I Got Fired as a Hero Today - Vol.3 Chapter 97: Morgue Ruins

Half a day’s walk north of the royal capital.

Lies the Morgue Ruins. It was said to be a mining site for magic stones until a few decades ago. 

The magic stones have already been exhausted, and it is now a ruin. 

Adventurers earn money by hunting the monsters that nest there. 

Since they couldn’t walk for half a day, Arata and his party rented a carriage to head to the Morgue Ruins.

If they use the carriage, it will take an hour and a half. 

The three of them are chatting in the back of the carriage, swaying as it moves. 

“By the way, you both said you were feeling at your limit. What does that mean?”

“Well, I’ve been seriously training, but I don’t feel like I’ve gotten much stronger. I’m worried if it’s okay to set off on the demon king subjugation journey like this.” 

“Hmm.” 

Suzu also showed her agreement with Hinako’s explanation. 

“So this time, I thought I’d follow Arata and see what it’s like.” 

“Hmm.”

“I see, so this time it’s just a trial. So, is it okay if we only form the party this once?” 

“Well, that’s how it is.” 

Hinako nodded. 

“Not for me… I want to form a party with Arata permanently.” 

Suzu objected to Hinako. 

“Is that so?” 

“Hmm.” 

Suzu nodded.

“Even if you say that…” 

Arata had no intention of going on a journey to defeat the Demon King. That means it was just a temporary party until then. 

“Is that bad?” 

Their faces were close. 

“N-no, it’s not bad, but…” 

“Oh, that’s good.” 

Suzu’s lips formed a slight smile. 

For some reason, Hinako turned bright red and looked over here. 

“Huh?”

Arata noticed the reactions on the status screen. 

His detection skill had caught several responses. 

There were two reactions, but these were likely from the Numbers monitoring Suzu and Hinako. 

And a bit further away, there was a group reaction. This was probably from an adventurer’s party.

It seems they are heading to the Morgue Ruins just like Arata and the others. 

Then, in any case, it’s safer to avoid them. Arata thought it would be prudent to keep his distance from other adventurer parties for now.

◆◆◆

A carriage was following Arata’s group. 

“It seems Arata went to the Morg ruins. So that must be the carriage.” 

Kyouki glared at the carriage that looked as small as a bean. 

“Probably. According to our comrades’ information, it seems he is accompanied by two women.”

Rusdo replied.

“Hah, what a privileged life. So, are you even dragging Minfa around with you?” 

Kyouki’s teeth ground together in jealousy. 

The ones pursuing Arata’s group are the adventurers Kyouki, Rusdo, and Gyle. 

Having been forced to pay all the medical bills and discharged from the clinic, the two of them harbor resentment towards Arata. 

In Rusdo’s case, it has even turned into a debt.

Being broke and expelled from the Adventurers’ Guild means there’s no way to make a living from now on. 

That’s why they plan to take revenge. 

Since Gyle follows Kyouki, he came along. 

“But, Kyouki, going after the hero…” 

Gyle, though he seemed reluctant to follow.

“Hmph, it’s common for adventurers to lose their lives during a quest. You just don’t get it.”

“That’s true, but…” 

“Gyle, both Kyouki and I have been bitterly betrayed by Arata. Even Sarah would come to her senses if Arata weren’t around. You wouldn’t want Kyouki to be miserable either.” 

Rusdo tries to advise Gyle.

“Well, I do feel indebted to you…” 

“Gyle, we’ve come this far. It’s a matter of life and death now. Make up your mind.” 

Kyouki wrapped his arm around Gyle’s shoulder. 

“…Yes.” 

Gyle resolved. 

“It’s going to be fine. I have a plan.”

Rusdo smirked.

◆◆◆

Arata and the others arrived at the Morgue Ruins. They thanked the coachman. 

“I’ve already received payment from the guild. I’ll be waiting here.” 

The coachman was a former adventurer. 

He spread out a scroll and set up a barrier to ward off monsters. 

“That’s a relief. I was wondering how we would get back. Walking would be tough.” 

Hinako sounded relieved.

“Looks like Sarah-san was working behind the scenes.”

Arata thanked her. 

“They would normally have left, but apparently, there’s a subsidy for heroes, and they even lent us this expensive scroll.” 

The coachman had a beaming face. It seems there was a profit to be made.

“However, you should be careful with the Morgue Ruins.”

The coachman tapped his left thigh. 

Below the knee, there was nothing. 

“I messed up in those ruins, so I retired from being an adventurer.” 

Hinako looked at him with a worried expression. 

“Danger is part of the job.” 

Arata could only respond.

“That’s true, but…”

“Hinako, if we end up fighting the demon tribe, I don’t think we’ll come out unscathed.” 

It seems like Suzu has already made up her mind. 

“Even so, you wouldn’t want that either, would you? You’d end up with scars.” 

“I’m not aiming to be an actress. The most important thing is to come back alive.”

As the heir to the Miyamori family, Suzu had her responsibilities. 

“I know it’s dangerous, I’m not a child. But I’m aspiring to be an actress, so I can’t afford any scars on my skin. However… there’s no choice but to go. Once the journey to defeat the Demon King begins, I know there’s no room for complaints.”

Arata looked at Hinako, who was resolute, and felt a sense of admiration. 

He also envied her for having dreams. 

Arata had no dreams. 

No, he had one, he thought. It was to be happy with Kotoko. Now, that dream was unattainable and one he didn’t want to fulfill. 

He entered the Morgue Ruins.

Since it’s a mining site, they are digging relentlessly. 

The mine is not spacious, so swinging a large sword is not possible. 

Arata chose a one-handed sword. 

Suzu and Hinako did the same. 

They lit lanterns and cautiously proceeded deeper. 

After about twenty minutes, they reached a plaza.

“Something’s there.”

Arata stopped in the center of the square. 

“Really?” 

Suzu asked Arata. 

“Yeah, be careful.” 

Arata detected it with his skill. It was probably a monster. 

As the three of them remained on guard, they heard a screeching sound.

They saw two eyes shining in the lantern. 

Countless of them, too.

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Author’s Note

Thank you for reading this far. 

I’m writing little by little while working. (Last week was tough with hard work, and it took a toll on my mental health.) If you enjoyed it even a little, it would encourage me to continue writing if you could leave a ♡ heart or a ☆ star. Thank you so much.