Chapter 83 - Show a Strong Will
A man with black hair, clad in black clothing.
Perhaps due to his angular jawline and unkempt stubble, he looked quite wild.
His left eye was covered by a black eyepatch, likely blinded when I slashed him before, and his remaining right eye was a blood-red pupil.
There was no mistake. That man was Zoack.
"Zoack! Where did you take Flora!"
"...Hmph, so you can see me properly this time."
Even as I raised my voice in anger, Zoack merely snorted and muttered.
Was he referring to how I had brushed him off during the Dragon Slayer's banquet in the Royal Capital?
However, there was something I wanted to confirm more than that right now.
"I came alone. Flora is safe, isn't she?"
"...Yeah, your woman is right behind me."
When Zoack, who was in front of me, shifted his body a step, I saw Flora tied to a tree in the back with a rope.
"—!"
Perhaps Flora had also confirmed my presence, as she let out a muffled voice.
It was likely difficult for her to speak because she was gagged.
As far as I could see of Flora's condition, there were no signs of any violence having been inflicted upon her for the time being.
Knowing for now that Flora was safe, I let out a sigh of relief.
"...You've gone soft. What's with that face? The you of the past shouldn't have been the type to make a face like that."
That was certainly true. However, I didn't think that was a bad thing now.
Having someone precious to me, and feeling relieved from the bottom of my heart knowing they were safe. What was wrong with that?
As if to show those feelings, I maintained a resolute attitude, causing Zoack to twist his face in displeasure.
"Is this the Kingdom of Abalonia's strongest A-rank adventurer, Aldred the Dragon Slayer?"
Perhaps having heard my title and real name, Flora wore a puzzled expression.
Seeing that expression, I couldn't help but make a bitter face.
If I was going to reveal my secret, I wanted to be the one to do it myself.
Whether he understood by looking at my bitter expression and Flora's puzzled look, Zoack smirked.
"What's the matter, Aldred? Had you not told your woman your true identity?"
With a smile on his face, Zoack slowly backed away toward where Flora was.
My heart couldn't allow Zoack to get close to Flora, and I was tempted to slash at him instantly, but Zoack would be faster at cutting Flora down.
While feeling that frustration, I strove to calm my heated heart.
Perhaps feeling uneasy about Zoack approaching, Flora's eyes looked frightened.
"How pitiful, to be caught up in this without knowing the reason at all."
Zoack looked at Flora with pity and removed the gag.
Who was he to talk? I clenched my fists tightly in anger.
"...What do you mean by Aldo-san not telling me his true identity?"
"Your man's name isn't Aldo. His name is Aldred."
"...Eh? Aldred?"
Flora raised a suspicious voice at Zoack's flat statement.
Stop it. Please, stop.
"Yes. And he is the strongest A-rank adventurer in the Kingdom of Abalonia who achieved the feat of Dragon Slayer."
"Dragon Slayer? Aldo-san? The strongest adventurer in the Kingdom?"
Perhaps because my real name and past were suddenly told to her by Zoack, Flora raised a voice of confusion.
And then, as if to confirm if it was true, Flora's gaze slowly turned toward me.
Being directed those innocent eyes that doubted nothing, I reflexively averted my gaze.
Then, I heard Flora let out a gasp, as if she were shocked.
If it was going to turn out like this, I should have revealed the secret to Flora first, just as Kurune had said.
However, now was not the time to stand still in regret.
I switched my feelings and decided to probe Zoack's objective.
"What is your goal! Did the nobles tell you to bring me back!?"
"Yeah, I was certainly told that."
I was bewildered by Zoack, who confessed so easily.
I thought he would dodge the question a bit more.
"Requested by the nobles, I wandered around the west according to the information, and since your companion, the female mage, was there, I had her followed. But that is the nobles' objective, not mine!"
Zoack said that forcefully and drew the sword he wore at his waist.
A black sword like darkness emerged from the scabbard, making a clinking sound.
Then, he slowly pointed the jet-black blade at me.
"—My objective is to fight you again and win, Aldred."
"If it's me you want, I've come alone! In that case, Flora has nothing to do with this. Release her!"
"...Indeed, this woman is just bait to lure you out peacefully. If you were in your original state, I would have released her."
I felt an unidentifiable unease at Zoack's strange phrasing.
"But you've degenerated since you achieved the Dragon Slayer feat! For a while, you just shut yourself in an inn and didn't even swing a sword. When I looked for the reason, it was that you couldn't find a meaning to fight? What is that!? Was I given this wound and defeated by a guy like that!? To top it off, you come to a backwater countryside like this, make a woman, and live a carefree life! I entered the village before the female mage arrived, you know? To only notice something was wrong after I directed my bloodlust at you, you've grown too soft!"
Zoack, who had been calm, suddenly spat out words with a ghastly expression.
It was clearly dissatisfaction toward me, and I could vividly tell that these were the words from within his heart.
However, those words didn't resonate much with my heart.
Certainly, I felt a sense of chagrin for not being able to detect such a dangerous person in advance and leaving him at large, but I have decided to live as a villager now.
Even if I'm told I've gone soft, I won't get angry.
"The current me isn't the A-rank adventurer Aldred. I'm Aldo, a villager living in Nordende. You have no right to say anything about my way of life. I'm not the me of the past anymore. So, release Flora and go home."
Though I spoke quietly, Zoack looked at me with cold eyes.
"If it's strong people you want, there are others in the Kingdom. If you go outside, there are many more. There's no meaning in being obsessed with me, is there?"
"No, it's not enough to just be strong. I've realized that over these past few months. It has to be someone who possesses a strong will, and who will ruthlessly cut down their opponent for the sake of it. Yes, like our fight that night...! Slashing, being slashed... I want to have a fight where we shave away each other's lives like that time again!"
Zoack's words were half-stained with madness.
Perhaps remembering the past battle, he had become completely obsessed with me.
"But the current me doesn't have a strong will like I did in the past."
When I denied him flatly, the heat instantly drained from Zoack's eyes.
"...Yeah. I thought the current you would say that. That's why I will use this woman to give a reason to fight to the you who has lost the will to fight."
Zoack said that in a cold voice and approached Flora.
Perhaps because I had seen his crazed appearance earlier, I became anxious and shouted.
"Hey, what do you intend to do to Flora!?"
However, Zoack ignored my voice and pulled a dagger from his waist.
A purple liquid was adhering to that silver blade.
That was likely poison.
"No, please don't come here!"
Perhaps because the blade was pointed at her, Flora raised a high-pitched voice of rejection.
"S-Stop it! Zoack!"
Zoack turned toward me and smirked at my heartfelt cry.
However, in the next moment, Zoack slashed Flora's shoulder with the poison-coated dagger.
"—Hyah!?"
A voice of agony escaped from Flora.
Along with it, some blood danced in the air.
The sight of Flora being wounded by Zoack's dagger.
The moment I saw that, my mind went blank as if it had sparked.
And then, a cold anger that instantly suppressed all emotions and logic welled up.
Before I knew it, I had kicked off the ground and closed the distance in an instant to slash at Zoack.
The silver sword and the jet-black sword clashed, scattering a high-pitched sound and sparks.
And then, perhaps deciding that he would be overwhelmed by the momentum of my strength, Zoack retreated several meters while letting the momentum flow.
"...That dagger earlier was coated in poison. I slashed your woman with it. If left alone, the poison will circulate and she'll die in less than an hour. And I have the antidote. You know what to do next, don't you?"
"Zoack!"
"Now, come at me seriously. If you don't kill me, your precious woman will die."