Chapter 116: Aftermath of the Festival
Due to the tragedy that unfolded during the Royal Academy’s event—the Monster Hunting Festival—the academy has temporarily closed its doors. An unprecedented number of casualties among the students has been reported, and even faculty members and Student Council members who attempted to rescue them suffered losses. Although there were hardly any first-year participants, some lost relatives or upperclassmen with whom they had connections. Classes at the academy will not resume for at least a month, and the upcoming final exams have been canceled.
“Goodness, what a disaster this has turned into… I never imagined it would get this bad,” Viola lamented.
“Indeed… I’m so relieved that Rest-sama wasn’t injured,” Primula added.
In the townhouse of the Rosemary Marquis House located in the Royal Capital, Viola and Primula sat on the sofa in the parlor, their expressions mirroring each other’s gloom.
“You’re right… I’m glad both of you are safe,” Rest agreed, squeezed between the two on the same sofa. During the Monster Hunting Festival, Rest had been on the front lines as part of the rescue team, while the Rosemary Sisters managed operations from the rear tents. He later learned that when Subnock caused the stampede of monsters, the two had attempted to charge into the plains to find him. Had it not been for Celestine Crocus, the Duchess, and his father, Albert Rosemary, stopping them, they would have surely faced grave danger.
“Please, don’t do anything reckless like that again!” Viola pleaded.
“Exactly! Rest-sama is the fiancé of the Rosemary Marquis House!” Primula chimed in.
“Yes… I’ll be more careful,” Rest replied, feeling dejected as he faced their scolding. When he reported that he had fought and defeated the Master of the Demon Realm, Subnock, he was met with both astonishment and a stern lecture. Facing a magical beast capable of annihilating entire armies alone was nothing short of a suicidal act. He had been scolded, berated, slapped, and even brought to tears. There was nothing he could do but reflect on his actions, enduring the sisters’ reprimands and apologizing profusely.
“Ugh… If it was that interesting, I should have participated too!” a fourth voice piped up.
The words, tinged with regret, belonged to Yuri Cattleya, a classmate and friend.
“Ah… Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean to say that the loss of life was ‘interesting.’ I simply meant that there might have been something I could have done to help!” Yuri clarified.
“I know that… But if you had been there, the Knight Commander might have gone mad,” Rest retorted.
Yuri was the daughter of Iljas Cattleya, the Knight Commander. Being the only daughter among many brothers, she was said to be excessively doted upon. To escape her father’s obsessive love, Yuri had run away and enrolled in the academy. During the closure, she was staying at the Rosemary Marquis House, as the student dormitory she lived in had been temporarily shut down due to the incident.
“I didn’t participate because I heard my father would be attending as a guest, but I never expected such a commotion to arise. Rest, you fought the Master of the Demon Realm, didn’t you? Was he as strong as they say?” Yuri inquired.
“Unbelievably so… Honestly, I think it was a miracle that I won,” Rest admitted.
As expected of the Master of the Demon Realm. Even his minions, the Corrupted Beasts, were formidable, and without Lübesse’s assistance, things could have turned dire. The relief of surviving far outweighed the joy of achieving something no one had accomplished since the founding of the kingdom.
“If word spreads that Rest defeated the Master of the Demon Realm, you’ll become a hero overnight. I feel so proud as your fiancée,” Primula said with a smile.
“I want to say, ‘As expected of Rest-sama,’ but please, do refrain from such reckless actions in the future, okay?” Viola added.
“I understand… I’m sorry,” Rest replied, lowering his head once more.
“Interesting, interesting… By the way, will there be any honors or rewards from the Royal Family for defeating Subnock?” Yuri asked, placing her finger thoughtfully to her lips.
“You achieved something that no one else could. Surely, medals or reward money wouldn’t suffice, but hasn’t the Royal Family said anything?”
“About that…” Rest began to respond when a knock echoed from the parlor door.
“Milady, the Duchess Crocus has arrived,” a maid announced.
“Please let her in.”
“At once.”
The maid stepped back, returning with a new guest.
“Good day. It seems everyone is gathered here,” Celestine Crocus, the daughter of the Chancellor, greeted as she entered the parlor. She gracefully curtsied, her skirt delicately lifted, and offered a gentle smile.
“As I mentioned in advance… I have come today to convey something to Rest-sama regarding the rewards for defeating Subnock.”