Rise of the F-Rank Hero

Oliver turned the badge over in his hand, impressed despite himself. "So it's like a… VIP pass."

Isolde snorted softly, crimson eyes glinting. "More like a leash, if misused. But useful nonetheless."

Theo chuckled. "I trust it will not be misused. Consider it a token of gratitude, nothing more."

Before Oliver could reply, Elara leaned forward eagerly, her green dress swishing. "Father, may I?"

Theo's brow arched, but then his smile softened. "Yes, Elara?"

"I want to show them the palace," she said, her eyes bright with energy. "I've been… locked away for so long. And they're adventurers, Father! I want to hear about the places they've been."

Theo chuckled warmly. "Ho ho~ of course, my dear. Just don't tire yourself out."

"I won't," she promised, already rising. She turned to Oliver and Isolde, her eyes shining. "Come! There's a garden out back — the roses are in bloom."

Isolde rose with queenly grace, clearly indulging the girl. Oliver followed, clutching the badge tightly before slipping it into his pouch.

The palace gardens stretched wide behind the estate — fountains trickling, hedges pruned into perfect symmetry, roses and lilies bursting in color. Elara led them with surprising enthusiasm, her voice bubbling with life.

"This fountain was built by my great-grandfather," she said quickly, almost proudly. "And over there, the old library — I spent so many days reading because I couldn't go outside…"

She paused, then turned with wide eyes. "But you — you've seen the world. Please, tell me! What's it like, being an adventurer?"

Oliver rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… mostly dangerous. And tiring. And smelly."

Isolde shot him a look, then added smoothly, "But also freeing. You go where you wish, do what you wish, and see wonders most people can't imagine."

Elara clasped her hands, her smile bright as sunlight. "Yes, exactly! I've always dreamed of walking through far-off cities, of seeing mountains and rivers with my own eyes… but all I've ever known are these halls. For as long as I can remember, I was bedridden. My whole world was doctors and healers." She leaned forward, eyes shining. "You must tell me everything."

And so the stroll went on, Elara peppering them with questions one after another. Her polished noble manners slipped away, replaced by the raw eagerness of a girl finally tasting a freedom she'd only imagined.

Oliver answered with his usual awkward humor, scratching the back of his neck between stories, while Isolde — surprisingly — carried herself with patient grace, humoring Elara's excitement without a hint of mockery.

~~~

Elara's steps were light, almost childlike, as she led them deeper into the rose garden. Her hand trailed along the tops of blossoms as though to prove they were real and not another dream.

"You fought a Fire Drake?" she asked, eyes sparkling. "And lizardmen too? How did you not get hurt?"

Oliver shrugged. "I did get hurt. Nearly cooked alive, too. But I had her." He jerked his thumb toward Isolde.

Isolde smirked, flicking a rose petal from her sleeve. "And he wasn't entirely useless. He's improving."

"Improving? He sounds like a hero in the stories!" Elara said with the naïve certainty of someone who wanted to believe. She leaned closer to Oliver, lowering her voice. "Did you really… save lives?"

Oliver blinked at her earnest face, unsure how to answer. "…Yeah. I guess I did."

Her cheeks flushed with admiration. "Then you're my hero too."

Oliver choked on his breath, while Isolde raised an eyebrow with a sly grin. "Careful, boy. You're already collecting trouble as it is."

Elara giggled, covering her mouth with dainty fingers, then pointed toward the palace walls. "I've never left past those gates. Not once. The farthest I've gone is the stables — and that only because I begged the head maid."

Her tone dimmed slightly, though her smile remained. "I always thought… if I ever got well enough, I would see the world myself. I wanted to see forests, mountains, cities full of life. But Father says it's too dangerous."

Isolde studied her quietly, her crimson eyes softening just a fraction. "The world is dangerous," she admitted. "But it's also beautiful. And worth seeing with your own eyes."

Elara's hands curled into her dress. "Then… would you tell me about it? Whenever you come back from quests, will you tell me the stories?"

Oliver exchanged a glance with Isolde. The girl's request was simple, yet her gaze was filled with desperate yearning.

"…Yeah," Oliver said finally, scratching his cheek. "I can do that."

Her face lit up with pure joy. "Really? Then it's a promise!"

She clasped her hands behind her back, her eyes never leaving his. "And maybe… since I am all good now… I'll convince Father to let me leave with you, even for a little while."

Isolde chuckled lowly. "Ho~ now that would be entertaining."

Oliver groaned. "Don't encourage her!"

But Elara only laughed, her voice bright as bells in the quiet garden.

Elara kept them wandering the gardens until the shadows stretched long, her questions never ceasing. She wanted to know everything — the taste of inn food, the roar of a monster, the way a town smelled after rain.

Oliver tried to answer simply, but Isolde took to exaggerating with sly smiles, painting images of dragons, collapsing ruins, and treasure glittering in torchlight. Elara hung on every word.

By the time Gerard returned to escort them back inside, the girl looked radiant — flushed cheeks, sparkling eyes, like she'd lived a week's worth of dreams in one afternoon.

"Thank you," she said earnestly, bowing her head slightly, though her gaze lingered on Oliver. "You kept your promise already. You showed me the world through your words."

~~~

After their long walk in the gardens, the trio returned inside. The golden chandeliers were already dimmed, servants lighting evening lanterns along the corridors.

Isolde brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "It's getting late. We should return to the inn."

The Viscount nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Gerard—see to it that their carriage is prepared."

"Yes, my lord," Gerard said with his usual stiff bow before quietly leaving the hall.

The Viscount turned his gaze back to Oliver and Isolde, his smile warm. "You're welcome in this estate anytime. Elara… well, she doesn't have many companions of her own age."

Oliver leaned back slightly, glancing toward Elara, who fidgeted with her sleeves but peeked up at him with bright curiosity. "She's healthy now, isn't she? Then maybe it'd do her good to go out once in a while. She could even visit us at the inn. It'd give her a chance to meet new people, make friends outside the palace walls."

Elara's crimson eyes widened, sparkling like twin gems as she turned to her father.

The Viscount groaned theatrically, pressing a hand to his forehead as though wounded. "Ah, those eyes… I can't win against them." He gave Oliver a knowing smile. "Very well. It's not a bad idea. I'll allow it."

"Really?!" Elara gasped, and in the next heartbeat she darted forward, throwing her arms around her father. "Thank you, Father!"

Oliver chuckled at the display, lifting a hand in farewell. "Then… until next time, Elara. Don't overdo it."

"Mm!" she nodded quickly, holding her father's arm like a child clutching a prize.

Gerard reappeared, announcing softly, "The carriage is ready."

With parting courtesies to the Viscount and his daughter, Oliver and Isolde stepped into the cool night air. The polished black carriage gleamed under the lantern light, waiting to return them to their more modest world.

Isolde smirked as they climbed inside. "So, our little sheltered princess wants to visit us at the inn. Think Serena will survive that?"

Oliver laughed under his breath as the carriage lurched forward. "Ha Ha! She will go insane."