Interlude 16
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The Chancellor sighs upon receiving a message from the Lemone Guild.
Although the sender is Balen, the Guildmaster of the Lemone Guild, the letter is actually from the Hero.
The contents are as follows:
『I, the heroic me, shall embark on an exploration of the new Newly Constructed Most Challenging Dungeon for the peace of the people living in the Arcana Kingdom. First, prepare a satisfactory amount of funds for my preparations, and I’ll send a list of S-rank parties that are absolutely necessary for conquering the dungeon. Make sure to arrange for them to accompany us as a matter of national interest.』
Chancellor Madison rubs his temples.
Of course, requesting S-rank top-tier clans on behalf of the nation requires an appropriate compensation. Even after paying the compensation, apart from the monetary transaction, it inevitably creates a 『debt』 to the other party.
Even if they are given the appropriate reward of gold and treasures for fulfilling the request, the fact that they followed the nation’s orders doesn’t disappear.
Someday, somewhere, when they need some kind of convenience, it’s an unwritten rule between S-rank clans and the nation that the national side will accommodate them, though it’s not a law.
However, the Hero’s party with a proven track record is saying they will conquer the 「Time Dungeon,」 which is considered the most vicious of the Newly Constructed Most Challenging Dungeons. If they can actually conquer this dungeon, it would be a bargain. The Chancellor mentally calculates, weighing the debt to S-rank clans against the conquest of the Newly Constructed Most Challenging Dungeon.
The feelings of trust, respect, and passion that the Chancellor once held for the young Hero had long since dissipated during the Hero’s party’s extended rest period.
The Chancellor’s stance towards the Hero is now purely one of self-interest — focused solely on how much he can utilize him in the future.
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The reason why the Chancellor has lowered his evaluation of the Hero’s party so much isn’t due to any single major blunder.
The problem lies in the reports about the Hero’s party that are sent to the Chancellor daily from his subordinates.
The contents are excessively vulgar and base.
The daily debauchery conducted by the Hero.
He hears that the Hero has already squandered much of the wealth he gained from conquering dungeons, not satisfied with just the support sent by the Princess.
However, there is a saying that 「heroes are fond of pleasures.」 If that’s the case, perhaps he should turn a blind eye to the Hero’s barbaric actions as they embody the very essence of a hero. The Chancellor forces himself to accept this reasoning.
The Chancellor’s concern — or rather, the emotional aspect that he simply cannot accept about the Hero — is something else entirely.
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Of course, the contents of the meeting between the Hero and Balen, the Guildmaster of the Lemone Guild, had also reached the Chancellor’s ears.
In that meeting, the Hero had reportedly hurled abuse at Balen, who had devotedly offered his counsel. This was the very definition of biting the hand that feeds you.
By this time, Chancellor Madison had noticed one fact based on everything that had transpired.
The Hero, who casually throws malicious words at others on a daily basis — the words he often uses to demean people are 「barbaric,」 「uncivilized,」 「primitive,」 「monkey,」 and so on.
What this means is that the Hero looks down on every single person existing in this world.
Commoners and nobles alike, not just kings and chancellors, but even priests and saints who serve the gods of this world are objects of his contempt.
And above all, what the Chancellor found most unforgivable was that he routinely used similar phrases against his own party members, to whom he had entrusted his back.
Anger accelerated his judgment.
The Chancellor had originally been running around trying to find ways for the people of this world to conquer dungeons by themselves.
He had run countless mental simulations about what would happen and how to deal with it if the Hero suddenly disappeared due to an accident or illness, regardless of whether it was possible or whether they would actually do it, to the point where he had all but given up on the Hero.
Don’t underestimate me, you brat.
It’s true that we asked for your help.
But that doesn’t mean we have to grin and bear whatever you do to us.
Chancellor Madison — he was a person who had supported the king’s rule for a long time by mercilessly eliminating anyone who became his political enemy or threatened this country.
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By combining the Contact Pearl with magical imaging devices, it was possible to have face-to-face conversations even over long distances.
And now, a meeting is to be held with the Hero’s party, who had boasted that they would definitely conquer the dungeon, only to fail miserably in their reckless attempt to conquer the Time Dungeon, putting all members in mortal danger and fleeing back without even landing a single blow after just one floor.
The attendees of the meeting are the Hero’s party, the masters of the two major clans 「Atlas」 and 「Cheri Fleur,」 Balen from the Lemone Guild, King Arcana and Chancellor Madison — and of all people, Princess Puffy.
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The Chancellor is left speechless.
No, it must have been the same for the two clan masters and Balen as well.
In the image projected before them are the Hero and beside him, the sword saint Eris Gladius.
As soon as the meeting begins, the Hero says,
「Hurry up, all these people are eagerly waiting for your actions. Even with that empty head of yours, you should at least be able to bow, right?」
「I… I…」
Eris the sword saint’s voice trembles as she displays an expression mixing confusion, sadness, and resignation in response to his words.
「Ah!! Geez!! Is what I ordered you to do really that time-consuming!? Unlike you who can only swing a stick, I’m in a rush here! Hey! Get it together already!!」
Ryūgūin barks out instructions to her, raising his voice in a torrent of words.
While the others present tilt their heads wondering what’s going on, the content of the order given to her — what it was — becomes immediately clear.
Eris collapses to the ground, pressing both hands, both knees, and even her forehead to the floor.
「The responsibility for the failure to conquer the dungeon, and for recklessly taking command and endangering all the joint members, lies entirely with me. Though I don’t think my insignificant mind is enough, please forgive me.」
She lets out a sob and apologizes in a trembling voice.
The master of Cheri Fleur lets out a scream.
「S-Stop this right now!!」
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Faced with such an intense apology, the two major guilds, thrown off balance from the start, decide not to press any further charges against the Hero’s party.
This result isn’t achieved solely by the eye-covering apology of the sword saint Eris.
It’s the result of Princess Puffy’s eloquence.
She is originally a rare genius who is devoted to academics and well-versed not only in politics but also in the construction of magical theories. Demonstrating these abilities to the fullest, she displays advocacy skills rivaling those of the clan masters and defends the Hero.
This might have been good for the country. However, the Hero’s foolish behavior and Princess Puffy’s blindness to romance — from Chancellor Madison’s perspective, this incident is an extremely significant demerit.
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When Eris Gladius was young, it wasn’t uncommon for her to visit the training ground of the royal castle with her father.
Chancellor Madison, too, would make time in his busy schedule to show up at the training ground, bringing gifts and spurring on the knights.
As a result, he naturally became acquainted with Eris, and he was very fond of her, being close in age to his own daughter. He would carry Eris on his back while she rubbed her eyes, much to the amusement of the knight corps members, or take her to the dining hall when she said she was hungry, and the two would eat sweets together.
— Maddy
That was the name she called him, being too young to properly say 「Chancellor Madison.」
Although her parent, the Knight Commander, would bow deeply in apology, strangely enough, he didn’t mind being called that by Eris.
The Chancellor was her supporter, her fan, and above all, like another parent to her, who had started to make a name for herself from around the age of ten.
He knew of her struggles.
He felt powerless, unable to help.
That’s why when he heard that she had been scouted by the Hero, successfully developed her abilities, and achieved unparalleled success, he rejoiced as if it were his own accomplishment.
But now…
— The responsibility for the failure to conquer the dungeon, and for recklessly taking command and endangering all the joint members, lies entirely with me.
He recalls Eris, her head pressed to the ground, speaking in a trembling voice.
— Though I don’t think my insignificant mind is enough, please forgive me.
Chancellor Madison locks himself in his room and sheds uncontrollable tears, asking 「Why…」
At this point, the Hero’s demerit reaches a point of no return.
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