The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet

Chapter 290 The end

(TL:By Rafael,valhallatls.blogspot.com)

About a month had passed since the disturbance in the capital city.

The news of Arios's escape was only circulated among the knights and some adventurers, and a search was underway.

The search for Arios was not limited to the capital city; it was conducted in various cities. Not only that, even in seemingly unrelated towns and small villages, the search was carried out with an intensity that suggested an unwavering determination to leave no stone unturned.

This search extended to the village of Fram as well. Every house was searched. It was as thorough as searching for a needle in a haystack.

...However, Arios and his companions were not found.

――――――――――

Arios and his companions were in a cave near the village of Fram.

Knights and adventurers searching for them were getting closer to the village of Fram.

Upon receiving such information from Monica, Arios and his companions left the village immediately.

However, they were not prepared for an unexpected situation like this long journey. They hadn't even decided on their next destination.

For the time being, they sought refuge in a nearby cave.

"I'm back."

"Oh, Monica. Welcome back!"

"How did it go?"

Lin and Mina greeted Monica as she appeared. Monica showed a troubled expression to the two.

"It seems the pursuers are still staying in the village of Fram. It's probably safe here since it's impossible to thoroughly search the entire country, but... I think it's best not to move for now. There are patrols, and if we move recklessly, we might be found. It might be better to wait for Aggus-sama, who is conducting investigations in this area, to return."

"I see... Thanks, Monica. We really owe you for being here."

"Yes, indeed. We're specialized in magic, so searching isn't our forte... We apologize for the inconvenience."

"Don't worry about it. If I can be of help to you... to Arios-sama, I'll do anything."

Monica smiled as if to say it was no trouble at all. Lin and Mina smiled back, comforted by her smile.

Stripped of their hero status and expelled from the country...

For Lin and Mina, who had lost everything, Monica was their lifeline.

She had not only helped them but also actively protected them afterward. They were in a situation where they couldn't help but depend on her.

"Is Aggus still not back?"

Arios asked Monica at the right moment.

"Probably not. If he hasn't returned here, then that's likely the case."

"Seriously... Just how much time does it take to survey the area?"

"Is there even anything to survey around here?"

Lin's question was answered by Mina.

"We need to secure escape routes to avoid being caught by pursuers. Also, if possible, we should secure water and food. We got some supplies in the village of Fram, but it's better to have more."

"It's such a hassle... Ugh, why do things have to turn out like this for us?"

"We just have to endure for now. Someday, our actions will surely be proven right."

"Y-yeah, you're right. We haven't done anything wrong!"

Without blaming Arios for his crimes or facing their own sins...

Lin and Mina simply averted their eyes from reality.

This was just a bad dream they would wake up from someday.

And then, the time would come for them to walk the path of glory as a hero party again.

They believed so.

Because they were afraid to acknowledge reality and were avoiding it, there was no other way but to believe.

"Arios-sama, may I have a moment?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"This way..."

Invited by Monica, Arios moved towards the entrance of the cave where Lin and Mina couldn't hear them.

There, with a serious expression, Monica hesitated for a moment before gently bringing up the matter of Aggus from the other day...

――――――――――

Outside the cave... a short distance away, Aggus was present.

He wasn't alone.

A man who seemed to be an adventurer was with him.

"...Arios is in the cave ahead. His companions are with him."

"Huh, in a place like this... No wonder they haven't been found."

"He's still a hero, after all. His power is strong. Have you gathered people?"

"There are about twenty adventurers and fifty knights."

"That's not reassuring."

"Indeed, facing a hero might not be enough. The adventurers are top-notch, at least B-rank. But... that's why you're here, right?"

The adventurer man grinned.

"You'll use medicine to put the heroes to sleep, and then we'll take them down in one go. Even if the medicine fails, we have three backup plans. With this level of preparation, even heroes won't stand a chance."

"Yeah, leave it to me. I'll do my job properly. In return..."

"I know. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly for you."

In short...

Aggus had betrayed Arios and his companions.

In exchange for his own safety, he sold information about Arios and his companions and even assisted in their capture.

He sought a reduced sentence by doing so.

Aggus had harbored distrust towards Arios for some time.

Repeatedly going on rampages...

Ignoring the consequences.

The repercussions had come to Aggus and his comrades, always causing them headaches.

And then... the incident in the capital city.

Arios's rampage had not ceased, escalating into a commotion involving the entire country...

As a result, Arios's hero status was revoked.

Not only that, he was branded a traitor and punished.

There was no way Aggus could accept such a thing.

He wasn't a man who would end up like this.

Unlike the impatient and reckless Arios...

Unlike the selfish and thoughtless Lin...

Unlike the blindly devout Mina...

He had the power, knowledge, and experience to continue to excel in various ways. He had no intention of being dragged down by those kinds of people. If avoiding them required any action, he would do whatever it takes.

Selling out his comrades the lowest of deeds?

He didn't care.

In the end, humans, themselves, were the most important. If there was a situation where one had to sacrifice either oneself or others, everyone would save themselves. So, there was nothing wrong with this.

It was a justified act.

Aggus thought so in his heart.

He considered selling out Arios and his companions and saving himself as his rightful privilege.

...Perhaps it was because of such thoughts.

He had neglected the vigilance of his surroundings and was late to notice "it."

"Gigavolt!"

With a powerful voice, a lightning strike surged forth, striking Aggus and the adventurer beside him.

Intense pain coursed through their bodies, and they collapsed, unable to stand.

"Ugh... wh-what...!?"

"Aggus... how disappointing."

"What...!? A-Arios...!?"

From the darkness emerged Arios.

But he wasn't alone.

Lin, Mina, and Monica were with him.

"I heard from Monica. Seems like you were planning to sell us out, huh?"

"W-why...?"

"Why do you think you got caught? Aggus-sama, you were so cautious, meticulously planning everything. I didn't notice at first either. But... I have someone very reliable on my side."

"Guh... B-but, the encirclement should be complete by now. How... how did you escape..."

"Oh... by encirclement, do you mean those guys surrounding us? If it's them, they've been taken care of, though."

Lin said it casually.

"What Lin says is not a lie. We also found out from Monica. Seems like they planned to ambush us... but we turned the tables and wiped them out with a surprise attack."

"Absurd..."

"You were going to drug us and then ambush us, right? So, you knew that simply gathering a bunch of weaklings wouldn't cut it. So... if we launched a surprise attack instead... you can guess the outcome, right?"

Aggus was completely at a loss for words.

In his mind, the question "Why?" repeated incessantly.

Why did this happen?

Where did I go wrong?

What triggered it was...

Aggus's gaze turned to Monica.

"It's you... it's you!?"

"Hehe."

Receiving Aggus's intense stare, Monica smiled coolly.

"Arios... that woman is dangerous! I... guah!?"

A blade pierced Aggus's hand.

The one holding the sword was Arios.

"Begging for your life at this point? Spare us the pitiful act... You tried to sell us out. You betrayed us. That's not something that can be forgiven... Now, it's time for judgment."

Feeling the pain of his hand being pierced, Aggus realized that death was imminent.

No, he didn't want this.

He didn't want to die here.

He still wanted to live.

He wasn't a man who would end up like this!

Aggus managed to move his burned body somehow and tried to crawl away, even if it meant crawling on all fours to escape.

But someone stood in his way.

"Earth Bind!"

"Holy Arrow!"

Lin's magic entangled Aggus's entire body...

And Mina's magic pierced his legs as a finishing blow.

"Lin, Mina... wait, I...!?"

"We've been terribly disappointed by you... thinking of selling us out was a joke. Will you die here? Aggus... We don't need you."

"That sin can no longer be atoned for except with death. For the sake of our future, Aggus... become our sustenance here."

Being looked down upon by his former comrades with cold eyes, Aggus felt despair.

Even so, unable to give up his life, he pleaded with Arios.

"I... I was wrong! So, please, no more...!"

"Good grief, you're so pathetic... Aggus, you're my enemy. What do you do with enemies? You know, right?"

"W-wait, it's not like that! I, I..."

"...How disappointing."

Arios truly seemed disappointed from the bottom of his heart.

He carried even sadness with him.

Stripped of his hero status, losing everything...

But he still thought he had his companions left.

However, that was an illusion.

Aggus had been planning to betray them.

More than anger, sadness increased at this fact.

"Goodbye, Aggus."

"Wa...!?"

With an icy cold expression, Arios swiftly severed Aggus's head.

Aggus's head rolled.

Arios stared at it with a complex expression.

The sword was soaked in blood...

Or perhaps, tears.

However... the fact remained that Arios had taken the life of his own comrade.

It didn't disappear.

It was recorded as a certainty.

At that moment, body, mind, and... even his soul completely fell.

――――――――――

Monica stayed behind to take care of the corpse.

Arios and the others returned to the cave and began preparing to move.

Although they had repelled the pursuers Aggus had arranged, it was wise to assume that the information had leaked elsewhere.

Therefore, they decided to leave the cave immediately.

"Hehe... Well done, Aggus-sama. Thanks to you, we were able to taint Arios-sama's soul."

Looking down at Aggus's corpse, Monica smiled contentedly.

It wasn't Arios or Aggus who had orchestrated everything... It was Monica.

It was a lie to say she knew nothing about the pursuers. Thanks to allies like Reez and other demons on her side, Monica had almost complete knowledge of the pursuers' movements. She also knew about Aggus's betrayal.

However, she deliberately left it alone.

She allowed it to happen to let Arios be the one to kill his comrades.

And... everything went according to Monica's plan, and Arios fell.

So this was what it felt like to have uncontrollable laughter.

Monica, grinning from ear to ear...

Contrary to her well-groomed appearance, she seemed like a monstrous demon.

"Hehehe, everything is now in place. Arios-sama... Will you become our ally, or perhaps... serve as a sacrifice for the Demon Lord? Hehehe, ufufufu."

TL Note- Beginning of End.

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