episode_0013

“…”

“…”

With the money earned from subduing the giant slime, Allen went to the slums as usual to buy relief supplies and distribute them to people. However, he was faced with an unexpected situation.

Normally, people would have lined up to receive relief supplies without hesitation, but they simply stared in his direction, showing no signs of approaching.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Knowing it was her own fault, Lily apologized to Allen in a defeated voice, but Allen just gently smiled and patted Lily’s head.

Lily had done nothing wrong.

If one were to point out a fault, it was the fault of those who discriminated and looked down upon her solely because her blood was mixed with that of demons.

“This is troublesome.”

The situation of being unable to do anything continued.

“…”

However, Lily’s expression was gradually darkening as she waited silently.

“…I have no choice.”

Allen decided to take decisive action.

“Lily, let’s go home.”

“What? But… sir.”

“It’s okay.”

Taking Lily’s hand gently, Allen started walking slowly.

Leaving all the relief supplies he brought behind.

“If they need it, they’ll come and take it themselves.”

Although Allen was making sacrifices for atonement, the residents who cast discriminatory and disdainful glances at an innocent child did not look noble.

“It’s better to leave.”

As far as Allen could tell, there weren’t many dangerous monsters around this village.

Distributing relief supplies to the poor?

If they refused to take them, what could Allen do?

“…”

Walking together while holding Allen’s hand, Lily looked at the town with fearful eyes.

Compared to elsewhere, it was a town where at least there was no worry of death, but that didn’t mean it was free from suffering.

If Allen hadn’t come like a miracle, Lily probably wouldn’t have been able to endure.

Looking up at Allen, who was holding her hand without saying a word, Lily thought to herself.

The first person to treat her warmly.

The person who sacrificed himself for her.

And… the person who treated her normally despite knowing that demon blood flowed within her.

Even if Allen were to disappear right now and Lily’s life continued for thousands of years… she would never forget Allen.

Though their time together was short, in Lily’s heart, Allen had already become a significant presence.

“We’re here.”

“Oh.”

Walking while only looking at Allen’s face, Lily suddenly realized that they had arrived at her house.

Creak-

The old door creaked open, and finally back home, Lily could relax.

“Lily, would you like to sit for a moment?”

“What?”

Sitting on the shabby floor without a chair, Allen called Lily over. Perplexed, Lily obediently took her seat as Allen instructed.

“…I want to talk about something important.”

“What’s the matter…?”

Seeing Lily getting scared by his serious demeanor, Allen quickly opened his mouth again.

“How about leaving this town with me?”

“Really?”

“…You don’t mind?”

Without any sign of hesitation, Lily seemed rather pleased, which slightly surprised Allen, but at least leaving with him seemed like a much better choice than staying in this town.

“I’d rather leave with you than stay alone in this town, sir.”

“…Thank you.”

At first, it sounded like a somewhat dangerous remark, but Alan, feeling her determination, decided to walk the path he had wanted to walk alone with Lily.

At least it would be better than walking alone.

Perhaps all of this stemmed from his selfishness, but Alan wanted to show Lily a beautiful world.

“Let’s rest well today and leave tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Looking at Lily, who answered confidently, Alan also decided to go to bed early for tomorrow’s journey.

***

“…”

The shabby mansion Lily had endured so far was extremely old and narrow.

Alan might have thought it was an abandoned house when he first saw it.

With only one room, Alan had no choice but to sleep in the living room while staying in this house.

Alan fell asleep in the living room, making small regular breathing sounds, while Lily watched over him.

Although Lily had intended to go to bed early upon Alan’s words about leaving early the next day, the fact that she was embarking on a journey for the first time made her heart race so much that she couldn’t possibly fall asleep.

Unable to not sleep at all, Lily, in a dilemma, chose to sleep next to Alan.

“It should be… fine.”

Carefully slipping into Alan’s embrace to ensure he wouldn’t wake up, Lily realized that her choice was right.

Her wildly pounding heart had calmed down, and she felt at ease.

“It’s warm…”

It felt cozy and warm, like her mother’s arms, now even the memory seemed hazy.

Lily quickly fell asleep.

***

“The hero and his companions are entering!”

Upon hearing that the remnants of the Demon King’s army were targeting the empire, Aileen had no choice but to return to the capital hastily and entered the audience chamber with a cold expression.

“Welcome. Hero.”

“Hello, Your Majesty.”

Aileen’s mind was already full of thoughts about Alan, so she didn’t want to bother with trivial matters anymore.

Therefore, even in the presence of the Emperor, she stood confidently without even kneeling.

The attendants assisting the Emperor were flustered by her unexpected attitude, but since the Emperor did not point out her rudeness, they could not say anything.

“So this is how she comes out.”

The corners of the Emperor’s mouth slightly lifted.

Aileen’s disrespectful attitude was a sign that she had lost her composure, so the Emperor did not feel the need to get angry.

After all, he needed to avoid conflicts with the hero as much as possible.

“It’s good to see you again after a long time. Hero, have you found Alan?”

“…”

At the Emperor’s subtly provocative words, Aileen’s eyebrows twitched, and the Emperor did not miss this change.

“It seems you haven’t found him yet.”

“I heard that the remnants of the Demon King’s army are attacking the empire.”

Aileen, who did not want to engage in trivial chatter with the Emperor, went straight to the point.

“That’s right. The remaining remnants are gathering their strength. The power of the hero who defeated the Demon King is urgently needed.”

“If it’s just remnants, wouldn’t the power of the empire be sufficient?”

Aileen retorted sharply.

The Emperor, who was particularly displeased at being addressed in such a manner, said, “Of course, your words are not wrong… But if we try to subdue them with the empire’s power alone, there will be countless lives lost. I am concerned about that and request your assistance. Are not soldiers also precious lives?”

“Yes, sir.”

Clang-

Irene, who couldn’t bring herself to deny those words, answered through gritted teeth.

If she were to personally subdue the remnants, as the Emperor said, the blood shed by soldiers would significantly decrease.

However, Irene knew that the Emperor had not summoned her because he valued the lives of the soldiers.

‘A human who values the lives of soldiers no more than flies…’

“…”

Quietly observing the conversation between the Emperor and Irene, Jenny and Rebecca noticed Irene’s trembling hand with anger.

Concerned that continuing the conversation might cause Irene to lose her composure, the two quickly interjected to conclude the conversation.

“Your Majesty. We understand your intentions. We will subdue the remnants.”

“That’s very gracious of you. The Empire owes you a great debt.”

“It is simply our duty.”

After concluding the conversation in this manner, Jenny and Rebecca, accompanied by a hero, tried to leave the audience chamber swiftly but were halted by the Emperor’s following words.

“However, burdening you too heavily is undesirable. I will support the Imperial Knights to assist you in subduing the remnants.”

“… Your Majesty’s kindness overwhelms us.”

Rebecca, boasting the most exceptional intellect in the hero party, quickly grasped the situation.

It was clear that the Emperor was not supporting them to lighten their load.

There was undoubtedly some hidden agenda.

It took only a brief moment to figure out what that hidden agenda was.

‘The Emperor is targeting Irene…’

If the Imperial Knights were to follow for the subjugation, naturally, ‘Alex von Burg Ancriyon,’ the Emperor’s son and the Crown Prince of the Empire who also held the position of Vice Commander of the Imperial Knights, would follow.

By this point, the intention was clear.

The Emperor hoped to welcome the hero as his daughter-in-law while seizing a significant pretext.

A wicked and utterly ruthless scheme that did not consider Irene’s feelings in the slightest.

Although Irene had feelings for Allen, her suitor was the Emperor of the Empire.

If she realized that accepting him as a daughter-in-law in an ordinary manner was impossible, she did not know what conspiracy she might hatch.

“Irene, let’s talk somewhere quiet for a moment. Jenny, come with us.”

Rebecca vowed never to hand Irene over to someone like the Emperor.