sighed and said.

“Come in. I’ll tell you everything.”

Cain and Yulina followed Yuliss into the mansion. That was the story that happened an hour ago. Isaac and Zeke couldn’t go in because they were not involved.

Bang!

“Oh, he finally came out. Mr. Cain?”

“…”

The sound of the door slamming and Cain running out could be heard. Despite Zeke’s attempt to greet him with a smile, Cain ignored even Zeke and Isaac. He just rushed out blindly.

“Thank you for your hard work until now. Thanks to you all, I was able to bring up the story I’ve been putting off for a long time.”

“…”

“I’ll consider the request a success. Since I’ve doubled the compensation, please be careful on your way back.”

Suddenly, Ulysses, who had followed Cain, smiled bitterly and handed a purse of money to Isaac. Indeed, as Ulysses had said, the purse contained twice the written compensation.

“The request is over with this.”

“Over? With this?”

“Yes. We’ve received the compensation, and the client has completed the request.”

“So, can we just go back like this?”

“You could say that.”

An indescribable emotion was raging in Zeke’s chest like a storm. Cain, who had just walked away, was biting his lips. The emotions he felt there were anger and despair.

Why, even though the request was clearly over. The feeling in Zeke’s gut was telling him that it shouldn’t end like this. But how could he explain this emotion to his master?

“Is it really the work of a hero to finish like this and go back?”

“Yes, that’s how all of Gideon’s heroes are.”

“…”

People who only think about the compensation for the request and the achievements they will accumulate. If not, they don’t care even if innocent people die. Most of Gideon’s heroes were like that.

“Indeed, I can’t accept that.”

But Zeke denied it head-on. The hero he wanted to be wasn’t like that. He wanted to be a hero from a fairy tale, defeating monsters and saving people.

“The request is not over yet! Nothing has been resolved!”

“Are you directly denying Gideon’s way?”

“…Yes! Even if that’s not the path of a hero!!”

Compared to the countless heroes flying and soaring from Gideon, Zeke was just a kid who talked big. However, even so, he could never concede on this matter.

Unable to overcome the emotions rushing in his chest, Zeke shouted out. Isaac, who had been watching Zeke for a moment, soon placed his hand on Zeke’s shoulder.

“Excellent.”

“Huh? You’re not scolding me?”

Zeke, who thought he would definitely be scolded, tightly closed his eyes. However, what came back to him was praise. Thanks to that, his brain couldn’t keep up with the situation, and he blanked out.

“Of course, your approach could be considered heretical in Gideon.”

Not practical and relying on emotions, caring about people with stories and not being able to turn a blind eye to others. Truly a foolish idiot who couldn’t even take care of himself, dealing with others. But even so.

“That, too, is a hero.”

Let’s go.

To Rescue Everyone.