The Hearing, Part 5
"Presenting Her Majesty, Queen Agnes Blanche Lumiere! Rightful ruler of the Kairos Kingdom, strict arbiter, legendary warrior, and benevolent protector of her people!"
At that moment, every minister seated in the parliament chamber rose and turned around. The minister who had collapsed onto the floor snapped out of his daze and scrambled to his feet.
Click, clack. The rhythmic clicking of her heels was arrogant yet dignified, befitting a monarch. Even without trying, her sheer presence commanded the room. The Queen stepped through the open doors.
I quickly lowered my head, not daring to look her in the face. The other ministers followed suit, bowing deeply as she passed.
The Queen's footsteps never faltered—neither rising nor falling, neither loud nor soft. It was proof of absolute control over her body, each step carrying a perfectly measured weight. Her breathing was so steady it could have served as a textbook example, devoid of any wasted movement.
So the Holy Sword appraised her. It was a brief assessment, but it spoke volumes about the Queen.
Agnes Blanche Lumiere. She was one of the few Swordmasters in the Kairos Kingdom. No, simply calling her that didn't do justice to her genius with the blade. In terms of sheer martial prowess, she wasn't just peak-tier in the kingdom; she was easily one of the strongest in the entire original novel.
It was a shame she couldn't go out and hunt the Calamities herself. If she weren't the ruler of a kingdom, she would have joined the Hero's party and played a pivotal role in defeating them. In the original novel, her prowess was only briefly glimpsed when the Sixth Calamity descended upon the kingdom.
Click. Clack. The Queen gradually slowed her pace and stopped about five paces away from me. The residual energy left behind by the Holy Sword and myself, which had been swirling in the air, was absorbed and dissipated by her overwhelming presence.
Before the Queen could speak, I quickly offered my respects. "I greet Your Majesty."
"You may lift your head," the Queen replied without delay. I slowly raised my gaze.
Dressed in a simple, unadorned white gown, the Queen's figure entered my vision, starting from her feet, moving up her ankles, past her legs, and finally to her face. My first real look at the Queen revealed a face as cold as frost on a windowpane.
She had a slender jawline, fair and flawless skin, and pitch-black hair that provided a sharp contrast. Her lips, though not tightly pursed, looked as if they would never curve upward. The outer corners of her eyes slanted slightly downward, framing irises that glowed a blood-like crimson.
"It has been a while, Hero Elroy. It has not been long since you defeated the Third Calamity, yet I find myself wondering if you have been wasting your time on trivial matters."
Her voice was flat, but it wasn't entirely hostile. I didn't know what she had originally thought of Elroy, but at the very least, she didn't seem to harbor any ill intent.
"Not at all, Your Majesty. Though I am the Hero, I am also a citizen of this kingdom. How could I consider this a waste of time?"
As I spoke, I glanced sideways at the minister who had made a fool of himself trying to lift the Holy Sword. Having a guilty conscience, he avoided my gaze, hanging his head as cold sweat poured down his face.
"Indeed. I am glad you take it so graciously." With those words, the Queen turned her back to me and faced the ministers. Every single one of her movements exuded an overwhelming aura of authority. She really has these nobles wrapped around her finger.
"My apologies to Bishop Andre, who has traveled all this way from the Holy Kingdom. I am embarrassed that you had to witness such an unsightly display."
Bishop Andre shook his head, maintaining his usual benevolent smile. "Not at all, Your Majesty. Is this not the sort of thing that can happen anywhere humans gather?"
The bishop's response was masterful. He didn't even try to deny that it was an "unsightly display." I suppressed the urge to cackle and settled for a polite smile instead.
"Your Majesty, you have watched over the Hero from the very beginning, so surely you must know. You know how arrogantly and self-righteously he has led the expeditionary force..."
"I believe I have heard that refrain enough to grow calluses on my ears throughout this hearing. Minister of Internal Affairs, have you forgotten that this is a formal hearing attended by a representative of the Holy Kingdom, not your personal playground?"
Ah, so that guy was the Minister of Internal Affairs. No wonder he was exceptionally hostile toward me. Since he had failed to win me over, his pride must have taken a massive hit. I glanced over at Count Wallace, the assistant to the Minister of Internal Affairs, who had gone completely silent at some point.
"Which is precisely why—!"
"Enough. I am not unaware of his past self-righteous behavior, but his shortcomings do not overshadow his achievements. Furthermore, since your own proposal has already concluded by spectacularly proving his worthiness as the Hero, you should have nothing left to say."
The Queen's words carried a heavy pressure that brooked no further argument. The Minister of Internal Affairs grimaced deeply and bowed his head.
The Queen averted her gaze from him and scanned the room. The pack of wolves that had shut their maws were now nothing more than completely submissive dogs. Looking at them, she let out a soft sigh.
"Does anyone else have any questions?"
If there was anyone brave enough, I wouldn't mind letting them try to lift the Holy Sword. When only silence answered her, the Queen turned her head toward Bishop Andre.
"And what of the Holy Kingdom's bishop? How do you intend to conclude this matter?"
"The banishment of Saintess Isis does not seem to pose any significant issue. I shall report as much to His Holiness the Pope. However, we may need to discuss what further support the Holy Kingdom should provide to the Hero."
The Queen nodded without asking further. As long as relations with the Holy Kingdom remained intact, there was no reason for this hearing to continue. The chairman of the hearing committee quickly took the cue.
"With this, we conclude the hearing of Hero Elroy. I would like to express my gratitude to all the ministers in attendance..."
It's over. I let out a long sigh. Though there had been some unexpected help, I had still managed to steer the situation largely according to plan.
At the Holy Sword's words, I shook my head. Simply getting through a single hearing could hardly be called clearing a hurdle. The battles against the Calamities that awaited me would be incomparably worse than this.
"Hero Elroy." The Queen's cool, dry voice rang out. I quickly lowered my head, offering my respects once more. The ministers, unable to leave their seats, held their breath as they watched the Queen and me.
"Your Majesty."
"Once is enough. There is no need to show such formality every time you see me." With that, the Queen turned and began walking toward the exit of the chamber. Her parting words drifted back, piercing clearly into my ears.
"Follow me. I wish to speak with you for a moment."
The eyes of everyone in the room fell upon me once again. I gave a slight nod to Bishop Andre, nudged Georg—who was still standing there dazed—to snap him out of it, and followed the Queen out of the chamber.
In stark contrast to the uproar of the hearing, the palace's rear garden was serene. The Queen stood beside a rose bush, gently touching its petals. As her fingertips brushed against a rose that had just begun to bloom, the delicate petals trembled slightly.
"The roses are beginning to bloom."
Though the words could have sounded sentimental, her voice carried no emotion whatsoever. It was as if she were merely stating a plain fact: the roses have bloomed.
"In a little while, this entire area will be covered in roses. A suffocating scent of roses will weigh heavily upon the garden air."
Walking slowly, the Queen let go of the rose, which shared the exact same hue as her eyes. "It is a spectacle that never grows old, no matter how many times I see it each year."
The Queen turned to face me as she spoke. Wearing her heels, she was tall enough that the top of her head reached my nose. Her crimson eyes stared at me as if trying to pierce right through me. Then, her gaze drifted down to my right arm. Though it was still wrapped tightly in bandages beneath my sleeve, I had already removed the cumbersome splint since I could move it to some extent.
"You injured your arm."
I reflexively hid my right arm behind my back. The Queen's gaze followed the movement to my left, then returned to my face.
"I assume that is not an injury sustained during the subjugation of the Third Calamity."
"Yes, the wounds from that battle have already fully healed."
"Then, may I ask how you injured your arm?"
It's not really something to brag about. I furrowed my brow slightly before speaking hesitantly.
"I was injured while hunting monsters for training. It is an embarrassing, trivial reason."
"Explain the entire situation. Do not lie. Do you not realize that an injury to the Hero, no matter how trivial, is never a matter to be taken lightly?"
I really didn't want to brag about this. I explained the entire sequence of events, omitting only the fact that I could now communicate with the Holy Sword and that I had gone there specifically to unlock its seal. I told her about going out alone to hunt monsters for training, running into three adventurers and traveling with them, encountering the spider monster Arangrad, and sending the adventurers away before engaging in battle.
After hearing the explanation, the Queen nodded slowly and let out a soft breath.
"As the Hero, which do you believe is more important? Subjugation? Or salvation?"
There was no need to hesitate. The answer was already decided.
"I am a guardian, not an avenger. I hope that answers which I prioritize."
"...I see." The Queen fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. In that quiet interval, the Holy Sword's voice echoed.
It wasn't exactly a noble deed. Besides, if I hadn't traveled with them in the first place, they wouldn't have been in danger.
...Like me? I questioned inwardly, but the Holy Sword offered no reply. Just then, as if taking turns with the sword, the Queen spoke again.
"Can you guess why I granted you such authority?"
To be honest, I had been curious about that myself. There were aspects that couldn't be explained simply by public prestige or saving face. In the original novel, the Queen had supported Elroy right up until he lost his life fighting the Fifth Calamity.
"To be completely honest, I do not know."
"The word 'Hero' is a cruel one," the Queen declared. "Does it not sound like someone who must save the world entirely on their own?"
I remained silent in the face of her dry tone.
"At the very least, if we cannot help him, we should not stand in his way."
The Queen continued walking as she spoke. Beyond the edge of the garden where the roses were beginning to bloom lay a wide plaza and a massive fountain.
"There is not much time left before you must set out to subjugate the Fourth Calamity." The Queen looked at me.
"The ministers in the parliament will not trouble you again. I guarantee it. You need only focus on preparing to conquer the Fourth Calamity."
"Your benevolence is boundless, Your Majesty."
This was something to be truly grateful for. It would completely block any political interference from the other ministers, and I wouldn't have to get dragged into tedious factional squabbles.
"In return, make sure you grow stronger. How can a Hero who breaks his arm fighting a mere monster hope to defeat a Calamity?"
"...I will keep that in mind."
Her words cut deep. And the Holy Sword drove the final nail into my reeling ego.
Sorry, but I think those words just killed whatever motivation I had left.
"Our vacation is finally over."
A week had passed since the hearing. Georg had returned to duty three days ago, and Daphne joined me for training as usual. I had completely removed my bandages and begun wielding the Holy Sword once more. Perhaps my previous experiences hadn't been entirely in vain, as I could now trigger the first stage of release without much difficulty.
"Isn't it about time we settled our bet?" Georg asked casually. I glanced over at Daphne, who was watering a potted plant by the window.
"Are you talking about Daphne?"
"Yeah. It's about time we started coordinating our teamwork to prepare for the Fourth Calamity, so we should check on our bet too."
I gave a wry smile and turned back to Georg. "Well, if you win, are you going to do exactly what you said before?"
Georg frowned, looking troubled, and shook his head. Having faced each other constantly over the past few weeks, it seemed Georg had also begun to view Daphne as a true comrade.
"...I won't report her to the higher-ups or anything like that. But a bet is a bet, Elroy. It's only fair that you grant me one favor."
I let out a hearty laugh and nodded. Well, keeping Daphne from being kicked out was already a massive win. She was a hundred times better than that god-awful mage.
As Georg gave me a dubious look at my laughter and Daphne watched us, the sound of heavy, rapid footsteps storming up the stairs echoed through the building.
"Heroooo—!!"
A shrill, ear-splitting voice shrieked. Georg turned toward the door, and Daphne shrank back, looking terrified.
A rotten smile spread across my face as I mentally prepared myself to greet the newcomer. The one I actually needed to kick out of this party—that god-awful mage—was arriving right now.