◆ Avangarde Castle, West Corridor ◆
“So, you know, Kurinka—”
“I see, I see. I never expected you two to have such a grand adventure.”
“But it seems I caused you trouble. Rua, I’m sorry… Let’s stick together from now on, okay?”
I couldn’t believe how much I was talking. It felt like everything I had bottled up for ten years was finally pouring out. Even though I was speaking to my beloved father and mother, I was surprised to discover just how much I enjoyed chatting. Around us, children curiously gathered, walking in a group with the adults from Ikana Village. Thanks to Tiferia breaking down the walls, the space felt open and easy to navigate. Hast was the only one left in that laboratory. I checked to see if anyone else was trapped, but there was no one. I couldn’t tell if they had perished from the experiments or not. Even with the source of our troubles gone, this irritation seemed far from over.
Who was truly to blame for all this? Aside from Belmund, it was obviously that one person. The most powerful figure in this country was, of course, the King. If he had given the orders, it would be absolutely unforgivable.
Kurinka had returned to the courtyard to restore Kirkton and the others, but all those adventurers who had been there were now completely gone. With Tiferia by her side, she shouldn’t have been able to do anything reckless, yet I couldn’t shake off the feeling of impending dread.
“I want to live peacefully like before, you know?”
“Indeed, but it won’t be that simple. After all, we are, in a sense, a threat to the kingdom.”
“Quickly! We must defeat the Evil King!”
Just as our serious discussion was about to unfold, a crowd rushed down the corridor. Those were the soldiers. The atmosphere was tense, and my bad feeling might have just been confirmed. What was Tiferia doing? I couldn’t believe she would let everyone run wild like this while being present.
◆ Avangarde Castle, King’s Chamber ◆
The vast King’s Chamber was filled with a throng of people. Soldiers and adventurers were mixed together, radiating an aura of hostility, surrounding the King. He had been dragged from his throne, bound behind his back, kneeling on the floor. There were no guards to protect him. In fact, he had no allies left at all.
And then, I almost cried out in shock. There stood a man in a striking red cloak. He had short black hair and a slight beard, and in his hand, he clutched a woman’s hair. At the end of that hair lay Tiferia, limp and defeated. Her armor was more damaged than when she fought me, exposing her skin.
“Tiferia…”
“Calm down, she’s not dead.”
Gantetsu grabbed my arm. Only Seigel, Ritta, and a few soldiers remained unaffected by the bizarre atmosphere. But Ritta was gripping her spear tightly, struggling to hold back her emotions. It was painfully clear that she found this situation unacceptable as a soldier of this country.
One thing was certain: it was all Aleid’s fault. I had no idea where he had been until now, but he had suddenly appeared at this critical moment to cause trouble.
“What is going on here?”
“According to that Hero, Tiferia kidnapped the villagers from Ikana Village and turned them into test subjects.”
“W-Where did he learn that…?”
I wasn’t sure if my voice reached anyone, but Aleid released his grip on Tiferia’s hair, letting her fall to the floor. She lay there, unconscious, offering no resistance.
“I have dealt with the villain who kidnapped innocent villagers. You can rest easy now.”
Aleid’s proclamation stirred the crowd into a frenzy. They whistled like they had during the Combat Tournament, all praising Aleid in a grotesque display.
“Truly, the Hero!”
“Don’t forgive the cruel King!”
“How many lives do you think were sacrificed? Answer us!”
“Answer us! Answer us!” The shouts turned into a barrage of insults. The story of Tiferia attacking Ikana Village was supposed to be known only to us. How did he know? No, perhaps he had been hiding somewhere, listening in. Gantetsu gritted his teeth in frustration, but surely he didn’t actually believe him.
“What does he plan to do with this country…?”
Among the few soldiers observing this scene calmly, only Ritta’s hatred was growing. To others, Aleid might seem like a savior, but to me, who knew his true nature, it was obvious he was just acting. However, it was likely Ritta was seeing him for the first time, and yet she was already beginning to realize something.
“Tiferia, who was holding back those on the verge of rampage, was taken down in an instant by that Hero. She had no means to fight back… What a monster he is.”
I knew well of Aleid’s strength. If he truly wanted to, even an S-rank adventurer would be no match for him. But for Gantetsu and Seigel, witnessing this was a first. They could do nothing against someone of such a different caliber, forced to watch as he did as he pleased.
Seigel, who usually joked around, was now fidgeting with his arms crossed. His frustration was palpable; even Aleid’s tone, which usually carried a mocking edge, had turned serious, adding to the tension.
“Execute the King!”
“Yes, yes! Execute him!”
“…As you can see, this country has committed unforgivable acts. The people who were turned into test subjects had their dignity and souls tainted. If the citizens learn of this, they will no longer trust their King. Not only that, but he will lose his throne and his life.”
Looking around at those who echoed his sentiments, Aleid closed his eyes.
“But think carefully. Will executing this King solve everything? Will it make this country prosperous? I don’t believe so. That is not the right choice.”
“Are you saying we should forgive the King?”
“As the Hero says, if the citizens learn of this, a rebellion will surely arise. Isn’t execution necessary as a deterrent?”
“Right now, this country is in chaos. With Belmund and the other ministers having vanished, this is a moment where we must make a calm judgment.”
I was worried about Tiferia, but for now, she should be safe. That meant I had to figure out what he was planning. Attacking him here would solve nothing and would only make things worse for me. I had learned enough from my adventures to understand that much.
“Everyone makes mistakes. I was a hopeless case until I became a Hero. I tried various jobs but failed at them all… I was wild, picking fights with anyone I could find. I nearly died after being beaten to a pulp by multiple people. What a rotten life, I thought. But then, someone came to me, crying for my sake. Not my biological parents, but my adoptive ones. They showed me far more love than the parents who abandoned me.”
In this somber atmosphere, I was the only one looking at him skeptically. There was no doubt in my mind that he was lying, though I had no evidence to back it up.
“Having someone worry about you… I thought that was happiness. So… I can’t express it well, but the King of Avangarde is alone. There is no one to correct his mistakes. Being at the top of the nation, he is always lonely. While he can do anything, there is no one who can tell him when he is wrong. So… I have a request. Please give him another chance.”
“A chance…?”
At someone’s murmur, Aleid nodded quietly. It was insane that no one noticed his exaggerated act. No, I only knew because I understood his true nature; if I hadn’t, I might have been deceived too.
“I need time. I will take care of this King.”
“W-What are you saying?! Are you out of your mind?!”
“I understand what you want to say. But think about it: if we execute the King here, what will happen to this disunited country? Without a doubt, weak women and children will be swept away in the chaos. This King is, frankly, competent. He has sat on this throne for decades without overly inciting the people’s dissatisfaction. Of course, Belmund’s influence was significant, but… In any case, will acting on a moment’s emotion truly lead to a good outcome?”
Unlike before, the room was not filled with angry shouts. This meant that people were starting to accept Aleid’s words. But my doubts remained. I couldn’t understand what Aleid was trying to achieve. There had to be a hidden agenda behind this seemingly rational talk. I couldn’t figure out what it was.
There was no way he could take care of the King, and such a thing would never be permitted. At this point, I might have to step forward and drive him out myself. Just as I was half-resolved to do so, Ritta began to push through the crowd, slowly approaching him. Her eyes seemed to reflect a determination, yet they also appeared vacant, as if she were heading toward despair.
“Your Majesty, for now, you have been saved. So don’t be so pessimistic,” Aleid said, trying to lift the king’s spirits.
“Ugh… Aleid…” the king replied, his voice heavy with despair.
“I love this country just as much as you do. So… if you have the will, you can definitely start over. Stand up once more.”
“I’m sorry… for having such a foolish king…”
“Wait a moment, please!”
Ritta stepped forward, blocking Aleid’s path. For just a brief moment, Aleid raised his eyelids in surprise. He must have thought, what is this girl doing, when things were finally going well? But he quickly returned to his smile, determined to maintain the facade of the Hero.
“…Who are you?” Aleid asked.
“I am Ritta, captain of the 24th squad of the Avangarde Brigade. Therefore, I have a duty to protect this country.”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“With all due respect, Hero, you were also given orders for security. Yet, where have you been until now?”
“I was guarding properly. Our assigned locations were different.”
“Then let me ask everyone here. Has anyone seen the Hero?”
The atmosphere shifted dramatically from a welcoming mood to a murmur of confusion. No one could answer where Aleid had been. It seemed he had been hiding somewhere, eavesdropping on our conversation. At this point, I understood what Ritta was trying to convey.
“Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him.”
“That’s true. It’s strange that the strongest among us, the Hero, is absent during such a critical time.”
“Even Tiferia was here.”
Tiferia’s previously composed expression quickly turned awkward. It seemed the situation was becoming increasingly dire for Aleid. Ritta silently fixed her gaze on him, refusing to let him escape her scrutiny.
“Answer me.”
“Haha, if I were in a place where I could be noticed, intruders wouldn’t come near, would they? I was deliberately hiding to lure them in.”
“Specifically, where were you?”
“I can’t say. If I revealed that here, it would spread, and then it wouldn’t be useful for the future, would it?”
“Lord Belmund… no, Belmund was meticulous in understanding individual traits and abilities before assigning personnel. Given his meticulous nature, it’s hard to believe he would give such vague instructions.”
“No, I actually received those orders.”
“Is that true?”
“Yeah, it’s true.”
“But, in reality, we were invaded like this.”
A murmur of discontent spread through the crowd. The distrust towards Aleid was growing, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before it erupted. Yet, Aleid was still trying to maintain his facade. His half-hearted smile only made him appear more ridiculous.
“How can you ambush when you don’t even know where the intruders came from or what route they took? Where exactly?”
“I’m the Hero, after all. Unlike you, I can move instantly to various locations.”
“Answer the question, Aleid.”
Kirkton’s voice boomed as he entered the King’s Chamber, followed by the Five Elites and Kurinka, who seemed to have returned safely.
“Belmund said this: ‘Aleid, where on earth are you?’ After reporting that Lua and Kurinka had defected to the Demon Lord Army, you suddenly vanished.”
“I-I heard that too!”
“So did I!”
The remaining ministers echoed in unison. Some had disappeared along with Belmund, but it was somewhat reassuring that others remained. I had heard before that the important figures in the kingdom were divided into factions, the King’s faction and Belmund’s faction. I didn’t understand the complexities, but it was clear there was tension.
“K-Kirkton, you’re safe.”
“What’s this? You speak as if you knew something had happened to me.”
“Ah, no…”
“I have a duty to protect this beloved country. However, I will not tolerate any filth that clouds its purity. You were probably trying to curry favor with His Majesty to eventually seize control of this country.”
“W-What kind of nonsense is that! Don’t joke with me! If you truly care for this country, you should listen to what I have to say!”
“Because I love it, I must correct the mistakes!”
Kirkton’s thunderous voice pressured Aleid, who seemed cornered and was becoming increasingly agitated. It appeared that Kirkton had regained his composure. The stubbornness he had shown before the battle was nowhere to be seen. Kurinka’s insistence that love means correcting mistakes had resonated with him. It was as if Kirkton’s sharp gaze was a testament to that understanding.
“It’s utterly presumptuous of you to take care of His Majesty. Even as an S-rank, know your place. As long as I stand here, I will not allow His Majesty to be executed. I will protect him with my life!”
No one dared to confront Kirkton’s imposing presence. Aleid’s mask had already been stripped away, and perhaps the anger towards the experiment had completely extinguished.
“But, Captain Kirkton, how do you plan to address the inhumane experiments this country has conducted? Are you going to cover it up? No matter how noble your words are, it seems that’s the only option left. After all, you are the dogs of the kingdom.”
“No… I will make everything public.”
“Your Majesty…?”
Finally, the King raised his head. He faced the gathered Adventurers and soldiers without evading their gazes, standing tall as a king.
“I will clarify everything in due time. But please, allow me to do my job now. This is my final task as the King of Avangarde…”
The mention of a final task piqued my curiosity. However, no one dared to question him further. There was no one here who would complain about the King’s sincere demeanor. It was becoming clear that blaming the King wouldn’t solve anything; killing him here wouldn’t bring resolution.
Yet, in this now silent space, there was one person who was bubbling with rage. After being humiliated in front of so many, he wouldn’t stay quiet. I half-heartedly resigned myself to the inevitable.
“Ugh, this is so annoying! Seriously, you pathetic fools… acting all high and mighty like you’re something special. Ah, I’m done playing the Hero.”
It seemed that I was the one who had to step up and do something at the end. The glow of the Hero’s Sword that Aleid had drawn seemed somehow diminished. But that blade was more than enough to kill everyone present.
“H-Hero…?”
“I’ve decided. From now on, I am the king of this country. Anyone who opposes me will be executed without mercy, and all the women will be mine. I will build the ultimate Harem. Just so you know, I could turn this Royal Capital into a wasteland in an instant. Should I make an example of someone?”
The villagers from Ikana were equally astonished by his transformation. Yes, all the important people were gathered here. This meant I had to ensure he was stopped for good.
“Anyone who opposes me, raise your hands! No one? Then from today, I am the king!”
“Aleid, if you continue to act recklessly, I will be your opponent.”
“You’ve shown up, you little brat. Honestly, you’re the most bothersome one here. Answer me, you received power from him too, didn’t you?”
“…Huh?”
“I’ve decided, you will be the first member of my Harem. I’ll put a collar on you and keep you naked all day.”
Each word he spat was as repulsive as the last, reminiscent of Formas. Before me stood a person so vile, he was even worse than the Comet Wolf Brigade. If I let him live, it would lead to disaster. Who knows what he would do if he truly went berserk?
“Hehe, you think you can win against me in the Demon Lord Castle, and now you’re all cocky. Here’s a quiz for you, foolish Lua-chan. What is something that wasn’t there back then but is here now?”
He stuck out his filthy tongue, taunting me further. The wrinkles on his forehead only intensified my disdain.
“I’m getting fed up, so I’ll give it my all against you.”
The tension between Aleid and me caused the others to stir. To those who could sense our power, both Aleid and I were monsters in our own right. With two such beings about to clash, wise individuals would flee. Perhaps Kirkton and Ritta had sensed the situation quickly, as they began instructing everyone to leave the area.
◆ Shin Report ◆
I briefly reunited with my family, but that was fleeting. The foolish Hero, squeezing his empty head, attempted to seize control of the country. However, the greater fool, Rua, was utterly bewildered by it all. In my opinion, there are countless ways to defeat him.
Those who were nearly led astray by such nonsense, what were they thinking?
If Rua were to fight seriously, Shin would have no choice but to flee.
Is there anywhere safe? In the end, this place feels the most stable.
Warm and cozy.
By the way, what is a Harem?
I think I’ll ask the Demon Lord next time. That sounds like a plan.