30-67

EP.67 Caught by the Hero 

“Bandits!” 

“Everyone, stop the looting!” 

The atmosphere in the city was chaotic. 

Shouts here and there announced the appearance of bandits. 

But this situation was a little different from usual. 

“Make sure not to harm any civilians!” 

“Understood, boss!” 

“Finish quickly before reinforcements arrive!” 

Aliya’s companions spread out in perfect coordination. 

It was like watching well-trained soldiers. 

The difference was, their movements were optimized for looting, not battle. 

‘We have to hit the bad merchants fast and finish up.’ 

There was no point in targeting civilians-it would only waste time. 

Especially since their already discriminated status didn’t need to get any worse. 

She deliberately ordered her group to loot only the wealthy with bad reputations. 

“What about the city’s forces?” 

“As planned, they’re busy protecting key figures!” 

“Good. Spreading fake intel about the raid paid off!” 

“Still, let’s finish up quickly before they catch on!” 

This was no ordinary bandit gang. 

They were trained, well-organized. 

The city’s minor forces couldn’t handle them. 

Numbers weren’t that different either. 

Even in a head-on fight, Aliya’s side had a good chance. 

Both sides knew it, so battles tended to end quickly. 

‘If we keep this up... we can hold out a while longer...’ 

Aliya sensed the operation was a success. 

Unless a major variable appeared, nothing would shake the plan. 

“B-boss...!” 

It was a familiar face to Aliya-a comrade who had just gone out to loot. 

It was too soon for him to have moved supplies. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Aliya instinctively sensed something big had happened. 

“T-the hero’s here...! Everyone with me got taken out!” 

“Damn... Of all times, the hero...” 

The hero’s appearance was the worst scenario. 

It wasn’t just a matter of one powerful enemy. 

It could turn the tide and restore the enemy’s morale. 

“We haven’t hit our target yet, but... retreat! Pull out before the hero gets here!” 

The hero was not someone to ignore. 

A mere bandit gang couldn’t fight him head-on. 

No matter how well-trained, they were no match for a regular army. 

Even a well-trained army needed preparation to beat a hero. 

“But what about our comrades...?” 

“Ugh...” 

A moment of conflict crossed Aliya’s face. 

Objectively, a rescue was suicide. 

But leaving comrades behind weighed on her. 

“We’ll retreat for now and negotiate separately! Spread the word!” 

Aliya made a cool-headed decision. 

She believed it was the right call, but her arms trembled. 

‘I thought the chance of the hero showing up himself was low...!’ 

It was all her mistake. 

Her reasoning had been flawed. 

Regretfully, she ran out of the city. 

“Still, maybe the hero will listen to reason... maybe we can negotiate later...” 

Aliya soon neared the exit, thanks to the beastkin’s natural strength. 

She’d never seen anyone faster than herself- 

at least, not until something fluttered down in front of her. 

“Ugh... Wh-who are you...!” 

A mysterious man in a cloak. 

The aura he gave off was extraordinary. 

“So you’re the ones everyone’s calling the hero, huh?” 

“T-the hero...!” 

It was the worst possible situation. 

She never thought she’d be targeted herself. 

But even in this tense moment, her mind stayed sharp. 

‘If I can just stall him here...’ 

She never planned to negotiate from the start. 

Her subordinates had been attacked, and as a bandit, it was only natural for the hero to catch her. 

She spoke up just to buy time. 

“Hero... I’ve heard of your exploits.” 

“I’m glad you know me.” 

“Then, may I ask a favor?” 

“You’re going to ask me to let you go under some condition, aren’t you?” 

Aliya fell silent for a moment. 

Should she admit it or deny it? 

In the end, she decided to be honest. 

“Yes. We may be called bandits, but we’re a group of oppressed beastkin. If you could just understand us with your broad heart... I’ll do anything.” 

For a moment, the hero, Teus, seemed to move his lips. 

It wasn’t a signal of refusal. 

“Anything?” 

“Yes! If you let me and my companions go...” 

“To be honest, I have no intention of discriminating against beastkin.” 

“Then...” 

“But the village you attacked belongs to a lord I’m close with. That means your actions hurt someone I care about.” 

Teus’s words confused Aliya. 

It could be taken as a threat. 

But his expression showed no hostility. 

“So, are you going to capture us after all?” 

“No. That’s not it.” 

“Then...?” 

“You said you’d do anything, right? Depending on the conditions, I could give your people a place to stay and a position. How about it?” 

It was too good an offer. 

Aliya became even more suspicious. 

Was this a trap? 

Rationally, it was hard to believe. 

“Why... are you making such an offer?” 

“I like you... and there’s something I’d like you to do soon.” 

“I’m not sure what you mean...” 

“You’ve heard the rumors, right? That I don’t get along with the king. Just think of me as an enemy of the king who discriminates against you.” 

It was a clumsy explanation, but persuasive. 

If it was a trap, he’d have come up with a better excuse. 

“...No matter how friendly the lord is, giving us land won’t be easy. There’ll be backlash.” 

“Don’t worry about that. It’s already been discussed. Any backlash later, I can handle with my name.” 

It wasn’t wrong. 

The hero’s reputation was real. 

But it was still too sweet a deal to believe. 

“I suppose... it might be possible.” 

“If you don’t trust me, I could just capture you and your companions and talk it out slowly. But that would cause trouble for both sides.” 

“I could at least buy some time.” 

Aliya gripped her weapon tighter. 

She couldn’t let her guard down easily. 

“Maybe it’s faster to show you directly?” 

It happened in an instant. 

Just one step. 

The moment Teus stepped forward, his hand was on her chest. 

“If I wanted, I could really capture all of you.” 

“...I’m sorry.” 

She had no choice but to believe him. 

Refusing wouldn’t change the outcome. 

Teus had the power to enforce his will. 

“Then, I’ll go with you and your companions as you retreat.” 

“W-with us...?” 

“You might pretend to agree and then run. I don’t want to have to track you down again. Besides, you’ll feel safer with me than if I just captured you.” 

“That’s... true...” 

He was saying he’d go alone to their base. 

It wasn’t arrogance. 

If anything, she should be worried for her whole group’s safety. 

‘To trust or not to trust...’ 

If they lost their companions now, there was no hope left. 

The remnants would just be hunted down. 

“Alright... I’ll guide you to our base.” 

“Good. And don’t forget you said you’d do anything.” 

“That’s fine... but is there something you want?” 

Teus’s attitude was puzzling. 

He was all smiles. 

It was hard to guess what he was thinking. 

“As a condition for helping, you have to marry me.” 

“Eh...?” 

“Think about it. If you marry the hero, the beastkin’s position will be much more secure-especially if it’s the hero who defeated the incompetent king.” 

It wasn’t a bad deal. 

In fact, it helped Aliya’s goals. 

Royalty often married for power. 

But she couldn’t understand why Teus wanted to marry her. 

“You look like you don’t get it.” 

“You could achieve your goals without marrying me, couldn’t you?” 

“I’m saying it because I genuinely like you.” 

“I haven’t really lived as a woman... but if that’s what you want, Hero...” 

Aliya wasn’t the obedient type. 

But that made some things easier. 

Teus was counting on that. 

“You accept pretty easily.” 

“I never thought about having a mate, but if it’s you, Hero, you’d be more than enough.” 

“So all that effort wasn’t wasted after all.” 

Teus smiled lightly. 

Seeing that, Aliya let down her guard. 

“By the way, I have a pretty strong sex drive. Is that okay?” 

“That’s fine. They say heroes are always fond of women. You’re certainly worthy, Hero.” 

She was completely off guard. 

She was only imagining being touched or caressed a few times at most. 

Teus’s smile grew even deeper at her innocence. 

“Good. Then the deal is made. Let’s go back to your base together. As for the looting... Milleille will take care of it, so you can keep what you took.” 

Aliya felt a slight sense of incongruity at how familiarly he spoke of the lord.