Chapter 460
Chapter 460
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 460
Chapter Title: The Grand Banquet
"By the way, it's been a really long time, Professor Lania."
"I'm not a professor anymore, you know?"
"To me, that title suits you better anyway."
Allen tilted his head slightly as he brewed the coffee.
"Should I call you Hero instead?"
"Call me whatever feels comfortable. It doesn't matter."
Lania took a long, deep breath, savoring how much she'd missed this coffee.
She muttered under her breath, her face taking on an ecstatic expression as the rich aroma filled the café.
"Some things never change with you, Professor."
Allen shot her a sidelong glance and gave a wry smile.
Who was this person sitting in his shop right now?
To the world, she was humanity's savior, a mage on the verge of godhood—deified with all sorts of grand epithets. Maybe "deified" wasn't even the right word. After all, she'd accomplished feats worthy of such praise.
The Hero, Lania van Trias.
They said some people dreamed their whole lives just to exchange words with her. And here he was, serving coffee to someone of such stature... yet Allen felt no tension at all. If anything, it was as relaxed as reuniting with an old friend.
No matter what the world calls her...
Recalling the eccentric antics she'd shown at Aphria Academy, Allen chuckled to himself. No matter what the masses said, the Lania he knew wasn't some stiff, formal figure.
"Whew."
Lania took a sip of the coffee and let out a satisfied sigh.
"I brewed coffee on the battlefield plenty of times, but I could never get this aroma. What's your secret, Allen?"
"Why don't you try learning alchemy, Professor? Master that, and you'll brew perfect coffee too."
"Eh... somehow I doubt that."
Lania pulled a face as she thought of a certain elitist elf alchemist. Cardi, who insisted slimy green sludge was a "health drink," didn't strike her as the type to make good coffee.
"Here you go—the set you ordered. Tea cakes, coffee loaded with fatigue recovery potion, and..."
"Ah, thanks, Allen."
"You seem pretty worn out these days. That recovery potion dosage is way too high, isn't it?"
Allen tilted his head, recalling the amount of fatigue recovery potion Lania had requested. Running a shop at Aphria meant dealing with plenty of all-nighters turning into walking corpses. They asked for hefty doses too, but nothing compared to what she'd ordered.
"You raising undead or something?"
Allen tossed out the quip as a joke.
It was clearly meant in jest, but Lania flinched, her body tensing slightly.
"Uh... no?"
"...You're not, right?"
"They're alive. Technically."
Alive. Technically.
Allen's expression turned profoundly ambiguous. But as always, he decided not to pry.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "So, let me get this straight."
"Yeah. You ditched me to handle the chores and went off to have fun, Senior."
"...I bought you coffee. Forgive me?"
"The coffee's delicious, I'll give you that. Only reason I'm letting it slide."
Kalt slurped noisily at his coffee and sighed.
First-rate alchemist-brewed coffee? It really was on another level. The deep aroma, the way one sip melted away fatigue like downing a recovery potion—it felt great.
Did he spike the coffee with recovery potion?
The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he dismissed it. No way his senior would do that. Kalt gulped down the rest.
"Anyway, like I was saying."
Lania gestured to the piles of gift boxes filling the room.
"What's all that?"
"Gifts from the royal family."
"I can tell from the crests. I mean, what's inside them?"
"No idea. They just said I'd find out when I opened them. Apparently, Princess Aila—no, Queen Aila now—sent them personally."
...Aila?
Lania tilted her head.
"That's it?"
"Yep, that's it."
It didn't sound promising at all.
Lania reached out tentatively for one of the gift boxes, her expression uneasy. She carefully opened it and froze solid on the spot.
"What is it? Why the..."
Kalt crouched beside her rigid form and peeked inside. He let out a low whistle.
"Ooh."
"......"
"No need to worry about outfits."
The box was filled with what were clearly expensive dresses—quite revealing ones, at that. Kalt pointed at one and let out a short "Whoa."
"You gonna wear that?"
"Are you insane?"
"Well... plenty of options, at least."
Kalt pulled out the note inside.
"Didn't know what you'd like, so I prepared a variety. That's what it says."
"Then."
Lania shifted her gaze to the mountain of boxes around the room. Her eyes trembled as she stared.
"They're all... dresses?"
"Looks that way."
Thwack. Lania smacked her forehead. The clear sound echoed through the room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
The grand banquet celebrating the subjugation of the apostate.
Under the pretext of commemorating the vanquishing of calamity and praying for humanity's peace, the event was underway on an unprecedented scale. The moment Lania van Trias announced her attendance, the royal capital took direct control of all arrangements.
It was only natural.
This wasn't just for domestic nobles—dignitaries from every nation would attend. Anything less than perfection would tarnish the Kingdom of Cartedia's prestige. No expense was spared in preparing the venue.
The banquet unfolded in a massive hall.
And so, the curtains rose on the event.
Crowds poured into the hall.
Renowned noble houses, royal vassals, foreign royalty and their entourages. Top figures from every field, and any notable powerhouse worth mentioning—all gathered in one place.
They exchanged light banter, clinked glasses, and heated up the atmosphere. All while awaiting the star of the show.
Normally, these were people no one kept waiting. Any one of them could dominate such an event, commanding the stage with their own power and authority. But not here. Not tonight.
Noble or royal, foreign guest or otherwise... everyone was just background filler for this banquet. And they knew it.
It couldn't be helped.
The guest of honor was humanity's hero.
The protagonist of the apostate subjugation, the lone guardian who shouldered the entire battlefield. No fool would dare flaunt their status in her presence—such people wouldn't have risen this far anyway.
So they waited in silence for the lead to appear.
How much time passed?
Once the mood had ripened perfectly, a figure parted the crowd. Clack. Footsteps echoed through the hall. Conversations halted as all eyes turned toward the sound.
Clack.
A young man with neatly swept-back hair stepped into the venue. His formal jacket couldn't hide his sturdy build. Sharp eyes, an aura sharp as a blade honed on the battlefield.
With each step came the faint clink of metal. Guests glanced at his waist.
A single sword hung there.
Weapons were forbidden at banquets, yet he wore his openly. No one stopped him. No one dared question it.
Because that blade was his very symbol.
-The Sword Saint, Kalt...
-That's him...
-The transcendent swordsman carrying Galatrick's legacy...
Sword Saint Kalt.
Bearer of the Sword Saint title, aide to Hero Lania van Trias. The man who would later reclaim Sword Gorge Galatrick. The hall buzzed at the arrival of this proud transcendent.
-He looks the part in person...
-Sharp vibe.
Dressed impeccably, Kalt was handsome enough. Noble ladies stole glances and whispered as he paused in the center of the parted crowd. Then he stepped back and turned his head.
Eyes followed his gaze.
The Hero's aide appearing meant... her entrance was imminent. Sure enough, footsteps echoed from the split crowd.
Click.
The sound of heels striking stone.
In the hush, amid the focused stares, she entered. A woman in a sky-blue dress took her first step. With each movement, her ash-gray hair rippled like waves.
The Hero, Lania van Trias.
The banquet's star had arrived.
"......"
She walked through the silence.
Her pace dictated the movement of every gaze. Authority, beauty, achievements—she lacked nothing.
Click.
...Her beauty was famed, but facing it firsthand stole breaths. Passing those lost in awe, Lania headed to the center. Kalt bowed lightly and followed behind.
The banquet's heart, a reserved spot.
That was her seat.
Before sitting, Lania scanned the room. Still expressionless, but with a faint smile, she addressed the onlookers.
"Hello."
She smiled.
"I'm honored to be invited to such a banquet. I'm not used to these, so please bear with me."
She didn't state her name.
No need to.
As her words ended, the silence broke. Nobles began speaking, filling the seats around her.
The curtains rose, and the lead took the stage.
As the crowd swarmed Lania, Kalt stood a step back, guarding her side and watching her closely. It let him catch the fleeting microexpression that crossed her face.
This is such a pain...
...Just endure it a little longer.
Kalt rested a hand lightly on his sword hilt and sighed deeply. No lunatic would cause trouble here... but if one did...
Before Senior flips the whole banquet...
I have to stop it.
Absolutely. At least prevent anyone from getting wrecked at an event like this. Steel resolve in his eyes, Kalt glared around.
"It's truly an honor! I've wanted to meet you like this. Oh, and this gentleman... Gasp!"
A noble lady greeting Lania then locked eyes with Kalt and froze stiff. Panting, she backed away slowly, as if about to burst into tears.
Whoops.
Kalt sighed inwardly and softened his expression.
"...I've heard of your house, milady. A martial family that's produced many knights, right? I remember crossing paths on the battlefield a few times."
"H-H-Honor... sir..."
...Not easy.
Kalt exchanged a few words with the teary-eyed lady, then wiped his brow. As he handled his duties in his own way...
He flinched, body tensing.
Kalt's eyes slowly lifted to the second-floor balcony. A powerful presence emanated from there. Following his transcendent senses, he spotted a woman standing there, overlooking the hall. She was looking down at him too.
Her face was familiar. As he recalled her name and moved to bow in greeting...
She pressed a finger to her lips—shh. As if timing her entrance.