The Great Sword is not the Main Body!-Chapter 118: Heresy (2)

My mind was a jumbled mess.

First, Shirin not being part of the final battle against the White Disaster.

Second, being labeled a heretic.

Third, the fact that Rubia was with me and that led to all of this.

And fourth, both Rubia and Ser accepted my heretic status so nonchalantly, like it was no big deal.

"Uh, um... huh?"

I don’t know. I don’t get it. I just want to eat some jelly.

I want to lie down on my bed, hold the soft blanket, and eat jelly that Rubia feeds me...

"Hahaha! That expression is priceless. Mm, yes, exactly. You probably don’t understand. Noah, listen well. The world works that way."

"...Huh?"

"Those with strength and loud voices make the laws, create the heavens, and shape the world. But, do you think someone like that would struggle to bury one person? Think about it. It’s easy to come up with reasons. First, Rubia, who you were with, went missing for fifteen days. Second, you’ve been holding the fragment of the end. Third, you were consumed by it and lost your mind. Do you need any more reasons?"

"Consumed...? Is there such a side effect to the fragment?"

Of course, every time I use the fragment, I feel dazed and like I’m not really myself... But once the effect wears off, I return to normal.

Could it be that my personality changed ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ without me realizing it?

"Rubia, am I... am I strange?"

Rubia, suddenly asked this unexpected question, let out a bitter smile, lifted me up, and gently placed me on her lap.

"Not at all. You're the same as always."

Then, she hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek.

"Hehe... It, it tickles. Heh, cough. So, it was all just a rumor?"

"Noah, you see, the world is like this. When humans are among monkeys, the humans become monkeys, and if they don't accept it, they become fools and die. It’s a strange place."

After finishing her words, Ser sighed deeply, sat back in her chair, and chuckled.

"In the end, we’ve become, according to the way the world works: one very small and innocent monkey, one slightly less small but arrogant monkey, one genius monkey, and one sacred monkey."

Rubia, still holding me, chuckled and rubbed my hair against her cheek.

"Sacred? Don’t worry too much, Noah. Whatever happens, I’m on your side."

"Mm... Yes. Thank you."

I leaned fully into Rubia’s embrace, which lifted me from the deep pit of despair.

Then, I firmly grabbed Rubia’s hand, which was subtly caressing my thigh with what seemed like a perverted touch.

"Then... I guess I can’t be next to Rubia anymore. I don’t want to cause any trouble because of me..."

"That depends on what decision Rubia makes. So, Rubia, what do you want to do? Ser, you should think about it too."

Shirin, her hand now in my pocket and her posture straight, spoke seriously.

It’s okay... it’s okay. Just because we’re a little apart doesn’t mean we’ll be separated forever. There’s always the option of meeting secretly at night, right?

Yeah. That would be thrilling, and there’s definitely romance in that.

Even if we’re physically apart, Rubia can feel what I’m doing and where I am... so we’re not completely apart.

So... I’ll be fine with Rubia choosing the city. It has to be fine. No matter what answer she gives, I won’t show disappointment, and I’ll act like usual.

"Entering the city and secretly forming a hunting party without the order’s knowledge, or hunting just among yourselves. If you choose the former, the hunt will be much easier. You’ll have to deceive the order’s eyes, but if you prepare in advance, the damage to the residents can be minimized."

Clink- The sound of Ser’s coffee cup tilting.

Swish- The sound of Rubia’s sigh scattering in the air, her hair swaying.

Thump- Thump- The sound of my heart pounding, ready to burst.

"If you choose the latter, the hunt will be much more difficult. If Valoran shows up in a city you didn’t choose, the damage to the residents will be uncontrollable. No matter how quickly you move, that city won’t avoid destruction."

"I don’t care what you choose. I’ll follow Rubia’s decision."

Clink- The sound of an empty coffee cup being set down on the table.

"I—"

Rubia opened her mouth.

"I’ll be with Noah."

"...Huh?"

In response to her answer, Ser chuckled, stood up, and left the room, while Shirin, with a mysterious smile, turned to Rubia and asked,

"Why did you make that choice?"

"Well, I don’t know how to put it gently, so I’ll just say it plainly. Cartia is the city I saved. It’s a city that was saved solely because of me, disregarding the opinions of the Empire and Erden. I can confidently say that without me, Cartia would have long since been a ruin."

"Probably, yes."

"No, definitely. It would have been. But now, this city that was abandoned by Erden, that was saved by me... If it now tries to reject Noah just because of Erden’s decision..."

Rubia’s arms tightened around me, pulling me closer.

"It deserves to be destroyed. In fact, I want to be the one to destroy it."

"You’re a priestess, though?"

"Heh, once I’ve saved it, that’s enough. What more should I want? If you repay kindness with enmity, you’re a beast, not a human. And honestly, Noah is far more precious to me than Cartia."

"Hahaha! So, one person, Noah, is more precious than tens of thousands of people?"

"Of course. I’m selfish and rude. Not long ago, I thought about killing all the humans instead of saving them. Of course, I used to be kind. I was naive. That’s why I saved Cartia. But if it was the me before I met Noah... if it was the me from not long ago, I probably would’ve just been drinking coffee in my room, saying it served them right."

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

"Ugh... Rubia?"

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Rubia, flinching as if startled, gently placed her hand over my ear.

But... it didn’t matter.

"Anyway, my choice is this. Ursphere is the same. The city Noah saved. The city where a festival for Noah was created. If that city tries to reject Noah, I don’t think it’s worth saving. Right, Noah?"

"Uh, no... But still—"

"Noah, if you had to choose between me and the city, what would you do?"

"Of course, I’d save you, Rubia."

"I’m the same."

"Hah, but Rubia is a priestess— Ugh?!"

Chomp- Rubia’s lips silenced the rest of my words.

"Ha...! Why did you suddenly kiss me...!"

"Didn’t you like it?"

"No?! I mean, it’s not that I didn’t like it... It’s just..."

"So, you didn’t dislike it, which means you liked it?"

At her direct question... I couldn’t bring myself to answer and just nodded very slightly.

"Then, should we do it again?"

"Uh, well... let’s do it later, when we’re alone in the room."

"Then it won’t end with just a kiss."

"Ahh... say that quietly..."

"Hehe, I see. Things have definitely changed. Completely different now."

Shirin, who had been quietly watching us, stood up and placed a fist-sized sphere on the table.

"Noah. The reason you were branded a heretic is because of me, and I must apologize for that."

"Sh... Shirin? Why?"

"Wasn’t the reason Rubia stayed here so long because of my request?"

"Eh... But... she was doing that to save Ser, wasn’t she...?"

"Whatever the reason, the result is this, so I must take responsibility. I’ll make sure you can move more freely, so just wait quietly."

"Ugh..."

Shirin approached and messed with my hair before turning to Rubia with a smile.

"Rubia, you’ll never regret this choice, will you? Right?"

"Of course."

"Good."

Then she spoke to the sphere on the table.

"You heard that, right? Didn’t I tell you? The future you saw is already shattered."

[Ahaha... You’re right. I’ve never been this wrong before. I never thought it would turn out like Shirin said.]

Then, a familiar voice flowed out from the sphere.

"...Huh?"

[Wow... Did you recognize just by the voice? I’m touched! Haha. It’s been a long time, Noah. And Rubia. Wait, should I call you Aylin instead?]

"Aylin... No way—"

[Yes! That’s right. I’m Hermila, the adventurer guild receptionist from Albura village!]

Clap clap clap – A small applause echoed from the sphere.

Hermila.

She was the one who found me when I suddenly arrived in this world.

She helped me become an adventurer.

She’s always looked after me... a benefactor.

"He... Hermila?"

[Yes, Noah. It’s me, Hermila. I’m so happy.]

"The rest, you talk among yourselves. I’m leaving."

[Okay, take care. But, what’s with revealing your voice in front of everyone? Trying to look authoritative?]

"...Shut up."

[Didn’t I always say? With this current version of Shirin, she’s just too cute?]

"You better shut up before I go find you and smack you across the behind."

Cluck Shirin clicked her tongue and roughly opened the door, heading out.

After Ser and Shirin left, the room became empty, leaving me with Rubia, whose expression was now a little stunned.

"Sniff... He, Hermila...*"

I was left with just the sound of sniffles.

[Noah, after arriving in Cartia, you said you’d come back to Albura, so why haven’t you? I’ve been waiting to see you.]

"Huh...? Sniff... You... You miss me...?"

Wiping my tears, just as I was about to get off Rubia’s lap...

"Aha, Noah misses Hermila, huh?"

I heard a creepy sound right next to my ear.