Chapter 30
“Are you participating in the black mage subjugation again?”
Since this black magic terror happened right in the heart of the capital, it couldn’t be hidden even if they tried.
No matter that Daphne had stopped the terror, the fact that the terror had occurred didn’t disappear.
The fact that remnants of black mages existed was already known, and this agitated many people.
Thus, the emperor’s order was issued once more.
-This time, eradicate all black mages.
It was an order to all nobles. Along with the promise of immense rewards for those who achieved merit.
However, to Heros, another message was attached.
-If you don’t wish to, you don’t have to participate.
It was consideration for Heros’s situation: having lost his wife to a black mage’s curse, had his emotions severed, and his child on the verge of death.
Heros recalled the appearance of the emperor who had given him the order.
The emperor always sat in the highest place with the light at his back, so his face was not visible. Thus, he couldn’t observe his expression or the like.
Therefore, the only thing he could know was his voice.
The voice of the emperor proposing a choice to Heros contained only kindness and benevolence.
So Heros could not make the choice even more easily.
Hoo.
Letting out a long sigh, Heros slowly opened his mouth.
“If I think of Elise, it would be right to take revenge on them.”
He drew the image of his wife, Elise, who had passed five years ago, in his mind and gave a bitter smile.
“But is that even possible?”
He looked down at his hand, which lacked strength, and said.
“They are like weeds that stubbornly survive no matter how much you trample them. Even if you cut every stem and node and set fire to it, you can’t eradicate all the roots spreading in every direction.”
“Your Excellency.”
“Must I fight that tiresome battle again?”
Heros recalled.
When he brought the black mages, who dreamed of overthrowing the world, to their knees,
The countless people who had fallen behind him.
There was a boy who vowed to pamper his mother, a girl who excitedly smiled about her upcoming wedding with her fiancé, and a young man waiting for his soon-to-be-born baby. But none of them saw tomorrow.
Heros had saved the world where people lived,
But he couldn’t save the world that people dreamed of.
And his world had shattered to pieces that day too. The curse on his beloved wife and the child to be born.
He had won the war, but his life was stained with defeat.
He didn’t want to go through the same thing again. He lacked the confidence to.
“……”
Polin removed his glasses and lowered his eyes.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand Heros’s feelings.
He could respect his thoughts a hundred times over. If it were him, he would have done the same. No, if it were him, he wouldn’t have been able to endure and stand like Heros now.
But he felt that this wasn’t right.
He felt that he must not back down like this, that a strong intuition that once he started retreating, he could no longer advance forward.
Polin squinted one eye and opened his reluctant mouth.
“Your Excellency. But reconsider……”
“Hero bastard!”
At that moment, the door burst open with a bang, and Daphne came rushing in. Polin was startled and widened his eyes.
“Princess? W-Weren’t you in the training hall just now?”
“I ran here! I can run well now!”
Oh. Polin raised his thumb.
Considering that Daphne hadn’t been able to get out of bed for a while, this was tremendous progress.
Daphne panted for breath and wiped the sweat beading on her forehead with the back of her hand.
“Hero bastard. I came to find you because I have something I’m curious about.”
Only then did Heros withdraw his gaze from the window and look at Daphne.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Hm?”
Daphne tilted her head.
“You’re spewing that energy that makes me annoyed just by touching it without rest, and you thought I wouldn’t know? How arrogant!”
Heros was a bit surprised this time too.
He had been containing his energy somewhat in the mansion, yet she noticed right away.
Not many people could do this to this extent, so did that mean Daphne had already reached that realm?
Heros let out a scoff. A smile he himself hadn’t noticed.
“Now answer my question!”
“What do you want to know?”
“I need to meet my black mage! Tell me where the black mages are!”
Polin’s eyes were already on the verge of popping out at Daphne’s bold question. He quickly turned his head to Heros.
They had been talking about black mages just moments ago, and for Daphne to step in at such perfect timing!
Perhaps she had eavesdropped on the conversation and intervened? To deliberately provoke Heros?
He thought it was nonsense, but he wanted to believe it that way. Polin barely composed his surging emotions and clenched his fist.
“Black mages.”
Heros said in a somewhat subdued voice.
“Why them?”
“Because I have to defeat them!”
Daphne answered without hesitation. But Heros’s questions didn’t end.
“So why are you saying you’ll defeat the black mages?”
Daphne blinked her eyes.
Uh, well, because if I catch those guys and suck out their death energy dry, my mana will build up…… I can’t say that. This was the point where she needed a suitable excuse. Uh, uhh? What should I say?
“Th……”
“Revenge?!”
“What?”
“It’s revenge!”
At that moment, Polin clapped his hands and shouted.
“Revenge against the black mages who hurt people and caused damage!”
He touched his forehead with his index and thumb and lifted his chin.
“Ah, how sublime is this! Your body just recovered from the injuries from the last terror, yet upon waking, you plan revenge right away! As expected of the youngest lady. As expected of Your Excellency’s daughter!”
“N-No. That’s not……”
“Someone who thinks helping others is natural, saving others is natural! The hero’s daughter, Daphne Akion!”
“……”
I wanted to say I’m not the daughter of that bastard and that I’m a great dragon, but Daphne could read the atmosphere too.
“It’s really revenge?”
At Heros’s question, Daphne let out a sigh and lifted her head.
‘Me answering that I hate the hero bastard to death and getting kicked out vs Yes, it’s revenge, so find out where the black mages are’
The choice was inevitably the latter……
“Y……eah. It’s revenge.”
The corner of Heros’s mouth twisted upward.
“With your skills, it’s impossible.”
“You wanna die?”
“Even trying to kill me is impossible.”
“Wait a bit. I’ll kill you soon.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Heros detached his body from leaning against the window. And he slowly approached Daphne.
-Someone who thinks helping others is natural, saving others is natural! The hero’s daughter, Daphne Akion!
Polin’s words were no different from words to Heros himself.
Heros had also been someone for whom helping others was natural, saving others was natural. Not someone who cowered in fear and tucked his tail like now.
Heros now felt his mind clear and took a deep breath.
Rather than not moving out of worry for innocent, crumbling pure souls, wouldn’t raising his own skills to ensure no one dies be the right direction?
And……
Heros’s gaze turned to Daphne.
“You’ve learned the sword.”
He already knew from Lloyd that Daphne had talent in swordsmanship.
That with just a bit more stamina building and polishing, she would undoubtedly become an excellent swordsman.
Until now, he had left her alone thinking she would die someday……
‘Revenge.’
Daphne, who followed in his footsteps and shouted revenge, was no longer a child waiting for her day of death. She was merely a strong one advancing forward and swinging the sword.
For the first time in a long while, Heros felt his competitive spirit ignite.
How far could he raise this child. How could he raise her. Heros’s eyes gleamed.
“I’ll teach you.”
“……?”
“If you receive my teachings, your skills will improve quickly. After that, you can face the black mages.”
Polin was now overflowing with emotion, on the verge of tears.
For that Heros to say he’d teach swordsmanship to someone! When he hadn’t taught even his young masters or the knights since the curse!
Could Heros now return to how he was before? Could he regain his energy? Could he overcome his fear and live as the original ‘hero’?
Polin clasped his hands tightly, imagining Daphne learning swordsmanship from Heros.
But,
“Why should I?”
Daphne shattered Polin’s expectations.
“I have no reason to learn from the likes of you.”
“……Pardon? P-Princess?”
“If you’re not gonna tell me, I’m out. Ugh, wasted time.”
Daphne clicked her tongue and left the room in an instant, just as quickly as she had entered.
“……”
Polin and Heros, fully realizing the empty room, automatically met eyes.
“You got dumped, Your Excellency.”
“……For real?”
“So you should’ve done it sooner.”
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By Anna 💓
