Hillen Cargill and Hilderan
"His Majesty the King requests your presence, Sir Hero."
So it finally comes.
Late at night, the king's envoy arrived at the secondary palace where Hillen Cargill was staying.
Hillen changed clothes—clean formal attire, a neatly tied necktie. The maids offered help, but he refused.
"I'll do it myself."
He adjusted his appearance in the mirror.
"It's a bit later than I expected."
Around midday, he had entered the capital and participated in the triumphal ceremony. A secondary palace had been assigned to him, and countless nobles had come to greet him.
But the one who should have met him first—the King—had remained silent.
Hillen took that silence as a desire to meet privately. And now, a messenger had finally arrived.
Following the knight, he entered the royal castle—into the king's office. There were no guards at the door.
"You may enter."
"Yes."
The door opened. The lights were off. Only the moonlight of the full moon spilled in through the window.
"Come in."
Pour—
Transparent white wine filled the empty glass. A faint sweet scent drifted through the room.
"I greet Your Majesty."
"Sit."
"Yes."
"Have a drink."
The king offered a glass. Clink—crystal glasses touched.
"Anturois Fournin, isn't it?"
"The 1311 vintage. Yes, you always did have refined taste in wine."
The king chuckled quietly, leaning back as he gazed at the full moon outside.
"I never expected you to return to Hilderan so obediently. And with Elena as a surprise gift, no less."
"I hope it pleased you."
"It pleased me. And even if it didn't, I'd have to say it did. You are, after all, the great hero who rescued a kidnapped princess."
There was an edge in his words.
"As for before… I apologize. As you know, I cherish Ernan too much—that blinded me."
"I've already forgotten it."
"Good."
Clink—another glass was exchanged.
"I want to ask just one thing."
"Yes."
"Did you truly fail to find the tower?"
The king turned his head. His eyes were calm, but beneath them simmered a 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. Clear white wine dripped down his hand.
Papers on the desk were soaked. Shards scattered across the carpet.
"Again."
The king growled.
Hillen shook his head.
"No amount of asking will change the truth. I can't claim to have found what I did not."
Hahahahahahahaha—
The king erupted in laughter. Mana rippled, shaking the office.
Hillen didn't blink.
"I know."
The laughter stopped instantly.
"Daphner went to see you, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"What did he ask, and what did you answer?"
"He asked about the Hero Expedition, so I told him exactly what happened in Ergest."
"Daphner also said he couldn't find it. Meaning no one can, at least for now."
The king wiped the wine from his hand and took out a new glass.
"But I don't believe you'll be unable to find it forever."
"Is that so?"
"The great hero who slew the Maou of Lust and then severed the Beast's neck—what could such a man possibly fail at?"
"You flatter me."
"And so—"
Someday.
"Someday, you will rescue Ernan."
"I will do my utmost."
"Good. That is enough. No one in Hilderan will oppose you."
The king clapped once. The knight who had escorted Hillen cracked the door open.
"Summon maids to clean this."
"Yes."
The knight disappeared.
"I showed an embarrassing side. Think of it as the heart of a father worried for his daughter."
"Of course, I understand."
"Oh—and I heard your sponsorship was cut off after you killed the Maou of Lust…"
"Fortunately, I've acquired a new sponsor."
"Then I must place my fork in that dish as well."
"Do I have the option to refuse?"
"No."
"Then I will gladly accept."
"You may go. I want to drink alone."
A gentle dismissal.
"You've changed."
He had cut down even the Beast's Maou, hadn't he?
Yes, the atmosphere around him was different. And the future looked even brighter.
"Since the Maou began descending, there have been heroes who hunted more than two."
And those heroes all left their names in history.
"There used to be a tradition—marrying the hero who rescued a royal with the royal they saved…"
It was abolished when heroes became numerous and such practices were no longer necessary.
But right now… it didn't seem like a bad idea.
The wine tasted sweet.
***
"Viscount Broalter is entering!"
"Baron Pensilven and the Baroness are entering!"
The nobles filed in.
Lights on the ceiling illuminated the hall.
The orchestra played smooth, elegant music.
Laughter and murmuring blended naturally with the atmosphere.
Sweet wine and food delighted nose and tongue.
Amid all that—
"Entering now—the great hero who slew the Maou of Lust and the Maou of the Beast, Sir Hillen Cargill, and the vice-captain of the Red Hawk Strike Force, the elf Granada!"
The protagonists appeared.
The noisy banquet hall fell silent. Every gaze focused on one spot.
On the hero and his elf companion, both impeccably dressed.
Hillen casually brushed back his brown hair. Soft "oh my" "oh my" whispers fluttered from noblewomen.
"What are you doing?"
"At a banquet, the nobles aren't the only important thing."
"So you're showing off."
"You'd do quite well among the noble ladies too. No one dislikes a handsome elf."
"I'll pass."
"And from now on, watch your tone. Officially, I am the captain of the strike force."
Hillen accepted a cocktail from a servant. The moment he ate the cherry on the rim, the silence broke. Noble interest began flooding in.
"Sir Hillen!"
"I am Baron Merton. I wonder if you remember me?"
"Sir Hillen, please, share a drink with us—"
Crowds surged toward him. Granada slipped away in disgust. Thankfully most of the attention was on Hillen, not him.
He took his cocktail and found a quiet corner.
"Why are you drinking alone over here?"
A woman sat beside him.
"You're the famous Granada, right? I'm Joy Bourain of the Bourain viscount family."
"Granada."
"I know. Shall we toast?"
"Yes."
"To me as well."
Another hand suddenly appeared. A blonde woman smiled brightly.
"And you are?"
"I'm Gaina Deia of the Deia Count family. My father is the famous Count Deia."
"And?"
"I just wanted to talk."
acan"With me?"
"Who else would I be talking to?"
Only then did Granada lift his head and realize—
He could no longer see the banquet hall.
He was surrounded on all sides by young noble ladies.
'Escaping is…'
Impossible.
Granada let out a small sigh.
***
"Hillen Cargill."
There is rank among nobles. By title.
And rank within rank. By power and influence.
Duke Heinz stood at the very top of that hierarchy.
Born from Hilderan's most exalted royal bloodline and recognized for his exceptional talent, he had earned the title of Duke. Countless nobles gathered under his shadow—and wished desperately to remain there.
At Duke Heinz's approach, the crowd surrounding Hillen Cargill parted naturally.
He was a man who radiated noble dignity.
Born to rule, he looked down upon all things by his very nature.
"It has been a while."
"I greet Your Grace, the Duke."
"On behalf of the royal family, I thank you for rescuing Elena."
"I merely did what I was supposed to do."
"What you were supposed to do… Yes, indeed."
He laughed.
"Do you understand how glorious this moment is?"
Duke Heinz raised his voice, drawing everyone's attention.
"Hillen Cargill was born in Hilderan and has served long as Hilderan's hero. There is no one in Hilderan who doesn't know him, and many have had ties with him."
"You flatter me."
"Flattery? I've yet to begin. Some among you treat Hillen lightly—because he is familiar, because he doesn't look extraordinary on the surface. But listen well: Hillen is one of the very stars."
The Duke raised Hillen's arm. The nobles broke into applause.
"Though he failed, he devoted himself to rescuing the kingdom's crown princess—and he brought back the 13th Princess. How loyal can one man be?"
"Indeed!"
"Long live Hero Hillen Cargill!"
"What are you doing?"
The Duke ignored Hillen's whispered protest.
"And that's not all!"
"He severed the Maou of Lust and even forced the Beast's Maou to kneel before his sword and magic! How could this not be extraordinary!?"
"Heroes who defeated two Maou are all recorded in history!"
The cheers grew even louder.
"To think that Hillen Cargill and I have been close friends for so long—I'm truly proud. It has been my honor to help him, and my joy to see him shine so brightly now."
"You're being mischievous, Your Grace."
A small crack appeared in Hillen's expression. His faint irritation was drowned by the crowd's enthusiasm.
"You met my elder brother, didn't you?"
The Duke's bright smile was visible only to Hillen.
"Yes."
"I'm much closer to you than His Majesty is, yet he has the nerve to call for you first. I have no intention of letting you go."
"You're quite the persistent rope, I see."
"When you haven't been caught, it's a rope. But once I have you, it's a shackle. I am a man of great appetite."
"Well… perhaps after meeting people with even greater hunger and tighter shackles, Your Grace's hold feels loose."
"Quite a mouth you have."
He smirked faintly.
At that moment, a knight rushed in, leaning close to whisper.
"...What? Gold…?"
The Duke shot a glance at Hillen, then swallowed his words.
"My apologies, but it seems tonight's meeting must end here."
"A shame. I thought we might have an interesting conversation."
"Indeed. I'll prepare a private meeting next time."
"Please take care on your way."
Hillen bowed. The Duke hurried away, knights following.
"What happened?"
"What's going on?"
The nobles were confused by the Duke's abrupt departure—but quickly forgot.
After all, Hillen Cargill, a rising hero with a bright future, stood right before them.
"Sir Hero, it's been too long!"
"Lady Isir, it is an honor to see you again."
"Hmph! Hillen Cargill—surely you haven't forgotten me?"
"Of course not, Marquis Mohir. I am always grateful to you."
Hillen was swallowed once more by the crowd.
The atmosphere of the banquet ripened.
***
A maid managing the Hyacinth Palace knocked gently on the door.
"Princess, may I enter?"
No response. But Elena slept far more than she was awake.
The door creaked open. A cold breeze brushed her face.
Did I leave the window open?
The princess mustn't be exposed to cold wind.
The maid hurried toward the window—but froze.
Elena lay on the bed. And a shadow stood over her.
"Wh-who…?"
"I am the Four Heavenly King who serves the Maou— the Spirit Master of Darkness."
The awkwardly altered voice was eerie.
"By the great Maou's command, I shall kidnap Hilderan's 13th Princess."
A pair of glowing eyes flashed in the darkness.
The maid swallowed.
"D-demonfolk!"
All she managed was a desperate scream.
Thankfully, her voice reached the knights.
Hurried footsteps approached.
"Graaah!"
"Demonfolk!"
"Stop them!"
And then—screams, and silence. A wave of heat filled the air.
"Oh my."
The Dark Spirit Master covered her mouth.
"All the knights who were going to help are gone now?"
She carefully lifted the sleeping 13th Princess.
"Y-you cannot take the Princess—"
"Such loyalty. I'm impressed."
Something flew—thud. A light impact. The maid's vision blurred.
"Take a nap. When you wake, it'll all be over."
She collapsed.
Ernan slipped out through the window.
"Sister."
Pretending to sleep, Elena carefully opened her eyes.
"Mm."
"That act—you used that same play more than ten years ago, didn't you?"
"…N-no, I didn't?"
"You did. My memory's great."
Ernan's face flushed red.
"If you're the Dark Spirit Master, then there must be others?"
"...The Death Captain and the Infernal Giant are not here."
"What about the Dark Knight?"
"…There's a candidate."
Probably.
She whispered quietly.
"You're not just crazy… you're methodically crazy."
Berze, following behind, let out a stunned laugh.
Behind them, a blazing inferno engulfed the Hyacinth Palace.
A magical alarm announcing enemy intrusion rang throughout the royal castle.
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