Episode 208. Interlude – Red Moon (1)

“Ugh… Grr…”

With a dying groan.

The light in Wolf Mask’s eyes, visible through the mask, quickly faded.

“Haa, haa!”

Yurina, panting heavily, pulled out the sword that had pierced Wolf Mask’s heart.

“…Ah.”

She let out a low gasp as she looked at Wolf Mask’s fallen body, then shuddered.

“Sorry, Dale.”

“Huh? For what?”

“I should’ve interrogated them first to find out what they were doing in Valhalla City… but I ended up…”

“Ah, don’t worry about that.”

I forced a bitter smile and shook my head.

At first, I planned to capture and interrogate them, but my thoughts changed while watching the battle.

‘Even if we interrogated them, we probably wouldn’t have gotten much.’

Fox Mask and Rabbit Mask were clearly far below Wolf Mask’s level, and it was obvious they wouldn’t have much useful information. As for Wolf Mask, he wasn’t the type to talk even under interrogation.

“But…”

“And it’s not like we can only get information through their mouths, right?”

I approached the fallen Wolf Mask and removed his mask.

Underneath was the face of a middle-aged man with a square jaw and thick eyebrows.

His face was covered in scars, so much so that it was hard to find a spot without one.

‘It’s like he’s been stitched back together.’

The sheer number of scars made it a wonder he was still alive.

I frowned as I carefully examined Wolf Mask’s face.

‘I don’t remember seeing this face in my past life.’

Of course, my memories from my past life aren’t perfect, so I couldn’t be sure.

But at least, this face wasn’t in my memory.

“Who is he? His skills were easily top-tier among rankers…”

“Who knows… I don’t recognize him from the current top rankers.”

The term “ranker” itself isn’t based on any precise measurement but rather on the whims of enthusiasts across the three kingdoms, so it’s not uncommon for unexpected powerhouses to appear outside the rankings.

‘For now, let’s take a photo.’

I used the Hero Watch to photograph Wolf Mask and Fox Mask’s faces (Rabbit Mask’s body was burned, so his face couldn’t be identified).

“Hmm… So, we can’t figure out who this guy was?”

“But the school might be able to dig something up.”

“The school?”

“These guys aren’t MINE, they’re ‘Heroes.'”

“Ah.”

If they were Heroes with Holy Marks, they were likely graduates of the Hero School.

“What if they were unlicensed Heroes?”

“Well… that’d be harder to track down.”

Unfortunately, if that were the case, further investigation would be impossible.

“Should we head back to school?”

We thoroughly searched Wolf Mask and Fox Mask’s bodies but found no clues to their identities.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have killed them…”

“They were wearing masks and clearly trying to hide their identities.”

It was expected that we wouldn’t find much.

“But…”

Yurina looked down at the fallen bodies with a gloomy expression.

Perhaps the fact that she was the one who killed them resurfaced, as a dark shadow fell over her face.

I forced a bitter smile as I watched her.

‘Well, at least this incident helped Yurina grow a bit more.’

Staining her sword with blood.

It was something she needed to do to survive as a Hero.

“Let’s go, Yurina. We’ll report the bodies to the school and have them taken care of.”

“Y-yeah.”

Yurina nodded and followed me.

* * *

After returning to school.

Yurina and I headed straight to Professor Elisha’s office to report.

“You both did well.”

Professor Elisha smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the photos of Wolf Mask and Fox Mask sent via the Hero Watch.

“I didn’t expect you to find them in just one day of investigation…”

“We got some help from locals.”

“Locals?”

“Yes. A kid from the slums. We brought them back with us, so I hope the school can protect them for a while.”

Luka and Ren were temporarily brought to the school in case any remnants of the masked group were still around and might target them.

“Understood. I’ll take responsibility for their protection.”

“Thank you.”

“But we can’t keep them at the school forever… What do you plan to do later?”

“I’m thinking of asking Iris to place them in an orphanage she knows.”

“Hoh. An orphanage managed by the Holy Kingdom? That sounds reliable.”

Professor Elisha nodded.

“Then, I’ll start the investigation based on the photos you took.”

“Alright. Let me know if you find anything.”

“Of course. Oh, and separately, the Chancellor wants to have a meal with you.”

“Chancellor Raonel?”

A meal between a lowly candidate and the school Chancellor?

It was an oddly mismatched combination.

“Yes. This mission was directly ordered by the Chancellor, so there might be discussions about compensation during the meal.”

“Ah…”

Well.

Chancellor Raonel wasn’t the type to send a candidate on such a dangerous mission and then act like nothing happened.

“Your punishment might even be revoked.”

“Haha.”

Punishment, huh…

I needed more time to think about the compensation.

“By the way…”

Professor Elisha tilted her head as she looked at Yurina, who was standing quietly beside me.

“Did something happen to Candidate Yurina? She doesn’t look well.”

“Well… something did happen.”

“Did Candidate Dale make a mistake during a date?”

Professor Elisha looked at me with suspicion.

Yurina forced a weak smile and shook her head.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then?”

“……”

Yurina hesitated for a moment, then hid her trembling hands behind her back and continued.

“Those people… they weren’t MINE.”

“Ah…”

Professor Elisha let out a low sigh, finally understanding what had happened.

“Everyone is shocked at first. Especially someone as kind-hearted as Candidate Yurina.”

Professor Elisha looked at Yurina with a bitter smile.

After observing Yurina, who was hanging her head in despair, Professor Elisha turned to me.

“Good timing. Then, Candidate Dale, you’ll stay in Candidate Yurina’s room tonight.”

“Huh?”

Wait, out of nowhere, I’m supposed to sleep in Yurina’s room?

“I was wondering where to put the two kids you brought, so the kids can use your room, and you can share Candidate Yurina’s room.”

“That might be a bit…”

“Hmm. So, you’re planning to leave Candidate Yurina alone in this state?”

“……”

Professor Elisha shrugged and continued.

“At times like this, the person you rely on most should be by your side.”

“Ugh…”

I swallowed hard and looked at Yurina.

“Are you okay with this?”

“Y-yeah! We’ve shared a room before!”

Yurina nodded vigorously.

And so.

After leaving the office, I headed to Yurina’s room with her.

Click.

Opening the door, I saw the familiar interior.

A spacious room, befitting Dormitory Building A.

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence fell.

I scratched my head and spoke.

“Should we… eat dinner first?”

“Y-yeah.”

Yurina nodded and headed to the kitchen.

I grabbed her shoulder and gently shook my head.

“Yurina, you should rest.”

“But…”

“You’re not in the mood to cook, are you?”

“……”

Yurina silently nodded and quietly sat on the sofa.

She placed her sword, stained with blood, on the table and stared at it blankly.

Meanwhile, I made a simple meal and brought it to her.

“……”

Yurina sat still, staring at the steaming food.

I forced a bitter smile and took the food away.

“Guess you’re not in the mood to eat.”

“…Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

I gently held Yurina’s hand.

A faint tremor passed through her skin.

“…Dale.”

“Yeah.”

“I… killed someone.”

“I know.”

“Was it… the right thing to do?”

Yurina tightened her grip as she asked.

“Well.”

I don’t know if it was the right thing or not.

“But it was necessary. At some point, it had to be done.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

A faint smile appeared on Yurina’s lips.

“If it was necessary… then I did the right thing?”

“Well… if you look at it that way, then yes.”

“Then… do I get a ‘reward’?”

Yurina looked at me with expectant eyes.

Seeing her excited expression, as if she hadn’t been gloomy just moments ago, I stifled a laugh.

“Of course you get a reward.”

Though I half-forced her to accept it.

In the end, it was Yurina’s own decision to stain her sword with blood.

“Now, tilt your head this way…”

“W-wait.”

Yurina quickly stood up.

“Shouldn’t I… wash up first?”

“Ah.”

Right.

We hadn’t washed up after the battle, so the smell of sweat must be bothering her.

“Alright.”

“I-I’ll wash up quickly, so don’t go anywhere!”

Yurina hurried into the shower.

Soon, the sound of water could be heard from behind the door.

‘It’s a good thing I came with her, as Professor Elisha said.’

Thinking of Yurina trembling without eating a bite, I would’ve regretted leaving her alone.

‘Well, if my presence alone can comfort her, I’ll stay by her side as long as needed.’

Guiding and comforting those dear to me is my role.

Thud.

“Huh?”

Just then, something fell from Yurina’s belongings.

Curious, I picked it up.

“This is…”

An empty shopping bag.

What was inside was clearly…

Click.

The door opened cautiously.

“…D-Dale.”

Yurina stepped out, wrapped in a large bath towel like a cape.

“I-I’m… done washing.”

Her face, illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window.

Was flushed red, as if it might burst at any moment.