Ch.6Chapter 6. A Hero’s Party Without the Returned Hero

# The Empire of Kaul.

It was truly a festive atmosphere.

Although the Hero was absent, the rest of the Hero’s party had successfully returned, and they proclaimed victory by displaying the sacred casket containing the Demon Lord’s horn—proof of their conquest—before the citizens.

“…And so, Hero Luciana Estel nobly sacrificed herself alongside the Demon Lord. Our Hero’s party merely recovered the Demon Lord’s horn and her faded holy sword.”

In the glorious plaza where the Emperor himself delivered the message, Rainfold stood in the center, announcing the deaths of the Demon Lord and the Hero to the citizens.

Behind him on an elevated platform, the current Emperor sat with dignity. By his side was Crown Princess Rinasien, and slightly apart on either side stood the other members of the Hero’s party in formation.

“This is it! The horn left behind by the Demon Lord who tormented humanity for a thousand years!”

As he raised the radiant sacred casket high, the crowd erupted in cheers: “Wooooah!!!”

The citizens, who had learned through childhood fairy tales and church teachings that the radiance was due to the sealed evil demonic energy, embraced the joy wholeheartedly, convinced that peace had finally arrived.

“And this… is the holy sword of our hero, our champion, Luciana Estel.”

Ah… As the Crown Princess deliberately let out a sorrowful sigh, everyone fell silent.

The holy sword, which had always emitted a brilliant red-gold light, now appeared as nothing more than an ordinary iron blade.

Having lost its master whom it had chosen according to the goddess’s will, the holy sword displayed a deathly pale appearance.

“We will observe a moment of silence for her.”

“Attention!”

The Imperial Guard Commander sternly echoed Rainfold’s words.

As the ceremonial weapons made a synchronized sound as the guards assumed their positions, the citizens, overwhelmed by the atmosphere, held their breath.

“Silence.”

Everyone in the plaza, even the Emperor, rose and bowed their heads.

It was a moment of silence for the hero who had saved the Empire, the savior of humanity, but within that silence, each person harbored their own thoughts.

“Rainfold! I participated in your plan as a representative of the elves, carrying out the will of the Elven Council. I now demand the promised compensation.”

Before the plaza announcement, Naidrian had brazenly demanded a reward.

It was neither honorable nor particularly successful, but Naidrian had no choice.

The threat of extinction was approaching day by day, growing ever closer.

“Don’t you think your request is preposterous even to your own eyes?”

“What did you say?”

“Our plan was to neutralize the Hero and escort her to the Empire. I cannot accept your demand for compensation merely for participating.”

Naidrian wondered if the man before her was truly the same shield knight Rainfold who had been kind and considerate throughout their journey.

Since losing the Hero, his behavior and tone had become imbued with dignity and pressure.

Not only Naidrian but everyone else felt uncomfortable with his attitude that seemed to crush people.

“Simple participation? No, no. By our involvement, you and the Crown Princess moved with the backing of the entire elven race and the church. That’s worth compensation.”

“Arsil, that’s an impressively political statement coming from you.”

“You bastard…!”

Arsil was anxious.

She didn’t care much about Luci’s betrayal, considering it largely the Hero’s own karma.

But in the process, the porter had been sacrificed.

The porter, whom they had paid no attention to, suddenly made an unexpected move to rescue the Hero.

Though it ended with him jumping off a cliff with nowhere to go, his actions had deeply shocked Arsil and Naidrian.

Originally, they should have been the ones to help the Hero.

According to the original plan, there should have been no betrayal, and they should have returned to the Empire together amicably before going their separate ways.

They should have blessed each other’s futures and gone on to create better lives.

To emphasize once more, betraying the often excessive Hero wasn’t a great burden.

Or rather, it hadn’t been.

But the porter’s actions made them feel ashamed.

They finally realized they had committed a sin.

Their actions, rationalized by claiming a greater cause, had resulted only in failure and dishonorable secrecy.

It was shameful.

After shame came fear.

If this incident, this truth, were to leak out, both Naidrian and Arsil would lose their positions.

If they lost their current status, neither could save what they needed to save.

Their choice was yet another cowardly compromise.

It meant continuing to conceal the fact that they had betrayed the Hero and cooperating with Rainfold.

But this man…

“I appreciate the support of the elves and the church. But regarding the Hero, I can’t grant your wishes immediately. You’ll have to wait until the Crown Princess’s safe ascension to the throne based on this support.”

He was completely untrustworthy.

Rainfold’s overnight change in attitude inspired more wariness than unfamiliarity.

“Rainfold, you’re being unreasonable.”

“What do you mean?”

“Escorting the Hero was merely a desired spectacle; ultimately, you wanted her eliminated. The Hero died falling from the cliff with the porter. Since the ultimate goal was achieved, I demand compensation.”

‘This guy speaks well?’

Though they weren’t close due to his reticence, Arsil admired Tigria for making statements favorable to their position.

However, she refrained from awkwardly interjecting.

She knew how foolish that would look, and how truly foolish it would be.

“How can you be certain the Hero is dead?”

“The Hero’s limbs were severed. She fell with the incompetent porter. First, there’s little chance of survival from falling from that height into water. Second, the likelihood of escaping the water is low. Finally, even if they escaped, the porter could do nothing for the Hero. That forest near the Demon Lord’s castle is home to powerful magical beasts, and the porter had used up all provisions for the final battle with the Demon Lord. It’s an environment where death is inevitable.”

“Hmm.”

Rainfold didn’t dispute the opinion.

He found it reasonable, though it wasn’t a pleasant assumption for him.

Unfortunately, while Tigria’s prediction was entirely sensible, that area happened to be the starting point of DLC Chapter 1.

It had the convenient setting that all surrounding magical beasts had vanished due to the Demon Lord’s death—something Tigria, as a mere creation, couldn’t know.

To add a note, the Demon Lord here was also a concept of authority, so when they died, demons (if not magical beasts) completely disappeared, according to the explanation.

“With no Demon Lord and no Hero, the Crown Princess’s ascension is inevitable. So fulfill your promise now.”

“Well, we’ll see about that when the time comes, won’t we?”

“You bastard…! Your tongue is getting longer? Shall we test how tough our shield knight really is?”

“By all means, if you’re ready for the consequences.”

As the two glared at each other with burning eyes, Naidrian stepped between them.

“Enough, while the situation is displeasing, we must avoid division at all costs.”

“Tch! He’s the one causing the division!”

Neither crossed the final line.

Their desires were too intertwined with each other’s influence to allow that, even if they wanted to.

“Rainfold, too oppressive. Carrots needed too.”

“Ha, we’ve gained nothing, yet you keep demanding…”

“If you maintain that attitude, I’ll find another way on my own.”

“Your wish… do you think you can fulfill it without me?”

“Difficult, but not impossible.”

Tigria’s wish had the weakest connection to Rainfold.

With proper attention, there was nothing he couldn’t provide, but Rainfold himself had no intention of granting it.

Yet he needed this mage’s absolute power.

A mage wasn’t simply a weapon of war with good firepower.

Well-utilized magic could permeate all aspects of life, providing conveniences and causing all sorts of unfortunate and unavoidable “accidents”—a Pandora’s box.

“…Fine. I’ll prepare to pay immediately upon completion.”

“The elves need it now.”

“So do I.”

“I accept this. I’ll be going.”

“Huh? Hey! Hey!”

Arsil called out urgently, but Tigria had already vanished.

Having lost a powerful ally, Arsil bit her lip.

“Neither of your wishes can be fulfilled overnight. Proper procedures and suitable plans are necessary. And I don’t think you want your wishes fulfilled carelessly?”

“…Of course not. Sigh, I’ll withdraw for today. Call me when the plaza proclamation ceremony is to be held.”

Naidrian withdrew as well.

Arsil had no reason to stay either.

“…Hmph.”

But somehow she wanted to be more defiant.

“That porter guy, he was intriguing.”

“Surprising, did you have feelings for him?”

“Not feelings like that. I wanted to know what kind of person he was, but you ruined it.”

She added a postscript:

“I’ll add this to your debt, shield knight.”

Leaving his room, she finally realized how hot it had been inside.

As she sighed and enjoyed the cool breeze, she noticed the Crown Princess watching her from a short distance away.

Arsil strode over to her.

“No attendants, no hidden guards—is it appropriate for the Crown Princess to move about like this?”

“I know you’ll protect me.”

“You mean Rainfold, not me.”

Surprisingly, their conversation was informal.

But their words had thorns.

“You’re the one who ordered Luci’s elimination, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t go as far as ordering elimination.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“My, how much meaning changes depending on how things are said.”

“Hah…”

Arsil’s eyes tensed.

What the Crown Princess had just said was a common phrase used by someone unforgettable to her.

The impatient Arsil immediately sneered.

“You’ve changed a lot. To think that someone as upright as you would become a person who hides, bends, and ultimately betrays.”

“You’ve changed a lot too? To think that someone as steadfast and devoted as you would become a person who makes deals and uses underhanded methods?”

The two women glared at each other while smiling.

They were full of resentment toward each other.

“I wonder what the Lee family would say if they saw you like this.”

In the end, Arsil was the first to look away.

After confirming once more that there were indeed no guards around, she clicked her tongue and walked away.

“The Lee family…”

Rinasien, watching the saint’s back, muttered bitterly.

“I also have the name Lin.”

Then she looked ahead again and walked toward Rainfold’s office.

“It’s an old connection that’s now hard to remember.”

After putting on a doll-like smile, she entered, calling the name of the man who would become her fiancé.