I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist - Chapter 165



165. Illoi (1)

A week has passed since Arjen’s rampage.

I could hear the voices of people whispering to my expression as I entered the palace for a private meeting with Agnes. He was obviously worried about the soldiers who died first. Even sinners are willing to forgive. I was becoming a saint, a myth, and a hero to their words. I didn’t return my gaze to them. The door to the office opened slowly, and I bowed politely to the faintly smiling queen.

“How are you?”

“With you here, is there any reason why I can’t be strong? Come and sit down.”

The Queen offered her seat in a soft voice. I smiled weakly and sat down in the chair. The overly soft velvet felt uncomfortable. I faced the queen stiffly, unable to put my back on her back or put my arm on her armrest.

“The verdict has been postponed. But it cannot be postponed forever.”

“That’s right. The morale of the knights will drop just by letting them live.”

Death penalty. That was the right judgment to be handed down to Arjen. I pretended to be unconcerned, but I couldn’t hide the reluctance. Agnes stared at me quietly. I briefly explained to her what had happened. It was not intended to overturn the verdict. It was just that she wanted someone to find out what had happened to him.

“I’m not in a hurry. He seems to have more secrets than we thought, so it will take time until we figure them all out. And the mercenary has the attitude that he won’t open his mouth if it’s not you.”

Agnes said that with a sigh. I could see the guilt flickering in her eyes. Death of a soldier and death of a knight. They are buried next to those who died in the Battle of Comet. Myo did not distinguish between those who suffered from disaster and those who suffered from mercenaries. Three days after the battle. I stayed at the cemetery and looked at the tombstones.

“It may be painful, but I want you to take on the role of interrogating the mercenaries.”

Agnes said that calmly. Even saying that to me hurts you, and I’m sorry. I curled my lips inward and nodded.

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“I will obey your command.”

“Please, I hope your last mission ends successfully.”

It’s the last time. I suddenly looked down at the holy sword on my left waist. I haven’t tested it yet, but I have a hunch that I won’t be able to see the power of the holy sword again. I couldn’t feel any magical power or special energy from the current holy sword.

“As your Majesty wishes, I will bring peace to the world.”

“You are a man who knows how to say the right things. I don’t hate it, but I’m worried about how it looks now. After the interrogation is over, please refrain from activities for the time being.”

“… Yes. I will.”

The Queen asked me no more. The celebration order went down, and I got up from my seat with a wry smile. It is the middle of autumn. I blinked my eyes at the clear sky.

“Illroy!”

That’s Daphne’s voice. Daphne, as always, was approaching me in a simple, unobtrusive outfit. Of course, he never went unnoticed just because he was dressed simply.

“Did it end well?”

I nodded, and Daphne sighed in relief.

“Are you going to visit?”

I couldn’t answer. Georg never recovered his amputated leg. The divine power of Isis is harder to permeate to a person with stronger magic resistance. It would be possible to grow new limbs for a person who has barely accumulated mana in their body, but if that is a physical defect of a knight who can use an aura, it is beyond the range that can be reconstructed with divine power.

“… It’s not Illroy’s fault. Georg must think so too.”

“Even if you are criticized, you should eat while looking at your face.”

I nodded jokingly. Maybe my wife will resent me. Although she thinks that she has changed to the point where she can bear such resentment in moderation.

“If Georg says that, I’ll hit him right away.”

“If you’re going to hit me, hit me properly. You can smash your jaw and blow away your memory.”

I made my way back to the hospital with difficulty. Even before the battle with Arjen, he didn’t look good, so it was hard to imagine what kind of trouble he would be lying on now. At least that’s what I thought until I opened the door to the hospital room….

It’s rattled.

“Come on, keep your mouth open, honey.”

“Oh, no. I didn’t hurt my arm….”

“No, but I said it was better to refrain from using the body for the time being.”

“I can eat alone.”

“Uh huh.”

The wife was holding a spoon and was trying to feed Georg porridge, and Georg pretended to push away and opened her mouth honestly, following her wife’s words. Seeing him pouring out sesame seeds with his wife in the hospital room, I thought that it didn’t matter what happened. Daphne also watched the scene blindly, then turned her head towards me.

“Shall we go back?”

“You seem to be doing much better than I thought.”

Georg then turned his head to me.

“Oh, Arjen.”

“Sorry to disturb you. Hi.”

“Now, wait a minute.”

It was Georg’s wife, Camilla, who stopped me and Daphne from turning right away. While she was flustered, she seemed to be having a hard time figuring out how to treat me. I stopped her steps and looked at her blankly. Camilla looked at me with a teary look on her face, then opened her mouth. I thought she would be able to tolerate any harsh word, but what I heard was the exact opposite.

“Thank you.”

“… Yes?”

“Thank you for saving my husband.”

I didn’t ask for it. Even if I made a mistake in my judgment and arrived at the capital a little faster without stopping at the Holy Land. I was in a daze, unable to spit out the words that lingered in my head.

“You can wield a sword even without one leg.”

From afar, Georg’s deep voice came in.

“It’s enough for me to save my life, Illroy. I could have stopped him to some extent.”

There was no shade to be found in Georg’s laughter. Georg turned his head to my wife, leaving me with an ambiguous expression on his back.

“Can I have a quiet conversation with the party members for a moment?”

Camilla nodded her gracefully and stepped out through the open hospital room door.

“I’ll be back in the evening.”

Georg stared at the closed door for a while, then turned his head back to us.

“I’m late for you, Illroy. How long has it been since the case was over?”

“Let’s say your recovery is delayed. A blessed bastard.”

I grumbled and pulled a chair and sat down.

“What do you think your legs look like?”

“I ordered a prosthetic leg. I think I will probably focus on rehabilitation training for the time being. I think I can get out of the hospital once I get used to walking and running.”

Georg said as he touched his severed leg. I thought it was cut off his knees and cut cleanly. After staring at the amputation for a while, Georg’s head turned to mine.

“Illroy.”

“What is it?”

“I think the time has come for me to quit.”

Georg said that calmly. It was a word that was expected and also a word that was feared.

“I don’t think it needs an explanation, but it does.”

“… If you get used to the prosthetic leg, I’m willing to accept it again.”

Georg frowned at him and shook his hand.

“All right. He also thought that he would like to stop rolling hard in the front row. There’s no place that pampers me like this. I will also express my intention to resign to the Knights.”

“Then what are you going to do for a living?”

“He is thinking of turning to the instructor side. Teaching is more fun than I thought.”

I would have wanted to fight more. The Georg I know is that kind of person. Even if he says he hates rolling, he goes ahead of anyone else, blocks attacks, and becomes a wall. He doesn’t fight out of hatred, he fights out of duty. Even if you could find someone as talented as Georg, there would be very few people with that kind of personality.

… No, is it past the time to find new members?

“Yes. I always wanted to roll it more, but now it seems like it’s going to be difficult. It was a lot of work.”

“Can’t you imagine not giving severance pay?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Georg’s face immediately frowned when he said he would take care of it.

“He has no conscience.”

“You must have saved up a lot of money, but why? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it for you.”

I responded like the boss of a rogue company, and Georg nodded his head with a look of embarrassment.

“Once you get better, go on another fishing trip.”

“If you can’t talk.”

I smile and smile. Georg turned his gaze to Daphne.

“Thank you so far.”

“Don’t talk like someone you’ll never see again. Even if you quit anyway, you’re going to come to the headquarters to play.”

“That’s right.”

Georg chuckled.

“Take care of Illroy, Daphne.”

Daphne blushed at Georg’s sudden words. Then he looked at me, and as soon as our eyes met, he made a confused expression and then lowered his head.

“I don’t know when the two of you are going to get married. You’re dating right?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Did people get weird after getting married? I responded with a puzzled smile, and Georg gave a grin as if his temper had been relieved. Daphne next to her raised her face, lowered her face, turned her head to the side repeatedly, and was ready to release steam from the top of her head. When I completely buried Daphneger’s face in my palm, Georg laughed.

“Well, that’s it. We won’t see each other again, and the only difference is that I won’t be mobilized when I go on an expedition or hold an event.”

“I don’t do troublesome things alone. Is it honey, very?”

“You don’t even get paid. Although that’s a bit unfortunate. Go now I want to take a nap or something.”

A sense of responsibility, I wondered if this was my original personality. I left Georg, who had completely closed his eyes and turned away, and got up to pick up the broken Daphne. Daphne was still squirming in her arms.

“… Marriage.”

I left the hospital room with a bitter smile.

—

Cool.

Blood dripped down the sink. Black dead blood. I washed my palms and looked in the mirror. Takgi was hovering in the eyes. The green color almost disappeared from the teal, and the color changed to a deep blue. His face was noticeably paler than usual. The sound of running water from the sink was distant.

“….”

I put my hand near my heart. Her heart was pulsating regularly and weakly, like the breath of a person who is quietly asleep. It slowly slowed down, and at some point, it seemed to come to a sudden stop.

“Illroy?”

Daphne’s voice and cautious steps. I quickly washed off the residue and turned my head.

“What are you doing without sleeping until this time?”

“I woke up in my sleep. You?”

“I…. Because I can’t sleep.”

I rubbed my eyes and picked up the towel. I buried my face in a towel and walked out of the bathroom in a hurry so as not to get noticed.

“Good night.”

I tousled Daphne’s hair with my fingertips. Startled, smiling at Daphne’s trembling movements, I walked slowly back to the bedroom. The beating of the heart with every step. An echo that reminds me that I am still alive.

But now I didn’t even feel the pain in my heart.