Chapter 39

39. Honor (4)

Dwerner's sudden bombshell statement.

A brief silence fell in the office.

Rodelin tilted her head, wondering if she had heard correctly.

Awin immediately objected.

"To officially acknowledge that someone died at the Academy! The Academy's honor will be ruined! Not to mention the Chancellor's honor!"

Under normal circumstances, he would have averted his gaze and fled.

But today's Dwerner was different.

"Awin, I think differently. Perhaps... no, enduring dishonor, that is true honor, isn't it?"

"......!!"

Such eloquent words from Dwerner.

Moreover, the profound meaning behind them.

'Is this really the parachuted Dwerner?'

Awin, who found it hard to believe, soon nodded in agreement.

'Father or grandfather must have advised him. If that's the case, I should follow. They must have finished their calculations upstairs.'

Elevating the honor of the Lucid family.

There must be a good reason for pushing this.

—Awin concluded.

"......I have no choice. I will proceed with it."

This was Awin's conclusion after much thought, but to Dwerner, it looked like his competence was being recognized.

"No, we should even erect a statue. The location will be the Tomb of the Holy Sword... and the title will be 'The Spirit of Two Heroes.' Miss Rodelin, what do you think?"

"A... a statue as well? I, it sounds good."

"Hmm, I remember Miss Rodelin mentioned meeting the bereaved family. Please convey my sincere condolences on my behalf. Of course, the compensation, the tomb, and the statue of the two heroes."

"Of course. I will definitely convey the Chancellor's sincerity!"

Rodelin answered loudly, and Dwerner smiled contentedly.

But Rodelin was thinking something else.

'Enduring dishonor... no, enduring it, that is true honor, isn't it?'

'It sounds similar to what Zero said... but it must be a coincidence.'

Perhaps there was such a famous quote, and both Zero and Dwerner quoted it?

That must be it. Zero isn't manipulating Chancellor Dwerner.

Rodelin thought she should read some books after a long time.

* * *

"These are the remains of Mr. Luther."

Rodelin handed over a small box.

Inside were Luther's worn clothes, a parrot's feather, a medal, a certificate of appreciation, and a broken sword hilt.

The clown carefully smoothed out the clothes.

Sadness, anger, regret, love-hate, and sorrow.

What emotions were reflected on his face?

He was dressed neatly, without his usual clown makeup.

For the quick-witted Rodelin, guessing someone's emotions was easier than eating.

But Rodelin couldn't guess his emotions.

Partly because the clown's expression was incomprehensible...

'Who am I to... understand and console a parent who has lost a child?'

But one thing was clear.

No mere words could express the emotions he was feeling.

"The parrot's feather has a preservation spell on it. It should last a hundred years if it doesn't get badly damaged."

"I see."

"There's also a medal and a certificate of appreciation..."

Rodelin trailed off.

What's the point of receiving an award after death?

But she was doing her best to honor Luther as a hero.

This was a clear fact and Rodelin's sincere intention.

"......"

The clown said nothing.

Was he feeling a bit better, or preparing to criticize?

It was impossible to tell. But she had to handle the situation.

It was her duty and role.

"The remains will be interred in the Imperial National Cemetery. A tombstone and a statue will be erected at the Academy."

"Heroic treatment. Thank you."

The clown bowed his head. Rodelin followed suit, bowing deeply.

With that, the official notification procedure was complete.

Rodelin, unsure of what to do, spoke.

"Once again, I apologize. It's been 20 years, and I'm sorry for not knowing..."

"It's fine. It's not Miss Rodelin's fault."

"You might not know, but at that time, my older sister..."

"I know that too. It wasn't her fault either."

"Really?"

"What could one student do? The fact that the Lucid family is showing such consideration... there must be something I don't know."

Rodelin couldn't say anything.

Receiving consideration from the bereaved family.

Both the vice president and the soldier were failing.

"By the way... I've noticed since the first time I met you, Miss Rodelin, you don't smile much."

"......Isn't this the time to smile?"

"Hehe, is that so? Still, please smile. For me."

Ha ha.

Rodelin forced a smile.

The clown smiled brightly at the sight.

"Children should smile, after all."

"But I'm not a child..."

"To me, you are. Maybe you have a lot on your shoulders. Children should be children..."

Rodelin was at a loss.

A noble's child and a military family.

She had to grow up quickly from a young age, so she wasn't used to being treated like a child.

"Miss Rodelin, do you have any dreams?"

"Excuse me?"

"Do you have any aspirations?"

Dreams?

Did she have any? She wasn't sure.

She only wished for the peace and prosperity of the Empire.

The clown nodded as if he had realized something.

"Of course. I hope you find your dream soon. Otherwise, you might end up broken without realizing it."

"Ah..."

"Thank you. If we meet again, it will be a good thing."

The clown put on his bowler hat.

Rodelin, who was about to follow, spoke urgently.

"If you have any wishes, please let me know. The family has ordered me to support you as much as possible."

"Wishes... I hope Miss Rodelin finds her dream, but that might be difficult for now. So..."

The clown put down the box and raised his index fingers.

Then he gently lifted the corners of his mouth.

An artificial smile. The clown spoke in that state.

"I'll repay you with Miss Rodelin's smile."

"......Excuse me?"

"Smile. Luther would surely want that."

Ha ha.

Rodelin forced another awkward smile.

The clown, seeing this, finished his preparations to leave.

"That's enough. Thank you for preserving my son's honor."

"Ah..."

"There's no need to see me out. I've already received enough repayment. Stay healthy, Miss Rodelin."

Click.

The door closed quietly as the clown left.

Rodelin, who was about to follow, changed her mind.

'He might need some time alone.'

Everyone deals with grief differently.

Suddenly, a mirror hanging next to the door caught Rodelin's eye.

A large mirror.

Rodelin stood in front of it without realizing it.

'Dreams and smiles...'

Words that didn't suit her at all.

The reflection in the mirror looked strange.

'No expression.'

A blank face.

Growing up in a noble family, Rodelin had become accustomed to managing her expressions.

'Did I really have such a blank face?'

Scratching her head, Rodelin raised her index fingers.

She gently lifted the corners of her mouth.

"Ha ha."

An odd smile. So awkward she couldn't bear to look at it.

When was the last time she saw her own smiling face?

No, when was the last time she truly smiled?

"......"

She couldn't remember.

But it was fortunate to realize it now.

She would start practicing smiling from today. She needed to practice a natural smile.

'So I can greet the family's guests properly.'

The clown had said it was good for children to smile, but she was an adult.

She couldn't tarnish the family's honor.

It was her duty and role.

"First, I need to find a natural smile."

She moved her index fingers around the corners of her mouth.

Hmm, all awkward and strange smiles.

"Kee hee."

As she laughed out loud, the door burst open, and someone stopped in their tracks.

It was Zero.

"......"

"......"

"......Excuse me."

Click.

The door closed gently again.

Rodelin looked at the mirror again.

There she was, standing with her fingers on her mouth, looking ridiculous.

Flush.

Her face heated up and turned red.

The Rodelin in the mirror was as red as a beet.

"......Not knocking, huh."

A lack of manners.

Rodelin resolved to give a demerit tomorrow.

* * *

'Why is she doing that?'

I fled the chancellor's office.

I came to meet the clown, but I was greeted by Rodelin with a bizarre smile.

I had never seen her like that in the game, so I was genuinely surprised.

'Based on my experience, the hidden reward is likely to come from the clown...'

Yes, I was searching for the clown.

Whether it was a hidden story or a reward, I needed to meet him to confirm.

'Can't be. Rodelin's creepy smile can't be the hidden piece reward, right?'

The vice president's secret hobby (?).

I felt like I had seen something I shouldn't have.

As I shivered, I heard a voice.

"Oh, Zero. I was just looking for you."

I turned to the source of the voice.

Today, his face was clean, without any makeup.

He was dressed in a neat suit.

"Hehe, did you see to the matter well?"

"Yes. Heroic treatment, Luther would be very happy."

The clown didn't look sad. Rather, he seemed relieved?

Maybe because he knew Luther had happy days with his friend, or because he had achieved his dream.

"More importantly, you were looking for me?"

"Yes, that's right. Will you take this?"

The clown took something out of the box he was holding.

A sword hilt. To be precise,

Attack Power – ???

One of the nine Holy Swords made by the Holy Kingdom. It has lost its power after losing its owner.

Caution – It is in a severely damaged state. Use with caution.

'Holy Sword?'

Holy Sword (聖劍).

A sword created by the Holy Kingdom to punish evil beings.

After Luther and the Holy Sword disappeared 20 years ago, the Holy Kingdom spent five years creating the tenth Holy Sword.

It sounds easy, but the cost over five years was astronomical, and the Holy Kingdom's finances are still in poor condition.

'The tenth Holy Sword is currently in the Holy Kingdom.'

So the one in my hand is the ninth Holy Sword, which was created a hundred years ago and was wielded by Luther.

Well, only the hilt remains after the battle with the demon fragment.

'Still, it can't be bad.'

I don't know where it will be useful, but since it's given as an item, there must be a use for it.

There's no harm in having it. I put the Holy Sword hilt in my subspace.

"Is it okay for me to take it?"

"Is it okay to ask after already taking it?"

"Hehe, did I do that?"

"Kee hee. You're still to my liking. You have quite a lot of childlike qualities."

The clown's tone changed. Back to the tone when we first met in the square.

I knew. He was about to leave.

"Are you leaving?"

"I have to. I learned that my son was happy and will continue to be happy."

"What will you do?"

"What will I do? Of course..."

The clown's hand moved like a gentle breeze.

His face was instantly covered with his characteristic clown makeup.

"Kee hee. I'll create good memories for the children."

"Hehe, I wish you a journey filled with good luck."

The clown stuck a parrot's feather in his bowler hat.

As he passed by me, he muttered.

"Thank you for preserving my son's honor."

I couldn't see his expression because I was turned away.

I couldn't feel his emotions.

At that moment, a sound came from the clown's mouth.

"Kee hee."

A laugh that revealed his mood.

A very pleasant, happy laugh.