Chapter 3
From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, humanity’s learning ability is ridiculously inefficient.
Even after making great sacrifices and realizing that something shouldn’t be done, humans tend to forget quickly as time passes.
Knowing this all too well, they record history to repeatedly remind themselves of past lessons – yet there will always be fools who make the same mistakes.
A perfect example would be these knights from the Barfulus Kingdom who’ve come at dawn to threaten me and Lucy.
“I say again! The wandering hero Adam Idinga and his master must immediately appear before His Majesty at the palace!”
Hmph. Last time I was summoned, it wasn’t clear since my master was part of the Empire, but this Barfulus King seems particularly dimwitted.
“A-Adam…”
“It’s fine.”
I moved Lucy behind me as she trembled in fear, then responded to the Fourth Knight Division Commander.
“We decline. While I don’t intend to fight, I’d appreciate it if you left right away.”
“That cannot be! Though I’m reluctant, if you refuse, I’ll have no choice but to bring you by force!”
Despite saying he didn’t want to, the commander and knights drew their swords with obvious reluctance on their faces.
They know what it means. But as knights, they feel they have no choice but to follow orders…
Even if it costs them their lives.
“I understand your resolve, but I’ll give you one last chance. Step back.”
No answer came, nor did they sheathe their swords.
There’s nothing else to do.
Today marks the end of the Barfulus royal family.
“Wait just a moment!!!”
A carriage screeched to a halt in front of the inn with incredible speed, spewing dust everywhere as a middle-aged man shot out like an arrow.
Seeing his face, the knights looked visibly startled as the man pushed past them and approached me.
Then he dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.
“Begging your pardon, Lord Idinga! Please forgive our rudeness just this once! I’ve received permission from His Majesty to rescind the order! We won’t bother you or your master ever again!”
At the mysterious man’s words, the knights immediately sheathed their swords and stepped back in unison.
There’s much I’d like to say, but first things first.
“Who are you?”
“I am Duke Buelwerke of the Barfulus Kingdom. And this small gesture is a token of apology.”
Still keeping his head bowed, Duke Buelwerke casually snapped his fingers. One of his servants standing behind him carefully handed me a large, heavy package.
Glancing inside, I saw it was filled with gold coins, confirming the duke knew proper etiquette.
“I accept your apology. Please rise.”
“Thank you!”
“Would you care to join us for tea?”
“Most appreciative!”
While I’d prefer not to make enemies when possible – especially considering Lucy’s situation – it’s for the best.
If we were forced into exile, it’d be tough on Lucy.
As Lucy and I entered the inn with Duke Buelwerke, everyone watching quietly from the shadows disappeared.
The knights were sent away by the duke, likely to avoid provoking me further, leaving us alone in the empty teahouse.
“This is my master, Lucy.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Lucy. I am Duke Buelwerke.”
“A-ah, hello…”
After exchanging greetings and sipping tea silently for a few minutes to calm his nerves, the duke sighed deeply and began speaking.
“Throughout history, many rulers and emperors have met their ends chasing after others’ characters. When His Majesty told me he’d sent knights after you, I thought today would mark the end of the Barfulus royal line.”
“If the duke had arrived any later, that’s exactly what would’ve happened.”
There are countless historical examples where annoying summoned characters led to entire dynasties being wiped out or drastically changed.
Even if the duke hadn’t shown up, I would’ve killed all the knights present, walked into the palace carrying Lucy, beheaded the king, then walked right back out.
Though it sounds absurd coming from me, that’s the reality of SSR characters.
While I can understand why someone might covet such immense power, there are proper ways to approach it.
“Heh, it might sound like I’m defending him, but our king isn’t entirely bad. He may be somewhat lacking in intelligence and prone to foolish words and actions, but he truly has a kind heart.”
“Is that so?”
I wasn’t particularly interested. My willingness to drink tea and listen was purely out of politeness.
As long as neither Lucy nor I were harmed, I didn’t care either way. While waiting for an appropriate moment to conclude our meeting…
Duke Buelwerke cautiously asked, “If it’s not too bold of me to ask, what are your future plans?”
“My master wishes to live quietly, so I have no immediate plans to do anything special.”
Emphasizing that any decisions regarding my power rest solely with my master Lucy, I watched the duke nod understandingly before continuing.
“I see. Well, allow me to make a modest proposal, shall I? Rest assured, there’s no pressure whatsoever.”
So that’s what he wanted to say from the start. Even while risking his life to stop me, he had a backup plan in case things went well.
What a slippery character.
“Go on.”
“Nothing grand. If your goal is to live quietly, how about residing outside the capital? On my honor as a duke, I’ll ensure no one in the kingdom bothers you. Should you need housing, I’ll cover the costs for property gacha rolls. In return…”
“In return?”
Pausing slightly to gauge my reaction, the duke carefully concluded, “I’d like you to serve as the kingdom’s knight academy instructor… naturally, with a very generous salary!”
Ah, teaching swordsmanship, huh?
It shows some clever thinking. This arrangement would subtly make me affiliated with the kingdom’s knights, improve their skills, and increase the likelihood of utilizing my strength in emergencies.
In return, they’d ensure no one bothered Lucy and me, provide housing, and offer regular income.
Honestly, it wasn’t a bad deal.
“If you know about me, then regarding the Holy Kingdom…”
“I don’t care! We weren’t exactly on good terms anyway!”
That settles it then. No need for me to worry about that.
“May I discuss this with my master briefly before deciding?”
“Of course! Take all the time you need!”
With the overly enthusiastic duke waiting downstairs, I returned to our room and asked Lucy.
“What do you think about the duke’s offer?”
“I… if Adam thinks it’s good…”
“No, that won’t do.”
It’s easy for me to handle everything myself, and it would save me trouble. But doing so wouldn’t help build Lucy’s fading confidence or self-esteem.
“I’ve said this many times – you’re my master. While I’m not asking you to change overnight, I need at least some input from you.”
Cultivating independence is important. Should anything happen to me, Lucy would need to survive on her own.
She needs to develop basic independence as a precaution.
“Hmm… I think it’s fine…”
“Why?”
“They’re offering a house… we’ll need money to live anyway… and teaching seems safer than fighting monsters… so Adam wouldn’t be in as much danger…”
This showed Lucy had been seriously thinking things through rather than simply spacing out.
“Excellent.”
“Eh? Ahaha…”
Praising her made Lucy blush but smile happily as we returned downstairs to inform the waiting duke of our decision.
“We accept your offer.”
Meanwhile, across the Heroides Empire, a troubling rumor was spreading.
The legendary hero Iris Erlig had gone mad.
According to rumors from the Erlig household, her lifelong companion and lover – the wandering hero Adam Idingger – had disappeared during last year’s dragon war, causing her mental breakdown.
Whether they were actually lovers would require confirmation from Adam himself, but the story of the hero going mad after winning the war against dragons seemed plausible enough to be believed by the public.
Though technically, Iris wasn’t insane…
She was just doing insane things.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaagh! Why won’t he come out! Why! Why! Aaaaaadam!”
The heart-wrenching screams sent shivers down the spines of every maid and servant in the Erlig household.
This had been their daily routine for the past year since Adam’s disappearance.
Recently, the situation had become so severe that staff members were quitting in droves, unable to endure the stress.
“Dear, isn’t there anything we can do?”
“Ah…”
Hearing their daughter’s cries, Lady Erlig fought back tears as her husband frowned deeply.
To them, Adam had been like family.
Summoned as a joke when Iris was young, he had devoted himself to the Erlig household and his mistress Iris for years.
His disappearance had devastated the Erlig couple as much as it had Iris.
“But even so, some things are impossible. New gacha characters are constantly being created.”
When people die, they become gacha characters. As long as humanity continues to exist, the number of gacha characters will keep growing indefinitely.
Targeting specific individuals, especially SSR characters, is essentially impossible.
“The only hope was the annual Pickup Festival, but that just ended yesterday.”
The Pickup Festival temporarily increases the summoning probability of certain characters.
This time, the condition was SR rank or higher swordsmen, giving the Erligs a sliver of hope – which ultimately proved fruitless.
“…Dear, isn’t something strange?”
“What is it?”
“Adam. Normally it could be considered impossible, but he wasn’t summoned even during the pickup period. And there haven’t been any reports of him being summoned elsewhere in the empire.”
“That’s… wait a moment.”
At that instant, both Erligs reached the same unsettling hypothesis.
“Could it be…”
“Has he already been re-summoned?”
