Chapter 323
Chapter 323
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Haeren's Glory and the Bastard's Shadow
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Visitors from all corners of the continent flooded into the city.
Haeren.
The city governed by the Bendel Family was enjoying unprecedented prosperity as of late.
The city's citizens said.
Haeren had reclaimed its past glory.
And not for anything else—
It was all thanks to the ‘Blessed Hero’ drawing visitors from across the continent.
That young lady of the Bendel Family.
Lady Roera, who had been showered with love from both the family and the city since long ago.
The citizens of Haeren spent their days chasing her traces, intoxicated by the tales of her fame.
The shop that had tailored the Hero’s first dress.
The general store she had frequented.
The restaurant opened by the head chef who handled her meals.
The smithy that forged her first sword.
The city’s merchant guild was even seriously discussing the idea of creating a festival in her honor.
"I can't believe it! Our Lady Roera's hometown, and people from all over the continent are flocking here!"
"Isn't the Hero amazing?"
"Of course she is! You wouldn't say that if you knew. Our lady isn't just any Hero?"
"Then what is she?"
"A Hero among Heroes!!! You know what people are saying? The Blessed Hero is one of the greatest wielders of holy swords in history!"
"True enough. Lady Roera has been extraordinary since she was young! They say she had the greatest talent in Bendel history, right?"
"Exactly! And from the Bendel Family, which has produced countless knights, no less!"
How had Lady Roera become a Hero?
No one harbored such doubts.
Her skills and character had been legendary even before she became a Hero.
Was there any other reason she had received the iron-willed family head's love and attention?
Yes.
That was why.
The merchant guild requested a meeting with the family head to formalize the ‘Blessed Nativity Festival,’ which would represent Haeren.
Even a man as ironclad as he would surely take interest in a festival honoring his proud daughter.
"By the way, how did it go? The meeting with the family head?"
"...Well, about that—"
But for some reason.
"What? Rejected again?"
"I just can't figure it out!"
"In this situation, if there's anyone proudest of the lady, it has to be the family head—"
"Exactly! What kind of father turns down the chance to boast about his daughter, the greatest hero on the continent!?"
As dismay spread across the merchants' faces.
One merchant cautiously broached the subject.
"Could it be... because of that?"
"That?"
"Yeah, that."
She glanced around needlessly before whispering conspiratorially.
"That Lady Roera cut ties with the Bendel Family—"
It still echoed in the empty night sky.
Brother.
A single, spoiled cry.
Uttered not by anyone else, but from Roera's lips—it carried shocking repercussions.
And rightly so—
Who was the Blessed Hero, after all?
What defined her?
The Sword of Blessing?
The unique swordsmanship realm she had forged at a young age?
The astonishing feats as a Hero?
All those symbolized the Blessed Hero.
However.
The element that most intensely imprinted her existence on others was something else.
It was her signature cynical aura.
She was sparing with words and emotions, conveying most intentions through indifferent gazes and sneers.
Under normal circumstances, it would paint her as the type to hear nothing good.
But in her case, it was different.
They say excellence turns anything into charisma.
Her tall frame for a woman boasted perfectly balanced beauty befitting a swordsmanship master.
In battle, her long ponytail flowing with elegant strikes captivated even enemies' eyes.
Her habitual slouch against something exuded the grace of a predator eyeing prey.
Yes.
The Blessed Hero's greatest power.
It was an aura that drew admiration from all, regardless of age or gender.
In truth, even followers first drawn by her blessed feats ended up praising her aura.
Yet—
"H-Hero!!!"
"My goodness, Lady Roera is—...!!!"
They all imagined another side hidden behind the cynical Hero's facade.
Yet.
Who could have guessed it was a spoiled little sister?
The shocked followers' faces twisted with varied emotions.
Some couldn't hide smiles seeing Lady Roera's adorable side—
While others glared at her ‘brother’ like an enemy.
As that eternally shocking moment passed—
"Lady Roera has a sibling? No way—"
"It's not impossible. Even a Hero is human; having a brother or sister isn't odd—"
"Huh? Wait. Which family is the Hero from again?"
"Did she ever mention her background?"
"She never revealed it herself, but I heard someone say Bendel Family. Apparently, she's been a genius swordswoman famous in that region since old times."
"Bendel? Ah! Descendants of heroes—truly exceptional bloodline!"
"Really? For a Hero, her origins seem a bit... ordinary."
"Right! I thought the same."
"Then, wait. Lady Roera's big brother... does that mean that guy is from the Bendel Family too!?"
"My goodness... For two such figures to emerge from one family in the same era—what kind of family is Bendel!?"
The shock of Lady Roera's hidden side was quickly forgotten.
Overshadowed by personal details about that mysterious figure.
The Knight of Chaos.
Curiosity about the Hero, once suppressed by respect, resurfaced.
Roera.
And the Knight of Chaos.
What origins and stories did these astonishing beings conceal?
"Lord Bendel...?"
That was when.
A group of followers approached the Blessed Hero.
Worried about Roera still cradled in the knight's arms.
"..."
Roera fixed them with a cold stare.
Normally, they would have frozen under that gaze.
But not now.
...She was still nestled snugly in the man's arms.
Lady Roera remained utterly dignified—
Maintaining her cynical aura even while spoiling with her brother.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me by that name?"
"Pardon? Ah! S-Sorry—I hesitated to utter the Hero's noble name casually, so it slipped out—"
A woman who seemed genuinely reverent.
Roera couldn't bring herself to scold her, merely clicking her tongue softly.
From her position of hiding her background even from comrades, she understood it well enough.
Thus, Roera turned away from the follower and spoke to her brother again—
Rishir.
"Hey. Since it came up, let me ask. What are you gonna do?"
"Do about what?"
"Bendel."
"...Bendel? Why Bendel?"
"What?"
What was she saying now?
They eyed each other with such looks.
Bendel.
The difference in weight that name carried for them.
Soon, Roera began spilling the story she had kept inside.
The nearby followers panicked as the Hero suddenly delved into personal matters—
But she paid it no mind.
She just continued in her usual prickly yet somehow intimate tone.
In the end, the followers had to cover their ears discreetly.
"That man never acknowledged you your whole life. Right?"
"Right."
"But look at you now. Seeing you like this, could he still not acknowledge you?"
"...Ah—"
Rishir vaguely realized.
What his little sister meant.
"So, that's it? You don't want to make Lord Bendel regret it—"
"Lord Bendel my foot."
Roera wore her coldest sneer yet.
"Hey. Has that man ever treated you decently, even once? Why are you calling him 'lord' like it's cute?"
Rishir responded with a wry smile instead of words.
His sister sighed deeply at her brother's demeanor.
"You idiot..."
"That bad?"
"Not you."
Roera's pitying gaze drifted farther away.
"Where else in the world is there an idiot like you..."
"...Praise?"
"..."
Roera looked up at him wordlessly with upturned eyes.
Thwack!
A playful (by Hero standards) jab landed in his side.
"Praise? Idiot."
The most cheerful smile yet bloomed on Roera's face.
"Anyway. So what'll you do?"
Roera finally slipped from Rishir's arms.
Her gaze swept over her expedition party before returning to Rishir.
"Am I the only one imagining it right now?"
"Imagining what?"
"Going back to Bendel just like this and flattening that man's smug nose."
"..."
Rishir met Roera's eyes briefly before bursting into laughter.
"Roera. You've grown into a fine adult. Dreaming up such delightful revenge...!"
Rishir said it half-jokingly.
Meaning half-serious.
Roera's proposal was undeniably tempting.
Idor Bendel.
There had once been a time when earning even a shred of respect from him was his lifelong dream.
But.
To go further and make him grovel instead of that shred?
Just imagining it brought a grin to his face.
However—
"Roera. Sorry to kill the mood, but... I'm fine as is."
"What?"
Roera looked at Rishir in horror.
Pitiful fool!
Her expression screamed it.
Of course, that was merely surface—
Deep worry lay beneath.
"Don't tell me you're still hung up on that man—"
How to put this?
She couldn't finish.
Her brother resolved her concern.
"Because that relationship means nothing to me anymore."
A light smile.
Free of resentment or even a speck of emotion.
Roera scoffed derisively.
"...What? Acting all mature."
Separately, her gaze on her brother shone with admiration.
"Indifference beyond contempt? Or indifference is mercy for a pitiful fool?"
Before he could answer, the excited sister playfully poked at his body here and there.
Movements unbecoming the Blessed Hero, full of worldly mischief.
"Alright. I've made up my mind."
Finally. She declared.
"Then I'm done too."
"Done with what—"
"Bendel is done."
Mmm~
Roera stretched contentedly, as if relieved.
Then, one corner of her mouth curled up.
Adding playfulness to her signature cynical smile, she said.
"So, what should I call myself now that I'm not Bendel anymore?"
That day.
Though much had happened, the Bendel mansion maintained its unchanged atmosphere.
Idor Bendel.
Everything held steady because that ironclad man anchored the center—
The bastard's rebellion.
The lady's departure.
The dark elf's assault.
Idor returned to routine as if none had occurred, silently fulfilling his duties.
At first, retainers fretted over the family head's state with worry and questions.
But his unwavering resolve changed their minds.
Bendel's glory endures.
And one day, news arrived that burnished that glory further.
Roera Bendel.
News of the lady beloved by the family.
The family's pride had returned as the continent's hero.
Blessed Hero Roera.
Lately, her fame had turned the Bendel mansion into a nonstop hub of visitors.
"Thank you so much for making time in your busy schedule, Lord Idor!"
"I'm the one grateful you visited amid your duties."
"Oh, no! It's only natural! That Lady Roera has become the Hero praised across the continent— I, Lopez, still can't—..."
A noble overcome with emotion, recalling her childhood.
"..."
Idor gazed at her with a father's fond smile.
"Hm? Lord Idor, are you unwell?"
A smile shadowed faintly.
"How could I be, when the continent brims with our daughter's glory."
"Oh?! Haha! Quite right! Indeed, you'd leap up from anything for that!"
Soon.
The noble cleared his throat awkwardly, eyeing Idor expectantly.
"By the way— Lord Idor. When is the lady returning home? Any word—"
"..."
Idor's expression hardened briefly.
It was but an instant.
He smiled softly.
"I've already contacted Roera, and word has been sent. Expect a reply soon."
"Oho, really?"
That was when.
"Family head...!"
An elderly steward burst into the study.
A single letter in his hand.
"...!"
Idor rose rarely beaming.
The noble jumped up too.
"L-Lord Idor—that's...!"
Idor took the letter without delay and began reading.
"It's from Roera."
Upon reading the first line.
Idor and everyone present brimmed with excitement.
"My, my...! The lady must think of you all day? A letter arrives just as you speak of her!"
"Indeed! Our lady knows how much the family head loves her!"
"..."
Idor read on, unable to hide his joy.
Mid-recitation, his mouth suddenly stopped.
"..."
"Family head?"
"Lord Idor?"
"Hm? Ah! Nothing. She says her Hero duties prevent her from leaving post."
"Ah... I see."
"True, the burden on Lady Roera is immense. It's no exaggeration to say she shoulders the entire continent—"
"Yes! Well said! She must have no choice!"
"..."
The steward and noble, reaffirming Roera's fame, continued effusively.
Idor mustered a father's fond smile.
Its shadow deeper than before—
"Per the letter, she'll return once duties resolve. So, she'll surely send word when the time comes."
"Family head, congratulations! Finally, the lady—"
Right after the noble's meeting.
The steward offered sincere felicitations as if it were his own joy.
"I'm heading to Bondale immediately."
"Family head...!?"
Yet the family head's demeanor seemed far from pleased.
Dazed, he ordered the steward to prepare for travel.
"Immediately!? What happened!? What did the letter say—"
"Don't touch it!"
"Gasp...!"
As the steward reached for the letter, Idor glared fiercely.
The steward paled and collapsed.
Idor pressed on unperturbed.
"I won't say it twice. Prepare at once; I'm off to Bondale."
"B-But family head!!! Going to Bondale now—"
Rishir.
The name slipped cautiously from the steward's lips.
That instant.
Idor's agitated face cooled coldly.
As if someone watched him somewhere.
As if to show his resolve.
"Didn't I say never mention that name again?"
Since that incident.
Idor obsessively ignored the ‘bastard's’ existence.
As if he never existed.
No one dared utter it before him.
Yet.
Now, as Idor exuded cold intimidation, the steward had to shout desperately.
To explain why Bondale was off-limits now.
"If those rumors are true...!"
The steward mentioned a rumor even he struggled to believe.
"...What?"
Unprecedented.
The iron man's face lost all soul.
The steward was stunned inwardly.
The family head accepting a rumor he himself doubted?
Idor reread the letter, etching it into his eyes.
"..."
"Family head!"
Idor Bendel slumped into his seat, legs giving way.
"N-No way—this can't—...!!!"
His face was dyed in despair and terror.
"Th-That fiend will return—to exact revenge on Bendel...!"
Haeren's streets brimmed with crowds.
They cried in unison.
Haeren had reclaimed its past glory.
Bendel's glory would endure forever.
That was when.
A rumor circulating in corners surfaced dramatically.
Someone said.
"What? The Vanguard Hero—"
"That bastard—"
"Young Master Rishir—"
Vanguard Hero.
His name swept the streets in an instant.
Bendel's glory that had filled the place was swiftly swept away.