Chapter 35

Second update of the day

The inner courtyard of the castle, dyed red by the twilight.

Marius, having been exposed for his crimes and sentenced, tried to lash out.

As a result, he was kicked down by the Guild Master, Rubel.

With his hands bound behind his back, Marius fell to the ground, his golden hair disheveled as he glared up.

"What are you doing!?"

"Just giving a fool his punishment. To think you would set a trap and bring down someone as excellent a hero as Alek. That's an unforgivable act."

"Huh? Alek was excellent? What are you talking about? Even without fudging the kill counts, he was a mediocre hero!"

"Hmm? Alek, in just one week after resigning as a hero, defeated the Helrich who was causing a commotion in the capital, took down a Wyvern that was starting to nest, discovered and cleared a dungeon's invasion. He was still acting like a hero even after resigning, more so than someone else."

Marius, who had sat back up on the ground, glared at me for the first time, standing in the corner of the courtyard.

"It's you! You took the credit for the Wyvern to belittle me! How much more are you going to get in my way!?"

"That's not it. It was a coincidence. Besides, if you wanted a feat like a B-rank Wyvern, you could have taken down an A-rank monster instead."

"Ugh...!"

Marius glared at me with a look that could kill, in response to my logical argument.

But Rubel, brushing her red hair with her hand, said,

"You always think people are out to steal your credit because you do the same. You assume others act the same way you do."

"......!!"

Marius turned his face red and looked away.

"Besides, there's something you can't do, even with your sword augmenting holy energy."

"Huh? What's that? No one could use hero magic as well as I did. Alek couldn't use any of it!"

"That's right. On the surface, it seemed like Alek couldn't use magic. But in reality, it was different. Alek was constantly activating hero magic, so when he used it, it didn't seem to have any effect!"

"What...!?"

"What!?"

"Seriously...?" "You must be joking!?"

Not just Marius, but everyone, including me and Lillia, was shocked.

"Probably. He likely had party healing, mana supply, monster repulsion, monster extermination, and magic reduction effects."

"Why can you say that?"

Marius, despite his voice cracking, tried to put on a brave front.

Rubel chuckled through her nose.

"I can tell. Because I'm the same type."

"Huh?"

"I'm a cursed child. Look—seal release."

Rubel took off the accessory on her index finger—a ring.

Instantly, a red flame spurted from her index finger.

As she removed more rings, her fingers began to burn one by one.

Finally, her palm burned like a torch.

With a fierce smile on her face, illuminated by the flame, Rubel said,

"I was born with immense magical power. Just removing a ring causes this. If I remove all my sealing accessories, a 500-meter radius turns into a blazing hell. That's why I can infer that Alek is doing the same with holy energy."

"Hmm, so you're saying it's the hero version of that? But if he's not showing results, isn't he just wasting a treasure?"

"Well, most people would judge that. But there's a fact that many don't know. Since Alek became a hero, no S-rank monsters have appeared."

"That's... just a coincidence, right?"

The female cleric, shaking her blue hair, puffed out her chest.

"No. I've checked the records of heroes and hero candidates from other countries. Since Alek became a hero, no S-rank monsters have appeared. So no one has defeated them—except one person..."

Rubel smiled slyly.

"That's right. In the past thirty years, the only one to defeat an S-rank monster was me. I found and defeated an S-rank Ancient Gear Golem in the depths of an ancient ruin, brought back proof, and was recognized as an SS-rank adventurer."

"But... that's not solid evidence..."

"No, it's not. It's just subjective. But I spent over ten years searching the world to defeat an S-rank monster for personal reasons. I desperately wanted to become SS-rank. But I couldn't find a single one. That's when I realized. Alek is releasing a vast amount of holy energy, preventing S-rank monsters from appearing, and keeping the world peaceful! So, a fake who doesn't release holy energy can never replace Alek!"

Rubel kicked Marius again.

He groaned in frustration and rolled on the white sand.

The king sighed and raised his hand.

"Seize the criminal and take him away."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

The soldiers who had been standing against the wall rushed out, lifted Marius, and led him away, surrounding the minister.

Marius kept shouting until the end.

"Me! You did this to me! I won't forgive you, Alek! —I'm excellent! It's strange if I'm not the best at everything! Praise me more! —Aaaaah!"

He was dragged away, crying and screaming like a child.

It was a pitiful sight.

The courtyard grew quiet.

The king, with a kind face like a grandfather looking at his grandchild, looked at me.

"Truly, Alek. To still act as a hero even after resigning... You are the true hero. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

"No, it's fine. It's all in the past."

The king had always been against firing me, so I didn't hold a grudge.

Besides, if the king hadn't secretly increased my consolation money tenfold, I wouldn't have been able to be with Lillia.

"So, Alek... Would you consider returning as a hero?"

—I had expected him to ask this next.

I looked at Lillia standing beside me.

She looked at me with her violet eyes, both happy and sad.

I shook my head and looked at the king.

"I'm sorry, but it's all in the past... Besides, during my time as a hero, I felt like I had made a mistake somewhere. Now—"

I reached out and took Lillia's hand.

She was surprised, shaking her white nun's robe, but she gripped my hand warmly.

For some reason, the female cleric and the female mage sighed and cried out in regret, "Ah...!"

I ignored them, looked straight at the king, and spoke.

"Right now, everything feels in place. I'm content as I am."

"I see... You've served us well for a long time... What do you plan to do next?"

"I want to live doing what I can and what I want to do."

"I see... Good luck. ...I hope you'll visit the castle from time to time."

"Yes, I will. —Thank you. Goodbye."

I bowed, still holding Lillia's hand, and left the courtyard.

As we walked through the castle's corridors, small footsteps came from behind.

I turned around to see the female cleric. She approached, her blue hair and cleric's robe swaying.

"Alek, I'm sorry. I should have noticed sooner."

"No, it's fine. No one would normally think a hero would cheat. He seemed like a good guy on the surface."

"Still, I'm sorry!"

The female cleric bowed deeply. Her blue hair fell gracefully.

I scratched my head, feeling awkward, and said,

"Please stand up. I'm rather grateful that you investigated. It might have taken me decades to figure it out. Thank you."

"Alek, you're so kind... Who is this lady?"

The female cleric looked at Lillia with sad eyes.

Lillia smiled calmly and leaned against me.

"My name is Lillia... She is... someone very important to me."

"I see... I hope you two are very happy, Alek. ...And Alek is a good person, but he can be a bit absent-minded and too stubborn, so please be careful, Lillia."

"I understand. I will cherish and support my master."

Lillia smiled confidently.

The female cleric's shoulders slumped in disappointment.

"Being with Alek always made me feel at ease... It's a shame."

"Maybe the holy energy I was leaking had a healing effect. Thanks for everything."

"Again—no, thank you! Goodbye, both of you, take care!"

The female cleric waved with a smile, but it looked like she was trying not to cry.

We said our goodbyes and left the castle.

In the twilight of the capital, we headed to the store to go home.

As we walked through the streets, Lillia leaned against me, pressing her large chest against me.

She looked very happy, and her steps were light.

"Hehe. It seems that those who understand can see how wonderful my master is."

"I'm fine as long as Lillia understands."

"Master... I'm so happy."

Her beautiful profile, bathed in the sunset, was filled with an angelic smile.

That's the end of the first part. There will be one more epilogue.

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The next chapter is the epilogue of the first chapter. It will be updated tonight or tomorrow.

→36. A New Vow