The Hero's Party Defeated the Demon King
A year had already passed since Abel arrived in Valencia, the territory of the Valstein family.
The cold winter had gone, the hot summer had passed, and a season carrying the warm breath of spring had returned.
His single year at the Valstein estate had been so eventful that it felt comparable to ten years in Magiavel.
"Abel! I'm using the arm well, thank you!"
"Whoa! Thanks to the crutches you gave me, Abel-hyung, my work speed has doubled!"
That was undoubtedly because he had grown close to so many people.
Once word spread that he was making braille books for Lisa, people began asking him for woodworking and carving favors. He had spent his spare time carving prosthetic arms and legs for those in need.
"Abel, aren't you making any snacks today...? *Smack.*"
"The gambas we had last time was so delicious! Can't you make it again today?!"
He also occasionally cooked for the Valstein knights and servants.
Although the Valstein estate had its own chefs, a noble family's chef cooked primarily for their master.
The knights and servants beneath them rarely got to taste high-quality cuisine.
While Abel might not have possessed the skills of a professional chef, he was talented enough to make dishes that would earn a thumbs-up from anyone who tasted them.
Having received permission to use the empty kitchen, he whipped up snacks and meals whenever there were leftover ingredients.
"Butler! Where are you off to? Heading to the market?!"
"If you need anything, just say the word! Abel is practically like a younger brother to me."
"Abel-oppa, can I ask you a favor?"
As a result, the presence of the butler named Abel within the Valstein estate had grown to be far more than just a simple servant.
"I'm heading to the market! See you later, Harin. You needed a wooden comb, right?"
Waving to the people who called out to him as he passed, Abel kept moving.
No matter how many people spoke to him, made requests, or invited him to chat, his top priority was always his duties as a butler.
Step.
Yet, there was someone who could make Abel halt in his tracks.
Tread. Tread.
Clank. Clank.
A single man walking in the lead, followed by a retinue of knights.
"...!"
Abel immediately stopped and bowed his head.
"Oh."
But the long-haired man at the front, Duke Drynain, spotted Abel, stopped, and turned around.
Slide.
"Bel. Where are you off to?"
Duke Drynain asked, naturally resting a hand on Abel's shoulder.
Abel slowly raised his head, casting a slightly disgruntled look that said, What are you doing?
"Heh."
Duke Drynain looked down at Abel with a playful smirk playing on his lips.
The knights are going to misunderstand again...
Rumors had already spread that he was the Duke's fishing companion, and Abel could feel the knights' attitude toward him becoming noticeably cautious.
While some surely liked him because he shared snacks and chatted with them,
there were definitely those who only pretended to be friendly because he was the fishing buddy of the Duke they served.
"I was on my way to the market. Chef Hans asked me to pick up some missing ingredients."
"Is that so? You seem to be close with Hans as well. Well, you are quite the cook yourself, Bel. Hans's food is delicious, of course, but... hm, that spicy soup you made for me in the mountains last time was truly an unforgettable delicacy."
Duke Drynain crossed his arms and nodded, as if reminiscing about that day.
Indeed, the Duke and Abel went fishing together every weekend.
"Your Grace. Would it be alright if I prepared the fish this time?"
"You, Abel? You know how to cook?"
Having watched the Duke always carry the caught fish down the mountain to be cooked back at the castle, Abel had packed some simple cooking utensils. He prepared a meal using the fish they caught right there in the mountains.
Bubble, bubble...
He brewed a clear soup using spicy seasonings.
Slice.
Showing off his knife skills, he cleanly filleted the fish to serve it raw.
"Ah... this practically begs for a drink. Wait here, I'll go down and fetch some."
Afterward, they sat at the mountain peak, enjoying the food alongside some alcohol the Duke brought.
As an Awakened Mana Road user, Duke Drynain could have easily avoided getting drunk by circulating his mana.
"Ugh... Abel, listen to me. My wife died giving birth to her... I really wanted to do right by Seria, you know? But she grew up so well all on her own, saying she didn't need a father..."
"Your Grace... you've had too much to drink."
"Me? Ah... am I drunk? Abel, you're a really good lad... a rare young man indeed..."
Having deliberately let himself get drunk, the Duke had to be supported by Abel all the way down to the tents at the base of the mountain.
"Oh dear! I've held you up for too long. Go on, Bel."
It was probably from that day onward that the Duke began calling him by the nickname 'Bel' instead of Abel.
"Um... Your Grace!"
"Hmm? Do you have something to say?"
Abel's call stopped the Duke as he was about to walk away.
"Is there... any news of Lady Seria?"
Abel asked, his eyes filled with a cautious yet earnest hope.
"Abel! No matter how highly His Grace thinks of you, how dare you speak of the young lady—!"
A nearby knight stepped forward to reprimand Abel for overstepping his bounds, but—
"Ah, it's fine."
Duke Drynain raised a hand to stop the knight, then looked at Abel and spoke.
"About eight months ago, the Hero's Party emerged from the dungeon and stopped by a border city for supplies. After that, they re-entered the Contaminated Lands through the dungeon. Since then... there has been no news. It's not as if there are cities or villages out there where they could send letters from."
"I see... Thank you for telling me!"
Abel bowed deeply to thank Duke Drynain for sharing news of his family on the front lines. He only straightened up after the Duke had walked away.
I came here to repay my debt to my savior.
But as long as Seria remained in the Contaminated Lands as a member of the Hero's Party, there would be no direct way for him to repay that debt.
No, I should still work hard.
Clenching his fists, Abel was about to move when—
...No news of the Hero's Party...
"Selphy..."
He froze, shaking his head at the name that had slipped from his lips.
"Oh, honestly! Junior, why are you so late?!"
"I'm sorry, Senior! Sorry, Lisa...!"
Spotting Anes and Lisa at the castle entrance, Abel scratched his head and apologized.
Since they had a long list of items to buy, the two had agreed to accompany him, but his conversation with the Duke had eaten up the time, making him late.
"It's going to take a while to buy everything... The market might even close before we finish, you know?"
"That would be a disaster! I'll run, even if it's on one leg, Senior!"
At the sight of Abel actually hopping on one leg, Anes giggled, covering her mouth, while Lisa tilted her head in confusion beside her.
Of course, the market closing early was no joke, so the three of them immediately grabbed their baskets and headed to the city's marketplace.
"Fresh apples brought in today! Cheap, very cheap!"
"Crystal accessories imported from the Western Empire! Buy one, get one free!"
Upon arriving at the marketplace, they were greeted by the sight of merchants calling out from their stalls and booths to attract customers.
"First, carrots and potatoes..."
Checking the list of missing ingredients that Chef Hans had handed him, Abel and Anes busily searched for high-quality produce.
"..."
Lisa held onto the hem of Abel's jacket with her fingertips, focusing on the surrounding sounds and enjoying the market in her own way.
*Clack-clack, clack-clack!*
...Galloping in the middle of the market?
Just then, amidst the murmurs of the crowd ahead, a warhorse galloping at full speed caught Abel's eye.
"...!"
Sensing the noise late, Lisa's face filled with panic.
*Grab!*
Before the warhorse could strike Lisa, Abel quickly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her out of the way.
"It's alright. It was just a horse running past."
Patting the back of the trembling Lisa to calm her down, Abel quickly scanned the area to see what was happening.
People are gathering and spreading some kind of news...
The emotions written on the faces of the crowd were confusion, shock, and relief.
Spotting the person who was spreading the rumor among them, Abel moved.
"Senior, please watch Lisa for a moment."
"A-Abel!"
Ignoring Anes's call, Abel limped quickly through the crowd and approached a stout man who was talking excitedly.
"Excuse me! Could you tell me what's going on?"
He caught the man's attention with a clear voice, immediately offering a polite smile.
"Huh?"
Turning around, the man noticed the blue dragon emblem embroidered on Abel's butler uniform and realized he was a servant of the Valstein family.
"Someone working for the Valstein family doesn't know about this?!"
"Haha, it seems the news just arrived."
Abel replied with a smile despite the man's scolding tone.
"Well, that's true. The news literally just broke! Listen closely! The Hero and his companions...!"
The Hero...?
"...have defeated the Demon King and returned! And Lady Seria de Valstein from this very estate is a member of the Hero's Party, isn't she? Eh?"
At the man's excited shout, Abel momentarily forgot the noisy surroundings and fell into a daze.
The images of Seraphina and the Hero,
and even Seria, who had saved him, flashed before his eyes like long-forgotten memories suddenly resurfacing.
*Flinch...*
Just thinking of Seraphina made his hands tremble.
"Abel! Junior!"
"...Oppa!"
At the voices calling out to him from his side,
"Yes...?"
"What's wrong, Junior? You're spacing out as if you've seen a ghost!"
"Ah... it's nothing. Nothing at all."
Abel closed and opened his eyes, struggling to regain his usual composure.
*Thump, thump, thump...*
The Hero's Party is returning...
Yet, he could do nothing to stop his heart from racing wildly.
A few days later.
*Clank... Clank...*
From the early hours of the morning, knights clad in blue armor lined up at the main gate of the Valstein Castle.
"Today, we welcome back my daughter, Seria de Valstein, who has achieved the great feat of slaying the Demon King!"
Standing at the very front of the knights, Duke Drynain, dressed in full armor and a cape unlike his usual attire, shouted proudly.
"Whooooaaah!"
"Long live Valstein! Long live Lady Seria!"
The family's knights roared in unison, celebrating the historic achievement of their master's bloodline.
To think she defeated the Demon King and returned safely... Thank goodness.
Since the servants had also been ordered to gather and welcome them, Abel stood in the ranks, witnessing this grand reception for the heroes.
*Hummmm...!*
A moment later, a massive magic circle formed in front of the castle entrance, beginning to glow with light.
*Flash!*
Following a bright burst of light, two figures clad in robes appeared.
One was holding a staff, clearly indicating they were a mage.
"..."
The other wore a blue robe with a sword at their waist, their face hidden from view.
"You have returned, my daughter!"
Yet, recognizing his daughter instantly from her silhouette alone, Duke Drynain opened his arms wide and boomed a welcome.
"I'm back... Father."
"Yes! You've worked hard!"
Seria de Valstein slowly walked forward and pulled back her hood, and the Duke embraced her.
The original plan was for all the knights to chant her name and cheer the moment she appeared.
"Sigh... it was seriously exhausting..."
However, seeing Seria looking incredibly fatigued and noticeably gaunt compared to before, everyone fell silent.
My savior... she looks so much thinner than when I last saw her.
She looked so exhausted that even Abel, who had only met her once before, could easily tell.
"Of course. Facing a monstrous entity like the Demon King must have been incredibly taxing...! You did well, my daughter!"
"No... it's just that that crazy bastard Leon Donaud made us go through so much unnecessary trouble...!"
Seria, her purple eyes flashing as if she were about to vent, suddenly paused.
"...Huh?"
She scanned the crowd, her gaze shifting to one side as she turned her head.
"Ah!"
She pointed in a certain direction, her mouth parting in surprise.
The knights standing in the direction of her finger stirred, wondering if she was pointing at one of them.
*Patter!*
But as the Duke's daughter lightly jogged past them, they realized they weren't the ones she was looking at.
Uh, wait...!
Abel's face filled with panic as Seria rapidly closed the distance between them.
*Stop.*
Coming to a halt right in front of Abel, Seria spoke.
"What in the world? Why are you here?!"
Though her words sounded demanding, her expression was filled with a joy that was far warmer than when she had greeted the Duke.
"Well... that is!"
Abel felt suffocated as the gaze of everyone present instantly locked onto him.
"I wanted to repay my debt to Lady Seria for saving my life, so I came to work for the Valstein family!"
Closing and opening his eyes tightly, he declared his reason for coming to the Valstein estate to everyone.
"..."
Seria quietly scanned his butler uniform, her eyes shifting over him at his shout.
"Pfft—! Ahaha!"
She clutched her stomach and burst into a clear, ringing laugh.
"Why... why are you laughing?"
"No, it's just... I told you back then that you didn't have to repay me! Pfft! To think you came all the way here and even dressed up in a butler uniform... You really are consistent!"
At Seria's words, accompanied by a playful tap on his arm, Abel's face flushed bright red.
"Um, Your Grace... are you alright?"
Knowing how much Duke Drynain doted on his daughter despite his cold exterior, Knight Captain Alfonso asked in a low, worried voice.
"About what?"
"Well... about Lady Seria acting like that with Abel."
Alfonso was secretly worried that the Duke might pull out a spear, seeing how Seria only seemed to liven up when she was in front of Abel.
"What's wrong with being close to my son-in-law..."
"Excuse me?"
Alfonso's eyes widened to the size of saucers, wondering if he had misheard.
"Let's head inside."
"Your Grace, what on earth did you mean by that just now...?"
Regardless of what was being said behind him, Duke Drynain dismissed the knights and walked into the castle entrance, leaving Seria and Abel behind.