Chapter 181
Chapter 181
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Life is a Series of Escapes (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
# 181
19. Life is a Series of Escapes (5)
#5 Their Circumstances: A Certain Hero's Circumstances.
I raised my wine glass for a light clink and flexed my muscles as much as possible to force a smile.
“Clinking glasses with the Dragon Slayer—I'll treasure this honor for life.”
The man, who looked like a martial artist, said that and stepped back.
“Oh my, is it all right if I do too?”
“Yes, of course.”
And right away, someone else approached and began introducing herself to me.
Something about being the lady of some count's family or whatever...
“Well then, excuse me.”
“It was a pleasure.”
It wasn't a pleasure at all, but I kept smiling since I'd been freeloading off their food.
Nearly a month after slaying the dragon, the royal family had cautiously asked if I'd meet some nobles.
Having lived a life of luxury with the finest beds and meals, I agreed.
I'd slain their dragon, but they still deserved repayment for the feasts.
The royal event hosted for the occasion was to celebrate the safe return of the princess kidnapped by the dragon!
I was surprised they'd delayed what should've been an immediate celebration by almost a month just for me.
So I attended with some apprehension, but...
After about three hours, that faded, leaving only annoyance.
“Are you tired?”
“I'm not used to this sort of thing, so it's a bit overwhelming.”
The princess caught me sighing lightly.
“No helping it. You've spent more time on active adventures than social gatherings, Hero.”
As she smiled faintly, gazes began gathering around us.
As expected of the kingdom's top beauty and star of the evening!
I'd heard she was popular with the people, but she has fans among the nobles too!
“Yeah. My life hasn't had much to do with this stuff.”
I was born into a family that should've been full of such connections, but whether it was my bad luck or my brothers' rotten personalities, I'd never had any real ties to events like this.
As a kid, I got smacked around by the organization's sadistic instructors with wooden bats, and later, some incidents made me popular enough to draw my brothers' glares, forcing me to flee in the night.
I used to think it was because my brothers lacked any shred of humanity, but lately, I'm starting to think it's just my rotten luck.
Damn.
“Hmm~ Would you rather attend these socials, Hero, or share drinks casually at a tavern with your comrades?”
I naturally clinked glasses as the princess held hers out with a sly remark.
“Obviously, the honor of clinking with a beauty like you, Princess?”
“You're quite the charmer, Hero...”
Ugh, chills down my spine.
Mouth... what the hell did you just say...?
Setting aside that I'd said something so cheesy, showing this reaction to the kingdom's treasure of a princess would breed jealousy, even if I did slay a dragon, right?
According to the instructor, people would start thinking, “That lowly commoner!” and plotting to poison my wine?
Look at those envious stares!
“As expected of the Hero...”
“Ahh... Who knew we'd see such a perfect pair...”
“The Hero would suit the princess just fine.”
Huh? What's with these warm gazes?
Normally, you'd expect jealousy at minimum, murderous intent at worst!
Once, in a decent-sized kingdom, I complimented a count's daughter as cool, and nearly got poisoned!
Are all northern kingdoms like this?
“You're embarrassing me too much, Hero.”
“Sorry. It just slipped out...”
“Oh? Does that mean I can take it as you saying that to any woman?”
“No! You're so beautiful, Princess, I couldn't help it...”
“You're too smooth for your own good...”
Her sidelong glance was captivating.
Gazing at her blue hair and even brighter blue eyes felt like slowly sinking into a lake...
“Hero?”
“Yes?”
Did I stare too blatantly? This time, I'd truly been rude.
Now the nobles would say he doesn't know manners—that's why commoners can't be trusted!
“The Hero seems totally smitten with the princess.”
“What a perfect pair.”
“Our daughter holds her own anywhere, but she's a step below the princess.”
“More than a step, I'd say.”
“Better than your orc-looking daughter!”
“You bastard?”
Hey, you nobles I don't recognize by voice alone.
Why are you fighting each other...? Isn't this the time to tear me apart?
No, before that—why keep pairing me with the princess?
“Here, Hero, another drink?”
“Y-Yes.”
The unusually warm atmosphere made my words start stumbling.
They approve of me and the princess. No—they already accept us!
Come to think of it, normally lower nobles and occasional high ones would send marriage proposals, but none came.
Even the noble ladies just greeted and passed by!
Usually, they'd show interest and approach me!
“Here, Hero.”
The princess handed her empty wine glass to a servant and took a fresh one, offering it to me.
“How about a toast to the Hero who saved me?”
“An honor.”
The glasses clinked with a light, clear ring.
I quietly savored the pure sound, desperately wishing this weird vibe would end soon.
Without realizing it was already too late.
#6 Their Circumstances: A Certain Saint's Circumstances.
“We handled the dragon through cooperation with Nayden Kingdom.”
“Fortunately, the empire paid top dollar, so we profited handsomely.”
“The empire? That's surprising. Surely they could hunt dragons too...”
“No. Even the empire wouldn't lightly make an enemy of a dragon.”
“Because the Hero hails from the empire...”
“Indeed. The empire...”
I sipped tea while quietly listening to the high priests.
Normally, I'd be bestowing the Goddess of Nature's blessings on the people, but I came as representative since they visited.
The Hero's swamped with events, and Selena's one of our group but not church personnel.
“Now, could you tell us your tale, Saint?”
With dragon disposal and kingdom shares settled, the high priests turned to me.
“Yes. Here's what happened. To start...”
I began from receiving the northern oracle, then meeting the Hero's master.
They gasped at demons invading this far, sighed in relief at him defeating one alongside the previous Sword Saint.
And then.
“What?!”
“A singularity...? I've never heard of such a thing.”
“A human beyond the gods' will...”
When I reached Naruan, the Hero's master, they interrupted despite me speaking.
Unlike their mere hums at the demon—“Hmm...” or “Oh dear...”—this was intense.
“Could it be... that?”
That.
The unspeakable name, but everyone here knew.
“The gods said to watch, not eliminate.”
“I see...”
The name threatening the world.
Many call it the Demon King, king of demons, but high priests know better.
“If Naruan, the Hero's master, were the next Demon King, the gods wouldn't sit idle.”
Demon King: remnant of the evil god threatening the world. Separate from demon kings or gods' puppet leaders, it can arise from any race—a grave danger.
Its birth alone destroys nations, spawning beasts deadlier than monsters.
Rational yet driven solely to end the world, it's a threat to humans and demons alike.
Ancient texts tell of humans and demons allying against it—transcending races to menace existence itself.
“Then we watch as the gods decree.”
“You'll have to handle it.”
“You can do it, Saint.”
I nodded slightly to the high priests' trusting gazes.
“After that...”
I added Naruan's daughter being a half-demon human.
Then, en route to Lübella city-state alliance, the Nayden prince's request led to battling the dragon—under Naruan's perfect plan, Hero vs. dragon one-on-one, Hero victorious.
“Honestly, astounding.”
“Greatest talent among heroes, but slaying a dragon already...”
“No current hero matches this feat, save the Church of Struggle's Wilef.”
“True, only Wilef beat a dragon among church heroes...”
“Wilef fought an ancient wyrm, but our Hero's was 5,000 years older!”
“No need to boast about that...”
As they chatted, I sighed softly and sat.
These talks drag at least 30 minutes.
“Oh, right. Heard on the way—the Hero's betrothed to the princess?”
“What?!”
I couldn't stay silent.
“Marriage? Hero and princess?”
“It's all over the kingdom.”
“I heard too.”
“Even spread to neighbors.”
“Oh, right. Heard if they marry, the Hero retires?”
“Forgot that. Heroes often wed comrades without retiring, but this is special—tough.”
“Dragging a kingdom's princess on hero travels is too risky.”
“Sigh... Such a fine Hero, and we'll lose him soon...”
Shocking news poured out.
The Hero and princess, like that?
Did I miss something?
Lately, he's been at events, so we haven't talked much—suspicious.
“Could you share details?”
“You didn't know?”
The first priest looked surprised.
“My apologies...”
“You and Swin were busy—understandable.”
“Still, same church—Hero and Saint. Pay more heed.”
“Ease up. Saint's swamped. From what I heard, fateful encounter...”
One by one.
High priests shared tearjerker love stories of Hero and princess.
It took time, but I spotted something.
Source: insiders who knew details!
Stories varied on romance, but prior events matched perfectly.
Basics were public, but specifics identical!
An involved party spread this.
Who?
Royal ploy to snag the Hero?
Loose-lipped soldier or knight?
Or...
“No way...”
A name flashed—seemingly unrelated.
But knew it best.
If right... all his plan!
“I'll confirm with the Hero!”
And the plan: escape our grasp.
I hurried to tidy up, rushed to the palace, to his room.
But...
“Ah...”
Too late... Nothing I could do.