I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist chapter 26

26. Those who leave and those who remain (2)

June 1st, at 8:10 AM.

From the last week of May, the royal capital started to be crowded with people. From residents who normally live in the capital to people living in nearby cities, people from far away and people from abroad. They gathered to watch the second launching ceremony of the party of warriors who went to defeat the seven plagues.

“It’s only been two or three months since defeating the third plague?”

“Anyway, this time it seems that the Cairos Kingdom is really trying to gnaw their teeth and punish the calamity.”

People were so loud. Of course, it was never just interest and favor.

“There were rumors that the qualifications of a hero were questioned.”

“For some reason, some people said they tilted their heads during the first ceremony.”

“I hate that warrior. Did you release the saintess with your own hands? How can you be so arrogant? Whoever sees it will think he defeated the ‘third plague’ by himself.”

“You just like the saintess because she’s beautiful. Well, I don’t really like the idea of kicking the saintess out of the party either.”

Even so, whether they like it or not, the movement of the Kairos Kingdom and the dynamics of the heroes were the focus of the whole world. The seven plagues were strangling mankind from all sides, little by little, even at the very moment when people were talking about the expedition of the brave.

I was sitting in the waiting room of the palace with the party members. The atmosphere was completely different from when I visited for the hearing in the past. The nobles heard about the hero only through rumors and judged Illroy. Their attitude towards me during the hearing was almost negligible.

“At around 8:30 am, the launching ceremony begins. We will leave here at 8:00, so you have 10 minutes to finish the remaining preparations.”

It would have been easier to just ignore me than to show such an overtly vigilant look. I narrowed my eyes and looked at the assistant secretary for home, Wallace Bigwan. Since you did something to me, it’s natural for you to be vigilant. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but the assistant to the Minister of Home Affairs was anxious to see if I was swearing revenge.

“Yes. All right.”

Count Wallace let out a sigh of relief and walked away from me, leaving the room as if running away. While the door to the waiting room was open, noise from the outside squeezed in, and it was blocked again as it closed. I frowned at the confusion of the moment’s murmur.

“It’s been a war since morning, it’s a war.”

“I thought the first ceremony would be the most interesting, but no. I think more people came to watch it again.”

said Georg, glancing out the window. Today Georg was dressed in an uncharacteristically dapper navy blue knight uniform. A couple of medals and medicine cabinets were stacked on the left chest. Georg’s pride seemed to shine, and the medicine chest shone in the morning sunlight.

“The fact that he really caught the ‘third plague’ must have attracted more attention. The more we succeed in attacking disasters, the more interest will grow.”

I followed Georg’s gaze and looked out the shining window. I couldn’t see the street, only the bright clear sky. I turned my eyes and looked around at the rest of the members.

“Are you nervous?”

Daphne nodded slowly at my words. For the first time, she was showing off her full face. It was not an overtly flashy outfit, as if going to a social church, but subtle makeup and styling were added to create a beautiful and powerful wizard. I wonder if I really needed makeup.

“… It’s my first time doing something like this, so I’m nervous.”

There was nothing I could say other than that Daphne was beautiful. It was enough to erase all traces of the old wizard from people’s heads. Seeing my prying gaze, Daphne slightly bowed her head, dyeing her pale cheeks even redder.

“It will be fine. Have confidence.”

At my words, Daphne nodded. I then turned my head to where Marianne was. Marianne, who looked more modest than Daphne, leaned against the side of her chair with a window taller than her. It would be nice if I could find a sign of nervousness, but Marianne just looked at me casually.

“Tension?”

I asked, looking into Marianne’s shining golden eyes. Marianne blinked a couple of times and shook her head slowly.

“Fine.”

This is the expected answer. I smiled bitterly and looked in the mirror across the room.

There was a strange face in the mirror. She was much more adorned than Daphne, Georg, and Marianne. The white warrior’s uniform. My gray hair was covered in a comma shape with hair oil on one side and left on the other. The slightly powdered face was darker than usual, and the features were emphasized even more. In the mirror, her turquoise eyes with a strong greenish tendency sank deeply.

“[It’s pretty well decorated. It must be worth the time spent.]”

It was a single line of the holy sword that was still. It’s good that it’s not an evil joke.

The door to the waiting room rattled open. Wind and turmoil poured in. I got up, and the other three followed me. The eyes of nobles and knights flew. I didn’t return my gaze to them.

let’s go

I moved my steps toward the sunlight shining brightly at the end of the hallway.

—

“There are a lot of people.”

Arjen murmured. Under the black hood, Isis saw a much larger number of onlookers than during the first campaign. I rode my horse nonstop for three days and arrived at the capital, but I felt almost no fatigue. After an early breakfast, they headed back to the royal palace, where the ceremony was to be held, going back to the streets of the royal capital that had started to become crowded from dawn.

“It seems that the number of people who are interested in the activities of the hero party has increased significantly after attacking the third disaster. Do you remember when you came back from the expedition?”

Arjen nodded. The national flags with the kingdom’s insignia were hung on every lamppost in the street, and the military band was playing a hopeful march. Arjen turned away from the band, frowning as if he didn’t like the music. All over the street, street vendors opened their doors early, and the sound of the owner of the lodging establishment soliciting customers could be heard from time to time.

“You are full of hope.”

Disillusionment lingered in Arjen’s voice. Isis looked at Arjen and kept her mouth shut. She knew too. The fact that there could never be such a hopeful atmosphere. The fact that it may be difficult to attack the disaster with only the current warrior party.

“It would be better to look from a little further away.”

Arjen closed his eyes and shook his head. At that time, the people’s murmur grew even louder. The balcony of the royal palace, the queen was walking out of the speech stand. Isis and Arjen raised their gazes.

The queen was wearing a military uniform, not a dress worn during the event. Red and gold thread was laid over the all-black outfit. The wind blew and the red-lined cloak fluttered. The Queen looked around the tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets of the royal capital and spoke in a clear voice.

“Dear citizens of Kairos Kingdom.”

As Isis listened to the queen’s speech, her expression blurred.

“The time has come to defeat the fourth plague. The ‘giant’ who is looking for an opportunity to advance from the outside of Evernode, the kingdom’s shield, should prepare to receive the warrior’s sword.”

The queen glanced at the back of the balcony.

“… the warrior will win Just as they succeeded in capturing the third disaster that everyone suspected. It will become stronger as the battle goes on, and it will deliver us the news of victory. Just as I strongly believe in, and believe in the hard work of the hero, Illroy, you also believe in the hero.”

The word faith is heavy. An even heavier silence fell over those who quietly listened to the Queen’s speech. They seemed to meditate on the words warrior and faith.

“If so, the warrior will also tell us something in return.”

The Queen ended her speech very briefly. Arjen was still staring at the palace with his eyes narrowed. He guessed that the queen’s word of faith was derived from anxiety. Anxiety about the half-disbanded warrior party. Anxiety that the hero himself had. There must be only such a reason for repeating the word “belief” with emphasis.

“It seems that the current warrior party is quite unreliable.”

Arjen murmured. Isis also nodded in agreement with Arjen’s words.

“It’s ‘unreliable’.”

A voice suddenly came from behind. Isis shrugged, and Arjen’s face changed sharply as he wrapped his arms around Isis and swung his hand back.

Pak-!

And, blocked. You blocked your attack? Arjen’s pupils shook in shock. Isis couldn’t hide her bewildered expression when she confirmed the existence that appeared over Arjen’s shoulder.

“I have a slightly different opinion, though.”

puddeudeuk.

Power and power were intersecting. Arjen clenched his teeth at the strength of the uninvited guest who was not pushed by his own strength. The uninvited guest in priestly clothes had gray eyes shining through his narrowed eyes.

“There are many people. Please refrain from making a fuss at the warrior’s ceremony.”

The priest said in a calm voice. Arjen raised his eyebrows at the word ‘Hero’.

“… What if you say no?”

“The saintess you surround yourself with will be engulfed in turmoil. It won’t end with a moment’s fuss. You can make a fuss if you like.”

Saying that, the priest slowly relaxed from Arjen’s elbow grip. As Arjen gritted his teeth, he loosened his arms together. The arms of the two slowly lowered, and Isis pushed Arjen’s arm forward and stepped forward.

“Bishop Andrew.”

Bishop Andre greeted Isis with his usual gentle smile. The Bishop’s smile was gentle, but the emotion behind it was unknown. When Isis pretended to know, Arjen backed away from Isis with a disapproving look.

“Isis, long time no see. How have you been? Looking at her appearance, she seems to have had a hard time.”

At Bishop Andrew’s words, Isis frowned.

“Yes, I was fine. It was much better than living under that hero.”

“I’m sorry about that. I hoped that we would not fight as much as possible and that we would get along well and help each other.”

“It seems that there are people in the world who cannot do that. The same goes for Arjen, who is here now.”

Bishop Andre looked at Isis, then Arjen, then turned back to Isis and sighed. Isis did not know the meaning of that sigh. But the first thing that came to my mind was some kind of repulsion.

“Isis, I have to sound a bit bitter. I am very disappointed with your situation this time. It makes me wonder if I might have sent you to another world too soon.”

Isis bit her lip.

“I did it after being prepared for a lot of things in my own way. The rebuke of the Holy Kingdom, and the eyes of the public. But people don’t know how selfish and incompetent the hero was in this expedition. At the same time, he cut off mercenaries who were much stronger and more experienced than he was because of jealousy.”

“That’s why I was disappointed, Isis. Why are you acting like a child? Did I raise you too much in the Holy Land?”

Bishop Andrew’s voice became quite stern.

“You are in the position of being dispatched to help the hero. That’s why even if he made a wrong decision, he should be there to tell you why it was wrong, give advice, and make up for the lack of a hero, so why do you complain like that?”

Isis bowed her head at the bishop’s reprimand. Arjen stepped out while covering Isis.

“You must have said that the Blue Church and ISIS were separate entities.”

“Let go of that hand first, mercenary. He’s not the kind of person you’d be okay with touching. Our conversation is also not a matter for an exiled outsider to interfere.”

Bishop Andrew’s voice grew cold. Arjen’s body was filled with jealousy as well. But soon, as if the fight was meaningless, the bishop withdrew his hostility and looked at Isis again.

“The hero informed Isis that you did not leave the party voluntarily, but that you expelled yourself.”

The expressions of Arjen and Isis froze at the same time. And soon, Isis’ expression distorted as it was. Her determination, which she had strengthened while leaving the party, was in vain in an instant, and it became the hero’s fault. Doubt and irritation boiled over at the same time.

“Why did you do that… .”

“Here’s another reason why you don’t have to be at the party. Isis. What have you been watching while you were with the hero?”

Silence passed. Bishop Andrew turned his gaze toward the palace.

“The hero is coming.”

Isis and Arjen looked out onto the balcony. The warrior, dressed like the day he went out on his first campaign, exchanged greetings with the queen and stood at the lectern. Bishop Andrew said to Isis without looking away.

“Take a closer look at the warrior. What have you been missing?”

—

“… If so, the warrior will also tell us what to do.”

The Queen concluded her speech briefly and forcefully. Leaving behind the people’s applause and shouts, the queen walked slowly back to the castle. The Queen vaguely raised the corner of her mouth and met my eyes. The queen’s red eyes shone with feeble anticipation.

“Come on, Hero Illroy. It’s your turn.”

I nodded with a firm expression.

“Let’s look forward to your performance at the last hearing.”

With the horse pushing my back, I stepped onto the balcony.

How many people will there be? There were so many people filling the streets of the royal capital that it seemed meaningless to count them. Just looking at that many people already made me feel like I was suffocating. I breathed heavily and touched the hilt of the holy sword.

“[Are you nervous?]”

As if reading my mind, the holy sword spoke to me. It’s a slightly sweeter voice than usual. Instead of making up words in my confused mind, I muttered an answer.

“I know. I am nervous.”

“[As long as you don’t show that you’re nervous, that’s fine.]”

I chuckled. Do you mean to show it in the end?

“[Every show.]”

The Holy Sword received the words of my heart. I looked down the balcony. People were looking up at me with different expressions. Expectant eyes, doubtful eyes, envying eyes, hating and jealous eyes, eyes shining with faith, earnest eyes. There were quite a few negative eyes. The turmoil of the past few weeks must have had an impact on the warrior’s reputation.

“[Can you see people’s eyes?]”

“yes. I see it.”

I nodded slightly. I think I now know how I should appear to them.

“[Put your chest out and stand tall, Illroy.]”

A handful of the holy sword’s magic seeped into my body. Following that guidance, I straightened up and looked ahead.

“[The role of a hero is not to abandon doubters, but to convert them to faith.]”

The holy sword’s voice firmly supported me.

“[Instil hope in them. Instill faith and confidence. Make the hearts of those locked in doubt and disbelief corrected with you alone.]”

Relax. I took a breath and calmed my heart rate.

“[Become a ray of light that shines at the end of a dark cave approaching in the form of a disaster.]”

I drew the holy sword and held it low.

“[Be the shining one, Illroy. So that they can live while seeing the light that is you. Even if I doubt you, even if I don’t believe you. As long as you continue to shine there, people will see you and move on. I will have faith that there is tomorrow.]”

Exhale. The pulsation of hot mana trapped inside the body was discharged outside.

“[Listen to me and show me. Let me hear your hope.]”

Even if it’s acting.

“[yes. Even if it’s acting.]”

I raised the tip of the holy sword high into the sky. The first stage of the holy sword opened, and a group of lights as bright as the sun gathered. There is no longer any pain I felt when opening the Holy Sword. Little by little, the people who were buzzing all changed to a dazed expression as they looked at the shining holy sword.

“I am going to the battlefield.”

I opened my mouth. The voice amplified by mana resonated in the quiet plaza as if dead.

“I won’t say a long greeting, but I will promise you at least one thing.”

Suddenly, I saw someone wearing a black hood in a very far distance. It seemed like a bright blue light was shining on me. I spoke clearly and forcefully so that my voice could reach that person one by one.

“For me, the hero will not be defeated.”

He raised his voice. The sound of the holy sword spreads along with my voice.

“I will stand here again, only when I am with the news of victory.”

—

I saw the light of the holy sword.

Even after the hero’s words were over, Isis continued to stare at the spot with a blank expression. A divine and powerful power she had never seen before lurked in the light. When the hell did you get that kind of power… ?

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No, power was also power, but the hero’s attitude and appearance were different from what she had known. Confident, confident, the appearance of a real hero. Of course, if you think about their usual appearances, they should be considered faked, but Isis couldn’t adapt to that sense of disparity.

In the meantime, the hero started marching with the new party members. Every time the warrior’s party got closer, the sound of people’s hum was also getting louder.

“It’s short, but it’s a word suitable for a person on the battlefield.”

I heard the voice of Bishop Andrew. He was showing an inorganic smile at Isis’ reaction. On the other hand, Arjen still maintained his distorted expression.

“How are you, Isis?”

“… that one.”

Isis lowered her head and shook her head in disbelief. Bishop Andre looked at Isis and let out a small laugh.

“Come on, Isis. Shall we move away for a while instead of just being so dazed?”

Isis looked up and looked at the bishop. The bishop glanced at the upcoming warrior party and said,

“As a saint, you have a new mission to take on.”