Chapter 25: Those who remain, and those who left. (1)

I took the envelope from Georg. Something about it felt different from the summons that had come my way before. I grabbed a stationery knife and tore it open, but this time I was careful not to damage the envelope. I saw a letter in a handwriting I've never seen before. I unfolded the paper and began to read the words written on it.

『To Elroy, the Warrior.

The Spring in the Capital passed so quickly, and it is disappointing. Summer was just around the corner, but it suddenly took Spring's place. But I, as the Queen of the Kingdom of Kairos, and you, as the expedition leader against the Disasters, let's rejoice in the heat of summer. It means that the weather will be more favorable for you to attack the Fourth Disaster.

Naturally, I will schedule the ceremony to coincide with your departure. I would have decided on a time, but it should be at the convenience of those who wish to set out. So please send me your preferred date during the first part of June so we can make all the arrangements at the palace.

Evernode is a cold place. Even in summer, there are blizzards in the North. Please make sure you are prepared. That's all for now.

Agnes Blanche Lumiere, Queen of the Kingdom of Kairos.

Written by,

Your Majesty.』

The letter's handwriting, which could have been written by the Queen herself, was square and dignified, like her personality. I reread the letter, which bore the royal seal, then carefully folded it into a bundle and placed it on the desk.

"What did she write?"

Georg, who had been giving me curious glances the entire time I was reading the letter, asked as if he had been waiting for me.

"She said to pick a date when we want to leave. Around the first week of June."

"I see; Her Majesty gives attention to every detail."

Georg nodded. As the head of an Order of Knights, he must be thrilled to receive a royal letter. He looked toward Marianne.

"So, what role is she going to have?"

"Probably similar to the role Arjen used to play. Stirring the pot at the front."

Georg narrowed his brow.

"I mean, she's strong... Not as strong as Arjen, though. But we're short-handed, so I don't think having more people is bad."

"What, you're just going to leave it at that now. Aren't you going to make a bet like last time?"

"...."

Georg let out a cough.

'Come to think of it, this bastard seems to try to secretly bury the bet he made with me. What did you say last time? Wasn't it along the lines of, "Then we'll include Daphne Epifon in the party, and I won't disobey you anymore, like a loyal follower?" The way he recognized Daphne as a colleague was like a father telling his son not to bring home a puppy, only to end up as its best friend.'

"Anyway, if I had to choose, I'd say the first week of June. We're going up to the North. We should go when it's less cold."

I heard the door open timidly. Light pink hair appeared in the doorway. Daphne poked her head timidly, then frowned at Marianne, who stood beside me.

"... I'm here."

"Come on. I was just setting a date for us to leave."

Daphne pouted her lips and stood beside me, then frowned again when she saw the coffee on my desk.

"...Now that I'm going to be home really early, make the coffee in the morning."

With that, Daphne turned her attention to Marianne. I smiled bitterly and nodded.

"Okay."

Daphne returned her sullen expression to her face, and I turned my attention to the Queen's correspondence.

"Okay, so our departure date is early June. That's less than three weeks away."

Georg and Daphne nodded. Marianne remained still and listened.

"I think we should leave as soon as possible. Let's leave on the first day of June."

Georg raised an eyebrow.

"You want to leave much sooner than I thought. I thought you'd want to leave as late as you could. Getting ready or whatever."

I shook my head.

"No. There's nothing to be gained by us staying in the kingdom, anyway. The most we can do here is hunt another Ashen Bear. Rather, arriving in the North as soon as possible would be better. We won't hunt the Disaster as soon as we get there. We will take time to get used to the conditions before we do anything else."

'Right, Holy Sword?'

(You're right, you'll make more progress in your cultivation once you reach the North.)

It took me a second to realize it agreed with me. I let out a small smile.

"Does anyone else have a different opinion?"

"No. You made a good decision. If you wanted to start later, I would have questioned your decision."

Georg shook his head and agreed with me. Daphne also agreed with me, and Marianne... well, I didn't have to ask. She just tilted her head as soon as I looked away.

'Now, I have gotten confirmation. There was no reason to delay.' I immediately took my pen and began drafting a reply to the royal family. 'Should I start with "To Her Majesty the Queen," or is there something better? After this should I continue with, "I, the hero, beseech you...." I think writing this way is good.' Honestly, it would be better for the royal palace to start preparing by receiving a quick reply rather than an elaborate reply that took several days.

I rolled my pen and wrote down each sentence. Georg, who was lurking nearby, interjecting from time to time to correct my sentences and wording.

"So, if God wills it, I would like to set out for the North on the first day of June."

I finished the last sentence, poured the melted wax, and stamped the seal. I held out the letter toward Georg, who returned a puzzled look.

"I feel like a carrier pigeon."

"I can't go there myself."

Georg chuckled at my shameless response, but he quietly received the letter. I exhaled through the smoke from my glass and closed my eyes.

***

An inn three days wagon ride from the Capital.

Some time had passed since I left the party. Iris, who had left the party of warriors with the sole intention of traveling with Arjen, had been wandering the streets for weeks with a note from him telling me to come to find him if I could. It must have been days since I had traveled through the cities and people, riding in wagons and occasionally on foot. I have yet to hear anything about Arjen.

My hands shook slightly as I sipped the water from my wooden goblet. Today was the day I would finally be reunited with Arjen. With the help adventurer's guild and passersby, I had painstakingly located Arjen's base. The innkeeper said he would be late today, probably hunting a monster.

"Arjen... I'm waiting for you."

As I mumbled, the strings of her rosary slid down my chest. I held the old rosary in both hands and sighed softly. 'If I were to meet him, I don't know what I'd say. I can't just say, "I don't think I couldn't stay in the part without you."'

"I don't know. Maybe I just felt like I wanted to follow you."

As she sipped her water silently, my ears picked up a conversation.

"Did you see it this time?"

"What is it?"

"The Fourth Disaster Expedition. There's an announcement about the departure ceremony for the Hero's Party soon."

My eyes fluttered as I strained my ears to hear what the adventurers had to say. After their hearing in the royal palace, I had yet to hear much about the party. I tried not to think of it as much as possible. However, I couldn't help but listen.

"So, I heard something happened at the palace where the nobles were reprimanded for calling the Hero. Do you know what happened?"

"I don't know exactly. Only the nobles in the palace know, but judging by how he's making his public appearances, it seems to have worked out."

'The hearing went well.' I frowned. 'Apparently, he'd just sent Arjen on his way, and now he'd assembled this expedition choosing only those he liked.'

"What's the date? I'd like to see a Hero's face once."

"The first day of June, I believe, and they should set out either tomorrow or the day after."

"That story."

Just then, a new voice broke through the chatter of the adventurers. My eyes widened, and the adventurers looked at the outsider who had interrupted their conversation with bewilderment.

"I wonder if you could do it again."

Arjen Elmion. The mercenary with messy black hair had appeared out of nowhere and was standing at the edge of the adventurers' table. The adventurers exchanged dumbfounded glances. It was only when Arjen began to build up a bit of momentum that the adventurers spoke.

"That, the Hero passed the hearing safely this time and...."

"Sooner or later, he'll be setting out to attack the Fourth Disaster, and the date for that departure has been set."

A shadow fell over the bridge of Arjen's nose. As if pondering something, he turned away and slowly went to the stairs leading to the inn's second floor.

"...Arjen!"

I called out to Arjen, scrambling to my feet. He stepped onto the stairs and turned around at the familiar voice. His eyes narrowed nervously, then widened in surprise as he saw Iris's blue eyes peeking beneath her hood.

"Iris...."

Before Arjen had time to react, I lunged for him and pulled him into a hug. Arjen looked down as I clung to him, then wrapped his arms around my shoulders and patted my back.

"...You came for me."

I nodded, burying my face in Arjen's. Feeling the eyes on us, Arjen picked me up and carried me to the second floor. After arriving in his room, he sat in the chair and motioned me to sit on the bed.

"So, you've also been kicked out of the Hero's Party?"

"Yes. As soon as I found out that you had been kicked out, I went to the Hero and confronted him, but he couldn't give me a reasonable explanation. There's no way he didn't know that you were the real backbone of the party...."

I said, my voice trailing off. Arjen bit his lip and recalled the last time he'd been at the party. The Hero who had disrespected her origins and refused to listen to her. The Hero who was mad at the Saintess. The wizard who had sided with him criticized us.

"...No, I've decided to stop caring. It was wrong of me to decide to join their misguided expedition in the first place."

Arjen said in a stiff voice. I clasped my hands together.

"They won't be able to save the world, and I thought your method would be better."

It wasn't that Arjen didn't want to save the world. It was just a matter of method, personality, and ability. If he stayed with an incompetent warrior, he'd either die before he got any closer to saving the world or by the Hero's hand.

"So what will you do now, rejoin the mercenaries?"

"No. I'm done being a mercenary. I want to wander the world as an adventurer for a while, see things I've never been able to see."

At Arjen's words, I nod slowly. 'If that means wandering the world, helping those in need, and working out my redemption, then so be it.' After a moment of silence, he tapped his chair and spoke first.

"I hear the expedition of the Seven Disasters will set out on the first day of June."

Arjen said with a sigh.

"I must see with my own eyes what will become of them before they leave, don't you think?"

He said with a hint of anger in his voice. I looked into his dark eyes and nodded. I, too, had to see if the Hero could still arrogantly proclaim himself the savior of the world. I needed to know if the kingdom would still be foolish enough to acknowledge him and if the Holy Land would still recognize him as a Hero.

"...Yes."

Arjen's and Iris' eyes met. It was when the Mercenary and the Saintess decided to return to the Capital for a while.