The World After Leaving the Hero’s Party

“His Majesty has summoned you.”

“Is that so?”

Since I’d been called, I had to go.

I followed the head maid outside, noticing that the surroundings were unusually noisy.

“What’s going on?”

“General Leoden has temporarily returned to the capital.”

General Leoden was a renowned NPC in the game, a brilliant tactician leading the war against monsters and a loyal general devoted to the king.

Of course, he’s a bit rigid, but he’s a man who knows how to fulfill his role in his position.

The fact that he’d shown up a few times even during the main storyline meant…

“Oh? Could Claire, Leventia, or Evangeline also be here?”

“I was informed that only you, the Hero, have come today.”

“I see.”

I’d expected as much, but the thought of possibly running into them didn’t stir any emotion in me. I just accepted it for what it was.

Still, the head maid’s expression seemed troubled, likely aware of my past relationship with the Hero’s Party. Did she think I might flee to avoid them?

What reason would I have to run away?

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

The path to the audience chamber wasn’t particularly crowded. Most of the palace staff had likely moved over to welcome General Leoden and the Hero.

As we waited in front of the audience chamber after a brief inspection, I heard the sound of heavy armor clanking closer.

Turning towards the source, I saw her.

A beautiful blonde, face pale and eyes wide, trembling in shock.

“…H-Hyun Woo?”

Her voice, once lovely, now sounded cracked and rough as she took a step toward me. Claire seemed as though she couldn’t quite discern if this was a dream or reality. But as she moved toward me, an older man with a rugged build and thick beard raised his arm, stopping her.

“The audience will begin shortly.”

“I… I finally found you! I finally found you, Hyun Woo! But… It’s him! Hyun Woo is right there!!”

“You’ll have to wait. What matters now is…”

Creaaak.

“…Don’t interfere. I… I have to…”

“Her Majesty the Queen has arrived! Everyone, please enter!”

“I don’t care abou—!”

“Shh.”

I put my finger to my lips, and Claire, who had looked ready to strike down those blocking her, froze. She stared at me blankly, then lowered her head slightly. General Leoden gave me a grateful nod.

What was there to thank?

We just help each other out, that’s all.

She’d done a fair share of helping me in the past.

Turning my gaze from them, I walked into the audience chamber, followed by General Leoden and Claire.

I could feel Claire’s stare pricking at the back of my head.

“You’ve done well, General Leoden.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“No. You have nothing to apologize for.”

The Queen sat on her throne in a proud posture, looking down at us with a cold gaze. Even with her daughter, Princess Lucille Ermeyer, standing beside her and visibly cowed by her mother’s presence, the Queen maintained her signature arrogance.

“Hero, according to the reports, Captain Leventia Shuma, my sword and shield, has been causing some trouble on the battlefield. Is that true?”

Huh? Really?

This was news to me, too.

“Reports detail excessive brutality against monsters, refusals to receive healing, shoving away priests trying to heal her… as well as incidents of disobedience… even neglecting to take proper rest.”

“That… that’s…”

“I permitted her return to the Knight Order because she desired it, yet she remains affiliated with the Hero’s Party… Hero, are you unable to control your party members?”

Claire bit her lip, glancing at me briefly. And what was I supposed to do about it?

“…It’s my own failing.”

“Is that so? Since the defeat of the Demon Lord, strange behaviors keep surfacing among you, unlike anything seen before. The elf archer, Evangeline Ruthveitch… she reportedly refuses all communication and shuts herself in her tent after each battle, refusing to come out.”

“……”

“There are rumors that she mutters to someone who isn’t there… She even threatens those who try to offer help, sometimes wandering the battlefield as if looking for something. No serious issues have arisen yet, but…”

The Queen calmly read the report before asking,

“Are all of these claims true?”

Claire nodded slightly, her haggard face looking weary.

“Sage, you were once a member of the Hero’s Party, correct?”

“I wasn’t an official member, just someone who accompanied them.”

“Is that so? Then, what do you think has changed since the time you were with the Hero’s Party?”

I replied, showing open displeasure.

“Your Majesty seems to already know the answer…”

“I have an inkling.”

“Then why ask? You have plenty of other matters to concern yourself with, Your Majesty.”

The ministers around her looked visibly uncomfortable, unhappy with my thinly veiled warning to mind her own business.

But she was the one who’d broached the subject with an unpleasant question.

And what could they do about my response, anyway?

I was neither her subject nor a subordinate—just a contracted freelancer.

If they didn’t like it, they could terminate my services.

The Queen tapped her long fingers on the throne’s armrest, then chuckled and nodded. Her tone softened a bit, a gesture of apology in her own way.

“…Hm. Fair enough. My apologies for the questions about private matters. So then, since the Hero’s Party seemed intact when you were there… would you consider supporting them once again?”

Claire’s face lit up for a moment, but then her expression drooped. She sighed, her eyes flickering with a glimmer of hope before returning to resignation.

Watching her complex emotions, I shook my head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“There are more important things for me to do right now.”

At my response, the Hero’s face contorted, almost on the verge of tears.

After a few more questions, the audience concluded. General Leoden sighed as he restrained Claire, who looked as though she was trying to come over to me, and then glanced at me cautiously.

I gave him a nod, and he led Claire away, leaving me with a sense of relief. She looked back, unsure, like a frightened cat or a scolded puppy peeking anxiously at its owner.

When we were finally alone, her earlier passion faded, and she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

I looked at her. Meeting my gaze, Claire’s expression twisted into a hesitant smile.

It was that same awkward smile she’d given me back then—when she’d struggled to find the right words after Leventia and Evangeline had berated me.

But it only lasted a moment.

Claire, clearly flustered, quickly bowed her head.

“S-Sorry… I… I smiled without thinking…”

I hadn’t even said anything yet!