The Hero's Regular Report Meeting
The greedy bastard I was.
My seat remained unchanged. There were still two beautiful saints sitting beside me—Saint Estelle and Saint Celine.
I honestly found it almost impossible to endure. I had tried to ignore it as much as possible, but when I heard Levius's righteous words, I couldn't hold back any longer. In the end, I acted on impulse and declared that I would take Celine with me.
Yet I was aware of how hasty I had been. So I cautiously gauged the saints' reactions, but she showed no sign of anger or displeasure.
“...Saint Celine.”
“Just Celine is fine.”
“...Huh?”
Celine spoke while looking at me.
“You already have Saint Estelle as your saint, Your Excellency. So just call me by my name.”
“...Ah... yes.”
I had no idea what she meant, but since she told me to call her by name, I was more than happy to comply.
“Celine, could you... ask the saint if she's angry at me for acting on my own?”
“...She's right here beside you.”
“Quickly, then.”
It felt awkward asking in front of the saint. We were in the middle of a war, after all.
“...You can ask her later yourself. What kind of thing is it to have someone standing right beside you and still question her?”
...Irritated.
At that moment, grand music began to resound. The melody played for a long time, and a middle-aged man ascended the high dais at the end of the banquet hall.
Despite his somewhat weathered appearance, he was dressed in dazzling splendor. And on his head sat a crown.
That man must be the king of the Vesta Kingdom.
“I am grateful that you were able to find a place for me.”
“Long live Your Majesty, the King!!”
The nobles all greeted him with loud voices in unison. I was startled.
When the meeting was held in the Mars Empire, the nobles never reacted like this. It must have been because of the Vesta Kingdom's overwhelming power.
“From now on, I will begin the hero's regular report meeting. This time, in addition to the previous two heroes, we will also hear about the achievements of Hero Abel. I am looking forward to it.”
...Why are you putting so much pressure on me?
The king descended from the dais, and a person who appeared to be a secretary ascended in his place. It was a woman with her forehead exposed and her hair neatly tied into a single bun.
It seems the secretary of this country is a woman.
“We will now begin the hero's regular report meeting. The first order of business is to hear from the Vesta Kingdom's Hero Elfride.”
Following the secretary's announcement, Hero Elfride and Saint Cynthia ascended the dais together. They had come today as well.
...Still an exceptionally powerful divine power pocket. Elfride was also quite strong, yet it was hard to notice her presence next to Elfride.
“Hero Elfride, please report on your actions over the past three months.”
“I have defeated one Barbatos-class monster and one Behemoth-class monster.”
“The Barbatos-class monster you defeated in the Habsburg City of the Mars Empire, correct?”
“That is correct.”
“As expected, you are truly remarkable.”
A murmur spread through the hall at Elfride's report.
“You defeated another Barbatos-class monster? Truly impressive.”
“Hero Elfride is truly the pride of our kingdom.”
The secretary recorded Elfride's report in full and declared it.
“In recognition of Hero Elfride's achievements, a reward is granted according to the royal decree. Two million gold, five horses, and this item from the royal family.”
The secretary received something from an attendant.
...A sword?
“The royal sword of the Vesta Royal Family.”
At the mention of the sword, many nobles showed astonishment.
“From the Bathory family...”
“It means he has been recognized with the royal sword. How enviable, how envious.”
Elfride looked at the sword for a long time before receiving it with both hands in a polite manner.
“Elfride Bathory, I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace.”
“Please continue to work hard, Hero Elfride.”
Since she had a holy sword, she wouldn't have to use a sword anyway. It seemed to be a significant symbolic item. The “royal sword” comment suggested something special.
“Next, please have Hero Levius ascend.”
Elfride descended from the dais, and Levius ascended. At that moment, the nobles whispered with different meanings.
“It will be compared, no doubt.”
“That's true. The Minerva Kingdom was such a disappointment. To think such a hero would appear.”
Perhaps because of the commotion a moment ago, the reactions differed greatly from those in the Mars Empire. I heard nobles deliberately belittling Levius and other such words.
...The nobles and that guy Levius are the same.
“Hero Levius, please report on your actions over the past three months.”
“I have repelled one monster wave in the Diana Kingdom and one in the Minerva Kingdom, and I have dealt with one Gorgon-class monster.”
After Levius finished his report, the nobles showed a reaction completely different from Elfride's.
“A single Gorgon-class monster?”
“You seem to have been too active.”
“Today, Hero Levius seems different in many ways.”
What exactly is a Gorgon-class monster?
I tried to ask the saint as usual, but remembering that she was angry, I asked Celine instead.
“Celine, how strong are Gorgon-class monsters?”
“You know that monsters stronger than upper-class are classified as high-risk monsters, right?”
“Yes.”
“Among the high-risk monsters classified that way, this is the lowest rank. That is why many people are reacting that they don't meet expectations for Hero Levius.”
Ah, so it means his results didn't meet expectations. This guy was just playing around.
The secretary recorded Levius's report in full and declared it.
“In recognition of Hero Levius's achievements, an activity fund of eight hundred thousand gold and two horses are granted.”
“...I accept it gratefully.”
It was a somewhat disappointing reward, but Levius knew he had shown results below his own level. After Levius descended from the dais, it was finally my turn.
“Lastly, please have Hero Abel ascend the dais.”
Before ascending the dais, I glanced at the saint. Although it was still awkward, I had to report on my actions in this public setting.
“...Saint, do I have to report on everything?”
The saint glanced at me sharply.
“...I will report. Please stay quiet.”
“...Yes.”
...Are you going to act like that all the time? Fine, do as you please!
I ascended the dais with the saint. At least Celine didn't come with us. She said it would be confusing if she ascended too.
“Hero Abel, please report on your actions over the past three months.”
Following the secretary's words, the saint replied.
“Since Hero Abel is still inexperienced, may I report in his place?”
A soothing voice different from her usual one. Anyone who heard it would find it pleasant, and the secretary's solemn expression softened slightly.
“Please do so, Saint Estelle.”
“I helped Hero Elfride defend against a monster wave that appeared in Habsburg City. I defeated eight Ogres and exterminated a human trafficking group, arresting them. I defeated a Chimaera-class monster on the border, rescued victims of the Mutation Stone, and safely returned them. During that process, I discovered the Mutation Stone distribution route in Athens and am currently working with the Solaria Church to exterminate the remaining group.”
...Listing it all like this, it's quite a lot. But what about the human trafficking group? Did they mean the bandits from back then?
Elfride and Levius didn't report defeating upper-class monsters. I was still new as a hero, so I guess I had to report everything like this.
However, the secretary, hearing the saint's report, asked with a slightly dazed expression.
“Did you do all that over the past three months?”
“I set aside minor things like defeating lower- and mid-class monsters.”
“...You were running around without rest?”
“Hero Abel is still lacking a lot, yet he has been training without rest.”
...Why are you suddenly praising me? I looked at the saint with a puzzled expression.
It wasn't because I wanted it. It was because you were pushing me around like crazy.
However, the saint completely ignored my gaze and started her own show.
“Although our hero is still lacking many things, I can guarantee that he is the most diligent.”
Just a moment ago, we didn't exchange a single word, and now she was pouring out sweet words like candy. It was sudden, and I was left confused.
At that moment, someone clapped loudly. Not from behind us, but from in front of us. So the applause came from the king's seat.
“Yes, a hero is someone who, even if they lack a little, must make such efforts.”
The owner of the clapping was the king of the Vesta Kingdom.
Why are you suddenly doing this?
“Is that not so?”
The king looked around at the nobles, and they, without exception, began praising me.
“That is correct. Hero Abel's attitude is like an example of a fine hero.”
“I agree.”
“I think other heroes should learn from him!”
Hey, don't suddenly act like a plane and give me a private jet. I looked at the culprit who had created this situation with a dazed expression.
At that moment, the saint whispered quietly to me.
“Relax. Since the hero has worked hard, you will receive your reward. It would be good to enjoy this moment.”
“......”
She was thinking about me again, as always.
...I really can't hate her.
#
“Hmm, as I thought, it's Abel.”
Elfride was delighted. It proved that the image of Abel she had seen was correct. In Elfride's thoughts, Abel was a true hero.
He had only been a hero for three months. In such a short time, he had already been working so diligently. I felt ashamed of myself for resting in Pocolum after the banquet.
“I need to work harder as well.”
On the other hand, in the banquet hall where Abel was being praised, Levius clicked his tongue and complained.
“What kind of hero performance is it to say you defeated a few upper-class monsters?”
He said that, but even Levius himself had reported every time he defeated an upper-class monster in the early days. It was inevitable to catch high-risk monsters when one had only recently become a hero.
Even though he knew that, Levius's attitude was that he was not satisfied. Since he had received praise from the king, Abel's reputation was bound to grow even more.
In contrast, Levius had only lost his reputation in this regular report meeting and gained nothing.
“...Annoying.”
#
The saint and I descended from the dais. We received a reward of one million five hundred thousand gold and two horses. I thought it was a lot, so I asked the saint.
“Is it usually given like this?”
“...This is the first time our hero has received a reward. The country generously gave it.”
“Ah... I see.”
It felt like a bonus.
After descending from the dais, the saint turned her head in the opposite direction. She was still angry.
...Yes, I had definitely made a mistake.
“...Saint.”
“...What?”
Though blunt, the saint was not ignoring my words. This much should be enough to appease her.
“I'm sorry for deciding without consulting you. From now on, I'll let you know in advance.”
“......”
I sincerely apologized. The saint was still looking the other way, but her eyes moved as she glanced at me.
...If you were going to look, you could have just looked.
“...Are you still very angry?”
When I asked, the saint sighed deeply and muttered something.
“...The nun said that the first person to like would suffer harm, and she was right.”
“...What?”
I couldn't hear it well because she spoke too quietly.
“Could you please speak a little louder?”
“...No♡”
The saint turned her head and looked at me. She gave a unique arrogant smile with narrowed eyes.
“You couldn't even hear that... You are really an idiot, Hero♡”
“...Heh heh.”
Then why didn't you speak louder, you brat?