Chapter 69 – Joyful, the Savior Has Come (6)

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 69 – Joyful, the Savior Has Come (6)

Lying flat on the roof, Lina quickly organized the information she had just heard.

So, Professor Dian rescued the villagers alongside Sir Linus during the war?

Does that mean Professor Dian was also part of the special task force? Or did he temporarily join forces with Sir Linus by chance?

Lina considered various possibilities but couldn’t be sure of the answer.

The story Professor Dian told the villagers only outlined the situation.

At least she knew that Professor Dian had conducted an operation here with Sir Linus, so she decided to investigate further.

Lina silently jumped down from the roof, disappearing from sight just before touching the ground.

# # # # #

The celebration that started at lunchtime continued into the evening.

The food seemed endless, and the atmosphere was filled with singing, dancing, and plays, creating a festive mood.

Having been pulled out several times to dance and sing, I returned exhausted and collapsed next to Linus.

“Hey, Linus. Do they do this every year?”

“No. This is special because you came. Usually, it’s just a modest meal.”

“Really... I’m exhausted...”

“Exhausted? That’s the first time I’ve heard you say that.”

“It’s not just about physical stamina. It’s more like my energy is being drained.”

I gulped down a cold beer as Linus chuckled and pushed a plate of food towards me.

“You can’t help it. The people here have been waiting for you more than for me.”

“That’s ridiculous. Sir Linus, the Slayer of the Demon King, the hero of the continent, and the savior of the intelligent races, is right here.”

“But that’s the true. So, has your perspective changed?”

I silently ate my food for a moment, pondering Linus’s question.

On the way here, Linus had told me that I didn’t know how the world had changed in the ten years since I left for Brunswell, and that the Palace’s complex situation had intentionally hidden me.

He said it was unfair and that I should decide my own treatment, not others.

To do that, he brought me to the Tatarnok village reconstruction celebration to see everything with my own eyes.

In simpler terms, he was saying, ‘You’re being sidelined intentionally or unintentionally. Please face reality!’

Coming to Tatarnok village, I realized how valuable the things I had thoughtlessly left behind were.

Of course, I had similar thoughts when I saw the tears of the war veterans at Ivronic Castle.

Linus was probably thinking, ‘See, I told you so.’

“See, I told you so.”

As expected, Linus said exactly what I had guessed.

That guy is so simple-minded, always predictable.

“Let’s attend more events like this in the future. It’s not just about giving. Allowing those we’ve helped to express their gratitude is also a virtue.”

“Maybe. I’ve never thought about it that way because I’m not as noble as you.”

“This has nothing to do with nobility. It’s an important social interaction.”

“Alright, alright. You’re so great.”

But Linus hasn’t realized one thing.

This world is a novel where hero Linus, the protagonist, defeats the Demon King.

I was merely a supporting character helping Linus until the end, and my disappearance after the Demon King’s defeat was part of that.

I didn’t fail to face reality and retreat to Brunswell.

Merilda smiled and buried her face in my chest.

The warmth of Merilda in my arms felt somewhat melancholic.

When the Demon King’s army attacked the village, Merilda was separated from her parents and was running with her baby sibling on her back.

She tripped and fell, and when we arrived, the baby was already....

Seeing that, Linus and I lost it and killed every single one of the Demon King’s soldiers.

We didn’t spare even those who begged for their lives, cutting off their heads or throwing them into burning houses.

Of course, killing them didn’t bring the baby back to life.

Linus blamed himself for a long time afterward, thinking that if he had found the village a bit earlier...

I felt the same. What if I had immediately run out before suggesting helping the village.

“I’m sorry for being late. If I had come sooner....”

“It’s okay.”

Merilda pressed her finger to my lips.

“You arrived just in time, Sir Dian.”

Was she referring to ten years ago or today?

“I just turned an adult this year.”

“What?”

“I said I’d marry you when I grew up. You haven’t forgotten that promise, have you?”

I laughed out loud at Merilda’s joke.

# # # # #

“Whew, I’m exhausted.”

As the music changed, Merilda stepped back from me with a smile.

“Shall we go get some fresh air?”

“Shall we?”

It was early summer, and the weather was quite hot.

Even though all the windows in the hall were open, it was still sweaty with so many people dancing.

As we stepped outside, the warm breeze of an early summer night blew in.

“Ha, it’s not even cool at night anymore.”

“It can’t be helped. It’s summer.”

“Let’s go somewhere cooler.”

“Where?”

“Follow me.”

Merilda led the way across the village.

When we were far enough that the noise from the hall was barely audible, she stopped at the outskirts of the village.

It was the boundary between the forest and the plains surrounding the village.

It was quite dark, as the village lights didn’t reach here, and the sound of flowing water could be heard.

From the look of the terrain, it seemed to be a stream flowing from the valley where Linus and I had rested briefly.

“Let’s rest here for a while, Sir Dian. Dip your feet in the water. It’s really cool.”

Following Merilda’s advice, I stepped into the stream, and the ice-cold water from the valley was indeed very refreshing.

“Wow, it’s really cool. Come in too, Meril... What are you doing?”

Merilda was standing there naked. Her clothes lay at her feet like discarded skins.

“I’m keeping that promise.”

[Translator – Peptobismol]