Chapter Twelve: Going back to the town

With some nourishment from the watermelons, I regained enough strength to continue scouting the fields for two more days, but I didn’t find anything at all. It was a miracle that those melons had grown way out here in the middle of nowhere.
The mountain became my base, and on the fourth day, when I was sure I wouldn’t find anything else, I decided to do what I had to back in the city. Besides, I couldn’t live on watermelons alone.
I had made a promise with Milta — that we would go on adventures together. No matter how much I was discriminated against, I knew I could endure as long as I was with her.
With that thought in mind, I picked two large watermelons and began my way back to the city, heading in the direction I had been thrown from.
They were heavy, each bigger than my head. But since I couldn’t see any houses from the mountain, I had no choice but to carry them with me, even if only to quench a little of my thirst.
I left in the morning, and several hours passed before I finally saw some houses.
Apparently, I had been thrown downhill, and after climbing back uphill, the city came into sight.
It stretched endlessly to the left, while just a few miles to the right stood the huge gate we had entered through.
It seemed I hadn’t been taken far into the capital after all. The area around here looked normal — just like the residential side. I bet the nobles and important people lived on the unseen left side.
As I drew closer, I saw a few scattered houses, separated from the main part of town.
Remembering what the two masters had said before I was thrown, I decided to keep a 200-meter distance from the houses and the few people I encountered.
Holding only one watermelon — since I had eaten the other — I suddenly heard someone shout.
“Hey, wait right there!!”
A couple came running from about 300 meters away, the man gripping a dagger.
“Drop that Guna right there!!”
I didn’t know what a Guna was, but the only thing I carried was the watermelon — and I needed it.
Why should I listen to them just because they had a dagger? I had my sword too.
But everything changed the moment they crossed into my 200-meter radius.
“KYAAAAHH!!” the woman screamed in terror before fainting. The man’s legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed mid-run.
What’s happening? Is this because of my so-called aura?
They would’ve attacked me just to take my food, so in a way, they got what they deserved. But… a part of me wanted to prove I wasn’t a bad person.
So I walked toward the man. With each step, his cries of anguish grew louder until he finally fainted from fear, collapsing near the woman.
“What have I done?”
Guilt gnawed at me. I placed the watermelon beside him and left.Now the real battle began. Keeping my distance, I watched the houses from afar.
The sun was directly overhead as I wondered how I could enter the city without causing an uproar.
“What if there’s a way to hide my aura? Would I finally be able to blend in with the crowd?” But I had no idea how to even attempt it.
“I’ll stealthily enter and test my luck,” I muttered, slipping forward like a ninja until I reached an old-looking house.
I waited. When I was sure no one was around, I leapt into the open. The streets were eerily empty. Odd, but I pushed forward, weaving past a few houses.
Then I heard it — noise, voices, gathering.
Hiding behind a wall, I peeked out.
The entire town seemed to have converged in one place. Men, women, children, and the elderly all had their eyes fixed on a man standing on a wooden stage, addressing the crowd.
He looked young, dressed in a swordsman’s outfit that gleamed with magical enhancements.
I could’ve sworn I’d seen him before. Was he… a hero?
Curiosity overpowered caution. Forgetting my stealth, I stepped forward, slowly approaching the crowd.
As expected, once I came within a certain distance, every head turned toward me. Screams erupted like wildfire.
“Crap… I messed up!!”
Their cries grew louder. Those who hadn’t fainted pointed at me in terror as I spun and bolted out of town.
“Hah! Hah!” I gasped for air behind a rock after running far.
“Is there no way for me to get close to people!?” I roared, punching the rock in frustration.
Then—
“There you are…”
A voice. Too close. Too familiar.
My heart pounded violently. “Did they send someone to kill me!?”
Only someone of great strength could withstand being near me. If he was here… he was strong.
And then, stepping from the side, came the man from the stage.
“Hey there! You gave everyone quite the scare back there.”
“You… you are!!”
Panic filled my mind. Did he come to kill me!? Did he come to kill me!? DID HE COME TO KILL ME!?
“Calm down,” he said softly, smiling at my terrified expression.
“I’m Klad Yourtin. People call me a hero… You might not remember, but we met when you first arrived. Remember the sword that attacked you the moment you set foot here? That was me… Anyway, sorry about that. It was a misunderstanding. But you know, I wasn’t entirely at fault for acting that way.”
…He apologized?
Tears stung my eyes. A hero — apologizing to me.
“Hey, why are you crying? …Just as I thought, you’re no demon.”
To be treated this way by a hero… what was going on in this world?We talked for a while. I asked him about Milta.
“The great healer? She’s in the capital now, but she’ll be passing through this town tomorrow. Though… I doubt they’ll let you see her.”
Milta… she had become so important — ranked alongside heroes for her healing powers.
But when he said I wouldn’t be allowed to meet her, I begged desperately.
“Fine then,” Klad relented. “I’ll inform her about you when she arrives. But man, you are something. My level is over 90, and yet… my heart’s pounding just standing near you. No wonder the guild master and guard captain had to drink MP potions after dealing with you.”
And just like that, he left — without raising a finger against me.
Going to town had been pointless. I hadn’t even managed to find food. With no watermelon left, what would I eat until tomorrow?
Resting behind the rock, fatigue and hunger overtook me, and I drifted off — only to be awakened by a sudden downpour.
The rain soaked me to the bone in seconds. There was no shelter, no cover. I sat shivering in the cold until the storm finally ended.
But the chill lingered. I hugged myself, teeth chattering, and stayed awake until the sun rose. Only then did sleep finally claim me.
That’s when the nightmare began.
A dream of meeting countless people in this world… only for them all to die because of me.
Despair without end.
I jolted awake, trembling on my knees in fear of what might come for anyone who dared befriend me.
And then—
The wind stirred.
Not far away, a dazzling figure appeared.
Long, beautiful hair fluttered in the breeze, her white dress glowing under the afternoon sun.
Blinded by her radiance, I shielded my eyes. But that familiar hair… that presence… it could only belong to one person.
“How have you been…?”
Her voice was gentle, each step she took enveloping me in warmth.
“Milta… I wanted to see you!” For the first time since arriving in the capital, I felt happiness.
“It’s been a while. You must be hungry, right? I brought you some food.”
She held a basket in both hands. By the wet grass near the rock, she spread out a cloth and laid out a feast.
Vegetables, meat, bread, water. More food than I’d seen in what felt like forever. I devoured it hungrily, hardly tasting it.
When I finally slowed, Milta’s voice softened.
“I told you about my village before, right? It was a village of healers. Our art is passed down from generation to generation. Small, but influential. Then… one day… we were attacked. A village of healers has no offense. All the adults were slaughtered. The healing arts are passed down at age ten, so everyone older was killed. Only children under ten survived.“My parents… they passed their art to me before they died. So when we were taken alive by those who attacked us, I was the only one capable of healing. They said it was demons who attacked — altering our memories in the process. The world accepted it. And because I was the only healer left… I was taken to the capital. There, my powers became… necessary.”
Milta… so this is why she came here. What a brave girl…
I couldn’t eat anymore. I set the food aside, appetite gone.
Leaning against the rock, she continued, gazing at the sky.
“Everything in the capital is divided: the average, the strong, and the incredibly strong. The guilds are the same. There are four gates: east, west, south, north. You’re near the south gate. Each connects to average towns like this. Stay here, in an average town. Keep away from the capital. The people are terrified of you, but they won’t harm you…”
Her words made tears stream down my face. Why was she saying this? Weren’t we going to stay together? Why did it feel like she was preparing to leave me?
Finally, she said it:
“I’m leaving with the Star Guild to fight the Demon Lord in the human states. I don’t know when I’ll be back…”
“Milta!” I jumped to my feet.
“What are you saying? Weren’t we supposed to go on adventures together? Are you scared of me too!?”
“…I’m not scared of you. I know you better than anyone. I’ll admit, when your aura flared at the end of the Mighty Week, I was confused. But I knew there had to be a reason. Even if you don’t understand it yourself.”
“I see… Do you feel it too? Your heart pounding when you’re near me?”
“…It does. Your aura is so thick it’s almost visible. I’d be lying if I said my body doesn’t react.”
I noticed her faint trembling.
“I see… You have to save your village. I… I understand. I’ll wait for you. Please… have a safe trip.”
She turned away.
“I’m sorry it turned out this way… Promise me you’ll live. No matter what.”
“I—”
But before I could finish, she walked away. Slowly. Until she disappeared from sight.
The tears wouldn’t stop. My cries grew louder, echoing into the empty fields.
A huge hole had opened in my heart.
The only hope I had in this world… was gone.