I walked out of the Guild, not toward the slums, but toward the Wildwood Forest. The place where the monsters were ferocious, but the drops were valuable. The place where no one would hear you scream.
My hands were shaking. Not from fear. From rage. I walked out of the Guild, not toward
“You chose the hero,” I said quietly. “The hero lost. I won.” My hands were shaking
Originally published as a web novel on Shousetsuka ni Narou and later on Kakuyomu . “You chose the hero,” I said quietly
That was the motto of the orphanage I grew up in. The matron used to say it before serving us watery soup. 'As long as you have a spoon, you can fight for more.'
"You're free to join a beginner party," Kaito said, tossing a small pouch at my feet. It clinked heavily. "Severance pay. Don't spend it all at once."
I sat outside the camp, the rain soaking my robes. My staff felt heavy. My healing spells felt useless. I could hear them laughing inside— his laugh, their voices. The betrayal cut deeper than any monster’s claw.