CH 55

Luckily, the rain stopped a day after we left. As a result, our return to the Capital was very smooth. We received an order from the Archduke before leaving. He told us to send a messenger to the palace once we neared the Capital and to stay in a nearby city for a few days.

So here we were, about two hours’ horseback ride from the Capital, waiting for the palace to give us permission or for other communication. It was a small town with few people, and we couldn’t go around without being mobbed, so we rented a room in an inn and sat silently. We played whatever games we could with the playing cards Daphne had brought with her from somewhere.

“Why didn’t they ask us to come back right away?”

Daphne muttered as she drew a card from Marianne’s hand. We were playing Catch the Thief. Without further ado, I drew a card and held my cards to my side. (TN: I’ll put a link below explaining the rules. If you are too lazy to read it, think of it as a variation of old maid where you can only pick between two cards.)

“They must be organizing a return ceremony. It is a good way to increase everyone’s morale at once.”

Leonard, a knight who had traveled with me to the North, said as he drew from my hand. The joker in my hand moved to his. The other knights who had joined us from the Capital had remained in Evernode to help fill their ranks, and only Leonard was traveling with us as our messenger.

“The people of the Capital must be complaining about how long it’s been since we had our last one.”

I quipped, and Georg chuckled beside me, nodded, and let out a long sigh. It was like he was reminiscing. Or pulled the joker.

“Last time was a rough one. We weren’t without internal bickering while we were slaying the Kraken, and it was a pain in the ass to have to present ourselves as a party of harmonious heroes.”

Georg shook his head in exasperation.

“Watching you and Arjen almost made me snap, Elroy.”

“…It was awful.”

The reason Georg had been forced to watch Elroy and Arjen’s conflict was simple. It was a fight he couldn’t stop. In the face of a world-ending Disaster, there could be no compromise, no debate over the quantity of death.

“Well, at least I’ll be able to participate in peace this time.”

Georg, who had only one card left in his hand, stood up, dusting off his hands. That was the second time he had won. ‘Luckily, he isn’t screaming like a drunken monster this time.’

“I’d consider it a success if you were half as quiet as last time.”

I frowned, and Leonard chuckled, agreeing with Georg.

“I was surprised too. I didn’t expect you to say that, coming from a man who barely spoke at the Third Disaster departure ceremony, let alone its return one.”

Then, Leonard dusted off his hands and stood up. A single card remained in my hand. Marianne took it out of my hand, and I was done. It would be a fight between Daphne and Marianne.

“I’m looking forward to your speech.”

Daphne and Marianne didn’t hear our conversation. Daphne drew a card from Marianne’s hand and looked visibly relieved. Marianne, on the other hand, remained unchanged as usual. In a game like this, the odds are stacked in favor of those who can control their emotions.

(Tsk, I thought I would be the first one.)

For the record, I was just acting as a proxy. About halfway through the game, the Holy Sword started hinting that she wanted to play, telling me which card to pick and how to arrange them in my hand. So I gave in and did what he said. Honestly, she wasn’t good at it.

(When did I say I wanted to play? I’m just, like, bored with what you’re doing….)

‘Oh, yeah. Then maybe I shouldn’t have listened to you.’

(Y-you wouldn’t dare.)

I clenched my teeth and pinched my leg to keep myself from laughing. Somehow, Marianne and Daphne’s battle was still going. What was funny was Daphne’s changing facial expressions and Marianne’s expressionlessness facing each other as they picked cards.

“Ugh….”

Daphne’s hands were shaking. Daphne had one card left in her hand. Marianne had two cards in her hand. A joker and an ace. Daphne stared into Marianne’s eyes, trying to find some sort of agitation in them, but there was none to be found. Instead, the craze was in Daphne’s eyes as she looked into Marianne’s.

“Is it this…?”

As Daphne narrowed her eyes and picked up a card, there was a knock on the inn’s door. Leonard went to check the door, and Daphne put the cards away with a sigh of relief and disappointment. With a creak, the door opened on worn hinges, and Leonard froze in the doorway.

And after about a second and a half.

“Her Majesty the Queen…!”

“Quiet. No one else may speak or move a step.”

The Queen, Agnes Blanche Lumiere, entered the room, hooded, hand over her mouth. Her blood-red eyes shone through the hood. The four-person room felt suffocatingly small with our party, Leonard, the Queen, and her escort.

“It’s a little untidy but can’t be helped.”

The Queen removed her hood to reveal her face. I greeted her with wide-eyed amazement.

“Your Majesty, how did you end up here?”

She looked at me as she spoke jokingly and then walked over and sat down directly before me. Everyone in the room was stunned by her unceremonious appearance. Her hand rested on mine. She squeezed my hand and smiled faintly.

“You have done very well, Hero Elroy. That’s why I had to be the first to congratulate you.”

I bowed my head deeply, unable to hide my embarrassment.

“No, it’s because Her Majesty believed in me.”

“And now more people will believe in you.”

The Queen let out a small laugh and nodded.

“Let’s talk a bit about the ceremony. It won’t be much different in format from the last one. The Hero’s Party will march down the Royal Road to the palace, and the people will watch the parade. Unlike the departure ceremony, I won’t have you speaking; just show them you’ve improved, which should be enough to make an impact.”

I shook my head.

“…To be honest, it’s a shame we have to settle for a mere parade, but we’ve still got a few mountains to climb before we can celebrate. So we’ll have to settle with this for now.”

The Queen smiled wistfully as she said that. After all, defeating the Disaster was not my task alone. The burden was also carried by the Queen and the Kingdom. It would not be unreasonable for her not to be pleased.

“You’ll just have to be yourself, Hero Elroy.”

“…I will.”

I’m glad it was simpler than I thought. The Queen watched me nod, then slowly brought her hand to my face. I froze as if nailed by her thin smile and red gaze, and her soft hand came to rest on my face.

“Do not hide your wounds. Let them know that you have fought and returned.”

The Queen’s gaze fell to my shoulder, the bandages peeking through the fabric.

“Dress as if you have just returned from battle. Show them how you fought, so they’ll believe you, recognize you, and then there won’t be as much noise inside as last time.”

Her voice was bitter as she spoke.

“Forgive me that even your battles are used in politics. It’s my biggest regret.”

“I don’t mind if it gives people faith.”

The Queen let out a small chuckle at my response, then relaxed her grip on my face.

“Still, I don’t think I’d mind if you came in looking like you did on your departure.”

With that, she swept a hand through my hair. My bangs cleared my vision, giving me a clear view of the Queen’s face. A cold, beautiful face with a hint of curiosity. I blinked in surprise, and she chuckled, letting go of my hair.

“Yes. Perhaps you could try a few more facial expressions in my presence since you are either expressionless or dumbfounded whenever we meet.”

She left me blinking dazedly and greeted the rest of the party. Georg greeted the Queen with familiarity; Marianne was her usual stoic self. Only Daphne greeted her as stiffly as I did. I sighed softly, feeling a sense of similarity with her.

(I see…That’s how she’s using her position…)

Somehow, I could hear the sound of the Holy Sword muttering that. After delivering her greetings and congratulations, the Queen smiled and rose from her seat. We listened to her footsteps fade away as the door closed again, and we looked into each other’s faces as if a storm had swept away.

After a long moment of silence, Georg spoke first.

“…So, who won the game just now?”

“…I don’t know.”

Daphne muttered, looking at the pile of cards she had already organized.

***

Nearly three months have passed since the departure ceremony. The people in the Capital had heard through the grapevine that the Hero had finally defeated the Fourth Disaster.

“There’s been a lot of noise, but he succeeded again.”

“I don’t know; there were rumors he hindered the party last time. Do you think the Hero really did it?”

“Isn’t it all about killing the thing? No matter how you slice it, they’ve defeated the Disaster.”

Reactions varied. Doubt hadn’t completely disappeared, but the flames of hope were being fanned, and cheers were joining in. Curiosity drew them into the streets. It was already packed with people long before the Hero entered the gates.

Some to see the Hero’s return. Others to find out if the rumors were true.

They watched the gates.

It creaked and swung open. In walked the royal guards who escorted the Hero to Evernode. Beyond them was the Hero, who looked like he had just returned from battle. He came in, looking tired but with a determined look in his eyes.

“…Doesn’t he look a little different?”

“Come to think of it, so is his atmosphere….”

The faintest trace of foolishness was erased. As the Hero approached, he emitted an all-encompassing magic power. The people were drawn to it, staring at him in a daze. 

“I have fought. I have fought and won.“

As he spoke, he looked back at the crowd and smiled faintly.

Then, above the Hero’s gray hair, a shining halo rose. The spiked rings glowed with brilliance and enveloped the Hero in light. 

The people began to kneel in his presence. They clasped their hands together and began chanting prayers.

“There he is… the figure of the Hero.”

The people turned their heads to look at him as if mesmerized. A Hero. Some began to cheer, others suddenly burst into tears. He raised his Holy Sword in the air, as he had done on his departure.

He was victorious.

Light burst forth from the Holy Sword, illuminating the streets.

To those who doubted, for those who believed. Light to those in darkness. Courage to those in fear. And so the march of the heroes continued to the palace, shining a new light throughout the kingdom.

***

The next day, I awoke in my chambers for the first time in a long time, and at breakfast, I received a letter from Marianne. The sender was Bishop Andrei Jarvin. I tore it open and read it.

The letter was very brief.

‘Congratulations on defeating the Fourth Disaster. I hope to see you and Marianne soon, as we have to catch up on a few things.’

I looked up, frowning, and Marianne gave me a slight shrug.

Translator’s Corner

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Here is the closest rule set I found to what they were describing.