Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Return to the Mortal World - 9
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"The Emperor is stingy."
As my glass emptied, Christina refilled it as if she'd been waiting for just that moment.
"Those with nothing cling to his extreme ideals, but those who worked first, those who sacrificed first, are left to fend for themselves."
His cheeks were slightly flushed. It looked like he was drunk, but I was certain even that expression was part of his calculations.
"Do you know where the Princess was when the Demon King invaded and soldiers were conscripted? In the goblin dens of the slums."
His voice was cold and steely, but beneath it, anger writhed. This much, at least, might be genuine.
"The monsters there were the only thing keeping the numbers of those vagrants, rapists, and pickpockets in check. But the Princess smashed them on a whim, so now the worthless ones are swarming like they own the place."
"I see."
"The blue-bloods who could have taught them manners and respect are all cowed by the Princess's power and authority, acting like lowly scum themselves."
I'd heard enough. I nodded, reacting appropriately to his words, but I stopped truly listening.
"You mustn't get caught up in their outrages any longer. There are many more victims in the Empire like you, Hero."
Finally, he sought my agreement.
He was trying to stoke my anger. Almost no one believes they receive the respect they deserve. Everyone wants more money, more honor.
I might have agreed with him. The Emperor had deceived the one chosen as Hero, and even without other incidents, he would have cleverly exploited people anyway.
But, in a razor-thin distinction, my case was a little different.
If anything, it was self-inflicted.
Perhaps noticing the lack of sincerity in my eyes, he drew in a slight breath.
"I'm sorry for boring you with all this, Hero, and tiring you out. Please, rest now."
I couldn't deny the reception he'd prepared for me was impressive. It was a seat offered without sparing money or manpower, meant for only the elite few.
"Now that the meal is wrapping up... why not enjoy the night?"
"That's fine. It's about time I head out."
"...Christina's looks don't appeal to you?"
"No. You have a beautiful daughter."
I had hesitated for a moment, it was true. Like many of the women I'd met here, Christina was stunning.
But even with the Hero party members who seemed fine on the surface, things had ended in disaster. There was no way I'd find happiness in a relationship with Christina that felt like a bomb with a lit fuse.
"Thank you. I hope everything works out for you."
With those empty well-wishes, I rose from my seat. He looked a bit pained but soon stood politely and bowed to me.
/////
"Weren't you... with that nobleman?"
I wasn't sure whether to speak casually or formally to her. The silver-haired maid giggled and picked up my luggage to follow me.
"I was just stopping by there for a bit. I've wanted to follow our master from the start!"
She was the type who wouldn't stay away even if I forcibly shook her off. Better to keep her close where I could respond immediately than let her cause trouble if left alone.
"Where to next?"
"Back to the inn first."
I'd come out full of bravado, but I had zero leads. Should I set aside the phoenix remains for now and hunt down the unicorn or dragon first?
Considering no one had pursued me so far, the Emperor didn't seem to view me as an enemy. But there was no guarantee he'd cooperate again.
"Might have to go far..."
If there was no way inside the Empire, I'd have no choice but to leave it. Maybe sneak back into the imperial library and comb through the info properly from the start.
"Mountains upon mountains..."
At least I had an adventurer's badge, so I could travel fairly freely. But information didn't appear out of thin air.
I needed at least rough landmarks: which country's what item could be obtained through whom, or what task over how long would yield it.
Besides, my martial prowess wasn't exactly transcendent.
I could beat the Empire's top swordsman Reinhardt or Elenor right now. But back then, the Hero party hadn't gone all out.
I'd watched them fight up close. Even having stumbled into the Hero's power, I was far from a match for Elenor as she fought as the Hero.
Without that transcendent strength, if they wore me down with waves of soldiers and knights in rotation, I'd eventually get caught.
So, should I get stronger first? But I had no idea how.
Physical training was pointless. I could feel the Hero's power dormant in my body even now; with a little push, it'd surge into every muscle like a bullet.
But it wasn't enough. I couldn't use magic or holy power, so I had to compensate for those gaps purely with my own strength.
"Hm?"
The moment I reflexively opened the inn door, I realized I'd made a mistake.
This wasn't my house—it was an inn.
And as a matter of course, even if I'd stayed here yesterday, I had no right to just walk in today.
When I first checked in, I'd paid for three days but canceled right after meeting Christina and got a refund.
So, to enter this room, I'd have needed to pay again.
Lost in thought as I walked, I'd forgotten. This wasn't my room.
And opening the door to someone else's inn room was, naturally, a grave rudeness in this world too.
But the person lying on that bed was bone-deep familiar.
"What the hell are you doing? Nerwen?"
"Hii?!"
The elf archer, face flushed as she sucked in a breath, shook her head side to side for a moment.
"I-I came to apologize!"
"In that state? Besides, you're the one who came looking for me here."
"I-I couldn't interrupt you having a fun time with a n-noble..."
"To think you had that kind of etiquette—surprising. But right now, don't tell me you're..."
I couldn't even finish the sentence and shut my eyes. Was the smell that bad?
Considering what she'd done to me, this was still too lenient, but for now, it satisfied me.
"What do you want to say?"
"A-Anything. So please, even as a slave, take me b—"
I strode over and grabbed her by the throat.
"I need to go on an adventure now. To redo that damned ritual the mage botched and get home."
It was the first time I'd grabbed her throat. Unlike her quick, nimble movements, it looked so fragile.
"And you're saying I should take you along? That I should adventure with you again?"
"H-Hit me, guh, st... I'll carry your luggage, curse me, torment me as much as you want..."
"You might think people like you deserve it, but I've never even gotten mad at others much."
Her body was begging for air. I could feel her desperate struggles through her throat.
"Revenge, anger, hitting—it's all hard for me. It's tiring. Uncomfortable, awkward, unfamiliar. So get lost. Or would you prefer to die?"
She was more stable than right after the summoning failure. But unlike the mage or saintess, there was no reason I couldn't kill an elf.
"Kkh, guk, ugh... re, pla... se, kek. Ah..."
After a moment's thought, I released my grip. The elf's head thudded messily onto the bed.
"Your info probably won't be useful anyway. But just in case, I'll tell you what I need. The phoenix's..."
"I have it."
"...What?"
"The phoenix's... huu, haa. Remains. Not exactly, but I know where you're most likely to find them."
She caught her breath desperately yet tried to meet my eyes. The sharp glint in them hadn't faded, but I'd seared fear of me into her soul.
"...That better not be a lie. No, whatever. I still don't need your help."
"I'm sorry! B-But... what if I was being manipulated by someone?!"
I closed my eyes. Silence stretched for a moment.
"You know, Hero, mage, saintess— I truly despised them all and felt awful... but at least they never made pathetic excuses like that."
"I can't be sure, but it's possible! Someone might have been manipulating you and me..."
"You have to be sure. You have to take responsibility. If it's true, I'll sincerely apologize to you."
Nerwen trembled. Before me, legs giving out as she collapsed, gasping desperately for air.
"Explain. Why do you think that? I'll hear you out one last time."
I drew the holy sword from its sheath. Fortunately, she sensed the dire mood and said nothing.
It wasn't sharpened yet, but it could still kill an elf. Nerwen glanced between me and the blade, then slowly opened her mouth.