I was entranced.
The heroes and Ella present there forgot about the fight and gazed at the site of the shockwave.
“Is that… Lord Praus’s power…?”
Ella muttered absentmindedly.
Just moments ago, this place had been a forest, but it could no longer be described as such.
It seemed even the Magic Beasts had been completely blown away, as a brilliant moonlight shone down on the earth, with a violet aura swirling around.
‘How long has it been since I’ve seen such a beautiful night sky?’
She looked up at the sky with a hint of nostalgia and took a few steps forward as if entranced.
Where Ella stopped, Lord Praus was resting, brushing his wet bangs back.
Ariel sat beside him, looking at him with some discontent.
“Are we going to count all this as debt?”
“That’s why you have no friends, you calculate everything.”
“What?!”
“If we are friends, shouldn’t we be able to help each other a little?”
“…Ahem! Well, saying it that way doesn’t mean I won’t do it! Hmph!”
Lord Praus shook his head, listening to Ariel’s excited snorts. He thought silently that the Spirit King was quite easy to read.
“Lord Praus.”
Ella cautiously approached Praus. Upon seeing Ella, Praus raised his hand with the same expressionless face as usual.
It was a gesture of greeting in his own way.
“Ah, Ella. Did you take care of all those Monsters over there?”
“Yes.”
“Then keep an eye on this area for a bit; I’m feeling a little worn out. Other heroes will be coming soon.”
His demeanor was just the same as ever. Despite having just been in a fierce battle, he looked as if nothing had happened, making Ella feel overwhelmed with emotions.
“…How did you manage to defeat the Black Dragon?”
Ella asked, trying to calm the quiver in her voice.
Since he couldn’t say that he borrowed the power of an Artifact, Praus opened his mouth to come up with a suitable excuse.
“Well.”
“…Is it because you don’t want to tell me?”
“What’s the point of knowing? In the end, I defeated the Black Dragon. Isn’t that enough?”
“That is enough… but…”
Ella pressed her lips together.
Her gaze shifted towards the place where the Black Dragon had been.
The spot, where everything except the dirt had been obliterated, seemed to faintly tell of Praus’s strength with the magic essence that wisps up.
‘I couldn’t even retaliate against the Black Dragon’s breath, yet how could you kill it?’
She wanted to ask that.
Having someone she could rely on was certainly a good thing, yet she felt doubt about all she had done until now.
It was due to the stark disparity she felt when she saw how easily Praus had slain the Black Dragon.
As Ella subconsciously began to drown in feelings of inferiority, Lord Praus spoke up.
“Just because I killed the Black Dragon doesn’t mean you did nothing, Ella.”
“Huh?”
Ella raised her head at his words and replied dumbfounded.
“Just because you couldn’t kill the Black Dragon doesn’t diminish your value, nor does it make you any less of a member of the Todiah Family.”
“What do you mean…?”
“It means you’re doing just fine.”
How long had it been since she heard someone say she did well?
Born into the Todiah Family and becoming an S-Class Adventurer, living a life others would envy, she had never once heard such words for years.
Because she was an S-Class. Because she belonged to the Todiah Family.
She had only heard that she had to achieve things because of her status. There could be no sweeter words to her than ‘You did well.’
“Thank you… Lord Praus.”
“I was just stating the fact.”
“I feel like you understand everything about me when I talk to you.”
“Is that so?”
In truth, Praus had intentionally said it to uplift her self-esteem.
He knew that as Ella’s health declined, her self-esteem had plummeted due to the cold reactions from those around her.
Though it never showed in outward appearance, others hadn’t noticed, but Praus, remembering the game’s setting, could easily grasp the sentiment behind her reactions.
Ella took a confident step forward towards Lord Praus.
She looked up at him, her expression a mix of anxiety and excitement.
“I really like you, Lord Praus. Would you consider dating me with the idea of engagement?”
She earnestly declared, her eyes much more serious than when she brought up the engagement jokingly.
The gentle tremor in her voice was enough to feel Ella’s sincerity.
However, Praus had never thought of her as a romantic interest.
“Well, I’m not thinking about dating anyone at the moment.”
Still, he wasn’t heartless enough to be blatantly harsh to someone who sincerely reached out, so he could only respond ambiguously.
“Still… I won’t give up.”
“…Do as you wish.”
When Praus reluctantly answered, Ella smiled.
Ariel, who had been listening from the side, looked back and forth between Ella and me, then turned her head away.
Just before she turned, her face had a hint of ‘loneliness.’
Meanwhile, the heroes had also dealt with the surrounding Monsters and moved to the spot where the Black Dragon was.
While they were all mesmerized by the completely obliterated landscape, Tina was the first to speak up.
“Iris, Maria. Do you think there will come a day when we can beat our Teacher?”
Tina thought inwardly that in about two years, she could catch up to Praus and was planning to formally challenge him to a duel then.
Recalling how she barely managed to push him during their bout a year ago, she thought two years would definitely be enough.
However, seeing the sight before her, she sensed that Praus seemed even stronger than before, feeling that it was the first time she had experienced a sense of inferiority.
“He’ll definitely not make it. Our Teacher is someone who grows stronger without lifting a finger.”
Iris had only ever seen Lord Praus dedicating himself to them.
While they were training, he took care of mundane and troublesome tasks like rearranging furniture and making meals all alone.
Of course, she had seen him jogging lightly and doing strength training every morning.
But that was about it.
Having never seen him conduct powerful skill research or training, it made it impossible for her to comprehend the strength with which he had defeated the Black Dragon.
“Right. I had known from the start, but really, he’s indescribably amazing.”
Maria honestly voiced her impressions.
“So… I also feel a little sorry.”
After opening her heart to Praus, Maria wanted to stand beside him.
There was a wish to be relied upon whenever it was possible.
However, every time she tried to catch up with her skills, he’d move even further away.
Swordsmanship or magic.
She couldn’t find a single aspect in which she could surpass Praus, leaving her with nothing but regrets.
And today, feeling once again the skill gap, she fell into melancholic thoughts, realizing that she still wasn’t an asset to him.
Unbeknownst to the feelings of the heroes, Praus spoke as soon as he saw them.
“Did you all finish dealing with the Monsters around?”
*
What’s wrong with you guys? Why do you look so down?
Especially, it bothered me that Tina was keeping her mouth shut today.
When asked whether they had dealt with the Monsters in the area, they all answered, but their voices lacked energy.
“Did you get hurt?”
“No, just…”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but if there’s a problem, tell me right away. And rest a little before we move, don’t let your guard down too much.”
“Understood.”
After hearing Iris’s reply, I turned to Tina.
Compared to Iris, Tina looked like a mess.
She was covered in blood from head to toe. If she stayed like that, it would be troublesome when bathing or washing her clothes.
“Maria.”
“Yes.”
“Go wash Tina over there where it’s out of sight. It must feel uncomfortable to stay in that state.”
“Okay.”
“Iris, go with her. We don’t know if there might be Monsters around, so keep an eye out while Tina washes.”
“Understood.”
Once all the heroes were sent off and I could finally relax, a voice suddenly called out.
“What are you doing here?”
As I quickly placed my hand over my Revenge Sword, about to draw it, the moment I recognized the person in front of me, I relaxed my grip.
“…Inkuro?”
A brown-skinned, blonde man with a great sword resting on his shoulder was looking at me.
I belatedly remembered that the S-Class guarding the western front wasn’t just Ella.
“Ha… to think I’d see that ugly face outside the city walls.”
Inkuro’s face contorted. Wrinkles formed on his forehead, and his eyebrows met in a frown.
“Looks like you’ve been staring into a mirror.”
“I’m talking about you, you bastard!”
Inkuro pointed at me with his Zweihänder.
“Shut it.”
Does this guy forget that we’re in the Demon World?
Is he trying to advertise for monsters to come and eat him or something?
People who act recklessly alone are just a problem.
…Hmmm. Maybe that’s not my place to say, huh?
“Inkuro, stay out of this. It’s about Lord Praus.”
“Mind your business, noble. I have something to discuss with that guy.”
‘I don’t have anything to discuss with you.’
“I have nothing to say to someone who smells like sweat.”
Even though I had a rivalry with Inkuro, I felt a bit too harsh saying that. Just a smidge, but I felt a hint of guilt.
“I’ve been thinking for a while now… You really talk trash, don’t you?”
“Do you think you’re any better?”
Before I could say anything, Inkuro gritted his teeth.
“Ugh… Every single word is infuriating, damn it. Whatever, I don’t want to talk to someone like you anyway.”
He sheathed his sword, the Zweihänder going back over his shoulder.
“Hey, noble. Why is this guy here?”
“I don’t want to tell you, trash.”
“Wow… Your wit is something else. A perfect match of a couple.”
Inkuro shook his head violently while mocking us, and Ella’s face reddened as she shyly murmured.
“Uh, really?”
“What’s this?”
Inkuro, seemingly incredulous, went back and forth between me and Ella. It was quite the sight, as he wore a mocking grin.
“…Huh, don’t tell me you’ve been saying you like strong people. Is this the parasite you were talking about?”
“You shouldn’t underestimate him. You’ve already been beaten by Lord Praus.”
“Shut it. I only lost one round.”
“But you lost that round, didn’t you?”
“If Rexton’s stupid minions hadn’t interrupted…!”
He gritted his teeth recalling that moment. At that, Ella covered her mouth and chuckled.
“How pitiful, Inkuro.”
“This damn… But who’s the elf lady sitting next to you?”
Inkuro asked, noticing Ariel leaning against a tree. As if he wouldn’t be a pervert. Sigh.
“She’s Ariel… an Elf Magician. She helped Lord Praus in defeating the Black Dragon.”
Ella already knew from the Secret Garden that Ariel was the Spirit King. However, it seemed she told a little lie not to complicate things.
“What? Defeated the Black Dragon? Come to think of it, this is the Cartrod Mine area.”
Only then did Inkuro glance at the space where everything had disappeared, leaving only a vast plain.
“What the hell… Is that true?”
He looked at me doubtfully. There was a mix of disbelief and a hint of admiration in the gaze directed toward me.
“Then is it a lie? Lord Praus came all the way here to deal with the Black Dragon.”
“I didn’t imagine it would get to this level…?”
His gaze toward me was filled with discomfort, but there was a slight glimmer of admiration.
He took a step back, seemingly shaken.
Unintentionally, I had dealt him a second defeat without laying a finger on him, as he had already tasted profound loss.
Just as the awkward silence began to settle, Ariel sprang up and turned her head toward the forest.
“Prau, there’s a powerful Magic Beast coming this way.”
“What?”
A Magic Beast has made it this far?
I turned my body toward where Ariel was looking.
Rustle. Rustle.
I could hear sounds coming from the forest.
Something was approaching us. It was difficult to make out objects in the shade of the trees where moonlight couldn’t penetrate.
If only Maria were here, I would ask her to use light magic.
As the silhouette gradually came into clearer view, I instantly recognized who it was.
What are you doing here…?
“Stella Forna…”
She was the daughter of the Count of the Aioum Kingdom, whom I had not saved.
“What… are you ashamed of?”
With her tousled golden hair waving under the moonlight, Stella revealed herself and posed a baffling question. It was Inkuro who answered that.
“What are you talking about?”
In that instant, Stella sprinted towards Inkuro at high speed, her hand reaching for his face.
However, her hand never touched Inkuro. Instead, he had seized her wrist.
“I couldn’t see well because it was dark… but now I can see a bit.”
“You are what—”
“Hehe, oh… there you are.”
A wicked smirk formed at Inkuro’s lips.
“You… are alive?”
Desire began to glint in his eyes.