Chapter 11: A Sudden Turn of Events (1)
After leaving home, Sylvia reunited with her party members in the capital. With party leader Teo, mage Scarlet, and Saintess Christine already gathered, the addition of knight Sylvia made the group's presence truly imposing. Passersby couldn't help but open their mouths in praise.
"Look—isn't that the Hero Party?"
"The real Hero Party, recognized by the Empire itself!"
"They haven't even graduated from the Academy yet. Incredible."
"So admirable… so cool!"
Wherever they went, the atmosphere of worship was unmistakable. And why not? The Hero Party was humanity's greatest superstar. Emperors and popes were political figures; the Hero Party was not. From nobles down to the lowest slaves, every citizen of the realm adored and looked up to them. Sylvia, now one of their number, was on her way to an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.
Emperor Carlos Aurelia sat upon the throne, receiving the Hero Party. He was a middle-aged man with a thick, bushy beard.
"To meet you, the Hero Party, fills me with boundless joy. The previous Hero Party met a truly wretched end. Their defeat still lingers over the Empire. Now that a capable new party has been chosen, I ask that you always remember the great expectations the Empire—myself included—places upon you."
"Your Imperial Grace is boundless."
"You all know that selection as the Hero Party is the glory of the Empire. Yet not long ago I heard a most peculiar rumor—that one among you was considering resignation. Specifically… Knight Sylvia Sarubia. Daughter of Count Sart, yes? I know your father well. He was deeply devoted to my elder brother Charlos. Not to me, but to my brother… ahem. It hardly matters now. Suffice it to say that Brother Charlos has fallen. Everyone who followed him was purged—save Count Sart alone. The reason he survived was his daughter's outstanding achievements. And now that she has been chosen for the Hero Party, the Count's position has become quite advantageous. And yet… resignation? That she dislikes the Hero Party? Such thinking could be regarded as ideologically dangerous. Well then… Sylvia Sarubia, speak."
"That rumor…"
Sylvia carefully opened her mouth.
"…is untrue. I am naturally proud to have been selected for the Hero Party, and I intend to accept this mission with all my heart."
"Then that is most fortunate. Had you declared your withdrawal as the rumor claimed, I would have stripped your house of its title on the spot and severely punished your family. How lucky for us both that the rumor proved false."
"…Please do not worry."
"However, the rumor that you dreamed of resigning has also reached the ears of the Empire's Oracle."
"The Oracle… you say?"
"My daughter, Hestia Aurelia. That child can hear the voice of the Goddess. It was by her will that you were appointed the Hero Party. Sylvia, you will meet with Hestia separately, convey that the resignation rumor is false, and only then depart on the expedition. Your destination this time is the most treacherous region of the Demon Continent… Matellu. The land ruled by the famous Four Heavenly King Sharon. You understand what I am saying, do you not? Your objective is to kill Sharon."
Sharon! That was the name of the most renowned demon among the Four Heavenly Kings. Teo and the rest of the party shuddered. It was a name of an entirely different caliber from any foe they had faced before. Only now did it truly sink in that they had become the real Hero Party.
"Excellent…"
Teo spoke.
"Very well! I have never once known defeat in my life. I shall face Sharon in single combat—and I shall win! I will return bearing news of victory without fail!"
"I entrust it to you. It was none other than Sharon who annihilated the previous Hero Party. That hateful traitor… I beg you to execute her."
There was a reason the Emperor called the demon Sharon a traitor. She had once been human. Sharon… the demon Sharon.
Her true name was Sharon Sarubia.
She was the elder sister of Jeanne, the knight of the First Hero Party, and Sylvia's own ancestor. The very Sharon who had driven the previous Hero Party to destruction.
And that Sharon was the target Teo's party now had to eradicate.
First, however, Sylvia had to meet Hestia alone. In the pure-white temple… Sylvia went to see Hestia, once a princess, now a servant of the Goddess. Sylvia was struck first by her beauty. Sylvia herself was a considerable beauty, yet Hestia was so lovely that even another woman might lose her soul.
Sylvia carefully hid her astonishment and spoke.
"Lady Hestia. I have come to offer an explanation."
"Father sent you, I see."
"You already know."
"The Goddess sees through all things."
"Is it not the same for you, Lady Hestia? I have heard you are the only one who can hear the Goddess's voice. And that it was you who chose us as the Hero Party… I am truly grateful. Thanks to you, my family's honor has been preserved."
"I do not believe I deserve thanks."
Hestia spoke in an elegant voice.
"I merely followed the Goddess's decision as it was. The Goddess always makes the choice most right for humanity. Yet… that choice does not always lead to an individual's happiness."
"…What do you mean?"
"Miss Sylvia. You have come here to speak a lie."
"Pardon?"
Sylvia's face darkened.
Hestia continued.
"In truth, you truly wished to leave the party, did you not? I know the reason as well. You are extremely weak in real combat. You tremble even when fighting orcs. Facing a high-ranking demon like one of the Four Heavenly Kings, there is no chance you could pull your weight. So requesting to withdraw would have been only natural. Had that been your request, I would have accepted it. For your own sake. I wish misfortune on no one. Least of all on you."
"Wait a moment! That problem has been solved! I can fight without issue now! Please do not worry, Lady Hestia! I truly can fight."
"Is that so? Yet all I see is… your wretched future."
"What did you say?"
"You will one day regret the decision you make today. And most wretchedly, most miserably… Still, there remains one way to reverse this choice. Will you hear it?"
"W-what is it?"
"Jack Slave."
"!!!"
A familiar name.
Sylvia was shocked that Hestia knew of him.
"H-how do you know that bastard's name?"
"Run to him and beg him to join this expedition. That is the only way to change the wretched future that awaits."
"I refuse."
Sylvia cut her off flatly.
"Even without that guy, I can fight perfectly well. I find this rather unpleasant. Being the Oracle does not mean you may say whatever you please. I know myself best. Is that all you have to say? Kindly convey to His Majesty the Emperor that Sylvia has courageously accepted the mission!"
"…I understand."
Hestia squeezed her eyes shut.
"Then I will not try to stop you any longer. Go. That will be all…"
"Yes! Watch from this temple as I bring back the head of that hateful Sharon!"
"…………"
Hestia gave no reply. Instead, after Sylvia had left, she looked up at the statue of the Goddess and murmured pitifully to herself.
"Is this truly all right, Goddess…? You always think of humanity as a whole. But is it acceptable to simply watch one person's sorrow and tragedy unfold…? That girl Sylvia is going to experience something terrible, isn't she…? Is all of this part of your plan?"
The statue did not answer. Even so, Hestia nodded as though she had heard something.
"I understand, Goddess… Jack Slave. He is the key to everything. To awaken Jack Slave, who sleeps within the causal chains of fate, a certain amount of sacrifice cannot be helped. That is what you are saying… is it not? I still know little of this man called Jack Slave. But if he is the key to saving the world, then I will no longer question it—I will simply watch. The direction of the world that Jack Slave holds in his hands—!"
She sat in her chair, her eyes fixed on a place very far away—impossibly far. At the end of Hestia's gaze stood a single man. Jack Slave. Without even realizing it, he had entered the Oracle's sight, and right now he was lying on a grassy field, replaying recent events in his mind.
"Man. You really never know how the world works. Sigh… Who would've thought things would turn out like that."
Beside him, an elf girl was sobbing her heart out.
"Waaaaah… This is all your fault… Give me back my first kiss!"
"Hey… is this really my fault? Unbelievable."
"You're the one who said we should kiss!"
"Yeah, well… haah…"
He had something to say about that. Jack hadn't exactly kissed the elf Misha because he liked her. There had been a reason. It had happened the very next day after Misha accidentally absorbed the Rune of Swordsmanship.