episode_0097

After continuing eastward through the forest, we were able to find our way back safely.

The place where we were teleported by spatial magic was a forest far to the northwest of the kingdom’s capital.

After passing through a small village, we took a carriage to Kubel after returning to the capital, Piphnel.

I thought Milaia would stay in the capital, but she ended up following me to Kubel.

Inside the returning carriage, Mariel and Sylphy seemed a bit uncomfortable in front of Milaia.

I had forgotten for a long time that even if Milaia stayed still, her unique expressionlessness and intimidation made people uncomfortable.

That was the same for Mariel and Sylphy, so the four of us hardly spoke inside the carriage.

I wonder if I’m a strange person who can casually talk to Milaia, who others find intimidating.

Although I have thought she was scary, I have never been unable to speak due to the oppressive atmosphere.

I became curious about what would happen if Guild Master Algott and Milaia had a conversation in a room.

If Algott also has the ability to intimidate people, would he also become meek in front of her?

Well, Mariel, who is always nonchalant, doesn’t seem much different from Algott in making people shut up.

Since we were still quite far from Kubel, I deliberately started a conversation to ease the tense atmosphere caused by Milaia.

“By the way… that guy, Bloodstain, was amazing.”

“….”

The three of them turned their gaze to me for a moment.

“If Mariel hadn’t used magic on the spot, it would have been really dangerous.”

“That’s true.”

Milaia agreed with my words.

But Mariel and Sylphy remained silent, just staring at me.

What’s with this atmosphere… It’s even more suffocating than before I spoke.

Milaia isn’t really that scary.

Even though she solves everything with force and lacks common sense, it’s not a big deal to talk to her.

Being in such a confined space as a carriage, I could somewhat understand the kind of loneliness Milaia was experiencing.

If people run away or shut up just by looking at me, making various excuses, it would feel like being ostracized by the world.

In the midst of that, meeting someone like me who doesn’t hesitate to speak even casually, Milaia might have been somewhat pleased to the point of developing a slight obsession.

“By the way… Milaia, that man… was a hero, right?”

“Yes.”

“So the hero died?”

“Yes.”

It seemed too difficult to lighten the mood of the conversation with Milaia’s strong presence.

So I decided to ask her about the matter that had been bothering me.

The hero died from Bloodstain’s blow.

As far as I know, it was the first time in history that a hero died while confronting a demon lord.

I decided not to ask Milaia in detail why she was in such a place where a hero was kidnapped.

But since the hero had died, it was necessary to think about what would happen next.

“Then isn’t it a big problem?”

“Even if he had survived, he wouldn’t have been able to fulfill his duties as a hero.”

“I see…”

Milaia said decisively.

I heard that he was a hero of such trash that there was no precedent in history.

The rumors spread so much that there was no one who didn’t know how vile this hero was.

But was he really a useless hero to the point where it was considered impossible to defeat the demon lord regardless of his character…

“Um, can I say something?”

Mariel, who had been listening to my conversation with Milaia, spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

That’s how scared Milaia was, as Sylphy, sitting next to her, had a slightly pale face and was looking outside.

“Speak comfortably.”

To make Mariel feel a little more comfortable, I answered in her place.

Maybe it would have been better to rent another carriage and go separately at this rate.

Mariel glanced at Milaia out of the corner of her eye and then looked back at me, saying, “There is no record of a hero being defeated by the demons until now. So… no one knows what will happen now that the hero has been defeated.”

Indeed, that’s true.

The hero is already dead.

But no one in this world knows what that will bring about.

“First… what the kingdom needs to do is wait for a new hero to appear. It’s like when the hero was first appointed. But even if they do that and a new hero doesn’t appear, and this hero is the last hero of this era…”

“Humanity will perish.”

Milaia said expressionlessly.

There’s no point in intercepting such a dreadful statement.

Mariel closed her mouth with a gasp.

Humanity… perishing…

I didn’t like the sound of that…

The memory of Yunoa swinging the sword to save Milaia came to mind.

“The kingdom that lost its hero has lost the means to resist the power of the Demon King.

Yunoa was hesitating, wondering if she also bore some responsibility.

If the hero disappeared and the kingdom and humanity were to perish on the continent, who would be responsible?

Objectively speaking, Yunoa couldn’t deny her share of the responsibility.

No, but it couldn’t be helped.

She was trying to save Milaia, who was about to be stabbed in the back by a useless hero.

So, was it better to let the hero live and let Milaia die?

“But even if the hero had survived, there was no chance that the hero would defeat the Demon King unscathed.

It was fate that the one who should not have become a hero became a hero.”

It was certain that whether dead or alive, they would be defeated by the Demon King.

What on earth had happened?

A hero is a being chosen by the goddess, a final weapon to defeat the Demon King.

But if the goddess chose such a being as a hero, does that mean humanity has been abandoned by the gods?

“Yunoa, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

Lost in thought, Milaia asked me, looking at my face.

Was my head hurting because I was thinking about various difficult things to handle?

The hero is already dead, and I had no answers to ponder the fate of the world and the survival of humanity.

“No, it’s nothing.”

I deliberately smiled as I replied.

Yes, I don’t know much about the complicated affairs of this world.

I only happened to learn about the old stories involving heroes and the Demon King, and the history of the demons.

Let’s be grateful that we are returning safely after rescuing Milaia.

If we solve one problem at a time, things will somehow work out.

Taking care of the people who are considered my own, like Alcott.

With that in mind, I turned my gaze to the scenery outside the carriage.

* * *

After all the twists and turns, we returned to Kuber and went our separate ways to attend to our own affairs.

Mariel returned to the Belphork Mansion, to her magical research lab.

Sylphy went back to her adventurer life, taking on daily quests to make a living.

Milaia sent a letter to the Central Church informing them of the hero’s death and resumed her activities in Kuber.

And I… went to Guild Master Alcott’s office and told everyone about what we had experienced.

Including the fact that the hero was senselessly killed by the demons.

“Such a thing… the hero died… Hm.”

Algot listened to my story with a serious expression.

“Anyway, that’s what happened. I don’t know what will happen in the future.”

“What’s done is done.”

“Surprisingly calm reaction.”

“Being flustered by something that can’t be undone goes against my way of life.”

Perhaps her way of handling things is wise.

Panicking and fearing the dark future that is to come because a hero died won’t help.

“Rather than that, I’d like to be introduced to that Milaia.”

“Have you never met her before?”

“No, I’ve heard rumors about her though.”

Algot demanded of me.

If she enjoys building strong connections, she must want to become close with Milaia as well.

Since I knew them both, there was no reason to refuse.

And Milaia happened to be back at the Kubele as well.

* * *

The next day.

I took Milaia with me and went to the guild office again.

Just by walking with her, people parted ways as if parting the sea miraculously.

Will Algot be able to have a proper conversation with Milaia?

I had already explained to Milaia about Algot.

I mentioned that they could help each other out and get along well.

Milaia listened seriously to what I said and accepted the request to meet Algot without questioning the reason.

I remembered the time when Milaia used to almost always believe and follow whatever I said.

Does she still have the same mindset of listening to whatever I say?

Since it had been a while since we last met, I couldn’t figure out what Milaia was thinking now.

“Ah, this is Algot, who has become the new guild master of Kubele.”

“….”

After entering the office, I introduced them first.

Milaia stood expressionless, staring at Algot.

Algot also stared back at Milaia for a while without saying anything.

“Uh, hello. M-Milaia, right?”

Algot stuttered more than usual.

The intimidating aura emanating from Milaia certainly doesn’t discriminate against people.

I even felt like people’s attitudes towards Milaia had become harsher than before.

『Unoa’s thought that people’s attitudes towards Milaia had become harsher than before was not just a mood.

Milaia had burned with intense anger and hatred towards the demons, thinking Unoa had died.

Perhaps that’s why the intimidating atmosphere she exuded had become even sharper.』

…Was that for real?

I was at a loss as Milaia and Algot stared at each other in a strange atmosphere without saying anything.

I didn’t feel like Milaia was that scary to the point of being so intimidated.

『Algot thought to himself at that moment.

This woman, her eyes are so scary!…』

Eyes?

I glanced back at Milaia’s eyes after the narration.

Her eyes looked cold enough to send shivers down one’s spine on her expressionless face.

But still, I didn’t feel that intimidated by it.

Whether it’s because of my peculiar constitution or my friendship with Milaia.

In the end, the first meeting between Algot and Milaia ended with just exchanging greetings without any further conversation.

After I had to send Milaia away because the conversation wasn’t progressing, Algot took a deep breath in the office and said, “Phew… She’s quite something. It’s been a while since I felt this nervous.”

“I didn’t expect Algot to react like that.”

“Is Unoa okay? Feels like a herbivore standing in front of a carnivore.”

“I was a bit scared at first too, but now I’m fine.”

“Hmm… Is that so.”

Algot looked at me as if I was fascinating and said, “Hmm, interesting.”

“Still, someday… I want to become closer. I need to find a way.”

From Algot’s words, there was a strong determination that could be felt.

It wasn’t clear why this was such a burning desire, but that’s what it was.