Joining the Hero's Party
"Sorry I'm a bit late."
"I know I called you here in a hurry. Just sit down for now."
Asabel was at the center of the table, with Charlotte and Jed to her left, and Elinne to her right. I naturally took the seat next to Elinne.
Charlotte double-checked as if she couldn't believe I was a baron. Sure, a baron was nothing compared to a hero, but the fact that a worthless guy like Daron had become a noble was shocking enough.
"Baron Dran? You're a baron?"
"Can't you tell?"
"Daron earned the greatest merit in the magical beast subjugation operation a few weeks ago. That's why he was granted a knighthood and a barony."
"A knight too?"
Why? You think it's bullshit? I became a knight because I'm strong enough, and a baron because I'm smart enough. The Daron that Charlotte knew was the old me from before my regression. Back then, there was no way a lowly soldier like me could've climbed that high.
"Since you all know each other, no need for introductions."
Charlotte couldn't openly show how much she hated me. She probably figured I'd just gotten lucky and caught the princess's eye, so she brushed it off.
"Hey, Elinne."
"……Hey."
For some reason, we'd ended up sitting right next to each other. She must've vividly remembered almost falling for my seduction last time, because Elinne whipped her head away.
"Then let's get down to business."
The reason Asabel had called the hero and me here.
"The reason I summoned you all is to prepare for the Demon King's invasion."
"The Demon King."
At those words, Charlotte clenched her fist tight. A hero's very purpose was to slay the Demon King.
"A few weeks ago, magical beasts appeared within the empire's territory."
Asabel brought up that incident.
"While subjugating them, we captured some demons too. After interrogation, we learned the Demon King was behind it. And furthermore…."
Asabel slammed the table and spoke gravely.
"A saintess has appeared."
At the mention of the saintess, I felt three pairs of eyes turn to me. I'd made sure no one could meet the saintess without my permission, so the hero's party must've built up a ton of resentment toward me. For a moment, they'd forgotten, but now their gazes had sharpened from when we'd just met. Charlotte remembered I'd pulled some strings. Those burning eyes told me that if the princess weren't here, she'd be choking me and threatening my life.
"So from now on, we need to prepare too. What are your plans, hero?"
"First, I was going to meet the saintess and gather strong allies."
"Exactly. Humans, elves—we need to unite our strength."
Asabel placed a prepared document on the table. It bore the empire's seal.
Charlotte picked it up and read it.
"This is?"
"A request for talks. The hero's party will soon leave the empire to recruit companions, right? As a princess of the empire, I'm asking a favor."
"A favor?"
"I'd like you to deliver it in person and persuade them."
"Why do I have to deliver it myself?"
"We could send an envoy, but the name of the hero carries weight."
The Gaia Empire held the strongest power. Around it were kingdoms, duchies, the elves' lands, and more. It wasn't a peaceful era—everyone was growling at each other, watching warily. So she planned to use the hero personally to sway them.
Looking at her now, Asabel had been fully willing to cooperate with foreign powers from the start. But why had it failed in the previous timeline? Plenty of reasons. The intensifying imperial power struggles kept her busy, failure to convince reclusive elves, schemes from duchies eyeing the empire, lack of trust from neighboring kingdoms….
"I'll provide even more support for the hero's party than before. You'll be visiting foreign lands to recruit anyway, right?"
"That was the plan. But…."
Charlotte glared at me again. And then she brought it up.
"It's because of who that we haven't met the saintess yet."
"The saintess?"
"She won't see us."
"Why not?"
"The guy sitting right here blocked us."
At that, Asabel looked at me with puzzled eyes. I hadn't expected her to bring this up with the princess right there.
"I don't know how he did it, but he schemed to make it so no one meets the saintess without his permission."
"Daron and the saintess are pretty close."
"What?"
Charlotte and her companions, who didn't yet know Ray was the saintess, were shocked by the princess's words. But they probably half-expected I had some connection since I'd seduced her.
"I get that you're close. But why block us from meeting the saintess? Is this it?"
"Daron, since this is your doing, there must be a good reason. What is it?"
The heroes couldn't help but be flustered by the princess's attitude. Normally, they'd expect her to chew me out furiously and demand I talk to the saintess. But Asabel trusted me and calmly asked for the reason.
Of course. I'd only shown her the positive sides. That's why I'd rocketed straight to baron.
"I'm sorry for mixing my personal judgment into such a critical matter. But if you meet a simple demand, I'll arrange for the hero to meet the saintess right away. Charlotte, haven't you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"That's weird. I told Elinne all about it—did she not pass it on?"
"Elinne?"
Charlotte and Jed shot fierce glares at Elinne.
"Elinne, how could you not tell us something that important?"
"Hey, what is it?"
Jed tried to phrase it nicely, while Charlotte snapped demandingly. Elinne, suddenly put on the spot, shot me a resentful look. It was obvious: 'How the fuck am I supposed to say "let me fuck your pussy"?'
Sigh, just this once.
"What I'm asking from you is simple. Take me along on your companion-hunting adventure. I told Elinne, but she must've skipped it because I seemed too weak."
Last time, I'd planned to demand two things from Elinne. But she'd heard only the first—let me fuck her pussy—and fled in embarrassment. So this second demand was new to them, but the clever Elinne immediately played along.
"Right, yeah. We can't add a pathetic normie li—like, some regular guy to the party."
Elinne couldn't quite bring herself to curse in front of the princess. More than that, pathetic? After I helped you?
"So to sum up: add you to our party, and we get the saintess?"
"Simple, right?"
"Any reason?"
"I'm close to the saintess, and I've got a burning sense of justice to stop the Demon King too."
"You?"
She got why I'd tag along if I was tight with the saintess. But her face said she'd never heard I was some justice-driven guy.
"Thinking about it, having Daron come along would actually help a lot."
"Huh?"
"He earned the biggest merits in the magical beast subjugation and uncovered the demons behind it. Traveling together, he'd probably help with all sorts of things."
Asabel timed it perfectly to back me up.
"Of course, he's weaker than you all. But he can at least protect himself."
"That's true, but…."
Surprisingly, Charlotte readily admitted I'd gotten stronger. Sure, I still couldn't touch their heels, but by normal standards, I was strong. She didn't like me personally, but with the princess openly endorsing me, even a reckless hero couldn't argue. No point pissing off the next emperor-in-waiting.
"Just having him tag along seems fine. Charlotte, let's accept."
Jed was surprisingly agreeable for once. Probably from arrogant dismissal of me as no threat, but his nod softened Charlotte a bit. If Elinne agreed too, Charlotte couldn't refuse.
"Elinne?"
"Eep?"
I started stroking Elinne's firm thigh under the table. She trembled but couldn't respond. Too embarrassing, and since I knew she liked Jed, she had to endure this much. If I pushed further, she'd explode, but I knew exactly where to draw the line.
"I… I agree too."
Besides, Elinne had no choice but to agree. One of my original demands was her pussy. But here in this official setting, I'd backed off that and offered the saintess instead. She had zero reason to refuse—in fact, she was probably relieved.
……Go ahead and relax for now.
"Haa… if you two are okay with it."
Finally, the party leader and hero Charlotte gave her approval. Asabel looked satisfied that things had gone smoothly. She probably figured traveling with the heroes would reveal more of my potential and boost my value. Plus, I'd help their journey.
"Alright, Charlotte. Looking forward to working with you."
"……Yeah."
I offered a handshake with a refreshing smile, like forget the past, let's unite for the greater good. Charlotte, playing along on the surface now that it was decided, took it.
Squeeze.
She gripped my hand hard.
……This fucking bitch?