chapter 2
2 – return-2
“finished…”
It’s been a while since they entered the Empire’s territory, but the marching speed of the warrior party seemed unwilling to slow down.
It was because of the hero’s personal circumstances that he had to arrive at the capital quickly.
At least it would be better if we rested in the village, but she didn’t tell us what the noble circumstances were, and only urged us on.
Of course, others may already know. There must have been a lot of conversations where I wasn’t there, and I didn’t feel accepted as a part of the party.
But, then, at least now that the Demon King is dead, shouldn’t I be freed?
I tried persuading them, saying, ‘I think it’s safe at this level, so I’ll go home on my own’, but it was canceled due to the opposition of the majority.
Whether slaves or punching bags were needed more, the hero, saint, and wizard strongly opposed it.
The archer protested, shouting that he wanted to somehow break up with the disgusting porter even for a few seconds, but his voice grew weaker as he was outnumbered.
I wanted to cheer you on, but thinking about it again, I didn’t even want to be angry with her who hated me for nothing.
Even an archer wanted to leave, saying she didn’t want to remain at such a party, but she gritted her teeth and obeyed the majority’s opinion, perhaps because she didn’t want to be separated from her close friends.
And, as always, my daily life was difficult. After being mentally attacked by elves and wizards, and having done all the trivial tasks the saintess told her to do, she had to generously surrender her tired body to the hero’s anger.
Still, it’s really over now.
“It’s all here…”
Seeing the capital gradually approaching, my heart seemed to swell.
Maybe it felt like my chest was full of breath because of the endlessly rough breathing.
It wasn’t something I could talk about loudly. If you blow air too hard from your lungs into your throat, the roughened skin on the inside of your neck will scream in pain.
But the muttering in his mouth was enough to make him feel happy.
The demon king is also dead. I no longer have the right to do something, and I have no thoughts.
“Now you’ll have to cover your face. Dig, you too, walk on your own two feet now. If you pass by using levitation magic so comfortably, your identity will be revealed in an instant.”
“Well, this is kind of like a crutch. I understand your situation, but shouldn’t there be some kind of consideration for that adult?”
“Anyway, levitation magic won’t work. You won’t be able to hire people or buy horses here… Porter. Carry the wizard on your back.”
“What?”
It won’t be heavy. The mage’s tone and behavior were no different from those of an old man, but his voice and appearance were like those of a child.
I heard that his lineage has a special power, and his magic skills are enough to be called a genius.
Even as a child, she was a brilliant woman who perfectly solved the problem of her own lifespan.
But it’s none of my business that she’s a genius, and it’s none of my business that she’s light. In the first place, even supporting my body is in a precarious state.
“Are you saying you can’t even do this? Your weak body has collapsed, and the saintess is carrying the burden for you!”
The warrior’s furious voice shook my body. I wasn’t afraid, but just standing in front of it consumed my strength, and I didn’t even have the slightest bit of strength left.
The reason the saintess carried my burden was because I eventually collapsed after the forced march. In the first place, he was a warrior who was not weak, and he had to carry the burden of the party himself.
But she refused to carry the burden, as if it were dishonorable, disgusting, and ignominious.
Even so, it was the warrior who urged others to arrive at the imperial castle as soon as possible.
Excluding the elf who refused to touch the stinky bag, and the wizard who said that if she dragged her with magic for several hours, the contents would all be crushed, except for the wizard who took one step out, there was only a saintess left.
“Well, isn’t this enough at the end? This body will rise, so bend your legs and crouch over there.”
The wizard’s baby-like voice shook his head. At first I thought it was a cute and pretty voice, but now it’s just a disgusting voice that makes me anxious and sigh the moment I hear it.
Even if he returned to Earth, he probably wouldn’t be able to hear the voice of a girl playing in the playground.
Clearly, he was a person who was far from hate until he fell into this world, but one by one the things he disliked were increasing.
I just wanted to refute. I really wanted to be angry, but I knew full well that she wouldn’t back down.
If it wasn’t someone she acknowledged, it was someone who would perceive it as ‘defeat’ to agree to the person’s words, no matter how right they were.
Besides, he didn’t even have the strength to look her in the eyes and speak. I just sighed and put the wizard on my back.
“I’m sorry…”
“Why are you so weak? It’s not like this body is heavy, right?”
The wizard tapped my shoulder with his dainty hand. It was so hard that I stumbled even with that little punch.
“Let’s go.”
I wanted to add the word ‘don’t talk nonsense’ at the end, but even the word ‘let’s go’ was uttered in a crawling voice, almost like a death sentence.
The destination was probably the palace, so even if they went across the capital, it wouldn’t be too far away. At least, compared to the way I’ve come so far.
“Then excuse me!”
Grinding my teeth, I carried her on my back and followed the hero again.
Now it’s really over. really.
/////
Magnificent chants filled the huge hall. The sacred voice amplified by divine power had a different impression from the microphone.
Yesterday, upon my return, I asked the King to return me to Earth. But he slowly changed his mind and took the time to attend the celebration and say good-bye.
Even in the midst of that, I wasn’t in a position where I was blessed and welcomed among the warriors’ party, but I was in a position where I was clad in aristocratic clothes and applauded.
“You performed the most difficult mission faster and more heroically than anyone else.”
The four women knelt before the Emperor, closing their eyes, accepting the praise.
It was a bit funny for those high-nosed women to just kneel in front of the emperor, but there seemed to be a reason of their own. It was just hard to understand.
“According to the will of the goddess, we have once again protected this world. This is another miracle created by your courageous will, spirit of sacrifice, and the love of the goddess…”
The summoning of the hero and the extermination of the demon lord are a kind of gigantic ritual that has come down from ancient times. It is not simply a battle between humans, but a ritual in which the warrior, the apostle of the goddess, defeats the enemy of the world, the demon king.
The Empire has existed for over a thousand years, and hero summons have continued at intervals of hundreds of years.
They enter a dungeon that can only be opened by a hero, find the weapons prepared by the goddess, defeat the evil demons that are sealed, and obtain the power of the goddess prepared in the middle by following the guidance of a saint who follows the goddess more faithfully than anyone else.
And the empire is the country that summons the hero, and the emperor is given the task of representing the goddess to take care of the hero while the summoning of the hero and the extermination of the demon king are over.
That’s why even archers who have sharp noses and see all living things in the ‘human’ category as monkeys or puppy-like beasts, and even saints who have no obligation to bow down to anyone because they are supported by priests all in one body, bow their heads. will be.
“With less damage than anyone else, the power of the demons grew and the power of the demons was destroyed before the demon king gathered his subordinates, which can be said to be the best among the heroes of the past.”
And I, watching it from behind, was bored.
The music was cool, of course. For years, the only music I had heard was the screams of monsters, and the occasional singing of holy women.
The food was of course delicious. Except for the beginning of the trip, every time I had to force myself to chew on dried fruit like a stone, or put an unknown corpse in my mouth at the risk of an upset stomach.
It’s definitely good, but I’m not happy. The size of the empire is vast, and delicious food from all over will come into this imperial palace.
it was yummy. I wasn’t one to go looking for expensive restaurants, but I thought that any food I’d eaten on Earth would be lacking compared to this one.
But, not happy
The hungry belly was screaming for something to be put inside, like a ravenous hungry ghost. I shoveled food into my mouth, but I wasn’t happy.
I just wanted to eat cup noodles.
It wasn’t because it was too good. It seemed that it was because of the artificial scent and spicy taste, probably because it was a taste that could never be seen here.
I realized.
i hate this place
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Just as the wizard made me hate the child’s voice, and the archer made me hate the entire race of elves.
There were so many negative memories left by this world that I couldn’t bear to enjoy anything.
The celebration continued into the night. Although I was dressed as an aristocrat, no one approached me, whose face was unknown to anyone.
Apparently the celebration was going to last all night, and I couldn’t wait for the rest of it.
After drinking the strongest drink, I entered the garden connected to the banquet hall and leaned neatly under a tree to sleep.
Believing that tomorrow, I will really be able to go home.