Hero Party

I wasn’t sure what had brought about this change of heart, but it seemed Elu was going to cooperate with my bid for independence as well.

I was still concealing her true origin, but becoming close with a princess from another nation was a massive step toward my goal. If I had Elu’s recommendation, the Kingdom of Inraku might even try to officially install me as a noble just to maintain a connection with the Beast Kingdom.

Besides, if the worst happened and I was sentenced to death by association, I could always flee to the Beast Kingdom. I had no reason to refuse her offer.

"That would be a huge help," I said. "Could I count on you then?"

"Yes! Let’s work hard together for a world where everyone can live in happiness," Elu replied, squeezing my hand with a bright smile.

The "world" felt like a bit too large a scale for me, but in terms of wanting to live out our lives in peace, we were comrades with the same ambition.

"Th-then Fee’s going to help too!" Fee shouted, forcing herself between us.

"I thought it might come to that. It’s a good thing I made preparations in advance."

Emilina had entered the room and was watching us with a thin smile.

"Preparations? What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"Oh, please don’t mind me, Lord Yuri. Also, it looks like it would be best for you to cancel your trip to the Royal Capital. I’ll send word that you’re declining the invitation."

"Is that actually possible?"

"It’s certainly not ideal, of course, but given the circumstances, it can’t be helped."

She had a point. The Beastman nation was in chaos, and the Demon Race had attacked us twice now. For a Lord to leave his territory in such a state would be seen as a dereliction of duty; it was the perfect excuse to stay behind.

"I’m sorry to dump this on you, but could you handle it? Fritz was summoned too, right? Take care of him as well."

"Leave it to me. We need to make a grand show of the fact that we have a Dragon Slayer here, after all."

Emilina gave a cold, fearless smile. As usual, I could see her plotting something behind those eyes, but this time I had no choice but to rely on her.

◇　◆　◇

Perhaps out of concern for her health, Yuri and the others left the room as soon as the necessary business was concluded. Left alone, Elu tried to rest.

Strictly speaking, she needed to sleep to recover from her injuries, but her mind was racing so fast she couldn't even close her eyes. She had never imagined she would find another ruler who shared her convictions.

Elu had been slowly gathering supporters within the Beast Kingdom, of course. But they were merely people who supported Elu as an individual. How many of them truly sympathized with my goal of “coexistence with other races”?

Even her own brother, Kamil, was opposed to the idea of total racial coexistence. The roots of discrimination ran deep; it was a consciousness that couldn’t be uprooted by half-measures. The proof was the recent attack—a massacre that had swept up everyone who had dared to side with her.

It was because I lacked power...

The thought was agonizing. Yet, that failure had led her to a man who upheld the very same ideal. Despite being a Human, he possessed overwhelming magical power and was adored by his people—the ideal leader Elu had envisioned. Furthermore, it seemed he intended to raise a new nation here where all races could live together.

If the ideal place didn't exist, build it yourself. It was a perspective Elu had never considered, and she was moved by the sheer scale of it.

There really was a way, she realized.

She didn't need to obsess over the throne. A country with her exact ideals was already being born. If that was the case, then her purpose was to stay by his side and support that dream.

Naturally, she didn't expect the Kingdom of Inraku to recognize his independence easily. Yuri could simply declare it, but this land was an unfortunate territory sandwiched between four different nations. If he turned the Kingdom of Inraku into an enemy on top of that, what would happen? No matter how powerful Yuri was, his tiny domain would be crushed in an instant.

To prevent that, there was only one thing she could do now. And that was—

Just as she reached her conclusion, Kamil entered the room. Seeing that Elu was safe, he burst into tears.

"Elu, thank God... I was so worried..."

"Brother, I have a request."

Kamil gasped. The look in Elu’s eyes was different than usual—they were filled with a hard, unshakable determination.

"What is it?"

"Contact Father. I am renouncing my current Right of Succession."

"Wh-why would you do that?! Is it because of the attack? We would gladly die for your sake, you know that!"

"No, it isn't just that. I’ve realized that my current methods will never allow me to achieve my goals."

Kamil sighed as he looked into her eyes. He knew that when she looked like this, nothing in the world could move her.

"...I understand. I'll deliver a private letter."

"Yes. However, that won't be enough to fool my other brothers. Therefore, I have decided that I will marry into another country."

Kamil’s jaw dropped. "Y-you don't have to go that far..."

"No, this is what I want. In exchange for the Beast Kingdom's support for this territory, I will renounce my claim to the throne. It's a trade-off."

Watching Elu’s serene smile, it was easy to see that she wasn't being forced into this. Which meant the partner she had in mind was...

She probably hadn't even confirmed it with the man himself yet, but no mere Lord would be foolish enough to refuse a proposal from a sovereign nation. She must have decided she wanted him that badly. If that was her choice, Kamil realized his only role was to help her.

"I can't promise how much Father will agree to, you know?"

"That’s fine. If he refuses, I simply won't renounce my claim. This is the only way I can repay Lord Yuri."

"Understood. In that case, I’ll reach out to the Elu Faction and have them gather here."

"Please do."

Seeing that Elu wouldn't budge an inch, Kamil sighed again and immediately began preparing for his departure.

◇　◆　◇

Emilina was headed for the Royal Capital, with Fritz in tow.

"So, in the end, I'm the only one going..." Fritz grumbled.

"Oh? I’m here too, aren't I?"

Despite sitting directly across from him in the carriage, Fritz didn't seem to count Emilina as company.

"You were going to the Royal Capital anyway! I wanted to drag Yuri along—he’s the one who stuck me with this 'Dragon Slayer' title!"

"Is that so? I suspect the truth is that you simply wanted to stay by Lord Yuri’s side."

"Wh—?! That's not it at all!" Fritz stammered, his face flushing.

"It’s quite alright. To Lord Yuri, your existence is necessary."

Fritz gave her a sharp, suspicious look. "How would you know that?"

"Because Lord Yuri entrusted you to me. It was his way of saying it would be a problem if something happened to you. Besides..."

"Besides what?"

"No, it's nothing."

"Hey, don't leave me hanging. What is it?"

"It’s really nothing much. It’s just... Lord Yuri is essentially a Legendary Sage, isn't he? And you, Lord Fritz, are a swordsman with the ultimate title of Dragon Slayer. Then there is me, a Saint. And we have the Hero, Emma. It’s almost like—"

Fritz finally realized what she was getting at. They were missing a few members, but the composition was unmistakable. This was the classic lineup of a Hero Party. It was the exact same balance of roles as the party that had once subjugated the Demon Lord.

Of course, looking at himself, he felt like a fraud—he was just an apprentice Mercenary. But looking at the titles they held, there was no way to deny the parallel.

"Hehe. Once the kingdom realizes this, do you think they could possibly refuse... my... I mean, Lord Yuri’s wishes? No, they’ll be desperate to win us over."

Emilina wore a dark, wicked smile that didn't suit a Saint in the slightest. Looking at her, Fritz felt an instinctive, primal warning: Do not cross this woman.

"So, what exactly is Yuri’s wish? He’s never told me."

"I haven't heard it directly either, but I can infer it from his actions. That man is trying to create a 'nation where all races can coexist,' just like I am."

Emilina spoke with absolute confidence. Fritz found himself nodding; it made sense.

"I see. He has kept Fee by his side this whole time, after all. I always thought it was strange for a noble’s son to keep a Beastman as a follower rather than a slave."

"If the one at the top doesn't act first, the people below will never follow."

"Right. Then the first thing we need is for the world to recognize this place as a legitimate country."

"Precisely. And for that purpose, I am arranging all the necessary pieces."

"...So that’s what the Hero Party is for."

Emilina simply smiled, saying nothing at all.