Ch.283The Pain of Fame

Turning back time to a few days ago.

Since news of the northern wall’s fall hadn’t yet spread, the capital was in a festive mood, buzzing with talk of a hero’s emergence.

Hero.

One who had transcended the realm of Masters.

No one could consider Haschal a mere Master anymore. His achievements were clearly beyond what any ordinary Master could accomplish.

Thus, the creation of a new term was inevitable.

For people today, the realm beyond Master was uncharted territory.

Though no one knew who first uttered the word “hero,” it settled in with surprising speed and naturalness.

Faced with the might and deeds displayed by Baron of Median, no more fitting expression could be found.

Though the Danes within the Empire showed some resistance… they were merely a minority. They couldn’t go against the prevailing sentiment.

===========

What do you think nobles do best?

They smell power.

When that power is newly emerging, without established influence yet destined to rise higher than anyone else… it’s no wonder they cling like dogs in heat.

If they could pull such a person to their side, they’d seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and even establishing a favorable relationship would be an enormous achievement.

As a result… whether I wanted it or not, I was thrown into the center of power.

Some would be extremely wary of me, while others would cling to me hoping for benefits.

They wouldn’t pose a threat to me… but the annoyance was undeniable.

In fact, despite knowing full well I was recuperating, requests to meet the hero and express gratitude kept coming persistently.

At least they seemed to have learned that I despised courtship from men, as no one was bold enough to mention political marriages.

No, rather than disappearing… perhaps the target had changed.

—-

“Leonore, there’s something I want to ask you.”

I tossed aside the newsletter I’d been reading and addressed Leonore, who was essentially just lounging around beside my bed under the pretext of guarding me.

Leonore, who had been practicing swordplay with flicks of her wrist, grinned knowingly after seeing my expression.

“I can tell just by looking at your face. Read something you didn’t like? You look ready to tear three or four people apart. Though with that face, trying to look scary won’t have much effect. So, what are you curious about?”

“Would there be any legal issues if I hung the person who suggested changing my nickname to ‘Red Empress’ on the cathedral wall?”

[I approve. Hanging them on a fallen cross would make for an entertaining spectacle.]

The article claimed the term “empress” was an inappropriate nickname that damaged the imperial family’s dignity, but anyone could see the clear ulterior motive.

I didn’t know who it was, but they must have been made entirely of liver.

It was enough to infuriate both me and Lord Wien. Did they have about eight thousand lives to spare?

“If you want to do it, why not? Leopold or Margrave Ludwig would clean up afterward. Who in the capital could arrest you anyway? You even cut the Empire’s Greatest Swordsman in half.”

Though her tone suggested it was no big deal… it was essentially telling me not to do it.

While no one could stop me with my power, it meant there would be enough controversy that Leopold or Ludwig would need to handle the aftermath.

…I was just venting my frustration anyway.

I had no real intention of doing such a thing.

If someone actually attempted something like that, beyond just an editorial… that would be a different story.

Things should quiet down once Lord Wien returns. With Adelheid’s help, Wien had established himself as the future emperor’s father-in-law, and he wouldn’t allow such talk to continue.

That meant the duke might become hostile toward me… but I doubted Wien would make such a foolish and dangerous judgment after witnessing what I had done and what I was capable of at Zeren Plains.

—-

Though I had impulsively thrown it aside because of the irritating editorial, the newsletter contained quite a lot of information.

The punitive force sent to Benes territory had achieved victory, the waterways were being restored at a rapid pace, and for some reason, the restoration of the collapsed imperial palace had been halted. Things like that.

It seems Leopold managed to win safely.

After taking down Isabella, losing there would have been disastrous.

The article stated it would still take some time for him to return, but it was certain he would ascend to the throne immediately upon his return.

Emperor Leopold….

“Do you think Leopold will make a good emperor?”

“Why are you asking me that now of all people? He’s basically half-made by you. He would have been dead long ago if not for you. Didn’t you support him because you had something in mind?”

Leonore asked with an incredulous look.

Well, I chose him because he seemed better than Ernst who would have been Isabella’s puppet, but I had no way of knowing how capable Leopold would actually be once he took the throne.

“I chose him because it seemed better than making Isabella the empress dowager.”

“…That’s certainly true. Anyway, from what I can see… he’ll probably be fine. He’s clever and silver-tongued, and since he’s neither extravagant nor cruel, he won’t become a tyrant or a shadow ruler. He’ll be somewhat influenced by the prince-electors who helped him win, but… that cunning man won’t simply become a puppet.”

That’s surprisingly generous praise.

Though there was some sarcasm mixed in as she couldn’t completely erase her negative feelings, her assessment was that he wouldn’t make a bad emperor.

“That’s good to hear.”

Can I leave him to handle things on his own from now on?

I can’t afford to remain entangled in imperial matters any longer.

Having captured Isabella years earlier than in the original timeline, the future had become completely unknown territory.

I couldn’t even predict when or in what order enemies would appear.

Monsters. Werebeasts. Ka’har. Fairies. Dragon Lords. And then there were the fanatics and heretics.

The enemies I knew about were already countless.

I really have a long way to go…

I sighed and took out a cigarette.

“Is it okay for a patient to smoke that, miss?”

“What does it matter? No one’s stopping me. More importantly, could you light it for me?”

I tilted the cigarette in my mouth toward Leonore.

There was no need to waste Karma using Karma Fire when someone was available to light it.

“The things I do…”

Though grumbling, Leonore approached the bed and lit my cigarette with a match.

“Phew…”

Blowing smoke out the open window, I pondered what lay ahead.

I needed to become stronger.

Not just me, but everyone else too.

It was encouraging that Frider, Ophelia, and Leonore had grown to Master level, but thinking about what was to come, they alone wouldn’t be nearly enough.

If an enemy of Valenstein’s caliber appeared right now, all three would end up as offerings to the dead.

…When the hell is Demian going to reach Master level?

He needs to at least reach Master before he can go retrieve the holy sword. There’s no point in going before then since he wouldn’t be able to draw it.

Was the training intensity too low?

In a world where severed limbs can be healed, perhaps I should have trained him by crushing every bone in his body.

—-

That evening, Nigel finally woke up.

By then, I had been assured that it was fine for me to move around, so I immediately headed to her room.

“I’m deeply sorry. Due to my insufficient strength, we almost failed, and Lord Bells was also seriously injured…”

True to her nature, the first words out of Nigel’s mouth upon seeing me were self-deprecating.

She’s good in every way except that her self-assessment is too low, or rather, her conscientiousness makes her too self-critical.

“Not at all. On the contrary, thanks to your exceptional efforts, things ended well.”

In truth, I hadn’t expected her to defeat Ernst.

I had only hoped she would hold out until Isabella lost control of her insects due to Wuhua.

The completed Ernst was an enemy who could single-handedly face three or four Masters, but I thought that with Bells, who had a type advantage, the two of them could at least hold their ground.

Yet they defeated him before we did.

Though it was partly because Ernst couldn’t properly attack Leonore, it was truly an impressive achievement.

“Anyway, focus on resting and recovering for now.”

Ah, I forgot that such advice is useless for this training addict.

She’s the type who would exercise while wrapped in bandages, claiming it was both recovery and rehabilitation.

In that case…

“You know that although we’ve defeated Isabella, the wars in the east and north aren’t over yet. If you push yourself and delay your recovery, preventing you from participating in battle, wouldn’t that be the most shameful thing for a knight?”

“I’ll keep that in mind…”

Nigel nodded.

Having said this much, she should finally get proper rest.

—-

The journey back after being discharged was chaotic.

I don’t know who leaked the information about my discharge, but there was such a crowd that the carriage could barely move forward.

To make matters worse, the carriage prepared by the hospital didn’t even have curtains to cover the windows.

“Look! The hero has finally appeared!”

“Long live Baron of Median!”

“Knight of Radiance! Hero of the Empire!”

My face involuntarily flushed at the excessive praise.

“You’re quite popular, miss. Until just half a year ago, all we heard was infamy, but who would have guessed it would turn to praise in just half a year? That’s what makes the world so interesting.”

Leonore snickered beside me in the carriage.

She had her head tilted back against the seat so no one outside could see her face.

“Daffodil Goddess!”

What is that eunuch saying…!

Really, he showed up whenever I started to forget about him.

Still in the capital despite being an academy student—was he exempt from military service because he was a eunuch or something?

“Daffodil? Indeed…! That pitiful yet dignified beauty, different from usual…! It’s truly like a daffodil itself! You know your stuff!”

Thanks to several men joining in, now “daffodil” echoed from all directions.

Ah… I just want to run away…

Once things with Leopold are settled… no, I still can’t leave the capital. I’m affiliated with Remnant Academy for now.

Though I could easily defeat all the professors there if they came at me, I wonder if there’s any point in staying now.

Should I just apply for early graduation?

I don’t know if such a system exists, but if I insist to Leopold, I’m sure he could create one.

—-

Though we were making our way through the crowd, the carriage moved at a snail’s pace.

As a result, I had to endure the embarrassingly enthusiastic praise with my whole body.

“She’s so pretty… Is that lady the Red Empress?”

…If the person who said that had been a man over twenty, I would have strung him up on the carriage.

But even I couldn’t get angry at a little girl who looked no more than six or seven.

“Why not wave at them? They’d go wild.”

“I’m not in the mood… Why doesn’t this carriage have anything to cover the windows?”

I clutched my forehead in despair.

If they made proper windows, they should have installed curtains to cover them. Why were there only windows?

“I removed the curtains myself.”

…What?

An unexpected confession. The culprit was right here!

“Why would you remove perfectly good curtains…!”

“It was stuffy, and it would be disappointing if the hero who saved the Empire didn’t even show her face during the procession.”

Leonore shrugged.

“Besides, if you hide your face, some fools might think you sustained injuries so severe you can’t show yourself in public.”

…Her answer left no room for argument.

“Sigh… if that’s the reason, I suppose it can’t be helped…”

“More than anything, I hate it because it’s suffocating. A narrow space blocked by cloth—that’s exactly what I can’t stand.”

So in the end, she removed them because she didn’t like them.

I wanted to scold her, but her expression when she said those words was so serious that I didn’t feel like arguing.

Did she have an anxiety disorder like claustrophobia…?