Ch.92After the Storm (2)

*Knock knock.*

While I was listening to Kitsune explain the current situation, there was a knock at the door.

At the same time, I heard a voice from outside that I hadn’t heard in a very long time.

“I’m coming in.”

“Ah, please come in~”

*Creeeeak.*

As soon as I finished speaking, the door opened and Arges—or rather Vulcan, as I should call him now that he’s regained his memories—entered the room.

Of course, looking at his appearance, it would be hard to say he looked particularly divine.

“I expected more from a god, but you look terribly haggard. Just add some dirt on your face and you’d look completely like a beggar.”

“Haa, if you could see the mountain of paperwork piled up in my office, you wouldn’t be saying that…”

In response to my comment, Vulcan expressed his deep fatigue as he ran his palm over his face.

According to Kitsune, I had been unconscious for just three days since the end of the war.

For Vulcan to look this worn out in such a short time, he must have been extremely busy.

‘Well, considering a whole country nearly collapsed, it would be stranger if he wasn’t busy.’

When I thought about it carefully, his appearance made sense, but that didn’t mean I had to sympathize with his hardships.

Especially considering I was the one tied to a bed for days.

“Unfortunately, I can’t see for myself since I’m tied up. Considering you had enough time to make these chains, aren’t you just exaggerating?”

“Haa, you talk so carelessly when it’s not your problem. And I can’t even make you do the work instead.”

Seeing Vulcan’s tired response, I smiled with satisfaction.

[That seemed to hit the mark.]

[It makes me want to try it myself next time.]

‘If it weren’t for this situation, he probably wouldn’t take it so well, but feel free to try when you get the chance.’

As much as I wanted to tease him more, I knew Vulcan was genuinely busy, so I couldn’t keep him here indefinitely.

“Let’s stop joking around then. Could you please check my physical condition? I managed to drive out the evil god, but just to be safe.”

“I’m a blacksmith, not a doctor, you fool. Go ask a magician or fairies about that sort of thing.”

“I know that, but you’re still a god. I thought you might know something.”

“What god? You used up almost all of my divine power just so you could draw that sword.”

The fall of divinity.

If any of the dwarves had heard this, they would have been devastated, but Vulcan spoke of it casually.

And I too accepted his words calmly, without much agitation.

“It was a war we couldn’t have won if we’d held back anyway. If I hadn’t been able to draw the God-Slaying Sword, we probably would have lost.”

“That’s right, and we would have been outmatched without that little Hero kid too.”

“Seems like Leon put in some effort as well.”

Based on Leon’s skills when I last saw him, he wouldn’t have been enough against the Titan, so he must have had no choice but to draw the Holy Sword.

He must have tried his best in various ways.

‘Maybe I should compliment him when I see him next.’

“Anyway, I can’t check your physical condition. Yggdrasil might know, but it’s too far outside my field.”

“Hmm, I see…”

“Still, if you’re really desperate, I could bring some other fairies. Several additional Apos Hunt members have been dispatched here.”

“Um… I’ll politely decline that offer. Given the situation, it’s probably best not to create any unnecessary rumors.”

Vulcan’s suggestion was likely meant as a kindness, but there was a problem with my current position.

[They just found out the prince they trusted was an Apostle.]

[Their hostility toward Apostles must be at its peak right now.]

‘That’s right. Even if I’m the hero who saved the country, being an Apostle would make it hard for them to trust me.’

With the help of fairies who can distinguish true divinity and Vulcan’s assistance, I could prove my innocence.

But understanding something intellectually doesn’t always translate to emotional acceptance.

If it became known that I shared the same origin as the Apostles, it would likely create gaps of distrust and suspicion.

[And the evil god would subtly seep into those gaps.]

‘When I think about it that way, maybe it’s easier to just keep it hidden forever.’

For that reason, I planned to postpone any contact with those who might discover my identity as much as possible.

Or perhaps I could get Lilly’s help to secure assistance from the entire fairy race through the Fairy Queen.

‘Sigh, I’m in no position to tease Vulcan. I have a mountain of things to do too.’

While I was thinking this, Vulcan frowned as if he had a headache and spoke.

“So what, you want your achievements to be completely hidden?”

“Of course not. After all that trouble to save everyone, why would I hide it?

Besides, the people who should know about me already do, so hiding it now would just make things look even stranger.”

What I wanted to hide was only the fact that I was an Apostle. And even this, I didn’t intend to keep completely secret.

It would be better to tell certain individuals like the Fairy Queen, whether I liked it or not.

“I see. I thought you might be trying to maintain some air of mystery by hiding your achievements.”

“I’m not after fame, but I’m also not the type of hero who goes through hardship and leaves without any reward.”

“Right, you definitely weren’t a pushover. I momentarily forgot that when I saw you voluntarily taking on all this trouble.”

“If I were really that nice, I might have been preaching about how Apostles are living beings too and shouldn’t be killed.”

And if that were the case, my story as a protagonist would probably have been filled with frustrating moments.

‘Though perhaps it could have been a more beautiful story.’

I recalled the numerous Apostles I had cut down in that short time.

It was an unavoidable choice and the best one I could make under the circumstances, but regret was inevitable.

Having faced those memories in my mental world made me even more susceptible to doubt.

As my thoughts deepened and my expression hardened, Vulcan, noticing the change, spoke with seemingly casual but considerate words.

“You’re not a god either. You don’t need to shoulder everything alone.”

“I have no intention of doing that, so don’t worry. Besides, even gods don’t seem capable of handling everything.”

After all, this former god couldn’t even handle the documents piled up in his office.

I jokingly remarked while looking at the dark circles under Vulcan’s eyes.

Having reached the limit of his patience, Vulcan immediately pulled out his hammer and charged at me, ready to smash my head.

“I try to comfort you and you keep pushing your luck… Fine! Let me teach you some manners today!”

“Ahey, stop…! I’m a patient! A patient!”

The speed of the swinging hammer was no joke.

If it hit my head directly, I thought I might collapse again and not wake up for a month.

Having quickly assessed the situation, I immediately showed my still-recovering wounds and declared surrender.

Thanks to that, I avoided the dishonor of being knocked unconscious by a hammer.

“Phew… If you weren’t a benefactor to me and this country, I would have beaten you senseless.”

“I’m glad to be a benefactor then. Next time, maybe I should kill the evil god too and receive worship.”

“If you really kill the evil god for us, I’d bow to you a hundred or even a thousand times.”

Putting his hammer away, Vulcan prepared to leave while saying this.

In his calm voice, there was clear sincerity—not just an impossible promise or a blank check, but genuine feeling.

“Are you leaving already?”

“I just came by briefly because I heard you woke up. I need to get back. As I said, I’m too busy to rest right now.”

Watching this, Lumia spoke as if relieved that her worries had been unfounded.

[At first, I was worried the entire royal palace might have been destroyed.]

[Seeing such a good leader, it seems Gagap will be able to rise again.]

‘I agree. I was concerned because I saw so many reckless behaviors in the game, but this is a good change.’

Whether it was because he regained his memories as a god, or because he was in an environment where he couldn’t live recklessly, it was a positive change.

As Vulcan was about to leave, he seemed to remember something, turned back, and tossed me a communication crystal.

“Ah, and if you need anything else, contact me through this crystal.”

“Sure~”

Catching the crystal he threw, I immediately activated it.

Partly to check if it worked properly, and partly because I just remembered a request I had almost forgotten to mention.

“I actually need something.”

“Sigh… If I’m right in front of you, just tell me directly… So what do you need?”

“Could you make these chains longer? The thought of just lying in bed is making me feel claustrophobic.”

Hearing my request through the crystal, Vulcan seemed to consider it briefly before responding with an extremely refreshed expression.

“No.”

“Hmph.”

Fortunately, the chains binding my body could at least be extended enough to allow me to move around the room.