Chapter 65 – [Hero] Audience and Waiting
Fortunately, I arrived at the palace in time.
Arin was still hesitant, but she did not delay her steps any longer, as if she had at least taken her heart firmly.
After arriving at the palace, we had to wait for a long time.
I almost fell asleep from waiting halfway through so many complicated procedures.
Even though we waited almost all day, the audience time allowed to us was about 10 minutes.
10 minutes.
I don’t really want to brag about being a hero, but isn’t this a little too much?
I thought of that while waiting, but complaining to passing officials was meaningless, so I just sat there with a stiff face.
After such a long wait, we were finally able to see the King face to face.
No, to be precise, I couldn’t face it.
You can’t hold your head upright in front of the king.
“Raise your heads, warriors and their companions.”
A deep voice was heard overhead.
“Raise your heads, the hero and his companions!”
An official from the side repeated the king’s words.
I can hear it all anyway, do I need to say it one more time?
I don’t get it, but that’s the rule anyway.
Only then could I see the king’s face.
At first glance, when he entered, he boasted a considerable appearance befitting his grave voice, but his face was tired.
I wanted to say a word with an honest feeling, but I couldn’t do that from the beginning, and seeing his face, my heart disappeared.
“You said you defeated one of the four heavenly kings? I have very high expectations from you.”
As Arin had told me, I looked at the official who had been reciting earlier, and he nodded.
It means you can post a thank you note.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Can this be it?
With his head lowered, he raised his eyes and looked at the officer. The official had a disapproving expression on his face, but he did not show any other gestures.
… Although there were some problems, it seemed to pass by a narrow margin.
“I want to commend you for your achievements, so if there is anything you want, tell me.”
What we want that’s the money
Isn’t our party suffering from financial difficulties enough to hire additional porters to collect by-products in the first place?
It was agreed to receive monetary compensation.
When I told him about it, the king, as if he had already expected it, returned a clear answer without much hesitation.
“I heard that there were many difficulties due to lodging during the trip. Don’t worry, I’ll take measures so you don’t go through such hardships anywhere on this continent in the future.”
… What do you mean?
Accommodation costs a lot, so you want to get rid of that worry?
She glanced around at her colleagues, but they also had similar expressions.
Umm, it’s not a situation where I can ask again, so I’ll have to stay still here.
“And we’re going to hold a party to appreciate your hard work in a week, so you can attend. More than that. Looking forward to many more performances in the future.”
Uh? What?
“Exit!”
The short audience ended before he could react.
Wait a minute, what the hell is this all about?
Further details were obtained from the official who took us out.
The king’s reward for us was a document bearing the royal family’s seal that would allow us to use all accommodations free of charge in the future.
Well, it’s true that the cost of lodging was considerable, so if it’s a good reward, it’s a good reward…
It was a bit disconcerting as it wasn’t what we expected.
And that wasn’t all.
A court event was held in a week to publicize the fact that we had defeated one of the four heavenly kings, and we had to attend then.
Of course, no one knew about it until just before, but there was nothing to say.
Who are you going to ask?
It was absurd news for us, who were planning to leave immediately after the audience.
Of course, I still haven’t decided where to go, but if that’s the case, how can I find a place to stay?
When we appealed this fact to the official, he said that since we were now official guests of the palace, we would provide guest rooms.
Surprisingly, it was a single room.
The only problem is that he couldn’t say anything to him because Mr. Jeren wasn’t here.
The official added that going out of the palace required complicated and demanding procedures due to safety and various administrative issues.
It says don’t go out recklessly.
Seria complained about what kind of safety she was without even a single anti-magic barrier, but this was not a choice but an established fact.
So we were confined to the capital’s most splendid palace for a week.
On the first day, I didn’t get used to the fancy room at all, but after two days and on the third day, I got used to it.
In the meantime, we stayed locked in our room.
I heard that Seria went out once, but after she left, she told Mr. Jeren about the situation.
He decided to wait for us outside.
In fact, in the meantime, it’s as good as unpaid, but he decided to wait for us nonetheless.
I felt sorry for his sincerity.
He was such a sincere and good man, but when I became a warrior, I was seized with ugly doubts and convinced him that he was a bad person.
During this meditation, I was able to realize how wrong I was thinking.
I sighed as I lay on my overly large, fancy, and soft bed.
If it’s this wide, I think all four of us could lie down together.
I was lying on the bed and nodding my head helplessly, when suddenly my wrist caught my eye.
A vine and three roses engraved on his left arm.
Two large roses, and one rose small enough to cover my thumb.
I gently covered the rose with my thumb.
Invisible
Why?
This is Seria’s rose, but only this strangely got smaller and smaller.
The difference was too obvious to be my illusion.
Did I use too much of her magic? It can’t be.
Since a staff is essential to use magic, I have hardly ever used her magic without a staff.
There must be some other principle we don’t know about, but I couldn’t figure it out.
After starting to get smaller and smaller, I became scared for some reason and couldn’t even dare to use Seria’s magic.
After staring at it for a while, I made up my mind and jumped up.
There’s no point in thinking about it on your own.
I have no choice but to ask Seria directly.
In particular, starting from that day two days ago, the rose became smaller in an instant.
Of course, I wondered if it was because she and I had a relationship with her, but if that’s the case, I couldn’t explain why she had gotten smaller before then.
Besides, the more you do it, the smaller it gets… If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean you can’t have a relationship with them in the future?
I still haven’t forgotten the feeling of pushing mine into Seria’s body.
That pleasure that can’t even be compared to doing things with one’s own hands.
However, she was unable to openly ask her to do it again, so she groaned inwardly.
In fact, I wanted to ask her about her pattern the day after I mixed her body, but I couldn’t even ask because I kept thinking about it.
Okay, let’s ask right now.
Having made up my mind, I came out of the room.
When I left the door, there were guards standing all over the hallway.
They looked at me for a moment, then fixed their eyes again, as if they were going to do their duty.
With such tight surveillance, it seemed that no one would come in.
So, where is Seria’s room?
Honestly, I don’t know because there are so many similar rooms.
“Um… Ah, over there! Wait a minute!”
I decided to grab hold of an attendant passing by and ask.
“Um… If you’re a wizard, oh, do you mean someone who eats a lot? I will guide you.”
“Oh, thank you.”
He was a kind person.
But what? Who eats a lot?
“Does she eat a lot?”
Seria doesn’t have much to eat.
“Yes, I think you ate normally on the first day, but from the second day, you always ask for two meals, so we are serving it that way.”
“For two people?”
… Why? I didn’t quite understand.
“Yes. Instead, you don’t eat often. Maybe once or twice a day.”
“Ah…”
When I heard that, there was a part that caught my senses.
Magic research. She is researching magic.
Even before, if there was an occasional part where she could sense something, she would lock herself in her dorm and study all day long. So, of course, there is no way to eat on time.
After a moment of strange imagination, I sighed in relief and followed the attendant.
Well, since I’m practically trapped here, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to spend time like that.
“Here.”
The attendant led me to the front of one of her rooms.
It was a door that looked exactly like the room I was in.
Wouldn’t the inside be the same?
“Thank you.”
“This is a matter of course. Call me whenever you need.”
The servant nodded and went to finish his work.
Seria is in this room.
The room was silent.
Like the room next door, which was probably empty, this room seemed empty.
Smart.
“Seria?”
There was no answer.
There was no sound.
Are you not there?
But if he had gone outside, the attendant would have known about it.
Could it be that she can’t hear because she’s concentrating on her magic research?
Thump.
“Seria!”
Knocked once more.
Doesn’t seem to hear
I can’t help it, come next time…
Suddenly the door opened without a sound.
“Haha… Eh, Eric? What’s the matter?”
Inside, Seria, with her bright red face, opened the door and came out with a staff in her hand.
I thought she was sitting quietly at her desk and wrestling with formula, but she didn’t quite seem that way, with her hair and clothes somewhat tousled.
“Well, I came here because I wanted to ask you something… If you’re busy, can you come next time?”
“Now, wait a minute… Oh, it’s okay. Come in.”
“Huh?”
“No it’s okay. Come in.”
I stepped into her room, puzzled by her slip of the tongue.
For some reason, I felt that some magic power was hovering around me.
It’s because you’re researching magic, right?
