Epilogue
Is there anything a Great Sage can’t do?
We were able to reach the kingdom in an instant using transfer magic, something I’d only heard about in fairy tales.
Sophia’s mouth hung open in amazement. Being a magician herself, she probably understood just how incredible it was. She was once called a genius too, though there’s no trace of that now.
“It’s not that convenient since I need to use the magic circle in my mansion as a starting point,”
Solon said with a somewhat smug expression.
What is this Great Sage saying?
“That’s right. This is nothing special. One day, I’ll be able to travel between this world and the next through God’s miracle,”
Saint Maria said competitively.
…What on earth is she aiming for?
We headed from Solon’s mansion to the castle, where many knights were lined up neatly in front of the gate. As soon as they saw us, they drew their swords and held them up.
Were they showing us respect?
“Welcome, Sir Leonard. The Queen is waiting for you,”
one knight stepped forward and announced respectfully. He must be the captain of the knights.
It seems they had been waiting specifically to welcome us.
“Why for people like us? Is it just because you were ordered to from above?”
I accidentally let slip a sarcastic remark.
“No, this is something we decided to do on our own. Your great deeds have spread by word of mouth. As adventurers who challenged Belzera to save the people. We believe that you too are heroes.”
I was about to say that wasn’t true when my eyes caught the dagger at the knight’s waist.
Though sheathed, I could tell it was an exquisite antique. It probably had magical blessings too.
The knight noticed my gaze.
“Are you interested in this dagger? It’s a family heirloom,”
he said, drawing the dagger and handing it to me.
As I thought, it was imbued with magical power, the blade glowing pale blue.
For some reason, I felt a sense of nostalgia.
“It’s a good sword. Would you sell it to me? I can pay well.”
“Unfortunately, this is priceless. However, if my family ever faces bankruptcy, I’ll consider selling it to you at a high price, Sir Leonard.”
The knight responded good-naturedly to my quip. He’s a good guy for a knight.
I returned the dagger to him.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Carmine, sir.”
…I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere, but it’s a common enough name.
We were led to a room in the castle. It was a beautiful room with white as its base color, lined with high-quality furnishings that made me feel uneasy.
After waiting for a while, Zack arrived. Leon and the others weren’t with him.
“I’ll guide you,” he said.
“What about the Sword Saint and the Saint?”
“Leon and the others were taken away by their subordinates as soon as they returned to the castle. They’ve been absent for a long time, so work must have piled up. Solon was held back by his disciples at the mansion too.”
Zack was smiling.
We slowly walked down a long, white corridor. Strangely, there were hardly any people around.
The back of the hero walking ahead reminded me of that person. I thought they didn’t look much alike, but there was indeed some resemblance.
“Zack,”
I called out without thinking. Zack stopped and turned around. His face wore a gentle smile. Ah, they really are parent and child. They look alike.
“I’ve had something I needed to tell you for a long time. I should have said it much earlier. I should have sought you out to tell you. …But when I first met you and you said you were Ares, I felt relieved. I thought, ‘I’m glad it’s not Zack.'”
Zack silently waited for me to continue. I wonder what expressions Sophia and the others behind me were making?
“…You see, I ran away twenty years ago. I abandoned your father and mother, who were my comrades, and ran. I got scared before the battle even started and ran away.”
I clenched my fist so hard it almost bled.
“I’m really just a hopeless coward. I’m not the kind of person who deserves praise from others. What I’ve done is just an imitation of your father, Luke. No, I think he would have done it much better, but still, I’ve just been doing what I thought ‘Luke would do this’ to the best of my ability. I didn’t particularly want to help people. I just did it trying to be a substitute for Luke. So I can’t accept praise. I’m a fake.”
Just before meeting the Queen, I finally poured out my true feelings.
Now, of all times. Talk about the worst timing. But I couldn’t help saying it.
Zack… was still quietly smiling.
“Leonard. You’re here now. That’s good enough. No one can tell what’s fake or real. Probably not even God.”
A hint of melancholy appeared in Zack’s eyes.
“Even I have things I’ve abandoned. There’s no such thing as a person without sin.”
Ah, that’s right. This guy was a hero. He must have shouldered and abandoned far more than someone like me. He must have many regrets too. Those must still be tormenting Zack even now. I’m not the only one still trapped by the past.
Somehow, I felt like a knot inside me was starting to unravel.
“Shall we go? The Queen must be waiting,”
Zack gently urged, as if nothing had happened.
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The room we were led to was an imposing place.
It wasn’t the same place the King used for audiences, but it was still quite large.
At the far end stood a woman who seemed to be the Queen. Beautiful flowing golden hair and azure eyes. Dressed in white clothing without much ornate decoration, which rather accentuated her beauty, or rather, her divine aura. Is this what they call the aura of royalty?
Next to her was a slightly younger woman with a similar face. Probably the princess.
Strangely, there was no one else. No attendants were present.
We were urged to approach the Queen.
I should probably kneel at some point, but I didn’t know such etiquette.
Sophia, the former noble behind me, might know, but I couldn’t turn back to check.
When we were about ten steps away, as I started to panic, the Queen opened her mouth.
“Well, am I beautiful?”
The Queen was smiling.
What’s that about?
Indeed, the Queen is beautiful. She looks so young it’s hard to believe she has such a grown daughter, and her beauty is not something you’d come across in just any town.
But do you suddenly ask such a thing to a man you’ve just met?
Perhaps it’s etiquette to first praise the beauty of a noble lady when you meet her?
But even the princess next to her was looking at the Queen with a surprised expression.
So this Queen is asking a strange question after all?
Either way, I don’t like it. Zack said “you must” and brought me here, but I hate nobles and royalty. They should be fighting at the forefront when monsters attack, but they’re always just giving orders from the back.
I was thinking of turning on my heel and leaving, glaring at the Queen.
The Queen met my gaze head-on, still smiling.
No, that face isn’t just smiling. She’s desperately trying to maintain that expression, but she’s nervous. She even looks like she might cry at any moment.
Why? Why is she making such a face?
I don’t really understand, but should I just say “You are beautiful” for now?
Various words swirled around in my head.
And the words that came out of my mouth were ones I hadn’t expected myself.
“Yes, You really are beautiful. Worth risking my life for.”
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continue
Afterword
Running away is not necessarily a bad thing. Facing things head-on or fighting carries risks, and you can get hurt or have unpleasant experiences. Even if you win, you might not gain much. If you can run away, it might be better to do so.
However, running away has left me with some regrets and lingering feelings.
That’s why, as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to think that maybe we need memories of fighting too. When I wrote “I want to win the Book Publisher Award” in the afterword of my previous work, that feeling was part of it. But even writing just that much was embarrassing and scary for an old rookie like me. It would have been smoother to say “I didn’t expect to be chosen” if I had been selected without saying anything. But I didn’t want to do that.
As a result, I didn’t even make it into the top ten works. I thought “Of course,” and I also felt “frustrated.” However, I don’t regret declaring that I wanted the award.
I feel like I’ve gained one thing I can be proud of in my life.
TLNOTE : There’s one chapter left
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While waiting for next chapter , I implore you dear readers to read other masterpiece novels that also written by the same author :
- Monster Meat Led Me to the Throne
- The Wicked Princess and 12 Eyes – The Strongest Squires and the Legendary Evil Woman, the Second Time in Her Life
- The Suspects of Necromancy
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
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