(WHRAAAAMMMM!!)
The behemoth was screaming as loud as it could as its foot fell on the ground. Exasperated by the noise, I pulled it back and tore off its head with my hands.
(I had defeated the last monster of the dungeon.)
- Finally!
(I don't how long it took, but I did it, I survived.)
I turned around and look at the corpse of all these monsters.
I knew I became stronger, but I didn't know of strong exactly. So, I attacked the nest of the behemoths. I managed to kill their king plus 30 of them. Safa said that they are S rank monsters. So now, I'm strong enough to take down an army of S rank monsters at the same time. With my new strength, I can finally take my revenge, I could defeat them, those traitors who left me here to die. I'll hunt them down and I'll kill them.
I took the head of one of the monsters and headed out.
After a few hours of walking, I came across a city. Strange, there wasn't one here. Did it get built while I was inside the dungeon? How long was I gone?
When I got close to the gate, the guards stopped me.
- Hey, you! Stop right there! Who are you?
- Me? I'm Mison. You could say I'm an adventurer.
- You? An adventurer?
Technically I wasn't lying. I was an adventurer, but the guards weren't buying it. Well, I can't say I'm Jama. I don't want my old teammates to know I'm alive.
- Show us your guild card!
- I don't have it! You don't!? This guard was already pointing his spear at me.
- The thing is I'm just coming back from the mountains! I was training there for, well, a very long time. What is the current year?
The guards look at each other, puzzled.
- Seriously? The year is 1440.
- Oh, so I was gone for 7 years.
- …
- So, can you tell me where the guild is so I can sell this behemoth head?
- Come with me!
The guard led me into a room. At first, I thought it was prison, but after a while, the door opened and 2 people got in.
- So, you are the Mison guy who want to sell the behemoth head?
- Yes! Who are you?
- I am this city guild master, and this is my assistant. Where did you get this monster head?
- There is a dungeon around here, yes?
- Yes, but it's a mix dungeon! Yes?
- You mean to tell me that you went inside and killed a behemoth by yourself?
- Well, it was already wounded, but yes, I'm strong!
- ...
- Ok. If you doubt my strength, test me!
The guild master got taken aback. But he quickly regained his composure.
- Very well! Follow us!
And the guild master guided me across the city. For a city built in just 7 years, it was quite well developed. There were a school, a hospital, a market, a lot of restaurants …
- That's quite the city you have here! How did you build it in just 7 years?
- You're mistaking Mr. Mison! This city was built 3 years ago.
- Didn't expect you to be a joker guild master!
- This is no joke!
- Really, how could you build a city this big in just 3 years?
- It was thanks to the heroes!
- Heroes?
- Yes, they personally got rid of wandering monsters, gathered people who had nowhere to go and give them home. They even built the school and hospital and accept everyone, even if you don't have money.
- What, you mean I could just go inside and get healed for free?
- Yes!
- Can I also eat for free?
- Of course!
- So, I don't need to sell the behemoth?
- No, you do!
- Huh?
- Mison, this town was a blessing given by the heroes. I won't let anyone disturb the peace.
- Oh, well, let get the test over with! You'll see I'm not lying!
Well, I am lying, but I have no intention to disturb the peace of this town. I don't really believe all those things about the heroes, but it doesn't matter. My targets are my former teammates.
We arrived at the guild and the assistant took me to the training room. He proposed me different weapons, but I'm better at hand to hand. When I was inside the dungeon, my weapons quickly got broken. I had to reply on my bared hands.
- Have you chosen your weapon?
- Nah, I'm good! So, who is my opponent?
- Me!
- Huh?
- I'll be your opponent!
- You are an adventurer, guild master?
- Yes! The hero especially chose me due to my fighting skill. I will not betray her trust!
The guild master looked dead serious.
- Ok, ok! So come at me!
When the assistant gave the signal, the guild master charged at me. He swung his wooden sword at me. Before the sword hit my neck, I raised my hand, and it broke upon impact. I caught the guild master by the neck and lift him.
- Do you surrender?
Ignoring me, he kicked my head.
- Do you surrender? I repeated, barely phased by his kick.
But the guild master tried to attack me again. So, in punched him sending him crash into the training room wall. I made sure to hold back, but he still lost consciousness. He must also have a few broken ribs.
A few people entered the training room and took the guild master away. The assistant took me to a room to wait.
Half an hour later, the guild master came back. That was fast. I wasn't expecting to see him so soon.
- Guild master? You're already up?
He bowed his head.
- Please forgive me Mr. Mison! I misjudged you! I fought you were a bandit pretending to be an adventurer to get inside the city.
(Don't really know how me beating you in a fight proves that I'm not a bandit but ok.)
- So, can I sell the behemoth?
The guild master took a small bag from his assistant and handed it to me.
- It has already been taken care of. Here your money!
- Great! I can rent a room and finally take a bath!
- Why not rent a house?
- I doubted the behemoth head is enough to rent a full house.
- No, no! As I said, this city is supported by the heroes. You can get a house for the amount you just make.
- Life is really easy here!
- Yes! That why a lot of bandits target this place.
- Who are those heroes that you are talking about? They seem great!
- Oh right, you said you're from the mountains? Make sense you don't know! The hero's party is officially known as The Silver Knights!
I let go of the bag the guild master gave me.
- Silver Knights? Their leader is a woman named Safa?
- Oh, you know of them! It is indeed her name. The others are the Saint Shaq, the Great sorceress Jio and The Paladin Terek.
I couldn't believe it. Those scums are called heroes. They are traitors who abandon their own to save themselves. What's heroic about them?
- Why are them heroes? Did them defeat the Demon Lord?
- Exactly!
That can't be. There is no way that Safa would become a hero. No, I got it: they went with another party which defeated the Demon Lord, they betrayed them and left them to die just like me. And now, they are stealing the real heroes' glory. That's the only reason. They are fooling everyone. But I know the truth. I won't let them get away with that.
- You said she chose you? Are you friend with them, guild master?
- Oh, I wouldn't call myself their friend!
- Yeah, I get it! They wouldn't want to be associated with other people. I bet they are living in a luxurious mansion or something.
- Not at all! Well, they do have a mansion but there are rarely there. The Saint is always travelling, looking for sick people to heal.
- What?
- Miss Jio is personally taking care of children in her orphanage. She also built schools all around the continent.
- …
- The Sword Princess and the Knight Terek are always on the front lines, repelling demons, and monsters' attacks.
- The heroes are helping peoples?
- Yeah! Incredible, isn't it? I hear that one time, the nobles tried to stop them, and in response the Saint deployed such big magic that he healed a whole city at once.
Wait, can't be! Am I confusing them with other people? No, their names are not common. And the way the guild master is describing it, it can only be them. But no. Something is wrong, definitely wrong.
- You should meet them! You know, in 2 months, it'll be the 3rd anniversary of the Demon Lord defeat. They will be coming here! I could introduce you!
- Why are them coming here?
- I don't know. But they have been coming every year.
- And you will introduce me? You're obviously above S rank. I'm sure the heroes would be interested in you!
Yeah, this is perfect. By using the guild master, I could get close to Safa. I will finally have my revenge.
In the meantime, I was working as adventurer. I registered as Mison, an A rank warrior. The guild master wanted to give me the S rank, but I needed to take a test, which only happens once a year. Well, I just need to make a living, I didn't need a S rank title.
So, for 2 months, I hunted monsters and sold their corpse at the guild. I took high ranked quests involving traveling long distance. But I was so fast that I always completed them the same day I took them. I became known as the Masked Knight. Why, because I wear a mask when I'm hunting.
I also got accustomed with the town. It was bigger than expected. They were no homeless people, not even poor people. Everybody has their own house.
It had fields where the population grew their own food. They even raised cattle. This city was totally independent. And everyone was thanking the heroes for it. I guess they had them completely fooled. But do not worry. I'll killed those traitors and free you. Just wait.
As the anniversary date got closer, the city got busier. People were really exited. Nobles and even royalties of other kingdoms arrived everyday. A lot of high ranked adventurers also came. Fortunately, no one seem to recognize me.
However, the heroes themselves were nowhere to be seen. The guild master told me they will only arrive the very same day. I wanted to ambush them before, but I guess it's no longer possible. Doesn't matter. Enjoy your extra time. You'll die the same.
And so, the day of the anniversary arrived. The whole city was waiting all along the road, from the city gate to the guild. They are going to the guild? I thought they would go to a fancy hotel or something.
As I was lost in my mind, I heard cheering. I looked at the gate and saw 4 shadows coming. When they got close enough, I could clearly see. Those faces, those are faces I would never forget, even if you brainwash me. The faces of those who betrayed me. The faces of peoples I hate more that anything.
There they were: Silver Knights, entering the city and waving at the crowd. They didn't change one bit. They were even wearing the same clothes. You would think they were coming from the dungeon, 7 years ago. If they look the same, their strength must also be the same. There is no way these guys could have defeated the Demon Lord. I was now entirely convinced that they stole another party's glory.
I ran away from the crow. I thought I could control myself, but my anger is too much. I risk attacking them in public and involving innocent bystanders. No, I must wait. Wait till I'm alone with them, so I can take my time killing them.
The guild master said he would introduce me at night, when the heroes would be alone. I need to wait. So, I returned to my house. I tried to sleep but couldn't. I was too exited. I needed to calm down. I cleaned the house. Strangely, cleaning relaxed me. But it was over too soon. When I was done, I cooked and did the dishes. I needed to keep myself occupied.
Around 10 PM, I heard a knock at my door. It was the guild master assistant. He was there to take me to the heroes. Patience. I'll soon have my revenge.
I got dressed, put my mask on and followed the assistant. Being known as the Masked Knight means I could wear it in front of them and no one would be surprised.
The assistant took me to the guild. He led me upstairs, to the master office. I could hear my heart beating. Time seemed to be slowing down with each step. I was shaking with excitement. But I managed to contain myself.
- Do not worry! The heroes are nice people!
Seemed that the assistant mistook my shaking for discomfort and tried to reassure me.
- Thanks, I'll be ok!
We finally arrived at the office door.
He knocked and the guild master answered. He opened the door.
I saw them, siting on sofa all around a table. The guild master was standing in the front. They all turned to look at me. Safa was the closest. She was smiling. A polite smile. The last time I saw her, she was looking at me with cold eyes. I don't know why, but I was expecting the same look.
The assistant completely opened the door and invited me to go inside. I lifted my foot, but instead of taking a step, I charged at Safa. She was the strongest of the 4, I'll start by immobilizing her. I swung my sword, aiming at her legs.
The next thing I knew I was crashed onto the wall.
- Huh?
I fell on the ground, coughing blood.
(Pain? Blood? Impossible! Even the behemoth king couldn't hurt me!)
I lifted my head and saw Safa holding my sword. And suddenly, she disappeared. I felt something on my neck. Before I could react, I got smashed against the wall once more. Safa was holding me by the neck.
(Impossible! I'm supposed to be stronger!)
I struck her arm and managed to break free. Taking this opportunity, I tried to flee. I aimed for the windows. But before I could reach it, my body suddenly became heavy. I fell on my knees. I was seeing 4 hands.
(What? I only have 2 hands!)
Before I could understand what was going on, my mind went blank.