The Hero (6)
Had I ever realized so acutely that adrenaline could completely numb pain? I lay in my hospital bed, lost in that very thought. My body, after slaying the Giant, was in a far worse state than I had anticipated. It was probably even more dangerous than the first time I had wielded dual swords. This time, even the Holy Sword's regenerative powers weren't fully working. Once the thrill of battle drained from my veins, nothing remained but wounds and agony.
Ugh. Every time I shifted to change my posture, a stabbing, crushing pain shot through me. Groaning, I let my head sink back into the pillow. Mana began to flow from the Holy Sword. As the pain subsided, I let out a sigh of relief. In my mind, I heard her click her tongue.
I nodded weakly, letting my arms go limp. My entire body was meticulously wrapped in bandages. The military surgeon of Evernode had strictly advised me to refrain from using mana for the time being and to completely avoid any strenuous physical activity. Ruptured blood vessels, internal hemorrhaging, partial fractures, compound fractures, torn muscles... and what else did he say? Anyway, my body was practically a patchwork of every injury imaginable.
"Hey, I made it back alive. And we defeated a Calamity. That's what matters."
I turned my head toward the window. Aside from a section of the outer wall collapsing and a few beasts slipping through to cause minor chaos in the city, the damage to Evernode was virtually nonexistent. While the knights and soldiers considered themselves incredibly fortunate, they also reacted with utter bewilderment.
'No, seriously, does it make any sense that our fortress is still standing? We fought a monster like that, and all we got was a crumbled wall and a few ruined houses?'
'I heard Vaktins was completely wiped off the map when the Third Calamity struck. Is it really okay for us to be this fine?'
'Hey, you idiot, count your blessings. Just accept that we're fine and move on.'
Even after everything they had been through, the knights of Evernode were just as they had always been. It was a bit annoying how they all dropped by my room with newfound friendliness to leave a comment, though. I felt like a stone Buddha statue at some famous tourist destination—the kind where everyone rubs the head for good luck. Still, it wasn't a bad feeling. I smiled faintly and pulled the Holy Sword onto my lap.
But then, I noticed something new. Engraved upon the leather wrap of the hilt was a pattern I had never seen before. Flowers, leaves, and vines? I tilted my head, tracing the carvings with my fingertips.
"This wasn't here before. Right, Holy Sword?"
"..." There was no answer. She clearly had no intention of telling me. I smirked, about to tease her further, but stopped when a knock sounded at the door.
"Elroy, may we come in?" It was Daphne's voice. Glad for the distraction, I looked toward the door. "Of course. Come on in."
It wasn't just Daphne who entered. My entire party stood at the threshold, looking in at me. I gestured for them all to enter. Georg rolled in a wheelchair carved from wood.
"What brings you all here together?"
"For a request like yours, we had to come as a group," Georg said with a wry smile. I nodded and asked,
"Have the bodies of the fallen been recovered?"
"Yes. The monster activity has almost completely ceased, so they've opened the outer gates to bring them back." Georg spoke with relief, but I couldn't bring myself to smile at the news. The ones I couldn't save. The ones I couldn't hold in my hands or carry on my shoulders.
"There is a cemetery for the fallen at the highest point of Evernode," Georg continued. "It is where we bury and honor the soldiers and knights who died fighting through the winter."
"...Right. I should go see them soon." I nodded, trying to sound casual.
Georg grinned, wheeling the wooden chair right up to my bedside and tapping the armrests. I eyed the contraption warily. "Hop in, Elroy. If it's too hard to move, I can just carry you over."
"I'll get in myself, so please don't be so eager to touch me."
Horrified, I slapped Georg's hands away and grabbed the bed rail. A dizzying wave of pain washed over me, but with trembling lips, I managed to hoist myself into the wheelchair. Georg shook his head, looking at me as if I were being ridiculous. "If it's hard, you should've just asked for help."
"Shut up. Just push."
I grumbled, sinking into the seat. It was a hard wooden chair without any leather cushioning or back support, and I could tell it would get uncomfortable fast. "Push me carefully, alright? Don't go breaking the chair while we're moving." I glanced back anxiously, but Georg wasn't even listening. He just seemed thrilled by the fact that I was helpless and he could wheel me around wherever he pleased. "Don't worry, Elroy. I've transported injured patients plenty of times."
Thud. Right as he said that, Georg failed to navigate a corner and rammed the wheelchair straight into the wall. With my head still pressed against the stone, I slowly turned to glare at him. "Hey... did any of those patients happen to beg for their lives?"
"...That was a slip. When I'm carrying someone on a stretcher, I'm safer than anyone."
"This isn't a stretcher, you bastard!"
Someone save me. I cast desperate glances toward Daphne and Marianne. Unable to watch any longer, Daphne pushed Georg aside and took the handles. I let out a long sigh of relief, while Georg smacked his lips in disappointment. That bastard was definitely trying to kill me.
The sun was shining. Summer had not yet passed. Daphne pushed the wheelchair slowly, and I looked around the quiet, empty streets. "How is your body feeling?"
"It's not the worst, but it still hurts. I think it'll take some time to recover."
The journey back to the Royal Capital was going to be a nightmare. It would only get hotter as we went south, and it would probably pour rain. Just thinking about the muggy, sticky humidity made me feel miserable already. "How are your injuries?" I asked, noticing the bandage wrapped around Daphne's arm.
"I wasn't hurt that badly. My role was just casting magic from the rear." Daphne turned her gaze toward Georg and Marianne. Georg must have taken a beating holding the front line, and Marianne wouldn't be unscathed either after engaging in close-quarters combat. "Worry about yourself, Elroy. I'm perfectly fine," Georg grunted. "I am also fine," Marianne added.
Sure, you're all 'fine.' You guys should be quietly resting and getting treated. I let out a dry chuckle. Georg was staring intently at me. "You weren't wrong," he muttered, almost to himself.
"What?" When I frowned, Georg shook his head and smiled. "Nothing."
We walked through the streets of Evernode in silence, as if on a quiet stroll. Passing the cluster of buildings, we stepped onto an unpaved field. Miraculously, the grass had survived the sudden freezing winds from the Boundary Line. The wheelchair wheels rustled softly as they rolled over the meadow. The clean, fresh scent of grass and trees filled the air. "It's that hill over there," Daphne said.
A black fence came into view. The cemetery overlooked Evernode from a sunny slope. The hill where the graves lay resembled a massive burial mound. Atop the hill stood a giant tombstone. The black stone was densely carved with names. I stared at the monument, engraving each name into my memory. Some I knew, others I did not. "What should I say to them?" I murmured, tracing the stone. The sunlight illuminated their names, making them shine. As I stood there, lost in the view, I sensed a new presence behind me.
"Tell them that they protected Evernode. Tell them our fortress did not fall." I turned around. Grand Duke Quenor was slowly walking up the hill. "That is all you need to say." His right arm was bound in a splint, and he wore simple, dark clothing. The Grand Duke approached the monument and rested his left hand upon it.
"You really are something else. The moment you can leave your bed, this is the first place you visit. I do not know whether to call it typical of you, or simply tragic." I shrugged. "Isn't it only natural? We fought together."
Grand Duke Quenor let out a soft breath. For some reason, his gaze was fixed on me, not the tombstone. "Those who join the Knights of Evernode do so knowing they could die at any moment. Winter in the North means war, and war means fighting monsters. It is the same for me, and it is the same for the soldiers who swing their blades alongside the knights on the front lines." The Grand Duke tapped the stone one last time before pulling his hand away. "Mourning is a constant here. Every year, new faces arrive, and familiar ones depart."
Grand Duke Quenor gently touched his sword. "Our mourning is brief. We visit the graves, say a few words, and leave. Those who went before us did the same, and if I am the first to go, I would not want anyone weeping over my grave either. They would want us to be proud, and to keep defending Evernode just as they did." The Grand Duke looked at me. "And above all, they would not want you to be held captive by death. For it was none other than you, Hero Elroy, who saved Evernode and the world."
It didn't quite feel real. I frowned slightly and lowered my head. The Grand Duke's gaze followed my downward tilt. "Is that so?" "I do not offer empty words of comfort, Elroy."
Grand Duke Quenor stepped forward and took the handles of my wheelchair. He began pushing me down the hill with just one hand. Even with only one hand, his grip felt infinitely more stable than Georg's. I looked back at him. "Where are we going?" Grand Duke Quenor gave a mysterious smile. "You will see."
The Grand Duke led the way, and my party followed close behind. His sword occasionally clinked against the wheelchair, making a rattling sound. "Do you remember when you first arrived at this castle, Elroy?" the Grand Duke asked after a long silence. "Yes. I recall receiving an exceptionally warm welcome," I replied sarcastically. Grand Duke Quenor burst into a hearty laugh. "I did not realize you held grudges. I would not have expected that from you."
"You asked, so I'm just giving an honest answer." "My word, I must watch my tongue around you." The Grand Duke tapped the handle. "If I had known you would defend our fortress so magnificently, I would have treated you better from the start." "Well, you can never predict the future." I shrugged it off, and the Grand Duke laughed again.
Rattle, rattle. The wheelchair jolted. We were heading toward the entrance of the Evernode fortress. Confused, I watched Georg and Grand Duke Quenor carry me up onto the ramparts. "Do you know what day it is today, Elroy?" Grand Duke Quenor asked. I blinked blankly, tilted my head, and shook it. Seeing my reaction, the Grand Duke grinned broadly. "Today is the day the evacuated citizens return to Evernode."
The day they return. My face went blank. Seeing my expression, the Grand Duke and Georg shook their heads in amusement. Before I knew it, I was atop the wall, and the soldiers and knights guarding the ramparts were welcoming me warmly. "Have you come to watch, Sir Hero?" "Thank you so much for last time!" This kind of reception still felt surreal.
The Grand Duke wheeled me to a spot with a clear view of the outside. I looked down at the hill I had ridden up on horseback a few months ago. It was green. I watched the branches and grass swaying in the wind. Then, I heard the rustling of footsteps through the brush. I heard the splashing of water as people waded up the stream. Footsteps and voices echoed from below. Many, many voices.
"Look over there, Elroy." People emerged from the trees, parting the brush. Though their faces were weary, every single one of them wore a bright smile. "Those are the people you saved." Some shouted with joy, while others wept. The heavy castle gates creaked open. The crowd surged forward. Cheering and embracing one another, they returned to Evernode, one by one, coming back to their homes.
"This is the sight you protected." I blinked. The empty streets were beginning to pulse with life once more. The voices of the people filled the air. Grand Duke Quenor placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Thank you, Elroy. Truly." His voice trembled slightly.
Pitter-patter. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed up the stairs. It was the light, rapid running of a child. From behind, a mother's voice called out, telling her to be careful. Up the steps, pigtails of black hair fluttered cutely. "Father!" Karin's voice rang out. The Iron Princess, her eyes brimming with tears, threw herself into her father's arms. The Grand Duke stroked her hair as Duchess Hela Stroft and Luke climbed the stairs behind her.
I watched the family reunion. The Grand Duke, who was supposed to die stopping the Calamity in the original story, was alive and holding his family once more.
I couldn't find the words to answer, only letting out a soft breath.
"Sir Hero." Karin walked over to me. Her eyes were red, but a radiant smile graced her lips. With a soft, gentle thud, she buried herself against me, adding her warmth and weight to my lap. "The promise." Karin looked up, locking eyes with me. Her expression was almost too dazzling to look at. "Thank you for keeping it."
I bit my lip. The words wouldn't come. Instead, I simply bowed my head and gently stroked Karin's hair. She snuggled closer, and I lost all track of time, stroking her hair as the sounds of the returning city washed over us. *Thank you for keeping your promise.* Her voice continued to echo softly in my ears.