Chapter 28: The unraveling council (2)

The Holy Sword Elysium, which had shone more brilliantly than anything for the peace of the world, to defeat the Demon Lord.

Even its owner, the hero Lian, probably couldn’t have imagined that Elysium would suddenly explode.

Therefore, naturally, the damage from that explosion.

“Aaaaaaaargh!!!”

Lian, the one who drew the sword, inevitably suffered the most.

His body was charred black, his hair stood on end, and he rolled on the floor.

And while the aftermath could have greatly affected others in the meeting hall.

“!!!”

Because Logan had instantaneously enveloped his body with mana and thrown himself forward, very fortunately.

No one other than Lian was injured.

In fact, Logan had thrown himself, prepared to suffer severe injuries, to prevent others from getting hurt, especially to protect Anastasia.

“…?”

Despite the impact of the explosion reaching his body, there was no damage whatsoever.

Instead, he even felt a strange sensation, as if his body had become lighter.

The hero Lian, screaming and rolling disgracefully due to the Holy Sword Elysium’s rampage.

And Logan, who despite the extremely dangerous and unexpected situation, had thrown his body to protect everyone.

Those in the meeting hall couldn’t help but be astonished in many ways by that bizarre scene.

“Th-The Holy Sword went berserk? An explosion!?”

“Does that mean the hero can’t properly control the Holy Sword!?”

“That was a close call! If Sir Logan hadn’t stepped in quickly, everyone could have been seriously injured!”

“Exactly! Truly remarkable. Even the hero couldn’t do anything, yet he simply blocked that explosion without a scratch!”

In the meeting hall, doubts and distrust towards the hero Lian began to bloom like a fog, while awe and trust towards Logan started to sprout.

Even those who had inwardly dismissed him as a mere commoner, an adventurer at best, despite being a member of the hero’s party, now had no choice but to think differently.

If he hadn’t stepped forward without hesitation, those who couldn’t defend themselves might have been seriously injured, as the explosion of the Holy Sword Elysium was truly loud and destructive.

Therefore, Anastasia’s escort knight, Renate, shouted in fury.

“What is the meaning of this!? How dare you draw your sword in front of Her Highness!!!”

“It-It was by no means with malicious intent that the Hero-nim drew his sword. And as you can see, no one except the Hero-nim was harmed, were they?”

“Is that your excuse!? If Sir Logan hadn’t intervened, wouldn’t it have been a disaster!? Why did the Holy Sword explode in the first place!?”

“Th-That’s, it seems the Holy Sword was unstable due to the Demon Lord subjugation! The Hero-nim seems to have barely suppressed the rampage and minimized the damage, but the Hero-nim’s condition doesn’t look good, so we will take our leave now!”

Sera, not even knowing what she herself was saying, made up as much as she could to escape the situation.

Then, she hastily gathered Lian and the Holy Sword and quickly exited the meeting hall as if fleeing.

Irene also helped Lian with Sera and hurriedly followed them.

‘What on earth is going on?’

Irene was extremely confused and bewildered.

She couldn’t understand how things were unfolding at all.

Logan’s appearance as he berated Lian seemed so cold and resolute that it looked as if he had completely decided to cling to Anastasia, so she had been watching the conversation, grinding her teeth.

She had been inwardly gloating as she watched Lian corner Anastasia.

She thought his appearance, unflinchingly asserting his opinion without being intimidated even when the detestable Anastasia berated him, was brave.

If Logan hadn’t interfered, she thought the Crown Princess would have been driven into a corner and humiliated.

But because he suddenly jumped in, as if he were her knight, everything had become a mess.

At that, she thought Lian would draw his holy sword, prove he was right, and turn the situation around.

If that happened, Anastasia, who had stolen what was hers, would be in even more trouble, and Logan would realize his mistake and come back to her.

But for the Holy Sword, which should have played the role of judge, to explode!

Even worse, only Lian was seriously injured, while Logan wasn’t hurt at all.

Therefore.

‘Logan..! How could you do this!?’

Irene swallowed her resentment and sense of betrayal and left the meeting hall.

She couldn’t believe Logan would ignore her to this extent and that things had even come to a point where he seemed to be attacking Lian.

Moreover, he had even thrown himself to protect that Crown Princess, making Logan truly resentful.

---

After the hero’s party exited, the meeting hall was no longer in a state where the meeting could proceed.

Because Logan had immediately thrown himself, the visible damage was only some charring around where Lian had been, but since such a shocking situation had just occurred, it was too chaotic to continue the meeting.

“…This meeting will be postponed until next time.”

Anastasia raised her hand and declared the end of the meeting.

“I hope no unpleasant incidents occur in the next meeting, Duke Lindemarck. And as for this incident, I will hold not only the church but also your ducal family accountable, so be aware.”

“Th-Th-That… I understand…”

Kardo, not wanting to meekly submit to Anastasia, tried to protest, but no matter how much he thought.

He couldn’t come up with any suitable words, so he had no choice but to bow his head.

He could only lead his followers out of the meeting hall, fleeing like the hero’s party, carrying his anger and humiliation.

Anastasia, who briefly watched those pathetic humans leave, was about to hurry over to Logan.

Although he might look fine on the outside, he had single-handedly blocked the explosion of that Holy Sword.

But then.

“…We too shall take our leave now.”

Lionel, the head of the neutral noble faction, bid her farewell.

“Ah.”

For a moment, Anastasia realized her attention had been too focused on Logan.

“Understood. Duke Barenhoff, please return safely.”

“Yes, Your Highness. And…”

“?”

“You need not worry about Sir Logan. Although I have been retired from the front lines for a long time, I pride myself on still having a sharp eye, so you can trust me.”

“Ah, yes… Thank you.”

“Yes, then. I shall see you next time.”

Anastasia was a little surprised by Lionel’s unexpected remark.

Not only was he usually expressionless, but he was also a man of few words and taciturn, making it extremely difficult to read his thoughts, so he was one of the people Sera, as well as Anastasia, paid close attention to.

If he had sided with the hero’s party in today’s meeting, he was a man who wielded enough influence to potentially turn things very strange.

‘I clearly knew him as someone who didn’t particularly follow His Majesty, so this is truly unexpected…’

Anastasia couldn’t help but find it strange.

Because Lionel’s attitude now was clearly favorable.

Although his face was still expressionless, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

‘Does Duke Barenhoff also like Logan?’

Because after bidding her farewell, his gaze, as he exited the meeting hall, lingered on Logan.

‘Ah, look at me!’

Lionel’s favorable stance was a positive sign for the future administration of the empire, but that wasn’t what was important right now.

“Logan!”

Although Lionel had said he was fine, her desire to check his condition herself hadn’t changed.

Anastasia ran to Logan with a worried heart.

---

Meanwhile.

‘What is this…?’

Logan was confused that his body was unharmed.

He too had been flustered when Lian suddenly drew Elysium, and even more so when the holy sword vibrated erratically.

Realizing the holy sword was not normal, Logan had immediately thrown himself forward.

Judging that the force of the explosion would be anything but ordinary, he had unhesitatingly thrown himself to protect Anastasia.

He had enveloped his body with mana, but since it was that holy sword, he had braced himself for some damage…

‘Instead, my body feels lighter…?’

There wasn’t even a small scratch, and he even felt somewhat refreshed and invigorated.

And.

“…don’t do it!”

It felt as if he had heard someone’s voice.

As if someone was very angry… but it was too short and faint to be certain.

While lost in such thoughts.

“Logan!!!”

Anastasia ran towards him with an angry expression.

“Ah, Your Highness… Are you uninjured?”

Logan, seeing that not everyone in the meeting hall had left yet, addressed her with her official title instead of her pet name.

At this, Anastasia’s eyebrows twitched.

He wondered if she was upset because he hadn’t used her pet name…

Naturally, for Anastasia, such pet names weren’t important right now.

“Why are you asking that, Logan! I should be asking you!”

“Pardon?”

“Stay still! Let me check if you’re hurt anywhere!”

“Wa-Wait a moment!”

Logan, flustered, tried to stop her, but Anastasia grabbed both his arms and began to examine him all over.

“Um… I’m really fine…”

“Stay still! I’m worried!”

“No, Your Highness. I’m really fine… More importantly, if you keep doing this, I…”

“Ah…”

Seeing Logan’s troubled expression, Anastasia suddenly realized her mistake.

Under the pretext of checking him, she had touched his body here and there and acted too excessively!

Realizing this, Anastasia’s face turned as red as a beet, and she soon cleared her throat and stepped back, but several officials still remaining in the meeting hall had already witnessed the entire scene.

“Haa…”

Renate couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

She had finally done it.

She couldn’t maintain her composure when it came to Logan.

‘Still… at least… it seems fortunate, Your Highness.’

Renate couldn’t help but think it was truly fortunate.

Because those hostile to Anastasia had already left long ago, and those remaining in the meeting hall were people who were favorable to her.

‘They truly are a well-matched pair, huhu…’

‘Your Highness, I will cheer for you earnestly!’

They, on the contrary, smiled as if pleased and, as if by prior agreement, quietly exited the meeting hall one after another.

However, because of this consideration.

‘Ah, really, what have I done!!’

Anastasia couldn’t help but feel even more embarrassed and ashamed.