episode_0258

The Demon King subjugation celebration festival, held primarily by the Roman Kingdom, is scheduled to last a total of 4 days.

In addition, the story that Leon, the hero who made the greatest contribution to subjugating the fragments of the Demon King, had arrived in the Roman Kingdom spread to the market streets outside the castle, and people were already feeling a strange heat even before the official start of the festival was announced.

The back streets of the royal capital are filled with this subtle heat.

Relatively deserted back alley.

A place where darkness settles, where those who cannot live in the light avoid the light.

“….”

A woman with silver hair and golden eyes, not suited for this darkness, was carving something on the floor.

Crackle…. Crackle….

A mysterious heat ripples along with an ominous black energy very similar to the darkness spread all over the place, and an unidentified character is carved on the floor.

After squatting down for a while and carving the characters on the floor, she slowly stood up, as if she had finished carving all the inscriptions.

“Hoo….”

“Huh?…. Who’s there?”

“!”

And today, a vagrant who begged and earned money little by little to buy alcohol and some food staggered along. As he walked precariously, he soon noticed the silver-haired woman’s outstanding appearance, glanced around, and raised the corners of his mouth with desire.

“Hehehe…. What brings a pretty young lady to a place like this?~ Did you get lost or something?”

“…It’s nothing like that.”

“Hehehe…. Even though this is the royal capital, this kind of secluded place is full of dangerous guys. There’s nothing good about staying here for long. Come on, I’ll guide you ‘safely’ outside.”

He licked his lips slightly and approached the woman.

The crotch of his old pants, covering his lower body, bulged out, representing his desire.

Anyone could tell that he was full of dark desires.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“…Huh?”

“I am not a prostitute. If you want to satisfy your desires…. Go to a brothel.”

“…This bitch, really. I’m telling you it’s dangerous here, so I’ll guide you safely?”

Was it because he thought his kindness had been trampled on?

Or was it because his black heart had been exposed so nakedly?

In fact, he wouldn’t care much either way.

The most important thing for him is to subdue the woman who spoke impudently over there now, and to satisfy his wriggling desires.

“Don’t come any closer!”

“This is…. Don’t be pointlessly screaming….”

Whoosh

At that moment, the ominous characters the woman had carved on the floor flashed.

The vagrant was flustered by the unexpected situation, and the darkness of the lead role surrounded him as if to swallow him up.

“W-what is this?…. G-get away! Get out of here!! Ugh…, ugh!!…, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!…….”

The vagrant tried to resist by swinging the bottle of alcohol he was holding, but that meant nothing to the black shadow.

In the end, the vagrant left a scream that seemed to tear apart….

No, even that scream could not be properly heard as it was buried in the shadow and disappeared as it was.

“….”

The silver-haired woman watched the horrific scene from beginning to end.

Noren trembled, clasped her hands tightly, and put them to her forehead, muttering in a small voice.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry Goddess I’m sorry but I couldn’t help it I couldn’t help it what did I do so wrong why do you keep giving me these trials it’s my fault too but it’s clear that the Goddess is also at fault it was just a momentary lapse it was just a momentary mistake why are you tormenting me so much….”

* * *

About a day after we arrived in the Roman Kingdom.

The king of the Roman Kingdom announced the start of the full-scale festival.

Starting with a word from the king of the Roman Kingdom, the words of the pontiff of the Holy State, and then the words of the visiting dignitaries, finally….

“He who brought peace to this world, who is more valiant than anyone else, and stronger than anyone else. It is the hero Leon!”

“””””””Waaaaaaa!!!!”””””””

As I stepped in front of the platform with the king’s introduction, a huge cheer erupted from the people of the Roman Kingdom gathered in the square.

An overwhelming cheer that made my ears feel muffled.

It was a fresh, direct experience of how ominous the existence of the Demon King was in this world.

While examining the scene, I simultaneously glanced at the hero Ragna.

Ragna is sitting not far from me.

I haven’t seen him yesterday, but anyway, since this guy is also a hero and a prince of this country, he seems to have taken a seat.

I watched him for a very short time and then turned my head back to the audience looking at me.

“I am the hero Leon.”

“Hero Leon!!”

“He’s a hero!!!”

“Waaaaaaaaaa!!!”

The reaction I get just by saying one word is unusual.

This is really….

“I’m not good at talking, so I’ll just say one simple thing. First of all, all the fragments of the Demon King have been defeated…. So please enjoy the festival with peace of mind.”

After saying those words, I immediately came down from the platform.

The enormous cheers of the audience followed. And the last word of the king, who soothed the people and declared the start of the 4-day festival.

All those stories are heard behind my back, but I have no time to pay attention to them.

“….”

“….”

On the way down, I happened to meet the hero Ragna’s gaze.

“Leon….”

“It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“….”

“What were you doing that you didn’t even show your face when catching the fragments of the Demon King? Shouldn’t you have shown up at least once out of three times?”

Ragna’s expression twists severely at my words.

My provocation seems to have worked properly.

“Don’t do anything stupid. At least not in a situation where everyone is enjoying themselves like this.”

“….”

There is no clear evidence that he is doing something yet.

But based on Emula’s words, the other kids’ intuition, and the situation, it was clear that he was up to something.

“I want to rest now too.”

“….”

Leaving those words behind, I left first.

“…Lucy.”

[Yes.]

And when I was some distance away from him, I called Lucy, who was in my shadow.

Considering the surrounding environment, Lucy spoke from within the shadows.

[What’s going on?]

“What’s going on…. You know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”

[Really…. Are you going to take responsibility if something happens to me because of that?]

“What are you talking about? You’re the type to run away before that happens….”

When I said that in disbelief, Lucy chuckled from within the shadows.

[Yes, yes~. I understand. So, I just need to keep monitoring the hero Ragna, right?]

“That’s right. But don’t go directly into his shadow.”

[I know that much too. I know how precious my life is.]

With those words, Lucy’s presence disappeared from within the shadows.

She must have moved to the shadows around Ragna.

Then I’ll leave the surveillance of Ragna to Lucy….

“Then let’s move to the inner hall as well.”

Following the guidance of the king of the Roman Kingdom, we moved from the square to the royal palace.

Just as a large festival is being held in the city below the castle, there is also a party held in the royal palace for dignitaries.

♪~♬~♩~

The luxurious sounds of the musicians’ performances are heard.

In addition, the luxurious tables are set up to the point where your eyes will widen.

As if familiar with such social gatherings, each person takes their place and forms groups.

The groups are largely divided into 3.

One is, of course, the king of the Roman Kingdom, who prepared this social gathering.

Since kings from various other countries, or representatives delegated by them, have come, it is a group that greets him again or discusses future affairs.

The other is a group gathered around the pontiff.

The authority of the name “pontiff” in this central continent is great, and those who have already spoken with the king of the Roman Kingdom are speaking with the pontiff. Most of these people are in the group to ‘make an impression.’

After all, politics is often a battle of connections, so even these small impressions can be important.

And the last one is….

“Hero! I am Levilline Creta, the second princess of the Creta Kingdom. I have always wanted to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, Hero Leon. I am Ermin Avellina, the first princess of the Avellina Kingdom. If you have time later, would it be possible to meet you personally?”

“Ah…. I, I am….”

Yes. It’s me.

The king, or the representatives of the king, did not just come alone.

They brought their bodyguards to protect them, their successors, and their princesses with them.

The reason for bringing the princesses is obvious.

The reason for this party.

The hero who finished subjugating all the fragments of the Demon King.

As it is a place to celebrate my achievements and celebrate peace, there will be quite a few kingdoms trying to ‘make an impression’ on me, the ‘male’ hero, just like the pontiff. And basically, people are more attracted to handsome people than ugly people, and they are more interested in beautiful members of the opposite sex than beautiful members of the same sex.

As a result, all the princesses brought from each kingdom flocked to me.

‘Damn…. Annoying!!….’

Because they are princesses, and they were sent because they have outstanding appearances in order to give me a good impression or even captivate me completely, they are incredibly beautiful.

Even I, who has been trained by many beautiful women such as Baekryeon, Seollin, Baekho, Lucy, Leviathan, and Tamiel, feel that they are pretty, and it’s not entirely unpleasant to have these beauties running to get my attention, but….After hearing from Emula that Ragna might be up to something and hearing from the group that it’s ‘ominous,’ I can’t afford to enjoy this popular life leisurely.

“That….”

The moment I say a word.

No, the moment I say one letter.

“What are the hero’s hobbies?”

“How does the hero usually spend his time?”

“Are there any foods that the hero likes?”

It’s like I’m on a blind date….

I’ve never been on a blind date, but that’s what it feels like, with a huge barrage of questions coming at me.

No, to be honest, the barrage of questions was nothing.

“Hero, wasn’t it difficult to subjugate the fragments of the Demon King? There are many good natural hot springs in our country that are good for relieving fatigue. If you have time, if you visit our country….”

“Hero! Our country….”

“No, rather than that, in our country….”

As time passed, they began to compete quite openly to take me to their country.

‘…Ah, really. Dealing with the fragments of the Demon King would be easier.’

Ragna.

Just cause a mess right now.