episode_0004

Kwaaah-!

The ruler of the mountain range, Drake, let out a fierce roar.

As a monster sensitive to its territory, Drake exhaled a strong breath as if it would attack at any moment, and I just smiled.

Srrung-

With a cool touch, I lightly swung the sword drawn from its sheath.

Kwaa…!

“I’ve died a lot too. With this kind of skill, I can’t even claim to be part of a hero party.”

Not even able to cut off Drake’s breath.

Feeling weakened to the point where memories of when I first possessed this world came back.

Kru…

Seemingly intimidated by just one attack, Drake shrank his massive body and glared at me.

Not cute at all, even though it wasn’t a cat or a dog.

Gripping the sword with both hands, I prepared for a decisive strike to cut off his breath.

Realizing instinctively that his life was at stake in this attack, he bared sharp fangs and lunged at me.

Suk-

My response was simply to sever Drake’s throat.

A simple slash without any particular skill.

Nothing more was needed.

Kwoong-!

The giant body fell slowly, causing chaos around, but compared to the fact that the Drake attacking the villagers who took the wrong path had disappeared, it was a fairly cheap price to pay.

“This dangerous monster in the vicinity was the last one.”

Slowly, is it time for this village to leave too?

I had gained a fair amount and felt regretful, but I couldn’t stay.

Above all, I didn’t want to live constantly hearing the title of “saint.”

“Please forgive my hypocrisy.”

I hadn’t become a faithful religious person, but it had become a habit to say these words now.

I didn’t even know who I was praying to.

I just felt like if I didn’t say these words, I would crumble under guilt.

“… Still, since it’s the last one, I should be a bit more careful.”

The request to handle three monsters today was quite valuable, so I could share some of the rewards with the villagers for the last time.

“… I wonder if Aileen is doing well.”

Muttering meaningless words.

Truly, they were utterly meaningless words.

***

“Sigh… When is Aileen coming?”

For Jenny, who always sought enjoyment, life in the quiet church in the countryside was torture.

Despite claiming to have paid a price for staying at the church in her own way, she found it truly boring and uninteresting to follow the priest around as an escort whenever he went outside.

She was rolling on her bed in agony due to the boredom, almost feeling like she might go crazy, when a strange noise reached Jenny’s ears.

Ssshh-

“!”

As a member of the Hero Party, Jenny quickly assumed a combat stance and rushed out of her room.

“A letter!”

Usually, in such situations, she should have been worried about the priest first, but… anyway, the letter would be with the priest, so there shouldn’t be any problem.

At least, that’s what Jenny thought.

Thud-!

“Jenny? What’s all this sudden…”

“Shh.”

“?”

Startled by Jenny’s sudden intrusion into her room in the middle of the night and her action of covering his mouth to keep him quiet, the priest was initially confused, but soon realized the seriousness in Jenny’s eyes and nodded.

“There’s an intruder around here right now. Where is the letter?”

“What? Why suddenly the letter…”

Seeing the suspicious look from the priest again, Jenny sighed and gently tapped her chest in frustration.

“The intruder is after that letter!”

“What?!”

“Shh!”

Jenny, who had stopped the priest’s loud voice in surprise, raised her mana and amplified her senses.

Though there was only one person, there was clearly a presence.

The people who come to the church at midnight are either very faithful believers or intruders with impure intentions.

And the latter possibility seemed very high.

After all, Irene had sent Jenny to the church to prevent such incidents from happening inadvertently.

“It seems like the other party doesn’t plan to approach recklessly. As a skilled individual, they must have noticed that we are on guard.”

“What could this letter be that brings such a terrifying person here…”

“If you’re so anxious, why not just hand it over to me now?”

“That’s not possible.”

“Ugh.”

Even amidst this, she was stubborn.

Jenny couldn’t help but acknowledge the fact that this priest was not to be underestimated.

“What should we do now?”

“Well… there are several ways, but… the simplest way is one.”

“What method is that?”

“Well… first, I’ll apologize in advance.”

“Huh? What…”

The priest couldn’t continue speaking.

Suddenly, a sinister energy emanating from Jenny filled the room, suffocating even his breath.

‘What is this…!’

As if encountering a heinous monster, fear slowly seeped into the depths of his consciousness.

After a time that felt like experiencing his entire life pass before his eyes, Jenny subdued the energy.

“Cough…! Cough…!”

Finally able to breathe, the priest sat down heavily, breathing heavily.

He couldn’t understand what had just happened.

“I’m sorry. There’s no more effective way to drive out intruders.”

As if nothing had happened, Jenny returned to her usual self and smiled at the priest.

“… It was the first time I experienced such fear in my life.”

“I understand. I was scared at first too.”

“I suspected, but… you were stronger than I thought.”

Forgotten amidst her usual carefree demeanor, she was also a skilled warrior who had defeated the Demon King as part of the Hero Party.

The priest realized this fact once again.

“Yes, I am a scary person. Will you give me the letter?”

“That’s not possible.”

“…”

Extravagance and pleasure cannot last forever.

The festival that began with the pretext of the hero defeating the Demon King had reached its final stages.

The citizens began to prepare to return to their own lives, and the hero was no exception.

Leaving the stifling imperial capital to meet her comrades.

That was what Irene desired most at the moment.

“Only the final procedure remains.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you planning to go find Allen?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I wish you luck.”

The ceremony marking the end of the long festival served to reassure the continent of its safety through the emperor’s declaration and to imprint upon everyone the existence of the hero who had defeated the Demon King.

“I will ascend the platform first.”

“Yes.”

Despite Irene’s clear reluctance to engage, the Emperor ascended the platform without any further expression.

Hurrah-!

Long live the Emperor! Long live the hero!

‘Stupid escort. Failing to secure just one letter.’

While receiving various praises from the empire’s citizens, the Emperor’s mind was complex.

There was no longer any justification to keep the hero detained.

Perhaps at the moment this festival ends, the hero will set out to find Allen.

‘Tch, for now, I can only step back.’

People of the Empire! The Demon Lord has kneeled before the hero, and the continent has once again regained peace! Remember the hero’s achievements and sacrifices forever!

Hooray!

Long live the hero!

As the atmosphere praising the hero intensified, the Emperor sent a glance towards the hero behind him.

…

Though not particularly inclined to do so, Irene willingly ascended the platform as it was something she couldn’t refuse if it was her last.

And then, a tremendous cheer erupted unlike anything just moments before.

“…Just a mere woman skilled with a blade.”

The hero said nothing.

Merely waving his hand with a composed expression.

Even with just that, the cheers from the Empire’s citizens were far more thunderous compared to the Emperor’s brief speech.

Despite feeling jealousy, the Emperor managed his expression, knowing that the title of the hero who defeated the Demon Lord was a formidable justification even the Emperor couldn’t easily touch.

“…I must somehow secure Allen.”

Various methods crossed the Emperor’s mind.

However, most were futile, leaving physical means as the only option.

Knowing Allen had no particular attachment to his father or family, threats were likely ineffective.

“Secure Allen before the hero.”

Thus, as the Emperor devised his dangerous plan, the designated time passed, and Irene finally descended from the platform.

“Well then, I shall be going now.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes. May you be well, Your Majesty.”

“What nonsense.”

“Thank you. May the blessings of the divine be upon your path.”

“Nonsense.”

Further conversation was unnecessary.

Irene turned and began to walk away, while the Emperor could only gaze intensely at her retreating figure.

He still had no intention of giving up on her.

Now able to escape the tedious capital, Irene hurried on her journey to the church where Jenny was staying.