I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist chapter 36

36. Festivals and Omens (1)

“I won’t stop here alone. You guys, take Arjen and retreat to Evernode’s citadel!”

Quenore Strop’s shrill voice echoed through the blizzard. Beyond the limit line, the temperature was dropping out of control as the giant approached. The raging snow began to accumulate beyond the ankles and above the knees, and the strong knights and soldiers of the north began to disappear one by one from the giant’s subordinates who attacked in the snow.

“It can’t be. We will die here too.”

“I never said I would die. So hurry back to the fort and prepare for a defensive battle.”

Quenor Strop’s aura was blowing away all the eyes around him. Quite a few monsters were torn to shreds just by touching the tip of the aura, and his single sword cut through even fairly strong monsters. While Evernode’s men retreated back, only Quenore Strop moved forward. The blizzard at the limit line had no effect on him.

“Go away. Beyond this is not your domain.”

Quenore Strop’s sword cut through the snow again. Demons with names came forward. Quenore didn’t care and stepped into the depths of the blizzard. Black night swallowed the Quenor strop. A raging blizzard quickly buried even those footprints.

.

.

.

“… Damn it.”

It was a dream that made me feel dirty. Unlike usual, I couldn’t get up right away from the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. The record of the novel remained in my head more than the type and floated as a clear image. I think it must be because of the memory left behind by the scene of the crown. Thanks to that, I felt as if I was still immersed in the snow of a dream. I tossed over and pulled up the blanket.

“Wake up, Illroy.”

Georg, who was in the same room, seemed to have already woken up, finished his morning walk, and washed up. half past seven in the morning. Quite a bit of time had passed. I groaned and got up from the bed.

“You are fast even on holidays. Do you have the energy to wake up and run in the morning?”

“You are really special. He usually wakes up earlier than me.”

I exhaled thinly. Perhaps because of his consideration, Georg hadn’t removed the blackout curtain from the room yet. The morning sunlight broke through the cracks in the blackout screen along with the sounds outside.

“Is it a festival from today?”

“yes. Lady Karin said she will guide you through the festival around lunchtime today, so remember the time carefully.”

I got up from my seat and pulled up the blackout curtain. It wasn’t when the full-fledged festival started, but people walking down the street were smiling all in their festival costumes.

“I never thought I would come to attack the fourth plague and experience such a peaceful event.”

Georg murmured. I recalled the conversation I had with the Archduke of Quenore.

‘You really don’t have to do anything during the festival. I’m already in sync with the knights of Evernode, so there’s no problem when I go out.’

We tried to refuse, saying we didn’t need to do that, but Grand Duke Quenore straightened out that we didn’t need to help with anything during the festival. With the words that it would be really nice if he didn’t go out on patrol, just take a look at Evernode’s summer with his daughter for a while.

‘I’ll make time for one day too, so I don’t want you to be burdened.’

I don’t know if it’s something to be happy about, but we ended up taking an unexpected extra vacation at Evernode. I closed the blackout again, frowning at the sunlight stinging my eyes along the window frame. When I lowered my head, I saw the Holy Sword placed on the head of my bed and a wooden box underneath.

“… .”

I picked up the wooden box, then put it down again. After that day, I tried several more times to pass the trial of the crown. I thought I would face that field of snow again, but the crown gave me a different ordeal each time. There were times when I gave them pain again, and there were times when they showed me terrible scenes. There were times when they tried to test me with burning thirst, hunger, or drowsiness.

Of course, I have never passed that test yet. On the contrary, I also felt that the more I felt impatient, the shorter the time I could endure.

‘… Troublesome.’

More novels at noblemtl.com

None of the things that the holy sword put forward as the opening conditions for the second stage still felt close. At least I thought I would pass the crown test early, but I didn’t know that this would be the most difficult. I sighed and pulled myself up completely.

“You go for a lap too. To put my mind at ease. Or is it okay if I run one more lap with you?”

said Georg, throwing the towel around his neck into the basket. When I looked at Georg with bug-like eyes, Georg shrugged as if he didn’t know why I was looking at him the way he did, and removed the blackout.

—

The most conspicuous thing in the scenery of the summer solstice were the flowers. Whether it’s wild flowers or carefully grown flowers at home. Evernode was covered with flowers all over. The moment I took a deep breath, the scent mixed and mingled with the smell of grass and wood and entered the air and filled my head. The flowers were woven from leaves, vines and stems and hung on the doors, roofs, signboards and windows of houses. I slowly walked down the street watching the feast of unknown flowers.

“wow.”

Daphne in a white dress exclaimed. Flower petals were fluttering against the backdrop of a cloudy sky. Summer in the north seemed to coincide with spring soon. I looked at the people walking down the street wearing each crown.

“Awesome.”

“Because the royal capital is always gorgeous. It’s hard to see a festival like this.”

Georg also turned his head around in admiration. Marianne, too, was looking at the flowers with her eyes slightly wide open, which was unusual for her.

“Isn’t there a festival like this in the Holy Land?”

Marianne shook her head at my question. Even on a day like today, she was dressed as a nun.

“There is a holy day in winter, but there is no festival like this in summer.”

Marianne then looked at the various potted plants and flower beds on the street. The flowers were shaking their heads in the warm wind. I smiled at Marianne, who was rarely absorbed in something.

“So, how do you feel?”

“… Is beautiful.”

Tall pillars wrapped in vines were built here and there in the village, and people were dancing in a circle under them. We watched the scene for a while, then moved on to the Strop family’s mansion.

In front of the main gate of the mansion, Grand Duke Quenore, dressed in casual clothes, was waiting for him. Wear a light long-sleeved sweater. I’ve been wearing that kind of stuff for a while now, why did I wear that heavy cloak just to show off my style? The Grand Duke put his hand on the shoulder of the Iron-Blooded Princess who had met us with him.

“Take care of your daughter today. Thank you for listening to my request. Come on, Karin.”

Karin, stepping forward, had an appearance that was perfect for a young princess, omitting the ‘iron blood’. Her dark hair was tied back in two pretty pigtails, and she wore a long, pleated apricot skirt and red embroidered shirt.

“Guide the warrior party well. Don’t forget to enjoy the festival too.”

“Yes, Father.”

Karin trotted forward in front of us. Daphne was the first to run forward and abruptly extended her hand to Karin, and Karin looked at Daphne’s hand with her eyes spinning, then grabbed Daphne’s hand with a gesture that seemed to be helpless.

“… I am so happy.”

Me and Georg, who were looking at Daphne’s incantation, twisted the corners of their mouths at the same time and looked at the two of them with indescribable eyes. Karin, take good care of our Daphne today.

“Shall we go to eat first? There must be some traditional food that can only be eaten during the festival.”

“Oh, meal. Alright then, I’ll have Evernode’s proud ale… .”

“Drink to your heart’s content tomorrow.”

I stabbed Georg in the side with my elbow and reprimanded him. Iron-blooded princesses say they will personally guide you through the festival, but I’m thinking about drinking. I let go of Georg grabbing my side, and I slightly bent over and met Karin’s eyes.

“Lady Karin.”

“Karin… Please just call me.”

Karin shyly said, dyeing her immaculate face bright red. Daphne’s eyes looked down from the side as she hesitated and averted her gaze, strangely recalled. hey, hey You are then captured by the guards.

“Okay, Karin. Do you want something for lunch?”

“… Smoked salmon and… Potato bread.”

for a moment. salmon. Are there salmon in this world? No, there are cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens, but there’s no law saying there won’t be salmon. Besides, this place, in terms of Earth, is Alaska, Norway, and Sweden. It is the province that produces the most delicious salmon in the world. Since it’s summer, the taste will be less than the ones who gained weight in the fall, but how can you stand it? I shook my head with my eyes shining. Karin’s head flicked up after my head.

“Let’s go. Smoked salmon.”

“[…] You are full of energy for some reason.]”

The Holy Sword walked away with an absurd voice. Salmon is light, justice. It is delicious grilled, raw, and smoked steak is even more delicious. This time, Georg and Daphne looked at my sudden rash in bewilderment. Even Marianne narrowed her eyes a little and looked at me.

What. so what. I want to eat salmon.

I took Karin’s other hand and headed towards the alley where the delicious smell wafted out. Daphne was also threaded through Karin’s other hand, and the rest of the members followed me with trepidation.

—

As expected, smoked salmon wasn’t the only delicious food at the festival. Especially potato bread. When Karin said it was potato bread, I wondered if it was just bread with potatoes in it, but in reality it was bread with potato starch added to make it chewy. I made bread as thin as dumpling skin and ate it by wrapping vegetables, herring or salmon on top, and the combination was ridiculously delicious.

“If only I had alcohol, it wouldn’t have been any better.”

Georg muttered as he licked his lips. He tried to secretly order drinks at the restaurant, but Daphne and I caught sight of him and was stopped every time. After filling my stomach, I had time to look around more. While holding Daphne’s hand, Karin introduced her to various parts of Evernode. Karin’s cheeks had been full from the start until now, thanks to the street vendors who recognized Karin giving her this and that for free.

“that… Would you like to buy one?”

While walking down the street, Karin stopped in front of a stall and pointed her finger at the stall. It seemed to be a store that sold flower crowns. Looking around, I saw that people passing by the road, regardless of gender or age, were wearing garlands on their heads one by one. Daphne led Karin by the hand and went to the store to buy each of the party’s corollas.

“How is it, Illroy?”

“… It suits you very well.”

Daphne asked, wearing a garland of woven white flowers. The flower-colored hair and the corolla already matched well. Wearing a small corolla on her head, Karin looked farther away from the word iron-blooded.

“Everyone, one by one.”

Daphne, who was looking at Karin like that, handed out a corolla one by one to our party. Georg seemed to be secretly excited, so when he received the wreath, he put it on his head right away, and Marianne looked at it quietly, then took off her hat and put the crown on Karin’s eager eyes. There were woven flowers of various colors that went well with her silver hair.

“Come on, Illroydo.”

I saw the garland Daphne was handing over. Daphne beckoned me to bow down, and when I bowed my head, she lifted the garland over my head and smiled.

“Illroy suits me well too.”

Flowers on this dirty face with eyes. I let out a blank laugh and groped for the garland on my head. Daphne looked at me with a smile, then took Karin and walked off to find the next thing to do. I looked at his back and smiled bitterly.

“[Why is that?]”

The holy sword’s questionable voice. Instead of answering, I quietly took off the crown from my head.

“There’s something else I need to wear on my head.”

The image of a corolla woven from wild flowers overlapped with the image of a crown that was quietly lurking in a wooden box.

“[Well, that’s why you wouldn’t wear a crown… .]”

I hung the crown on the hilt of the holy sword that was speaking in a questionable voice. The holy sword was about to continue, but stopped when the crown was placed on it.

“Now, so please use it for me instead.”

“[…] .]”

Should I say it fits well? I smiled as I looked down at the sword hilt where the crown was hanging. The holy sword did not open its mouth for a while, and I followed the distant party.