Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The Event (1)
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The next day.
The party was bustling about from the moment morning came.
Today's event was extremely important.
It wasn't just a simple audience with the Emperor.
Key figures of the political world, high nobles, and senior ministers would all be gathered in one place.
It was a formal occasion, so it was only right to be mindful.
Ceria and Esterize understood its significance well.
They changed into the prepared formal attire, looking so grave it went beyond mere tension to the point of tragic heroism.
On the other hand, Aruru and Ilensia were relaxed.
They tilted their heads as if to ask what all the fuss was about.
“If you don’t know, just follow our lead.”
“That’s right. We’ll take care of everything.”
The human girls persecuted… no, they handled the non-human girls as they pleased.
“Hmm, this seems to be the best for Aruru…”
“But Ilensia looks somehow awkward, doesn't she?”
“—??”
Our little cutie is a complete work of art on her own.
No matter how much effort was put into dressing her up, she was just as cute as always.
The problem, unexpectedly, was the elf maiden.
Her natural beauty was so outstanding it seemed she would look good in anything, but that wasn't necessarily the case.
“How strange. As an elf, her proportions are good, but…”
“Is it because she’s not used to these clothes? The vibe just isn’t there.”
The two girls’ cold analysis.
One was the daughter of a great family, and the other was a princess, so their judgment was highly credible.
Of course.
From the elf maiden’s perspective, their critique was utterly unacceptable.
“Hey, what’s wrong with me?”
She proudly pointed to her reflection in the full-length mirror.
She exuded an air of arrogance, as if she were the best in the world.
As someone with S-rank looks, it was understandable to a degree.
But looking at her now, there was an unexplainable awkwardness.
Was it because she was a ditz?
It seemed even formal attire couldn't overcome that trait.
“We’ll just have to go like this.”
“Yeah. It’s not our problem anyway.”
“—!!”
The elf maiden flew into a rage.
Aruru giggled as if she’d been waiting for it.
Meanwhile, Luciel was not caught up in the commotion.
She was dressed in her usual exclusive attire of the Saintess.
A naturalness that no one but she could pull off.
It was the opposite of the elf maiden, who looked awkward in formal wear for the first time.
Sometimes, looking at Luciel made my heart swell with pride.
The side slit was the key point, and whenever she walked, that… anyway, it was very cool.
Just as we were finishing our preparations, Marcel, who had been attending to the Hero's party, appeared right on time.
“Not bad. You all look quite presentable.”
He nodded in satisfaction.
If a royal said so, it must be true.
In the first place, the models were so good there was never going to be a problem.
Guided by Marcel, we headed straight for the throne room.
Soon, we would meet the master of the Empire.
Even so, my heart was calm.
Emperor or not, in my eyes, he was nothing more than an affinity vending machine.
***
The throne room was incredibly spacious.
Even with hundreds of people gathered, there was still room to spare.
Royalty, nobles, ministers, and so on.
Most were unfamiliar faces, but there were a few supporting characters who would appear from time to time.
The First and Second Princes were also in attendance.
Amidst the solemn atmosphere, the Emperor looked at us.
If I were to define the Emperor's presence in one word,
he was the pinnacle of strict, grave, and serious.
He might lack in other areas, but when it came to projecting an air of authority, he was the best.
“We welcome you all.”
Words of welcome.
Spoken by none other than the Emperor himself.
That meant everyone had to follow suit, regardless of their true feelings.
I acted according to the planned procedure.
As the representative of the Hero's party, I paid my respects to the Emperor.
Ah, this feels so awkward!
It was a cringeworthy feeling, but
thanks to this body’s dignity and various skills, I handled it perfectly.
Finally, I summoned the Holy Sword.
A sacred light filled the hall, and everyone, without exception, let out gasps of admiration.
“Ooh…”
“So that is the Holy Sword…”
“The sacred relic of the Goddess… There can be no doubt.”
Immediately after, numerous gazes were fixed on me.
Awe that went beyond respect, and from some, wary glances.
An already powerful family had now produced a Hero.
They were likely thinking we might wield absolute power.
The affinity gauge fluctuated.
Perhaps because I had proven myself as the Hero, it ended up rising quite a bit.
“May your future be filled with blessings.”
“Your Majesty is too gracious. May great glory be with the Empire…”
We exchanged pleasantries, and that concluded the first part.
It was something that could have been finished in ten minutes, but it dragged on for quite a while in the name of observing etiquette.
“The rightful heir of the Crodain family and the one chosen by the Holy Sword. How about you declare your resolve as the Hero to all who have gathered here?”
“...”
Hmm, this wasn't part of the plan.
Everything up to this point had been done as Marcel had briefed me beforehand.
In official settings like this, it was common to coordinate things in such a way.
Anyway.
It seemed he wanted me to say a word or two… about my determination, my aspirations, and so on.
It was unexpected, but not a big deal.
In fact, this was better.
By publicly declaring my intentions, I would change the negative perceptions that existed, both overt and subtle.
I straightened my back.
Glancing around, I slowly opened my mouth.
“As you all know, I have been entrusted with an undeserved role.”
“The mission of the Hero… whenever I think of it, my shoulders feel heavy.”
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that the hope of humanity rests on me.”
“Therefore, I find I lack the time to do anything but carry out the Hero's mission.”
“Moreover, it will surely be a burden too heavy for one person to bear alone.”
“I will need the help of my companions up close, and I believe I will need your assistance from afar.”
“I only hope that you will all support me in my inadequacy.”
These were not words I had painstakingly crafted.
It was what I truly thought.
The hidden meaning was, ‘You all better pull your weight too!’
Having said this much, they should have all gotten the message.
Even those who disliked my existence would show at least a minimum of respect.
The reaction from the crowd was utterly silent.
They were frozen, as if overwhelmed by me.
It was thanks to me exerting this body’s dignity to its fullest.
The result was better than expected, but I felt like I had missed something.
Ah, right. There was that, wasn't there?
Belatedly, I added one more sentence.
“As one who upholds the Goddess's will, I pledge to devote my entire being.”
At that, the mood shifted dramatically.
A considerable number of people nodded, looking pleased.
If this setting had been less solemn, they might have even burst into applause.
They were undoubtedly believers of the Goddess.
Luciel was even smiling with a ‘Very good job!’ expression.
Hmm, is this right?
I have a feeling there will definitely be side effects.
Of course, the pros would inevitably outweigh the cons.
Just by mentioning the Goddess, I had won the favor of her followers.
Everyone gathered here was a person of great power and influence.
At the very least, it would have a beneficial effect on public opinion.
A moment later, the Emperor broke the silence.
His tone had softened considerably, as if he highly valued the Hero's spirit.
“Indeed, your thoughts are deep. Everyone must acknowledge your righteous stance. Truly befitting of the Hero.”
The high praise continued.
The same compliment can have a different weight depending on who says it.
The Emperor's words carried great influence, and so the affinity points rose sharply.
“Hmm…”
He stared at me intently, as if he had something more to say.
It seemed he wanted to see for himself just how strong the Hero was.
The Emperor gave a signal to someone.
Soon, the First Prince took a step toward me.
He briefly introduced himself as the First Prince of the Empire, and so on.
I already knew who he was, but
I paid my respects as if I were seeing him for the first time.
“I heard your resolve well. It was truly admirable. However, there is something that concerns me slightly…”
The First Prince's eloquence was brilliant, in a bad way.
The ability to stretch a one-sentence statement into a five-minute speech was a talent in its own right.
*I want to see the Hero's strength.*
*Of course, I'm not doubting your skills.*
*However, some foolish people only believe what they see with their own eyes.*
*For their sake, I hope you would give a proper demonstration. Would that be alright?*
He wrapped up that message beautifully.
His earnestness alone made it seem like I had to accept.
“You are by no means obligated to comply. We should not trouble a distinguished guest such as yourself. Well, though someone has already done so…”
Finishing his words, he glanced at the Second Prince.
He was disparaging the actions of my rival who had challenged me.
“...”
Wow, he’s using it like that?
It was so impressive it was sickening.
Can't you brothers just get along?
Why do they glare at each other as if they want to kill one another?
Such is the fate of brothers vying for the future throne.
This incident made my prediction that getting entangled in their mess would be exhausting take physical form.
Yeah. You guys fight it out yourselves.
The Hero is a precious and busy person, so I'll just ignore you!
I had already stated that I would remain neutral.
They would still approach me in various ways, but I would have to endure that much.
Just as I was about to accept the First Prince's request, Luciel suddenly raised her voice.
“Does that mean… you intend to evaluate the Hero?”
*The Hero is a being entrusted with a mission by the Goddess.*
*That fact itself is beyond dispute. So by what right does the Imperial Family?*
*Huh? The more I think about it, the more absurd it is.*
*Ugh, don’t stop me! I’m going to flip everything over!*
The Saintess flared up with that kind of energy.
Even I was taken aback, so how must others have felt?
“The Hero is a special existence. You should be helping him, not hindering him. If you try to force anything upon the Hero, the Church will step in to stop you.”
“—??”
The Saintess's holy finger-pointing.
The First Prince wore an expression as if he had lost his mind.
*I’m a prince, you know?*
*And a leading candidate for the throne, at that.*
*And you’re pointing your finger at me?*
*I’ve never been so insulted in my life!*
He seemed to be tasting the very essence of chaos.
But only for a moment.
As a capable individual, he collected himself.
The First Prince even managed to regain his composure and smile.
“You must have misunderstood something. What I meant was…”
“A misunderstanding? That’s impossible. I don’t want to hear any excuses.”
“...”
An utterly merciless attitude.
At this rate, nothing he said would get through.
A look of dismay crossed the First Prince's face.
He may be a prince, but his opponent's position was just as formidable.
The Saintess herself symbolized the Church.
In this place, she was representing the entire Church.
What's more, a considerable number of people seemed to be siding with her.
Fanatics…
No, people whose faith was a bit too deep.
They clearly believed that the Saintess was unconditionally right.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
At this point, it seemed even the Emperor would have trouble resolving the situation if he stepped in.
What should I do?
Luciel’s sudden action was not in my calculations.
Her devotion to me was so strong that she had overreacted.
Hmm, perhaps it's time for a change in perspective?
Come to think of it, this wasn't such a bad turn of events.
This situation could be easily resolved simply by my intervention.
The Saintess might gain a reputation for being somewhat hot-tempered, but
in contrast, the Hero's image would likely be viewed favorably.
Hmm…
It wasn't intentional, but…
Since it has come to this, I might as well make good use of it.
It felt a little petty, but there was no other way.
Luciel would probably love this side of me too, right?
No, well… a little disillusionment might actually be a good thing.
Anyway.
Her devotion was set to continue, so I’d better get used to it quickly.
With that conviction, I gently pulled Luciel by the shoulder.
“Calm down. I’ll handle this.”
Flinch.
The girl's face paled slightly.
She seemed to have belatedly realized the repercussions of her impulsive actions.
*Oh no, I got too worked up without thinking!*
*If my relationship with the Imperial Family sours because of this, it’ll be a disaster…*
*In the worst case… will the Hero come to hate me?*
I could read that anxiety in her, but it was, of course, a needless worry.
“I know. You did it for me, right? Thank you.”
“—!!”
She couldn't hide her surprise, as if it were completely unexpected.
Well, she probably expected a scolding, so the opposite reaction must have been quite a shock.
I wasn't just saying it; I was genuinely grateful.
Things had gotten complicated because of her, but
by resolving this situation, my dignity would be engraved in everyone's minds.
Leaving the girl who was drowning in a sea of emotions behind, I looked at the First Prince.
“I apologize on behalf of my companion for her rudeness.”
“No, well… we were the ones who were in the wrong first…”
A bewildered response.
It seemed the impact of the Saintess’s forcefulness still lingered.
“I’ve given it some thought, and I believe Your Highness is right.”
“Does that mean…”
“Yes. I will gladly show you.”
“…I like your straightforwardness. I’ll be counting on you, then.”
The commotion was quelled in an instant.
If things had gone wrong, the Imperial Family and the Church could have ended up in opposition.
Of course, it wasn't that serious, but it was true that the atmosphere had been tense.
The fact that I had resolved the issue cleanly.
And not only that but had also accepted the prince's proposal.
That confident attitude, as expected, created a huge stir.
*Indeed, blah blah, the Hero is truly…*
Whispers of acknowledgment could be heard here and there.
And just as I expected.
The affinity points rose noticeably.
This must be the price of sacrificing the Saintess.
It was ab-so-lutely not what I intended, but it was sweet nonetheless.
Afterward, the stage moved from the throne room to the outdoors.
As per the flow of the main story, the captain of the Imperial Knights stepped forward.
As if I had been waiting for this, I pushed the princess forward.
“—??”
At that, everyone, without exception, fell into confusion.
Some even shot me displeased looks, as if they felt betrayed.
*You’re not going to do it yourself?*
*Anyone could see that’s where this was heading!*
They gave off an air of wanting to protest, but I played dumb.
Hey, why? What's the problem?
The princess is a proper Hero, too, you know?
Well, even I had to admit it was a bit of a stretch.
But what could I do? This was the best option.
Maintaining my shameless facade, I looked straight ahead.
The girl summoned the Holy Sword in front of everyone.
Soon, the heir of a fallen kingdom aimed her sword at the Empire.