The Hero should have some kindness in her.
He tried to negotiate for his life.
He didn’t even know what charges he was being accused of, but he should at least do something he could. Maybe he could even draw sympathy from one of his companions.
Human conflict is not solved only by swords.
The Hero should definitely understand that.
Instead of persuading her, he would listen to her.
He would listen to her story and show remorse with a sympathetic attitude.
He couldn’t defeat her. He couldn’t run away. So he would try to cut off her fighting spirit.
Okay, this direction.
"...Sniff..."
Right as he tried to open his mouth, something changed in the woman in front of him.
It was the sound of her sniffling.
"So you were just playing with me after all..."
The white hair sticking out from her hood swayed.
The atmosphere that had been about to attack him suddenly changed into something inexplicable.
The woman wiped her eyes with her left hand that wasn’t holding the sword.
Immediately after, a strong pressure began to emanate.
"...I can’t forgive you. The Croe barony had its land and title taken away and its house was destroyed. You abandoned me, and in despair, I was burned to death with the manor. Everything was gone. But... but more than that, the fact that you toyed with my feelings is the one thing I cannot forgive."
Her anger swelled as she spoke.
Her hand began to tremble with strong emotion.
Toying with someone — that was apparently the direction of her grudge.
But he had no memory of ever touching a noble woman named Croe.
He didn’t approach someone with an inconvenient title, and he didn’t know the woman in front of him anyway.
"Wait, wait, I don’t know anyone like you. Burned to death? You’re alive, right? What you’re saying is completely messed up!!"
"I was saved by the Supreme Being after I died. I was reborn by taking on the role of the Hero."
"...Reborn?"
"Yes. My previous name was Sylvia Croe. I was just a small country noble girl who was toyed with and abandoned by you."
"...Haa?"
Rebirth. Suddenly, a story that felt unreal came up.
A sharp gaze as if scolding him for infidelity.
It felt like a slap might come before the sword.
Yet from her mouth came incomprehensible words, and Clock opened his mouth in shock.
"...You came to take revenge on me now because you were toyed with by me in my previous life...?"
What the hell is this girl saying.
Even a pitch advertisement wouldn’t say it that badly.
Any story that starts with "in the previous life we were lovers" is a scam.
It was an overused technique known to every resident of the capital.
"Um... well, calm down. That’s a misunderstanding. I don’t know anything about Croe or Sylvia. I’ve heard that kind of previous-life setting enough already. ...Hey, if you’re going to sell it, not me but someone younger—"
"I have!! Even after this second life, I have thought about you every single day. Every time I remember your back as you turned away and abandoned me, it was so heartbreaking... my heart was being torn apart. Clock. You took everything from me, yet you don’t even remember me."
"Eh? N-no... that..."
When he tried to pacify her, it seemed he had dug his own grave.
It was extremely painful to be told that he didn’t know her.
This was the pattern where no matter what he said, it would be taken as an excuse.
Also, this woman knew his full name.
Maybe they really were old acquaintances?
Maybe he was the one who forgot?
Damn, he really didn’t remember at all. Who the hell is Sylvia?
He took a step back.
He couldn’t find the right words.
Her terrifying atmosphere made him retreat in fear and body.
Then she also advanced one step forward in response.
The distance they had secretly opened was immediately closed again.
No no, please wait.
You’re the Hero, right? Go defeat the Demon King.
There are more important things than past connections.
"Hey, Clock!"
He was desperately trying to find an excuse when he was called from behind.
A familiar voice that was shockingly peaceful.
"...Clock, the knights are... oh, they’re busy?"
"Eh? Ah, yeah... just a moment..."
They were the same men who had been sitting at the tavern tables earlier.
Their names were Zoll and Heisel. His drinking buddies.
The two who had just arrived frowned at the exposed blade.
Of course, because they were drawing swords in the middle of the city.
It was obvious the situation was bad.
"Hey hey, things are getting dangerous."
"No... someone said I abandoned them or something."
"Hoo, that’s on you. Just quietly get killed."
"No, wrong. It’s a misunderstanding. Misunderstanding. I’m not—"
Suddenly, reinforcements appeared. Since they were here, wouldn’t they help?
It was at that thought that he had an idea.
...Oh? Zoll, your unique skill was probably...
It was a flash of insight.
In his mind, he smirked at the light that appeared.
Maybe he could be saved if he played his cards right.
"...Hey Heisel. Can you listen to her story for me? She seems to get excited when she talks to me."
"Eh? Sure, why not. Hey, what happened to the lady? Did something happen to her?"
Heisel, who didn’t know she was the Hero, called out lightly.
Zoll stepped forward to follow him.
Both were adventurers with low-level but socially recognized status.
But their essence was nothing more than ruffians with no difference. Right now they were talking in the tone of kind older brothers, but deep down they were just trash.
"Smells like alcohol. Don’t come near, trash."
"...Huh?"
The two approached the Hero.
Then one of the companions waiting behind leaped in front of the Hero.
Short in stature but wearing a sword at her hip.
She was probably the swordswoman.
"Hey, what the hell. Because you two were yapping, I decided to listen! What the heck do you think you’re doing?!"
Heisel immediately raised his voice a little after being provoked.
Instead of having a low boiling point, the spirit was "if you’re in trouble, just threaten first."
That was how he thought even weaklings would obey.
"I don’t want anything from you guys. Disappear, trash."
"...Huh? Hey hey, you’re acting tough, you little shit—"
Heisel was scolded by the little girl.
Just as he was about to leap forward to threaten her again, a sudden gust of wind hit.
"Eh?"
Whose voice was that, out of tune?
A crushing sound echoed beside him.
He saw that part of the inn wall was destroyed and a person was stuck in it.
He blinked repeatedly, thinking he might have seen something wrong for a moment.
From the inn came the lower body of Heisel.
"Ha?! What the hell is that?!"
The one who cried out in shock was Zoll, the companion.
It was a completely natural reaction. Clock’s mouth opened in a daze.
The short girl knight had punched Heisel away. One could easily imagine she had real power, but it was inhuman-level strength.
It seemed not only the Hero but all three others were holders of extraordinary power.
When the interrupters were gone, the Hero took a step forward.
Sharp killing intent was directed at Clock.
This was really bad. He might be cut down the next instant he blinked.
If he was going to decide, now was the only chance.
"Wait, Zoll. Don’t attack!!"
He grabbed the shoulder of Zoll, who had been about to flee with his hand ready.
As if he were trying to stop a swordswoman from attacking, Clock spoke up.
"Ha?! Hey, what are you doing! Let go, you idiot!!"
"Wait, don’t resist them!!"
It was a stupid act, even he thought so.
While thinking that, he touched Zoll’s neck from behind.
He rotated his mana and activated his trump-card skill.
────Skill activation, Bandit Theft.
"Interrupters."
"Uguh?! "
Right after the skill activated, Zoll flew backward.
He stabbed into Heisel’s side with a fierce sound.
"W-wait. We haven’t talked yet, right?!"
He raised his panicked voice as if deceiving.
The cold gaze from the female swordswoman.
Even though he couldn’t see her face, he knew she was looking at him like trash.
It was the same atmosphere as the woman who was about to slap him.
Except he was holding a sword instead of a hand.
"...The interrupters have disappeared, Anna. If you’re going to do it, finish it quickly. You said you’re going to cut off the past, right?"
Cut off the past.
She had no intention of giving him room for excuses and seemed determined to spill blood.
She must really hate him that much.
"...I see."
The Hero simply showed her intention.
A beautifully sharp sword that was visible even in the darkness.
The tip was pointed at him.
She must have decided to physically sever the past.
Her lips were tightly pursed.
...No no, there’s no way I’m dying for some nonsensical reason.
The unsheathed sword glittered as it sought Clock’s blood.
It looked extremely sharp. If the Hero swung it, he would be beheaded without even a chance to suffer.
If dying painlessly was salvation, then dying here would be salvation in a way.
But humans flail when facing death.
Especially thieves were far filthier than ordinary people.
He didn’t know what kind of man the Clock the woman knew was, but the man in front of him was that kind of person.
"...If you have anything to say, say it."
"...Sorry, but I really don’t remember anything. Being killed for some reason I don’t understand is too much. Think of it as getting bitten by a dog. Please just forget about it."
"So—"
The woman showed a disappointed reaction again.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t stopped her murderous act.
In another second, the blade would swing.
────Skill activation, Emergency Escape.
Not many people are born with unique skills.
Most thieves had thought the convenient Bandit Theft skill was handy to begin with.
There were some drawbacks, but he might not have felt the day he was born as a unique-skill user was a good one.
"Eh?"
The woman’s hand that reached out in panic grabbed empty air.
The man disappeared as particles of light.
The beautiful sapphire eyes he had seen right before the transfer were somehow strangely sad.