The corner of the conference room.
The hall was abuzz with the appearance of an elf.
The fact that it was an elf with the distinctive symbol of a severed ear was enough to draw attention. But more than that, her statement was shocking.
“The hero from another world is a good person?”
“But hasn’t he committed all kinds of atrocities?”
“It’s hard to trust the word of someone who dropped out of the Hero’s Party halfway!”
The hall, filled with excitement and praise, instantly turned cold.
Chaos filled the space.
There, Serena drove the nail in further.
“I swear on the honor of the elves. Lee Han would never betray humanity.”
The commotion grew even louder.
Some people glanced at Aina, their eyes filled with suspicion.
They doubted that there must be a reason for an elf to speak so strongly.
Brrrr.
Aina’s lips trembled involuntarily.
Krrr.
Aina bit her lip hard to suppress the trembling. Blood rushed to her mouth, but she could hardly feel it. It was that unexpected.
‘Why is that woman Serena…’
Serena.
She was the representative of the group of elves residing in the central forest. With her excellent archery and precise scouting abilities, she was a crucial member of the Hero’s Party.
Until an incident occurred.
In that incident, Serena lost the tip of her ear, the pride of the elves. The cause of the incident was Lee Han, and Serena had attacked him as if to kill him. The fight was so intense that the other party members barely managed to stop it, and in the end, Serena left the party.
Therefore, it was surprising.
Why would Serena, who had left after a fight with Lee Han, now defend him?
Aina had prepared for numerous variables while preparing for this speech, but she hadn’t predicted this situation.
“Th… That’s.”
Aina’s voice wavered. Seizing the opportunity, Serena pressed on.
“Though our views differed, Lee Han was undoubtedly outstanding. He always pondered how to protect the weak of this continent. Isn’t that right? Claire. Aria. You two should say something!”
The sudden naming.
Flicker!
Aria’s hand trembled violently.
Claire, standing next to her, gripped Aria’s hand tightly.
Tsk.
Clicking her tongue, Serena continued.
“Shameless beings. Did you want to take all of Lee Han’s achievements for yourselves? Finding the hidden passage to the Demon King’s castle! Inciting infighting among the Demon King’s officers and defeating them without fighting! His achievements are so numerous that I, who left halfway, can endlessly recount them! But why did you!”
It was as if she was venting a deep-seated grudge, Serena shouted.
“How could you place him on the execution stand and behead him! Do you humans have no conscience!”
Serena’s unrestrained cry, filled with resentment.
The audience grew more restless. Serena’s words were unreserved but trustworthy. Moreover, she was an elf. Elves, filled with endless pride, do not lie. And hadn’t she sworn?
“… Could it really be true?”
“No matter what, the three heroes wouldn’t lie.”
“But I also knew Lee Han. He didn’t seem to have such a character. He was a young man with truly upright views.”
Suspicion spread.
The number of those half-believing increased.
Some looked at Aina, as if demanding an explanation.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Even when she stabbed a sword into the Demon King’s chest, Aina’s heart was calm, but now it pounded wildly.
It was an unparalleled crisis.
At this rate, she would be distanced from the line of succession again.
It would be ruin.
Say something…
Say anything!
“Se… Serena, you…!”
A trembling voice that even the listeners found embarrassing flowed from her mouth.
It was not the composed, dignified, and majestic voice of a princess.
Aina herself seemed flustered, stopping her words midway. It was the worst.
Hesitating, hesitating.
She staggered backward.
“The real demons are not Lee Han but you all!”
Serena’s voice rang out like a final nail in the coffin.
Now, everyone was looking at Aina instead of Serena.
Aina’s mind raced faster than ever before.
But she couldn’t think of a way out of this situation.
It was an elf’s oath.
How could she possibly say something more truthful than that?
Should she form a ‘Pledge of Truth’?
But that was impossible.
What Aina had said was not the truth.
“Th… That’s.”
Her legs gave way.
As Aina staggered and nearly fell.
“Are you all right, Your Highness? You seemed to have been worrying about standing here since yesterday. You must be very tired.”
Someone supported her back as she was about to fall.
It was Claire.
Claire smiled faintly and whispered in Aina’s ear.
‘I’ll help you this once. But you better prepare a suitable reward.’
Aina stepped back without even the strength to nod.
Claire stepped forward, smiling brightly.
“Her Highness seems to be fatigued, so I will speak on her behalf. Let me introduce myself first. I am Claire, a magician of the hero’s party and the vice-president of the Harold Trading Company.”
Woosh.
With a graceful gesture, she held the hem of her dress and bowed.
Her manners were impeccable and textbook-perfect, enough to capture the attention of the high-ranking officials.
Claire looked at Serena and began to speak.
“Miss Serena. Why did you leave the Hero’s party? Do you remember?”
“I couldn’t endure it! You were too cruel! You drove Lee Han to his death without any hesitation! That’s truly…”
Clap.
Claire clapped her hands.
Serena’s words were abruptly cut off.
Claire, having naturally drawn the attention to herself, spoke with a somewhat sad voice.
“You said you went mad.”
“… What?”
“You said it yourself that you went mad.”
Claire looked at her with a gaze full of pity, manipulating the audience’s emotions with her natural voice and actions.
“That’s…!”
Serena shouted in frustration.
But Claire no longer made eye contact with Serena. Instead, she addressed the high-ranking officials.
“Journeys to defeat the Demon King are fraught with various dangers. In the process, it’s not uncommon for people to go mad. No matter how wise someone is, they are not exempt. It’s truly a tragic affair.”
Several war-experienced knights nodded.
Their nods spread quickly through the crowd.
Claire skillfully harnessed and guided these emotions.
“Unfortunately, Serena was too noble. Those of you who have experienced war will understand. Some sacrifices are inevitable. Serena couldn’t withstand that process. Sadly.”
“Look closely. Does she still retain the image of an elf?”
The audience was easily manipulated.
The stronger the emotion, the easier it was.
Claire understood this well.
And indeed.
The eyes of the audience turned to Serena, now filled with pity.
“C-Claire… You!”
People nodded sympathetically at the words of the one expressing pity. But it was only ‘sympathy’. The cries of the pitied were nothing but empty echoes.
“Poor Serena. We truly regret not taking better care of you.”
“I… I’m not mad!”
“We sincerely apologize for that. We will take better care of you from now on.”
“Claire! How dare you! Let go! It was you! You framed Lee Han!”
Serena’s screams filled the hall.
Her voice, cracked with anger, was hardly befitting an elf.
“It’s hard to believe she’s really an elf.”
“I’ve never heard of an elf being so rough.”
The eyes of the people grew colder.
Even in this situation, Serena continued to cry out in her frustration.
“You humans! You are truly narrow-minded and ungrateful!”
“… Please remove her.”
“Let go! Let go…! Lee Han would never do that! Who is it? Who is framing Lee Han like this…!”
Thud!
“”…””
As she was dragged out, the hall fell into an utter silence.
Rustle.
Claire elegantly greeted those watching her and stepped back, putting Aina in front.
It was as if she had done all she needed to do.
Chancellor Reinhardt spoke up.
“Causing a disturbance at the welcoming ceremony. It’s indeed a troublesome incident. Punishment is necessary.”
Aina flinched under Reinhardt’s icy gaze.
The veins were bulging on his tightly clenched fist.
It was a warning to behave appropriately.
Gulp.
Aina swallowed hard and spoke.
“No, Chancellor Reinhardt. Serena is just mentally unstable. As her companion, I beg for your forgiveness.”
Aina swallowed again and looked up at the Chancellor.
Was this the right move?
Reinhardt’s clenched fist relaxed.
“It can’t be helped. I am merely moved by Your Highness Aina’s generous heart.”
Reinhardt bowed his head.
With this gesture, the tense atmosphere among the attendees began to ease.
“If even the Chancellor says so…”
“Of course. The heroes wouldn’t have lied.”
Thus, the incident passed as a minor disturbance.
Only a seed of doubt was sown.
The welcoming ceremony for the heroes concluded successfully.
… And then.
— Foolish ones! You have not resolved the ordeal correctly! The Demon King will resurrect. With an even greater darkness!
Only the three heroes remained in the conference hall.
A prophecy had been given.
