Chapter 80: Hero Party (1)

“Hero! Hero!”

Amidst the brilliant lighting, a man was rushing from the shadows. At the front of the banquet hall, filled with the fragrant smell of alcohol and pleasant music, the Hero sat. In front of him were plenty of food and drinks, and beside him sat his companions who had been with him for many years.

Saint Alexander.

He, who had become the head of the church, was originally a human overflowing with divine power talent. Although born into a renowned noble family, he was born the child of a concubine and couldn’t inherit the family line; realizing his talent, he entered the priesthood.

However, even within the temple, he showed a slovenly side indulging in wine and women, falling out of favor with the priests, and was eventually demoted to a provincial post.

The circumstances under which he and the Hero left together to subjugate the Demon Realm are unknown. But much changed due to the Hero’s return with the Demon King’s head.

The Hero, who seized the kingdom’s real power, reigned like a king, bestowing the title of Saint upon Alexander and placing him at the highest position in the temple.

It wasn’t that the temple became corrupt just because he became Saint.

However, the corruption that had been secretly ongoing surfaced, transforming into a more blatant and worldly form. The positions meant for diligent and upright priests, kept for appearances, disappeared, and money became more important than skill.

His shiny bald head and thick belly glistened with grease, as if mimicking his greed.

The Hero watched Alexander frantically shovel food into his mouth. When Alexander’s eyes met the Hero’s, he grinned ear to ear before diving back into his meal. The Hero poured wine into his goblet and pushed it towards Alexander.

“Eat slowly. You’ll get indigestion.”

“Uhehehehe! If I get indigestion, I’ll just heal it with divine power! Uhehehehe!”

Alexander said this with his mouth stuffed full of food. The Hero glanced at the remnants splattered on his hands and the tablecloth, then brushed them away.

“How utterly uncivilized. How can someone like that be of noble birth?”

An old man sitting opposite said this, stroking his beard. He seemed to lose his appetite just looking at Alexander’s face. The old man’s name was Mobius.

He was once a reasonably recognized mage. He lost his standing due to the usual political maneuvering within the Mage Tower, and like other failed mages, he was destined to grow old and die quietly. If he hadn’t participated in the Demon King’s subjugation, he truly would have met that fate.

Since the Hero returned with the Demon King’s head, Mobius’s name was hailed as the greatest sage of the Mage Tower. He seized real power and, at the same time, purged all the mages who had driven him out, extorting the research achievements of smaller Mage Towers for himself.

“Acting rashly diminishes one’s authority. Understand?”

Alexander paid no mind to Mobius’s words. He merely glanced sideways at Mobius’s face once. The Hero asked Mobius.

“How have things been lately?”

Mobius scowled towards Alexander, but then smiled upon seeing the Hero’s face.

“Things are going well. It’s nice to see your face after so long.”

“Indeed. Let’s see each other like this often.”

The Hero said so, patting Mobius’s shoulder.

“Rumors of demons appearing are spreading openly.”

A voice came from a seat a little distance away. The man gazing at the lights without touching his food was named Fabian. He was the man who acted as the assassin and rogue in the Hero’s party. His past was shrouded in mystery. No one knew where he came from or what he did, and his first meeting with the Hero was not known to the public.

What people knew was that he was still the Hero’s eyes and ears, digging up information about the world. The informants working under him extracted even information that others couldn’t easily obtain and presented it before the Hero.

The Hero shook his head at Fabian’s words and said.

“The Demon King is dead. We are the protagonists of the prophecy. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Fabian laughed at the Hero’s words. His laughter spread carelessly throughout the banquet hall. Fabian looked at Alexander and asked.

“The prophecy. What were the contents of the prophecy?”

“The prophecy? Uh… ‘When the Demon King’s power reaches this land, those chosen by fate shall receive the light’s revelation.'”

Alexander muttered the prophecy he couldn’t quite recall, frowning.

“‘Must receive.'”

“What?”

Mobius frowned and pointed out Alexander’s wording.

“‘Must receive,’ you idiot! A supposed Saint can’t even memorize such a short sentence… Tsk, tsk. [When the Demon King’s power reaches this land, those chosen by fate must receive the light’s revelation.] is the correct prophecy.”

“It’s the same thing.”

Alexander grumbled and focused on eating again.

Fabian said.

“The prophecy hasn’t happened yet.”

The Hero said.

“Because the Demon King is dead. Since the Demon King is dead, his power won’t reach the ends of the earth, and since we killed the Demon King, we are the chosen ones.”

“What if the Demon King resurrects? What if a new Demon King is chosen and attacks?”

To Fabian’s question, the Hero said.

“That’s not something that will happen easily. If a new Demon King is chosen, we just kill them again. After weeding them out a few times, no demon strong enough to become a Demon King will appear for a while. Fabian. So, you’ll have to work hard during that time. If there are any demons dangerous enough to become a Demon King, report them to me immediately. If I can handle it, I’ll deal with them on the spot.”

Fabian nodded at the Hero’s words. The Hero picked up his goblet again and looked at an empty seat.

The fifth seat.

Unlike the four officially recognized heroes, one person who didn’t leave their name in history.

[Petunia Titi]

“She didn’t come today either.”

The Hero said so, pouring more wine into his empty goblet. Mobius nodded at the Hero’s words and said.

“It’s understandable why she wouldn’t come. Why didn’t you just accept her confession? You live surrounded by women, yet you couldn’t accept that girl’s confession?”

The Hero remained silent at Mobius’s words. Petunia Titi was the only elf in the Hero’s party. With her long, shapely legs and beautiful appearance, she ignored Alexander’s lecherous advances and fought alongside the Hero.

After killing the Demon King, she confessed her feelings to the Hero, but he refused, saying he couldn’t accept her heart. After that, Petunia Titi left the Hero’s party, and her whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

“I suspect she might still be living in the forest where the elves reside. My informants aren’t there.”

The Hero nodded at Fabian’s speculation. The Hero had no intention of seeking out Petunia Titi.

“She’ll come back someday.”

The Hero’s words echoed. No one had ever seen him smile, despite having subjugated the Demon King and possessing everything. Even though he embraced countless women and obtained all sorts of riches and endless power, he wasn’t smiling.

The Hero seemed like someone lacking something. He wordlessly gazed at the nameplate reading Petunia Titi, then raised his goblet again. Tilting his head back and drinking it down in one go, the hot liquor slid down his throat. His vision blurred, and just as the lights refocused and settled, footsteps could be heard.

“Greetings, Hero-nim!”

Hurried footsteps and a formal greeting amidst the urgency. The Hero leaned back against his chair and asked the reason for the visit.

“What is it?”

“Uh, do, do you know someone named Orland?”

“Orland? Ah, I remember. He requested to join the Kingdom’s Royal Knights, didn’t he?”

“Ah, that’s…”

The Hero rummaged through his pocket for a pen and looked at the attendant who was stammering. The moment the attendant’s eyes met the Hero’s, his legs gave out, and he collapsed.

“Speak.”

“Ah, well…! Uh, you see…!”

The Hero waited for the attendant’s explanation. The stuttering attendant suddenly spoke up.

“Th-that’s! Orland didn’t request the Royal Knights! He submitted a request to be dispatched to the Northern Legion.”

“The Northern Legion. Isn’t that a notoriously harsh region?”

“It’s also a region where many beastmen live. That was my hometown. Sometimes, when I went up the mountain at night, I’d run into beastmen.”

Fabian interjected into the Hero’s remark. The Hero nodded at Fabian’s words and spoke again to the attendant.

“So, is his request something unusual?”

“His family intends to reject Orland’s request and petition for him to be placed in the Royal Knights instead.”

The Hero nodded. As he picked up his pen, the attendant cautiously approached the Hero with a document. Just as his hand was about to brush against Petunia Titi’s chair, the Hero reached out and took the paper himself. As the Hero was about to sign the document, he looked at the attendant and asked.

“But why does Orland suddenly want to go to the North?”

“Ah, well…! It’s because the woman he loves is in the North. He says he needs to find her, honestly…”

The Hero paused his hand, which was about to sign. Alexander stopped eating and, glancing at the Hero, gestured towards the attendant with his eyes. While the attendant stood blankly, unable to understand the gesture, the document he had offered was torn.

The paper, cleanly split in half, was then torn into four, then eight pieces, scattering into the air. Amidst the paper fragments fluttering like they were at a festival, the Hero said.

“Send him. To the North.”

“What? B-but…..!”

“How dare this bastard talk back!”

At that moment, Alexander suddenly lunged forward, grabbed the attendant by the collar, shook him, and shouted. As the startled attendant froze, the Hero sheathed the sword he had half-drawn and sat back down. Alexander shouted, spittle flying.

“Go right now! Deliver the message exactly as stated!”

“Y-yes! Yes! I understand!”