CH 22

The chipped holy sword pierced the ground.

The hero who had fallen back on the ground, and the swordsman who was pointing his sword at him.

Both the winner and the loser had been decided.

“It’s my victory.”

“Guh…”

Grave won.

With my sword, he had bested the hero who wielded the holy sword.

As my heart raced, I clenched both of my hands.

Grave sheathed his sword and proceeded to speak to Allen.

“This wasn’t a bet, therefore, there’s nothing at stake. However, you can’t take Liliana if she doesn’t want to go. Leave and never show your face before her again.”

“…Heh, I wonder what makes you think you can say that.”

Allen, with a bitter expression, suddenly replied with a haughty tone.

Grave frowned at him.

“What do you mean?”

“I came here at the behest of His Majesty’s order.”

When I heard the words ‘His Majesty’, I immediately understood what Allen meant.

Perhaps, the same went with Grave.

Allen gradually stood up and walked over to pick up his sword which was stuck to the ground.

“I’m here on His Majesty’s order! I’m an ambassador of the kingdom! Do you think you can do whatever you want?!”

“…”

“What are you talking about!?”

“Did you forget you’re the one who provoked him first!?”

“Looks like it!”

Protests arose from all around.

Allen leisurely walked pass them, pulled out his sword, and sheathed it.

Turning around, he grinned and laughed out in victory.

“I shall thoroughly report everything to His Majesty! ‘The people of this city are rebelling against the kingdom!’—That’s all I needed to say to His Majesty. Once that happens, do you know what’s in store for all of you?”

“…Coward.”

“Are you truly the hero?!”

It was as everyone said—there was nothing heroic about his remark.

Instead, they were the threatening words of a villain.

“Do all of you want to start a war?”

By that, Allen was basically saying that if we didn’t comply with to what he had to say, he’d start a war…

“Hee? You just mentioned something very interesting, there!”

“Who…!”

That voice—!

“Boss!”

“Rigard.”

Everyone shared the same reaction of shocked.

Next to Rigard was Teresia.

Meanwhile, behind them—

“—Liliana!”

“Anna…”

Concerned, she ran up to me.

“Are you okay!? Are you hurt?!”

“Y, yes, but why are you here?”

“I was informed by someone—that Liliana was about to be taken by a strange person, and that Grave got into a duel!”

“Were you worried for me?”

“Obviously!”

Anna seemed to be a little teary.

I held her hand and felt her warmth.

“Thank you.”

Tears naturally flowed from my eyes.

But nothing was over, yet.

I wiped my tears and stared at Allen and the others.

“Nice to meet you. Are you the rumored hero?”

“…I believe I should be the one asking the questions?”

“Hmm? Oh, that’s right. I’m Rigard, the leader of the ‘Sword of the Blue Sky.’”

“Are you a guild master? Perhaps, your guild is the one that employed her?”

“That’s correct, and you seem to be attempting to snatch our important companion?”

“To begin with, she’s ours.”

“Dunno about that. Anyway, she’s one of us, now.”

Allen and Rigard glared at each other.

Allen sighed after glaring for a while.

“Hmm… is this city filled with nothing but buffoons?”

“Boss, can you please refrain from acting like this guy?” Said Grave.

“…Why are you comparing me with him?” Said Rigard.

“I’m saying, since you can’t think too far ahead, you must be an imbecile, right?” Said Allen.

“‘Thinking far ahead’? Ah, I see, you meant the war?”

Rigard slapped his neck in a dull manner and scratched his head.

Rigard was the representative of the city.

I didn’t think he could cross the line with his words, either.

If a war broke out, the city would become the sea of fire…

“Well, do as you like.”

“Eh?”

“…What?”

Allen and I had the same confounded expression.

It was too unexpected, to the point I doubted my hearing.

“Wait a minute? Did I mishear you? What did you say?” Said Allen.

“Fortunately, you didn’t mishear me. If you want to start a war, we’ll accept it.”

“Wait… are you being serious?”

“I mean, it’s no joking matter, y’know? Are you sure you aren’t the buffoon in question?”

Rigard retorted. Then, he continued.

“Oi, Hero, do you not know what this city is known for?”

“What?”

“It’s the city of adventurers! Even if it’s in the territory of the kingdom, it’s not under the discretion of the king! We live independently from his rule. From the start, we had nothing to do with you. Are you ready to fight us amidst this emergency?”

“What stupid things are you—”

“—If you think I’m lying, why don’t you just confirm the truth? In this current situation, where your obligation is to defeat the demon king, you want to turn this entire city into your enemy? Isn’t that just foolish?”

“Tch, you…!”

Allen gritted his teeth.

He bitterly furrowed his eyebrows and glared at Rigard.

Rigard laughed at him with his same laidback attitude as usual.

“Well, what are you going to do?”

No one disagreed with Rigard’s statement.

Not the people in the city, nor, of course, Grave and Anna.

“…You’re going to such an extent just for a guild member?”

“Hahaha! It’s only natural! After all, a guild is no different than family! We always risk our lives to protect our family!”

Family—

***T/N:

///Allen: I’ll do as I like!!!!!

///Rigard: K.

///Allen: //shocked pikachu face//