The Emperor's Old Friend
The news of the Hero's Party expelling one of its own members—an Elf named Lowell—spread across the entire continent far faster than anyone had expected.
On the day Lowell left the Hero's Party, the Hero himself immediately spread the word to the Empire, the Holy Kingdom, and the Elf Kingdom, setting the rumor in motion. As the Demon King and his legions continued to expand their territories, the situation inside the Hero's Party had become far more than just a personal matter for the people of the continent.
The problems within the Hero's Party were inextricably linked to continental security, so people launched every possible speculation in response to the news of Elf Lowell's expulsion. The rumors traveled from tail to tail, filling taverns, markets, and private chambers alike.
Starting with the tale of a quarrel with the Hero...
That he had been bribed by the Demon King's forces...
That he had become pregnant with the Hero's child and chosen to leave...
That his conduct had always been improper...
Countless versions of the story circulated, reaching not only ordinary citizens but the upper echelons of noble society as well. At every banquet, every feast, the conversation inevitably turned to Elf Lowell.
Meanwhile, the Empire, the Holy Kingdom, and the Elf Kingdom—linked by the expulsion of this Elf—had begun an investigation into the truth behind the rumors, hunting for Lowell everywhere.
But they could not find a single trace of her. In the end, the nations issued arrest warrants for her.
“Your Majesty, the Holy Kingdom and even the Elf Kingdom have issued arrest warrants for Elf Lowell. Our Empire is prepared to do the same as well...”
“Correct. Your Majesty. After all, our Empire is the greatest backer of the Hero's Party. We must explain this incident fully!”
Unlike the other nations, the Empire had not issued an arrest warrant for Lowell.
It was simply because the Emperor's resolve had not yet been made.
No matter the reason, the Emperor found the very idea of issuing an arrest warrant against Lowell distasteful. The Empire's nobles, looking at him with expressions of utter incomprehension, protested fiercely.
Among them, Duke Felix of the Empire was leading the charge, his protests so vehement that even outsiders could see he had crossed a line.
“Your Majesty! According to the dying words of my daughter, who joined the Hero's Party, this entire crisis was caused by the Elf Lowell's treason and backstabbing. I beg you to issue the arrest warrant and bring her to justice. Demand punishment and compensation from the Elf Kingdom as well!”
At those words, many nobles nodded vigorously in agreement.
All eyes in the hall turned toward the Emperor, who still had not made his decision.
“Duke Felix?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Seated on the throne, one arm resting on the armrest, the Emperor fixed Duke Felix with a piercing gaze and spoke slowly.
“Upon hearing your words, I find them rather reasonable. Treason, you say...”
“Yes! Your Majesty! Treason is something unthinkable within the Hero's Party, which bears the responsibility for the security of the human world! At once, call for her punishment...”
“Then, Duke Felix, you too must be punished?”
“Ye... yes!!?!”
The Emperor's lips curved upward, his sharp eyes flashing as he glared at Duke Felix.
For no reason at all, a voice filled with killing intent rang out from the Emperor, leaving Duke Felix frozen in place, unable to continue.
“At this very moment, you stand before me, the Emperor, and dare to point your finger while inciting other nobles... What else could this be but treason?”
“Your... Your Majesty... It's not that...”
“Oh! So it is! Then I shall have to expel you from the Hero's Party just like the Hero does!”
“Your Majesty! I have committed a capital offense!”
With those words, Duke Felix suddenly rose from his seat, rushed to the foot of the throne, and dropped to his knees before it, pressing his forehead to the floor in utter supplication.
The other nobles who had known the Emperor since his childhood watched the scene with a click of their tongues and shook their heads.
Those who had known the gentle Emperor of old felt their faces drain of color at this new display of imperial tyranny.
“Hahaha, Duke Felix. How amusing. How very amusing. You have become so terrified by nothing at all...”
The Emperor glanced around at the other nobles and then laughed heartily. He reached out and patted Duke Felix's shoulder twice where he lay prostrate, then rose and walked over to stand among the nobles with an expression of deliberate nonchalance.
“Our Empire will be searching for Elf Lowell as well. However, instead of an arrest warrant, we will record it as a missing-person report.”
A murmur rippled through the hall.
When the Emperor spoke of a missing-person report rather than an arrest warrant, the nobles began whispering to one another, trying to understand the implication.
The Emperor continued, as if to explain.
“We will distribute missing-person flyers to all allied nations, including ours. A generous reward will be offered to anyone who provides information on Lowell's whereabouts.”
“...Yes... Your Majesty.”
“And this as well—be sure to note it. If anyone attacks Lowell, Emperor Roberto IV of the Luteria Empire will not stand idle...”
Most of the nobles could not hide their shock at the Emperor's reaction. Only a few close aides who knew him well nodded in understanding.
The meeting that had once been the center of controversy came to an abrupt end.
Only a handful of nobles remained in the hall, quietly discussing what had just occurred.
“I was seeing for the first time today the Emperor's face when he was truly angry.”
“I felt the same. I never imagined the gentle man I know would ever show such an expression...”
The two nobles, still shaken by the shock of the meeting, shivered at the memory of the Emperor's killing intent.
Suddenly, an elderly man approached from behind them.
“Hahaha, you all look quite shocked, don't you?”
“Lord George, the Duke!”
Duke George was the eldest and most senior noble in the Empire's noble assembly—the senior-most among the three former emperors he had served.
“The Emperor only shows his wrath to those who betray him. Do not be afraid.”
“Ah... y-yes... But, Lord Duke, why was the Emperor so angry just now?”
“Ah... because he spoke ill of his old childhood friend, of course.”
“Wh-what?! A childhood friend?!”
At the words of the elderly Duke George, the two nobles who had been seated and every passing noble crowded around, demanding an explanation.
Before long, the hall buzzed with nobles gathered to hear the Emperor and Elf Lowell's story.
“Do you know that, as a child, His Majesty took refuge in the Elf Kingdom to escape an assassination attempt? Do you not?”
“Ah... y-yes... I think I've heard something like that. But when the Emperor was a child... that Lowell person... ah...”
The noble who had asked the question for an explanation suddenly remembered something and slammed his fist into his palm, his eyes widening in realization.
“Hahaha, of course. Elves live far longer than humans, don't they?”
“Th-then... does that mean the Elf Lowell and the Emperor are truly childhood friends?”
“Hahaha, then I must take my leave. My grandchildren are arriving today.”
At the mention of his waiting grandchildren, the elderly Duke George stopped mid-sentence and left the hall.
The remaining nobles began arguing heatedly about the true identity of Elf Lowell, oblivious to the setting sun as the debate continued into the evening.
*****
Several days after leaving the Hero's Party...
As expected, the Hero had formally announced my expulsion from the Hero's Party to not only surrounding nations but also the Empire, the Holy Kingdom, and the Elf Kingdom.
Thanks to that, I found myself without a destination and unable to move.
On that day, after slipping out of the inn where the Hero's Party had been staying, I set off toward the nearest temple in the vicinity.
Given the situation...
I had planned to seek out the goddess and, since this world was already doomed, plead with her to send me back to my original world.
Of course...
If the goddess had intended to answer my plea, she would never have sent me here in the first place...
Still, I decided to at least make one last request: I would beg the goddess to reincarnate me into the Hero's body.
At the very least, this world would be spared the end of its days.
Leaving only a short distance to the town of Moncrito Kingdom, where the temple stood, I was suddenly trapped in an inn at a village with nowhere to go.
The reason was simple. The inn and every other building in the village were plastered with my wanted posters, drawing soldiers from the kingdom and adventurers from across the land.
The village had become a bustling hub.
The only fortunate thing was that, when I entered the inn, I had pulled my hood up, so no one yet knew I was an Elf.
Still uncertain, I planned to hide inside the room and, at the first sign of dawn, slip out of the village unnoticed.
“Listen to this.”
“What is it?”
Two adventurers chatting outside the inn's door carried their voices clearly to my room, where I was peering out the window at the outside world.
“The Holy Kingdom and the Elf Kingdom, and now the Empire has issued an arrest warrant too?”
“What? The Empire as well?”
“Indeed! They say... they claim it's a missing-person reward, but whatever! If they catch me, we'll both become rich, right? Hahaha.”
Their words about the Empire's wanted poster struck me as strange.
While the other kingdoms had drawn a criminal's face and posted a bounty, the Empire had drawn a missing-person's face and offered an enormous reward.
Was it...
Roberto...?
Although I could not recall the memory with perfect clarity, my mind conjured the face of a man who seemed to offer a hint from the past.
Just as I was lost in those memories...
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The village's emergency bell rang, and the soldiers and adventurers who had been searching for me began gathering in front of the inn.
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【Alert: High bounty adventurers and soldiers converging on the village inn. Estimated arrival in under 10 minutes. Move immediately if possible.】