Volume 2 Chapter 21 At the Tavern on a Quiet Night...
Jewel City Lapis is a hub filled with all kinds of adventurers──high-ranking, diverse, and from every corner of the realm.
The city's uniform exterior is carefully maintained to keep its scenic beauty intact, but behind that façade, it's a tangled mess of chaos and complexity.
At the very edge of Jewel City Lapis, there's a tavern open deep into the night... And right now, Ivan is quietly sipping his wine.
"Huh... you've never really changed. Still drawn to these kinds of places, huh, Ivan?"
From behind him, Horace's voice cuts in.
Ivan turns──there's Horace, looking exhausted, strolling up on his side.
"...You've lost a lot of weight."
"At night, the women turn into beasts more often than you'd think."
"Blame you for that."
"Of course."
"Honestly... Master──can you set up a private room in the back?"
"Certainly."
"Hm? Nothing secret's being said, so don't worry, Ivan."
"I've got some fine wine here──been ten years since I last drank this good. Come on, you get it, right?"
"Haha... still the same as ever."
Horace's tone is unusually relaxed, almost more casual than usual.
Ivan watches him quietly, saying nothing as he rises.
Led by the Master of the tavern, Ivan and Horace head down the corridor and into a private room.
It's just big enough for 2, but still cozy enough to feel comfortable.
A table for 2, opposite sides, with a single fancy wine bottle set on it.
The bottle is just one──probably meant for shared drinking, not a big deal.
But both of them don't seem like they plan to linger long.
"Hey... is that, this? The 'Blue Tears of the Dragon' from 400 years ago? Where did you get it?"
"No idea. My subordinate brought it from somewhere."
They sit across from each other, poised and calm.
Pouring the wine into their glasses...
"Anyway... it's been a while. Cheers."
"Yeah."
They toast, clinking glasses, then take their first sips together.
"Mmm... this really hits the spot."
"You can't tell the difference from anything else."
"Honestly... you've overdone it with your body. Even your taste buds are probably messed up."
"I know... I'm aware."
Ivan sighs, a long, resigned breath.
And considering Ivan looks like he's in his late twenties──with Horace the same age──it's almost like they're brothers in age as well.
Considering they used to be a duo ten years ago, they were "almost the same age," or so it seemed.
Yet, Horace's appearance was like someone in their late teens, not quite matching his actual age.
No wonder people blamed him for overexerting himself.
"You used to understand the monetary value, didn't you?"
"Hahaha..."
Horace glances at the cheese placed on the table.
It doesn't seem like the kind you'd find next to expensive wine──just a cheap cheese.
"Indeed, I've lost the sense of value between high-end wine and cheap cheese."
The way he perceives returns on investment is different from a normal person.
That's the state Horace is in.
"Then again, pairing expensive wine with cheap cheese──your style hasn't changed, Ivan."
Horace eats the cheese, his face breaking into a warm smile.
Ivan, however, can only force a grin...
"...Horace. Since we parted ways in the Wiselia Kingdom, how have you been?"
"Hm? Ah... as you know, the guys I trained took down the Demon Lord."
"Directly, there were 6. Then, you rescued and trained over a hundred others."
"Yeah, and there wasn't a single soul in the mansion I didn't recognize. Maybe they only recruited people I was involved with."
"...I see."
Horace seems to be the type who, after training them, lets each person fend for themselves.
He might exchange letters, but he doesn't force deep involvement.
Nonetheless, the girls he trained actually defeated the Demon Lord, proving his "eye for choosing who to train" was spot on.
"What about you, Ivan?"
"I created a guild called 'Worldsworn.' Mainly been active in areas not affected by the Demon Lord."
"Figures. Well... it was an era when a lot of talent was sent to the front lines. The farther from the Demon Lord, the thinner the ranks got."
"Yeah, but monsters don't just disappear. We stepped in and solved the issues. Before I knew it, we hit SS rank."
"But you were already an S rank when we parted ways, weren't you?"
"You too, huh? The Guild was in such a panic back then. They all but pushed you into my arms, remember?"
"That was... pretty bad."
Horace made a bitter face.
But Ivan just shook his head.
"Don't call that choice from ten years ago 'bad.' I do things my way, and you do them yours. That's all there is to it."
"And because of that, you ended up with a Cedal. I guess we're both to blame when you think about it."
"...I won't deny that."
"And still, why bring up Cedal? With your skills..."
"One of your students, Ramella, had a botched piece that ended up at auction. Needed cash to outbid it, so we took in that merchant's son."
"Huh. So, you're banishing him because he did something stupid this time?"
"You were watching, then?"
"Of course."
Horace had seen that speech too, and he'd been aware of Ivan's presence, though Ivan didn't seem surprised, so he hadn't been certain.
"Well, sure, we took him in exchange for his money, but he crossed us by raiding the Divine Blood Travels. Firing him was only natural. Though, the way Pastor 'vanished' too... that's a mystery."
"Yeah. Probably got mixed up with some troublesome folks."
"...Could it be the 'Key of Pharos'? That means those 2 probably weren't just taken out. They're likely to show up somewhere."
"Could be."
Ivan set down his glass.
His eyes, however, were slightly unsteady.
"Hey, Horace."
"Hm?"
"What do you think about extremists?"
"They're more intoxicating and maddening than this wine, that's for sure."
Horace replied immediately, without a hint of hesitation.
"I've met all sorts, heard all kinds of things. I can't even count how many accusations came pouring in from that capital. I never meant to sound like I understood the whole world from that capital alone, but even after defeating the Demon Lord, it was rough."
"True. There was that world conference, evaluating the hero's achievements. By then, half a year had passed since the Demon Lord's defeat. And the cleanup took time."
"It's about strength, sure──but more than that, it's about your traits. That's where most folks go wrong. And that misunderstanding's the root of so many mistakes."
"Yeah. That's it."
Ivan grimaces, brewed with bitterness.
"Along the journey, you must've met plenty like that... The hero once demanded at the world conference that every member marry you."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"The hero community's a melting pot. If everyone had the right to marry you, some wouldn't buy it."
"..."
"The heroes had worn themselves down fighting the Demon Lord across the world. They didn't chase riches or help──what was left was gratitude for you, the reason they kept pushing forward."
"So, you arranged their nationality and citizenship──or that's what it seems like."
"This country's short on men, so multiple wives are allowed."
"But that's also because many men go straight to the front-line armed for battle."
Knowing where the Demon Lord is gives you tactical leverage.
That's why so many men chose to fight on the front lines.
When a man gets captured and tries to resist, he's met with force──yet the Demon Lord's power is absolute domination over men.
Usually, if a man wants to see the Demon Lord, he can──he's guided right to her.
That's how powerful she is.
As long as you know her whereabouts, no man is getting killed outright──there's a way to play it.
But the fact there are still so few men?
The answer's simple.
"Those guys and me, huh..."
"You know this too, don't you? The heroes are strong, but the only one who can truly become 'just a girl' is by your side."
"I hate extreme opinions. And thinking I'm only worth something to myself──that's just another extreme."
"Yeah. I agree there. That's why the 'King' showing us that potential──it dazzled everyone."
The possibility Valzeil revealed at the press conference.
Only Rangella among the community members actually saw it firsthand. Wonder what she thought.
"Well, in a world with a 'King' like that... maybe it turned out for the best, after all."
"It wasn't the worst. Besides... we can't forget that. Our chosen future, it was set in stone back then."
There's no way they could ever forget.
'Please... don't. Please, don't take the sword away from me like that...'
That desperate plea still echoes in his mind.
...If only he could turn back time, ten years to the day.
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