Dagnus took a sip of the coffee. Inside the bar, he was likely the only one drinking non-alcoholic.
Even in the morning, these bums were running up pints.
"So," Dagnus sighed. "You're telling me you're from another world?"
Hiro nodded.
"That's why I'm so strong," he smiled.
Dagnus stared at the young man in front of him. They'd been friends for a while now. Now and again, Dagnus helped him go hunting.
Currently, Hiro was in a fancy cloak and the rest of that haughty attire from the academy. Yes, that's right, Hiro was a student of one of the greatest academies in the country, probably even the greatest.
In addition to that, amongst those students, he himself was exceptionally talented.
"You don't believe me?" Hiro sulked.
"It's a bit far fetched," Dagnus admitted. "So that's why you use that weird name over your actual one?"
"You think it's weird…"
"It's not a local name. Even more weird for a noble to have it. Your names are all so haughty,"
"That's not the point!" Hiro exclaimed. "So you believe me?"
"No point in you lying about it," he shrugged. "So how old are you actually, then?"
Hiro looked up at the ceiling for a second, drumming his finger on the table.
"Like…thirty-six"
"So you died at nineteen? Guess you were a hunter,"
"I was a…data analyst" Hiro threw his head down.
"Right…so….is that it?"
Hiro shook his head. For a moment, he looked Dagnas up and down, analysing him, maybe a habit from his old life, then spoke.
"I have to kill someone," Hiro gave Dagnas a serious look.
Kill someone? That's a big admission. Murder here, like anywhere, is a big crime. Of course, killing a bandit is not worth mentioning, and you could probably get away with a murder here and there, but if you've been resurrected to kill someone, they're clearly important.
"Who?"
"He's a hero"
That was all that needed to be said. Everyone knew of the one who bore the mark of the hero.
"Julius Magnas"
Hiro nodded.
Clearly, Dagnas had misunderstood a key part in this 'reincarnation'. From what he had thought of Hiro's explanation, Hiro was resurrected by a God, brought here as either some gift for being so holy in his past life, or to stop some form of chaos.
However, if Hiro was brought here to kill the hero…then the only being who Dagnas imagined would have resurrected him would be a demon. And to resurrect someone from the dead, that'd be one hell of a demon.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Hiro bore his head down for the hundredth time during this conversation.
"I…I need your help. I can't do this alone,"
"You want me to be an accomplice to one of the greatest crimes this country might ever see? Do you have any idea what they'd do to me if I helped you? Fuck, you telling me this, and me hiding it, is enough for me to be hung. You know that right?"
"I…I'm desperate. I don't have much time,"
Dagnas clicked his tongue.
"Is this something to do with the demon?"
Hiro's eyes widened.
"Demon?"
'What?' Dagnas was once again stunned.
If not a demon, what the hell would have resurrected Hiro in order to kill the hero? What could? Even the idea of a demon resurrected someone is enough of a push, but something else? What could possibly do that? What could they possibly want the hero dead for?
"Then who resurrected you?"
"The goddess Am^&£*&"
"Demon?"
'What?!'
"What happened just then?" Dagnas clenched his fist.
"What are you talking about? Why do you think a demon resurrected me? It was the goddess A*("*"
Again, it appeared as though Hiro had some sort of spasm, his eyes darting all over before returning to normal, saying the same word with the same tone and mannerisms.
"Demon?"
"What the fuck"
Hiro squinted his eyes. Dagnas was a religious swearer, but this time he seemed to say it with a new kind of passion and deep meaning.
"What's wrong?"
'What the hell is going on? Hiro isn't of this world? He was resurrected by some goddess to kill a hero and now he's spasming before he can say the goddess's name? What a day!'
"Doesn't matter. I didn't mean demon. Goddess, right? No need to say her name,"
"Oh," Hiro tilted his head. "You already know which Goddess?"
"Something like that," Dagnas lied. "But like I said, I can't help you,"
Hiro's eyes filled with worry before that was replaced with a sorry look directed at Dagnas.
"I see…sorry for bothering you with this. Don't tell anyone what I told you, please"
Hiro got up from his wooden stool, finishing the mug of beer before making his exit.
"I won't,"
When Hiro was gone, Dagnas was left to process all this.
'Way to drop a bombshell, Hiro' Dagnas inwardly cursed.
He couldn't just ignore this.
According to Hiro, the son of Duke Martis, and the King's right-hand man, he was from another world, reincarnated with incredible talent for the sole purpose of killing Julius Orthodox Magnus, the hero and son of the now-Duke Wilbur Magnus.
Now, the Goddess who reincarnated him was preventing him from revealing her identity.
Why would a Goddess want a hero dead? Aren't they the ones who marked Julius as a hero? Aren't they the ones who gave that mark incredible power?
This was no laughing matter.
What was he to do? Just go ahead and let Hiro kill the hero? But there must be some plan in the Goddess' head. But then, why give him the hero marking? Is this a war between Goddesses with Julius and Hiro as pawns? Or is this something entirely different?
Whatever it was, Dagnus had to consult someone.
'I'm sorry, Hiro, but I never made you a promise.'
***
"I didn't take you for a jester, Dagnus" the young man laughed.
Dagnus threw a look of sincerity. At that, the young man's laughter seized and his eyes widened.
"You're serious?"
Dagnus let out a heavy sigh.
"I can't exactly let this go. But, I have no idea which side I should defend,"
"Isn't that obvious? The hero."
Dagnus shook his head.
"Hiro isn't a bad person, and since they tried to hide their identity, they likely really are a Goddess. So then, was Julius marked by something else? There are so many fucking questions it's pissing me off"
"Just ask Fredrick Martis, then"
"No, he knows I'm not going to help him,"
"Yet you don't"
"It's not very fucking easy picking between the hero and someone I genuinely trust, Marcus"
Marcus threw his hand, as though discarded the whole thing as pointless air.
"It's pretty clear to me which side you've picked," Marcus said. "Now, you're just looking for an excuse to pick your friend over the hero of our country"
"Fuck you, Marcus"
"Vulgar," Marcus spat. "If you didn't want the truth, you shouldn't have come to meet me"
"You're right," Dagnus clenched his fist. "What the fuck do I do?"
Marcus stared at Dagnus with dead fish eyes.
"Maybe start by watching your language," Marcus started. "Then, work out whether you have it in you to do it. I know you could kill a hero, but could you kill your…"
Dagnus glared, causing Marcus to finish his sentence early. Marcus had witnessed Dagnus' real power enough times to know he was strong, beyond many. Additionally, as a rather high ranking noble, he had gotten the chance to see Julius on a hunt, and he had to say, though years had passed since the incident, Julius was inferior to Dagnus.
"Do what you want, Dagnus. We both know you will,"
At that, the meeting was over. Against how they acted, they were very close. Marcus had met Dagnus during one of the latter's greatest struggles, and had put in effort to drag him out of that hole. Though it was his duty to inform his father and everyone of importance of what Dagnus had just told him, he wouldn't do that.
Why? Because he knew Dagnus trusted him, and he wouldn't break that trust, despite the possible consequences.
Walking back to the pub, where he took residence, much thanks to his great friend Lilia, Dagnus was still deep in thought. His gut told him to trust Hiro, but something felt off.
It was like he was a puppet to whoever had resurrected him. He wasn't free. Something was controlling his actions, preventing him from sharing too much information.
Who was this Goddess? And why was she so desperate to hide her identity? Was she betraying the other Gods? Or was she pretending to be one?
Bump.
Occupied by his thoughts, Dagnas had neglected to watch where he was going.
"My bad, ma-"
Slice.
The dagger swept across Dagnas' throat, ripping through the skin cells out outer flesh, blood now pouring out in huge gushes.
Dagnas instinctively tried to press his hands against the wound, yet the blood refused to stop flooding. The dam formed from his hand was not enough to prevent the insane blood loss.
Before long, his knees grew weak as his head seemed to be floating away.
Thud.