I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist chapter 81

81. In the shadow of the banquet (3)

81. In the shadow of the banquet (3)

The music was slow. Marianne was listening to the music coming on, squinting her eyes like a cat. For some reason, I didn’t want to open my eyes wide and look straight ahead. The colorful clothes of the people became a blurry light that caught Marianne’s eyes. The clothes bloomed and then withered, as if quickly showing a blooming bud. It looked like a fireworks display.

“They dance well, don’t they?”

Georg, who was standing next to Marianne, said that in a carefree tone. Georg sipped his cocktail glass and smacked his lips.

“I thought it would be difficult for my fiancée to ask me to dance.”

“Is that so.”

Marianne nodded. Georg glanced down at Marianne, who was in a strange state, and turned her head together to the place where her gaze kept glancing. There, Illroy held onto Daphne and danced at a moderate pace. As they slowly turned around, Daphne’s face was showing a silly, nonsensical smile, and Illroy was smiling bitterly, saying he didn’t hate it.

“… Aha. What do you see?”

Georg smiled. He lifted his glass and pointed at Illroy.

“Did you two care that much? but. They are a good pair even from a distance. Hey, aren’t all the noble ladies and young ladies glancing at the dance? Is there anything else I can say about Illroy’s face, but Daphne is also suppressing all the young ladies around her.”

“… I wasn’t watching.”

Marianne straightened her eyes with a sullen expression and turned her head away. Georg giggled and emptied the rest of his drink in one go.

“What. Isn’t it okay to be honest sometimes? Illroy wouldn’t hate it either. You think you might be happy? Even if you look at it that way, I will trust you and rely on you.”

“… I don’t even want to dance that much.”

Marianne groaned and picked up any of the glasses nearby. Then he brought the glass to his lips and drank it as if to vent his anger. Georg looked at the scene in amazement, then looked back at where Illroy was dancing.

“… That guy looks so guilty. It’s not that I’m not an ignorant guy.”

Georg shook his head. Had Marianne made up her mind not to stare? I kept trying to fix my gaze elsewhere.

“Sooner or later, I will suffer a little.”

Marianne had already emptied one of her glasses. Georg looked interested and brought another drink. Perhaps the drink had started to rise, Marianne put her glass down and left. Georg clicked his tongue as he looked at Illroy.

“That guy will have to follow me later.”

The slow-playing tune ended. People started applauding the band.

Did the intoxication start to go away from the middle? Or did he borrow the power of alcohol only when he asked me to dance? Daphne was holding my hand with a changed appearance from a certain moment. That’s why, although he was making an expression of confusion when he said he was fine, his eyes didn’t turn cloudy from drunkenness anymore.

“I’m sober.”

Daphne’s shoulders trembled at my words. Well, I’m not scolding or questioning.

“… Yes.”

I didn’t ask more than that. Daphne bowed her head as if clinging to me. Are you satisfied with this now? There were several things I wanted to ask Daphne as well, but I deliberately kept them out. It was enough to say even after the world did not end.

“Are you not sending me back?”

Daphne asked, lacking confidence. And she didn’t want to stop dancing. I smiled and walked along. Then Daphne changed her expression and danced.

“Then dance until this song.”

Daphne said into my ear. I nodded. The gaze that had been focused on us also faded. I deliberately did not look at Georg and Marianne. Maybe it was because he thought it was rude. Both to them and to Daphne.

“?”

I suddenly looked down at Daphne. She was raising a question mark over her face, as if asking why she was looking at her like that.

“How about being a member of the hero’s party?”

Daphne narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Are you asking that right now?”

“Sorry, I’m not very talkative and I don’t really care about the atmosphere.”

Daphne chuckled at my answer. Then a faint smile appeared on his face. Daphne didn’t answer right away, but seemed to organize her thoughts by moving her steps little by little to the flowing music.

“It’s good to protect the world, but I just like this place.”

Daphne speaks calmly, in a muffled voice.

“Illoi, Georg, and Marianne. It’s where I first belonged. Even to protect this place, I can really risk everything to fight. Not empty words, really.”

Daphne’s words became serious at the end. I nodded. The resolution is heavy. Her life was here. I distracted the thoughts that came into my head.

“yes. Thank you for saying that.”

Although Daphne seems to have been expecting a different answer. She pursed her lips as if my answer was bland, but she didn’t say anything else.

the song is over People applauded the orchestra and those who danced. Daphne hesitated, then took a step back, loosening her grip on me.

“Let’s go back. Georg over there is looking at us as if he’s asking when he’ll be back.”

When I turn my head, Georg raises his glass. When we returned to our seats, Georg emptied his glass and said in a voice full of laughter.

“Hey, you stood out the most. Everyone was staring at you.”

“… I wonder if there was nothing to see like that.”

Georg pointed a finger at me and gave me a smirk.

“What do you mean by the one that catches your eye the most? They should blame themselves for being noticed, shouldn’t they?”

“yes. I was wrong. So, where is he now?”

I glanced around and looked at the empty seat. Georg shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know.

“I don’t know. Suddenly, after a drink, he went somewhere. If you haven’t come back yet, you probably didn’t go to the bathroom. You might be mad at yourself for playing with each other. Isn’t it?”

I frowned, and Daphne put on a puzzled look. Marianne, have you been drinking? I’ve never seen him take even one sip at a drinking party. I sighed briefly as I looked at the tall glass Marianne supposedly drank from.

“I’ll go and find it for a while. Can you wait here for a minute?”

Georg let out a big laugh.

“If you hadn’t said you were going, I’d have beaten you, Illroy.”

“Fuck it, child.”

I smiled and turned my head to Daphne. Didn’t you have anything to ask? Daphne looked at me and nodded. A look of concern lingered on Marianne’s seat.

“Go quickly.”

I left right away. The palace was spacious. I don’t think she would have left the venue where the harvest festival was taking place, but Marianne had a corner where she didn’t know where to go. A variety of dresses caught my eye. Each of them came to talk to me, but I didn’t even hear them say hello and I made my way through the crowd.

Didn’t see. Marianne’s silver hair will stand out for a while.

“[Go to the terrace once.]”

The Holy Sword spat out words. It was not a very pleasant voice.

“[I’m only helping this time. Otherwise, problems may arise within the party.]”

“… thanks.”

I quickly ran outside, toward the terrace. A terrace bathed in moonlight. Marianne stood alone against the railing. the noise went away She seemed out of place in this world. The silvery hair glowed in the moonlight. Little by little, the hair that was neatly tied up came out and became disheveled.

“Marianne.”

At my call, Marianne turned her head. I thought it would be expressionless as always, but now Marianne’s face was completely red. The usual cold golden eyes were not emotionless, and the lips were not stiff.

“… You are a warrior.”

Marianne let out a hesitant voice. The tip of the horse was stretched. It seems that he is not trying to drive away the drunkenness by turning his magic power. I raised my hand and gently stroked Marianne’s hair. My head was hot. My shoulders were trembling, so I involuntarily removed my hand, but soon caught it again in Marianne’s hand. As if asking for more strokes, Marianne gently pressed her head with my hand.

“… little bit more… I want to feel this sensation.”

Marianne’s golden eyes glittered wet.

Marianne was pampered for the first time. Intoxication clouded consciousness and judgment. It was confusing. Marianne was feeling a feeling she had never felt before. It was the sensation Illroy had felt since passing the crown test. Anxiety about where that person might disappear. That’s what I felt when I read the letter Illroy received, and when I watched Illroy and Daphne dancing.

It was an impulse to leave the banquet hall. Marianne had never been overcome by the urge, but her first drink took some of her sanity.

“… little bit more… .”

So, Marianne needed reassurance. I’m sure this person is here. I’m sure you won’t go anywhere.

“I want to feel this sensation.”

Illroy’s outfit today was black. To be honest, this black suit seemed more suitable than the white warrior’s uniform. Illroy continued stroking it again, and Marianne narrowed her eyes to feel the touch. I felt the warmth wrapped around my head.

At the same time as satisfaction, anxiety is felt more. Marianne still didn’t know why Illroy was dazed. It probably wasn’t because of this harvest festival. He was passing through the Harvest Festival so casually. That unresolved question was making Marianne even more strange.

“I am a warrior.”

I was resentful of my words coming out little by little, but I had no intention of getting rid of my drunkenness. Obviously, once this intoxication wears off, he will be numb and cold again. I’ll be the kind of person who honestly doesn’t ask Illroy what he’s doing and just listens to him.

“I am… .”

Marianne moved closer to Illroy and looked up. Beneath her gray hair were eyes that turned her back on the brilliant lights of the banquet hall. It was eyes like a deep forest, lurking darkly in turquoise. I couldn’t tell. Marianne didn’t even know herself properly, but she couldn’t understand Illroy’s eyes.

“… I don’t know what to say.”

maybe. Even his expression must be a mess, right now. For a moment, Marianne became concerned about the fact and slammed her head into Illroy’s chest. Why? I just had to say that, but the words suddenly got stuck and I couldn’t come out. Marianne put her hand to her chest, which was beating at an odd speed. It seemed that the reason his face was burning was not because of drunkenness.

“It’s fine.”

Illroy patted Marianne’s head without stopping. Marianne loved the feeling. But at the same time, I felt like I would miss something if I didn’t talk. Illroy didn’t say anything for a while, petting Marianne’s hair as she pampered her.

“Shall we go in now?”

Marianne seemed to have calmed down, so Illroy spoke up. Marianne nodded. I could hear Illroy eating and laughing as usual. But, but.

Illroy starts walking. Marianne looked at the back of the hero who was one step away from her. Then, impulsively, I gently grabbed Illroy’s sleeve. Despite the slight resistance, Illroy stopped and looked back.

“what’s the matter?”

The eyes of the two meet. Deep blue turquoise eyes. Gold eyes like topaz that swayed just now and shimmered. Marianne looked into those eyes as if seeking an answer. But she knew that if Marianne didn’t open her mouth, those eyes wouldn’t return a word.

“… it’s nothing.”

“… ok let’s go in Everyone is worried.”

Illroy said that and walked away. Marianne also started to move. Reason, which had begun to return very little, began to suppress many things again.

couldn’t ask

An adult memory flashed in Marianne’s mind.

The letters inviting them to the harvest festival were scattered on the floor, as if they were not that important. The back side was strewn with sloppy scribbles and phrases, as if written on paper.

Meanwhile, Marianne saw the short text.

‘Can I do it?’

What did the word ‘can do’ mean? What Illroy was trying to do. Was that why you were making such a blank expression? What were your thoughts when you wrote that article?

The back of Illroy, who was moving away, looked like a person who was about to leave. Marianne had no choice but to follow Illroy at a leisurely pace to keep him from moving further.

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Comment

  1. huehue huehue says:

    So she’s overthinking the letter 🧐

  2. huehue huehue says:

    Poor girl must be so confused with her feelings 🥹

  3. huehue huehue says:

    Now you really must dance with Marianne, Illroy 🤣🫢

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