Chapter 208
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「Phewww!! That should do it!!」
The once-in-an-age heroic hero Ryūgūin Ouji puts his pen down on the desk and raises both hands up for a long, satisfying stretch.
In what he now treats as his personal room at the Lemone Guild, Ryūgūin has been diligently working on his writing, and he’s finally reached a good stopping point.
With the quality of this script, the next stage production is guaranteed to be a massive hit.
「Alright, perfect!」
Ryūgūin gives his own creative work his seal of approval.
Now that work is done… time for food.
My stomach is crying out in hunger.
I need to fill it with something delicious and befitting of my status.
Maybe it’s time to call Hilbert…
I can hand over the finished manuscript while ordering food. Heh, what an unintentional two-birds-with-one-stone situation. As expected of myself.
Besides, that guy (Hilbert), properly trained under my guidance, won’t nitpick anymore and will just prepare and bring the food exactly to my taste. Though he was originally quite slow-witted, all the effort put into raising him has finally paid off.
After a moment of self-congratulation and satisfaction, Ryūgūin claps his hands twice. A man standing by the wall behind him asks, 「Did you call for me?」 He is a servant employed by Ryūgūin.
「Go fetch Hilbert.」
When Ryūgūin gives his concise order, the male servant exclaims 「Yes sir!!」 and hurriedly leaves the room.
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「Sir Hero! I’m so sorry to keep you waiting~!」
Within minutes, Hilbert arrives at Ryūgūin’s room, panting 「hah hah」 with large beads of sweat on his forehead.
「Your response time from being called to arriving here gets a passing grade. But more importantly, I’m hungry. Prepare something.」
「I thought Sir Hero might be getting hungry, so I’ve already started the preparations~! Please wait just a little longer~!」
Hilbert, who happily prepares meals just by being told someone’s hungry, dashes out of the room. In less than half an hour, various dishes are brought to the room. Ryūgūin simply says 「well done」 before digging into the array of food before him. Though it takes another hour for Ryūgūin to finish his meal, throughout that long time, Hilbert continues watching over Ryūgūin’s dining with a friendly smile on his face. The scene makes Ryūgūin think, 「Geez… just how much does this guy like me?」
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Having finished his work and evening meal, Ryūgūin suddenly notices the sun setting outside the window and feels fulfilled reflecting on his productive day.
「Oh, right. Hilbert!」
At that moment, Ryūgūin remembers.
「Yes, Sir Hero, what can I do for you?」
「You know what I mean, don’t you?」
「To be trusted so much by Sir Hero… I’m truly moved~!
Then, if I may be so bold to answer… when Sir Hero called my name, it must be about ‘Reconnaissance’ and ‘Healing,’ right?」
Ryūgūin shamelessly uses these as code words – ‘Reconnaissance’ refers to bar-hopping under the pretext of 「patrolling to protect the town’s security,」 while ‘Healing’ means enjoying the company of women under the pretext of 「healing body and mind wounded from past fierce battles to gain future vitality.」
「So you’ve finally reached this level. Do you know how much time and effort I spent training you to this point…? You should be grateful to me.」
「Yes sir! As expected of Sir Ryūgūin!」
「However, I’d give it a 60 out of 100. Here, Hilbert, take this.」
Ryūgūin casually places his finished manuscript in Hilbert’s quickly outstretched hands.
「What’s this…?」
「This is the true story of conquering the Sealed Dungeon. I’ve finally finished writing it. This will be the next stage production I’m producing.」
Seeing the title 「Hero Ryūgūin and the Sealed Dungeon,」 Hilbert feels momentarily dizzy.
「You’re staring at the manuscript so intently… you must be my devoted fan now. Don’t hold back, feel free to read it while I’m out doing ‘Reconnaissance.’」
After skimming through it for about a minute, Hilbert gives Ryūgūin his initial impression.
「You certainly wrote… quite a lot.」
This is the kind of vague feedback you give when trying to be diplomatic while avoiding specific comments.
「Hmph, of course I did. Well, make sure you read it thoroughly while I’m out on reconnaissance, and think about how we’ll develop this story going forward.」
「Understood~! Wow! To be the very first person to read such a masterpiece, I’m truly blessed~!」
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───You certainly wrote… quite a lot.
That was Hilbert’s first response.
He really does have a decent grasp of things.
There wasn’t much detailed information about the battles in the ‘Sealed Dungeon.’ He only roughly knew about defeating a dragon, slime, and Dragonnewt. But well, that should be enough. The rest can be filled in with imagination.
No, that’s not right.
This isn’t mere imagination.
This will become reality in the future.
However, among several problems, there’s one particularly big issue right in front of him that needs to be solved.
The problem is releasing 「that.」
It seems impossible no matter what.
Once it’s decided, can it not be changed?
No, that can’t be true…
His 「intuition」 tells him so.
Yes… above all, the 「intuition」 of his magnificent self is saying so.
There’s no way it could be wrong.
If that’s the case, he needs to make time somewhere to focus on skill research.
「Sir Hero~! Preparations are complete~! Time to depart~! Let’s go~!!」
…However, there’s no need to rush. That’s right. After all, I have so many people eagerly waiting for me right now. It would be a waste to spend time on skill research.
Besides, using this achievement as a stepping stone, he’ll marry Puffy in the near future. And then what? He’ll become the king of this country. Once he’s king, he’ll be able to act without concern for anyone, there won’t be any obstacles, and he’ll have time in abundance.
That’s exactly why right now, he wants to—without thinking about anything else—swim in an ocean of fine liquor and drown in the affection of women who love him.
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Hilbert is flipping through a stack of papers in his study.
He massages his brow, unsure of what to make of it.
「You haven’t contributed even a millimeter to conquering the Sealed Dungeon. Moreover, how dare you claim to speak the truth when you can’t even gather proper information about the Sealed Dungeon?」
Upon seeing the grandiose and brazenly shameless title, Hilbert nearly blurts out these words, but catches himself just in time and manages to swallow them back.
If just the title alone has such power, the impact of its entire contents would be beyond comprehension for ordinary people.
「What am I supposed to do with this pile of garbage—」
Hilbert mutters to himself.
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Hero Ryūgūin never directly asks, 「Did you read it?」
His pride prevents him from doing so.
Instead, he asks about things he normally wouldn’t care about, like 「Hilbert, what were you doing yesterday?」
Hilbert internally scoffs at such foolish pride.
「Come to think of it, Sir Hero, I read the stage script you gave me the other day.」
「Hilbert, how was it?」
「It was absolutely magnificent!」
「Don’t praise it too much. There’s still time before we head to the royal capital to polish it further.」
Ryūgūin runs his fingers through his hair at the unreserved praise.
However, there is something Hilbert absolutely needs to ask the Hero. He has already been informed by Gilbert about what is to come. Therefore, although this would normally be a matter to handle with utmost care, he decides to prioritize his own curiosity just this once.
「When this work spreads, everyone will praise your heroic figure and the bonds with your companions! That’s how wonderful this piece is!」
The Hero puffs up his chest with pride.
「However, there is just one thing that concerns me.」
With just that single statement from Hilbert, Ryūgūin’s demeanor shifts to something more threatening.
「What? Go ahead, say it.」
「I’ve heard that Saint Mika, the wise Angelica, and sword saint Eris were involved in conquering the Sealed Dungeon, but, um—」
「You’ve said this much, might as well finish it.」
「I know that you, Sir Ryūgūin, have been here in Lemone town the whole time, yet in this work—oof!!」
Ryūgūin’s thrown glass strikes Hilbert directly.
「It seems I overestimated you. I thought you were more capable as my friend, but what a terrible misjudgment that was!」
Hilbert regrets letting his guard down too much.
「Sir Hero!! I beg of you!!」
The Hero—who could fly into a rage at any moment—if one were to hold the reins of someone who would otherwise endlessly increase the number of victims, one should never let their guard down.
They must not allow any more victims like that.
Hilbert, partly to punish himself, prostrates himself and presses his forehead to the ground with enough force to draw blood.
「I sincerely apologize for my grave discourtesy.」
Here was a merchant known as a shrewd operator who had lived twice as long as himself, not just bowing his head but grinding his forehead against the ground.
Ryūgūin clears his throat and snorts, 「Hmph.」
「I understand how you feel. Everyone makes mistakes. That’s why I’ll forgive you. But there won’t be a second chance, okay?」
While he appears to be displaying magnanimity, the fact that he had such an extreme outburst in the first place negates any semblance of generosity.
「Well, I’ll tell you my thinking since it’s you.
Just like in that work, in reality, my three women were involved. Whether it’s the Sealed Dungeon or whatever, they will undoubtedly side with me. My words and theirs carry more weight than those of the common rabble. Do you understand? If I say I was there, then I was there. That’s the truth.」
He’s insane. Hilbert’s throat tightens.
He reconfirms the madness of the Hero standing before him.
「But of course, people like you will emerge. I’ve accounted for that too. That’s why I’m putting on the play. A play written by me, for me, throughout the Arcana Kingdom. I’ll do it many times. Over and over again. In as many towns as possible. Once or twice won’t accomplish anything. But try doing this hundred, two hundred times. The ignorant masses will come to recognize that my words—no, the play they witnessed with their own eyes—is the truth.」
This has become Ryūgūin’s one-man show.
He continues his grand explanation.
「For that, the sound must be loud and the staging must be flashy. No matter—I can already predict how these fools will react based on previous performances. After watching, they’ll happily spread our story, not knowing they’re contributing to establishing the truth.」
「As expected of Sir Hero, as expected of Sir Hero.」
These are the only words Hilbert manages to squeeze out.
He becomes even more convinced that Hero Ryūgūin is an existence that must be destroyed.
From here, the Hero will head to the royal capital.
The royal summons will bring many people together, and there exist numerous schemes. At last, these schemes are about to drag him down.
Hero Ryūgūin, who has long acted as he pleased, remains unaware that he is about to face the most severe trial he has ever experienced.
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