When I regain my senses, I was lying on a bed, but it wasn't mine. I got up, scrutinizing my surroundings.
I was in a room, a luxurious one even.
- Where am I?
I felt something hard against my thigh. It was a knife. I took it out. An image of Safa holding me by the neck came to my mind.
- Shit!
I suddenly remember last night. I finally meet my old teammates. I attacked them but got defeated. Safa dodged my swing and punched me.
I rubbed my belly. The pain may have gone, but I was still feeling strange. Even the behemoths could no longer hurt me. Yet, she easily took me down.
I made a mistake. I let my new strength get the better of me. Safa and the others are geniuses. There is no way they would stay as A rank adventurers.
- Heroes?
The guild master told me they became heroes after defeating the Demon Lord. He was obviously stronger than S rank monster. And Safa defeated him. And she did it in only 4 years. Meanwhile it took me 7 years to escape from the dungeon.
- How could I be so stupid?
I got full of myself and got kil…
- Wait, I'm still alive!
They didn't kill me. Instead, they brought me here. Didn't they recognize me? Or do they want to torture me?
- I need to escape!
I went to look out of the window, I recognized the scenery. This was the mansion located at the back of the city. It was supposed to be the heroes' mansion. Why did they bring me here? It doesn't matter. I just need to escape.
I was I the 2nd floor. Not high at all. I could jump down and escape before anyone notices me. So, I opened the window, or at least tried.
- Huh?
I pushed on it with all my strength, but it wouldn't budge.
- What is it made of? I can't open it.
Angered, I punched it and destroyed the whole wall along side.
- Shit!
There goes my sneaky escape. The commotion might have alerted anyone nearby. No time to waste. I tried to jump through the hole I made only to crash against the wall.
- What?
The wall, it repaired itself. What the hell?
At the same moment, the door of the room opened, and Safa came in.
- Jama!?
Shaq, terek and Jio were behind her.
Shit! I'm cornered. They are stronger and outnumbered me. If they decide to attack now, they will certainly defeat me. I needed to play cool. I squeezed the knife behind me.
- Jama! I … it's good to see you!
Good to see me? Are you kidding me. Or are you happy that you get to kill me again?
- It's been a long time! I … …
I didn't answer. I was just carefully analysing the room, looking for a way to escape.
- I … ah yes! Francis, you know, the guild master, he told me that you are stronger than S rank. We … huh, I mean you could be useful in the hero party!
What is that bitch taking about? You want me to come back to the party. What, you need another decoy?
- Hum, … Jama, are you listening?
- You bitch!
- Ah! …
- You abandoned me to die and now want me to come back!
- You didn't even apologize …
- I can't apologize! She cut me.
What do you mean you can't apologize? You betrayed me and left me to die. And you won't even apologize? You don't even regret what you did. You even have the audacity to ask me to come back. You thought I'd gladly accept and follow you? How entitled are you to be acting this way.
This was the last straw. Unable to contain my anger, I drew my knife and attack her. I didn't care about their strength or their number. I needed to kill her.
This time, my attack landed on her. But the knife broke. I hadn't even processed what happened that her hands were wrapped around me.
- Shit!
I guess this time, I'm really dead.
- I CAN'T APOLOGIZE BECAUSE WHAT I DID WAS UNFORGIVABLE!
Instead of crushing me, she shouted those words. She was even crying. Her hands were gently but firmly holding me. She wasn't crushing me. She was hugging me!
- I can't apologize, but I can't make amends! I'll give you everything!
She pushed me onto the bed and tore her dress.
- YOU CAN HAVE EVERYTHING, EVEN MY BODY!
(WHAAP)
The sound of the slap echoed in the room.
- Your body? DON'T SCREW WITH ME! I'll rather spend 100 more years in that dungeon than touching your filthy body!!
This was my true feelings. I may have had a crush on her back then, but now, all I can feel is anger.
Seemed that my words made it to her brain because she slowly let go of me. Shaq and Terek took her out of the room. Jio was still with me, but when I glanced at her she quickly fled.
...
What do I do now? It was night-time and I was still in the heroes' mansion. I couldn't escape. The magic around the room had been reinforced. I couldn't make a dent in the walls, no matter how much I punched them. The only thing I could do was opening the door, but there was a barrier stopping me from getting out.
So, I was sitting on the bed, looking for a way to escape when I heard a knock on the door. Of course, I ignored it, but they kept knocking.
- WHAT!? I furiously opened the door.
Safa was standing one the other side with a plate on her hands.
- I … dinner!
So, now you want to poison me! Too bad!
I pushed the plate off her hands and closed the door.
A few minutes later, there was another knock.
- I swear if it's her again …
I opened the door only to see Safa fleeing. Is she playing with me? I was about to close the door when I noticed a plate at my feet. I pushed it away and closed the door.
Again, there was a knock and a plate at the door. This time, I simply closed the door without spilling the food, but she knocked again.
Would she keep pestering me till I eat? I brough the plate inside and went to bed.
The next morning, there was a knock and plate at the door. Same thing at mid-day and night. I kept bringing them inside without eating them.
After 3 days, I was getting hungry. Still, I didn't want to eat anything coming from this girl.
The 4th day, there was a knock. However, when I opened the door, it was Shaq on the other side.
- As expected, you weren't eating the food Safa brought you!
I didn't bother listening to him and simply close the door.
- It's ok if you want to hate us, but at least, you should eat properly! … Don't worry, it's not poisoned! … Safa tried really hard to cook! You could …
Before he could finish his sentence, I punched him in the face. Strangely, he was sent flying. Isn't it as strong as Safa? No, he is a healer. He has no combat aptitude. I'm so stupid, I should have attacked the mages instead of going straight to Safa.
So, I attacked Shaq. I kept hammering him, but strangely, he wouldn't die. Fed up, I broke his neck.
I got off his body and raised my fist in the air. I did it! I finally kill one. Safa and the others would probably kill me when they learn it, but it doesn't matter. I got my revenge on Shaq.
- Cof cof cof!
- What?
Shaq was getting up! How? I broke his neck. Why won't you die?
- Surprised? Well, I was also shocked the first time. … It's a new power I developed. My healing power is continuously active on me! No matter what, I can't die! … You can hit me again if you want!
Is he looking down on me? Did they bring me here just to make fun of me? You can't die, huh? Allow me to test it!
- If you insist!
Following Shaq words, I attacked him again.
An hour later, I was out of strength. The whole room was covered in Shaq blood and bit of meat. Yet, he was still standing.
No matter what I did, he didn't die.
- Are you satisfied now?
He is still mocking me, that bastard! I clenched my fist and hit him with everything I got. My uppercut managed to behead him but it was as far as I could go. I was out of strength and passed out. On the ground, I saw Shaq head slowly moving toward his body.
(So even that wouldn't kill him?)
When I woke up, I was in bed and the whole room was cleaned.
One more time, I heard a knock at the door. It was Jio this time. I was still mad, but I was also hungry. I haven't eaten for days, and I pushed my body to its limit by fighting Shaq. Well, if you can call it a fight.
So, I let her in, and she put the plate on the table. Strangely though, she started talking to me.
- So, …., how have you been? She said as she sat in front of me with a big smile on her face. … I mean, you got better looking! You must have tons of girls chasing you?
What are you talking about you bitch? You betrayed me, left me to die, and now you want to make small talks? Do you think we are still friends? Fine! You want to talk, so let's talk!
- What do you get?
- Pardon?
- Safa in invulnerable and Shaq is healing! What about you? How would you survive if I attacked you?
- I … I would prefer if you don't!
- You're the one who casted barriers in this room?
- …
- I could destroy the first one, but this one seems to be unbreakable!
- …
Not going to answer?
- …
- Ok fine! Get out!
- No, I mean … we can talk about something else!
- GET OUT!
- …
Jio resigned herself and left the room.
After eating, I was feeling much better. It wasn't poisoned. At least, no fast effect poison.
Having nothing to do in this room, I begun exercising.
This room was literally a house. There was even a bath with clean clothes. So, after sweating a lot, I took a bath.
It was almost dinner time. I wonder who would bring me food. The only one left was Terek, but I was hoping it wouldn't be him. I hate him more than Safa. Before they betrayed me, Terek was the only one friendly to me. Sure, he was seeing me as a weakling, but that was all. He never insulted me or mocked me. He was even seeking advice from me. Yet he didn't even hesitate to leave me there. I hope he wasn't stupid enough to show himself.
Unfortunately, when I opened the door, it was him. God sure does hate me.
I took the plate and closed the door. Strangely, he didn't try to stop me. I guessed the others must have forced him to bring me the food. He could have asked one of the maids. That's right! Why aren't the maids bringing me food. What are they planning? I have been here for days. They are not doing anything. The food isn't even poisoned. Ok, we will have a real talk tomorrow, when they will bring me breakfast. If they want to kill me, better get on with it. I don't want to send the rest of my life here.
However, the next day, when I opened the door, it was the guild master standing on the other side, with no plate.
- Stop your meaningless vendetta against the heroes!
This was the first thing he said to me. Not even a greeting. I can understand why he was mad though. A strange guy suddenly showed up and tried to kill someone you admire. But you all have been fooled by those scums.
- Since you appeared, you caused them nothing but troubles!
- First of all, they brought me here without my will! There is even a barrier preventing me from escaping! Secondly, those people you call heroes are nothing but trashes!
Upon hearing my words, the guild master punched me. Not that it did anything, I was way stronger than him.
- I don't care what happened, but don't you dare call them trash!
- You don't care? You don't know the story and you dare lecture me? Are you out of your mind?
- No! I know the hero! Whatever happened, it was obviously your fault!
- Oh, why don't you take a seat? I will tell you my story and we will see if I'm still at fault!
- I don't need to hear it! I trust the heroes!
- You're making decision based on one side of the story? Good thing you are not a judge!
My words seemed to have worked.
- Fine! Humour me! Tell me your ''side of the story'' so I can see how wrong you are!
So, I told him everything. I explained how we grew up from the same orphanage, how we became adventurers and how we rose to a high position. I also told him how his heroes left this childhood friend to die just to save themselves.
- No, you're lying! There is no way the heroes would have done that!
- You're a guild master! You could do you own investigation. Search for the name Jama!
- …
- What? Don't just sit there! Go make some research and see if I'm lying!
- …
- No!
- Why not!?
- Because it's your fault!
- Wait, what?
- You said you were a B rank! Of course, you're going to be left behind! You were only dragging them down!
- You're going to say that?
- Yes, the proof is, after getting rid of you, they became strong enough to defeat the demon lord!
- …
- So, what if you were left behind! In fact, you should feel honoured that your sacrifice saved they lives. That's the only thing you were good for!
- You're saying they were right to betray me?
- Yeah! If they hadn't, they would have died there and they would have never became heroes who saved so many lives!
- WHAT ABOUT MY LIFE? I was reaching my limit.
- Your life is meaningless before the many they saved afterwards! That's how important they are!
I couldn't believe it. This guy clearly said that it was ok for them to abandon me.
- So, what if I kill you?
- I told you to stop your petty revenge!
- That's what I'm doing!
- Huh?
- You let me kill you and I will leave the heroes alone!
- What? I don't understand!
- I'm trading your life for them!
- You said they are important to the world! But you're just a guild master. What about I vent my frustration on you?
Before he could reply, I quickly closed the distance and grabbed him by the neck.
- So, what about it?
- I … you can't! This is murder!
- Not really! This is a sacrifice! Your life for the heroes!
- No … I
- Come on! I lifted him in the air.
- No please don't kill me!
- Why not? Aren't you glad to be dying for your heroes? I squeezed my hand.
- NO! STOP!!! He burst out crying.
I let go of him and he fell on his knees, coughing heavily.
- You can't even follow your own word, yet you expect others to do so.
- Cof, cof!
The guild master couldn't answer. He was trying to catch his breath.
- What a hypocrite!
- …
- Get out of here! You disgust me!
The guild master quickly ran away.
I returned to my bed and fell asleep.