152. First Love Returns (1)
After the Hero Party's raid.
The religious order run by the Demon King collapsed.
Those who had been part of the order were sent to prison, and the Empire promised to treat those who had been forced to consume Holy Water.
And the children who had remained in that underground prison...
"I asked the Empire to keep them alive and raise them for now!"
"Good job, Estia. There's a possibility they'll come back, right?"
"Not right now! But who knows about later! I might get even stronger!"
Estia shrugged her shoulders confidently.
Luna liked that she was looking at the future positively.
"But, Estia. Saten said you're always dreaming—do you know what that means?"
"I, I don't know! Don't even mention that gloomy girl! I hate her as much as that woman!"
"If it's as much as that woman, you must really hate her?"
"Of course! That woman made Oppa weird!"
Estia puffed out her cheeks as if thoroughly upset. Lying quietly on the bed, Estia waved her hand at Luna.
"Luna, get out now! I'm going to sleep!"
"It's 2 o'clock? If you sleep right after eating, you'll turn into a pig, you know?"
"Saints never~ever turn into pigs! Get out quickly! I'm sleepy!"
"Ah, okay. Stop yelling..."
*Haah—*
Luna sighed as she left Estia's room.
Though Ajeossi had rescued his mentor and succeeded in his revenge, Luna's heart was anything but calm.
"I should be happy that we defeated the Demon King and Ajeossi got his revenge... but why don't I feel happy at all..."
*Haah—*
Luna sighed deeply enough to sink into the ground.
The Holy Sword spoke to her.
—You did well defeating the Demon King, Hero. Thanks to you, the order will return to normal. Now the citizens won't suffer anymore.
"I understand that. But my heart doesn't feel good... I should be clapping and celebrating... but I don't feel happy at all..."
I should be glad that Ajeossi is happy.
So why don't I feel happy?
"I'm so disappointed in myself...!! Why are you like this, Luna! You're the Hero! You should be supporting Ajeossi's happiness! What are you doing!"
—The Hero exists for all people. Personal feelings are useless, Hero. Move your heart only for world peace.
"Hmph, whatever. I'll never listen to you! My head's too complicated, I'm just going to train!"
*Thud— Thud—*
Luna strode heavily toward the training grounds.
When her head was complicated, simple training was the best.
However, when she arrived at the training grounds, there was already someone there.
Luna was not at all pleased to see this person.
"What, why is the Mage here?"
"I heard about you from Jun-woo. Nice to meet you, this is our first time greeting each other alone, right?"
"...You've been in the room with Ajeossi every day. Why did you come out today?"
"Come out?"
"...Sir?"
Luna disliked the woman before her.
In the past, she had lost many lives to the Demon King's power that took this woman's form, and because she was the person Ajeossi liked, Luna was automatically on guard.
Aina smiled as if Luna was cute.
"Our Hero is trying to drop honorifics with me?"
"I'm not...sir."
"Really? Then am I mistaken? Did I misunderstand because I'm stupid and foolish?"
"N-no. That's not—"
"I'm joking, I just wanted to tease you."
"Th..."
Th-this person, what the...
She's so selfish, isn't she?
Why does Ajeossi like a woman like this?
No matter how I think about it, I'm better as the Hero, aren't I?
*'I'm broad-minded enough not to care about the age difference! I have such a good personality that I don't hold grudges even after being kidnapped! I'm strong because I'm the Hero! What am I lacking that makes Ajeossi like this woman!?'*
As Luna frowned while calculating.
Aina looked at Luna with interest.
"You're funny. I can see all your thoughts on your face."
"N-no I'm not!? That's a lie!"
Aina looked toward the door and waved her hand.
"Oh, Jun-woo. You finished work already? You came quickly?"
"Ah, Ajeossi!? I, I didn't sense him at all!?"
*Whoosh—*
Luna's heart sank as she hurriedly turned to check the door.
However, no one was there.
Luna glared at Aina with a deflated expression.
"You lied."
"..."
"Jun-woo went to work. He said he had to handle the order's affairs."
"...So what."
"Wait, sit here for a moment? I'm curious about what happened while I was sealed."
*Tap tap—*
Aina tapped the bench with her finger, urging Luna.
It wasn't like a mentor but more like a thug, which was scary.
*'As if she'd do anything to me!'*
Thinking that, Luna sat next to Aina without suspicion.
At that moment.
Aina's arm wrapped around Luna's shoulder.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
"Just, let's get close. Do you smoke?"
"I don't! Let go of this! Threatening me won't work!"
Luna tried to forcibly remove Aina's arm.
However, Aina's next words made that impossible.
"Aah— my arm's breaking. The Hero is breaking a citizen's arm—"
"Wh-when did I!"
"Instead of that, let's just talk. If my arm breaks, Jun-woo will know too—are you really going to act like this?"
While liking Jun-woo.
Are you really going to act like this?
As Aina whispered in her ear, Luna stopped resisting and politely placed her hands on her knees.
"H-how did you know?"
"I'm stuck with Jun-woo, so I felt the killing intent? That pink-haired one and the black-haired one are the same. I want to talk to them too, but I don't see them."
"Saten locked herself in her room without even eating! Hare is so shocked she only shows up at mealtimes!"
*Whew—*
Aina exhaled cigarette smoke into the air.
"So, how is it. What do you like about Jun-woo?"
"Wh-what do I like?"
"Yeah, I'm not blaming you, I'm genuinely curious. I'm curious why you like that idiot."
"The reason..."
The reason I like Ajeossi.
Should I tell this woman who Ajeossi likes?
Luna hesitated a bit, but since Aina didn't seem like she'd let go, she opened her mouth.
"I just, like him. He's kind and responsible, and he's always by my side when I'm having a hard time, and he's cool..."
"Wow..."
Aina responded to Luna's words with admiration.
"You've got it bad, huh? Are you sure Jun-woo didn't brainwash you?"
"L-let go of my head! I wasn't brainwashed!"
"No, that's your reason for liking Jun-woo? Seriously?"
"...Yes."
Luna answered with a flushed face like a teenage girl.
She learned for the first time how embarrassing it was to tell someone the reason she liked them.
"Tsk."
Aina clicked her tongue at Luna, then threw her cigarette butt on the ground.
"If Jun-woo looked like that to you... a lot must have happened while I was sealed. How annoying."
"A, a lot did happen! Ajeossi and I lived together for 5 years! Haha!"
Luna straightened her hunched shoulders and bragged.
Aina gave Luna a cute look for a moment, then stood up.
"That's enough conversation. I'm not feeling well, so I'll be going now."
"Huh? That's it for the conversation? A-aren't you going to say anything?!"
"Did you think I'd threaten you like 'If you don't want to die, give up on Jun-woo right now'?"
"Yes... You seemed like a thug, so I thought you would."
"...You're unnecessarily honest for a Hero. Well, Jun-woo would probably like that personality better."
Aina waved at Luna as she left the training grounds.
"Anyway, you do what you want. Whatever you do, I won't care at all. Do whatever you want with Jun-woo."
"Huh?"
Without a single warning.
She's just leaving like this?
Luna muttered as she watched Aina leave.
"What is that person even thinking..."
Luna couldn't understand at all what Aina was thinking.
She was the first type of person Luna had ever met in her life.
After finishing my revenge.
I was able to meet Aina again.
"I want to go home quickly."
Aina will be home alone.
Even if she's not feeling well, she'll be resting well in bed.
I knocked on the door of the Sylvester Knights' office.
*Knock knock—*
—Come in.
Hearing Irina's voice answer in a stiff tone.
I opened the door without hesitation and entered.
She was looking at documents with dark circles under her eyes.
"Working?"
"That's right. Because you destroyed the order, there's more than one or two things to handle."
*Thud—*
Irina threw papers on the desk and met my eyes.
"But thank you. It could have been a great chaos for the Empire, but thanks to you, we were able to prevent it well. We also obtained decisive evidence. On behalf of the Empire and the Knights, I express my gratitude."
"...We don't need that kind of greeting between us."
"I'm grateful enough to go beyond that."
Still stiff and valuing the spirit of chivalry.
I sat across from Irina and asked her.
"You said you had something to talk about."
"It's a simple interrogation. Just a formality. Jun, what was your reason for raiding the order?"
"You already know, it was because of the Demon King."
"...I'm asking because of procedure, even though I know. Answer properly."
That damn procedure.
I had no choice but to answer all of Irina's questions.
The process of collecting evidence about the order and what the Demon King was doing there.
And she also asked for my agreement, saying the Empire was thinking of "Estia" as the next person to lead the order.
"The symbolism of the Saint could rebuild the collapsed order. Please think carefully and answer."
"After we defeat all the Demon Kings. Then I'll ask Estia."
"...A positive answer. Surely, it's because Aina has returned."
"Maybe so."
If it were the old me.
There wouldn't have been an "after defeating the Demon King."
However, now that I have Aina, I could promise Irina that future.
Because I have a reason to live again.
Irina stared at the paper for a moment, then crumpled it slightly and answered.
"...That's fortunate. Congratulations on meeting Aina again, Jun. Is Aina's health okay?"
"It's not okay. Since she was sealed for a long time. It'll probably take some time for her body to return to normal."
"I see. Understood. Got it."
Irina nodded, saying she understood.
And immediately organized the documents and told me.
"You can go now, Jun. Since there was danger in the capital, the Hero Party's necessity is great, so support may come—be aware of that. The interrogation is over."
"Okay, thanks. Irina. I'll be going now too."
I'm worried about Aina at home.
I should go back quickly.
Thinking that, I stood up and headed for the door.
Behind me, Irina's firm voice was heard.
"...Be happy, Jun. Congratulations on succeeding in your revenge. Stay healthy."
"Thanks, Irina."
If only she weren't so busy, she would have met Aina.
That's too bad.
I answered Irina and left the office.
Even though I'd surely heard good words, my expression reflected in the window was stiff.
*'...Health.'*
Health is important.
But...
Can I control that myself?
Even though revenge is over, there's a mountain of things to resolve.
I had to hurry my steps home.