Vol 1 Chapter 6: The Blood Executioner Mistaken for a Shadow Hero

Silence reigned in the forest after the deaths of the two slave traders.
However, the scattered blood and flesh had not disappeared.

Marry stood in the middle of the slaughter field. Her robes fluttered softly in the night wind. The moonlight reflected in her dim blue eyes—unapologetic, yet unhappy.

She raised one hand into the air, forming a bloody summoning seal.

“...Eat your fill. It must have been a long time since you tasted blood, right?”

Blood magic split the ground.

From the cracks in the earth, red roots extended out—pulsing like giant veins. The roots coiled, twisted, and then opened like the petals of a thorny rose.

Blood Rose Tendrils
A familiar monster of her own creation—a creature made of blood and magical roots. Roses bloomed at their tips, whispering in the language of hunger.

The roots moved, dragging pieces of Bragg and Garel’s flesh. In soft whispers, they chewed. The sound of bones cracking, blood being absorbed, flesh disappearing.

There was no disgust. No pity.

Marry lowered her head calmly, letting her familiar clean up all traces.

Until not even bones remained.

Once everything was clean, she touched the ground. “Return.”

The Blood Rose Tendrils withdrew. The ground closed in. The last flower withered.

The forest was silent again.

—

Wake up, Little One

Marry turned and approached Thomas’ tiny body lying in the grass, his body covered in bruises. The boy’s face was pale, his breathing slow.

She pulled a small vial of silvery purple liquid from her pouch. An advanced alchemy potion—a regenerative and sedative mixture.

Marry opened Thomas’ mouth slowly, dripping the liquid.

A few seconds passed.

The boy squirmed. His eyelids blinked weakly… then slowly opened.

“…Ugh… where am I…?”

Marry pulled the hood of her cloak a little deeper, hiding her face. Her voice was light and gentle.

“You’re safe now.”

Thomas looked up, staring at the figure of the cloaked girl in front of him. His eyes widened. “Who… are you?”

“It doesn’t matter. I just happened to be passing by.”

“Those… those slave traders?” Thomas trembled. “What happened? They… they—”

“They’ve been defeated and fled in fear,” Marry answered shortly. “You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

Thomas sat up, touching his body. His wounds were gone. Only his tattered clothes remained as witnesses. He stared at Marry in awe.

“…Were you the one who saved me?”

Marry was silent for a moment. Then she nodded slowly.

Thomas was stunned. Then, as if remembering something from the children’s fairy tales that Grandma Dora often told him, his eyes widened.

“D-don’t tell me you’re… the shadow hero who is said to secretly save people and just disappear?!”

Marry stiffened for a moment.

Cold sweat ran down her temples.

Shadow hero?
Isn’t it… a bloody executioner…?

Thomas grew more excited. “I’ve heard stories about that! About a shadow hero who saves people without ever showing his face! You must be her!”

Marry took a deep breath. Then… just nodded weakly.

“…Maybe so.”

Thomas chuckled, even though his body was still weak. “Thank you, Sister Hero.”

Marry knelt down. “Is there any part of your body that still hurts?”

Thomas shook his head. “No. It’s all healed… except my clothes.”

Marry smiled faintly. “That can be replaced. The important thing is, you’re still alive.”

She stood up. “Now, let’s go home. Your family must be worried about you.”

Thomas stood up slowly, then grabbed the edge of Marry’s robe. “Thank you… can I ask for one more thing?”

Marry turned her head.

“Can you walk me out of the forest? I’m afraid I’ll get lost.”

Marry nodded.

—

The Way Home and the Name That Never Existed

On the way, Marry and Thomas walked side by side. The sky had begun to change towards dawn. The fog was beginning to thin.

“...Don’t tell anyone what happened tonight,” Marry said suddenly.

“Eh?”

“For now… just say you got lost. Don’t worry the villagers. And don’t mention me.”

Thomas looked hesitant, but nodded. “Okay. For the good of everyone.”

A few steps later, Thomas asked while looking at the ground.

“When I grow up… can I be a hero like you?”

Marry smiled faintly.

“If you have determination, and keep training… nothing is impossible.”

Thomas seemed to be thinking seriously.

Before parting, he paused.

“Uh… big sister hero. What’s your name?”

Marry turned around. Her gaze was blank for a moment.

“…I’m just a wanderer. But… you can call me… Red.”

Thomas smiled broadly.

“Thank you, Red!”

—

Homecoming

Thomas ran as soon as he saw the roof of his house from a distance.

“Grandma!!!”

“THOMAS!?”

Grandma Dora, who almost fainted from anxiety, immediately ran to greet her grandson. Tears flowed as she hugged the dirty and shabby little body.

“Where have you been!? Oh my… your clothes! Your body! What happened!?”

Thomas lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Grandma. I… I got lost in the forest. I can’t go home.”

Grandma Dora grumbled half-crying. “Stupid… why are you so careless!?”

But the hug was still warm.

—

In the Heart of a Boy

After everything calmed down, and Thomas leaned back on the warm couch of his house, he stared at the ceiling.

Red… thank you for saving me.
I never thought I would actually meet the Shadow Hero.
If fate permits… I hope I can meet you again someday.