I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist chapter 55

55. by necessity (1)

Luckily the rain stopped a day after we set off. Thanks to that, the return to the royal road was very smooth. Before leaving Evernode, there was only one order issued by the royal palace. If you reach the royal capital, do not enter right away, stay for a while in a nearby city and contact the royal palace.

So we rode horses from the capital and waited in a city about two hours away from the royal capital, waiting for permission from the palace or other contact to come. It’s a small town with not many people, and you can’t go around showing your face carelessly, so we rented a room at an inn and sat quietly. It was a bonus to try all the games that could be played with the playing cards Daphne had brought from somewhere.

“Why didn’t I tell you to come back right away?”

Daphne murmured as she drew a card from Marianne’s hand. This game is about stealing. Without much hesitation, I drew the last card and put my hand aside.

“It must be because of the improvement ceremony. How you stage the hero’s improvement will affect morale.”

Leonard, the knight who went out to support the North together, said that while drawing my hand. The Joker in my hand was moved to Leonard’s hand. The other knights who had been dispatched with us from the capital stayed in Evernode to fill the dispatch period, and only Leonard was traveling with us to report.

“People in the royal capital must be complaining about how long it’s been since the triumphant ceremony and why they hold another triumphant ceremony.”

When I made a joke, Georg laughed beside me, nodded, and let out a long sigh. It seemed to bring back old memories. Or, you picked the Joker.

“It was difficult during the last improvement ceremony. It wasn’t that there was no internal noise in the process of catching the Kraken. It was such a headache to have to direct a harmonious warriors party to be shown in a state where we are completely sharp.”

Georg shook his head in disgust.

“Watching you and Arjen literally felt like walking on thin ice, Illroy.”

“… It must have been then.”

The reason Georg had no choice but to watch the conflict between Illroy and Arjen is simple. It was because it was a fight that could not be stopped in the first place. In the face of a catastrophe that would destroy the world, no compromise could be made, and there was no choice but to discuss the number of deaths.

“Well, this time I’ll be able to participate in the improvement ceremony with a more comfortable mind.”

Georg, who had only one card left in his hand, shook his hands and stood up. How many times are you winning? It’s like the last time I heard a drunken ghost drinking alcohol, and in fact, isn’t it the best way to play while pretending to be quiet?

“I think it’s a great success even if it’s half of what I showed at the ceremony.”

I frowned, and Leonard giggled in agreement with Georg.

“I was also surprised at the time. I didn’t know that the warrior who didn’t even speak properly at the launching ceremony of the third disaster and the victory ceremony would say such a thing.”

Then, Leonard wiped his hands and stood up. There is only one card left in my hand. When Marianne pulled the tile from my hand, it was over for me, and all that was left was Daphne and Marianne’s fight.

“I look forward to this speech as well.”

“… Even then, I wasn’t particularly prepared.”

Daphne and Marianne didn’t seem to hear our conversation. Daphne drew a card from Marianne’s hand and put on a visibly relieved expression. Marianne, on the other hand, did not change her expression as always. In a game like that, it seems to be advantageous enough to be questioned as to whether it is a scam.

“[Sheesh, I thought I would get through first.]”

FYI, I was in the proxy game. From the middle of the game, Seonggeom secretly began to show that he wanted to play the game, telling him to pick a card in the middle and a card at the end, so he played the game as Seonggeom said. To be honest, I couldn’t seem to choose my cards well.

“[When did I say I wanted to play games! I’m just frustrated with what you’re doing… .]”

Ah yes. Did you? It looks like you really don’t want to play.

“[Don’t respond that way!]”

I bit my teeth and pinched my leg to keep from bursting out laughing. In the meantime, the fight between Marianne and Daphne was entering a state of near-death. As for what was interesting, Daphne’s expression change and Marianne’s expressionless expression in contrast to it were interesting.

“eww… .”

Daphne’s hands were shaking. There is only one card left in Daphne’s hand. There are two cards left in Marianne’s hand. One is the joker and one is the game ending card. Daphne was staring into Marianne’s eyes, trying to somehow find the agitation, but Marianne’s eyes couldn’t see anything like that. The excitement was growing in Daphne’s eyes as she looked into Marianne’s eyes.

“Is this… ?”

Daphne closed her eyes and picked up a card when there was a knock on the inn door. Leonard went to check the door, and Daphne let out a sigh of relief, half regret, and sorted out the cards. Squeak, the old hinges creaked as the door opened, leaving Leonard frozen in the doorway.

And after about 1.5 seconds.

“Meet Her Majesty the Queen… !”

“quiet. Don’t say hello to the others and stay where you are.”

The queen, Agnes Blanche Lumière, was entering the room, her hooded hand over her mouth. The queen’s unique blood-red eyes were shining through the hood. When our party, Leonard, plus the queen and escort knights entered the room for three or four people, the room became suffocating.

“It’s a little cluttered. But I can’t help it.”

The Queen lifted her hat to reveal her face. I greeted the queen with my eyes wide open in surprise.

“your majesty. How did you get here?”

“I am the first to greet the hero who defeated the two disasters, how can I sit down and greet him?”

The Queen looked at me jokingly. Then, he came closer and sat right in front of me. Seeing her casual appearance, everyone present was surprised. chin. The Queen’s hand rested on mine. She squeezed my hand and smiled faintly.

“Hero Illroy, you did really well. First of all, I want to hear these words.”

I bowed my head, unable to hide my embarrassed look.

“no. It is thanks to His Majesty for trusting me.”

“Now more people will believe in you.”

The Queen let out a small laugh and nodded her head.

“Let’s talk a little bit about the triumphal ceremony. It probably won’t be much different from last time. The party of warriors will walk all the way to the royal palace, and people will see you walking. Unlike the ceremony, I’m not going to tell you what to say. Just showing how you improve will be enough.”

I shook my head.

“… To be honest, I’m not in the mood to end with just a march, but there are still a few mountains to climb before a big celebration, so I guess I’ll just have to settle for now.”

The queen smiled as she said that as if regretting it. Well, defeating the calamity isn’t just my job, it’s the queen’s job, and it’s also the Kairos Kingdom’s job. No wonder she is so happy.

“You can just stay as you are, Hero Illroy.”

“… I will.”

I’m glad the process was simpler than I thought. The queen looked at me as I nodded, then suddenly brought her hand slowly to my face. I froze as if nailed to her thin smile and red gaze, and the Queen’s gentle hand touched my face.

“Don’t hide your wounds. So that everyone knows that you fought and came back.”

The Queen’s gaze turned to my shoulder. Bandages were showing through the clothes.

“Clothes as if you just came back from a battle. Show me how you fought. Give people faith like that, and imprint your existence. If so, there won’t be any loud noise coming out from inside like last time.”

The queen’s voice was bitter.

“Forgive me for having to turn even your fight into politics, a stage that isn’t even funny.”

“I don’t care. If it can give people faith.”

The Queen let out a small laugh at my answer and relaxed her hands holding her face.

“Still, I think it would be okay to come in dressed up more like the ceremony.”

Saying that, the queen ran a hand through my hair. The view that was slightly covered by the bangs opened, and the queen’s face was clearly visible. A cold yet beautiful face with a hint of curiosity. I blinked in surprise, and the Queen let go of my face with a chuckle.

“yes. It would be nice if you could make a little more variety of expressions in front of me like that. You always have a blank expression or look like you’re embarrassed.”

The Queen greeted the other party members, leaving me blankly blinking. Georg was accustomed to greeting the queen, and Marianne always had the same attitude. Only Daphne greeted the Queen frozen like me. Feeling the sameness and familiarity with that figure, I let out a small sigh.

“[yes… , I will use my position like that.]”

Somehow, I heard the muttering sound of the holy sword. The Queen, who delivered words of greeting and congratulations, rose from her seat with a smile. The door closed again, the sound of the Queen’s footsteps receding, and we looked at each other’s faces as if a storm had swept through.

When the silence lasted for a long time, Georg spoke first.

“… So, who just won the game?”

“… I don’t know.”

Daphne muttered as she looked at the pile of cards she had already put away.

—

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Nearly three months had passed since the ceremony. The residents of the royal capital were able to hear the news that the hero had succeeded in defeating the fourth plague through rumors that had been heard.

“There was a lot of noise here and there, but in the end it worked again.”

“I do not know. There were rumors that I heard last time too, but is it really true that the hero did it?”

“It’s enough if you knock it down, isn’t it? No matter how much you say it, it’s true that you defeated the calamity in the end.”

Reactions also varied. The eyes of doubt did not completely disappear, but the fire of hope was burning, and cheers and faith were also together. Curiosity led them to the streets. Long before the hero opened the gate and entered, the streets were already full of people.

To see the return of a hero, or to uncover suspicion.

People looked at the gates.

rattle.

The door is open. The ones entering were the guards of the royal capital escorting the party of warriors. Beyond the guards, there were those entering on horseback. Beyond the knights in ironclad – there was a warrior who looked like he had just returned from a battle. A hero was entering, looking exhausted but with an expression as strong as steel.

“… Doesn’t it look a bit different?”

“Come to think of it, the atmosphere… .”

The immaturity that remained, albeit weakly, was erased. As the hero approached, mana engulfed the people. People were fascinated by him and stared blankly at the hero. have fought fought and won The warrior who said that with his whole body looked back at the crowd and gave a faint smile.

Then, a shining train of thought appeared above the gray hair of the hero. The thorny training radiated brilliance and seemed to embrace the warrior with light. Took. Took. There were people kneeling here and there. They were members of the Puritan Church. They put their hands together toward the warrior and began to recite prayers.

“That… The figure of a warrior.”

People turned their heads after the hero as if possessed. hero. appearance of a warrior. Some started chanting “Hero,” and others suddenly started to shed tears. The hero raised his holy sword high into the sky, just like during the ceremony.

that he won

Light emanated from the holy sword and illuminated the street brilliantly.

To those who doubt, to those who believe. Light to those trapped in darkness. Courage to those who tremble in fear. The march of the warriors continued to the royal palace, shining a new light on the entire capital.

—

The next day, waking up in the hero’s room after a long time, I received a letter from Marianne while having breakfast. The sender is Bishop Andre Zavin. I opened the letter and read it.

The content of the letter was very brief.

‘Congratulations on defeating the fourth plague. We’ll see you soon. I wish I could see you for a while with Marianne.’

I frowned and looked up, and Marianne gave a small shrug as if she didn’t know anything.