Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 3
Ilene (1)
Being a war hero was closer to meaning that one had killed that many people.
Therefore, to some, I was a slaughterer, and to others, the enemy of their family. There must be tens of thousands of such enemies for me. That is how much blood of countless people has dried on my sword over the past 15 years. No matter how much I wash and wipe it, those traces will never be erased forever.
However, even to someone like me, the title of 'Hero' was awarded. It was a glory attached only to those most dedicated to the Kingdom, a result achieved solely by my own power after coming to this world. It was also proof that I had protected myself, my comrades, and furthermore, the people of the Kingdom.
So, I will continue to wander this bloody battlefield. Surely until the moment this breath stops, or perhaps even after death, I might become a vengeful spirit and continue to guard the battlefield.
Thinking that, a smirk came out.
"Welcome. What can I get you?"
Early in the morning, the weather was nice, so I went out for a walk in the city streets to do some grocery shopping. The quarters provided food, but it was different from cooking it myself. In the past, I used to cook for my comrades. Of course, the ingredients back then were all procured from the battlefield, but today, seeing these fresh vegetables and trimmed meat, my hands were itching.
"Give me a bundle of vegetables over here, and a chunk of entrails and meat over there."
"Yes. Please wait a mome... Hiiik!?"
At that moment, the merchant who was busily packing the ingredients made eye contact with me. She screamed upon seeing my face, then belatedly realized she had made a mistake and bowed her head low.
"I-I apologize. Knight Carmil! I-I-I will pack it right away!"
"No. You don't have to... Haa."
Seeing the merchant's face, looking like she was about to cry at any moment, I gave up on persuading her. If I knew it would be like this, I would have refused the newspaper's photo request. I took it with the intention of approaching the citizens in a friendly manner, but for some reason, the citizens' reactions were all as if they had met a face from a wanted poster.
As the merchant was packing the basket while trembling, she dropped a potato at my feet with a thud.
"Huk!?"
Thanks to that, the atmosphere that was noisy just a moment ago froze in an instant. As I bent my waist to pick up the potato, everyone watched with bated breath.
No, do they think I'm going to beat the merchant with this potato or something? I brushed the dirt off the potato and held it out to the merchant.
"Please put it in there."
"N-No! I will pack a f-fresh one..."
"It's fine."
At my words, the merchant politely received it with two hands and put it in the bag. When I handed over the money, the merchant turned pale and shook her head.
"No! You can just take it!!"
"..."
Ever since I became a war hero, everyone reacted like this. If they at least said something like, 'This is a reward for protecting this city,' and handed it over, I would accept it happily. But seeing them with such terrified faces makes me feel dirty, as if I've become some kind of robber.
Eventually, I left the money on the counter and exited the street.
"L-Look over there. That person is definitely Captain Carmil from the newspaper..."
"Shh! Watch your tongue. You could be summarily executed right here for Lèse-majesté!"
"I heard yesterday he bragged to the King using human heads as trophies. Really, it's a relief he's on our side."
Throughout my walk down the street, the whispering sounds of citizens could be heard. They probably thought I couldn't hear them, but having stood on the battlefield where one shouldn't miss even the sound of breathing, my hearing was developed several times more than others, so I heard everything.
Citizens who discovered me were busy lowering their eyes, and the crowded market street parted in half like the Miracle of Moses. Thanks to that, walking was comfortable, but isn't it normal for people to gather and ask for a handshake when they meet a hero?
Anyway, if I stay on the street for too long, the citizens will feel uncomfortable too. I swallowed a bitter smile and returned to my quarters.
"Phew. What should I cook for breakfast today?"
I rummaged through the ingredients with a pleased smile. Having fresh ingredients rather than nameless plants or rotting meat made my heart flutter. It would be really great if I could take this to the battlefield too.
Anyway, with this amount, I could call other comrades to eat together. Just as I was thinking that and about to cook, someone knocked on the door.
"Captain Carmil. Excuse me for a moment."
"What is it?"
The soldier who saw me answered with a voice full of tension.
"Your Majesty has issued a summon order. The instruction is to bring the Captain immediately."
"Your Majesty...?"
The only times the King called me like this were when deploying me to a battlefield. But I heard there would be no battles for the time being thanks to wrapping up this war?
"Hmm, well, fine. Let's go."
Whatever it is, I'll know when I get there.
Like that, leaving the regrettable ingredients behind, I headed straight for the Royal Palace.
It was a summons from the King like any other time, but this time was a little different from usual. The Princess, whom he was always busy hiding from me, was now standing next to the throne looking down at me.
"Your Majesty. 4th Knight Order Captain, Carmil. I have come running at Your Majesty's call."
"Ooh! Yes. Welcome."
The King's face, which had been tense, relaxed a bit. He must have been worried I would come in the same state as yesterday. But right now, my armor was shining golden, and I had wiped off all the blood on my weapon, so there was no problem.
At most, maybe just a faint smell of blood remaining.
"I am sorry to call you like this as soon as you arrived. However, since it is an urgent situation, I hope you understand."
"I only carry out Your Majesty's commands. Please give me any order."
"As expected, the only one who understands my heart is you, the 4th Knight Order Captain!"
How should I put it. The King's attitude was unusually soft compared to usual. Especially bringing me here while his daughter was next to him was unprecedented. Since I became a war hero, he had prevented me from meeting the Princesses.
Just then, our eyes met.
"Ahem, so the reason I called you is..."
"Royal Father. May I speak from here on?"
"Ah, w-will you do that?"
Princess Ilene.
She was one of the main characters of this world and an existence called the most skilled in swordsmanship among all royals in history. As expected of a protagonist, her talent was enough to overwhelm other knights, including me, and she had never lost a single time in a formal one-on-one duel. Her pride in her swordsmanship was just as strong, and such a person was looking straight down at me now.
"Knight Carmil. I have heard much of your achievements."
"It is an honor to hear you say that. Princess."
"It would have been good to meet you sooner, but for some reason, whenever I came to the Royal Palace, I couldn't run into you even by chance."
Saying that, she glanced at the King. Judging by that, she also seemed to know that the King had intentionally prevented us from meeting.
Step. Step. She walked down the stairs one by one and finally stood in front of me. Now that I see it, it seems the one who called me this time was her, not the King. Surely she isn't thinking of giving a ridiculous order like becoming her sparring partner, right?
"Actually, ever since I heard the news that you obtained the title of War Hero, I have wanted to meet you all this time. Even putting aside the Royal Guard Captain and the 1st Knight Order Captain."
"I am undeserving."
"Hmm. By the way, you are more ordinary than the rumors. Rumor had it you were no different from a blood-soaked evil spirit."
"Ilene!"
Hearing those words, the King immediately scolded her. It was an infamy I was aware of, but hearing it directly didn't feel very good. I'm enduring it only because she's the Princess.
She also acknowledged her mistake and quickly nodded.
"Ah, sorry. I made a slip of the tongue. I didn't call you to say things like this."
"No. Please say whatever it is."
"Really? You said 'whatever' just now, right?"
Hearing my words, the corners of her mouth slowly went up. What kind of request is she trying to make that she looks so amused? And why is the King making such a troubled expression?
"Actually, I'm thinking of participating in the next war too. So, I intend to transfer into your unit, the War Hero's unit."
"Pardon?"
For a moment, I doubted my ears and looked at the King behind her. Seeing him sending me signals with his eyes to please stop her, it seems I didn't hear it wrong.
"Royal Father recommended the Royal Guards, but protecting the Royal Palace is all they do, right? I want to be active in the war rather than something boring like that."
"Is that so..."
Come to think of it, is it already that time? There was an episode where she returns from the social gathering around this time and insists on going to the battlefield.
At first, people around her were horrified and tried to stop her, but it wouldn't work on her who was confident in her swordsmanship, and eventually, the King, who was weak to his daughters, accepted that request.
However, the main stage of a Romance Fantasy is a ballroom, not a bloody battlefield. Her unit, which commanded the battlefield, meets a terrible fate, and Ilene, who barely survives alone, never holds a sword again. And there is an episode where the Prince of the neighboring country gently soothes that trauma... well, that's none of my business.
Since it would be impossible to break that stubbornness that even the King gave up on, I couldn't let my unit be annihilated because of her.
"That is what I hoped for. To be able to learn the command of a War Hero right before my eyes. What better study could there be?"
Study, she says. Saying such things before a battlefield, she really must be a protagonist of a Romance Fantasy.
As expected, I couldn't entrust the command of my unit to a girl whose head was filled with flower fields to that extent.
"Then, I will look forward to the Princess's performance."
"I look forward to working with you too. Commander."
I grabbed the hand she reached out and shook it.
Like that, one month later, our unit, which she had joined, left for a mission to subjugate a bandit group that had joined hands with demons.