Me, a priest? How could that be!

Chapter 21: I'd be happy to be the Healer!

"Long, long ago, there was a hero, incredibly powerful, who single-handedly stormed the Demon King's castle. After defeating all the Demon King's officers, he finally met the Demon King himself."

The Demon King said: "Hero, it doesn't matter if you attack me like this, but you are undoubtedly a pitiful person."

The brave man asked: Why?

The Demon King replied: Because you have no companions.

After much deliberation, the hero chose to leave, then gathered a group of reliable companions, and together they defeated the Demon King.

"...Huh, is that the story?"

"Of course. I found this in the Royal Library, and I'm still very touched!"

Keith patted his chest to assure her it was true.

Charlotte was somewhat puzzled.

As far as he knew, the Crimson Demon Clan recorded that the hero had not actually gathered any reliable companions and had been alone for a long time.

Later, the hero was mocked by the Demon King for having no one willing to be his friend. Enraged, the hero killed the Demon King and took his place as the new Demon King.

The evidence is—

The current Demon King isn't particularly strong, but he can amplify the strength of any monster to the level of a Demon King's army officer. The inherited skill is called... something like "Good Friend"?

"Of course, that's not important!"

Keith put his arm around Charlotte's neck and said with a grin, "What I mean is, even the Demon King knows that a hero needs to gather reliable companions. Charlotte, why don't you join our team?"

Their true colors have been revealed.

Honestly, teaming up with them during the beginner phase isn't impossible, but right now I only have healing skills and am helpless in other situations, essentially becoming a liability. Therefore...

"Let me think about it."

Charlotte gave a vague answer.

"Alright, alright, he's a rare high priest, how could we possibly agree to that so easily?"

Duster said this with a smirk.

"I only smelled someone's sourness."

"Lynn!!"

"I'm stating the facts." Lynn didn't mince words, then looked at Charlotte and said, "Actually, there's no need to rush into a decision. Given your profession, you're in high demand in Axel. Finding a suitable team is the best course of action."

Seeing Lynn say this, the others shook their heads helplessly.

"No, I'm not trying to keep you in suspense, I actually have my own reasons..."

Charlotte found it hard to say.

It's so embarrassing to have so many skill points but be unable to learn priest skills.

Fortunately, they were understanding and didn't ask any further questions.

Keith chuckled as if he had just thought of something, and under the others' questioning gazes, he explained, "I was thinking, if I were to defeat the Demon King, marrying the princess wouldn't be out of the question."

How come they're eating and taking things away at the same time?

...Although Charlotte really wanted to complain about Keith, it seems that most of the heroes who successfully defeat the Demon King in this world end up marrying princesses; it's a common practice.

"Yes. If it were me... defeating the Demon King and becoming the Hero of Healing wouldn't be out of the question."

Charlotte said this while stroking her chin.

His idea was really bold, but unfortunately, the others didn't understand the underlying meaning of his words. They just thought he wanted to follow along as a priest to fight the demon king and then get the title of hero.

"You should calm down and stop being so overly ambitious."

Taylor clapped his hands.

It wasn't that he was being pessimistic, but rather that it was wishful thinking to try and defeat the Demon King when even a novice assassin couldn't fight him head-on.

They're still low-level adventurers.

"Speaking of which," Charlotte frowned slightly and asked, "Is it really a good idea for us to just go and hunt down a beginner assassin like this? Isn't it a bit...?"

"Overestimating oneself?"

"...I didn't say that."

Actually, he wanted to use a more euphemistic word, but Keith waved his hand dismissively, indicating that others would indeed think so.

"But you've misunderstood."

"We're not the only ones tasked with this operation to eliminate the beginner killers; there are also many highly skilled adventurers who have already set off."

Taylor explained.

Charlotte then realized why the guild had been so empty earlier; they had all set off ahead of her.

"That's right, that's right. So our goal isn't really to hunt down beginner killers, but to take the opportunity to rack up some credit and split the bounty." Duster grinned wickedly, "Ideally, I'll pick off a badly wounded monster, then all the bounty will be mine, ahahahaha—"

"Don't laugh so hard!"

"It hurts!"

Lynn playfully slapped his head, then explained somewhat shyly that they weren't trying to pick up any bargains; they just wanted to see if they could help the adventurers.

Of course, if they accidentally encounter a beginner killer, they will turn around and run away, passing the information to other powerful adventurers.

It seems they have no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation.

Charlotte felt that with Duster around, they didn't need to be so cautious. Even if they encountered a novice assassin, they should be able to take him down, or at the very least, escape smoothly.

Suddenly remembering something, I raised my hand.

Taylor asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, Charlotte?"

"Excuse me, I have something to tell everyone... so-and-so, and so-and-so."

Tell them what's on your mind.

Keith swallowed hard, and said with some fear, "You mean... the beginner assassin we accidentally encountered before might very well be the one you met? And it's been wandering around the plains, actually looking for revenge against you?"

"Very likely."

"Really?"

Taylor shuddered involuntarily.

They already knew the novice assassin was clever, but they didn't expect him to be so vengeful, refusing to leave even when surrounded, and targeting Charlotte, who was with them.

Lynn's face turned pale; the matter was probably too horrifying, causing her to feel fear for a moment.

"What should we do, Captain? Should we go back to town first?"

"Well..."

"Why are you so afraid?"

While Taylor hesitated, Duster scoffed, seemingly targeting Charlotte, "Who knows if he's exaggerating to make himself seem special? I could say I'm actually a dragon knight, and there's a dragon waiting for me!"

This guy...

The truth was revealed unintentionally.

But apart from Charlotte, the rest of the team laughed, seemingly finding it a funny joke.

No, no, no, it's true.

It must be because Duster is such a scoundrel in his daily life, completely incompatible with a dragon knight, that others wouldn't believe him. But if this identity were exposed, it would be a shocking reversal.

"Haha, Dust being a dragon knight or something, that joke is hilarious..."

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Keith and Taylor said this with a chuckle.

"Right?" Duster wasn't annoyed at all by the mockery. Instead, he confidently declared, "This is a plain. A novice assassin wouldn't be around here. If he did, I'd eat the sword in my hand right now!"

The voice just fell.

With a whoosh, a dark figure burst out from the bushes not far away, rushing straight towards Charlotte behind the team and Lynn standing beside him.

"What!?"

"Damn it!"

The relaxed Keith and Taylor never expected the Novice Killer to appear, because, just as Duster said, its range of activity should not be in this area.

The two tried to protect her, but it was too late. Taylor was wearing heavy armor and moving slowly. As Charlotte, a novice assassin, pounced on them, she grabbed Lynn's blue cloak with one hand, intending to throw her away.

At that moment, a blond-haired figure who looked like a thug stepped in front of them.

"Don't ignore me, monster!"

It's Dasster.

His speed was unnaturally fast.

But before they could even feel at ease, the black figure suddenly slammed into Duster, sending him flying several meters away, passing over Charlotte and Lynn's heads.

"...Huh!?" X4

Everyone was stunned.