Chapter 54
Chapter 54. Partner (2)
Lichfield Square was filled with crowds welcoming the heroes visiting for Red Moon.
Truly a sea of people with no room to step.
"Waaaaaah! They're coming! Britannia's heroes are coming!"
Starting with someone's shout, the square was covered in passionate cheers and fervor.
From the windows of buildings surrounding the square, flower petals and confetti fluttered down,
And merchants distributed free drinks and snacks at the top of their voices from temporarily set up stalls.
Thus, the Red Moon period was filled with festival-like revelry and heat.
It was certainly dangerous work, but the atmosphere had changed since Britannia's large-scale 'Great Subjugation.'
So just for today, even adventurers dressed to the nines and got drunk on the atmosphere.
Receiving flowers handed by young ladies, dancing to marching songs, waving their hands.
However, among those marching, there was a group that particularly drew attention.
"Look at that! It's the Six Heroes of the Great Subjugation!"
"Where, where!"
"Five of them came for this Red Moon!"
The six heroes who had achieved the most brilliant results during the Great Subjugation.
Shortened to the Six Heroes of the Great Subjugation.
Sorry to the other adventurers who were having fun, but most of this huge crowd was actually here to see them.
"Wow!!! It really is the 'Silent Sword Saint'!"
"He beheaded the Abyssal Whale with just that one sword!"
"Kyaa kyaa! Mr. Kaylus! Please accept my handkerchief!"
Silent Sword Saint, Kaylus.
A wandering swordsman from the eastern continent.
Contrary to his handsome appearance and flashy attire, he wielded renown with his merciless sword dance—an 8th Rank knight.
"Feel it? My popularity? The life of a celebrity is tiring, I tell you."
Kaylus blew hand kisses mainly at pretty ladies and looked around at his companions boastfully.
"Still a festival atmosphere."
"Every time I come here it's practically a different town, you know?"
But none of his companions paid him any attention.
"Won't you ladies stop playing by yourselves and give this old man some attention?"
Kaylus tried being a bit clingy.
"I don't understand why you're the Silent Sword Saint. Wouldn't Narcissist Sword Saint suit you better? I've never seen your trap shut."
The red-haired woman sharply cutting down Kaylus was 'Beast Empress' Ravina.
The continent's strongest 'Beast Tamer' and legendary mercenary, suspiciously popular among female fans thanks to her spirited personality and beauty.
"Mr. Kaylus's frivolous conduct always falls below my already low expectations."
With her pure aqua-colored bob and eyes harmonizing with her white vestments to evoke even sacredness—a beauty.
'Star Saint' Stella, specially dispatched from the Papacy, joined Ravina.
"Meeting after so long and you're too harsh……."
"Kaylus, you always seem to come out behind, don't you."
The old man heartily patting the dejected Kaylus's shoulder was 'Iron Mountain' Old Man Brok.
Calling him old, but he was 2.3 meters tall and clad in full armor, so Kaylus's body jolted every time his palm moved.
Kaylus protested against his comrades' sharp public opinion.
"I'm getting old too, you know? Shouldn't I get married?"
"Is that what someone who ran away three times on their own wedding day should say?"
"What can I do about the free spirit inside me that can't be bound? My life doesn't work without romance."
"Romance my foot, just return the congratulatory money I sent! I'm a total sucker for sending it all three times!"
Even Old Man Brok of Iron Mountain, who could block any attack, couldn't shield such atrocities.
"What, Kaylus. You did something that crazy? Wait, I didn't receive a wedding invitation?"
"Old Man Brok, you're fortunate you didn't receive one."
"Did you go too, Saint?"
"I went as the officiant and made wasted trips all three times. Mr. Kaylus is the most rotten adult I've seen."
"That's too harsh, Miss Stella. When you were little, you used to follow me around calling me uncle…… Remember?"
"Yes, it's a memory I want to excise from my life."
The conversation would greatly disappoint any citizen expecting resolute dialogue from 'heroes' before battle.
But regardless of what anyone said, these were the elite who achieved brilliant military accomplishments in the Great Subjugation years ago.
Veterans who had subjugated not only 'Disaster Class' but even multiple 'Destruction Class' monsters.
This relaxed banter was proof of veterans, wasn't it?
"Anyway…… is this the first time this lineup has gathered in 2 years? I miss it, I do."
"Can't say we've all gathered. Hanbin's not here."
"Why bring up that cold bastard? He hasn't shown his face even once since the Great Subjugation. Let's just remove him from the Six Heroes. Ack!"
Ravina smacked Kaylus on the back of the head.
"You get out. Hanbin's a hundred times better than you."
"It would've been nice if Mr. Hanbin were here instead of someone with no redeeming qualities like Mr. Kaylus."
"Ugh."
Kaylus, befitting an agile swordsman, noticed the arrows of criticism turning toward him again and quickly went into aggro management.
Conveniently, there was a good topic too.
"By the way, where did Ms. Isolde go? I don't see her?"
The 'Witch of the Western Border' who had monitored the western 'Spirit Demon Realm' for hundreds of years.
Isolde, one of the Six Heroes who had arrived together yesterday, was completely missing from the procession.
"Now that you mention it, I didn't see her at breakfast either."
"When I visited her room this morning, she kicked me out saying she had a bad hangover."
"Ms. Isolde with a hangover? That's a lie. She just skipped because it was bothersome, right? That person really……."
"Still, Ms. Isolde is a much better person than Mr. Kaylus."
Despite such efforts, Stella persistently went after Kaylus.
"At least she doesn't make the same mistake three times."
"I said I'm sorry……."
It seemed he'd thoroughly earned her grudge after ruining even the last wedding.
***
Jurgen examined the note he held in his hand once more.
[Hanbin Ainsworth, come to the plaza clock tower belfry by midnight]
A single line on white paper you could see anywhere.
A note sent by typewriter so the handwriting couldn't be identified.
He had no idea who sent it, and there were no clues to extract from this note.
If the content were ordinary, he'd dismiss it as an elaborate prank.
But the note's recipient knew that 'Jurgen = Hanbin.'
He didn't know the identity, but he could roughly guess the purpose.
First, he ruled out an attack.
They went through this troublesome effort to call him to the top of the clock tower.
Today was the eve festival celebrating before Red Moon.
Lichfield Square, where the clock tower was located, was full of people getting dead drunk even at a time approaching midnight.
If they wanted an attack, they'd rather aim for when he was off guard, not call him to the top of the clock tower where attention would immediately focus the moment combat started.
"……It's time."
Jurgen pressed down his collar fluttering in the wind and glanced at his watch.
He didn't honestly head to the clock tower.
Instead, he lurked on the rooftop of The Richfield Hotel, which overlooked the clock tower belfry.
He understood there was no intent to fight.
He also understood there was room for dialogue.
However, his identity had been unilaterally exposed.
There was nothing wrong with being sufficiently cautious.
If he judged them a dangerous person, he would snipe them from this spot then interrogate them.
"……."
30 seconds until midnight.
He calmed his heartbeat.
The moment he was closely watching above the clock tower, paying attention to anyone showing suspicious movements.
"Naughty child. This isn't the meeting place."
Suddenly, from behind him, a voice with a fairy-like mysterious tone was heard.
"Were you planning to put holes in me for playing a little trick?"
"Haa."
Jurgen sighed.
When he turned around, the woman he expected was standing there.
Dark green hair like wet grass blades and half-drowsily closed olive-colored eyes.
A large cloak worn over a thin linen shirt and a wide-brimmed pointed hat.
The outfit you'd think of when hearing 'witch.'
Unlike her youthful appearance, her drowsy eyes gave off the presence of facing an ancient dragon.
And faint welcome too.
"You're the same even after so long."
"Has it been that long? It's only been a few years?"
It had to be.
The other party was the Witch of the Western Border, Isolde Blackwood.
She was a 9th Rank alchemist older than Britannia itself and one of the few people Hanbin used honorifics with.
"A few years is usually a long time."
"Is that so?"
She was also Hanbin's teacher.
***
The two moved to Isolde's room.
There was no need to go far.
Right below the rooftop, the top floor was her room.
Isolde was the star of this Red Moon, and from The Richfield Hotel's perspective, a VIP who had to be served without disappointment.
The suite room with high ceilings and even a chandelier felt elegantly luxurious.
"Have you been well?"
Isolde leaned back as if burying herself in the sofa.
She didn't make a fuss or look around.
She was originally like that.
Even in the North's finest hotel, the finest suite room slathered with money.
Or in a shabby hut vibrating with the scent of dried herbs.
Isolde was always Isolde Blackwood.
From when they first met to this very moment.
"How did you know?"
"What?"
"That I'm Hanbin."
It was puzzling.
The Polymorph Potion wasn't perfect, but she had only arrived in Nortaris a day or two ago.
Without any particular connection, did she immediately find Jurgen, reveal his identity, and even leave a note?
Even Sherlock couldn't do this.
"This."
Isolde shook a cola bottle with her chin resting on the armrest.
"It's the 'cola' you sang songs about wanting to drink when we first met. From your hometown, so…… what was it called?"
"Earth."
"……Ah, right. Earth's beverage, right? Not bad. It had a novel taste."
"It's doing well these days."
He didn't go around talking about being from Earth or wanting to go home anymore.
But when he first fell into this world, it was different.
The 8th floor of the Spirit Demon Realm full of dangerous monsters.
Hanbin, who had crossed into another world at the worst possible starting point.
Isolde, who happened to be patrolling the Demon Realm, saved Hanbin.
She provided room and board for Hanbin who had nowhere to go, taught him language and writing.
She split her wisdom and laid the foundation for him to live in this world.
He had whined to Isolde for quite a long period about wanting to return home…….
It was plausible that she immediately sought out Hanbin upon seeing cola.
No one probably knew as much about Hanbin as Isolde did.
Hanbin also regarded her as his benefactor.
"Starting a hometown food business all of a sudden. Did homesickness hit you?"
"Britannia is my home now."
"I suppose so. You're a patriot."
"……."
"It's good to see your face."
"……."
"Ah, don't worry. I haven't told anyone you're Hanbin. I won't in the future either."
"Yes."
However, somehow bleakness hung over the conversation.
There was welcome too.
It was a reunion after several years.
But Jurgen was uncomfortable in this situation.
Of course, Isolde wouldn't care at all.
She was originally like that.
The benefactor who saved his life.
The teacher who bestowed kindness without compensation.
One of the 'Seven Heroes' whose back he could trust in the Demon Realm.
A witch who clumsily poured affection when dealing with Hanbin.
And.
"Is Vic doing well and healthy?"
Indifference that placed no value on anything except Hanbin, and terrifying thoughtlessness.
For Hanbin's sake, Isolde wouldn't hesitate at any other sacrifice.
Even if it wasn't the way Hanbin wanted.
"……That's not something you should bring up, Teacher."
A voice that had sunk coldly leaked out without time to realize it.
"Ah."
Isolde sighed lowly.
"Is that how it is in this situation? Sorry."
Isolde tilted her head with innocent eyes.
Even saying that with her mouth, her expression still said she didn't really understand.
She was originally like that.