“I moved one step ahead. I wanted to arrive first and check out the village. But I didn’t expect the Sin Wolf to be slain this quickly. It’s the second toughest emergency mission. How did you do it?”
Isti frowns, clearly annoyed, “Noah, what mischief are you up to?”
“I’m here for a fair judgment. As you know, in times like these, some try to become hero candidates through foul means. Their goals are always base.”
Veil Noah’s attitude makes even me, who doesn’t care about the results, nervous.
How anxious must Karen be?
I glance at her, and sure enough, Karen’s face betrays her unease. She’s been suspected of something she didn’t do.
“Our judges ensure no cheating occurs in selecting hero candidates. Don’t worry. Only the final check remains.”
“Are you conducting that check, judge?”
At my question, Veil Noah flashes an ominous smile. “Yes. If I deem it unjust, you’re disqualified immediately.”
Karen’s b0dy stiffens. She’s already burdened, thinking she’s innocent.
I need to step up confidently.
“Then, since the evidence is right there, check it thoroughly.”
Come to think of it, there’s no need to be nervous. The Sin Wolf isn’t fake, and I definitely killed it.
Karen’s contribution can’t be ignored. Without her, I’d be the one gravely injured.
“Let the judgment begin.”
When Smidden inspects the corpse, everyone cheers and chatters.
Now, it’s eerily quiet, as if everyone is terrified.
I’m swept up in the mood, clamping my m0uth shut.
“Sniff, sniff.”
Veil Noah acts bizarrely. She buries her nose in the dead wolf’s fur, sniffing it.
What kind of judgment is this?
“There’s a scorched smell. It died after two or three fire-attribute attack spells.”
“…”
I feel a chill.
“Which of you two took it down?”
“Big Bro.”
“Did Karen do nothing during the kill?”
“No.”
Veil Noah approaches Karen closely.
“Ugh, ah!”
Karen looks scared enough to collapse.
“You’re honest. Good. No sword marks on this wolf’s corpse. Some signs of a struggle, though…How did you hunt it? Tell me…”
“Decal,” I say quickly, giving my name as she searches for it.
“Decal, for an accurate judgment, tell me what happened at that moment.”
It feels like an interrogation.
Veil Noah’s tone isn’t rude but carries a relentless probing, like she’s digging deep.
As expected of a judge.
“When I first faced the Sin Wolf, there was no time to cast spells. I protected myself with spirit arts, but it wasn’t enough, so Karen took the hits for me.”
“Did you use the fire-attribute attack spell, Decal?”
“Yes. Thanks to the opening Karen created, I managed to land the spell and kill it.”
Karen nods repeatedly beside me. Her blindfold hides her expression, but Veil Noah’s m0uth is tightly shut, as if displeased.
“Don’t lie.”
“…Lie?”
“There’s a bad smell.”
What’s with this girl?
Suspecting someone based on smell alone, without evidence.
I don’t hide my irritation.
“Didn’t know judges rely on smells.”
But it’s not just Veil Noah’s rudeness that bothers me.
She knows something.
She calls it smell, but it’s like she’s grasped some uncomfortable truth.
Her probing into my depths, uninvited, unsettles my calm.
“Are you pretending ignorance? The wolf’s b0dy reeks of human bl00d.”
“…!”
Murmurs spread among the crowd.
“What does that mean?”
“No idea…”
Only Isti and I understand the implication.
The Sin Wolf was easily caught using four humans as bait.
We kept that secret.
Who could’ve known the truth we thought unnecessary to reveal would surface so uncomfortably?
Karen, unaware of the context, speaks boldly to Veil Noah.
“We fought the Sin Wolf with our lives. Of course, it smells of human bl00d.”
“True. The wolf’s claws carried a strong bl00d scent. I can imagine the situation. But the bl00d smell I’m talking about isn’t the kind from this man’s lies.”
“What?”
“The wolf is drenched in bl00d from all sides, as if humans were used as bait.”
“…”
No one speaks.
Veil Noah’s sense of smell is eerily accurate. I never imagined she’d deduce everything from a corpse.
“Was it greed to become a hero candidate? Even knowing that killing with attack spells means eternal imprisonment in Glagiers’ underground cells?”
“Are you framing me with imagination?”
“Didn’t I hit the mark?”
I can’t hold back a laugh, covering my m0uth.
Veil Noah watches me blankly, expressionless.
“Judges have the right to punish criminals on the spot. In fact, that’s my main job when not judging.”
“I never wanted to be a hero candidate.”
“…?”
“Using people as bait to catch the Sin Wolf out of greed to be a hero candidate? That’s a scenario you made up. Or will you call this a lie too?”
“…”
Veil Noah is sharp.
She’ll know there’s no lie in my words.
I’ve never wanted to be a hero candidate. Never have.
“And if I planned to use someone as bait, why is she still here?” I place my hand on Karen’s shoulder.
“Ah…”
“If I meant to use bait, why spare the easiest target and use strangers? Who’d believe that nonsense?”
The atmosphere shifts.
Veil Noah reached the truth, but it’s almost supernatural.
A truth reached through some uncanny sense. Like solving math with only the answer, no formula. Such guesswork can’t convince others.
“Yeah, exactly!”
“Who’d do such a thing?”
Surprisingly, people speak up, taking my side.
“I admit I was hasty. I jumped to conclusions too quickly.”
“Hm.”
“But you’re mistaken about one thing. Hero candidate status isn’t something you can just reject. Once qualified, you’re obligated to come to Melbrit and take the test.”
“What? Really?”
I didn’t know!
“Big Bro, you didn’t know?” Karen, startled, asks.
“If I knew, I wouldn’t have done it.”
Should I beg to be the only one disqualified? Not the time for such deals.
Veil Noah looks at me and says, “Mr. Decal, I mentioned earlier I arrived in Dry Village first. In truth, I’ve been here for quite a while. Precisely, since the Noble Huntress came to this village.”
“…”
“So, I know about your relationship. Staying at the same inn daily, eating together, taking missions together.”
Damn. Is she nitpicking this now?
“As you know, the ‘Sin Wolf’ mission was established when a diamond-rank hunter located its habitat. Taking her to resolve an urgent mission is unthinkable.”
“Yeah, sure.”
I’m being cornered.
“There’s a witness. The night before, at the time Mr. Decal was fighting the Sin Wolf, someone saw the huntress hurriedly leave Dry Village.”
Isti’s expression hardens.
“Too convenient, don’t you think?”
“Your’e saying that she helped us?”
“Yes. Knowing the Noble Huntress’ prestige and character, it was surprising. I never imagined someone could use Isti.”
“Noah, take that back.” Isti’s aura bursts out visibly.
I’ve never seen her this angry.
Noah stands calmly, facing the menacing aura.
“Can you say there was no foul play during the urgent mission? On the honor of a noble elf?”
“That’s…!”
Ugh, enough. Let’s stop.
Deceiving this examiner is impossible without hypnosis.
“If your guess is right, what happens to me and Karen?”
“Immediate disqualification.”
“…”
The result, gained through dishonest means, vanishes easily.
Adventurers who pushed me off a cliff left me no choice but to call Isti.
I had no option.
“But there’s one strange thing.”
Noah adds.
“Strange thing?”
“Yes. This Sin Wolf, though drenched in human bl00d, died from fire magic. Not many can wield fire magic of this power. An elf controlling wind spirits can’t possibly cast a spell that burns everything.”
So, that’s what she means?
I sought Isti’s help, yet it’s odd I killed the Sin Wolf myself?
What a relentless w0man.
Impressive. Truly.
Suddenly, I feel that I want her.
If such a w0man worked for me, how reassuring would that be?
A talent needed for the Eight-Colored Clam Castle.
For now, I’ll confess the truth.
“Yeah, you’re right. I called her.”
“It’s because of me!”
Karen shouts.
“What do you mean, Miss Karen?”
“My life was in danger, so he did it. Big Bro has the skill to take down the Sin Wolf and proved it. So, only I should be disqualified.”
“That’s not possible.” Noah says firmly.
“The review must be fair. Other adventurers can’t call helpers in danger.”
“That’s true, but…”
I grab Karen’s head and roughly ruffle it.
“Ow, Big Bro!”
“What did you say earlier? I don’t want to be a hero candidate. You get disqualified, and I stay? Why do that?”
“But I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t me who protected you…”
“…”
Everyone looks at Isti.
Isti sighs and says, “Noah, it’s true I helped Decal. It’s also true we have a special relationship. We love each other.”
“Yes, I’m shocked. To see you, of all elves, in love. Even if Wabid said so, I wouldn’t believe it without seeing.”
“But saying Darling used me is wrong. Take it back.”
“Wrong, how?”
“Darling called me because those adventurers, aiming to steal credit, pushed them off a cliff.”
Isti says with disgust.
The shocking revelation stirs the crowd. Noah’s facial muscles twitch slightly—a sign of her disturbance.
Since it’s come to this, I add, “Exactly, those b*stards pushed me and tried to r@pe Karen. But a Sin Wolf was at the cliff’s base. In that situation, anyone would’ve called Isti to save Karen.”
“…”
Noah seems to realize something.
“Then this bl00d smell…”
Ugh, she won’t tie Isti to a crime, will she?
That’s unacceptable. I’d use hypnosis to reverse this.
“No, that wasn’t wrong.”
Despite knowing the truth, minus hypnosis, Noah doesn’t press on that.
…I think I understand what kind of person she is.
“I apologize deeply for my rude remark about you.”
Noah places a hand on her navel and bows deeply.
Isti speaks immediately. “Noah, give these two a chance. You know now. I only stopped criminals from harming my loved one. I had no intent to interfere with the mission. I had a chance to kill the Sin Wolf, but Darling stopped me.”
“…”
I don’t need a second chance.
Can’t they just give it to Karen?
“Fine. As an examiner, I’ll grant you an additional test. Pass it, and you’ll be officially recognized as hero candidates.”
“Big Bro!” Karen hugs me.
“Thank goodness, really…”
Looks like I’m stuck taking this extra test. I don’t want to part with Karen yet, so it’s fine, but it’s a hassle.
“Mr. Decal, will you participate in the additional test?”
“Fine. What do I do, Examiner?”
“A new dungeon was found near Dry Village. You’ve heard of Bordeaux Dungeon.”
“Huh.”
I cleared that place.
“The dungeon’s depths go deeper than known. I suspect a lich is there.”
“What’s a lich?”
Karen says, still in my arms.
“A mage dominated by necromancy. Their strength varies greatly…”
“Yes, you know well. An Elder Lich can fight an entire nation. But a typical lich in a small dungeon is about as tough as a Sin Wolf.”
“If we complete the mission, where do we find you?”
“I’m staying in a room at the guard barracks.”
“Got it. I won’t thank you for the extra test.”
“I only judge results fairly. Giving your all is your choice. Giving up is also your choice. But if you pass, as I said, you can’t quit freely until you reach Melbrit.”
Oddly, it doesn’t feel impossible.
Is it because my level rose and confidence grew? Or because I’m used to the thrill of fighting monsters?
Both make sense. I’m adapting to this world faster than I expected.
…But that’s that, and this is this.
“Big Bro?”
I gently push Karen off and raise my hand in front of Noah.
Snap!
I snap my fingers, putting Noah in a trance.
“Noah.”
I’ve already faced death once in this world.
As a hypnotist, I’ll do what I must.
“When I ask for help, you cannot refuse.”
I whisper in her ear while she’s entranced, before anyone senses something’s off.
Clap!
I clap, waking Noah.