Quit The Hero Party

EP.89 The End of Three Days (完)

It’s hot.

Summer hasn’t even arrived yet, yet it’s so hot.

There’s so much to do, but I just can’t find the energy.

Huu…

The First Princess, Lruiel, let out a long sigh. The air was hot. It wasn’t just her breath; her whole body was burning up.

Cold sweat trickled down her back.

She couldn’t tell if her eyes were open or closed. It felt like she was wandering the boundary between dreams and reality.

It’s hot.

Sweat drips down.

The droplets soaking her pajamas felt disgusting.

With those thoughts in mind, Lruiel closed her eyes. As soon as she did, countless memories surfaced. They floated by almost instantly. The memories scattered easily.

– You must live.

– I will die. I cannot survive. I know that well. But you must not.

– You have to survive, at least.

Among the scattering memories, a few stood out strongly. Slowly, very slowly, Lruiel felt for them.

‘Was it spring?’

Or was it the dead of winter?

Lruiel let out a hollow laugh. Alongside the sweat, her laughter trickled down, pooling at the nape of her neck.

‘It was both.’

The Second Princess died on a spring day.

The Third Princess died on a winter day.

They held a funeral on a day when cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

And on a winter day, heavy with snow, they held another funeral.

She recalled the scene of them being laid in their coffins.

Lruiel remembered the priests of the church praying for their peace.

Those memories filled her head to bursting. Why were such thoughts surfacing now? Perhaps because she herself was staring death in the face.

“······.”

Death was colorless and odorless.

It approached without sound, form, or scent… yet she could feel the undeniable fact that it was coming.

In the face of impending death, one re-evaluates their life. Lruiel was no different.

She reflected on her life.

She wanted to live freely, but couldn’t. Though called a mad dog, she had always been leashed with invisible restraints.

She wanted to live.

To do so, she had to obey her brother.

And so she did. If her brother said to bark, she barked; if he said to be silent, she silenced; if he said to crawl, she became a little dog. Thus, she survived her life.

‘Is that truly living?’

Looking at her sisters’ coffins, such thoughts crossed her mind.

‘No.’

So she made a decision.

‘Even if I die tomorrow, I will live today.’

She tore off the leash. She removed the muzzle.

She barked not for her brother, but for the youngest. No one looked at him, but Lruiel herself desired that.

Death took a step closer.

Lruiel felt it. She felt it but did not tremble in fear. She faced the approaching death with poise.

Death took another step closer.

Lruiel opened her eyes. Before her, unnatural smoke coalesced. The gathered smoke was grotesque. It seemed to be the death that was upon her.

The death that swallowed her sisters.

The death that had torn them apart was right before her.

Creeeak, creak.

The pattern engraved on Lruiel’s nape began to move slowly. The completed circuit gave form to the smoke.

Holes appeared in the smoke.

It stretched and tore, and eyes and a mouth emerged.

Death smiled. If there were types of death, that was surely a base and undignified form. There are those who harvest others’ lives with grace, and those who ravenously consume them; it clearly belonged to the latter.

It was more disgusting than noble.

More cowardly than proud.

It was not a death that suited her. Lruiel curled her trembling lips upward.

“Di…”

She struggled to squeeze out a voice.

“…It’s the professor.”

The following words were akin to a whisper. Yet, the meaning was conveyed clearly.

With a thud,

The sound of a chair wobbling was heard.

Someone reached towards the gathered death right in front of Lruiel. A pair of white gloves pierced through the smoke.

The smoke tried to elude capture and scatter.

However, the grip did not let go.

Capture.

Mana surged.

The rising mana was ashen. It was ashen, but within it, stars twinkled.

The starlight she had seen from the youngest.

Beautiful, it made one feel hopeful amidst the ashen mana writhing.

Squish, squish!

The sound of the trapped smoke breaking apart echoed. The personification of death was grasped and began to regurgitate the lives it had consumed.

Creeeak, creak…

The circuit engraved on Lruiel’s nape rotated in reverse. With each rotation, the pattern faded.

Crumble.

Eventually, the circuit shattered and scattered.

Along with it, the smoke lost its shape. Amidst the scattering smoke, ashen mana swirled.

“A.”

Her held breath escaped through her lips.

“…Cough.”

Lruiel exhaled dryly and slowly raised her body. The heat that had baked her body was gone. A chill breeze blew in through the open window. The wind cooled her.

Rustle.

The breeze ruffled her hair.

Wiping the sweat gathered at her nape with her collar, Lruiel lifted her head.

“······.”

Before her stood the professor.

A mage named Rania van Trias. She was looking at Lruiel.

Face to face with that gaze.

“Is that so?”

Lruiel smiled.

“So you…”

With a smile that was light rather than mocking, she tilted her head slightly. Her platinum hair draped down her nape.

“You saved me.”

The wind blew in.

The cool breeze was pleasant.

“You kept your promise, professor.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Is it rude to ask how you did it?”

“It might be a bit rude.”

The professor shrugged.

Then, with a hint of mischief in her smile, she uttered a word.

“Seems it worked.”

“Ah.”

Lruiel smiled.

“That is truly a Rania-like response.”

A week had passed since the pattern appeared.

After overcoming the seventh night, which no one could cross, Lruiel had succeeded.

‘Since I’ve succeeded, I should prepare for what comes next.’

There was no time to rest.

Thud.

Lruiel slowly got off the bed.

She draped the outer garment that was placed next to the bed over her shoulders. Seeing this, the professor asked.

“Where are you going?”

“I just broke through the trap set by my brother. Don’t you think there will be plenty of people in the royal quarters hallway expecting me to be dead?”

She pointed to the bedroom door.

“In that case, I must show them.”

What?

“That I am alive and well, overflowing with the strength to bark at you all.”

She swept her hair back.

“Shouldn’t I be showing that?”

Then, as always, she wore a mischievous smile.

“Open the door, professor.”

—

2.

The seventh night had passed.

When the morning of the eighth day brightened, there was no one left in the royal quarters hallway.

After hearing from the First Prince that “somehow everything will be fine if this night passes, so wait,” where did all those who were curiously roaming the royal quarters the night before go?

Did they sink into the ground or soar into the sky?

No one knows.

They simply vanished without a sound. Only rumors of the royal quarters’ basement threatening to burst at the seams have been spreading.

A single rumor circulates within the royal quarters.

“There lives a mad dog in the royal quarters.”

That was hardly even a rumor.

—

“You should have seen the look on my brother’s face.”

Princess Lruiel smiled brightly.

She walked beside me with a look of pure satisfaction on her face.

Under normal circumstances, I would be following behind her. However, the princess did not want that.

-Didn’t I tell you?

-From now on, everything about me belongs to you. You will be treated as my equal.

Since she said that much, it was better to simply follow her lead.

‘In fact, even following her lead feels a bit…’

Thinking deeply would only tire me.

“Earlier this morning, I met him, and his expression had totally soured. Seeing him so blatantly crumple his face was quite a sight.”

She chuckled with delight.

“My brother won’t be able to touch me anymore. He doesn’t have a clue what I possess or how far I’ve come to know.”

“Isn’t it still dangerous?”

“What? My brother is a person who never acts unless he’s certain. And above all…”

After a brief pause, she continued.

“When we return immediately to the royal quarters, the royal family’s hounds will protect me.”

“The Hound, you say?”

“Yes, the most competent and proudly esteemed hound will serve as my guardian knight, they say.”

Even my brother wouldn’t dare act recklessly with the hunting dogs glaring at him.

Princess Lruiel muttered that to herself.

I suddenly felt curious and asked.

“Who is the most competent and esteemed hound?”

“That would have to be Sir Kalt, the Tracker who has experience on both the frontline and in the Phantom Territory.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Hmm?”

“That dog-nose… I mean, is Sir Kalt the most competent hound?”

“That’s right. He’s always stiff, speaks little, and is a stickler for rules, but… he seems to me to truly be a knight of the battlefield.”

That guy, Kalt?

“Stiff? Speaks little…?”

“They say he also goes by the title ‘The Silent Knight.’”

I cocked my head.

‘Could it be that the Kalt I know is the same one?’

It seemed likely considering he was a Tracker, but something felt off.

“…Is something bothering you?”

“No, I was just wondering if I knew him.”

As we muttered this, Lruiel and I continued to walk side by side. The path we were treading was through the garden located in the rear of the royal quarters.

The garden managed by Princess Lruiel’s closest aides.

It was said that there was a hidden path leading to the royal library, so I planned to use it to sneak out of the royal quarters.

And the princess accompanied me to see me off. Just as we walked, Princess Lruiel suddenly spoke.

“…Do you remember when I said that everything about me belonged to you?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. I remember.”

“Then why do you not ask for anything?”

“Because there’s nothing coming to mind right now.”

I took a sideways glance at the princess beside me.

She looked dissatisfied.

“If everything about me holds no value to you?”

“Excuse me?”

“If so, then that would be quite… hurtful. For all my worth, I was somewhat proud of what I possessed.”

“Uh…”

Is there anything I need right now?

To be honest, it wasn’t that I was expecting any reward for my actions.

‘It’s not like I need money.’

Nor do I lack standing.

I just felt there was need for intervention after hearing the situation.

After pondering for a moment, I spoke.

“There might not be anything needed right now, but I suspect there will be in the future?”

“Is that so?”

“Probably?”

Princess Lruiel chuckled softly.

“Then take this.”

She handed me a magical tool.

It was a magical tool I was well acquainted with.

‘…Isn’t this a communication letter?’

A magical tool used in battles.

When one writes a letter on one side, it is delivered to the other side, with both parts forming a pair.

Seeing my questioning gaze, the princess explained.

“They say it’s a communication tool used by knights on the battlefield to send and receive letters. Write a letter on it, and I will respond.”

She continued speaking.

“If there’s anything I possess that you need, just call for me anytime. The royal family – no, at least I will not forget the grace you have shown me.”

I nodded and tucked the letter into my pocket. When I looked around, we had reached the end of the garden.

At the end of the garden, the princess lightly tapped her feet.

The bushes parted, revealing a hidden path leading to the royal library.

“Simply go along this path.”

“Yes.”

“Be sure to change your attire as the situation demands. Here, this is the outfit you came in wearing.”

I gathered the garments leaning at the entrance of the path, then turned back. Suddenly, there was something I wanted to ask.

“Um, princess?”

“What is it, professor?”

“I have a rather personal question.”

I began recalling what I had heard.

“First, I’ve heard that…”

“Cut the fluff and get to the point. I have no intention of asking where you heard or learned what you say.”

“…Well, I heard that the hero, Kyle Toven, once said to you, ‘Seeing a moron like you is a hero shows how much our world has decayed.’ Is that right?”

“Hmm? No, that’s a bit off.”

The princess tilted her head.

“What I said was, ‘Seeing a moron like you is a hero shows how much the world is going around.’”

…Isn’t that pretty much the same thing?

“Why do you ask that?”

“I was curious as to why you said such a thing.”

Hmm, the princess rubbed her chin in thought.

“I’ve seen a number of heroes. It seems I’ve seen about five heroes, and if I had to pick the worst among them, it would be him, that moron.”

“Oh…”

“Of course, I acknowledge that Kalt has remarkable skills. Compared to other heroes, his abilities are outstanding. However, skill and mindset are two different things.”

As if recalling Kyle, she continued with a frown.

“The eyes of that hero lack passion. There’s neither the stubbornness to fulfill his beliefs nor the arrogance. What fills his gaze is the same as what my brother has. It’s what I’ve grown weary of seeing.”

“…The same?”

“A craving for power. A desire to show off. And, inferiority complex.”

“……”

“A desire to show oneself to others. Being drunk on one’s own awesomeness. Thus, the impression of one who is thirsty for extravagance.”

A hero like that?

As she muttered that, the princess chuckled softly.

“All of those attached to such idiots, save for one, are all about the same. The saint learned how to survive in this world like a fool, while the archery master elf knows nothing besides her own wellbeing.”

I desperately wanted to nod in agreement, yet I forcibly held back and listened to her words.

“It’s no wonder the princess feels disillusioned with the state of the world watching a party claiming to save it acting like that.”

“I can understand that.”

“Exactly. Yet, well… while his skills are exceptional, he seems to provide great assistance on the battlefield. Of course, that is likely to come to an end now.”

“That’s going to end? What do you mean?”

Looking at me with a puzzled expression, she shrugged and continued.

“Such individuals require someone who can lead them without spreading their influence. The saint and the archery master do not have that kind of presence. So who remains?”

Didn’t she just say earlier that she would give one?

Princess Lruiel pointed a finger at me. For a moment, I felt my heart sink.

“That would be your brother.”

What the hell.

I struggled to calm my suddenly racing heart.

“Leading them was likely the existence of the Ashen Mage. He would have been the center of their party rather than the hero, I suspect.”

“…”

“But such a figure has retired.”

The princess responded with a sigh.

“I expect the remaining trio won’t last long. A party without a leader is destined to either fall apart or crumble.”

What is this?

I blinked rapidly. I had never spoken about the realities of the hero party to anyone. Even the Knights Order leader, Heinkel, doesn’t understand what’s happening.

‘The only ones who might know…’

Perhaps it’s only Kalt who was with us.

Even Kalt wouldn’t have known the seriousness of the situation since he retired when Kyle began to decay…

I hadn’t said anything.

More accurately, I hadn’t been able to say anything.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone that a hero party maintained by the sacrifices of countless people had become this corrupt.

‘…The morale of the knights would shatter.’

I didn’t want that.

Although Kyle was being dominated by a brain in his lower half, he was still a symbolic figure.

So I kept it hidden.

‘I’ve been hiding that all along…’

But this person sees through it?

I found it strangely fascinating.

“…Is that so?”

“Huh? What’s with that voice? That’s a new one.”

“Um, uh…”

I covered my mouth.

My lips wanted to curl up, but feeling a bit embarrassed, I shook my head while keeping my mouth hidden.

Mmm, uh-huh.

An ambiguous sound flowed out instead of clear affirmation or laughter.

“Hmm.”

As I tried to keep a straight face, the princess narrowed her eyes a bit.

“Professor, you seem to have a good relationship with your brother.”

“…Huh?”

“How envy-inducing. Just by hearing you praise him, it sounds like you’re celebrating as if it’s you being praised.”

…Is it really like that?

As I blinked, the princess spun around in a circle.

“It’s time for me to take my leave. If I linger any longer, the hounds may come here.”

She only turned her head back slightly to look at me. Her flowing platinum hair glimmered in the afternoon sunlight.

“I rather enjoyed these past three days, professor.”

She smiled.

“Be careful on your way back.”

It was a smile quite different from the one she had when she first set foot in the palace. After leaving those words, she walked away. I quietly watched her go.

…In the past few days, I had been running around tipping over various places. However, there was still one place I hadn’t touched.

The residence of the First Prince.

Getting through there would require something more than just going in ‘for the sake of it.’ Something unnatural had settled there.

If I’m going to do this, I should blow it up entirely.

It’s hard to only glance at things I shouldn’t during this time. If I was to proceed, I would have to bring the royal castle down. I hadn’t done it because it seemed the chaos would only worsen.

Now that I’ve left it behind…

There was no helping it, though the unease remained.

“Princess.”

At my call, she turned back.

What should I say? I had called out to her, but my mouth opened reluctantly.

“Um…”

“You may not know what you’ve seen, but…”

As I struggled to find my words, she struck first.

“There’s no need for you to worry about that.”

She smiled.

“This is my debt to you. You have successfully completed what you needed to do. Go back to where you belong.”

Her voice was certain.

With a tone brimming with confidence, she continued speaking.

“I shall handle the royal family. Whatever my brother is preparing, I won’t let it happen again. Moreover, the materials you collected for me have been greatly beneficial. I’ll take it slow and methodically.”

She stopped walking and faced me.

The corner of her eye, tinted with pale gold, slightly curled up.

“It would be good to relay it to Ayla.”

She spoke.

“Leave the royal castle to me, and focus on your studies. Learn a lot, see a lot, listen a lot, and come back with experiences.”

Princess Lruiel looked at me and smiled.

“Lastly, befriend the professor named Rania.”

“…Hah.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Truly a unique person.’

With those final words, we turned away.

The princess made her way back to her quarters, while I headed back to where I belonged, to the Apuria Academy. On the way back to our respective stages, the spring sunlight stretched long across us.

In truth, it was quite hot to be called a spring day.

It felt like it marked the end of spring.

Spring is passing, and summer is approaching.

Perhaps summer will be just a little busier than spring.

Author’s Note

A bit late… but here is 10,000 characters! Double the length! Completing an episode is always a difficult task.

I seem to have taken a bit longer because I keep struggling to choose a fitting closing scene.

This is the first time I’ve extended like this after leaving the academy. *(Excluding side stories!)

I tried to present a different kind of story, and I hope you found it satisfying to read!

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