NOVEL NEXT Chapter 77
“······.”
My head went blank.
Once I calmed down, I realized what I had just done.
“Ah······.”
“Rui?”
“Wait, I just need to step out for a moment!”
“Rui, wait···.”
Bang!
‘I’m crazy, I’m insane!!’
What on earth have I done!
A kiss?
A kiss??
Ugh.
I could feel the heat rising to my face like something that had been left out in the cold winter air, burning fiercely.
It was so hot that I couldn’t bear to touch it with my hands.
‘Aswel is the man of the heroines, though.’
What was I even thinking······!
“······.”
Having suddenly stopped in my tracks, I sneakily glanced back.
Fortunately, Aswel wasn’t chasing after me.
“Aswel must have··· hated it, too······.”
I subtly brought my hand to my lips.
I could feel the soft, delicate sensation.
A moment ago, this had touched Aswel’s cheek.
Slowly, I gripped my robe tightly with both hands.
I was confused. The fact that I had done such a thing without even realizing it.
Yet, strangely enough, it didn’t feel… bad.
I didn’t feel any negative emotions like disgust, dislike, or fear.
Feelings I thought were distant—embarrassment, excitement, and fluttering—were swirling around me.
‘How do I face him next···?’
Unfortunately, I didn’t know of any magic that could turn back time.
Even if it existed, I had no idea if it would actually work.
‘W-Well, anyway, I’ve regained my composure now.’
Instead of slowly recovering while fussing over food, it was more efficient to proceed like this.
“Efficiency is key.”
If the Hero falls into despair, that puts the world at risk.
So, I had justifiably kissed him!
“Yeah, of course. And there’s no way he hasn’t done anything with the other heroines, right?”
For all I knew, they could be doing all sorts of things when it was just the two or three of them.
Ouch!
“·········But they probably haven’t gotten that far.”
Anyway, only chaotic feelings were swirling in my head.
But I did manage to get something done, so maybe that’s a good thing.
After glancing back at the room where Aswel had been, I dashed into my own room.
* * *
“······Rui.”
It was the first time.
Up until now, the only things that had come close to touching his face were the teeth and claws of magical creatures and the weapons of the Demon Race.
Is that why Aswel’s ‘gift’ felt so much more significant?
Thump. Thump.
“······Rui.”
All the countless worries and guilt that had plagued my heart just moments ago began to wash away.
In their place, new feelings started to torment Aswel.
The path of the Hero was meant to be fraught with arduous trials, and yet here he was, struggling.
[The hero party is weak.]
A woman named Tania Astrea had said that.
I had heard it pessimistically just a short while ago, but now it was different.
‘I am weak.’
And it didn’t just mean I was weak as a Hero.
I was weak to the extent that I couldn’t protect even one woman.
She had a strength even greater than mine.
If I couldn’t surpass her, how could I possibly protect and care for her?
If I couldn’t protect even one woman, how could I dare to encompass the entire world?
Rustle.
Aswel was unaware.
In that moment, he didn’t realize that his jet-black hair had turned completely white.
“To protect Rui, and to protect everyone.”
Following Tania Astrea’s words, I had to grow stronger.
Cling.
“You said everyone is in the room.”
Having risen thanks to a woman, now I had to put that action into effect.
It was time to lift everyone up as a party member.
* * *
Ariya, Serelin, Rapirie, and Niabella were holed up in their rooms, each for their own different reasons.
There might be differences in their intricate thoughts, but one common question troubled them all.
‘Am I··· really useful?’
Self-doubt.
Am I truly a necessary member of this party?
To find answers to such questions, they tossed and turned throughout the night, lost in thought.
It was someone unexpected who brought them out of their rooms.
“Everyone, let’s wake up!!”
Knock knock.
Accompanied by a light knock, his voice echoed.
It was the man they had secretly come to admire.
But they couldn’t bring themselves to rise.
They lacked the courage to face him.
So they thought if they didn’t respond, he would wait and promise to return later.
The four of them thought that way.
But Aswel was not one to wait.
Clatter.
Clatter.
Clatter.
Clatter.
“Y-You, Hero?”
“Aswel······!”
“Hey, hey! Why are you coming in?!”
“Y-You, Hero! I-I didn’t mean to ignore you···!”
The sound of the door opening four times met with four different reactions.
Having met with each of the four women separately, Aswel said to them:
“I hope you all won’t blame yourselves too much. I believe this is all part of the growth process.”
And just like that, Aswel began to share sincere words with all four.
As a result.
“······Rui.”
“Seems like everyone’s out.”
The four of them could now join in for dinner.
“Thank you for waiting for us.”
“I’m sorry for my vague response earlier···.”
“U-Um··· s-sorry.”
“Sis···.”
As she gently stroked Niabella’s head with a soft smile, she welcomed her party members.
The four of them felt gratitude for Aswel, who had embraced their emotions. And they also felt a mix of guilt and appreciation towards the one who had brought Aswel out.
“I’m so glad you all came back. Aswel, you did well····· oof.”
“······?”
“?”
“??”
“······??”
When she quickly turned her head away from Aswel and flushed, he found it odd, but the strangeness didn’t last long.
In conclusion, it meant all the party members had gathered their hearts and were ready to face whatever lay ahead.
“Alright, let’s eat.”
Thus, the six-member Hero party was able to enjoy their final dinner at Winter Guard together.
* * *
[From the Headquarters Main Church.]
– Permission granted for Saint Ariya’s additional training. In this matter, His Holiness has personally stepped in···.
“Hmm··· this is enough for now.”
Tania Astrea was sitting in midair, playfully tossing and scattering numerous pieces of stationery.
[From Jertholt Mine.]
– A proposal has been received from the ‘God.’ Permission granted for an Imperial Knight’s ascent.
“This one’s fine too.”
[From Yggdrasil.]
– Acceptance of proposals from the Empire and Mage Fortress. However, please be informed that permanent withdrawal from the Hero party may occur depending on Rapirie’s training progress.
“Rapirie··· I’m pretty sure she was causing a ruckus about the throne. Well, she should manage just fine.”
After stretching and yawning, Tania muttered to herself.
“I think I can handle that fiery little girl···. Ah, our Emperor finally sent a reply. How prompt.”
Brrrrr…
Shshshh!!
A multitude of letters swirling around Tania were torn apart or burnt to ashes.
However, unlike those letters, Tania remained unfazed as she checked the golden-lettered parchment that appeared before her.
[From the Emperor.]
– Lead Hero Aswel and White Smith Rui to the Imperial Palace.
“Hmm······.”
Tania frowned as she read the contents of the Emperor’s handwritten letter.
“Didn’t I specifically ask that he only acknowledge the ruins of the Hero? Why is he being so stubborn?”
While she desperately wanted to vent her frustrations onto the letter, it was impossible.
That golden-lettered parchment was crafted with the Emperor’s ‘power.’
Should one treat the Emperor’s ‘property’ carelessly, the numerous weapons surrounding his throne would turn her into a hedgehog.
Ultimately, Tania folded it respectfully, unlike the other letters, and placed it in the Space of Space, allowing a small smile to blossom as she gazed off into the distance.
“Anyway, they’re finally on their way.”
Somewhere beyond her sight, the Hero party must be on their way.
The Hero party.
A concept and presence that would continuously satisfy Tania’s insatiable quest for knowledge and power.
It was also the reason she had taken an interest in the stele inscribed with the Hero’s prophecy and started mingling with so many powerful individuals.
“I wonder what events transpired in the previous Hero party. What secrets lie within the ruins of the Hero?”
As Tania’s body began to rise slowly, she soared into the sky.
“What does it mean to be a Hero?”
What could possibly compel one to engage in a conflict that could jeopardize the fate of two worlds?
A civilization of an ancient bygone era, a set of rules inherent to the rise and fall of countless civilizations, or even the very core of the world intertwined with the Hero and the Demon King.
Tania found immense joy in witnessing such battles in real-time, so close to her.
“···I never expected Rui would join, though.”
She was worried about him, but at the same time, she held a supportive sentiment as well.
After all, he was her cherished little brother.
“······But can the Hero manage five people later on? It feels like my heart is only with one right now, but that could easily change over time.”
“······I should start preparing to welcome the guests soon.”
Creak.
Clatter.
As Tania floated higher into the sky, she grasped the wooden door before her and stepped inside.
A grand mansion adorned with dark blue star motifs caught the eye.
It hovered high up.
Astraea Floating Mansion.
A gift from the Emperor, Tania’s residence, and concurrently, her domain.
The flying mansion, propelled by numerous gears and magic circles, descended slowly to the ground, ready to greet its long-awaited guest.
And a week later, the Hero party arrived in the Eastern Region.