Chapter 12

It wasn't a show of strength, nor was it a sign of giving up.

That was Rane's true feelings.

"I intend to leave the village and find work to live on my own. I won't have anything to do with him anymore."

"Can you really not see Ada one last time?"

To the gentle, concerned voice, Rane nodded.

"Yes, that's right."

There was one last thing she wanted to say. She felt like she should say something.

But he was the Sword Saint who was going to marry the Holy Maiden. It would be impossible to talk to him at the wedding.

"I'll probably just watch the wedding from a distance. That will be enough."

If she were to become a partner at the reception, she might end up causing trouble for Alec. She felt bad for asking him about it, but she explained her situation.

"…I see."

Alec murmured and fell silent.

It seemed more like he was thinking about what he could do for Rane rather than being troubled by the loss of a partner.

Despite the continuous sadness and pain, meeting someone like him was fortunate.

She truly felt that way.

"I can make you see Ada."

After a while, Alec said softly.

"Huh?"

"If you want to complain or hit him, that's fine. I'll take the responsibility."

"No, I don't want to see him if it will cause trouble for you, Alec."

She hurriedly denied it, but he took her hand.

She was startled by the sudden hand-holding.

"Um…"

"You have the right. Dress beautifully and say your final goodbye. Ada will surely realize the magnitude of what he has lost and regret it."

"Beautifully…"

She suddenly remembered the dress she had left at the inn for the next day.

It was the best dress she had, but in the capital, people usually wore even better clothes. Especially at a Holy Maiden's wedding, the attendees would be dressed up.

She imagined attending in that dress and being mocked by the others, and it made her feel uncomfortable.

"But, I don't want to cause trouble for you, Alec."

"Don't worry about me. Rather, it would help if you became my partner. Besides, it might be difficult to find work around here without a guarantor. I'll be your guarantor and help you find a job."

"That's too much, I can't accept that much help."

Rane interrupted Alec's words and shook her head vigorously.

She didn't know that a guarantor was necessary. But she couldn't cause him so much trouble.

However, Alec didn't back down.

"Even if you forgive him, I can't forgive Ada. I also feel regretful about parting with you. If I hadn't chosen him, this might not have happened. Let me take responsibility for that."

"Chosen?"

"Yes. I chose Ada for the Demon King extermination party. Although he strongly wished for it, there was no reason it had to be Ada. If he hadn't been chosen, he might have returned to you."

Only the hero, who received divine revelation from the goddess, could choose the members of the Demon King extermination party.

Rane's eyes widened as she looked at Alec in front of her.

She whispered, "No way."

She had heard the rumors many times.

The hero who defeated the Demon King was a beautiful man with golden hair.

He was rumored to be a noble and strong-willed person who faced any adversity head-on.

Most importantly, he was the first hero to defeat the Demon King, not just seal it.

The church predicted that while the seal would last about a hundred years, it would take a thousand years for the next Demon King to be born. Because of this great achievement, the members of the Demon King extermination party were able to obtain the titles of Sword Saint, Great Mage, and Holy Maiden.

The leader of that party, the hero, was this person standing in front of her.

"Hero Alexis?"

She whispered, her voice trembling, and he shook his head with a slightly sad expression.

"Call me Alec. That's my name. Alexis was given to me because they thought it didn't sound heroic enough."

"Yes, I understand. Alec."

Was it really okay to call the hero who saved the world so casually?

She thought about it, but since he wanted it, she decided to call him as she always had.

"Thank you. The Demon King is destroyed, and a thousand years of peace, though not eternal, is promised. My role is over. After the wedding tomorrow, I plan to return to my hometown and live quietly."

Ada was to receive the title of Sword Saint, marry the Holy Maiden, and be granted a noble title and land.

She had also heard that the other companion, the Great Mage, had become a royal mage.

Yet, Alec, the one with the greatest achievement, desired nothing and was quietly leaving the capital. His nobility moved her, and Rane made a decision.

"Alec, can you let me see Ada? I have something I want to say to him."

"Yes, of course."