Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Memorial Service (2)
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As I headed to the reception room, I spotted Mone setting down a teacup with a tense expression, along with two middle-aged men.
King Leogart and Duke Gail.
The two men who could be called the real powers of Talua Kingdom were seated in chairs.
‘King Leogart.’
He was originally someone who should have lost his life to the Madness Disaster, but fate had changed.
King Leogart, who should have died, lived, and Countess Ribina, who should have lived, died.
I took a deep breath and slowly bowed at the waist.
“The sword of the kingdom…….”
“No need for grand formalities, Count Banheart.”
As I tried to show utmost courtesy, King Leogart raised his hand to stop me.
I was the only one left feeling awkward after striking the pose.
“Where is the Asktalin Princess?”
“She stepped out briefly to receive aid from the Empire.”
“……I see.”
Even though the Empire was helping both materially and morally, King Leogart’s face wasn’t relaxed.
Perhaps he felt indebted to the Empire unexpectedly.
‘But with the damage so severe, there was no choice.’
Human casualties were low, but a fifth of the capital had been literally torn apart.
Countless buildings collapsed, and the ground was upheaved, making it impossible for Talua Kingdom to start repairs easily.
Without Asktalin Empire’s support, they might have been in a real bind.
“You probably don’t know why we’re here.”
“Yes.”
To be honest, I had some guesses, but no need to bring it up first.
King Leogart stared at me for a moment before nodding to Duke Gail beside him.
“Ahem, Count Banheart. As you know, Countess Ribina was the spiritual pillar of the kingdom.”
Talua, called the land of knights.
It was true they had excellent knights, but not overwhelmingly superior to neighboring kingdoms.
The reason it was called the land of knights was due to Countess Ribina’s existence.
“I know.”
“But sadly, Countess Ribina lost her life to the disaster.”
Duke Gail’s face was genuinely somber.
But only for a moment, he continued.
“And now, one seat among the Continental Seven Heroes is vacant.”
“…….”
“You’ve probably heard this before. If a Seven Hero doesn’t lose their seat by defeat to someone, under the witness of numerous spectators and at least three other Seven Heroes, then they select someone fitting for that position.”
Just as I suspected.
There are two main ways to become one of the Seven Heroes.
The standard is to formally challenge an existing Seven Hero with many spectators and at least three other Seven Heroes present.
That’s the norm, but anomalies happen occasionally.
Unexpected retirement of a Seven Hero, or death by unfortunate accident.
That’s when the second method comes into play.
“The Seven Heroes Assembly, where all Seven Heroes gather to test for heroic qualifications, will be held.”
“You intend to send me there?”
“……It’s impudent, but we hope you will.”
I quietly closed my mouth at Duke Gail’s words, as he even bowed his head.
Seven Heroes Assembly.
It’s on a different level from the Imperial Martial Tournament held in the Empire.
The Imperial Martial Tournament is for rising stars just emerging, but the Seven Heroes Assembly gathers only fully realized monsters.
A rare event, so all the renowned powerhouses would flock there.
‘The last Seven Heroes Assembly produced Soila Fran as a Seven Hero.’
Tower Master Soila Fran.
Alongside Gideon Asktalin, she’s counted among the continent’s top mages, and she ascended to the Continental Seven Heroes through the Seven Heroes Assembly.
Meaning, someone of that caliber could emerge from this one too.
Deciding to step into such a place wasn’t easy.
As I hesitated without answering readily, King Leogart, who had been silent, spoke up.
“Count Banheart, everything you’ve accomplished is beyond what ordinary people can achieve. Naturally, you’re the only one qualified to represent Talua there now.”
“…….”
His voice carried earnest desperation as he continued.
It was a posture unbecoming a monarch of a nation.
‘But…….’
I couldn’t give an easy answer.
Not because I lacked confidence.
I had other practical issues at hand.
As I wavered, King Leogart quickly continued, perhaps misinterpreting.
“Of course, we’re not asking for an immediate decision. You have your own matters too. Just give us an answer within a week.”
“Understood. Please…… give me some time to think.”
King Leogart gave a faint smile at my response.
“I believe you’re someone I can trust to fill Aldred’s shoes.”
Complex emotions were evident in that smile.
Well, I recalled King Leogart and Countess Ribina were quite close.
Her death must have been more than losing a brilliant subordinate to him.
Feeling my mind grow complicated, I bowed toward the two departing men.
* * *
I sat quietly in the darkness, gazing at the flickering candlelight.
It was past my usual bedtime, but sleep wouldn’t come tonight.
[This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Why agonize over it?]
‘Gransesia, as you know…….’
[Because of Fabian? Chasing his path is most important to you.]
That was it.
Truthfully, the chance to join the Seven Heroes Assembly was rare, so I wanted to participate at least once.
If I missed this, no telling when the next one would be.
But this event didn’t exist in the original story, which kept nagging at me.
‘Right. Prioritizing the disasters and Seven Heavenly Swords comes first.’
[But that’s only when thinking about the ‘original story.’ What do you want to do? If you didn’t know the original.]
Gransesia whispered softly in my ear.
[Not as ‘author’ Clay Banheart, but as ‘human’ Clay Banheart, what would you…….]
‘Hold on.’
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on my door then.
Only one person would visit me this late at night.
“Clay, it’s me.”
“It’s open.”
Riya cautiously opened the door and entered.
Her attire was cute pink pajamas, unbecoming of the noble dragon princess Riya Asktalin, but surprisingly well-suited.
“Still up? What’re you doing?”
“I was taking a walk outside. Then I saw a faint light from your window.”
It was just a small candle, yet her eyesight was sharp.
“You seem troubled over the Seven Heroes Assembly.”
Riya spoke as if she’d overheard my afternoon talk with King Leogart.
“I’m an imperial princess, after all. My father is one of the Seven Heroes to begin with.”
“Well, true.”
Gideon Asktalin was also one of the Seven Heroes.
Riya wasn’t entirely unrelated to this matter.
“But you didn’t come to talk about that?”
“I’m curious what decision you’ll make, Clay…… but no, not that.”
“Then?”
“I thought we could discuss the novel.”
I’d already been giving her the novel I wrote in bits.
About one volume’s worth.
It was about an orphan boy named Fabian entering a noble house as a servant and discovering his abilities.
“But is it really your first time writing?”
“Yeah. As if I’d written a novel on my own before.”
“That’s true, but it was more fun than expected. I haven’t seen a novel with such a unique setup lately.”
Riya really seemed here to talk about the novel.
She kept gushing about Fabian’s exploits from it.
“The sound of the sword…… This must tie into the Seven Heavenly Swords later, right?”
“Right.”
“Then do I appear? You’ll fight disasters.”
“Much later.”
Riya and I talked for a long time like that.
Chatting eased my worries about the Seven Heroes Assembly before I knew it.
“Clay.”
“Yeah?”
“You want to do it, don’t you?”
“……What.”
“The Seven Heroes Assembly. You keep agonizing over it.”
“You said you didn’t come for that.”
“Oh, did I?”
Her sudden direct hit flustered me. Seeing me dodge, Riya covered her mouth and smiled softly.
“I know you better than you think, Clay. I’m always watching. Well, you’re probably worried that a disaster or Seven Heavenly Sword might appear while you’re at the Assembly.”
But if that was all, you’d refuse today, her eyes seemed to say.
“Also, you want to reclaim a Seven Heroes seat for the hero who gave his life defending the kingdom. I know that feeling lingers.”
With that, Riya approached and gently pressed her forehead to mine.
“Your novels care a lot about ‘plausibility.’ There needs to be a reason to do it. Or it’s not enough reason, so don’t. Plausibility is necessary, of course. But…… you know reality lacks plausibility more than you think?”
Her eyes, brightly reflecting my face, curved softly.
“If you want to, do it.”
Her voice held no force, yet it struck like a Dragon Word.
“Sometimes…… unexpected answers come from coincidences without any plausibility.”
Riya gently pulled back her forehead and stepped away.
“Then I’ll look forward to volume 2. Leave volume 1’s distribution to me, no worries.”
Riya turned like the wind, opened the door, and vanished.
Perhaps due to the candlelight, but her cheeks seemed a bit flushed as she left.
I watched her retreating figure for a moment, then slowly spoke.
“Gransesia.”
[……What.]
Her tone sounded a bit sulky, though I wasn’t sure.
“What were you about to say earlier?”
[Forget it, hmph. Not telling.]
What’s with her.
She muttered something, but I couldn’t catch it.
Somehow feeling lighter, sleepiness washed over me.
Thus, I missed Gransesia’s soliloquy.
[I was about to tell you first.]