episode_0010

Porshud, the capital of the Kingdom of Rekaia.

A banquet was being held in the third-floor banquet hall of the Palace of the King to celebrate the King’s 54th birthday.

— Noisy, noisy…

“You’re a very smart Count Benhardt. It seems like the Orichalcum mine business is going quite well. I heard rumors are spreading throughout the surrounding territories…”

“Haha…. Don’t be ridiculous. A while ago, a basilisk crawled out of the tunnel and started causing chaos. Hundreds of people, including laborers and soldiers, died. I’m going to ruin my family if I pay the compensation.”

“Your Highness. Your second child is eighteen this year, right?”

“That’s right. I have to start looking for a husband soon…. I raised the kid to be picky since he was little, so his standards are high and it’s hard. Where can I find a good groom?”

“I heard, Prince Joil. You’re opening a new casino in Shabart?”

“Hmm… Would you be able to run a business in a small town like that?”

“Haha… You don’t know what I’m talking about. Two labyrinths have been discovered in the area, and adventurers are flocking here these days. Just wait and see. There will be countless bastards who will take all the treasures they’ve collected from the labyrinths and run off to the gambling houses.”

A banquet hall where the nobles of the kingdom and the royalty of neighboring allies gather to chat.

Although it is a place where luxurious clothing and noble speech take up the majority of the space, for some reason, people with behavior that does not fit in with the situation are visible here and there.

“Kuaaaah… As expected, the food eaten by nobles is different. The meat juices are oozing, oozing.”

“You little idiot, you retard. Eat less. If someone saw you, they’d think you were a punk.”

“What do you know? Are you the kind of person who sits around watching what other people think when you’re an adventurer who doesn’t know if you’ll lose today or tomorrow?”

“Hey, did you try the heavy sword that came out at Cassius Workshop last month? It looked pretty good.”

“Oh, that? Hey, hey. Don’t use it. It’s sturdy and good for smashing the heads of tough bastards, but even after swinging it for a few days, the blade won’t cut through and the flesh won’t be cut. It’d be better to use a blunt weapon….”

High-ranking adventurers belonging to the Adventurer’s Guild.

The Kingdom of Rekaia actively fosters adventurers, and high-ranking clan executive adventurers with high performance are granted the status and authority to attend such events.

Of course, this is an elite A-rank party that can be called the hope of the kingdom.

The warrior party also belongs to one of them.

— Gulp, gulp….

“Hooo….”

Hyunwoo looked around with a complicated look.

The strange curiosity, sympathy, ridicule and contempt contained in the gazes of those who look at them.

Now, after failing four consecutive missions, his reputation and recognition have hit rock bottom.

To be honest, I would rather not attend such an event than to attend one if possible.

But, considering the party’s position as one that receives massive support from the royal family, it is something that cannot be left out.

In the end, it was decided that only Hyunwoo and Julia would attend the celebratory banquet, taking responsibility.

— Ugh….

Sixth glass.

Hyunwoo downed a shot of Eti Or distilled spirit, famous for its strong alcohol content.

The heat and intoxication that felt like it was burning my throat were rising up, but…

It wasn’t enough to completely forget his anger and frustration, and Hyunwoo picked up the seventh glass from the servant’s tray.

— Blame.

Julia, who was standing next to him, gently stopped him.

“Stop drinking.”

“What the…. Hah, shit. Now even alcohol… Ugh, I can’t drink what I want….? Huh….?”

“Your Majesty will arrive at the banquet hall shortly. Do you want to show off your drunken behavior in a place like this?”

“………..”

“Our party image is not good these days, and if we cause any more problems, we cannot rule out the possibility that our support will be cut off. Please bear with us for now, at least for my sake.”

“Chew…..”

I wanted to throw the glass, slap Julia across the face, and flip over all the tables in the banquet hall.

Hyunwoo suppressed himself with superhuman endurance.

As Julia said, if this problem continued, there was a possibility that the royal family’s support would be cut off.

There was also the reason that if you caused a ruckus in this place where lords and high-ranking nobles from all over were present, it would likely cause problems in your future adventure activities or receiving requests…

The biggest reason is probably because the person in front of him is Julia.

The most beautiful woman Hyunwoo has ever met in his life.

And he is the very reason why Hyunwoo is working hard to fulfill his mission as a warrior.

“Hoooo….”

Leaning his back against the wall, Hyunwoo sighed and calmed himself down.

Since being summoned to this world.

Hyunwoo has been courted by countless women, and he is in a position where he can enjoy being fucked to the point of breaking his back whenever he wants.

No, if you put your mind to it, right now, tonight…

You could drag Krimhilt or Sion into bed and have a wonderful night.

but.

According to the advice of Isin, in order to see a happy ending with Julia, you must not cross the line with any woman, including her, until you defeat the Demon King.

Of course, it is also a prerequisite to maintain Julia’s premarital chastity.

Although Hyunwoo had ignored him for one reason or another, it was an undeniable truth that his knowledge and advice regarding this world had an almost 100% hit rate.

In order to have a happy ending with Julia, he suppresses his desires in reality, which is no different from the golden sun, and suppresses himself in this obedient(?) way.

— Rumble, rumble….

— Buzz, buzz… Buzz, buzz…

Around that time.

A strange commotion began to arise throughout the banquet hall.

“………?”

What people’s eyes are focused on is…

It was a woman entering through the right entrance of the banquet hall.

— Thud, thud….

“Huh… Aji Dahaka Clan Lord…?”

“Lord Lyudmila attending an event like this…. This is truly a rare occurrence.”

Lyudmila Reginreev.

He is the Clan Lord of the Aji Dahaka Clan and is currently one of the most renowned adventurers in the entire Labyrinth City.

She is a beauty with a tall stature and fiery red hair that catches the eye, but…

For some reason she was wearing a rather unusual dress.

A garment that covers the entire body from the neck down to the fingertips and toes with fabric, leaving almost no skin exposed except the face.

“Hmm…. You’re wearing that dress again. ”

“I heard he was seriously injured on his back during the battle to subdue the Archdemon, so he’s doing that to hide the scar….”

“No, from what I’ve heard, before becoming an adventurer, he wore clothes like that to hide the tattoo he had on his arm when he was active in the capital’s underworld…..”

Overhearing the gossip of the nobles nearby.

Hyunwoo looked at her with a bitter feeling.

I remembered the time when we participated in a raid together and stood shoulder to shoulder.

At that time, I just thought of it as an opponent that I could easily overtake…

They are falling down due to a series of failed requests, and Lyudmila is on a roll, so it is only a matter of time before the gap widens.

— Thud, thud, thud….

Lyudmila crossed the banquet hall with a confident gait and took a seat at the end of the banquet hall.

A location not too far from where Hyunwoo and Julia are standing.

‘Tsk….Why of all people…..’

Since this was someone he didn’t want to talk to if possible, Hyunwoo slowly moved his feet and took a few steps away.

I wanted to get so far away that I couldn’t even make eye contact, but if I ran away from here, I would definitely become the subject of gossip among the nobles later on.

“It’s been a while, Sir Lyudmila. Your recent progress has been remarkable.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“Haha… That’s too much praise. I’ve even heard rumors that this will be the first time in the history of the Adventurer’s Guild that an S-rank promotion will be approved.”

“Lord Lyudmila. Actually, there are several basilisks crawling out of the Orichalcum mines in our territory. Could you please accept my subjugation request? I know it’s rude to bring this up here, but the situation is quite urgent…”

“I’m sorry. Our clan has limited manpower… We’re having a hard time handling the pending requests.”

“Is that so….”

“I have also heard rumors of Basilisks appearing. According to our staff’s advice, if we block the main passages of the mine and install A-Pe type magic barriers on the paths they usually take, we will be able to prevent the number of victims from increasing. ”

“That’s the way…! I see. I’ll try it right away.”

“Lord Lyudmila, in fact, a group of Cyclops appeared in the northern Gaduha Plateau and tied up the upper class, causing a lot of damage…”

When Hyunwoo and Julia entered, the nobles only gave a formal greeting and passed by.

The fact that they are trying to build connections with Lyudmila through flattery and praise is proof that her position within the kingdom is absolute.

— Swish….!!

“Hero…!!”

To suppress the burning sensation in my chest.

Despite Julia’s dissuasion, Hyunwoo had no choice but to drink his seventh glass of Eti Or in one shot.

at that time.

“–His Majesty the King enters!!”

The chief steward’s sharp shout echoed throughout the banquet hall.

The banquet attendees stopped chatting and turned their gaze to one side….

The figure appeared from the stairs up to the banquet hall.

— Thud, thud, thud, thud… Thud.

The 17th King of the Kingdom of Rekaia, Benedict Graham von Rekaia.

“To all the distinguished guests who have come to this gathering, I would like to express my sincere gratitude. I would have prepared a more elaborate banquet, but…. With the onslaught of the Demon King’s army, the proliferation of monsters crawling out of the labyrinth, and bandits everywhere, the people are in an uneasy mood, so the royal family cannot afford unnecessary extravagances, so I have prepared a simple banquet within the limits of what is possible. Please do not be too disappointed even if it is a little lacking, and I would be grateful if you could enjoy the gathering. ”

A small, spreading laughter.

“When I think about it again, I can’t help but feel deeply moved. Until two years ago, we were even hearing that the nation’s fate was no different from a candle in the wind. However, thanks to the efforts of each lord, allies, and adventurers who have joined us here, we have overcome several great crises… and now we have succeeded in regaining our position as a powerful nation that even the Empire cannot act rashly. This is due to the ability of the people who have come together as one and gathered their strength…”

“Haaam…..”

It’s just a story with no substance, just flashy words, no different from a principal’s speech or a battalion commander’s speech.

Hyunwoo has always hated that kind of thing.

He poured his drink, feeling annoyed and making excuses.

“………..”

For a moment.

The king’s eyes turned towards Hyunwoo and Julia.

The King’s displeased expression lasted only a very brief moment…

As Julia, his own daughter, it was an expression of emotion so clear that it could never be overlooked.

“………..”

Now, it was clear that no matter what I said to Hyunwoo, there was absolutely no chance of him changing his behavior.

Julia could only chew on her lower lip in bewilderment.

About twenty minutes later.

After finishing his speech, the king began to walk around the banquet hall and chat with the guests.

Hyunwoo hoped that if possible, they wouldn’t come to him…

You could say that it is an unrealistic expectation since you are a and Julia is by your side.

— Thud, thud, thud….

After a while.

The king, passing by Malseok, stopped not far away.

“Huh… Isn’t that the Lord of the Aji Dahaka Clan, Lord Lyudmila?”

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty. I apologize for the rudeness.”

“Hoohoohoo….. Apology, what kind of words are you talking about? The fact that you and the clan are the shields that protect the kingdom is a truth that no one in this country can deny. Compared to your dazzling actions, not being able to participate in such a minor national event is not a flaw at all.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“Too much praise… Even modesty can become a vice if it’s excessive. Last month’s Behemoth Raid was a success. I heard that you also displayed brilliant performance in defending Palgrak Fortress during the invasion of the 14th Division of the Demon King’s Army right after. And on top of that, you conquered the final floor of the a few days ago? At this point, I’m starting to think that even the title of hero isn’t enough to describe you. ”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

After bowing deeply to show respect.

Lyudmila spoke in a voice that was even more forceful than before.

“But Your Majesty, our clan’s recent advancement is not due to my own skills. It is the achievement of a new staff member who recently joined the clan.”

“Hmm…? Staff member…?”

“Yes.”

The king shows interest.

He stopped walking and picked up the glass of wine that was lying next to him, and Lyudmila began to tell her story slowly.

“Luring Behemoth to the Akzat Road and successfully conducting the raid, predicting the invasion of the 14th Division of the Demon King’s Army and joining the defense force in advance to play an active role in each and every element, and leading the clan to the innermost part by breaking through the complex trap gimmick of the Yellow River Labyrinth. All of these achievements are the result of the staff’s superhuman wisdom. ”

“Oh my… Really? If that’s true, then he really is an amazing person.”

“Yes. He is a hero on a whole other level than a girl like me who has nothing to show for it. I am starting to think that it is time for me to hand over my position as Clan Lord.”