Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Reunion - 1
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The room prepared for me was quite nice. It was more like a house than just a room.
Not only was there luxurious carpet, but everything decorating it was ornate. As I sat down in the room and lifted the teleportation ring, the red gem at the center of the black band emitted a soft glow, proving its mana.
Since I'd obtained it through an achievement, it seemed usable even inside the royal palace, where magic interference was in place.
After confirming the ring's light, I immediately checked the remaining achievements.
There were still quite a few quests left to achieve the currently in-progress "Now I'm an S-Rank Adventurer Too."
In the game, it would just take a few mouse clicks, but now that it was reality, the time sink was no joke.
From waiting times to travel times, it was truly...
A nightmare.
Still, I couldn't just skip it, so I had to overlap it with other achievements as much as possible...
"And..."
I unfolded the schedule.
Among the achievements obtainable only by participating in each village's festivals or events, one caught my eye.
[Capital Summer Waterway Festival 2-Peat]
[1-Peat Participant - Claire Rayfield]
Those words brought back the past before my eyes.
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"Festival?"
I'd defeated the Demon King's third subordinate.
It was a powerful being called the Doppelganger King, who borrowed the body of a kingdom noble to turn people into undead. But I exposed its true identity with the Mirror of Truth from the Succubus Cave and took it down.
After that, there were no signs of the Demon King's subordinates appearing, so the Hero Party could finally rest easy in the capital for the first time in ages. Seizing the opportunity, I prepared for achievement hunting.
"Hmm... Do you think it's okay for us to join a festival right now...?"
Claire, looking troubled, glanced at me furtively before nodding slightly.
"What about Tia and Eva?"
"Leventia has returned to the knight order for official summer training, and Evangeline said she hates places with lots of humans."
"I see. So just the two of us then?"
"Yeah."
"Ahem. Are you okay with that? You must be tired. Or do you have other things to do?"
Me?
Of course I was fine.
Even in the middle of the main story, I had to clear achievements I could as quickly as possible.
Especially for ones like the capital's summer and winter festivals, the window was limited, so I had to do them whenever possible.
Her sun-like eyes curved gently. Claire crossed her arms, shook her head lightly, then grinned widely before flopping onto the bed.
"Ahh~ But I'm tired too and kind of want to sleep..."
"Yeah? Then rest."
I'd just grab anyone convenient to take along. No need to drag these specific people as festival partners.
No point forcing someone who didn't want to go.
"Ah! W-Wait! Sorry! Sorry! Take me with you! Okay?!"
Claire, who had been grinning like the Cheshire Cat just moments ago, grabbed the hem of my robe tightly. I shrugged at her obvious panic.
She was going to come along anyway, playing hard to get.
The capital held festivals every summer and winter.
One of them was the Summer Waterway Festival, using the river running through the capital's center to beat the heat.
In the game, it was an event to show off companions or female characters in swimsuits.
But participating twice and fully enjoying it both times was also an achievement, so it had to be done.
As I stood at the festival entrance by the riverbank, lost in thought about achievements doable during the main story...
Someone tapped my shoulder.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
Whispers and gasps of admiration rose from the crowd around us.
It was understandable.
Her golden hair sparkled under the warm sunlight.
With her fair, slender face and sun-like eyes, she shone brighter than anyone there.
She wore a sleeveless dress that fell just past her knees, and instead of her usual boots, white sandals that suited her pale skin perfectly, leaving her bare feet exposed. A beauty.
Claire Rayfield was showing off her vibrant, lively charm just like in the game.
"Hehe."
"Isn't that a bit much?"
Claire had a stunning figure and beautiful looks that turned heads from anyone, but deep down, she was still a country girl.
For someone who blushed at slightly revealing armor, this outfit—exposing her arms, armpits, and swaying white thighs—was quite bold.
So when I asked, she flushed slightly.
"I'm... I'm the Hero."
"What does that have to do with it?"
"I mustered my courage!"
"I see. Suits you well, though."
She was peeking at me, clearly fishing for praise, so I gave it.
No reason to waste time on pointless bickering when we had to hit every mini-game and shop in the festival period for the achievement.
"O-Oh~. Hyunwoo, you know your stuff? I wore this specially today. Feel honored."
Overjoyed at my compliment, she puffed up, patted my back enthusiastically, and grinned.
"Let's go. Lots to do."
"Yeah!"
Claire smiled.
As if she were having the time of her life.
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It was for the achievement, but honestly, it had been pretty fun back then.
Though that's all in the past now.
Who should I go with this year?
While rechecking my blueprint for the future—verifying other achievements beyond the Summer Festival 2-Peat—nothing deviated much from the plan.
Some things progressed faster than expected, others slower, but it was within margin of error.
As long as no major issues arose, I could achieve everything within a year or two.
Yeah.
As long as no big problems cropped up.
-Knock knock.
A knock at the door. When I permitted entry, the head maid opened it politely. Bowing her head in greeting just as she had when entering, she continued in a calm tone.
"Her Majesty summons you."
"Is that so?"
If she was calling, I had to go.
I left with the head maid and noticed the outside had grown quite noisy.
"What's going on?"
"General Leoden has briefly returned to the capital."
General Leoden was a named NPC in the game too. A famous general leading the war against the monsters, utterly loyal to the king.
Sure, he was a bit rigid, but he knew his role and position.
His arrival during the main story meant...
"Huh? Does that mean Claire, Leventia, or Evangeline are here too?"
"I heard only you, Hero, arrived today."
"I see."
I'd expected as much, but the thought of possibly meeting them again didn't bother me. Just, "Oh well."
The head maid, aware of my history with the Hero Party, looked grim. Maybe she thought I'd run off to avoid them?
Why would I run? What crime did I commit?
"Let's go."
"Yes."
The path to the audience chamber wasn't crowded. Most personnel had gone to greet General Leoden and the Hero.
So as I waited at the audience chamber entrance after minimal checks...
-Clank! Clank!
The heavy sound of plate armor approached. Turning that way, I spotted her.
Pale-faced.
Eyes wide in shock.
Blond beauty trembling, at a loss, hands and feet shaking.
"...Hyun...woo?"
Her voice, once beautifully melodic, now hoarse as she called my name. Claire took a step forward, seeming unable to grasp if this was a dream or reality.
A burly old man with a bushy beard raised his arm to block her.
"The audience is about to begin."
"I-I finally met him! Finally! Hyunwoo!! But! But it's Hyunwoo!! He's right there!!!"
"We'll talk later. Right now is..."
-Grind
"...Don't interfere. I... I need to tell him..."
"Her Majesty the Queen arrives!! All enter!"
"I don't care about that...!!"
"Shh."
I pressed a finger to my lips, and Claire froze, looking ready to draw her weapon and fight through. She stared blankly at me, then bowed her head slightly. General Leoden gave me a look that said,
Thanks.
No big deal.
We help each other.
I'd received plenty of help from them before too.
I turned from their stares and entered calmly. General Leoden and Claire followed.
My neck prickled—Claire kept staring.
"You've done well, General Leoden."
"My apologies."
"No. It's not for you to apologize."
The Queen sat arrogantly on the jade throne, gazing down at us coldly. Her daughter, Princess Lucille Ermeyer, shrank under her aura beside her, but the Queen maintained her signature arrogance.
"Hero. Reports say my sword and shield, Captain Leventia Shuma, has caused quite a stir on the battlefield. Is it true?"
Huh? Really?
First I'd heard of it.
"Excessive brutal monster slaughters, refusing recovery, shoving away priests trying to heal her forcibly... Routine occurrences. Plus several instances of disobeying orders... Not even taking proper rest."
"Th-That's..."
"I allowed her return to the knight order because she wished it, yet kept her in the Hero Party... Hero. Can't you control your party members?"
Claire bit her lip hard and glanced at me. What did she expect me to do?
"...It's my failing."
"Is it? Such issues never seen from you before keep cropping up since the Demon King fell. Elf archer Evangeline Lutvice... Refuses all contact, holes up in her tent after battles, won't come out."
"......"
"And apparently mentally unstable... Mutters about someone being nearby when no one's there."
"...That's..."
"She threatens anyone approaching to treat her. Sometimes wanders battlefields alone, searching for something. No major incidents yet, but..."
The Queen read the report flatly, then asked.
"Is all this true?"
Claire nodded slightly, her weary face drained of strength.
"Sage. You were once part of the Hero Party."
"Not officially. I just tagged along."
"I see. Then what do you think changed between when you supported them and kept them fine, and now?"
I answered.
Bluntly showing my displeasure.
"Seems Your Majesty already knows..."
"I have a rough idea."
"Then why ask? Your Majesty has plenty else to worry about."
The courtiers bristled at my warning to mind her own business and not overstep.
But she'd asked the displeasing question first.
And what could they do about my answer?
I wasn't her subordinate—just a contract worker.
If it irked her, fire me.
At my response, she tapped the throne's armrest with long fingers, smirked, nodded, and spoke in a softened tone.
Her way of apologizing.
"...Hmm. Fair enough. Sorry for prying into private matters. So, the Hero Party was fine with your support back then but not now... Could you support them again?"
Claire's face lit up briefly, then fell, eyes sparkling before sighing.
Glancing at her complicated expression, I shook my head.
"No."
"Why?"
"I have more important things now."
The Hero's beautiful face twisted as if about to cry.
A few more questions and answers followed before the audience ended. General Leoden, holding back Claire who kept trying to approach me, sighed and glanced at me.
I nodded, and he led her away. Now alone, Claire fidgeted.
Like a scared cat at a loss.
Like a scolded puppy tucking tail and watching warily.
Unlike her earlier passion, she couldn't speak to me.
I looked at her. Our eyes met, and she forced a twisted smile.
That awkward grin, like she didn't know what to do, resembled the one she'd given me after Leventia and Evangeline chewed me out, unsure what to say.
But only briefly.
Claire panicked visibly and bowed her head hastily.
"S-Sorry... I-I smiled like an idiot..."
I hadn't even said anything yet?!