79 - Chapter 5 Epilogue
――The expedition force leaving the village was seen off by the villagers waving their hands.
Having protected the village from the Griffon attack and helped with the repairs at the end, the villagers' feelings toward them had improved significantly compared to when they first arrived.
There were deaths, but it was still better than total annihilation.
No, it could be said that wanting anything more would be greedy.
In the midst of this, Aria was wrapped in a blanket inside the porter.
"...Somehow, it feels really heavy."
Inside the porter, besides Aria, there were Shannon, Miranda, and Monica.
Shannon and Monica were playing, and Miranda was exhausted.
Everything was fine until the banquet.
To celebrate the victory, knights, soldiers, and the villagers joined in to drink and make a ruckus—.
The problem came the next day.
A great change appeared in Aria and Miranda.
At first, they thought it was fatigue, but their bodies felt heavy.
Their moods sank, and they didn't want to move.
During that time, since Liel and the others were busy doing various things in the village, they were able to lie down and rest.
However, after it continued for several days, they felt it was truly strange.
To Aria, who looked like she felt sick, Monica said
"If you're going to throw up, please go outside. I have no interest in anything other than taking care of the chicken coward."
Aria glared at Monica, who spoke with a straight face.
"You really do love Liel, don't you?"
Aria stood up inside the porter and looked outside.
Behind them, a Griffon was preserved in an ice coffin.
It seemed to have been taken down in one blow with few wounds, and since it would sell for a high price, they were keeping it carefully stored.
Still, it probably wouldn't make up for the five hundred gold coins they had lost.
Up ahead, Norma, mounted on a horse, was leading the unit with a tired expression.
Those who were injured and not yet fully healed.
The war dead were being transported in wagons, and Liel and the others were walking near the porter.
He was walking while talking with Novem, and Clara was operating the porter from its roof.
However, Marcus and his group were not by their side.
(That's only natural.)
After the banquet, various things had happened, so they had kept their distance.
Looking at Liel talking with Novem, Aria remembered when they left the village.
At the parting, Liel had been talking to a village boy.
He was a boy Liel had looked after in the village, and he had shown care for him, even giving the boy his own weapon.
Seeing this side of him that was kind to children, Aria found it surprising.
(He's kind to people other than women, too.)
Having finished looking outside, she sat on a wooden box, and inside the porter, Miranda was fidgeting.
When she showed her face, she had a terribly dark expression.
To put it bluntly—.
(Whoa, scary!)
Aria also had a look of recoil.
She had always been smiling, but after the attack, it seemed she no longer had such composure.
She only directed a forced smile toward Liel.
And her usual friendliness was gone...
"...Shannon, give me some water."
"Y-Yes!"
Shannon hurriedly prepared water, and Miranda sat up to drink it.
Dressed in light clothing and sweating, Miranda's expression was poor, as if she felt unwell.
After the banquet.
Miranda had kicked Marcus and the others, who were near Liel.
She likely didn't like that Liel didn't blame Marcus and the others for their mistakes, and that he was finishing the report that would allow them to be promoted as promised.
There had been no damage caused by the Hippogriff, and in the end, Liel had delivered the finishing blow.
The fact that he didn't seem to care much about it probably infuriated her.
Liel, for his part, was not trying to involve himself with Marcus and the others except for business-like conversations.
Having finished drinking the water and wiping her mouth, Miranda looked at Aria and said
"What?"
Usually, Miranda would ask "What?" with a smile, but perhaps lacking composure, she was glaring at her with sharp eyes.
Previously, she might have been afraid, but the current Aria had grown.
"Nothing. I was just watching because you look like you're suffering. I'm impressed you can still smile in front of Liel in that state."
She meant it as a joke, but lacking composure herself, Aria was less considerate than usual.
Miranda's eyebrow twitched, as it wasn't a situation where she could laugh it off, and Shannon began to tremble violently.
Seeing this, Monica—.
"Is this a scene of domestic strife? How wonderful. I was bored, so I've wanted to see a live scene of domestic strife. Now then, you two, please engage in a muddy woman's battle with honor, just like a daytime soap opera... Fight!"
Monica smiled, getting excited, and Shannon told her to stop.
"Don't stir up a fight in a place like this! And what on earth is a 'daytime soap opera'!"
"It's like a play. Now, a live scene of domestic strife!"
"This girl is crazy!"
――She was broken from the start, so it was only natural――
Just as Miranda was about to stand up, there was a knock on the porter.
After a short pause, Liel opened the door.
The porter had stopped, so they were likely entering a break.
Aria said
"A break already? On the way there, it was only at noon, right?"
When Liel showed his face, Miranda made a smile while looking like she was suffering.
"I suggested we take frequent breaks. Also, I want to defeat monsters along the way to secure some numbers."
He would defeat monsters on the road and credit the achievement to those who lacked enough merit for promotion.
Liel and the others would then pretend to have bought the materials and magic stones from those monsters.
Liel said
"Are you two okay? We'll handle the watch today, so please rest comfortably."
Miranda replied.
"Sorry."
(...Miranda is quite 'black', isn't she?)
While Aria was thinking that as she looked at Miranda, Shannon was staring intently at Liel's chest.
"...The light moved."
What was she talking about?
She wondered, but lacking composure, Aria decided to rely on Liel and the others.
"I'll leave it to you. Actually, it's a bit heavy this time. I'm afraid of a relapse..."
The high tension after growth, which could be called a reaction to the "growth."
It varied from person to person, but for Aria and the others, it seemed the current experience had exceeded their capacity, and it was taking time for their bodies to process it.
Aria didn't miss the moment Liel's expression became subtle.
(He's remembering his own growth.)
Smiling, Liel spoke to the four inside the porter.
"If you feel like you can get some fresh air to change your mood, please come out. Monica and Shannon, you're helping outside."
Normally, Shannon would have disliked it, but since the atmosphere inside the porter was bad, she practically leaped outside.
To a surprised-looking Liel, she urged him to give her some work.
When Monica also went outside, as she closed the door—.
"I won't get in the way, so please take your time."
She said that.
The fact that she was smiling, as if she enjoyed the two of them fighting, was infuriating.
Neither Aria nor Miranda wanted to run wild by choice.
Both of them wrapped themselves in blankets and rested—.
Having stepped away from the porter, I looked up at Clara.
"Was this the right move?"
"Yes. It would be troublesome if they ran wild inside the porter."
Shannon and Monica had begun their work, and I spoke with Clara.
"I understand it's hard before the growth, but it's tough when two of the vanguard are out."
I knew it, but this party had too few people.
I seriously wanted to invite several people to join the party.
Around us, there were many knights and soldiers who looked like they were suffering, just like Aria and Miranda-san.
They had stepped off the road and were lying on the side to rest.
I heard the voice of the Fifth Generation.
『Movement speed can be supplemented with skills. Even with a group this size, Liel's magic power can handle it.』
Perhaps having gained confidence, many soldiers and volunteers had begun to take the lead in fighting monsters.
Their group coordination had taken shape more than at the start, and since they had won, their moods were likely good.
The Third Generation was carefree.
『Initially, I thought we'd just breeze through with Norma, but looking at the results, it's a job well done.』
For me, since there were deaths, I couldn't call it a job well done.
I felt that damage had been minimized, but there were still deaths.
(If only I had handled it a bit better.)
As I wore a complex expression, the Fourth Generation spoke.
『Liel, you're not thinking "if only I had worked harder," are you? Even if you do what needs to be done, damage still occurs. Thinking "if I just work harder" is arrogant.』
And the Sixth Generation agreed.
『That's right. Regretting it after it's over doesn't start anything. If you did your best, hold your head high.』
I wasn't in that kind of mood.
(Being the person at the top is hard.)
Experiencing this feeling made me realize how heavy the responsibility was.
The Seventh Generation—.
『This is also a good experience. I thought it was a boring job, but Liel was able to learn things that were necessary.』
――It had started with a request from the head of House Sarcly.
It was a frail unit for challenging a Hippogriff, and I thought the damage would be great.
But in reality, it was a request where total annihilation was possible against a Griffon.
I recognized how naive I had been.
(The voices I can hear have decreased.)
I could no longer hear the voices of the First Generation and the Second Generation.
As I picked up the Jewel Orb, Clara called out to me.
"Liel-san, is something the matter?"
Since I couldn't tell her the truth, I gave Clara an excuse.
"I was just a bit worried about Luca. I wonder if he'll study properly."
When I said that, Clara smiled.
"He was enthusiastic, and he looked happy when he learned a little. Oh, and one more thing."
"What?"
When Clara returned to her usual expressionless face, I noticed her face was a bit pale.
"Are you feeling unwell? If so, rest immediately—"
"I'm sorry. I... it seems it's come for me too."
Come for her?
While I was wondering about that, Novem ran over.
"Liel-sama! More than sixty percent of the total are complaining of physical illness. They had a great experience, and it might spread to everyone at this rate."
There are several patterns when the body processes an experience that is too large or unprecedented.
The Second Generation had mentioned it, but there is the case where one's health suddenly collapses and then they recover, like I did.
And then there is the case where the body takes a slow amount of time to process the experience.
"This is bad. Let's hurry to the next village. We'll stay there for one or two nights and see how it goes..."
As I said that, I felt an expectant gaze directed at me from the Jewel Orb.
The Third Generation whispered in a small voice.
『...Liel-san.』
He murmured.
(I-It's okay! There are no changes this time. I'm the type who needs a massive amount of experience to grow.)
I told myself this to calm down.
There were no particular changes in my body.
Even the feeling of my body being heavy.
"A-Anyway, let's hurry. It would be better to dispatch one knight to explain the situation and have them prepare."
Since I had plenty of room in my payments, I still had plenty of gold coins.
While I was thinking about whether to give them money—.
The Fourth Generation made a suggestion.
『Oh, that's right... shall we have them spread some rumors while they're at it?』
The Sixth Generation said with interest.
『Hoho, that might be good too. A situation where it's too late by the time they return wouldn't be bad.』
The Third Generation followed that flow.
『It's decided then. It would be easier if we had a bard—a [Singer]—at a time like this.』
The Seventh Generation said.
『Shall we make it a fact before the court rats get their hands on it? It will reach the royal capital immediately. Even if we can't move for a few days, rumors should spread. By the time they move to settle the situation, it'll be too late... Wonderful!』
Singers are those who tell topical events like stories, and sometimes sing songs and perform arts.
Elves are particularly common among them.
They live in the forest, but because they are a hunting people, they don't settle down much. No, it would be more correct to say they can't.
Therefore, they earn money by singing songs and polishing and performing their arts while traveling.
Their way of life is easily mocked, and since there are spies from other countries posing as Singers, they are refused settlement.
"Liel-sama?"
Novem looked at me with concern.
"I-It's nothing. Let's have one person go ahead. Also, if there are any Singers in the village, let's tell them about this incident."
Novem thought while putting a hand on his chin.
"That might be a good idea. But there's no guarantee they'll be there."
"It's just that it would be good if they were. If they're starving for entertainment, we can tell the villages we pass through ourselves."
Deciding to act that way, I had Clark-san dispatch one person to the village ahead.
(Still, it would be a problem if Clara also became unable to move.)
I wanted everyone to be in a state where they could move by the time we returned to the royal capital.
After staying in the village for two nights and departing, as expected, a strange atmosphere had been born overall.
Aria—.
"I... want to become a bird. I want to fly wherever I want."
Miranda-san agreed.
"I understand that feeling. Liel, become my birdcage."
I answered immediately.
"I don't understand the meaning of that."
Clara, putting a hand to her mouth, said
"Having a spear as wings, flying all over the battlefield... I understand. Miranda-san, wouldn't it be better if you just went into a jail cell?"
Clara wouldn't say such a thing!
That's what I thought, but around us, the soldiers were saying things like
"I'm going to propose to that girl when I get back!"
"Now I can thank my mother for everything! 'Thank you for giving birth to me'!"
"...You guys, I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
The last soldier looked at the cheerful soldiers with a dark expression.
Monica looked at the scene and said
"I wonder what it is. It's interesting, but they're no match for the chicken coward I just met. Every single one of them has a brake on somewhere."
She was likely exasperated, but more than that, she directed an expectant gaze toward me.
Novem didn't seem to know how to respond to the change in Clara.
As for Shannon.
"Help me! Aria has started reading strange poems, and Big Sister is talking about love and romance, I can't stand it!"
I averted my eyes from Shannon, who was clinging to me while crying.
"Don't mess with me! What am I supposed to do about a state like that!"
Aria suddenly—.
"The pitiful me, who fell from being the daughter of a former viscount to an adventurer... Wielding a spear despite being powerless, running bravely across the battlefield is but a facade. In truth, I am more delicate than anyone and starving for love."
I also averted my eyes from Aria, who was glancing at me.
Clara said
"Even if she was a lady, people who are said to get excited seeing blood, or that they could have become a general if they were a boy, aren't called powerless or fragile. Aren't you starving for blood more than love?"
Miranda-san said
"Ah, why won't this hot feeling in my chest reach Liel!"
She was glancing at me—or rather, staring intently—so I averted my eyes again.
Clara said
"Isn't it that it's not reaching, but that you're being rejected? Reality is cruel, isn't it?"
Undeterred by Clara's harsh words, the two of them continued to mass-produce a past they probably wouldn't want to remember.
Novem said
"Aria-san is terrible this time. It was hard for Liel-sama before, but it wasn't this bad... she only sang songs she wrote herself."
I looked at Novem and said
"Eh, I didn't hear about that."
"No, Liel-sama was resting."
While I was thinking that if I had known I could have held it as a weakness, we had just reached the halfway point to the royal capital.
And then—.
(Enemies? Two Orcs.)
Thinking so, I looked in the direction the enemies were coming from.
Since I had prepared a watch, the unit's reaction was fast.
"Two Orcs! They're coming to the center!"
It seemed two Orcs had come to the center of the group.
The whole group stopped and entered combat preparation, but the surroundings were in a very dangerous state after growth.
The knights, too.
"I can beat an Orc with a single knife now!"
There was an idiot saying things like that.
(I'll handle this on my end.)
"Novem, I'll deal with it. Make everyone stand by here."
"Eh? ...Y-Yes!"
Rather than being surprised, Novem, who seemed to stop himself from saying something, followed my instructions.
If it was two Orcs, it wouldn't take much time.
Thinking that, I headed out to defeat them.
After the battle with the Orcs ended.
I was lying on the bed of the porter.
"W-Whyyyyyy!!"
My body suddenly lost all strength, and it was accompanied by a pain unlike anything before.
Besides muscle pain all over my body, there was a sensation that my consciousness was fading from using too much magic power.
Even shouting made my body hurt, and Monica, who was nursing me, looked happy.
"Nursing the chicken coward... I won't yield such a great role to anyone."
Shannon said
"Nobody wants it."
Inside the porter were me, Monica, and Shannon.
Outside, the cheerful expedition force was marching, and after defeating the Orcs, the signs of "growth" had arrived for me.
The Third Generation spoke in an expectant voice.
『It's here! It's finally coming! Liel-san!』
The Fourth Generation was calculating.
『At this rate, will it be before arriving at Central? Or just after arrival...』
The Fifth Generation said
『The timing again...』
The Sixth Generation said
『Liel really has it. Besides luck, he has various things... Pfft!』
Following the Sixth Generation, who laughed, the Seventh Generation also spoke.
『The first 'Best Riel Award' in a while... this looks promising.』
I muttered.
"D-Don't mess with me... I won't meet anyone this time. Absolutely. I'll absolutely shut myself in!"
The latter half became louder, and Shannon looked at me with exasperation.
"Did you go crazy?"
Monica said
"Even if you do, I will stay by your side until the end. Because that is the role of Monica, the masterpiece automaton!"
Having decided that I would absolutely shut myself in once I returned to the royal capital, I endured the time that could be called the agony before growth.
Since I had seen the disgraceful behavior of Aria and the others a short while ago, I decided in my heart that I would absolutely let nothing happen this time.
(I will absolutely not go outside. If I do that, nothing that would make my ancestors laugh their heads off should happen! That's right, I won't repeat the failures I've had until now!)