Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Return (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Charles's face paled as he glanced back and forth between Riya and me at her sudden appearance.
“I-I should get going, I have some urgent business... S-sorry!”
“Oh dear, what could be so urgent?”
Riya smiled as if she were enjoying the sight of Charles, whose noble poise vanished in an instant.
Of course, it was only her lips. Her cold eyes foretold what fate awaited him next.
“Thank you for all your help back then, Princess.”
Riya, who had been staring in the direction Charles fled, slowly turned her gaze to me.
“No, you were just doing what needed to be done. And in the end, it all benefited the Empire, so I should be the one thanking you.”
I hurriedly stopped her as she moved to bow. I had no intention of repeating what happened at the previous banquet.
“More importantly, I was surprised by the new policy on the Ain tribes. Why...”
“Oh, that was because of Edward Williams.”
“Edward Williams? Why him...?”
The policy on the Ain tribes, announced during the Founding Festival, had caused quite a stir.
On the surface, everyone called it a merciful act by the Princess, but behind closed doors, they were surely saying it was pointless meddling.
“I started investigating the moment I heard his name, and it turns out he's a human-goblin half-breed. He suffered severe persecution as a child.”
Riya concisely shared the information she had gathered.
Why Edward had lived such a life, and what had triggered his awakening as a Disaster.
‘If I'd known and fought him anyway, it would've felt off.’
Even the settings didn't mention that.
It meant the original author—my father—hadn't planned for such details.
‘Settings don't reveal everything, huh.’
It made sense when I thought about it.
My father wrote this world, but he didn't construct every single part of it. He couldn't flesh out every person's history.
“Ironically, the ones who suffered the most from his rampage were the weak in the slums and the Ain tribes... Anyway, I felt it was necessary to reorganize things to prevent another incident like this.”
“I understand. Edward's situation was unexpected, but... knowing wouldn't have changed much.”
The fact that he was a butcher who tried to slaughter countless people remained unchanged.
The outcome would've been the same.
“Hehe, as expected of the ‘Golden Hero.’”
“Ah, please.”
I covered my face at the nickname that slipped from Riya's smiling lips.
“...I'm not against the title given by so many people, but it's embarrassing.”
“Oh my.”
She clearly knew what she was doing, smiling faintly like that.
She seemed to enjoy my discomfort, even showing a rare smile with her eyes.
“By the way, are you keeping Genova safe? I heard there was a bit of a commotion.”
“Yes, well. They all tried holding it once and backed off. It's in my room now, but I can summon it anytime if you'd like.”
It was only natural—Genova inflicts excruciating pain on anyone but its master who tries to wield it.
Of course, I no longer felt that pain.
Though stubborn, it seemed to have acknowledged me as its master after I passed its test.
‘The issue is I must use Insight Eye every time I release the seal, not just when using it casually.’
Normally, Genova was just an indestructible sharp sword.
Only by releasing the seal could its hidden true power be unleashed, allowing it to wield the might of one of the Seven Heavenly Swords.
Fabian could freely unseal it with his abilities, but I needed Insight Eye to do so.
‘Isn't there a way around Insight Eye? It's too taxing on my body.’
[What do you expect, forcing power beyond your station?]
No argument there.
“Ah, Princess. May I ask something? The Emperor mentioned something regarding Genova.”
“The Emperor did?”
“Yes. With so many likely eyeing Genova, I sought his opinion...”
Human Sword Genova.
Having made a huge name for itself at this Founding Festival, it was inevitable that some who heard the rumors would covet it. There had even been a disturbance here.
“The Emperor said there's no need to worry much. Do you know why?”
“Oh.”
Riya smiled brightly, finally understanding.
“That's because...”
Clunk!
At that moment, the banquet hall doors opened, and a silver-haired man entered.
He scanned the room with cold eyes before striding straight toward me.
“Gasp! S-Sir Silverst!”
Ian Silverst, the star of the finals who ended up as a bystander due to the sudden incident.
From his perspective, the situation might feel deeply humiliating.
The nobles watched him tensely.
[What if he's here to challenge you to a duel? They didn't settle things in the finals.]
‘Nah, no way.’
Above all, Princess Riya was right beside me.
Even he wouldn't act so rashly.
“Ah, You're here too, Princess. Forgive me for not greeting you properly.”
“No, it's fine, Sir Silverst.”
Ian, now right in front of me, belatedly noticed Riya and bowed hastily.
Riya stared at him for a moment before turning away.
“It seems Sir Silverst has something to say, so I'll take my leave.”
“Princess?”
“See you later, Clay.”
No, finish what you were saying!
As I shot her a look, Riya smiled as always and vanished.
That smile was just like the one Emperor Gideon wore when I requested an audience about Genova.
“Clay Banheart Count.”
Ian fixed me with a calm gaze.
I tensed inwardly, wondering what he would say.
‘Is he really here to fight, like Gransesia said?’
He had expressed anticipation for the finals, so he must have regrets.
But Ian's words were completely unexpected.
“The finals were my loss.”
“...Pardon?”
“I was the closest one watching you fight that monster.”
“You were there?”
Ian had indeed been in the arena first.
But I didn't remember what happened after. I recalled jumping down to the arena midway...
“I hid in a spot a little ways off since I wouldn't be of help.”
“You hid...”
“If I couldn't help, hiding was the obvious choice.”
Fair enough.
He was more discerning than I thought. If he'd charged blindly at Edward, things would've gotten messy.
[That's not discernment, that's weird! He just picks and chooses fights simply—who he can beat and who he can't.]
‘Come on.’
I looked at Ian skeptically, but his stoic face started to seem almost idiotic.
Was his blank expression just a lack of thoughts?
“I fled from the fight with that monster. So you're the de facto winner of this tournament for defeating it.”
With that, he turned on his heel.
“Farewell.”
He said his piece and vanished in an instant.
I stared blankly at Ian's retreating figure, vanishing like the wind, when Gelvin approached at some point, speaking excitedly.
“As expected of Count Clay! Making even Sir Silverst concede defeat! The Golden Hero indeed!”
“Ugh.”
My body flinched at ‘Golden Hero.’
Gelvin seemed thrilled by the hero title, but I wasn't.
Before he could shout louder, I spoke softly.
“Gelvin, I'm not great enough to be called a hero.”
“But... Sigh, if you say so, I understand.”
Gelvin muttered genuinely disappointed.
I looked at him, and at the Talua Kingdom delegates standing behind him.
The way they gazed at me was the complete opposite of before.
‘I’ll have to ask Riya for a favor...’
I already needed to request something about the Genova rumors, but now the nickname too.
From the looks of it, letting this slide would spread it across the kingdom in no time.
* * *
The final day of the Founding Festival.
The Emperor praised me loudly before the delegates of every nation.
“To Count Clay Banheart of Talua Kingdom, I bestow an honorary title equivalent to that of an Imperial Count!”
It was a truly unprecedented reward.
The gold, silver, and treasures that came with it seemed trivial by comparison.
Talua Kingdom's prestige had naturally soared as well.
“Count Banheart, are you sure you won't return to Sioten with us?”
Countess Ribina, arrived at the magic tower to return to Talua Kingdom, asked regretfully.
The others watched me with similar reluctant gazes.
“With the protagonist absent, it's disappointing for the rest of us.”
The surrounding people nodded at Alex's words.
But there was no choice.
“You know what happens if I return to the capital, Countess Ribina.”
“Mm, indeed. You're wise.”
I'd certainly receive a grand welcome, but that was it.
No real gains. Instead, suddenly thrust into the center of power, I'd face endless checks.
So I planned to part here and head straight to Banheart territory. The magic tower's array would make it quick.
‘I've left the territory empty too long.’
Going to the capital from here would mean at least one or two months before returning. They'd surely try to milk me politically for all I was worth.
I could gain more from this incident, but it wasn't something only possible in Sioten.
“I knew you'd do something big, but I never imagined this.”
Countess Ribina gazed at me steadily, then chuckled ruefully.
“It was luck.”
“Luck? I couldn't do a thing this time. Makes the Continental Seven Heroes title laughable.”
The bitter smile tugging at her lips showed she meant it.
But it was all due to Edward's nature as the Plague Disaster.
Not just Countess Ribina, but Emperor Gideon—another of the Seven Heroes—and Riya, awakened to draconic power, were in the Colosseum.
Yet there was no way to kill Edward.
Even Gideon and Riya alternating restraints had limits; they'd have let him escape after massive casualties.
[Come to think of it, you always fight guys you're strong against?]
‘Not with Riya, but... mostly, yeah.’
Demons were countered by Divine Blood, and with Edward, none of his abilities worked on me.
“Genova, was it? Your sword.”
“Yes.”
“Have you heard any stories about that sword?”
I shook my head at Countess Ribina's probing tone.
“The Emperor seemed clueless too.”
“Hmm, I see.”
She looked a bit disappointed.
But I had no intention of casually revealing Genova's truths. Even if others couldn't wield it, better to suppress the info.
‘The Emperor seemed to know roughly.’
How many knew about the Seven Heavenly Swords?
From his attitude, owners of the Seven Heavenly Swords were assumed to know their secrets.
“Anyway, I'll leave the rest to you. I'll head out here...”
“Understood. It's a shame, but unavoidable. I'll handle things with His Majesty, so don't worry.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Bidding farewell to Countess Ribina, I slowly turned away. The arrays for the capital and my territory's nearby tower were in different locations.
‘In the end, nothing happens?’
As I thought of soon leaving the Empire, a corner of my mind felt unsettled.
[Why? Regretful?]
Not that—I'd half-expected Riya to stop me, but she let me go too easily.
‘No way. But it feels too easy.’
[I told you not to worry from the start. She won't hold you back.]
Gransesia had said it with an oddly unpleasant smile.
‘Well, nothing happened, so that's good...’
As I prepared to leave the Empire for the last time, I recalled my conversation with Riya.