Chapter 432: Return of the Dead (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 432: Return of the Dead (3)
The ceremony the marquess organized was simple. First, starting from the Dimension Square in Ravigion where we made our return, the parade passed through the commercial city of Kommelby and headed to the imperial capital, Karnon.
Ba-bam, ba-bam, baba-ba-bam!
A uniformed military band gave a lively performance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The carriage full of drums continued to beat loudly as it slowly advanced.
"Woohoo!"
The blessings and cheers of the people and the flowers they scattered filled the streets.
"A parade of heroes...!"
Wearing ceremonial armor similar to that of veteran warriors—the kind that could never be worn in real combat—we continued to move forward.
"Woahhh!"
The people of Rafdonia looked at us with bright, curious eyes.
"I heard they destroyed the Eye of the Sky. What an amazing contribution."
"Thanks to them, the palace will have a huge advantage in the future."
"It was our army's biggest nuisance, after all."
Some adventurers clapped as we passed them by. I also spotted a family with a young son sitting on his father's shoulders who had simply come for the festival.
"Dad, what's the Eye of the Sky?"
"Well, I'm not sure, but... it sounds like a very important item."
"I want to be like those people one day!"
"Of course. You can do anything."
Some had joined the crowd just to see a famous face.
"Akurava! Akurava is there!"
"I thought she retired. I never thought I'd hear about her again like this."
"Melend Kaislan!"
"Ohh! That's Blood Spirit!"
There was even a woman who ran up to the carriage in tears and held my hand. "Thanks to you all... my son can rest in peace! Thank you... thank you...!"
Did she lose a family member to Noark? But do these people even realize that the original ceremony the marquess planned was going to feature only empty coffins with our names written on them?
Beeeeeep!
I felt what might have been a panic attack coming on as I stared out at the large crowd of people. There was a ringing in my ears, and it was getting harder and harder to fake a smile.
Erwen, who was sitting next to me, grabbed my hand. "Mister..."
Even Kaislan, who was riding in the cart in front of me, turned around with worry in his eyes.
Jeez, you think I'm going to cause a scene?
"Woohoo! Yay!"
The triumphant procession down the main street passed through Ravigion and arrived at Kommelby. This place was different from Ravigion. The number of adventurers had gone up significantly and ordinary citizens wore much more formal attire than the average people of Ravigion. It was still nothing compared to the imperial capital, though.
Drag, drag.
The wheels of the carriage continued to roll.
"Yeahhh!"
Huge crowds cheered, arms stretched up toward us. It was frustrating that I couldn't just be happy at the sight. If there hadn't been any trickery during this expedition, if our entire squadron had been able to come home, they would have gotten to see this with us. If that had happened, I would have shouted in joy too.
Boom!
It felt heavy.
Boom!
Very heavy.
Drag, drag.
The carriage plowed on without stopping. We eventually got out of Kommelby and entered the imperial capital. Then we headed down the boulevard, straight to the royal palace. The palace gates, which were normally solemnly closed, were wide open today.
"The heroes have arrived!"
There were knights in formation at the gates. A military band was also positioned on top of the walls, joining in on the passionate performance as it reached its climax.
"Somehow, we ended up here again."
Our endless carriage ride finally ended as we pulled up in front of the Palace of Glory, where I was once bestowed a title.
"Greet the heroes!"
Soon, the main doors of the palace swung open. We disembarked from the carriage and headed inside. Our formation was a little different from the parade. Earlier, I was in the center carriage, but this time I was at the very front.
"Woohoooooo!"
The cheers that erupted when we walked inside the palace were a little quieter than the ones on the street. Well, most of the people here were nobles or high-ranking guild execs, after all.
"What are you doing? Go in." Kaislan poked me in the back as I stopped at the entrance and looked around blankly.
Tsk, don't rush me.
Step, step.
I walked the red carpet that stretched all the way to the empty throne. As I did, I continuously scanned the room. The crowds shouted, whistled, and even took out binoculars to get a closer look at us. That was why it was easy to spot them in the crowd of thousands.
Tap.
In this blessed place full of happy people, only they sat in mourning, like uninvited guests among the laughing crowd.
So, there they are.
"W-Wait... where are you going?!" Ignoring Kaislan's protests, I changed directions and headed toward the stands. I guessed he realized where I was going a moment later. "Damn it, I don't even know if I should argue." Kaislan no longer tried to stop me.
Step, step.
Our procession changed course. The military band following us was startled, but they changed directions as well like professionals.
Tap.
We eventually stood before them. Quietly wiping away their tears, they looked down at me with puzzled expressions on their faces. These were the bereaved families of the rest of the squadron, whom I requested the marquess allow into the Palace of Glory.
Ba-bam, ba-bam, baba-ba-bam!
Jeez, that's so annoying. Can't you turn that off now?
I wanted to complain, but it seemed the military band had neither the common sense nor the authority to stop. As a compromise, I just snatched the instruments out of their hands and threw them on the floor.
Huge crowds cheered, arms stretched up toward us. It was frustrating that I couldn't just be happy at the sight. If there hadn't been any trickery during this expedition, if our entire squadron had been able to come home, they would have gotten to see this with us. If that had happened, I would have shouted in joy too.
Boom!
It felt heavy.
Boom!
Very heavy.
Drag, drag.
The carriage plowed on without stopping. We eventually got out of Kommelby and entered the imperial capital. Then we headed down the boulevard, straight to the royal palace. The palace gates, which were normally solemnly closed, were wide open today.
"The heroes have arrived!"
There were knights in formation at the gates. A military band was also positioned on top of the walls, joining in on the passionate performance as it reached its climax.
"Somehow, we ended up here again."
Our endless carriage ride finally ended as we pulled up in front of the Palace of Glory, where I was once bestowed a title.
"Greet the heroes!"
Soon, the main doors of the palace swung open. We disembarked from the carriage and headed inside. Our formation was a little different from the parade. Earlier, I was in the center carriage, but this time I was at the very front.
"Woohoooooo!"
The cheers that erupted when we walked inside the palace were a little quieter than the ones on the street. Well, most of the people here were nobles or high-ranking guild execs, after all.
"What are you doing? Go in." Kaislan poked me in the back as I stopped at the entrance and looked around blankly.
Tsk, don't rush me.
Step, step.
I walked the red carpet that stretched all the way to the empty throne. As I did, I continuously scanned the room. The crowds shouted, whistled, and even took out binoculars to get a closer look at us. That was why it was easy to spot them in the crowd of thousands.
Tap.
In this blessed place full of happy people, only they sat in mourning, like uninvited guests among the laughing crowd.
So, there they are.
"W-Wait... where are you going?!" Ignoring Kaislan's protests, I changed directions and headed toward the stands. I guessed he realized where I was going a moment later. "Damn it, I don't even know if I should argue." Kaislan no longer tried to stop me.
Step, step.
Our procession changed course. The military band following us was startled, but they changed directions as well like professionals.
Tap.
We eventually stood before them. Quietly wiping away their tears, they looked down at me with puzzled expressions on their faces. These were the bereaved families of the rest of the squadron, whom I requested the marquess allow into the Palace of Glory.
Ba-bam, ba-bam, baba-ba-bam!
Jeez, that's so annoying. Can't you turn that off now?
I wanted to complain, but it seemed the military band had neither the common sense nor the authority to stop. As a compromise, I just snatched the instruments out of their hands and threw them on the floor.
Kkkang!
The music abruptly stopped, leaving only a deafening silence. Only then did the crowd stop cheering. The sobs of the bereaved families in front of me now rang out loud and clear.
Tap.
I went down on one knee in front of them. "I'm sorry. For not bringing your precious loved ones home."
When I lowered my head, the rest of the squadron followed suit. According to custom, we should have done this in front of the empty throne, but who cared? The king wasn't even going to show up.
"Thank you..." Unable to make eye contact, I kept my head lowered and soon felt a gentle hand on the crown of it. "He... Ashed, how did he die?" So, this was Ashed's wife.
"He... was like a wizard from a fairy tale. He was unafraid even in the face of death, and it was all because of him that we were able to come back alive."
Ashed's wife said nothing for a moment in response to my statement, which could have sounded to her like a superficial platitude. She just wept silently. "I... see..." Come to think of it, that guy was a liar. He said his wife was strong. "I... what do I... what do I do now? My poor... husband... how... Wahhh!" The woman who placed her hand on my head dropped to the ground, wailing in grief.
It was like a dam had burst. The loved ones rushed out of their seats to bombard us with questions.
"M-McKelly Rayothers. What happened to him? I-I wasn't told anything. Only that he's dead and I should come to the palace..."
"Ventis Gerod! He was my father! But I didn't even know he was going on such a dangerous mission!"
"Mr. Calla! Please, tell me! Rick... why couldn't Rick be here? Why did you come back alone?!"
We answered with bowed heads and made-up explanations. All the while, the crowd took in the sight with interest.
"What the—? Is this part of the event?"
"Wow, the palace knows how to pull out the stops."
"I've never seen such an impressive ceremony!"
"It's clearly a mess... Well, as long as it's entertaining."
I had no way of knowing how long said mess lasted.
"...We cannot delay the procession any longer."
The knights came over to restore order on the marquess's command and the ceremony resumed. We stepped back onto the red carpet after our short detour was over and headed to the empty throne. The marquess now stood in front of it.
So he finally shows himself after hiding inside that mana crystal for the past few days.
I took one look at him, then got down on my knee and bowed. Unlike earlier with the families, this wasn't a sign of respect. I just knew it wouldn't be easy for me to keep a handle on my emotions while making eye contact with him.
"You have walked an arduous path, heroes!" The marquess didn't deviate from his script despite my unplanned interruption earlier.
He then summarized our quest in his own words. The thirty heroes completed their noble mission and, after numerous trials and tribulations, finally returned home. His speech was unnecessarily long due to the copious amounts of praise sprinkled in, but that was the gist of it. This was a story we made up, not the truth. After some negotiations with the marquess, we agreed to allow him to leave the part about the rescue team not coming to aid us out of his retelling entirely.
"Even the polar cold could not cool their burning passion. Even the underground traitors could not take their lives." As the marquess spoke of our accomplishments and praised us, the crowd applauded.
Kkkang!
The music abruptly stopped, leaving only a deafening silence. Only then did the crowd stop cheering. The sobs of the bereaved families in front of me now rang out loud and clear.
Tap.
I went down on one knee in front of them. "I'm sorry. For not bringing your precious loved ones home."
When I lowered my head, the rest of the squadron followed suit. According to custom, we should have done this in front of the empty throne, but who cared? The king wasn't even going to show up.
"Thank you..." Unable to make eye contact, I kept my head lowered and soon felt a gentle hand on the crown of it. "He... Ashed, how did he die?" So, this was Ashed's wife.
"He... was like a wizard from a fairy tale. He was unafraid even in the face of death, and it was all because of him that we were able to come back alive."
Ashed's wife said nothing for a moment in response to my statement, which could have sounded to her like a superficial platitude. She just wept silently. "I... see..." Come to think of it, that guy was a liar. He said his wife was strong. "I... what do I... what do I do now? My poor... husband... how... Wahhh!" The woman who placed her hand on my head dropped to the ground, wailing in grief.
It was like a dam had burst. The loved ones rushed out of their seats to bombard us with questions.
"M-McKelly Rayothers. What happened to him? I-I wasn't told anything. Only that he's dead and I should come to the palace..."
"Ventis Gerod! He was my father! But I didn't even know he was going on such a dangerous mission!"
"Mr. Calla! Please, tell me! Rick... why couldn't Rick be here? Why did you come back alone?!"
We answered with bowed heads and made-up explanations. All the while, the crowd took in the sight with interest.
"What the—? Is this part of the event?"
"Wow, the palace knows how to pull out the stops."
"I've never seen such an impressive ceremony!"
"It's clearly a mess... Well, as long as it's entertaining."
I had no way of knowing how long said mess lasted.
"...We cannot delay the procession any longer."
The knights came over to restore order on the marquess's command and the ceremony resumed. We stepped back onto the red carpet after our short detour was over and headed to the empty throne. The marquess now stood in front of it.
So he finally shows himself after hiding inside that mana crystal for the past few days.
I took one look at him, then got down on my knee and bowed. Unlike earlier with the families, this wasn't a sign of respect. I just knew it wouldn't be easy for me to keep a handle on my emotions while making eye contact with him.
"You have walked an arduous path, heroes!" The marquess didn't deviate from his script despite my unplanned interruption earlier.
He then summarized our quest in his own words. The thirty heroes completed their noble mission and, after numerous trials and tribulations, finally returned home. His speech was unnecessarily long due to the copious amounts of praise sprinkled in, but that was the gist of it. This was a story we made up, not the truth. After some negotiations with the marquess, we agreed to allow him to leave the part about the rescue team not coming to aid us out of his retelling entirely.
"Even the polar cold could not cool their burning passion. Even the underground traitors could not take their lives." As the marquess spoke of our accomplishments and praised us, the crowd applauded.
Once the marques stepped back, the archbishop of the Tovera church appeared before us next. "Ahem, ahem... first, I'd like to speak on the nature of sacrifice." The high-ranking priest suspected by many of having hair loss offered us words of comfort and made excessive mentions of the priests and paladin who were sacrificed.
Beeeeeep...
Next was the duke.
Beeeeeep...
Then the Adventurers' Guild. Next... and next...
Beeeeeeep...
The people who had made plans to divvy up the rewards of this expedition walked in front of the crowd one by one and reaped what we had sown.
Squeeze...
Wow, I knew it wouldn't be, but this really isn't easy.
Luckily, thanks to my unexpected detour earlier, the ceremony was shortened and my need to be patient was short-lived. Finally, the ceremony reached its climax.
"Let the light of the king be with you all."
In time with the marquess's announcement, the music began again. In a school ceremony, this part would've essentially been the equivalent of saluting the nation's flag.
This part takes three minutes, I think.
I counted exactly two minutes before speaking only loud enough for the marquess, about ten feet away, to hear. "Hey, marquess."
When I spoke to him, the marquess looked at me like I had lost it. It probably wasn't a great look for the star of this event to be distracted, and in a place where all the nobles were gathered too.
"I've been thinking, how is getting my name back going?"
I guessed he was worried I would ruin the event if he didn't give me an answer. The marquess fixed his eyes on the empty throne and quickly responded. "As I said back then, it will take two more months."
"Two months, huh?"
"That was our agreement."
"It was," I conceded with a chuckle. "But... now that I think about it, I think that's too long. I want to push it forward a bit."
The marquess didn't answer. The performance had ended and it was time to resume the event. He shot me a scolding look and launched back into praising the palace.
Jeez, I get you're busy but you should've answered. This gives me no choice. Barbarians don't understand you unless you speak loud and clear.
The marquess, who was giving a long speech about how great and merciful the king was, finally shouted, "Let the light of the king be with you!" We had now reached the last part of the ceremony, according to the briefing the marquess sent me. "Now, squadron leader Riehen Schuitz, speak!"
This was a kind of ceremonial report. The moment we gave it, our long expedition would officially come to an end.
[You have cast Giantization. Your Physique increases in proportion to your Strength.]
That was why I used Transcendence to increase my size even more. I needed to be at least this big for people to see me, right? Thousands of eyes instantly flew to me as my body grew.
"How dare you use your abilities inside the palace?!"
"Do you know where you are?! This is an insult to the king!"
Some people were angry that I was using a skill. On the other hand, it was Bjorn Yandel's signature skill.
"G-Giantization?"
Once the marques stepped back, the archbishop of the Tovera church appeared before us next. "Ahem, ahem... first, I'd like to speak on the nature of sacrifice." The high-ranking priest suspected by many of having hair loss offered us words of comfort and made excessive mentions of the priests and paladin who were sacrificed.
Beeeeeep...
Next was the duke.
Beeeeeep...
Then the Adventurers' Guild. Next... and next...
Beeeeeeep...
The people who had made plans to divvy up the rewards of this expedition walked in front of the crowd one by one and reaped what we had sown.
Squeeze...
Wow, I knew it wouldn't be, but this really isn't easy.
Luckily, thanks to my unexpected detour earlier, the ceremony was shortened and my need to be patient was short-lived. Finally, the ceremony reached its climax.
"Let the light of the king be with you all."
In time with the marquess's announcement, the music began again. In a school ceremony, this part would've essentially been the equivalent of saluting the nation's flag.
This part takes three minutes, I think.
I counted exactly two minutes before speaking only loud enough for the marquess, about ten feet away, to hear. "Hey, marquess."
When I spoke to him, the marquess looked at me like I had lost it. It probably wasn't a great look for the star of this event to be distracted, and in a place where all the nobles were gathered too.
"I've been thinking, how is getting my name back going?"
I guessed he was worried I would ruin the event if he didn't give me an answer. The marquess fixed his eyes on the empty throne and quickly responded. "As I said back then, it will take two more months."
"Two months, huh?"
"That was our agreement."
"It was," I conceded with a chuckle. "But... now that I think about it, I think that's too long. I want to push it forward a bit."
The marquess didn't answer. The performance had ended and it was time to resume the event. He shot me a scolding look and launched back into praising the palace.
Jeez, I get you're busy but you should've answered. This gives me no choice. Barbarians don't understand you unless you speak loud and clear.
The marquess, who was giving a long speech about how great and merciful the king was, finally shouted, "Let the light of the king be with you!" We had now reached the last part of the ceremony, according to the briefing the marquess sent me. "Now, squadron leader Riehen Schuitz, speak!"
This was a kind of ceremonial report. The moment we gave it, our long expedition would officially come to an end.
[You have cast Giantization. Your Physique increases in proportion to your Strength.]
That was why I used Transcendence to increase my size even more. I needed to be at least this big for people to see me, right? Thousands of eyes instantly flew to me as my body grew.
"How dare you use your abilities inside the palace?!"
"Do you know where you are?! This is an insult to the king!"
Some people were angry that I was using a skill. On the other hand, it was Bjorn Yandel's signature skill.
"G-Giantization?"
"I-Is it a coincidence?"
"Wait, his face kind of looks similar..."
"But that man is dead."
"More importantly, he was an evil spirit..."
Those in the crowd who had put two and two together raised questions. And the marquess? He fell backward as soon as I turned on Giantization.
What, you thought I was going to assassinate you here?
Slide.
I turned away from the marquess and calmly looked at the empty throne. "I will speak the truth in front of the one true monarch."
My eyes were facing forward but I spoke loudly so that everyone in the hall could hear. I said each person's name clearly, carrying the sentiments I couldn't relay to the bereaved families in my heart.
"Pyke Neldine." He was accused of being a traitor and had been executed in Ice Rock. At the time I thought that was for the best, but I regretted it now. If he really did wish for the expedition to fail, he could have been our ally.
"Philip Aintropi." The navigator from Kaislan's team had lost his life in the ambush in Deadwood while we were waiting to be rescued. His head was crushed. Though we didn't exchange many words, I heard about him later from Kaislan. He was a dutiful son who never got married and took care of his elderly parents.
"Might Million." He was struck by Land's End Thorn and killed instantly while we were escaping Deadwood. He didn't even scream. I'd probably be stuck wondering this for the rest of my life: was he unable to avoid that hit? Or did he let himself get hit on purpose even though he could have?
"Fiona Amos." She had been killed by a lucky hit while casting Mass Teleport with the other wizards. "Niaro Campbell." He had been a priest killed trying to help a wounded warrior on the front lines.
"Milburn Naria." Our ever-polite Troll summoner. Though she saved everyone, she chose to die a lonely death to protect us one last time. I prayed she woke up in a house filled with the scent of coffee.
"Matt Hybridham." He had been a paladin in a tank position, but I made him take off all his armor. While forcing our way forward, equipment-less, he lost his life just before we reached the top of Glacier Eye.
"Percival Eric Coulson." He was Kaislan's old friend and subordinate from the same unit. Even as he cried over his death, Kaislan comforted me and said that because I was there, he did not give up until the very end. That meant his death was meaningful.
That's... the burden I'll have to carry from now on.
I continued, "Rick Jugusta." After regrouping, he was killed during our fight against Noark. His cause of death was the same Land's End Thorn that killed Might Million. "Ventis Gerod." When the Order of the Rose attacked us from behind, he stayed behind to buy other members of the squadron time to get to safety. He was a man who always talked about romance. Since he was a special ability user who had done the work of a warrior, I figured that guaranteed some luck in love.
"Roita Mamander." Killed by the Order of the Rose while providing support from atop a cliff. He had been a very strict priest. "McKelly Rayothers." The wizard on Akurava's team. After being subjected to Soul Extraction, he never woke up. "Roan Veliaro." He had been a humorous man whose motto was 'here for a good time, not a long time.' He was killed in the surprise attack the Order of the Rose carried out under the cover of darkness.
"Jun." A noble paladin who had died standing. He was a great man until the very end, to the point where even his enemies didn't realize he was dead until much later.
"Tsuon Irivan." The archer from Team Two. When Sven Parav's part of the line was broken, his body was torn apart by a monster summoned by the priest of Karui. But despite the state he was in, he had requested a priest before he died. If I remember right, he'd asked them to sing a hymn of hope, even though he couldn't hear it because of Soul Extraction's penalty.
"Futa Rickerburn." The guy who worked as a fixer for the Duke of Kealunus. He was a jack-of-all-trades who served as both a scout and close-range damage dealer. His fighting skills had been so-so, but apparently, he managed to kill two Roses back-to-back in the end. I hadn't been able to believe it when I heard about it later. If I could have filmed a video, it would've been played at his funeral. Duke, your fixer was a great son of a bitch.
"...What strength!" Before I knew it, I was surrounded by knights who grabbed my arms and tried to pull me down. But I guessed those weren't great optics.
"Stop." The marquess called off the knights.
Why are you doing something useful for once?
"Periton Ariabos, Benjamin Orman." These two defeated the rampaging summons of the evil god with the ultimate finishers and self-sacrificial spells available to priests. If it weren't for them, everyone would have died.
"Riard Ashed." He'd used Awakening, just like Dwalkie. Not only did he deliver a critical blow to the evil god's summons, but he'd killed three Roses too. Marrone told me this with tears the day before the labyrinth closed. She had been planning on casting the spell herself, but Ashed had stopped her.
"Guold Aldidi." This man risked his life to run through the front lines to save me so I could get back to work. I was sure that old man had wanted to live too.
Yes, many people died.
As I recited their names one by one, I could feel the weight of each. But even so, I pressed on, calm and collected. I was making a final report, after all. "Twenty fatalities."
Twenty of the people who took on this dangerous mission, twenty people with hopes and dreams, were dead. They died in that cold, icy place, miserable and alone, desperately longing for something better. Of course, not all of them were good people. There was one who embezzled public funds from his company, and even Jun admitted he tortured innocent people. Rickerburn probably did all kinds of dirty work during his tenure as a fixer for the duke. There were definitely some who would say their deaths were fitting. However, one thing was clear.
No one deserves to die like that.
We had survived thanks to them. This was why I could say this proudly, even if it was just another bid to survive.
"Lilith Marrone, Versyl Gowland, James Calla, Melend Kaislan, Sven Parav, Ravieniastorus, Emily Raines, Titana Akurava, Erwen Fornacci di Tersia..." Before I said the last name, I glanced up at the marquess. He was staring at me with a business-like smile affixed on his face. It seemed he decided there was no point in trying to stop me when I'd already used Giantization.
The marquess's eyes bored into me as he spoke, his voice low and soft. "Tsk, if you just waited a little longer, things would have been better for both of us."
Yeah, for you, maybe. But if I don't reclaim my name soon, I'll be a little too vulnerable. Let's level the playing field a bit.
"Proud baronet of the kingdom," I shouted grandly in front of thousands of nobles, "I, Bjorn, son of Yandel, have completed my mission and declare our return on behalf of the expedition!"
I'm back.
"I-Is it a coincidence?"
"Wait, his face kind of looks similar..."
"But that man is dead."
"More importantly, he was an evil spirit..."
Those in the crowd who had put two and two together raised questions. And the marquess? He fell backward as soon as I turned on Giantization.
What, you thought I was going to assassinate you here?
Slide.
I turned away from the marquess and calmly looked at the empty throne. "I will speak the truth in front of the one true monarch."
My eyes were facing forward but I spoke loudly so that everyone in the hall could hear. I said each person's name clearly, carrying the sentiments I couldn't relay to the bereaved families in my heart.
"Pyke Neldine." He was accused of being a traitor and had been executed in Ice Rock. At the time I thought that was for the best, but I regretted it now. If he really did wish for the expedition to fail, he could have been our ally.
"Philip Aintropi." The navigator from Kaislan's team had lost his life in the ambush in Deadwood while we were waiting to be rescued. His head was crushed. Though we didn't exchange many words, I heard about him later from Kaislan. He was a dutiful son who never got married and took care of his elderly parents.
"Might Million." He was struck by Land's End Thorn and killed instantly while we were escaping Deadwood. He didn't even scream. I'd probably be stuck wondering this for the rest of my life: was he unable to avoid that hit? Or did he let himself get hit on purpose even though he could have?
"Fiona Amos." She had been killed by a lucky hit while casting Mass Teleport with the other wizards. "Niaro Campbell." He had been a priest killed trying to help a wounded warrior on the front lines.
"Milburn Naria." Our ever-polite Troll summoner. Though she saved everyone, she chose to die a lonely death to protect us one last time. I prayed she woke up in a house filled with the scent of coffee.
"Matt Hybridham." He had been a paladin in a tank position, but I made him take off all his armor. While forcing our way forward, equipment-less, he lost his life just before we reached the top of Glacier Eye.
"Percival Eric Coulson." He was Kaislan's old friend and subordinate from the same unit. Even as he cried over his death, Kaislan comforted me and said that because I was there, he did not give up until the very end. That meant his death was meaningful.
That's... the burden I'll have to carry from now on.
I continued, "Rick Jugusta." After regrouping, he was killed during our fight against Noark. His cause of death was the same Land's End Thorn that killed Might Million. "Ventis Gerod." When the Order of the Rose attacked us from behind, he stayed behind to buy other members of the squadron time to get to safety. He was a man who always talked about romance. Since he was a special ability user who had done the work of a warrior, I figured that guaranteed some luck in love.
"Roita Mamander." Killed by the Order of the Rose while providing support from atop a cliff. He had been a very strict priest. "McKelly Rayothers." The wizard on Akurava's team. After being subjected to Soul Extraction, he never woke up. "Roan Veliaro." He had been a humorous man whose motto was 'here for a good time, not a long time.' He was killed in the surprise attack the Order of the Rose carried out under the cover of darkness.
"Jun." A noble paladin who had died standing. He was a great man until the very end, to the point where even his enemies didn't realize he was dead until much later.
"Tsuon Irivan." The archer from Team Two. When Sven Parav's part of the line was broken, his body was torn apart by a monster summoned by the priest of Karui. But despite the state he was in, he had requested a priest before he died. If I remember right, he'd asked them to sing a hymn of hope, even though he couldn't hear it because of Soul Extraction's penalty.
"Futa Rickerburn." The guy who worked as a fixer for the Duke of Kealunus. He was a jack-of-all-trades who served as both a scout and close-range damage dealer. His fighting skills had been so-so, but apparently, he managed to kill two Roses back-to-back in the end. I hadn't been able to believe it when I heard about it later. If I could have filmed a video, it would've been played at his funeral. Duke, your fixer was a great son of a bitch.
"...What strength!" Before I knew it, I was surrounded by knights who grabbed my arms and tried to pull me down. But I guessed those weren't great optics.
"Stop." The marquess called off the knights.
Why are you doing something useful for once?
"Periton Ariabos, Benjamin Orman." These two defeated the rampaging summons of the evil god with the ultimate finishers and self-sacrificial spells available to priests. If it weren't for them, everyone would have died.
"Riard Ashed." He'd used Awakening, just like Dwalkie. Not only did he deliver a critical blow to the evil god's summons, but he'd killed three Roses too. Marrone told me this with tears the day before the labyrinth closed. She had been planning on casting the spell herself, but Ashed had stopped her.
"Guold Aldidi." This man risked his life to run through the front lines to save me so I could get back to work. I was sure that old man had wanted to live too.
Yes, many people died.
As I recited their names one by one, I could feel the weight of each. But even so, I pressed on, calm and collected. I was making a final report, after all. "Twenty fatalities."
Twenty of the people who took on this dangerous mission, twenty people with hopes and dreams, were dead. They died in that cold, icy place, miserable and alone, desperately longing for something better. Of course, not all of them were good people. There was one who embezzled public funds from his company, and even Jun admitted he tortured innocent people. Rickerburn probably did all kinds of dirty work during his tenure as a fixer for the duke. There were definitely some who would say their deaths were fitting. However, one thing was clear.
No one deserves to die like that.
We had survived thanks to them. This was why I could say this proudly, even if it was just another bid to survive.
"Lilith Marrone, Versyl Gowland, James Calla, Melend Kaislan, Sven Parav, Ravieniastorus, Emily Raines, Titana Akurava, Erwen Fornacci di Tersia..." Before I said the last name, I glanced up at the marquess. He was staring at me with a business-like smile affixed on his face. It seemed he decided there was no point in trying to stop me when I'd already used Giantization.
The marquess's eyes bored into me as he spoke, his voice low and soft. "Tsk, if you just waited a little longer, things would have been better for both of us."
Yeah, for you, maybe. But if I don't reclaim my name soon, I'll be a little too vulnerable. Let's level the playing field a bit.
"Proud baronet of the kingdom," I shouted grandly in front of thousands of nobles, "I, Bjorn, son of Yandel, have completed my mission and declare our return on behalf of the expedition!"
I'm back.