Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Endurance - 1
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"The intelligence department has been keeping tabs on your movements."
"..."
I had nothing to say about that.
After the chaos I'd caused in the imperial palace, I couldn't exactly tell them to mind their own business.
"You didn't need to come save me."
"It was for the citizens of the Empire. And besides, I still owe you a debt I haven't repaid."
It wasn't strange for Elenor to go around rescuing people.
She might have ignored dying folk within the Hero's party, but that was only because those were desperate situations.
"Since when have you been so interested in me? Ever since I gained the Hero's power? Or from the moment you realized the imperial family's blessing meant you needed me?"
"...Even without any of that, I would have apologized eventually."
That might have been her true feelings. Deep down, there could have been some reflection on her past actions. Or perhaps a desire to encourage me.
But it was all meaningless now.
"When?"
"..."
Still, that priority ranked low for her.
She was busy. Not on the level of an Orc Lord, but she was constantly dealing with hordes of monsters of that caliber or just a bit weaker.
The moment she thought it was fine to put off apologizing to me right now, there was no guarantee those words would ever come, even years from now.
There had probably been orders from the Emperor too, and she must have been annoyed that I wasn't bending to her will immediately.
She might have figured reconciling with me could wait until after she'd wrapped up all those duties.
"Even if it's late, it's something that needs to be done. Not just me—the Emperor will help you too."
That was a silver lining amid the misfortune. Gathering impossible magical materials was one thing, but rounding up rare, expensive ones or people to participate in the ritual was next to impossible.
"...Fine. What now?"
It made sense. If she'd always intended to apologize someday, then doing it now—even if it felt a bit contrived—wasn't out of the question.
Elenor bowed her head dejectedly.
"...I haven't thought that far ahead."
Talking to her sometimes felt like conversing with something other than a person.
Imperial knight. Princess. Hero. As if those identities were the core of who Elenor really was.
Those words were probably sincere.
"I thought you were definitely going to die. I never even considered a 'next'."
She always had a next plan. So naturally, I'd assumed she had one prepared for this too.
But right now, she was too weak.
"Would it be okay if I followed you around to atone?"
An instinctive revulsion surged up.
"In that condition?"
"...I already spoke with Celia beforehand. I couldn't join the fight this time, but if I keep following and casting healing magic, I'll recover soon enough."
I wanted to shut it down flat, but I knew my own limits.
As long as the Hero's power lingered, even a fully recovered Elenor would still be weaker than me.
But even accounting for that, she was the finest swordswoman. According to the holy sword, the Hero's power faded gradually after defeating the Demon King.
How much longer could I hold onto this power?
If it vanished at some point, wouldn't the journey just grind to a halt?
Considering her character, once she pledged to help me, she'd stick to it until the end. Unless, by some fluke, the Demon King revived and targeted the Empire.
"Forget it. We'll talk later. What about you, Pashier?"
No matter how you looked at her, that tiny frame didn't scream "mage who's lived for centuries."
Without the floppy pointed hat perched atop her head, no one seeing her for the first time would ever peg her as a mage.
"That spell was magic I cast the moment we arrived here."
"...No way."
"I simply didn't hold back on my mana."
Of course, a mage of her caliber could pull off at least basic spells even unprepared.
Even cleaving through the orc formation and incinerating hordes with a Meteor without prep wasn't impossible for her.
"You're serious?"
Considering how she hoarded every speck of mana like a miser—or a madwoman—it was hard to believe.
"Now, your life matters more than anything I could do with that mana."
Was she changing too?
"I figured you were busy with preparations. Saving me back then must've been to help with my return..."
"I am making efforts. But in magical rituals, freshness is just as crucial as having the materials. There are things money and effort can't buy..."
Pashier fiddled endlessly with her lavender hair using her small fingers.
"And above all, if you died here, it would all be for nothing."
I'd heard everything I was curious about.
"Please... I beg you, never show your faces to me again."
This might have been the moment to say thanks.
No matter Elenor's intentions, her aid had come right on time. It wasn't like she'd bowed her head out of fear for my power.
Pashier was the same. Unlike Nerwen, who had no choice but to grovel to lift some curse-like bind.
I'd been too complacent. Letting emotions lead, I'd failed to secure any leverage over them.
Of course, no method I used would let me verify if the control truly worked.
The Empire's top mage and the Emperor together could dodge or break any curse or pact.
Either way, they'd come here of their own volition. To stop me from dying.
I couldn't comprehend it. If they'd betrayed me and stood against me to kill me, my heart might have felt lighter.
This time, I really could fight to kill them—no hesitation, no guilt, just pure rage.
But they hadn't. They'd acted with devotion, making me out to be the villain.
If only they'd treated me like this a little sooner—just on the way back from slaying the Demon King, even—none of it would have mattered.
I was starting to understand the Saintess's feelings a bit.
"Why now..."
If it'd been even a little earlier, I wouldn't hate them this much.
"Even now, I'll atone. Porter, or something even more lowly—whatever you command, I'll do it."
Elenor bowed her head deeply. It was the first time I'd seen her apologize.
She'd always been proud of her actions. She never did anything she'd need to apologize for later.
"...Can you really do that?"
She was different from the others.
She wasn't the only one who'd sworn to be used like a slave, but Nerwen's oath and hers were cut from different cloth.
Elf lifespans and human ones differ. Even if Nerwen served me my whole life, it wouldn't consume her entire existence.
In the extreme, she could retreat to the World Tree and stab me in the back. Breaking the curse was her goal, after all.
Besides, their positions differed greatly. I didn't know what a World Tree's Great Warrior entailed, but no matter how vital, it couldn't compare to being the Princess.
Elenor would surely slip away soon, claiming responsibility to the Empire.
Lost in thought, I gazed down at her with conflicted emotions.
///// "The orc unit that attacked recently has been completely wiped out."
Creon's sharp gaze turned toward the Emperor. Standing before the massive jade throne, Creon's posture was downright rude, but only the Emperor and his guards could see it.
The attendants behind didn't need to witness it, and any Emperor hostile to Creon could call him out regardless of decorum. In the end, no one was left to censure the rudeness.
"We heard a little... What do you make of it?"
This was the first official report. Creon and the Emperor needed to gauge each other's intelligence and intentions.
"They say Baron Enel earned great merit. The investigation confirmed the enemy wasn't small—even an Orc Lord was among them."
"Hoo."
It was close to the facts, but ripe for twisting.
If Creon wished, he could nitpick that 'the orc numbers were exaggerated' or question the Orc Lord's authenticity.
There were plenty of witnesses, but testimonies from mere peasants or soldiers could be dismissed as mistakes, and nobles could be pressured.
But Creon acknowledged it as a major threat. Effectively, admitting a princess-aligned lord had bravely fought and claimed victory.
"Others were present, but they played no significant role. Baron Enel is said to have slain the Orc Lord single-handedly and charged into the enemy lines to turn the tide."
Downgrading the Emperor's most loyal kin—the Princess—and Pashier to 'others' was only natural, in a way.
"Is that so..."
Creon was shoving his desired narrative: downplaying the Princess's influence while granting Enel massive military credit.
No immediate gains for them, but as these piled up, his very existence would gain massive political weight.
The Emperor had little chance of swaying him, so if the nobles slowly pulled Enel in over time, it would deal a huge blow.
"What shall we do, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor had to choose.