11 CHAPTER 10: GOD’S FAVORITES

"...Will?" Shit. What is she doing here? "Will, is that you?"

"Sir Will is currently resting in his room. We have a dire situation right now but I can call him if you want."

I try to speak with a different voice to make sure she doesn't recognize me. Sarah Campbell. Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be somewhere, training with your knight or something?

"O-oh, okay. Hm, can you call him then?"

"Right away, sir hero."

"Thanks."

I walk past her and when I am at her level, she smiles mischievously.

"You know that I can see your hero's bracelet, right?"

"What are you talking about, sir hero?" I covered it properly so sorry, but I won't react the way you want me to.

"Nah, it's okay. Just go and change."

You really think you have cornered me, huh. I enter the mansion and go upstairs. The maid is still not back so how can Sarah know it was me? I am pretty sure no one saw me leaving the mansion as well. Anyway, I dress up quickly but by the time I am finished, I hear footsteps coming. I barely get the time to throw all the gear below the bed that Sarah appears, followed by the maid. So, she was here after all.

"Yeah? What do you guys want?"

"Didn't someone come here to call you?" Sarah speaks to me with an irritated voice.

"Yeah, he did. What do you want?"

"I come all the way from the capital to see how you are doing and you can't even a simple hello?"

"Sir hero, I was looking for you earlier but I couldn't find you. I hope everything is alright."

Sensing the growing tension in the room, the maid tries to divert the attention to her. It is unnecessary but I guess I should thank you earlier.

"Yes, do not worry about me. But what happened with the bears?"

"Yeah, he is right. You shouldn't worry about him. He doesn't deserve it." What is this girl doing here, seriously?

"I-I see. Well, the problem has been taken care of for the most part because we had more people. But there is an alpha that managed to escape us and a search party is currently looking for it."

"Was there any wounded?"

"Yes, three people were heavily wounded by that alpha and one especially lost his arm."

"I see."

"Have they brought him back?" Sarah looks at the maid with worried eyes. What is she asking that for?

"No, sir hero. But they will arrive shortly."

"Good. Let's go and wait for them."

They leave just like that but Sarah launches a cold stare at me before disappearing.

"Whatever."

***

Almost thirty minutes later, people start coming back to the mansion. I hear multiple footsteps outside. I leave my room and see the butlers and the people of the house walking with blood on their clothes and smiles but perplexed expressions as well. Surely, they found the one I killed. I go downstairs and find Sarah with a guy who has lost his arm.

"Heal."

So, you can already use your skill as well. I am not any genius then. He did say that they are always people who are called natural. Surely, she among them, those called god's favorites.

"Wow…"

"So beautiful."

The people present all get entranced by the light emitted by Sarah's hands as she heals the guy. Though his arm isn't growing back, the wound is simply closing at a rapid rate. After a minute, the light fades and the guy looks completely relieved.

"I am sorry I can't do mo-"

"Thank you very much, Miss hero!!"

Before she can apologize, the guy she was healing screams with tears of joy as if his arm is back. I guess even on our side, it would be called a miracle. In fact, if someone hadn't used it on me once, I would surely be impressed as well.

"Thank you, miss hero."

All of sudden, people start kneeling to Sarah. She looks at me while blushing as if I am supposed to say anything. This is your moment, you are the one who has to say something.

I leave and go outside, she almost tries to reach out to me but then she stops. That's how it should be. There are still some people outside, but I don't recognize any of them. They don't seem to be from this house.

"Who are you guys?"

Three of the five guys turn to look at me then only one answers.

"We are the personal guards of miss Campbell, assigned to her under the direct order of the Valkyrie of war."

"I see." So she is that important, huh…Well, not my problem.

"And you. Who are…Ah, the failure." Another guy almost asks me something but then after looking at my hand, she stops. I am already called a failure even beyond this town? Rumors surely travel fast.

"Did you guys participate in their culling operation as well?"

"Hey, we don't talk to-" The same guy who called me a failure tries to speak but the first one stops him. He looks at him with cold and angry eyes then looks back at me.

"We didn't. The Valkyrie of war has gone to slay the remaining beasts. She will come back soon."

"AH, she is here as well? I didn't know."

As if to answer my question, the gates of the mansion open and I first see my prey from earlier entering, attached to a carriage too small for it to fit. Its limbs are sweeping the floor as it is pushed from behind. Then after it, she appears, the woman from last time, Sarah's old version.

Unlike Telestal, she doesn't have that serious atmosphere around her. Her armor is also a bit revealing, showing her thighs every time she walks, her helmet is more like a headgear, covering only the forehead and preventing her hair from coming forward.

"I hope you guys didn't wait too long." Her voice also sounds like Sarah. I am starting to wonder, especially if I consider the fact that we might have been sent here as part of someone's plan.

"Not at all, Valkyrie of war, we are even surprised that it took you so little time to handle such a beast. Perhaps, the heroes aren't needed after all." This guy really likes to run his mouth.

"Hey…" His friend tries to stop him like before but it is too late. She surely heard it since she is behind me now.

Sarah walks ahead of me and goes to her older version without saying anything.

"You have managed to kill that beast all by yourself. Wow."

She starts touching the fur of the beast and walks around it but then the woman scratches her head a little.

"You guys seem to be misunderstanding something. I didn't kill this beast. I found it already dead."

"What?!!"

All voices come out with a unified tone. Now comes the time to come back to reality.

"Yeah. I found it already dead. I don't know who killed it, but it was the work of a master."

"Is there any other masters aside from you and Sir Telestal in this kingdom?"

"Not that I know of." The personal guards start talking among themselves and they gradually increase the voices. If you guys are all done, can you please leave?

"Emilia, are you telling the truth? You didn't kill it?"

"Yeah. Why would I lie about it?"

Okay, now I know that the Valkyrie of war has a name, that's good. Thanks, Sarah.

"I am sorry. It's just…" Sarah looks at me as if I have done something. Hey, don't look at me.

I turn around to leave while people are lost in their thoughts but I was already in someone's eyes.

"The young man over there, wait a moment." Emilia calls me and sadly, everyone turns to look at me. Shit, now, those fucking guards are looking at me again. "Are you Sarah's friend?"

"What kind of question is that?" Is she asking if I am a hero? I didn't sound like it. Even Sarah is looking at her with a perplexed face.

"Just answer me." I guess she isn't asking if I am a hero.

"I was born alone and I faced my problems alone until now." I don't know what you wanted to know but don't waste my time. I continue walking but she stops me again.

"Wait, I am not done."

"Sigh…What is it now?"

"I have received a report from the church of the god of law and balance that one of the heroes refused to receive the priests' teaching. For a hero, it is a serious offense for which I am obliged to have you answer. That's the real reason for my visit here."

"And you waited until the master of the house was absent to conduct your business? How knightly of you."

"How dare you." One of the personal guards unsheathes his sword while releasing his aura. His aura is just like mine, it still has no color and looks like water vapor. "A simpleton like you who only has one skill dares to answer to the Valkyrie of war like this?!! Don't you know your place?!"

"Fufufu. Why don't you teach me then?"

"You…" The guy hesitates a bit but then jumps to me. Finally, someone who takes action.

"Enough." Just like that time, Emilia releases her aura and the guy is slammed on the ground. The whole atmosphere changes as if fear has caught everything in its web. Her aura is on par with his, I am sure of it now.

"B-but, Valkyrie…"

"I am the one conducting any judgment here. Stand down." She stops her aura and starts walking to me. I guess I won't come out of this easily.

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