Sometimes we meet people we don't want to meet, by chance, many times.
　Also, there are times when people persistently seek out people they don't want to meet.

　Sharanra was looking for "Satoshi Osako", aka Zeros.
　The purpose was to find a potion that would counteract the effects of the Potion of Rejuvenation, but unfortunately, no such potion exists.
　And in search of something that doesn't exist, she was looking for her brother. At one point, she had taken refuge in the Inquisition of the Holy Priesthood of Metis, but it was destroyed by an insane creature. It was a comfortable place for her to be, but she could no longer return.
　After all, Sharanra is already wanted by many countries for the heinous crime of attempting to kill the heir to a dukedom. The Inquisition is a ruthless department that won't tolerate even a single mistake, and Sharanra and the others failed in their mission to force the Great Givlion onto the magical kingdom of Solstair.
　They knew that they would be used as disposable pawns since they were only criminals, but it was painful to lose their base so soon after joining. Because the Inquisition is a group of criminals, all of their crimes are temporarily exonerated by an indulgence issued by the Holy Justice Kingdom of Metis. As long as she acts as a pawn, all crimes are forgiven, but she can easily be cut down even if her operative activities are discovered in other countries.
　However, what is important to her is the funding of her activities. The money came from the government, and as long as she was hiding in the Inquisition, she had no financial difficulties.
However, that was a long time ago.

You're always in my way.　I'm going to get my revenge on you. ......

　You'll be able to follow Xelloss as he walks ahead of you and swear at him.
It's a shame that she's so self-centered. And she doesn't think it's her fault.
　And I don't know why her own brother hates her so much. Worst of all, she was serious about her life.
　She is not the same kind of person as the shopkeeper of some magic store, but she is the same kind of person.
　What's worse, she had a lot of resentment.

'Well, you should go home, then!　I'm going to get my money back.

　She is so serious about her life that she has come to the realization that her brother's money is her money. She truly believes that Xellos' property is hers, and that's the worst.
　It is a wonder how such a person can be formed.
　He has no malice at all, and is completely devoted to his own principles. She recognizes other people as tools, and does not even question them.
　To her, it is a matter of course. She is so indifferent to others that she doesn't even think that someone who has been involved with such a person would be following her right now.
　Yes, that's right, Zavon.

"...... Sharla. I'm not sure if I've been fooled.　And who is this guy you're following?

　He was a man mad in love.
　He was a man mad in love, a victim who had been used by Shalandra, but who had fallen in love and lost all his money.
　He had questioned himself many times before coming to the city of Santor, and as a result, he had become a shadow of his former self.
　His body is thin, his eyes are sunken, and his body, which was trained as a fisherman, is wobbling from exhaustion, but he persists in chasing after Sharanra.
　He had changed so much that even if Sharanra saw him now, she would never recognize him.

Is he the new guy?　If he is, then no, he could be fooling us. Shahra...... will wake you up...

　The man who wanted to believe in love everywhere wanted to kill Zeroth.
　But his murderous intent is noticed by Zeroth.

"Hmm?

　Xelloss suddenly turned around, and Sharanra quickly hid in the alleyway, while Zavon was left there unable to react.
　Zavon is puzzled by the fact that Xelloss is looking at him, but he can't move.

"What the heck is ...... my body ......... not moving...

　Zavon was upset.
　It's as if he's been tied up, and his body can't move a finger.
　This is simply because the moment Xelloss turned around, he struck him with his killing intent, making Zavon's body stiffen.
　This is the same kind of ability often used by demons called [Intimidation], and is a technique that is possible for those who have stepped into a certain realm of warriors. In reality, few people have been able to reach that realm.
　Zabon was confused by such an attack, unable to understand what had happened.

"This is ......!　What happened to ......?
"Are you ...... okay?　You look really pale, don't you?
"What?

　Before I knew it, the man I intended to kill was beside me.
　My heart is beating fast and I can't stop shaking.

You're looking very weak, are you okay?　I'm not sure if I'm shaking and I'm eating well,....... I pity you because you're so skinny. ......
I've not eaten ...... anything for a while. I don't have ......... any money.
"Hmm. ....... I'm going out for a drink now.　You seem to be in some kind of trouble, and just talking might take your mind off things. What do you think?

　Xavon was puzzled.
　But this was also an opportunity.

"I can't ...... drink. If I drink now, I'll collapse. ......
"Well, ....... Since you say you don't have any money, I'll buy you a meal. I'm not sure what you want me to say.



　A cold sweat ran down Zavon's spine.
　He thought he was the most 'dangerous' person he had ever met in his life.
　Unlike the amateurish strength of a thug, he has the sharpness and observation of a skilled mercenary. You never know what he will do to you if you defy him.
　Most of all, I'm curious about the relationship between this man and my beloved Shara.
　Zavon decides not to refuse this offer, but to accept it.

"Are you sure you want to go to ......?
I've made some money today, I can afford to feed one person. You seem to be on the verge of a breakdown, and since we're in a bar, I'll give you some advice. It's just a whim.
I'll take your word for it, ....... I don't want to fall over yet. ......

　And so Zarbon, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events, entered a nearby tavern with Xellos.
　And Sharanra, who was watching the scene, .......

"...... Don't scare me!　But it's a bad idea. If they get into the tavern, there's nowhere to hide. I can't go into the bar. You can't go into the bar. You can't let Satoshi know you're there.

　I can't go into the store.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　She immediately forgets about the person who used her. In a way, she was very positive. A terrible woman.

I can't help it. ....... I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.　I don't think he'll be out for a while anyway, so I'll just wait and eat.

　And Sharanra decided to enter the cafe opposite.
　I don't want to get suspicious here, but I also don't want to wait in front of the tavern. It was a hard choice.
　After all, she has no money. The money she had stolen from Zabon's house had already run out, and she was barely able to afford to stay at a cheap, rundown inn.
　Of course, it is certain that Shallanra is not capable of enduring such a life.
　However, she is a filthy person and has no choice but to live with her limited life expectancy. As a result, she stays for almost two hours for a cup of tea.
　She became an unpleasant customer for the store.


　...


　Xelloss was curious about the man who had shot at him.
　I don't remember him holding a grudge in this world. No, he might have done something to be resented somewhere, but Xellos himself had no memory of it.
　His movements are amateurish, and he doesn't seem to be a mercenary who does rough work for a living. This makes you wonder about the man's identity.
　At any rate, they sit down at a table and open the menu in their hands.

You can order whatever you want. ...... Whoa?　I've been curious about the spicy fried bolo moro chicken. I'll take that.
I'm fine with ...... the same thing. I don't know anything about the specialties around here. ......
Wow. ....... (This area?　So you're not a resident of Santor. I don't understand why they resent me more and more.

　I had many questions, but I decided to wait and see.
　I called the waitress who worked at the tavern and ordered some cold ale, spicy fried bolo moro chicken, soup and bread.
　The food didn't come right away, but the ale was served quickly because it was a tavern.

"Ahhhh!　I feel like I'm living for this drink. Don't you think so?
I understand, but how can you drink in this situation?
You're the one who needs me, aren't you?　I don't know you, and I don't feel any resentment towards you. I'm a little curious about your situation, but it's not something I have to ask. That's about the extent of it for me.
I see. ......

　The man in front of me kept his mouth shut.
　Dark. Dark. Harsh. Not the kind of man you want in a bar.
　He's the only one left out of the hustle and bustle around him.

"Oh, I didn't catch your name. I'm Xellos. I'm a lowly mage. And you are?
"...... Zavon. I'm a fisherman.


The fisherman ...... is getting more and more confusing. I don't remember doing anything that would make the fisherman resent me. So it seems that ...... a third party is involved. Who's that?
"..........

　Zabon kept his mouth shut and refused to say anything more.
　To be honest, it's frustrating, but I can't force him to talk at this point. I've decided that this type of person tends to be stubborn.

'Well, what should I do?　He seems to be a serious type, but how should I proceed? ....... I'm not sure what to do.

　He doesn't seem to be able to talk.
　Just facing him, the air is heavy, like a husband who has been abandoned by his wife.
　I'd like to find out what's going on, but I'm in no mood to do so.

I'm not sure if you've been duped by a woman or what ......?　Wait, "cheated by a woman"?　No way. ......

　This reminds me of a similar situation.
　I was once working on Earth as a member of society, but due to my sister Reimei's efforts, I was laid off.
　The reason for this was that a defense program under development had been sold to another company. The current situation of Zarbon is very similar to that of the man who was the main culprit.
　The situation was so similar that he felt betrayed by someone he trusted, and he was mentally distraught.

"Hey, hey, ......, that scumbag did it again!　At this rate, I'm afraid there will be more victims. But how did it get to me?　She's wanted, and they don't know we're siblings.

　I understood that it was my sister, Reimei, but I didn't think it would lead back to me.
　She was wanted, but no information about her family structure had been released. It was unlikely that she would be traced back to Zeroth, and although Zeroth had been told that she had a sister, it was not publicly known.
　Iris, Luceris, and the others don't know Reimei's name - Shallanra. I didn't tell them.
　Well, there's a good chance that she's on the wanted list. .......
　Also, it is not only government agencies that look for wanted criminals, there are also bounty hunters.
　They belong to a state-run bounty hunter's guild, but Janae and the others, who spend all their time working as mercenaries, will never know that Sharanra is Xellos' sister.
　Even if Xellos had inadvertently leaked the information, there was no way that she, a mercenary, would have remembered the information about the bounty hunter.
　In the first place, bounty hunters and mercenaries have different jobs.

Sorry to keep you waiting.
"Oh, hi.

　In the meantime, the food arrived.
　A dish of fried shrimp and vegetable soup with stewed tomatoes. The bread, baked slightly hard, gave off warm steam, inviting the appetite.

What?　The bread is also baked in the bar. ....... And is this the "spicy fried Boromoro chicken" they're talking about?　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it. ......
I'm not sure if I can really eat this .......　This is ...... pretty extravagant for me, you know?
It's fine. The price is reasonable, and more importantly, you can't have a proper conversation on an empty stomach. But ......, the smell alone will make you drink!

　The herbal scent that tickles your nostrils slightly is enough to stimulate your stomach.
　Zabon also swallowed his guts, hungry as well.

"Let's see how good the ragamuffin tastes.
"Why are you so determined?

　Zarbon was hungry, but not as hungry as Xellos.
　He didn't expect it to taste as good as he thought it would in his stomach.
　The two of them stabbed the fried Boromoro chicken on their forks and quietly brought it to their mouths.

"?

　In a word, it was spicy.
　However, in the midst of the spiciness, the bird's unique sweet juices overflowed as soon as they bit into it, filling their mouths.
　The otherworldly herbs elevate the sweetness of the meat to a higher level, inviting the Zeros into a realm of euphoria with just one bite.
　It was a dish that resembled shrimp chili, but was completely different.

"............... is delicious.

　That's all I could say.
　No, it is no exaggeration to say that any other word than "delicious" would have been tactless. It's that good.

What a .......! This is the taste of a seasonal bird!
"I didn't know such a delicious bird existed in the world!　This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing.

[Boromoro Bird]. It is a kind of migratory bird that flies from the north to the outskirts of the magical kingdom of Solistair in the winter to overwinter.
　It is technically a bird-shaped demon, but its meat has an elegant, sweet fat that is truly delicious, and it has captivated many gourmets. It is also characterized by its high fertility.
　However, this [Borromoro bird] acts in flocks, and moreover, it has a rough temperament and is omnivorous.
　They are also known as "goblins of the sky," and even mercenaries would be helpless if they were attacked in flocks.
　They also run fast and are difficult to catch.

".........

　The two of them tasted the excellent chicken in silence.
　No, if you look closely, you can see that the hustle and bustle of the bar has somehow disappeared, and all you can hear are people savoring their food in silence.
　All that could be heard were the voices of customers ordering more food and the faint clinking of dishes.


　By the time they had finished eating, they were both smiling blissfully.

I'm so glad I'm alive.
"Oh, .......

　Xelloss and Zavon are smiling as if they are so full of happiness in this world that they have nothing left to think about.
It's a fundamental instinct that satisfies our primal happiness. Regardless of the progress of time, as long as we are living beings, we cannot go against our instincts.
　At the same time, the two of them were having that instinct fulfilled right now.
　They drank the ale in silence, immersed in the lingering taste of the [Bolo Moro Tori].

"...... was delicious.
"Satisfying .......

　There is nothing more satisfying than that.
　They were so happy that they forgot their original goal.
　The other guests were equally intoxicated with happiness.
　The time passed quietly.
　I noticed that Naguri was also in the restaurant, but he too had a look of contentment on his face, and I thought it would be tactless to call out to him, so I kept silent. 　

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
...... I don't care how much time has passed, how much time has passed?
It's a small matter.

　Two hours, to be exact, but the time seemed short to the two of them as they savored the taste.
　It is said that the [Borromorotori] was so delicious that they forgot the time that passed in between, but at the same time, it was synonymous with forgetting the original purpose.
　However, it would be unfair to blame him for that.
　When we taste something delicious, we are all intoxicated by its taste. This is the truth.

I'll get straight to the point. I want to ask you a question. Why did you ...... want to kill me back then?
It doesn't matter now, but ...... I've been looking for a woman.
A woman?　A woman. ......, ..........
Her name was Sharla ......, the woman I'd sworn to marry.
Shala?　Maybe ...... the woman ran away with something valuable while she was away from home.　Disguised it as if she had been attacked.
...... How do you know?
That's what he does. He's forcing me to do all the work for him, just because we're ...... siblings.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
　In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to take advantage of it.
　When the time is right, she steals precious metals and money little by little.
　In the end, he even made a duplicate key and broke into the house when no one was home. Moreover, they leave no evidence behind.
　He was so meticulous that he even went out of the prefecture to make a duplicate key.
　In addition, she has been having a relationship with a thug in order to blame others for her crimes.
　Reimi even testified that she was blackmailed into helping the man, and claimed that she was the victim. In short, she is a disposable pawn.
　And everyone believed her. In fact, the thug also commits theft, and is caught red-handed breaking into a house that Reimi has devoured.
　When Satoshi warned her not to trust Reimei, the girl replied, "You can't trust a good sister like that?　That's disgusting! The girl did not accept his advice.
　Satoshi was the only one to be wronged.
　In the end, I could not be more than friends with the girl, and on the contrary, she resented me because of Reimi. Since then, he has had no relationship with women at all.


He's always been a bit of a troublemaker. I want him to die as soon as possible. Well, he's about to die on his own. ......
I can't believe my sisters and brothers ....... He's younger than you by any measure!　That story is not credible!
The reason for this is that you can't live long enough. That woman killed someone to take away a magic potion called the Secret Potion of Rejuvenation and drank it to rejuvenate herself into her twenties.
　The problem is that this potion has a side effect: after a year or so, she will return to her original form, and at the same time, she will grow even younger and age for twice as many years. It's no longer effective.
Wait a minute!　So how old is ...... Sharla now?
Forty-six. ...... Or would that be forty-seven?
That would make her ...... eighty-seven years old!
"That's why she's so desperate to find me. ....... I don't have the antidote, but I don't believe what people tell me . I only see what's convenient for me in every way.

　In addition to that, many of them can't stand the rapid aging process and end up dying.
　In fact, most of the players who were victims of [Sword and Sorcery] died out and had to remake their avatars.
　Even if they survived, they would only end up with an old man.

It's not like you made them drink it, is it?　And there's no way to prove that story's true.
It doesn't really matter to me. She's a wanted criminal anyway, and bounty hunters are trying to kill her. Even if she survives, she'll turn into an old woman or die, and it won't hurt her conscience because she deserved it.
"Kudos to ...... Sharla ......... for lying ...... about being such a woman.

　Zavon still had lingering doubts and couldn't believe what Xelloss had told him.
　He couldn't believe that the Sharra he remembered was Sharanra, and he tried to cling to the happy times.


　And this is how many of the victims of Sharanra feel. That's why I pity her.

"How can you create a victim who depends on you so much every time? That's the scary part, except for the first trick, which gets sloppier by the hour. ......

　The trouble is, the words of Zeroth will not reach these mental problems.
　You have to solve them yourself.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out on your own." "Huh. ...... Suppose this Shala you believe is the same person as my sister, what are you going to do then?　Will you cry yourself to sleep, or will you seek revenge? ......
Well, that's ......
From what I've heard, you've had a pretty good time. Assuming it was all a lie, I'm asking what you're going to do about it.

　In Zarbon's memory, Shara was a saint.
　But he hadn't even thought of the time when she had been an ugly criminal in her own right.
　The happy scenes he had spent recently did not make him want revenge. But the fierce possessiveness was still burning like a furnace.

"...... I want to be sure. I want to make sure ......... that Shala is really the outcast that she seems to be.
"Hmm ......, okay. I'll give you a little help.
What are you doing?
There's a secret potion in here. You're going to show it to her as an antidote. The plot goes something like this: .......
Well, isn't that a little vicious?
I think I'd definitely fall for it. And that woman was following me, right?　I'm sure she's around here. You'll have to wait and see what he does.
"......... I agree. But how I act is my decision, right?
I'm fine with that. I have a few things to give you first, though.

　Xelloss gave him the arrangements for the trap.
　When it was ready, he and Zavon decided to leave the tavern for a while.

I'm not sure I've been paying attention. ....... I didn't realize he was following me. Well, let's just say it saved me some time. ......

　As soon as he left the tavern, Xellos immediately searched for signs of his surroundings.
　And sure enough, he sensed eyes on him from the cafe opposite the tavern.

There you are. ....... You're doing a pretty poor job of masking your presence. Why didn't I see it coming? ......

　It's a very sticky gaze. It's a sticky, unpleasant sign that most people would notice.
　I felt sorry for myself for not noticing such a sign.


　"Oh, my God!


"You're finally out. ....... How many hours did you make me wait?

　Sharanra threw an irritating word from the shadows at Xellos for staying in the tavern for so long.
　But even if he left now, he might get revenge or be turned in as a bounty hunter.
　She suppressed her impatience.

"Okay, I'm following you!　I'm going to find out where he lives and take all the money he's got.

　Sharanra left the café in high spirits.
　The waitress, who was watching her, said, "She's finally gone. The waitress, who was watching her, said, 'You've finally left. ...... You're staying too long for a cup of tea.
　He followed Xellos, not caring what was going on in the store.
　And Zavon, who was watching at the entrance of the bar, began to follow behind Sharanra.

I'm going to find out what you're thinking about.

　The man who was taken advantage of by the evil woman is beginning to make other decisions based on his thoughts.