Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: It's Hard to Accept Negative Reality (6)
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"What? Who..."
The Knight Captain of Niber grimaced at the man standing before him.
But he soon flinched in surprise upon seeing the pure white armor, the beautiful platinum hair, and the emblem of light on the armor.
...No way, the Light Hero Mersenne?
Pacific might be a small rural kingdom, but they weren't completely ignorant of the world.
They knew about world-famous heroes and champions.
He had also come knowing that Jenny Harkur and Scarlett Harkur were at this branch.
The reason he could act this way despite all that.
Was because, even though they were adventurers, he didn't think they had any deep ties to the guild or to Lin.
Right?
They were the children of House Harkur, who had once drawn the world's attention.
If they wanted, any kingdom would welcome them with open arms.
The only reason they bothered with adventuring was probably just to kill time.
In fact, hadn't Scarlett been hopping from branch to branch during her activities?
Meaning she never got attached to any one branch.
This Hasler branch was probably just another pit stop for her.
So, she had no real attachment to the branch and wouldn't interfere even if they caused a scene in the guild.
As for Lin, she was a pathetic hero who had been possessed by a demon.
As a fellow hero, or champion.
He figured no one would like her—might even despise her.
The story of her shining in the same request was probably just Lin begging for help.
The Knight Captain of Niber and all the Pacific royals thought the same.
He could roughly guess why the most hero-like hero, the one called the Light Hero Mersenne Remnant, was here.
I heard Mersenne Remnant was the one who tried to take down that demon-possessed girl back then.
She had been purified by Jenny Harkur, but Mersenne had been the first to react to Lin's possession and move to eliminate her.
In other words, the reason he was here was...
"Have you come to finish off Lin as well?"
He couldn't think of anything else.
Especially since he was known for his abnormal obsession with slaying evil.
Even though the demon inside her had already been purified, she was still someone who harbored evil thoughts enough to cause possession.
It wouldn't be strange if he had tracked her down to kill her the moment he learned her location.
The Knight Captain of Niber's judgment was reasonable.
But the problem was.
"If it were before, maybe."
The current Mersenne was a completely different person from back then.
"But I can't do that. She's the one who led me to the Goddess and the Saint."
"...? What does that."
Mersenne suddenly spouted something bizarre.
The Knight Captain of Niber frowned and tilted his head.
The Goddess and the Saint?
It was too out of left field.
But Mersenne ignored him and continued.
"Besides, even if I don't particularly like it, we're now colleagues serving the same Goddess and working under the Saint."
With that, he slowly drew the sword from its sheath at his waist.
"Why are you looking for the Ice Witch... no, Lin? Depending on your reason, I'll respond accordingly."
Kugugugu─
"Ugh...?!"
And then the terrifying aura poured out.
Though Mersenne had recently submitted to Jenny's holy power and nearly lost his life to Lin.
He was still a hero with A-rank aptitude.
Moreover, he wielded rare light mana across the world and was a veteran hero who had honed his power over years of activity.
He wasn't someone a mere knight captain from a rural kingdom could stand against.
"Hup..."
"Kuh!"
Overwhelmed by his intense presence, Niber and his knights were all frozen, unable to move.
W-what the hell? Why is he protecting that girl?!
The Knight Captain of Niber couldn't understand it.
Why was Mersenne Remnant suddenly defending Lin?
No, wait.
It might look like protection, but maybe not.
As he said, Mersenne had an abnormal obsession with eliminating evil.
So, he figured Mersenne was just making excuses to drive them out so he could deal with Lin himself.
"Th-the order is wrong! I am the Second Knight Captain of Pacific Kingdom, Niber. These behind me are my knights! We have no intention of killing Lin. We just want to warn that woman who's tarnishing the kingdom's name...! Once that's done, we'll yield to you!"
The Knight Captain of Niber hurriedly revealed their identities and stated they had no interest in slaying evil.
In fact, it would be better for Pacific if Mersenne handled the killing separately.
If they did it themselves.
They might face criticism for inhumanely executing their own former princess.
"......"
Mersenne's emitted presence gradually subsided.
Did it work...?
Thinking their intent had gotten through, the Knight Captain of Niber let out a sigh of relief.
But then.
"...I see. You want to warn her."
Mersenne muttered and thought to himself.
If Pacific Kingdom takes the Ice Witch...
What would happen?
For one, Lin had no lingering attachment to Pacific Kingdom anymore.
She even hoped they wouldn't interfere with her.
So, she would naturally resist, and if these knights got forceful?
Given the Ice Witch's personality, she'd freeze them all to death.
Lin wasn't the type of cold-blooded killer to slaughter people over a slight annoyance, but at least Mersenne thought of her that way.
Then word would spread that Pacific Kingdom's envoy was killed in the Adventurer's Guild, and it'd go worldwide.
That would shake the good image he'd carefully built amid the Bastia incident, and Pacific might even declare war on the guild.
Of course, Mersenne had just been about to attack them too, but that was only depending on the reason.
If they tried to kill or kidnap Lin, it would be a preemptive strike against the guild.
And illegal within the Carr Empire.
And above all.
The Goddess and Saint would be bothered.
That was something that absolutely must not happen.
I can't put obstacles in their path. I'll drive these guys out here.
Kugugugu!
He raised his presence again.
"Kuhak?!"
"L-Lord Mersenne?!"
The aura surged once more, freezing their bodies.
He even thrust his sword forward as if to attack, pointing it at them.
The Knight Captain of Niber couldn't comprehend the situation.
Why was he suddenly aiming his sword at them again?
Their intent had surely gotten through.
Was he just pissed they interfered and would execute them regardless?
"Get out."
Mersenne said curtly.
But those words carried a force like a divine command.
The horrifying dread that defying it would sever some part of their body.
"...Lord Mersenne. Pacific Kingdom will remember this!"
The Knight Captain of Niber left those words and hurriedly fled the Hasler branch.
His knights scrambled after him.
Of course, Mersenne didn't budge at his words.
Pacific Kingdom was just a small rural backwater anyway.
They might have heroes or champions, but none as strong as him, he thought.
He couldn't take on a whole kingdom alone, but he had followers of his own.
And the massive backing of the Carr Empire.
Threats from a weak little kingdom held no fear.
But this isn't a fundamental solution.
He had driven them off for now, but it wasn't over.
Pacific Kingdom would surely try something again.
As long as Lin kept being active.
Eventually, it might bother Kane and Jenny.
Should I find an excuse and eliminate them? No... better than that.
There was a surefire way.
They want the Ice Witch. But if they learn they absolutely can't touch her...
Honestly, she was stronger than Mersenne.
Not someone a puny kingdom that even Mersenne couldn't handle could order around.
If Lin personally stepped in and showed them her power.
It wouldn't be the guild adventurer killing a nation's knight, but resistance and a warning against a former nation trying to harm her.
No issues, and they'd realize the one they tried to manipulate was too terrifying to control.
Perfectly resolved.
"Sir Mersenne?"
As he thought that, Jenny and her group came down from upstairs.
The commotion below and Mersenne's powerful aura must have drawn them.
"It's nothing, Goddess. I apologize for the disturbance."
Mersenne immediately knelt in reverence and bowed to Jenny.
"......"
Jenny glared at him with a displeased expression.
That emblem on the armor just now... no way?
Lin had apparently glimpsed the Pacific Kingdom emblem on the fleeing knights' armor.
While everyone else stared at Mersenne in disbelief, she alone blankly gazed toward the door.
#
"......"
Having heard the full story from the guild staff, Lin sank into thought.
Pacific Kingdom had come looking for her.
Why?
Apparently to warn her for tarnishing the kingdom's name.
It didn't make sense.
They'd chased her out as not one of theirs whenever convenient.
Now they bring up tarnishing the kingdom's name?
They must not like that I'm openly active after causing demon possession and being exiled.
Obvious.
After exiling her, her name gaining fame in a positive light must irk them.
The more she shone and was recognized as an outstanding adventurer.
The Hero Academy that expelled her and Pacific Kingdom's judgment would face constant re-evaluation.
Why discard such talent? The demon's purified, and she's thriving.
Even for a hero—and their own princess—do you just throw them away like that?
They feared such reassessments.
It was laughable.
Lin had been exiled for the responsibility of causing demon possession.
She could no longer be a hero, nor Pacific's princess.
The root cause lay in the dark emotions planted by Pacific's king and the Hero Academy's flawed education.
But ultimately, it was her weak heart that allowed it, and she accepted that.
It was her doing, and she had to take responsibility.
So she had completely forgotten.
Pacific as a hero, Pacific as a princess.
Of course, there was a time when she thought she'd lost everything and wanted to die.
But now she had a new place to lean on, a new position.
She accepted it easily.
You have to take responsibility for what you've done.
Even if external factors played a role, the final decision and action were your own choice.
Like the demon possession, or the decision to exile Lin Pacific.
Whether the exiled her besmirched Pacific Kingdom's name or became famous enough for re-evaluation.
That was entirely Pacific Kingdom and the king's responsibility.
Not something to warn Lin, who was no longer their princess or subject.
But I can't just leave it alone.
Mersenne had come to her separately and said.
"If we leave it like this, it could bother the Goddess and Saint. I chased them off for now, but it won't solve the root issue."
Meaning Lin had to handle it herself.
She and those two weren't particularly close.
But they shared the point of respecting and following the same person.
So if something harmful to that person occurred.
They could bond tighter than anyone.
The reason Lin, who didn't particularly like Mersenne, took his words at face value and acted on them.
Was exactly that.