The World After Leaving the Hero’s Party

He saved people.

At times, he joined festivals to liven the mood with his lute.

He also seemed to enjoy participating in trivial card game tournaments, where he’d obtain cards of little value and happily celebrate, drinking with the other participants.

All the while, he never ceased to save or help others.

As though that alone brought him joy.

Looking at all these aspects, he was certainly no ordinary person.

“He’s an intriguing man.”

“Yes.”

The fact that one person could use the skills of every profession meant that an immense amount of knowledge was contained within that small head of his.

It was a straightforward matter. The knowledge required to use magic differed from the knowledge needed to wield a sword.

Even more so, the knowledge for using holy power was entirely opposed to that for using shamanism.

The same went for everything else.

And yet, he had supposedly mastered all of these at his young age? And then, when asked simple questions, instead of flaunting that knowledge, he only replied that he didn’t know, displaying humility to others?

Even in a position where he could elevate his own status?

He was someone I couldn’t understand at all.

A person that powerful.

A person that remarkable.

What exactly did he want?

“I’m also curious to see how he’ll treat the princess.”

The interest that had briefly faded now returned to the queen’s eyes.

Wealth, honor, glory, power.

Even beautiful women didn’t seem to interest him, yet he had accepted the position of the princess’s mentor without hesitation.

“Don’t stop monitoring the Sage.”

Feeling as though something entertaining might happen, the queen turned to leave the audience chamber but then paused mid-step.

“Oh, by the way, when was it that General Leoden was supposed to give his regular report with the Hero?”

In response to her question, Lukal replied calmly.

“Today, Your Majesty.”

—

I wasn’t stripped of the offer to be her mentor, despite not answering a single question. That, at least, was a relief.

What mattered, after all, was that I became the princess’s mentor.

In the game, once a student reached a certain level, that would count as an achievement… Would it be the same here?

As I pondered what to teach her, the head maid, who had been guiding me, halted in front of a large, ornate door.

“This is the place.”

“Is it? Alright. From here, I can…”

“Um, Sage.”

The head maid looked at me with a serious expression, as if she had something urgent to say.

“The princess may… not live up to your expectations, Sage. I’d ask you to please… bear with her.”

Even the queen hadn’t said such a thing, and yet the head maid did? I looked at her closely. The deep-set lines around her eyes seemed like proof of her genuine worry for the princess.

Tsk. Seems like she’s lived quite a life herself.

“…The princess has very low self-esteem.”

“Oh… and why is that?”

A princess with low self-esteem.

Nothing unusual about that as a story setting. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to feel inferior, especially if overshadowed by a particularly powerful heir or sibling.

However, as far as I knew, the queen’s only heir in this kingdom was Princess Lucille Ermeyer.

So why did she feel that way?

In the game, she had been just a standard NPC female character who followed instructions without any distinctive traits or importance.

“She’s been like that since childhood. Perhaps… she’s been weighed down by the expectations from Her Majesty… or maybe it’s just…”

“Is that what you think?”

“…Yes. I don’t know for certain. All I know is… the princess constantly thinks she’s lacking.”

“I see. Understood.”

How bad could it be, really? Probably not worse than the Hero’s party or adventurers.

At most, a low self-esteem princess would hide it by being a bit temperamental.

I could handle that much.

Knock, knock.

I knocked on the door, and the head maid looked at it with concern. Even after several knocks, there was no response.

“…Could she be asleep?”

“I don’t believe so. Um… Princess. The Sage has come to see you.”

Thud, crash!

Kyaaah! My Lady! My Lady!

Suddenly, a loud crashing noise sounded from within, followed by the startled cries of maids. What in the world?

I opened the door immediately, preparing a spell, but to my surprise, there was no major issue inside.

The crashing noise was merely from a chair that had toppled over, and the breaking sound came from a vase on the table that had fallen to the floor.

“H-Hiee… I-I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”

Huddled in the corner of the room was a young girl who looked like a frightened rabbit, someone I guessed had been sitting in the chair just moments ago.

A girl with red hair, similar to the queen’s.

She was a cute girl with silver eyes, hiding herself within a lush, expensive-looking dress.

With her eyes partly concealed beneath her bangs, she was nervously darting her gaze about.

Then, when our eyes met, she flinched and immediately lowered her head.

I gave her a small, soft smile and bowed.

“I am the Sage, Yoon Hyun Woo.”

The princess, who had been glancing pleadingly at the head maid, hesitated at my introduction before giving a slight nod.

“I-I am… the princess of the kingdom, Lucille Ermeyer…”

With that one sentence, she clamped her mouth shut. Just as the head maid had said, she seemed to have very little self-confidence. She also seemed quite shy and unsure of how to interact with someone she was meeting for the first time.

Hmm…

I looked from her to the head maid.

“Um…”

The head maid comforted the princess and had her sit on the bed. She handed her a large stuffed animal, which finally seemed to ease her anxiety a little.

However, her silver eyes continued to dart nervously, occasionally glancing at me with a hint of fear.

No.

To be precise, she seemed wary of everyone else in the room.

As if she thought they would wound her or ridicule her.

“…I-I’m so… so sorry…”

“What are you sorry for?”

“…B-because… I-I’m… w-worthless…”

The princess apologized, lowering her head in shame even though I hadn’t done anything yet.

“I… I’m just… I’m just a worthless… t-trash… I’m… so low compared to the Hero… and… compared to the honor of… the royal bloodline… I’m… nothing but a disgrace…”

The head maid looked worriedly at me, as if questioning whether I would do anything about this.

I smiled, taking in not only her gaze but the concerned looks from the other maids in the room.

It’s fine.

This much…

“No, Princess. You are one of the most outstanding people I’ve ever met.”

“…What?”

Among the people I’ve met, this level was actually pretty normal.