Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Return to the Secular World - 2
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"Why... have even you ended up like this..."
A heavy sigh escaped the old knight's lips.
"This is exactly what I was hoping for. Well, at least he didn't go so far as to take my life."
"You could have died!"
"Too bad."
Celia smiled softly as she continued treating the wounds on his body.
"The injuries are a bit severe, that's all. With this level... I should be able to heal them completely by tomorrow."
"I was too caught up in the chaos to see what happened clearly. What kind of spell did you use?"
Celia's smile, still clad in her bloodstained priestess robes, instilled a strange sense of dread in Reinhardt.
"I... was an idiot. I had no idea how much pain that person was in, and just because Enel seemed like a good person, I kept leaning on that kindness over and over."
"But that was..."
The figure the old knight had witnessed was no different from a monster surrendered to rage.
"Don't go judging him on your own. I know him better."
"I'm sorry."
"Elenor, Lady Pashier, Miss Nerwen—they all took beatings like that. Wouldn't it be unfair if I was the only one who got off scot-free?"
Celia strained to force her eyes open, but no matter how much she healed, she couldn't move them as she wished.
"It's only natural. I begged someone who was ready to end their life after setting aside their revenge to keep on living. If they've chosen to live, then that revenge is still there."
"But... why?"
"I was foolish, an idiot who knew nothing... but the words I said were sincere."
"What?"
"I hope you find happiness. Even if it's not with us—even with someone else—I just want that kind heart of yours to be rewarded with love."
Reinhardt paced anxiously back and forth in front of the sickbed.
"The Tower Master nearly died."
"On our journey to slay the Demon King, we killed Enel."
Celia seemed to be lost in memories even before fully closing her eyes. She giggled, then suddenly grimaced or let her face droop in sadness.
"Is it true that he is the Hero?"
"I didn't know either. I was amazed seeing him dispel the barrier without knowing any magic or holy spells... but I figured it was just some special family power, nothing more than an ordinary person."
"So it... was the truth."
No matter the circumstances before or after, he had pointed his sword at the Hero. Reinhardt's face darkened in an instant, as much as the Saintess's.
But he had no intention of bearing that sin alone.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -No, really, that's just how that place is—it never changes. Sure, it's inside the capital, but every city has its slums, right?
"Ah, I get it. I said it's fine."
-Just listen! The higher-ups don't care about the slums anyway, and a few less heads isn't always a bad thing. There's no way goblins holed up in the city would get strong enough to break out of a slum.
The holy sword, still bitter that there were no goblin nests in that spot, had been ranting all morning about "why its judgment couldn't possibly be wrong."
-So that's why they leave nests like that near the slums alone. But why...
"By my common sense, I still can't wrap my head around monsters roaming anywhere near the capital..."
-In peacetime, maybe not, but this is wartime? There are too many places to protect, and no one spares a thought for the slums.
"Everything else is fine, but can we do this later?"
The talking sword, casually chatting while slicing through green goblin fluids, looked a bit grotesque.
"We found it, so that's good enough."
To find a goblin nest, they had to leave the capital and walk a bit.
Not long ago, there had apparently been packs of goblins gathering here and there to ambush traveling merchants.
But things were different now that I was out here. The Princess's army was patrolling nearby. Reserve adventurers who had been hiding or conscripted to avoid the war were joining the Adventurer's Guild and hunting goblins.
"Anyway, I never could have found a place like this on my own."
It was a bit far from the capital, but for me, accustomed to the Hero party's stride, it was just the perfect distance for a stroll.
"Even thinking about it now, they really pushed me like crazy..."
Still, this was a spot too tough for newbie adventurers just starting out. If you're barely at goblin-slaying level, there's no reason to come here once you factor in stamina management.
-Thanks to me, right?
"Yeah. Thanks to you... I guess."
But I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
When I was with the Hero party, the guide was the Archer. And her pathfinding was at an abnormal speed.
She'd sort out the shortest route, estimated time, enemies we'd face, and ones we could avoid—all in seconds—then start leading the way.
I even wondered if those few seconds weren't the time it took her to figure it out, but rather to explain the info to us.
Of course, thinking of that woman's cold expression, it was probably better to travel alone even if it took longer.
"One ear, two ears..."
If I had to pick the skill that grew the most from tagging along with the Hero party, it'd hands-down be evasion and dismantling.
-A-are you using me as a slaughtering knife?
"You were slicing them up fine just a minute ago. What's with the complaints now?"
-But that's different from this!
"Daggers cost money too. Can't help it for now."
I never planned to make a ton of money in the first place.
My swordsmanship and the way I used the Hero's power were far clumsier and weaker than Elenor's. Real combat experience made the difference; no helping it.
But I had the Hero's power, grown enough to slay the Demon King, blessed by all the Goddess's graces.
As long as I didn't go charging at a dragon or something, there were plenty of ways to make money.
"Ah, but I guess I do need to hunt a dragon..."
-Why dragons? Dragon Slayer? You do get the romance!
"No, out of necessity."
But in a world where dragon lords didn't even exist, I couldn't guess when one might show up.
Fighting it, slaying it—felt like distant future stuff.
Unicorn blood was the same. Forget where they were; killing a living unicorn on a whim left a bad taste.
Even if I did, per the Emperor, it'd be meaningless murder. Waiting for one to die of old age? I didn't even know their lifespan.
The most feasible was phoenix remains. At least if I knew where it existed, I could go find it.
Right now, though, all I was doing was stuffing goblin ears—sliced off by the holy sword—into a sack.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "No pursuit. Keep this matter secret. That's an order."
The Emperor lay in his sickbed, but his eyes burned fiercely.
"Y-Your Majesty. But how do we explain this to the others..."
"No need to explain. We can't seal every mouth, but officially, no statements."
The knights who arrived late were trying to uncover the culprit behind this horrific assault.
The entire Hero party and the Emperor himself were all bedridden. It wouldn't be strange if half the Empire's nobles vanished in a case like this.
But even he had to turn at the old knight's voice.
"I cannot allow it. Your Majesty."
"...Reinhardt?"
Before his longtime friend, the Emperor had no choice but to offer a convincing explanation.
"Everyone needs to know why I pointed my sword at the Hero. I have no intention of hiding the truth."
"Can you wait just a little?"
"Your Majesty."
Tension hung in Reinhardt's eyes, precarious enough that one more step could be seen as hatred toward the Emperor.
"You know."
Reinhardt's obsession with the Hero was abnormal. From childhood to now, he'd acted as if he were the swordsman of the Hero's party.
Not even seasoned scholars dared speak lightly of ancient Heroes in his presence.
He'd delved into the imperial library, poring over Hero-related books multiple times, and even visited villages or ruins preserving Hero legends.
Ten years passed from his youthful, hot-headed days; twenty, thirty, forty, and more. Yet even now, he hadn't forgotten that pure passion and resolve.
So the Emperor knew this mattered to him more than anything.
"I intend to uncover it. Who the true Hero is, how they were treated, why they were so enraged."
"If you wish, I can tell you."
"That's not enough. He is the true Hero, the one who vanquished the Demon King. If someone stole that glory..."
His past—drawing steel on the Hero, treating him like a common thug—whipped him harder than anyone.
"That person must pay the price."
The Emperor closed his eyes for a moment.
There were already too many witnesses. No excuse would change the fact that Elenor could no longer wield the Hero's power.
Terrible things had happened, but by precedent, this was just an accident that could occur. And only because of his inhuman mercy.
Leaving that old knight unchecked could spawn any rumor.
But if the truth came from his mouth, no gossipmonger would dare speak easily.
Reinhardt was a witness to the Enel incident, the man who'd studied Hero adventures longer than anyone, and a trusted knight.
They had to acknowledge the harm. No more greed. Having decided, the Emperor quietly spoke.