When Five Humans Gather, There’s Always One Piece of Trash(2)

…Why is Arin here?

Why Arin was here. As I sought an answer to this incomprehensible question, I inwardly exclaimed at a past memory that suddenly flashed through my mind.

Come to think of it, I seemed to have seen an explanation that would be the answer to this situation on the initial selection screen for the swordsman class.

‘If I remember correctly…’

[A student with the qualities of a sword saint, descended from the bloodline of a promising knight. Use your power to help this talent blossom!]

This phrase must have been the introduction for the swordsman class, that is, Arin’s introduction.

Since I had just glanced at it briefly, I couldn’t be certain, but even if it was wrong, it would probably be similar content without much difference.

Anyway, looking at this, I could tell that Arin was the daughter of a quite renowned knight, and if that renowned knight was Haran, it could sufficiently explain why Arin was here.

‘No, but to think that Arin’s father is Knight Commander Haran, considered the strongest among the colorful human NPCs.’

Although not as strong as the demon executives, Haran was an NPC called the strongest among humans along with the Pope in players’ analyses.

In terms of level, around level 80.

Considering that the strongest boss among enemy humans encountered during gameplay barely exceeds level 50, there’s no need to explain how strong Haran is.

And after realizing this, I felt I could understand why Arin becomes as strong as I am now.

In a way, this body, Aria, had inherited Haran’s blood no differently, so it made sense that Arin, who has the same blood flowing in her, could become this strong.

After all, having inherited the talented bloodline of a knight commander who is basically level 80, she could become strong to an unimaginable degree like level 100.

If so, probably other main characters might have been born with talented bloodlines similar to Arin.

Just looking at Riana from the same class, isn’t she from the royal family of the elf race?

As there was sufficient evidence I had seen so far, I nodded involuntarily at this hypothesis and turned my gaze to look at Arin standing next to me and Mu.

“…Is something the matter?”

“Pfft! Ahem, ahem. It’s nothing.”

Perhaps because she was currently on duty as a knight? I couldn’t hold back my laughter at Arin’s appearance, asking me in a knight’s distinctive way of speaking with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

Seeing the student who usually clung to me like a gentle lamb acting like this as a knight, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Laughter that burst out naturally at Arin’s behavior contrasting with her usual appearance. And at my laughter, Arin seemed quite embarrassed as she covered her face with one hand.

“Ugh…”

“It’s really quite reassuring to be guided by a student who was so naive. Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m being absolutely sincere.”

“Urk… Please don’t tease me, Professor.”

I whispered quietly enough for only Arin to hear, who was covering her face, and Arin answered back with a groan, whispering to me in the same way.

I tried to deceive her in my own way, but it seems it didn’t work after all. Well, I might have teased her too much while she was working.

Glancing sideways, I saw Arin’s face had turned red with shame up to the tips of her hair, and I chuckled and gently patted her shoulder.

“Well, have confidence, Arin. Even I can see that you’re an excellent knight right now.”

“Thank, you…”

I had spoken those words just now with sincerity and without any hint of teasing, but it seemed Arin didn’t feel that way.

Arin answered in a choppy tone, as if she thought this was also naturally teasing.

I wanted to say something more comforting to Arin like that, but unfortunately, before I could open my mouth again, Haran, who had been leading the way, stopped walking with proper posture and stepped aside for me.

“His Majesty the King is inside. Please enter.”

“Open the gates!”

As Haran said this to me and stepped aside, Arin, who had been trembling with embarrassment until just now, suddenly shouted with a serious face that had returned.

Arin shouting confidently, unexpectedly seeming to be in quite a high-ranking knight position.

And at Arin’s shout, two knights standing beside the door turned their bodies in sync and started pushing open the door that looked to be easily over 5m tall.

Kugugugugung────

As the two knights pushed open the door, it opened with a heavy sound. Along with it, an intense light shone from inside.

“Ugh…”

“It’s blinding…”

We squinted our eyes for a moment at that light that pierced our eyes. Soon, as the light faded and our eyes began to adjust, the scenery beyond the door started to become visible.

Knights who exuded dignity just like those standing by the road earlier were lined up on both sides, and at the end, men who seemed to be the five nobles the Pope had mentioned were seated in a row.

And in front of them, those who appeared to be the palace’s courtiers were looking directly at me and Mu.

But whether they were the five nobles or important officials, they were just there to decorate under a single person.

“Hmm…”

The word ‘splendid’ doesn’t seem to fit.

Rather, if I had to say, a man sitting on a throne decorated extremely efficiently, as if he preferred simplicity like me.

However, is there such a thing as a king’s aura? Although the throne was simple, the face of the man who made the simple throne look majestic with his own aura showed the weathering of the years he had faced.

Wrinkles engraved on his face and sparsely visible white hair. It was an appearance that should be called elderly now, having passed middle age, but it didn’t look unsightly at all.

Rather, that appearance and the eyes still hidden without losing their light between them showed his authority as king even more.

That’s why I’m slightly overwhelmed.

The king showing the appearance of a king that I hadn’t properly felt even from the Demon King. At the same time, a king I’m meeting for the first time in my life since I hadn’t seen him even in the game.

The avatars I raised might have seen him, but it was the first time I faced him directly with my own eyes.

And thinking this way, a faint wave of emotion from somewhere makes my heart flutter slightly.

It felt novel to feel such an emotion only now, but I didn’t particularly hesitate.

No, more precisely, I couldn’t hesitate.

I was in Aria’s form now, so I shouldn’t hesitate just because I felt a little unfamiliar emotion.

Therefore, I moved my feet that had stopped for a moment and stepped beyond the opened door along with Mu standing next to me.

With confident steps, ending the unusually long contemplation.

---

“We greet Your Majesty the King.”

“We greet… Your Majesty the King…”

Walking on the carpet where the knights were standing, Mu and I stopped at an appropriate position and greeted the king while deeply bending both knees.

It was etiquette we had received through rote learning from the Pope, so I was worried about what if mocking glances flew our way, but it seemed we had performed perfectly in our own way.

The gazes I felt were mostly filled with curiosity and wonder.

There were some gazes that made me feel unpleasant here and there, but there was nothing I could do about it right now, and since no one had crossed the line yet, I just remembered the faces of those gazes’ owners while raising my head at the king’s voice.

“Aria and Meiyel. Raise your heads.”

“Yes.”

“Yes…”

Answering the king’s deep yet husky voice, Mu and I raised our heads to look at him.

Whether the words about him being a wise ruler were true, the king smiled kindly and completely dispersed the kingly air he had been exuding until just now.

I couldn’t tell if this was being considerate of us or just showing his usual appearance, but at least I could tell that the king was an easy person to deal with.

Of course, even if I knew that, I couldn’t show a comfortable attitude in this place where dozens of pairs of eyes were watching, but that’s that. It was impossible in terms of position to begin with.

Therefore, as Mu and I, who had raised our heads, were waiting for the king to speak first, the king cleared his throat a few times and made a light gesture while adjusting his voice.

“First of all, the reason I called you here today is none other than to bestow rewards upon you who have made great contributions to resolving the Sky Island incident. But before giving the rewards, naturally, as the king of this country, let me say what I should say. I sincerely express my gratitude for saving our Kingdom of Puhara, for protecting our country’s people.”

“Not at all. If one has power, it should be used for righteous deeds. We only did what was natural.”

“……”

To the king conveying formal words of thanks, I appropriately answered by choosing one of the phrases I had prepared in advance.

It was a phrase that made my politely folded hands cringe and even my face feel like it would curl up, but I barely endured it and showed a faint smile.

Next to me, Mu nodded silently with her mouth closed, and at our appearance, the king raised his laughter and waved his hand.

“My, heroes with humility as well. I’m truly grateful that people like you are working at Mira’s academy. If they learn from people like you, those students will surely be very happy.”

“As you said, all the students are happily attending classes.”

“It is as my sister says…”

At the king’s words, this time I nodded while uttering an answer that came from genuine admiration.

Certainly, all the students who take my class are happy. Although they look like they’re struggling on the outside, they’re getting stronger day by day, so of course they can’t help but be happy.

After all, where would there be students who aren’t happy when I, a level 100 character, am giving classes for the Human-Demon War with all my might and soul?

“……”

Somehow I felt a stinging gaze from the direction where Arin was standing, but it must have been my imagination. Or maybe Arin also sent too strong a gaze after dramatically agreeing.

I brushed off the gaze piercing me roughly and made eye contact with the king again, and at my words just now, the king nodded with a pleased face.

“Yes, I always hear good stories about you sisters from Mira. I look forward to seeing more good things from you in the future.”

“Yes, we will strive to live up to your expectations.”

“We will strive…”

The king smiled with satisfaction at our immediate answers.

Moreover, as the atmosphere among the people around, which had been slightly murmuring when we first entered, had improved so much as to show bright expressions, I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at the surroundings, it seemed I hadn’t made any big mistakes so far.

No, come to think of it, it was thanks to the king choosing words that didn’t require much etiquette that we could come this far so easily, so I should express my gratitude for the king’s consideration.

On the other hand, thanks to this, the etiquette I had memorized with difficulty became useless, but since this was better than being laughed at for showing awkward etiquette, I inwardly conveyed small thanks to him.

And while I was conveying such small gratitude, the king looked alternately at me and Mu with a smile still on his face and asked.

“Then let’s talk about something more important now. As I said earlier, the reason I called you here today is none other than to give you rewards, so please feel free to say what you want. Whether it’s wealth, weapons, or titles. I will give you whatever you desire.”

Literally shocking rewards.

Even the courtiers standing under the king seemed not to have heard such talk, as they looked back at the king with wide eyes, but the king seemed to have no intention of taking back his words, still looking at me and Mu with unwavering eyes.

Seeing the courtiers surprised, it seemed like quite an impromptu statement, but looking at the king’s eyes, I could tell.

That if I really told him what I wanted now, he would grant anything as long as it wasn’t unreasonable to the point of being weird.

But the fact that he would grant anything also meant that the image I had built up for him could crumble due to the reward I requested, so I had to be careful.

If I demanded vulgar things or things that seemed too greedy here, even if he granted them, he wouldn’t look at me favorably.

However, fortunately, what I wanted from the king was something flawless that didn’t fall into any of those categories.

The wealth the king mentioned was unnecessary for me. Since the Pope supported me with a huge amount of money and I didn’t use money carelessly, there was no need for wealth.

Weapons were also unnecessary. My equipment was the best to the extent that there was no way to obtain better equipment than what I’m currently wearing except for the goddess Iriel directly forging equipment for me.

Titles were also unnecessary. With the temple that even the nobles called the five pillars have to bow down to as my backing, why would I need titles?

Therefore, I quietly put into words a request that was not among those things, yet not at all greedy and rather could be said to be the lowest of what I could request.

“I do not wish for such grand things. I am satisfied with my current life, so I would like to be granted just one thing.”

“Permission, you say? Well, let’s hear it.”

“Yes. I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but just yesterday morning. A noble named Heilak reached out his evil hand trying to draw us into his family.”

“What, such a thing…!”

I thought he might know, but since it happened yesterday and he’s in such a busy position, it seemed he hadn’t been reported yet.

Perhaps because of this, the king frowned with a truly angry expression without a hint of doubt at my words.

I thought I would be fortunate to gain even a little sympathy, but I felt a little moved that the king was thinking of me more than I had imagined.

And while feeling that touching emotion, I quietly glared at the owner of the unpleasant gaze that had been unbroken since I entered this place.

“Therefore, I dare to beseech Your Majesty the King.”

Other gazes had naturally curled their tails and broken off, but this gaze was still persistently clinging to me and Mu.

Following that gaze, I saw a man with red slicked-back hair.

One of the five nobles the Pope had tipped me off about, Duke Imptia.

Feeling his gaze extending even to my other avatars if I went a little deeper, I felt heat rising to my head but maintained a faintly smiling expression as I continued my final words.

“May I personally punish those who lay hands on me and my siblings?”

Even if that target is anyone.

If you allow it, one rotten pillar among the five pillars will be removed, and only four solid pillars will excellently support the kingdom.

My request reaching the king’s ears along with a smile.

And the answer to this small request, compared to what he had said, was already decided long ago.