The Heroes' Oath (4)
The gathering was delayed by a day, but everyone showed up cheerfully without complaint.
I asked Ashu how her condition was.
“Thanks to Kirgil's devoted care, I've recovered in no time.”
She replied demurely.
Hodo and Panash reacted ordinarily, saying it was a relief, but Hairil's response was a bit different.
Her face flushed as she hid her ears and tail, looking exactly like...
“Shh!”
Hairil nodded vigorously at my signal.
With her keen sense of smell and hearing, she must have a rough idea of what happened to Ashu.
Precocious kid.
It wasn't as grand as the banquet hall Inadia had prepared, but the dining room here had a large table that could seat about eight people comfortably.
It was a facility suited for VIPs to hold meetings over meals.
As soon as the food and drinks arrived, Panash stood up.
Wondering what was up, we all turned our attention to him.
From this moment, in this place, Ierpanashi will set aside the goldkeeper's creed.
From now on, my words will carry bluster, exaggeration, and bias. Thus, they may be factual but not the whole truth.”
Everyone was puzzled, and the mood grew awkward. Then the knowledgeable Ashu explained.
“Panash is saying he'll speak freely and informally at tonight's gathering.”
“Krahaha! Then let's start with a toast!! Here, take this!!”
“Very well. You too, Kirgil. I've wanted to talk with you without the goldkeeper's creed holding me back.”
Panash's expression softened as if freed from hypnosis or self-suggestion, and his speech turned polite like any young man's.
The honorifics that marked his status vanished completely.
The cool youth had instantly become a friendly one.
I'd once asked Ashu what Iyer's goldkeepers protected. She said they guarded unchanging values.
They sought out things of enduring value throughout the elves' long lives, treasuring and protecting them. That's why they were also called guardians of treasures, knowledge, and traditions.
Such Iyer goldkeepers...
“To pursue the world's truths, one must exclude oneself. Because everyone holds their own truths.”
“Hey Panash, you just unlocked that stiff jaw of yours, so why spout hard stuff? Truth or lies, mix 'em in your cup and we can all drink together! Here!”
“That dwarf proverb makes a perfect example. If it's drink we can share like that, even I'd partake as a goldkeeper.”
“Krahahahat!! Is that so!! Then someday I'll gift you booze so fine it'll make those stiff ears of yours go all floppy!!”
Difficult topics that were hard to swallow as snacks flowed easily with the drinks. Despite their different personalities, the two got along surprisingly well.
Panash even proposed a toast to me.
“Kirgil. Adventuring with you breeds bias. Telling your tales to my retainers invites exaggeration. Others might dismiss them as braggarts' yarns.”
He was applying his earlier vow directly to me.
He thought he was speaking casually, but his words were still convoluted.
At least I understood he thought highly of me.
“So, to share and show the truth to others, I want to invite you.”
“Hold up! I got business with this guy too. He needs a proper crossbow, not that half-assed one I slapped together before!”
Suddenly, I was the center of attention. If these two were women, it'd be that harem vibe from manga.
I liked it, but... I had someone to mind right now.
“My, how delightful and honorable. Both of you praising my hero—I simply must express my gratitude.”
Ashu slipped into the conversation with a beaming smile, subtly flashing the ring on her left hand.
Hmm, that ring surely meant more than a wedding band from my home world.
“Hoo...”
“Krhum...”
The two who'd been lightly bickering shifted their gazes straight to Ashu's finger. Hairil's eyes followed suit a beat later.
“Eh!? Is Kirgil really wearing one too... For real!?”
Hairil had just now noticed I wore a matching ring.
After confirming the rings, Panash and Hodo moved toward Ashu and launched into a serious discussion.
From what I overheard, they were talking dates and formalities. The pseudo-harem vibe flipped to diplomatic proceedings in seconds.
Young Hairil, apparently not yet up to joining diplomacy talks, hesitated in place.
But Ashu's ring clearly nagged at her—her eyes tracked Ashu's every hand movement.
Like a cat eyeing a chu-ru treat.
“Hey, Hairil.”
“...Ah!? Y-Yes!! Yup...!”
Startled from her ring fixation by my call, Hairil thought I'd caught her staring. She hid her ears, averted her eyes, and blushed.
Huh, her reactions were getting increasingly alluring.
No, that wasn't what I meant to notice.
“Hairil, got a question. Know anything about the god Killgent?”
“Yes!? Of course-da! Our country has its biggest temple. Hero Kataril was the Killgent's Saint-da!”
Saint? Ah, like Ashu's saintess title.
Perfect timing. I'd asked the right person.
“I'm curious what kind of god Killgent is. What role or service does he have in your country?”
“Service? Killgent isn't like Kalderan-da. We visit his temple for training-da.”
“Training? Not to offer sacrifices or tributes?”
“Ah, in other places Killgent is a god of sacrifices too-da. Gods' roles vary by region-da.
Even Kalderan is a judge god in our desert areas-da. There, they toss sinners into the sands and leave judgment to Kalderan-da.”
In my mind, Killgent was a demon god demanding blood sacrifices. But from Hairil, he sounded like he'd fit in a Shaolin temple.
“Don't you offer tributes when praying to Killgent?”
“In the monster era's past, maybe-da. But with heroes' rise and magic's advance, no need anymore-da, I heard.
Now, the one wishing is the tribute—they must become the wish themselves-da.”
Training, huh... Made sense in a way. It was staking your life on a prayer.
“Killgent's priests always say: Good or evil, life's value can't be measured. To take another's life, stake your own first-da. They train warriors harshly with that teaching-da.”
“...Really!?”
I'd just heard something extremely important. No, something I had to know.
If true, trying to take Inadia's life might've cost mine.
...Maybe I got lucky.
“Daranian folk staring at high walls don't gaze at Killgent, I heard-da.
Kirgil, why curious about Killgent-da?”
“Ah, my sword's named Killgent's Oath.”
“…………………!”
Hairil stared blankly for seconds, uncomprehending, then snapped to.
“Kirgil!! Kirgil!! Did you hear it!? Killgent's voice!?”
“Voice? Yeah, fighting Inadia before. Holding the sword, a man's voice and woman's alternated speaking. Wait, Hairil...”
She shot up before me, eyes shining, tail wagging furiously.
Normally hidden under her robe, but now it flapped the fabric wildly.
“Decided-da!! Hairil has! Decided my fate-da!!!”
“...Huh? Why??”
“Ashushikara!! I have something to say too-da!!”
What!? Seemed fate-decided over me, but why run to Ashu?
Ashu, grasping the situation, smiled with an “My, my~”
Clearly, unmistakably, something big revolved around me—but I felt sidelined.
Like Ashu puppeteered me.
Me dancing, her my P?
Sipping alone feeling lonely, someone knocked on the dining room door.
“Is Ashushikara inside?”
The idle me opened it. The errand priestess stood tense, cradling a cloth-wrapped bundle carefully.
I saw her face often. Time for a proper intro later.
“Darania Royal Palace's messenger said to deliver this urgently to the saintess.”
Ashu took the letter and promptly dismissed the priestess.
As everyone fell silent watching, she unwrapped it to reveal an elegantly sealed missive.
The envelope bore a rhombus emblem with a sword—Darania's royal crest.
“……….”
Everyone wore looks of “It was coming.”
Ashu pulled me to a corner to check it.
Diplomatic sensitivity—only minimal people involved.
The contents... Should I say? No, official docs went to Ashu.
She folded it carefully, pocketed it securely, then addressed the group.
“I ask your understanding in advance.”
Everyone held their breath, tense.
Hero Kirgil of Prosek is hereby invited to Darania Royal Palace by a letter penned personally by Her Majesty the Queen.