Chapter 62 : Hillan Cargill and Hilderan
Chapter 62: Hillan Cargill and Hilderan
“The king requested the hero’s presence.”
So it finally came.
Late at night, the king’s envoy came to find Hillan Cargill, who had been staying in the annex palace of the royal castle.
Hillan changed his clothes. He put on a neat suit and tied his necktie. The maids reached out to assist him, but he refused.
“I will do it myself.”
He checked his appearance in the mirror.
‘A little later than I expected.’
Around lunchtime today, he entered the capital and held the triumphal parade. After arriving at the royal palace, he was assigned to the annex palace, and countless nobles came to see him.
But the king, who should have met Hillan first, remained silent.
Hillan judged that the king wished for a quiet, private conversation. And now, a messenger had arrived.
He followed the knight into the royal castle. The king’s office. There was no one standing guard at the door.
“You may enter.”
“Yes.”
The door opened. No lights were lit. Moonlight from the full moon outside the window seeped in.
“Come in.”
Chorrr—
Transparent white wine filled an empty glass. A faint, sweet aroma spread.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
“Have a drink.”
The king offered a glass. Clink— the glasses touched.
“Antrois Fornin.”
“It’s from the year 1311. Yes, you always did have refined taste in alcohol.”
The king chuckled, clicking his tongue softly. Leaning back, he gazed up at the full moon outside the window.
“I never thought you would return to Hilderan this willingly. And with a surprise gift named Ellena, no less.”
“I hope it pleased you.”
“It pleased me. Even if it didn’t, I would have to say that it did. After all, you’re the great hero who rescued the kidnapped princess.”
There was a sharp edge to his tone.
“I apologize for the previous matter. As you know, I cherished Ernan too dearly and made a mistake.”
“I already forgot about it.”
“Good.”
Clink—
Another round of drinks went back and forth.
“I have only one question.”
“Yes.”
“Did you truly fail to find the tower?”
The king turned his head. His gaze was calm. But the fury simmering beneath it boiled like an active volcano.
“I did not find it.”
“I’ll ask again.”
“I did not find it.”
“Again.”
“I did not find it.”
The glass in the king’s hand shattered. Transparent white wine dripped down his hand.
Documents on the desk grew wet. Shards scattered onto the carpet.
“Again.”
The king growled.
Hillan shook his head.
“No matter how many times you ask, I cannot tell you that I found what I did not.”
Kuhahahahahaha—
The king laughed. At the surge of mana, the office trembled.
Hillan did not blink and simply watched.
“I know.”
The laughter stopped abruptly.
“Daphne went to see you, I heard?”
“Yes.”
“What did he ask, and how did you answer?”
“He asked about the hero’s march, so I told him exactly what I experienced in the Ergest Mountains.”
“Daphne also said she couldn’t find it. Which must mean that, for now, no one can.”
The king wiped the wine from his hand and took out a new glass.
“But I do not believe that you will remain unable to find it in the future.”
“Is that so?”
“What task could the great hero—who slew the Lust Demon King and even beheaded the Beast Demon King—possibly fail to accomplish?”
“Thank you for the high praise.”
“So.”
Someday.
“Someday, you must certainly rescue Ernan.”
“I will do my utmost.”
“Good, that is enough. No one in Hilderan will oppose you.”
The king clapped his hands. The knight who had escorted Hillan cracked the door open.
“Call the maids to clean this place.”
“Yes.”
The knight disappeared.
“I’ve shown an embarrassing sight. Think of it as the heart of a father worrying for his daughter.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Oh, and I heard that after you killed the Lust Demon King, your sponsorship was abruptly cut off…”
“Fortunately, I gained a new sponsor.”
“Then I suppose I must add my fork to that plate as well.”
“Can I refuse?”
“No.”
“Then I gladly accept.”
“You may go. I wish to drink alone for a while.”
A dismissal order.
“He has changed.”
Had he said Hillan even cut down the Beast Demon King?
No wonder the atmosphere around him was different. And the future seemed even more promising.
“Since the Demon Kings descended, it isn’t as though no hero has ever slain more than two Demon Kings.”
And every one of them left their name in history.
“There used to be a custom in ancient times—marrying the hero who rescued a kidnapped royal with the very royal they saved…”
A custom was abolished once heroes multiplied and such measures became unnecessary.
But now… that wasn’t such a bad thought.
The wine tasted sweet.
* * *
“His Excellency, Viscount Brolter, is entering!”
“His Excellency, Baron Pensilben, and the baroness are entering!”
The nobles made their entrances.
The lights on the ceiling brightened the hall.
The orchestra skillfully played soothing music.
Laughter and mingled chatter blended naturally.
Sweet drinks and dishes delighted the nose and tongue.
Amidst it all—
“Entering now: the great hero who subdued the Lust Demon King and the Beast Demon King, Hero Hillan Cargill, and the vice-captain of the Red Hawk Assault Unit, the elf Granada!”
The protagonists arrived.
The once-noisy banquet hall fell silent. Every gaze turned toward a single spot.
Toward the hero in a crisp suit and tie, and the elf beside him.
Hillan Cargill casually swept back his brown hair. Soft gasps and murmurs of “oh my” slipped through the crowd.
“What are you doing?”
“There’s more to a banquet than just the nobles.”
“Showing off, are we?”
“You’d fare quite well among the noble ladies, too. After all, no one dislikes a handsome elf.”
“I’ll pass on that nonsense.”
“And from this moment on, please mind your speech. Officially, the captain of the assault unit is me.”
Hillan received the cocktail handed to him by the attendant. The moment he ate the cherry resting on the rim of the glass, the silence vanished. The nobles’ attention began to gather on him.
“Hillan.”
“I am Baron Merton. Do you remember me?”
“Hero Hillan, would you speak with us for a moment…”
As the crowd surged toward him, Granada recoiled in dismay and slipped away. Fortunately, most of the attention was directed at Hillan, not him.
Hillan took his cocktail and searched for a quiet corner.
“Why are you drinking alone over here?”
A woman sat beside him.
“You’re the famous Granada, aren’t you? I am Joy Bruain, of Viscount Bruain’s house.”
“Granada.”
“I know. Shall we toast?”
“Yes.”
“With me.”
A hand suddenly thrust forward. A blonde woman smiled brightly.
“And you are?”
“I am Gaina Deia, of Count Deia’s house. My father is the famous Count Deia.”
“And?”
“Well, I just wanted to chat.”
“With me?”
“Who else is here if not you?”
Only then did Granada lift his head and realise it.
The banquet hall was no longer in sight. All around him were young ladies and noblewomen of high houses.
‘Escaping now is…’
Impossible.
Granada let out a small sigh.
* * *
“Hillan Cargill.”
Even among nobles, there were levels—by title.
And even among titles, there were higher levels—by background and power.
Duke Heinz stood at the very top of that hierarchy.
Born of Hilderan’s most exalted bloodline, he earned the ducal title through outstanding merit. Countless nobles gathered beneath his shadow and desired to remain there.
As Duke Heinz approached, the crowd surrounding Hillan split apart.
He exuded innate nobility.
Born to rule, he looked down upon everything from above.
“It has been a while.”
“I greet Your Grace.”
“On behalf of the royal family, I thank you for rescuing Ellena.”
“I merely did what needed to be done.”
“What needed to be done… yes, indeed.”
He laughed.
“Do you all understand how glorious this moment is?”
Duke Heinz raised his voice. All attention turned toward him.
“Hillan Cargill was born in Hilderan and has long served as Hilderan’s hero. There is no one in Hilderan who does not know his name, and many have ties with him.”
“You flatter me.”
“This is not flattery—not even the beginning of it. Some among you treat Hillan Cargill lightly. Because he is familiar, because at a glance he may not appear extraordinary. But listen well: Hillan is one of the stars.”
The duke lifted Hillan’s arm. Nobles applauded.
“Though he failed, he devoted himself to rescuing the kingdom’s Crown Princess, and he brought back the 13th Princess. What greater loyalty could there be!”
“Indeed!”
“Hero Hillan Cargill, long live!”
“What are you doing?”
The Duke ignored Hillan’s whisper.
“Is that all?”
“To think he beheaded the Lust Demon King and even forced the Beast Demon King to kneel before his sword and magic—how could one not call that extraordinary!”
“Every hero who defeated two Demon Kings has had their name recorded in history!”
The cheers grew even louder.
“To think that I have been friends with Hillan Cargill for so long—how proud that makes me. I am truly glad that I was able to support him, and even more glad to see him shine like this.”
“You are being mischievous.”
A fine crack appeared in Hillan’s expression. His faint anger was drowned out by the crowd’s roaring voices.
“I heard you met His Majesty?”
Duke Heinz—who alone heard Hillan’s mutter—smiled brightly.
“Yes.”
“His Majesty is too much. My relationship with you is deeper, and yet he went ahead. I have no intention of letting you go.”
“You are quite a tenacious lifeline.”
“It may be a lifeline when not yet grasped, but once held, it is no different from shackles. I am a man of many desires.”
“Well. After experiencing someone even more greedy—and far more binding—your shackles feel strangely loose.”
“You say amusing things.”
He gave a faint smile.
At that moment, a knight rushed in. He leaned in close and whispered softly.
“…What? The Go—…”
The duke glanced briefly at Hillan and swallowed his words.
“My apologies, but it seems we must end our meeting here.”
“A shame. I thought we might have had an enjoyable conversation, Your Grace.”
“Indeed. I shall arrange another time myself.”
“Please go safely.”
Hillan bowed his head. The duke strode away quickly. Knights followed after him.
“What happened?”
“What is it?”
The nobles were startled by his sudden departure, but soon forgot.
For before them stood Hillan Cargill, a great hero with a bright future.
“Hero, it’s been so long!”
“Lady Isir, it is an honor to see you again.”
“Hmph! Hillan Cargill, you have not forgotten me, have you?”
“Of course not, Marquis Mohir. I remain ever grateful to Your Excellency.”
Hillan was once again swallowed by the crowd.
The banquet atmosphere ripened further.
* * *
A maid in charge of the Hyacinth Palace carefully knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, may I come in?”
There was no answer. But Ellena spent more time asleep than awake.
She opened the door. A cold breeze brushed across her face.
‘Was the window left open?’
Her Highness must not be exposed to cold air.
She quickly moved to close the window—but froze.
Ellena lay on the bed. And a single shadow stood looking down at her.
“Wh-who…?”
“I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings who serves the Demon King, the Spirit Sorceress of Darkness.”
The clumsily altered voice sounded grotesque.
“By the command of the great Demon King, I will now kidnap the 13th Princess of Hilderan.”
The kidnapper’s eyes gleamed in the darkness.
The maid swallowed hard.
“A-a demon!”
All she could manage was to squeeze out that scream.
Fortunately, her voice reached the knights.
She heard the urgent sound of footsteps rushing toward them.
“Kyaaaah!”
“A demon!”
“Stop it!”
And then, with screams, they vanished again. A wave of scorching heat swept through.
“Oh my.”
The Spirit Sorceress of Darkness covered her mouth.
“All the knights who were supposed to help have disappeared?”
She carefully lifted the sleeping 13th Princess into her arms.
“Y-you can’t take Her Highness…”
“Such remarkable loyalty. I’m actually quite impressed.”
Something flew toward the maid. Tap. A small impact—and her vision blurred.
“By the time you wake up from a short nap, everything will be over.”
She collapsed.
Ernan headed out the window.
“Sis.”
Ellena, who had been pretending to sleep, carefully opened her eyes.
“Yeah.”
“Isn’t that a play from more than ten years ago?”
“…N-no, it’s not.”
“It is. I have a good memory.”
Ernan’s face turned red.
“If you’re the Spirit Sorceress of Darkness, then there must be others, right?”
“…The Commander of the Legion of Death and the Giant of Hell aren’t here.”
“Then what about the Dark Knight?”
“…There’s a candidate.”
Probably.
She whispered softly.
“…If you’re crazy, you’re not just crazy.”
Following behind, Berje let out a dumbfounded laugh.
Behind them, fiery light surged as the Hyacinth Palace burned.
A magical alarm announcing an enemy invasion rang throughout the royal palace.