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(That’s the price you pay for taking down a Disaster. I believe you got quite the bargain.)

I winced in pain. I felt a stabbing, crushing pain whenever I turned to change positions. I groaned and laid my head back down on the pillow. Mana flowed from the Holy Sword into my body. I breathed a sigh of relief as the pain eased. In my head, I heard her clicking its tongue.

(I won’t always give you mana like this, so be grateful.)

I nodded and stretched out my arms. Bandages were carefully wrapped around my body. Evernode’s military doctor had advised me to refrain from using mana for the time being and to avoid strenuous outside activity altogether. He said something about ruptured blood vessels, damaged internal organs, partial fractures, compound fractures, and muscle tears. I feel like they just piled every single injury into a single report.

“But I saved the Archduke and killed the Disaster.”

(I’ll give you that.)

I turned my head toward the window. Aside from a few destroyed sections in the wall and the occasional rampage of a monster that slipped through, the damage to Evernode had been minimal. It was something to celebrate, but many couldn’t believe their eyes.

“No, you really mean to tell me that our citadel is unharmed. We faced a world-ending Disaster, and all we’ve suffered is a few crumbling walls and missing houses?”

“I heard that the Third Disaster wiped out Bactins, so this is good.

“Well, asshole, good things come in packages, and you must deal with it.

Even after everything that happened, the atmosphere in Evernode was the same as usual. Well, maybe they were much more friendly, occasionally stopping by my hospital room to say something. It pissed me off, as I felt like a Buddha statue in a famous tourist spot. They even touched my head, hoping to get lucky.

Still, it was alright.

I smiled faintly and placed the Holy Sword on my lap. I noticed that the leather of the hilt had an engraved pattern I hadn’t seen before. ‘Flowers, leaves, vines?’ I ran my hand along the design and scratched my head.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before, Holy Sword?”

(….)

She didn’t answer. She didn’t seem to want to talk. I raised the corner of my mouth playfully and was about to probe further when there was a knock on the door.

“Elroy, do you mind if I come in?”

Daphne’s voice. I turned my head to the doorway, pleased.

“Sure. Come in.”

As the door opened, I saw that she was not alone. The entire party was standing in the doorway, looking at me. I shook my head and motioned for them all to enter the room. Georg pushed a wooden wheelchair to my bedside.

“What brings you all here?”

“If you ask me, we should be here.”

Georg said with a bitter smile. I nodded, then asked a question.

“Have the bodies of the fallen been recovered?”

“Yes. They say the monster activity has ceased, and they’re opening the outer gates to bring the bodies in.”

Georg sounded pleased, but I couldn’t smile at the news. The ones I failed to protect. The ones I never got to hold in my hands or carry on my shoulders.

“There is a cemetery for the fallen in the highest part of Evernode. Soldiers and knights who died in battle during the winter are buried there to honor their memory.”

“…I see. I can’t wait to see it.”

I nodded, trying to keep my expression nonchalant. Georg chuckled and patted the armrest. I watched him fiddle with it uneasily.

“Come on, Elroy. I’ll carry you if you’re too weak to get on it yourself.”

“I can do it myself, so stop being weirdly aggressive.”

In disgust, I shoved Georg’s hand away and gripped the bed’s railing. Despite the dizzying pain, I gritted my teeth and somehow got into the wheelchair. Georg looked at me pathetically and shook his head.

“You should have asked for help if you were having trouble.”

“Shut up. Give me a push.”

I grumbled and sank into the chair. It was a hard chair with no leather seat or back, and I knew it would be uncomfortable if I kept sitting still.

“Aren’t you moving a bit fast?”

I said, looking back in anxiety, but Georg wasn’t even listening to me; he just seemed excited to be able to move me around while I couldn’t do anything about it.

“Don’t worry, Elroy. I’ve done this many times before.”

Just as he said that Georg rounded the corner, lost control of the wheelchair, and slammed me into the wall. With my head against the wall, I turned to Georg.

“Is this how you treat a patient?”

“…That was a mistake. When I carry someone on a stretcher, I ensure they’re secure enough that they won’t fall off.”

“This isn’t a stretcher, you bastard!”

Somebody help me. I flicked my head desperately toward Daphne and Marianne. Luckily, Daphne responded to my plea and pushed Georg aside, grabbing the handle. I breathed a sigh of relief, and Georg curled his lip in disappointment. That asshole was going to kill me.

The summer sun shone above us. Daphne pushed the wheelchair slowly, and I looked around at the empty, deserted streets.

“How are you feeling?”

“Not the worst, but everything still hurts. I’m going to need more time to recover.”

The ride back to the Capital would be challenging. The farther south we went, the hotter it would get, and the rain would come down in torrents. I was already uncomfortable at the thought of the humid air clinging to my skin.

“How are your injuries?”

I asked, noticing the bandages on Daphne’s arm.

“I wasn’t hurt that badly; it was my job to do the magic behind the scenes.”

She jerked her head toward Georg and Marianne. Georg was wounded from taking the blows from the front, and Marianne wouldn’t be too far behind from the melee.

“Mind your own business, Elroy. I’m fine.”

“I’m good, too.”

‘Everything’s fine? They should be in therapy or something.’ I gave them a sheepish grin. Georg stared at me as I did so.

“You weren’t wrong.”

He muttered to himself.

“What?”

I frowned, and he shook his head and smiled.

“Nothing.”

And so we walked through the streets of Evernode in a wordless stroll. We passed intricately arranged buildings and entered an unpaved field. Impressively, the grass withstood the sudden cold snap. The wheels of the wheelchair squeaked through the dirt. I could smell the clean odor of grass and wood.

“That’s the hill.”

Ahead of us was a black fence. The cemetery sat on a sunny spot overlooking Evernode. The hill on which it was built was like a giant mound. At the top was a vast headstone. Names filled the black tombstone. I read them one by one. Some I recognized, but most I didn’t.

“I wonder what I should say.”

I muttered to myself as I scanned the tombstone. The sun was making their names glow. As I stared blankly at it, a new voice spoke behind me.

“You defended Evernode, and our citadel did not fall.”

I turned my head. Archduke Quenor was strolling up the hill.

“That’s all I have to say.”

The Archduke wore a splint on his right arm. He was dressed in black and white. He stepped up to the tombstone and placed his left hand on it.

“How fitting that this is the first place you sought as soon as you could get out of bed. I don’t know whether to say it’s like you or not.”

I shrugged.

“You know me well.”

Archduke Quenor let out a short breath. His gaze fell on me.

“Those who join the Knights of Evernode always fight, knowing they could die. Winter in the North is a war against monsters. From a spearsman to me, we all know that death is inevitable.

The Archduke patted the tombstone one last time, then withdrew his hand.

“There will always be mourning. New men join the ranks each year to fill the positions that had opened.”

He then stroked his sword.

“Our mourning is short, a visit to the grave, a word, and then we leave. Those who have gone before me have done the same. Even if I die before them, I will not expect them to hold their grievance and weep. I want them to be proud, and I want them to continue to defend Evernode as I did.”

The Archduke looked at me.

“And most of all, they wouldn’t want you to hold on to their death. You are the one who saved Evernode and the world, Elroy the Hero.”

It didn’t feel real. I bowed slowly, and the Archduke’s gaze followed my falling head.

“I see.”

“I do not offer words of comfort, Elroy.”

Archduke Quenor reached over and took hold of the wheelchair’s handle, then pushed it down the hill with only one hand. For some reason, going with only one hand felt much more stable than Georg’s using both. I turned my head back to look at the Archduke.

“Where are we going?”

Archduke Quenor gave me a wry smile.

“You’ll see.”

The Archduke led the way, followed by our party. My wheelchair rattled with the occasional bump.

“Do you remember when you first arrived at this castle, Elroy?”

After walking in silence for a while, the Archduke spoke.

“Yes, I seem to recall being given a great welcome.”

I said sarcastically, and Archduke Quenor chuckled.

“You still hold a grudge for that? I didn’t know you were that type of person.”

“You asked, so I’m just being honest.”

“Is that so? I’m speechless.”

The Archduke tapped the handle of his wheelchair.

“If I’d known you’d defend our castle so well, I’d have treated you well from the start.”

“Understanding people is harder than fighting Disasters.”

The Archduke laughed, and the wheelchair shook. We were headed for the entrance to Evernode’s castle. I stared, dumbfounded, as Georg and Archduke Quenor carried the wheelchair up the ramparts.

“Do you know what day it is, Elroy?”

Archduke Quenor asked. I shook my head in confusion, then shrugged. He saw my reaction and smiled a wry smile.

“This is the day the evacuees return to Evernode.”

The day of return. My face went blank, and the Archduke and Georg saw my expression and shook their heads. Before I knew it, I was on the ramparts, greeted by soldiers and knights guarding the walls.

“Have you come to see the sights, Hero?”

“Thank you so much for your help last time!”

I was puzzled by their hospitality. The Archduke pushed my wheelchair and placed me in a position with a good view of the landscape. I looked down at the hill I’d ridden up on horseback months ago. It was green. I watched the leaves and grass ripple in the wind.

I heard the sound of tramping through the grass. I could listen to the sound of water rushing uphill against the stream. I heard footsteps and people talking. It was very noisy.

“Look there, Elroy.”

Through the grass, through the trees, people emerged. Their faces were exhausted, but they all had the same smile.

“Those are the people you saved.”

Some shouted for joy, and others sobbed. I heard the gates creak open, and people ran out. They cheered and hugged each other. They were returning to Evernode, to their homes.

“They can smile because of you.”

I blinked. The empty streets were beginning to come alive again. I could hear people talking. Archduke Quenor’s hand rested on my shoulder.

“Thank you so much, Elroy.”

His voice was a little shaky.

Then I heard footsteps running up the stairs. It was a child’s footsteps, with a mother’s voice urging caution from behind. At the top of the stairs, a braid of black hair fluttered adorably.

“Dad!”

Karin’s voice called out. The Ironblood Princess ran to her father, tears streaming down her face. The Archduke stroked her hair, and up the stairs behind him came Archduchess Hela, followed shortly by Luke. I watched the family hug each other. The Archduke died in the original, but now he laughed as he talked with Karin.

(That is the view you protected.)

Holy Sword said in a soft voice. I let out a small breath, unable to find the words to reply.

“Hero.”

Then Karin walked toward me. Her eyes were red again, and she had a broad smile. He hugged me, adding weight and warmth to my legs.

“You kept your promise.”

Karin lifted her head and locked eyes with me. The look in her eyes was too dazzling for me to look away.

“Thank you for protecting us.”

I bit my lip. No words came out; I bowed my head and stroked her hair. She snuggled into my chest, and I stroked her for what seemed like an eternity, unaware of the passage of time, listening to the sounds she made.

Thank you for protecting us.

Karin’s voice echoed in my ears over and over again.