Out of Necessity (1)

Fortunately, the rain stopped a day after we departed. Thanks to that, our return to the Royal Capital was incredibly smooth. Before leaving Evernode, the royal palace had issued only one command: upon reaching the vicinity of the Royal Capital, do not enter immediately. Instead, wait in a nearby city and send word to the palace. Thus, we were waiting in a town about a two-hour horse ride away from the Royal Capital, biding our time until the palace gave us the green light or sent further instructions. Since it was a small, quiet town and we couldn't just show our faces in public, we rented a room at an inn and simply loitered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inside. As a bonus, we were playing every single game possible with a deck of playing cards Daphne had brought from somewhere.

"Why didn't they tell us to come back right away?" Daphne muttered, drawing a card from Marianne's hand. The game this time was Old Maid. Without much thought, I drew the card on the far end of her hand and then offered my own cards to the next person.

"It's likely because of the triumphal parade. How they stage a hero's return has a huge impact on public morale." Leonard, the knight who had accompanied us to the North as reinforcement, said as he drew a card from my hand. The Joker in my hand migrated to his. The other knights dispatched from the Royal Capital had remained in Evernode to complete their deployment period, leaving only Leonard to travel with us to deliver his report.

"The citizens of the capital are probably going to complain about having another parade so soon after the last one," I joked.

Georg let out a dry chuckle beside me, nodding before releasing a long sigh. He seemed to be recalling old memories. Or maybe he had just drawn the Joker.

"The last parade was rough," Georg said, shaking his head as if he were sick of it. "It wasn't like there was no internal friction while we were dealing with the Kraken. We were completely at each other's throats, yet we had to put on a show and pretend to be a harmonious Hero's party. It was such a headache."

"Watching you and Aryen was like walking on thin ice, Elroy."

"...I suppose it was."

The reason Georg had no choice but to stand by and watch the conflict between Elroy and Aryen was simple. It was a fight that could not be stopped in the first place. In the face of a Calamity that threatened to destroy the world, there was no room for compromise. They could only debate the tally of the dead.

"Well, at least we can participate in the parade with a much lighter heart this time." Georg, who had only one card left in his hand, dusted off his hands and stood up. *Just how many times is he going to win?* Between this and his heavy drinking the other day, maybe he was actually the one who knew how to have the most fun while pretending ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to be the quiet one.

"I think it'll be a massive success if you do even half of what you did at the departure ceremony," Georg added.

I scowled deeply, and Leonard chuckled, agreeing with Georg.

"I was surprised back then too. I never expected the Hero, who barely spoke a word during the departure and return ceremonies for the third Calamity, to say something like that."

With that, Leonard also emptied his hand and stood up. I had only one card left. Once Marianne drew from my hand, I would be out, leaving only Daphne and Marianne to battle it out.

"I'll be looking forward to your speech this time as well."

"...I didn't really prepare that one either."

Our conversation didn't seem to register with Daphne and Marianne. Daphne drew a card from Marianne's hand and let out a visible sigh of relief. Marianne, on the other hand, remained as expressionless as ever. In a game like this, her poker face was so advantageous it almost felt like cheating.

[Tsk. I thought I would be the first to finish.]

For the record, I was playing by proxy. Midway through, the Holy Sword had started dropping hints—telling me to pick the middle card or the one on the far end—clearly itching to play. So, I had just gone along with her suggestions. Honestly speaking, she wasn't very good at picking cards.

[When did I ever say I wanted to play! I was simply... so frustrated watching you play that I...!]

Ah, yes. Is that so? You really didn't want to play at all, did you?

[Do not talk back to me in that tone!]

I clenched my teeth and pinched my thigh to keep from bursting into laughter. Meanwhile, the battle between Marianne and Daphne was reaching its climax. If there was anything entertaining about it, it was the sheer contrast between Daphne's wildly shifting expressions and Marianne's deadpan face.

"Ugh..."

Daphne's hand was trembling. She had one card left. Marianne had two. One was the Joker, and the other was the card to end the game. Daphne stared intently into Marianne's eyes, trying to spot any sign of hesitation, but there was no way she would find anything there. If anything, the only agitation was in Daphne's own eyes as she stared at Marianne.

"Is it this one...?"

Just as Daphne closed her eyes and grabbed a card, a knock sounded at the inn door. Leonard went to check it, and Daphne let out a sigh that was half relief and half disappointment as she began gathering the cards.

With a creak, the old hinges groaned as the door opened, and Leonard froze solid right at the threshold. About one and a half seconds passed.

"Your Majesty, I greet—!"

"Quiet. The rest of you, do not bow. Stay exactly where you are."

The Queen, Agnes Blanche Lumiere, entered the room with a hood pulled over her head, a finger pressed to her lips. Her signature blood-red eyes gleamed from beneath the shadow of her hood. With our party, Leonard, the Queen, and her escort knights cramming into a room meant for three or four people, the space instantly felt suffocatingly tight.

"It is a bit cramped, but it cannot be helped."

The Queen pulled back her hood, revealing her face. My eyes widened in surprise as I greeted her.

"Your Majesty. What brings you all the way here?"

"How could I sit idly on my throne when welcoming the hero who has slain two Calamities for the first time in history?" the Queen said playfully, looking at me.

She walked over and sat directly in front of me. Her informal demeanor took everyone in the room by surprise.

Gently, the Queen placed her hand over mine. She squeezed it tightly, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"Hero Elroy, you have done exceptionally well. I wanted to tell you this first."

Unable to hide my reverence and fluster, I bowed my head deeply.

"No, Your Majesty. It is only because you placed your trust in me."

"And now, even more people will believe in you."

The Queen let out a soft chuckle and nodded.

"Let us discuss the triumphal parade. The format won't be much different from last time. The Hero's party will march down the main avenue of the capital all the way to the palace, and the people will watch you walk. Unlike the departure ceremony, we won't have you speak. Simply showing them your triumphant return will be more than enough."

I nodded.

"...To be honest, I do not wish to stop at a mere parade, but since we still have several mountains left to cross before we can truly celebrate, we must be content with this for now," the Queen said with a wistful smile.

Indeed, slaying a Calamity was not just my achievement; it was also her achievement, and a triumph for the Kairos Kingdom. It was only natural for her to be this pleased.

"You only need to be yourself, Hero Elroy."

"...I will do so."

I was relieved that the process was simpler than expected. The Queen quietly watched me nod, then suddenly reached her hand toward my face. Frozen in place by her faint smile and crimson gaze, I felt her soft hand touch my cheek.

"Do not hide your wounds. Let everyone see that you have returned from a life-or-death struggle."

The Queen's gaze drifted to my shoulder. A bandage peeked out slightly from beneath my clothes.

"Dress as if you have just stepped off the battlefield. Show them how you fought. Give the people faith, and engrave your presence into their minds. If you do that, there won't be any more of those noisy, dissenting voices from within like last time."

The Queen's voice carried a hint of bitterness as she spoke.

"Forgive me for turning even your battles into politics, staging them like some ridiculous play."

"I do not mind, Your Majesty. If it gives the people faith."

At my response, the Queen let out a soft chuckle and relaxed her grip on my face.

"Still, I suppose you could dress up a bit more in other areas, just like you did at the departure ceremony."

With those words, she brushed my hair aside. As the bangs that had been slightly obscuring my vision parted, her face came into clear view. It was a cold yet beautiful face, touched with a hint of curiosity. When I blinked in surprise, she giggled and let go of my face.

"Yes. It would be nice if you showed a wider variety of expressions in front of me like that. You are always so expressionless or looking as if you have committed some grave sin."

Leaving me blinking blankly, the Queen turned to greet the other party members. Georg greeted her with practiced ease, and Marianne maintained her usual, unwavering composure. Only Daphne stood frozen, just as I had been, as she greeted the Queen. Feeling a sense of kinship and familiarity at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the sight, I let out a quiet sigh.

[I see... So she's going to abuse her authority like that, is she?]

For some reason, I could hear the Holy Sword grumbling in my mind.

Having delivered her greetings and congratulations, the Queen stood up with a smile. The door clicked shut, and as the sound of her footsteps faded into the distance, we stared at each other's faces, feeling as though a hurricane had just swept through the room.

After a long silence, Georg was the first to speak.

"...So, who won the game just now?"

"...I have no idea," Daphne muttered, staring at the deck of cards she had already gathered.

Nearly three months had passed since the departure ceremony. Through whispers and rumors, the citizens of the Royal Capital had learned the news: the Hero had finally succeeded in slaying the fourth Calamity.

"There was so much noise and doubt, but he actually pulled it off again."

"I don't know. There were rumors last time too. Did the Hero really do it himself?"

"What does it matter as long as it's dead? No matter what people say, the Calamity was defeated in the end, wasn't it?"

The reactions varied. While the eyes of suspicion had not completely vanished, the embers of hope were being stoked, accompanied by cheers and newfound faith. Curiosity drew the people to the streets. Long before the Hero could even pass through the city gates, the avenues were already packed to the brim. Whether to witness the return of a savior or to search for cracks in the story, the crowd stared intently at the gates.

With a heavy thud, the gates swung open.

First to enter were the royal guards of the capital, escorting the Hero's party. Behind them came those on horseback. Beyond the knights clad in iron armor—there was the Hero, looking as if he had just stepped off a fresh battlefield. Looking exhausted but wearing an expression as unyielding as steel, the Hero rode in.

"...Doesn't he look a bit different?"

"Now that you mention it, his aura too..."

The slight trace of foolishness that had once lingered about him was completely gone. As the Hero drew closer, he exuded a magnetic presence that captivated the crowd. Entranced, the people stared blankly at him.

I fought. And I conquered.

Proclaiming this with his entire being, the Hero looked around at the crowd and offered a faint smile. At that moment, a glowing halo materialized above his ash-grey hair. The thorny halo radiated a brilliant luster, wrapping the Hero in a shroud of pure light.

Thud. Thud.

Here and there, people began to fall to their knees. They were the believers of the Holy Church. Clasping their hands toward the Hero, they began to recite their prayers.

"So that... is the Hero."

As if possessed, the crowd turned their heads to follow his path. A savior. The true figure of a Hero. Someone started chanting his name, while another suddenly burst into tears.

Just as he had during the departure ceremony, the Hero raised his Holy Sword high into the sky, declaring their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠victory. A brilliant light erupted from the blade, illuminating the streets in a dazzling glow.

Turning doubters into believers. Bringing light to those trapped in darkness. Bestowing courage upon those trembling in fear.

The Hero's march continued all the way to the palace, casting a brand-new light over the entire Royal Capital.

The next day, waking up in the Hero's chambers for the first time in a long while, I received a letter from Marianne over breakfast. The sender was Bishop Andre Zabin. I tore the envelope open and read the letter.

The contents of the letter were incredibly brief.

I frowned and looked up from the parchment. Marianne merely gave a small shrug, as if she knew absolutely nothing about it.