Ch.61Chapter 61. Porter, Secured

The wizard had been watching this entire process.

Sometimes using magic to conceal his presence, sometimes using magic to observe from afar, or like now, when the Imperial Princess and Shield Knight were getting along well, using a doppelganger to watch from right beside them.

Strange.

They were clearly lovers whispering sweet words of love to each other, but why did Tigria feel like they were villains plotting a conspiracy?

Why did he feel sorry for Arsil and Naidrian who were being deceived by those two?

Even though the world operated on survival of the fittest, and it was natural for both the strong and weak to deceive and use others to survive.

Tigria belatedly considered whether he should acknowledge that something about himself was changing.

Somehow, his perspective on things had become more emotional than before.

“Halt! Identify yourself.”

“Tigria, mage of the Hero’s party.”

“Confirmed!”

Since he had been accompanying Rinasien and Rainfold anyway, Tigria deliberately entered after the two had gone into the conference room, following them after some time had passed.

Normally, escort troops would be sent to accompany participants to the meeting.

Only for participants, that is.

“The Hero party’s porter is not eligible to attend the meeting.”

“…What did you say?”

The captain of the royal guard tensed at the hero’s cold voice when they arrived at Lin and Lucy’s room.

Three soldiers had already died for treating the porter carelessly.

He tried his best to appear respectful.

“Only nobles, rulers, and scholars in fields related to the meeting topic may participate in the grand council.”

Neither Ravin nor Lucy was pleased.

Not just Lucy who simply didn’t want to be separated from Lin, but even Ravin with his good instincts glared at the guard captain with displeasure, making the situation unbearable.

Lucy continued to argue.

“This concerns the Hero party’s movements too. It doesn’t make sense that party members can’t participate.”

“Similarly, not all nobles are participating either, only the grand lords may attend. Please understand that leaders of each faction enter the meeting after consolidating internal opinions.”

“So in the end, whether they’re Hero party members or whatever, only the high and mighty get to decide things?”

“Archer Naidrian is also not eligible to participate. This rule is being applied fairly, so please understand.”

Since not only the porter but also other Hero party members couldn’t enter the grand council, Lucy and Ravin had no grounds to make a scene.

If they insisted on arguing, they would have to challenge the regulation restricting participant status itself, but even Lucy knew better than to cause trouble right before the meeting, as it would create a very negative impression.

“Be careful.”

Finally, the two left with the royal guard for the grand council chamber, leaving Lin behind with a wave.

But Lucy was anxious.

She kept glancing back at the door to his room.

Ravin whispered to Lucy as she fidgeted with the red string on her little finger.

“Never let your guard down. We’re surrounded by enemies.”

“…I understand.”

It sounded not like encouragement, but like a warning based on certainty about what was to come.

—

The Grand Council.

The “Grand” prefix made it sound impressive, but it was just a meeting of higher-ranking humans.

“The Hero party must come to our territory first. As the most crucial strategic point in the empire after the capital, we need them to confirm whether there’s a demon threat and reassure us!”

“How can the empire be the only protected target! The Elven Forest is also an allied nation that dispatched Archer Naidrian!”

The decision to redeploy the Hero party was reached unanimously with disappointing speed.

However, the problem lay in the party’s destination.

Everyone was clamoring for the party to visit their territory first for their own protection.

If the Demon King had been alive, they would naturally have crossed into demon territory and headed for the Demon King’s castle.

But the Demon King was dead.

If the demon army had moved, they would naturally have gone to the frontlines to confront them.

But the demon army had retreated further and shown no particular movement.

Then only one thing remained.

Hunting down demons who were appearing mysteriously in imperial cities and waging guerrilla warfare within the empire.

The nobles and rulers who wanted to escape the demon threat as soon as possible had been fighting over this issue for hours.

“Please be quiet. The Hero party will travel throughout the entire country anyway.”

Rinasien presided over the meeting as the Imperial Princess, but people blinded by their desire for self-preservation weren’t listening properly.

Surprisingly, Rainfold didn’t care where they went first, so he remained an observer.

Rinasien had sent pleading glances his way several times, but he had already helped resolve some issues this morning.

He believed that she wouldn’t grow unless she took responsibility for herself until the end.

BANG!

“It seems we won’t reach a conclusion this way. Since time is of the essence, our Hero party will first regroup in the Holy Nation.”

But it was Arsil who brought order to this chaos.

She slammed her fist on the table where she sat, raising holy power like an electric current as she looked around.

Everyone was busy watching their step before the Saint, who was the only one besides the Pope who could use holy power.

“Saint Arsil, isn’t going to the Holy Nation very selfish?”

“Imperial Princess.”

Arsil calmed her holy power without even giving her a glance.

“Since defeating the Demon King, our Hero party has only been dragged around for post-war rewards and has never received a physical examination. Even I have aches all over my body. I’m not sure if I can perform at my best against demons.”

Though her attitude was arrogant, Arsil’s argument had merit.

Rinasien decided to gracefully overlook the Saint’s aggressive behavior rather than criticize it.

She had learned from Rainfold that it was more useful to let things flow like water for now and then overwhelm with accumulated leverage later, rather than picking at every little thing.

“Very well. The Hero party will focus on regrouping in the Holy Nation, and in the meantime, we will determine priorities again.”

The Holy Nation representatives secretly smiled, while other nobles were dissatisfied.

But they had no grounds for objection, so they had to retreat for now.

As they began to leave their seats one by one, Rinasien urgently stopped them.

“Just a moment. There’s still an important matter remaining.”

Everyone looked at her in confusion.

Even Rainfold was perplexed, as he hadn’t heard anything about this.

Rinasien took a deep breath and tensed her neck.

“I, Rinasien Karlun, hereby announce my engagement to Shield Knight Morgan Rainfold.”

“…?!”

Everyone in the conference room was dumbfounded.

Using a venue meant for discussing world crises for personal announcements?

While the engagement of an imperial successor was no ordinary matter, it didn’t match the agenda of this grand council at all.

“Congratulations!”

The elders of the Elven Forest were the first to respond.

So that’s why she had summoned them this morning and mentioned giving them the forest.

As these non-humans applauded first, other nobles hastily followed suit.

Receiving a shower of congratulations, Rinasien wore a very, very satisfied smile.

And at that moment,

‘CLANG!’

Lucy heard the sound of weapons clashing along with the vibration of the red string.

“Your Highness, you gave no prior notice of this.”

“It was only a matter of time anyway. Did you expect me to just watch other ladies flirting with you? This is all to help you, just as you helped me this morning.”

“This is all? Don’t tell me there’s more?”

As Rainfold took a position as if embracing her, the cheers grew louder.

Taking advantage of the moment, he pressed her further, and the Imperial Princess revealed an even more shocking fact.

“To tame that arrogant hero, we need the porter.”

“Your Highness…!”

“How foolish must she be to trust herself so much that she left the porter alone?”

“You don’t mean…?”

“I sent the royal guard. They should have secured him by now.”

All of this conversation was heard by the hero’s ears, which had heightened her senses to the extreme.

She rose from her seat.

Everyone held their breath at the rough behavior of the hero who had been silent until now.

“He’s in danger.”

Rainfold noticed the hero’s thighs bulging visibly even under her skirt.

“Everyone, stand back!”

CRASH!

Though he hurriedly brought up his shield to block her, the shield knight was thrown back by the impact created as the hero leaped away.

Fortunately, because he blocked directly in front, nearby people only tumbled over.

“What’s happening…?”

While everyone was still trying to grasp the situation, Ravin shouted.

“We’re under attack!! There are intruders in the imperial palace! The hero sensed it first and rushed out! Follow her!”

Rinasien was bewildered by this unexpected development.

And the attendees became excited, following Ravin’s instigation.

Rainfold quickly got up, discarded his ruined shield, and hurriedly ran in the direction the hero had gone.

Though a shield knight, his exceptional leg strength, surpassing ordinary people, quickly widened the distance between him and those following.

“Rainfold, the porter is fighting against the royal guards.”

How do you know that?

He was curious but now wasn’t the time to ask.

Rainfold gave instructions to the mage, the only one keeping up with him.

“The porter must not be harmed at all costs! If he is, the hero will go berserk!”

“Understood.”

“However.”

If things had already happened, it would be better to make the most of the situation.

“If you see an opening with the hero, teleport away with the porter and secure him. We’ll improvise the subsequent rendezvous.”

“Understood.”

Following Lucy’s magical energy, the two were able to arrive at the scene shortly.

“Who ordered you?”

The situation was already resolved.

Lin sat down, looking exhausted.

He had no injuries.

Instead, all the nearby royal guards had been cut into at least two pieces.

“…The, the Imperial Princess.”

Lucy was holding the neck of the guard captain who had come to escort them.

Facing death, he answered Lucy’s question and begged for mercy.

“I only followed orders, please spare…”

CRACK!

But Lucy twisted the guard captain’s neck.

“I gave you two chances.”

She drew the temporary holy sword from her waist.

“I clearly said there wouldn’t be a third, didn’t I?”

Red-golden magical energy erupted violently.

[Ah~ Should I add some toppings?]

With the Abyss’s playful mutter, a bit of dark energy seeped into the magical power, slowly transforming it.

“Lucyena, let’s talk for a moment…!”

Rainfold took a defensive stance.

He was already prepared.

Once that holy sword was fully charged with magical power, she would try to cut him in half.

He couldn’t let himself be defeated easily.

He was destined to be the guardian who would maintain the balance of this world.

“I finally get to kill you!”

Lin knew this would happen.

He had already told Lucy.

If something unfortunate happened to him and Rainfold appeared, she should tear him apart first.

Lucy was determined to carry this out faithfully.

WHOOSH!

“It’s a misunderstanding!”

“Die-!!!!!”

[Estel-style Secret Technique: Sky Strike]

The temporary holy sword, wrapped in crimson magical energy, was drawn as swiftly as iaido.

It was impossible to block a sword strike twisted and brought down with the entire body without a shield.

“ARGGHHH!!”

“Ugh! What kind of muscles…!”

She had definitely cut him.

But because of his abnormally hard muscles, Rainfold wasn’t split in two.

Lucy shook the blood off the temporary holy sword and took another attack stance.

This man is dangerous.

She must kill him now while she has the chance…!

As Lucy, excited at the thought of parting with her foolish past self, wore a sinister smile, at that moment,

“Porter, secured.”

Tigria, who had magically moved behind Lucy, picked up Lin.

“You…!”

Not yet.

If she responded immediately, she could neutralize the mage before he could cast a spell.

But Lucy saw Lin’s lip movement.

‘It’s okay.’

A very slight hesitation.

Tigria didn’t miss that hesitation.

“Setting, transmission, stabilization.”

He chanted hurriedly, without even reviewing the spell formula.

Even he didn’t know where they would end up.

But what was certain was that he needed to escape quickly with Lin.

“Where do you think—!”

“Teleport!”

The hero’s sword cut through empty air.

Simultaneously, silence enveloped Lucy.

No.

The nightmares and hallucinations from her past, which she had been able to avoid by staying by his side, began to cling to her again.

‘You were too arrogant.’

The voices from when her limbs were being torn apart echoed in her ears.

‘Is it precious because it’s gone?’

Words she had heard in a nightmare once floated around.

‘Treat it well before it really disappears.’

“Aaaaah….”

She couldn’t breathe.

‘He’s your only ally.’

“LIIIIIIIIIIIN-!!!!!!!!!”

A heart-wrenching scream shook the imperial palace.

When Ravin arrived leading the people, all that remained was Rainfold barely clinging to life in a pool of blood, and Lucy screaming incessantly.