Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Negative Reality is Hard to Accept (3)
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"So, about Bastia. What do you plan to do?"
"...Y-Yes?!"
Bastia... yeah, that had to be it.
The rumor that Jenny's group had driven off the dragons and saved Bastia.
"It seems even Your Majesty has heard it."
"Hahaha. Word of an adventurer from the Carr Empire making such a huge splash? How could I not know?"
Well, the rumor had already spread far and wide.
I'd even overheard people talking about it in the library.
...And I'd only gotten the report via communication crystal a short while ago, yet the rumor was already everywhere.
It had to be the Bastians themselves, or maybe the hero from Trasson who came with Jenny, spreading it.
But since the Trasson hero wasn't mentioned, it was probably the Bastians.
That made the most sense strategically, too.
Because Bastia stood to gain from spreading this rumor.
Jenny, Miss Lynn, Scarlett, and Veronica were already famous figures known to anyone who mattered.
Miss Lynn was a bit iffy, but Scarlett and Veronica were S-rank adventurers to begin with.
And Jenny had drawn tons of attention by suddenly retiring as a celebrated hero to become an adventurer.
News that such prominent people had gotten chummy with Bastia—which had always kept its distance from humans—would spread like wildfire.
Naturally, it would foster friendly ties between adventurers and Bastia.
And adventurers would start holding back on shady dealings there... like capturing slaves or whatever.
Of course they would.
Why risk harming Bastia when the pinnacle of their own world was on friendly terms with it?
And it wasn't just adventurers.
It would also serve as a check on all the nations eyeing Bastia as a foothold for pushing into the Forest Continent.
Sure, to the leaders of those countries, the Adventurer's Guild backing Bastia might not mean much.
They'd just dismiss it as a bunch of second-rate heroes and randos.
But when those adventurers were Jenny Harkur and Scarlett Harkur? That's a different story.
Bottom line.
Bastia was using this chance to cozy up to the Adventurer's Guild—more precisely, the Hassler branch that Jenny's group belonged to—and reap some benefits.
...What do you plan to do about Bastia.
Even the emperor seemed to have grasped the rumor's truth and Bastia's motives.
That's why he was asking my opinion.
For some reason, he saw me as the head of the Hassler branch.
Hmm... fair enough.
I wasn't exactly the commander calling the shots for Jenny's group, but if he wanted my take...
Hey, thanks.
We'd always hated how humans treated Bastia anyway, and this would lay the groundwork for adventurers to expand into the Forest Continent.
Our ultimate goal was improving adventurers' image and growth.
They were the ones coming to us first.
No reason to turn them down.
"If we get on good terms with Bastia, Your Majesty stands to gain as well."
The Hassler branch of the Adventurer's Guild might belong to the guild, but its members were Carr Empire citizens too.
So if Hassler adventurers pushed into Bastia, it'd make it easier for the empire to establish a foothold.
We were already on friendly terms with the emperor's side.
A friend of a friend is a friend, right?
That would position Carr as the first nation to open real exchanges with the Forest Continent—previously limited to token gestures—and boost its international standing.
And if the emperor pulled it off?
It'd strengthen imperial authority, naturally.
From our perspective, a stronger emperor—who'd pledged full support—would be great.
It'd give us more freedom to operate in the empire, which in turn would likely bolster imperial power further.
A virtuous cycle.
"Hahaha, well, as for me, I can't force anything. I respect your decision."
...He said that, but he'd probably already worked it all out in his head the moment he heard the rumor.
Figuring out exactly how much he'd gain.
That's why he'd summoned me right away when I arrived at the palace.
Otherwise, he might've sent someone to me first.
Anyway, that's beside the point.
Something more important right now.
"Actually, that's why I came—to ask Your Majesty a favor."
"Hm? A favor? What is it?"
Perfect timing. He seemed in a good mood.
"Could I borrow the imperial library to read some books?"
Now that I'm here, I'll stick around until I've read every book in the imperial library...!
"But is that okay? Spreading that rumor like that?"
Jin, the hero from the Trasson Free Nation, clad in his distinctive garb with a curved sword at his side.
He asked Jenny that.
He meant the rumor the Bastians had spread across the continent.
About how Jenny's group had slain the dragons and were being treated as honored guests.
No real problem there.
But it was clearly a Bastian ploy to check humans from their nations and the adventurers preying on their people—which could stir some trouble.
Jenny's group had done it with good intentions, but plenty might take offense.
Like adventurers who hunted beastkin for a living.
Or certain nations eyeing Bastia.
That's why he asked.
Was it okay to spread a rumor naming them?
"Ah, it's fine. If any problems crop up, there's someone who'll handle it."
But Jenny seemed unconcerned.
Confidence she could handle any backlash?
No, not quite.
It felt more like she had a reliable backup.
"Oh ho, so someone's got your back, eh?"
Jin fixed her with a sharp gaze.
'That reaction... definitely someone. Whoever gathered these monsters: Jenny Harkur, Scarlett Harkur, Lynn Pacific.'
Jenny Harkur, always named among the strongest heroes.
Lynn, every bit as dangerous.
And Scarlett Harkur, a hero with near-hero-level combat prowess.
Each a national-level powerhouse.
Yet the Hassler branch had drawn them together—and was holding them.
Something, or someone, was keeping them there.
Trasson had suspected as much, and now Jin was convinced from this chat.
"Well, yeah, there's someone backing us up."
Jenny smiled faintly, gazing into empty space.
Like a shy girl thinking of her lover.
'...Oh ho.'
Jin noted it carefully.
"Jenny! Time to head out! We're all ready!"
Lynn came running up from afar.
Preparations to leave Bastia and return to Hassler were complete.
"Ah, yeah. Be right there. Well, I'll be off then."
She nodded to Lynn, then gave Jin a quick bow.
"Oh, you're here too. We're heading out."
Only then did Lynn notice Jin, speaking in a voice utterly cold and indifferent—nothing like with Jenny—before turning on her heel.
"...Huh. Pretty sure I didn't do anything to earn that."
Jin scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Well then, we'll be going."
"You're always welcome in Bastia."
Hizen, Hickle's father and chief of the Ronin tribe, smiled warmly.
The beautiful cat-eared woman beside him, chief of the Catkin tribe Slrin, chimed in.
"It's been a while since humans got free run of Bastia."
The other elders added their farewells.
"Human! Strong! Spar next time!"
"Gifts inside. Grain grown by Bearkin tribe. Bastia specialty. Eat on way."
"Thanks. In Brave's name. Won't forget this debt."
With heartfelt goodbyes, Jenny, Lynn, Veronica, and the Scarlett Party set off from Herdo.
Emi would guide them to the port city, just like on the way in.
Hickle stayed behind to guide Jin later.
"...Thank you, free hero."
On the road to the port, Emi quietly thanked them.
"Aw, we did it 'cause we wanted to. Got tons of dragon loot too."
"Haha! Just selling this'll make us rich!"
"I'm makin' armor."
Having heard thanks many times already, they brushed it off.
But Emi spoke with grave weight.
"I swear it. In Brave's name. When you need me, I'll give my life for you."
Jenny's group could only nod silently to her resolute eyes.
Of course, none knew then.
How this oath would later affect them.
And the Central Continent.
"......"
After seeing Jenny's group off at the port.
Emi Brave stared down at her fluffy paw.
A hand hiding sharp, sturdy claws.
One she was proud could tear anything apart.
But...
'Too powerless.'
She had been powerless.
Unable to do a thing before the dragon's immense might.
And she'd witnessed even greater power up close.
A hero felling the leader alone. Grand magic freezing dozens of dragons at once.
As if telling her bloated with arrogance, This is true power. This is a hero.
"I want to get stronger."
She wanted strength.
So she wouldn't have to rely on outsiders anymore.
To beat a dragon like they did.
Without it being a big deal.
She'd been so powerless in that fight.
No—worse, she'd just gotten in the way.
She'd taken pride as one of Bastia's heroes.
But this battle had shattered it all.
Pride, arrogance, self-esteem.
All gone, leaving in her heart...
'I'll train. Train harder.'
Only the drive to grow stronger.
"I'll get stronger. Stronger still."
She—Emi Brave—would grow strong.
Because here and now, she'd awakened one of the greatest talents: the drive to improve.