Chapter 14: Hearing. (1)

"...Working hard?"

Monday morning, after the relaxing weekend, I saw Georg in the office for the first time in a while. I arched an eyebrow and waved my hand, lacking the energy to say anything. The aftermath of the anthill still lingered, making my body ache here and there. Georg looked at my sagging form and chuckled.

" I thought you'd been behaving for a while, but now you've gone off alone and broken your arm. What would you do if we had to go on an expedition today?"

As Georg glared at me, I sighed heavily and gave a weak answer.

"We're not going to defeat a Disaster today, and there's no need to make a big deal about a broken arm. When did we ever fight hard and not get hurt?"

Of course, a broken arm wasn't the only injury I sustained in the fight with Arachne, and as if I'd suddenly developed the ability to heal myself, many of my wounds had healed overnight. Broken legs and ribs, deep cuts, and stab wounds. The only remaining injury was on my right arm, which I used to wield the Holy Sword. I'd never heard of a secondary effect of awakening it.

"Back then, you could get away with any number of injuries as long as they didn't cut your throat. That was when there was still Iris at this party."

'Damn it, why do you have to use logic.'

I let out an embarrassed cough. Come to think of it, I was sitting at this desk when I first woke up. Georg was standing next to me, and Iris was right before me. I don't know what upset her, but she threatened to leave the party, her flowing blond hair glowing in the light blue walls. It was only a brief glimpse, but I had a pretty clear image of her.

Indeed, with her powers, she could heal a broken arm, leg, or spilled gut with a wave of her hand, but there was no point in thinking about it now. I snorted, stroking my bandaged right arm.

"Do you regret sending Arjen away, letting Iris go?"

Georg asked, studying my face. It wasn't my doing, but I didn't want the words regret to come out of my mouth. It reminded me of the original Eloi's regret.

"There's no point in regretting it; it's already happened. You have to do what you have to do."

"Are you saying that breaking that arm was something you don't regret?"

I knew he was being sarcastic. I let out a bitter laugh.

"I don't regret it. If there were things only we could do then, with Iris and Arjen, there are things we only have now."

Georg shook his head in disbelief.

"Something we only have now. Though I'm not sure what that is."

"She's on her way. The only one we have now, not then."

I chinned toward the door. Someone was approaching the office. I could feel Georg's gaze staring down at me. Compared to when I was first possessed here, the hostility in his eyes had softened considerably.

"...What was wrong with you back then?"

Georg's muttering was barely audible. I tapped my fingertips on the desk, not answering.

"I'm here."

A pale pink head peeked through the door, which opened with characteristic caution, and Daphne walked in, her tiny hands holding the door open.

"Hello. Did you get a good rest over the weekend?"

Daphne gave a small smile and nodded, then turned to Georg and blinked in surprise.

"Yes~. Are you working today, Georg?"

"I'm not going to work; I just stopped by to say something to Elroy. But since you're here, I can tell you now."

Georg slipped his hands into the lining of his Templar uniform.

"What, did you come for something else?"

"I have come to the office in full uniform to give you a quick message, and then I'll be heading straight back to the Templars, and you, Daphne, listen closely, for it's not unrelated to you."

Georg pulled from his uniform's inner pocket a stiff paper envelope that looked very expensive. When I saw the seal that sealed its opening, I immediately recognized what he had brought.

"...A summon to the Royal Palace."

It was just as Bishop Andre had told me. I took the envelope and stared at the seal for a long time. Two lions roaring at each other. It had to be the royal seal. Well, maybe it wasn't the king of this country who summoned me but his subordinates.

"There is really no avoiding it."

"You did many things that made you fall victim to politics. Even if you are the Hero, it will be difficult to avoid this hearing. Iris and Arjen, the recruitment of new party members, and self-righteous behavior. There are probably a lot of people who are eagerly awaiting it."

I tore open the envelope with a letter opener and skimmed the contents. The date is this Friday, and I'm the only one who will attend. People will surround me, asking questions, and I must defend myself. My mouth twitched. I folded the paper and tossed it into the corner of my desk.

"They wanted me to deliver this to you. As you can tell, I won't be there to help you."

"That's okay. I'd rather go it alone."

I held out my hand in reply, and Georg, who had started to walk out of the office, stopped in front of his desk. His hesitation and frown reminded me of a father awkwardly trying to talk to his son. Georg rubbed his angular jaw, sighed, and opened his mouth. It took him a long time to speak,

"... The Adventurers' Guild told me about it. I didn't get any details, but they said you rescued three adventurers from the anthill and brought them all the way back."

I let out a small laugh. I couldn't help but imagine how the boisterous trio must have looked when they told the other adventurers about me.

"You look like you can't believe it."

"...You did well. But I won't retract my words about keeping your body in shape. Make sure you are ready for our next expedition."

I don't know if he's worried or proud. It's probably neither, but it's said with the bluntness of a father's compliment. Georg shakes his head in disbelief and walks out of the office. I smiled again, unnecessarily, and turned to Daphne. Daphne was looking at me, her eyes somber.

"A hearing... why would they want to talk to Elroy alone?"

"I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I'm not there to be punished. If anything, it's a chance to weed out those who might try to use our party."

Getting too deeply entangled with politics would be a pain in the ass. Daphne nodded, but her expression remained somber. I saw her gaze fall on my right arm, and I lifted it up to show her.

"It shouldn't take long for it to heal fully, ten days at the most. I'm sorry about your training, but we'll have to put it on hold until then."

I was sorry for Daphne, but I couldn't fight monsters with a broken right arm. Daphne shook her head and slowly walked over to me.

"... That's not what I was saying."

Daphne carefully placed her hand over the bandage. I could faintly feel her touch through them. Daphne looked at me as if there was something more she wanted to say, but she didn't continue. I let her fiddle with my right arm for a while. It was cute, like a puppy trying to lick its owner's wounds.

"Just take it easy today. I'll be busy preparing for the hearing. Anyways, if there was a time to get injured, now is probably the best time.

I said jokingly, but Daphne's expression didn't lighten. I knew she wouldn't be happy if I sent her back. I picked up a pen on the desk and handed it to Daphne.

"Want to write something?"

At that, Daphne finally let out a small laugh. Daphne shook her head and pushed the pen away, her index finger glowing with blue mana. Then she playfully traced the words down my arm. I watched with interest as the words were imprinted on the bandage.

When she was finished, Daphne removed her finger. The words "Get well soon" glowed blue on the bandage in her cute handwriting. Daphne rubbed the words across the bandage like she was rubbing her tattooed skin and smiled like a child who had just completed a painting.

"This will never come off."

"...Thank you."

I smiled back at Daphne, who blinked her violet eyes.

"You can go home. You don't really have anything else to do today anyway. The hearing is only for me, so you don't have to come in until next week."

"No, I'll stay and clean up. Elroy's here daily, so I'll stay in case something happens."

Daphne's voice was uncharacteristically firm, and she jumped up and stormed out of the office, promising to get some cleaning supplies. Unable to stop her or ask her to do anything, I stared at the door she had left through.

"...There she goes."

I muttered, and suddenly a voice rang in my head.

(You have interesting friends, this is fun to watch.)

I jumped out of my chair, startled, and then the voice came back, accompanied by laughter. It was a woman's clear, unblemished voice. It would be more accurate to say that I couldn't hear it. Instead, it was echoing in my head.

(Don't be so surprised, we're not strangers, and this isn't the first time we've talked.)

Slowly, the memory came to my mind. I stiffened and picked up my Holy Sword, leaning against my desk. 'No, wait, I've never heard of this before. It never spoke in the original.'

"The Holy Sword...?"

(Yes, I'm what you would call a Holy Sword. It's good to know you're not completely clueless.)

The voice spoke again in an old-fashioned, archaic tone that might have been used by a high-ranking noble. Or rather, the Holy Sword talked to me. I fluttered my eyelids and looked down at the sword.

(You were so articulate a moment ago; have you suddenly become mute?)

"...Who would've thought you could talk."

(Do you think I talk to everyone who has used me? Consider it an honor.)

"No, I mean, if you've been silent all this time, why the fuck are you..."

Creak

As I gripped the Holy Sword and was about to spew out a barrage of insults, Daphne burst through the door, carrying a duster, broom, and dustpan.

"Elroy, we have a visitor downstairs...."

I turned to face her, holding the Holy Sword in both hands. A frozen silence. Without a word, I set the Holy Sword back down on the side of the desk, and Daphne picked up a duster and began dusting the corner of the room. I glared at the sword with resentment.

(You look like you've just been caught doing something wrong.)

Shut up, sword.