Chapter 196
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「Ah, while I’m truly so happy about your feelings that I could cry, Anon, I’d like to take a little time to think about it.」
「I thought you might say that.」
「Hey now…」
Even for Anon, to be able to predict that much—
「It’s obvious what would happen if you were recognized as the one who accomplished all seven of the Newly Constructed Most Challenging Dungeons. You can figure it out just by thinking about it a little.」
「…」
「If it were to be acknowledged that all the Hero Party’s achievements were actually yours, then the four people who have been claiming everything as their own accomplishments would be exposed as liars.」
That’s exactly right.
「As a result, those four would lose all credibility. No, that would be the least of it. In the worst case, they could be denounced as criminals who took pride in others’ achievements and deceived both the country and its citizens.」
Anon’s eyes see through everything.
I already knew this, didn’t I?
「So, you’re holding back on my offer out of consideration for these four people? Well… I’d give that reasoning half marks.」
He won’t tolerate any lies or deception.
「Let me change the subject for a moment. There’s something that’s been bothering me.」
「What is it?」
Even when he says something’s bothering him, he’s surely already reached his own conclusions.
「I have an acquaintance who once explored the Time Dungeon with the Hero Party. Her name is Iraiza, and she leads the party ‘Caduceus’ within the S-rank clan ‘Cheri Fleur.’」
「Ichiro, would you like to hear her story?」 Anon asks me. Without waiting for my response, he continues.
「According to her, those three—particularly the Saint and the wise, were noticeably subservient to Hero Ryūgūin, acting only on his orders. The Saint was especially terrible, maintaining a cold expression and refusing to use Heal even when there were serious injuries, all because of the Hero’s instructions.」
The women I know would never do such things.
「I’ll say it again—Iraiza doesn’t lie to protect herself. I know this. So this means that the previously respected members of the Hero Party committed such foolish acts.
Why did they do such things?」
Not everything has been revealed.
But there are things we can understand. The way they changed was all—
「I’m sorry, Ichiro. For making you make such a face. But I’m going to continue. I hope that this moment will ultimately be for your benefit.」
I stare into his eyes, though they should be hidden beneath his hood.
「It’s fine, continue.」
「When you were recovering in the guild’s medical room after returning from the Sealed Dungeon, I went to talk to those three women about the Sealed Dungeon. All of them were remorseful, saying everything was their fault. They said that at the next summons from the country, they would confess their crimes as I suggested.」
I don’t break eye contact with him.
「First, their reputation before joining the Hero Party. Second, what Iraiza told me about them. Third, my own impressions of them—」
He slowly raises his right hand, holding up three fingers in sequence.
「Comparing these three things, the sense of incongruity I’ve had has grown stronger than ever before.」
Then, making a fist and raising one finger,
「There’s only one answer that explains this inconsistency.
Simply put, they were not themselves when exploring the Time Dungeon. And for some reason, they’ve now returned to normal. Nothing else makes sense.」
I felt like I could hear Anon’s footsteps as he steadily approached the truth.
「So then, what kind of abnormality was it? Who caused it? These questions come into view.
The timing of the joint party formation with Iraiza was close to when you disappeared. So let’s look at the four after you left.
The abnormal behavior of these three, who were known for their good character, became much more noticeable afterward. The most common reports say they would wait for the Hero’s instructions and behave like his obedient servants.」
I remember their clouded eyes from that time.
But I no longer look away.
「So then, what about the Hero himself?」
To be honest, I hate Ryūgūin.
「He was already shameless enough to claim your achievements as his own. I haven’t heard anything good about him since then either. The specific stories are too inappropriate to repeat. As one might expect, he consistently displayed an arrogant and haughty attitude.」
Anon snorts mockingly.
「You must understand by now? No, you must already know the truth.
Whose instructions were they waiting for, and to whom did they show such servile behavior? Who remained unchanged throughout this situation? And who benefited the most from all of this?」
Anon takes a breath and says,
「This is the answer, Ichiro.」
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