Chapter 31
Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Hero's Descent - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I continued speaking.
“The Count toyed with his maids even while he had a proper wife. Fortunately or unfortunately, his wife passed away while she was recuperating from pregnancy caused by one of those maids.”
“......”
“If it were me, I would have come clean about my mistakes and sought forgiveness... But it seems he kept it hidden to avoid the truth coming out that he was fooling around with another woman while his wife was ill.”
Ariena's lips trembled.
“H-How do you know all this?”
“I get around a bit and keep my ears open.”
“......”
“We've arrived.”
As I opened the door to the inn, the first person to rush out was Settlia.
She threw her arms around Ariena and sobbed.
“Sniff, sniff. Miss. You're safe.”
“Nanny.”
“I'm sorry. I was right there, but I couldn't do anything.”
“Ung. No. Don't say that. I'm just so glad you're safe.”
Tears welled up in Ariena's eyes too.
Jenia and Neril emerged from behind.
Jenia sniffled and asked me.
“What about Offense?”
“He said he'd watch until we wrap this up. We'll meet again once it's all done.”
“He drives a hard bargain.”
“It's fine. I didn't really expect him to join our party right away anyway. It's better if he takes a bit more time to think it over.”
“Huh?”
I shook my head as if it were no big deal.
Then Neril spoke up.
“Anyway, about that 'wrap-up.' What exactly do you plan to do?”
“Hmm.”
“We can stop the war by announcing that Ariena's safe, but do you think the Count will just obediently spread the word? The guy's bloodthirsty for war.”
Her question was directed at me, but Jenia, Ariena, and Settlia were all looking my way too.
I scratched my head and turned to Ariena first.
“I do have a plan in mind.”
“......”
“But using it will trample the Count's reputation into the dirt. Is that okay with you?”
Settl ia hurried to respond.
Squeeze.
But Ariena grabbed her hand and shook her head.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“It's fine. I'll take full responsibility.”
“......”
“Please crush his face.”
“You've made up your mind, I see.”
“Yes. I don't want to call my mother 'nanny' anymore.”
I could see Settlia flinch.
I smiled softly and nodded.
“This alone will deal a fatal blow to the Count, but let's give it a little extra push.”
“Huh?”
“We'll execute the plan two days from now in the morning. Until then, I'll dig up every crime and scandal he's committed and hand them over. It'll be the perfect weapon for a lady with big ambitions.”
That's when Trail freaked out.
[Hey, you aren't planning to do it again, are you?]
“Of course, having a weapon doesn't guarantee victory. How you wield it is entirely up to you, my lady.”
[No, no. That's not it. I'm against the plan.]
“You can do it, my lady. You're wise enough.”
[He's not listening. Fine, let's just enjoy the ride. Enjoy it we shall.]
A firm resolve settled on Ariena's face.
She wiped the tears from her eyes and stood tall.
“You have more political savvy than I expected, Hero.”
“Just bits and pieces I've picked up.”
“Got it. I'll do as you say. In one year... no, half a year at the latest, I'll drive out the Count and take his place.”
“I believe in you.”
A strange fervor gleamed in her eyes.
“Could you stay by my side for that half year?”
“Sorry, but that won't be possible. I have other territories to visit.”
“Hehe. I figured as much. You're not the kind of person someone like me could hold onto.”
“......”
“But I have a request. No matter when, please come back to this territory once more. By then, I'll greet you as its master.”
The woman speaking those words was no longer just a lady or a miss.
She already exuded the dignity of a territory's lord.
I bowed politely at the waist.
“I will, without fail.”
That's when Trail's voice chimed in.
[Alright. Time for some fun overtime, then.]
What's up with this guy all of a sudden?
Thanks to Trail's hard work, I secured all the secrets from the Blood Letters tied to the Count's victims.
I compiled them and handed them over to Ariena.
Surprisingly, she didn't seem all that shocked.
“I'd already guessed most of this.”
“Impressive.”
“No, the impressive one is you, Hero. I can't fathom how you uncovered all this from inside the manor.”
“That's why they call me Hero.”
I'd meant it as a joke, but Ariena took it seriously.
“I see. A true hero transcends mortal perception. The tales in the history books aren't fiction after all.”
“......”
“But I think you're far greater than the four heroes of legend.”
“Ahem. Thank you for the praise.”
I've received plenty of compliments before.
But this was the first time I'd been praised as a 'hero,' and it made my face heat up.
Neril and Jenia whispered.
“Never seen that look on his face before.”
“He must've been craving the hero title. Should we start calling him Hero from now on?”
“Nah, he'd just grin like an idiot.”
“Yeah, his nostrils would probably flare too.”
“Our minds are in sync these days, huh?”
“Pfft. Totally.”
So why do you two only sync up when you're roasting me?
I casually ran a hand through my hair and changed the subject.
“Anyway, for that scheme and those scandals to really shine, we need to start by announcing to the world that you're safe, Lady Ariena.”
“Ah, right. You said you had something in mind. How do we do it?”
Instead of answering, I looked at Jenia.
“Give us a ride on our Agril.”
“......?”
“I'm talking to you, Jenia. Stop looking around.”
"What's an Agril?"
"You're really going there, huh."
"No. Agril is a divine beast bestowed by the gods, the divine carriage! It doesn't let anyone but me ride it!"
She protested, but it didn't faze me—I remembered it carrying our party members around the continent before my regression.
"It wouldn't let us on out of the blue, sure. So you need to convince Agril."
"It's been low on exercise lately. Can't exceed capacity."
"You've only ever ridden it yourself, so how do you know the capacity? Just give it a try at least."
“Ugh. What if it gets mad?”
She grumbled but went along with it.
Neril's eyes sparkled at the thought of riding a legendary beast.
“Fine by me, but why bother with Agril?”
“Everything I do is to boost my fame.”
“......You can say that so openly in front of the lady here?”
Hm. Good point.
As I reflected on that, Ariena quickly chimed in.
“Fame seems like an important virtue for you, Hero. Using the best means to achieve your goals is nothing to blame. I'll do the same from now on.”
“You've fully bought into everything Maide does now.”
“You. I was holding back since you're the Hero's companion, but I have to say something. I don't look down on you for being a noble, but you look quite a bit younger than me. Show a little more respect.”
Ariena didn't know Neril was the infamous Witch of Atrocities.
'Neril's gonna blow up with that temper of hers.'
I tried to mediate quickly.
But Neril suddenly smirked.
“Did I look that young?”
“......”
“Thanks. You're a good person.”
What?
Count Tovira had a bad feeling something was off.
Deirt, the Alcahad branch chief, was nowhere to be seen.
With departure just a day away, Deirt wasn't needed anymore, but the absence of that embodiment of greed made him uneasy.
Tovira looked down at his army arrayed in perfect order below the walls.
From above, they looked unbreakable, each worth a hundred men.
But the talk circulating among them was far from that of a strong force.
“Ugh. Dragged into war at my age.”
“Damn it. It's planting season soon. What the hell is the lord thinking?”
“Shh. Keep quiet unless you want your head rolling.”
“Honestly, what wouldn't we do to find Miss Ariena? She was such a lovely girl.”
“They're really hiding her in Kitur? Something feels off about it.”
“Ahh. If only the Hero would show up and fix everything.”
“The Hero, huh. Speaking of which, I heard a rumor...”
That was the gist of it.
Time passed, and by noon, all preparations for departure were complete.
Everyone looked frozen, hoping someone would say this nightmare was fake.
That's when it happened.
“Huh? W-What's that!”
A soldier suddenly pointed up at the sky.
It was textbook lack of discipline, but no one could blame him.
Because a certain beast had appeared in the sky he was pointing at.
The divine carriage, Agril.
A top secret most commoners didn't even know existed.
That's why the soldiers began interpreting Agril's appearance as an 'omen.'
“Argh! Monster! It's a demon beast!”
“A monster shows up right before departure. We're doomed, totally doomed.”
“Waaah. Mommy.”
“I was gonna propose to my girlfriend after this battle!”
“Hey. Don't jinx it!”
That's when it happened.
A heavy voice suddenly boomed from atop the unidentified beast.
It was Maide's voice, amplified by Neril's voice magnification magic.
“Everyone. No need to worry.”
“Gasp.”
“You don't have to fight. No need to kill anyone. Today, all of you will return to your homes. I'll make sure of it.”
As if on cue, there was a beat of silence, then the voice rang out loudly again.
“This is Maide Mohan speaking.”
I finished my speech from Agril's back and turned around.
Neril, Jenia, and Ariena were riding with me.
The other two made sense, but Ariena holding her composure at this height was quite unexpected.
“Lady Ariena. I've laid the groundwork... Ahem. Set the mood properly. Ready?”
“......”
“Lady Ariena?”
“......”
Trail said.
[She looks like she fainted with her eyes open.]
Not so composed after all.
I grabbed her shoulder—somewhat rudely—and shook her lightly.
“Ah.”
“Sorry. Timing is everything right now. I'll take my punishment for the rudeness later.”
“Uh. N-No, I'm the one who's sorry. It's my first time this high up.”
“I understand. Shall we begin?”
“Yes.”
She took my hand and slowly stood on Agril's back.
Neril frowned slightly for some reason.
“Quite the gentlemanly escort.”
“I'm a bit of a gentleman.”
“Sure you are.”
“Anyway, let's start. Flying magic, please.”
“Okay.”
She prepared her spell.
In the meantime, I told Jenia.
“You make us shine with holy power.”
“This isn't what holy power is for... But somehow it feels right now. Got it.”
“Good.”
I led Ariena to the edge of Agril's back.
Time to start.
Hero's descent.