STGB Episode 431

The Return of the Lion (2)

The Sky was somewhat gloomy.

But sunlight still leaked through.

A warmth that pushed away the cold that had seeped into my bones.

This was a place with no shivering cold, or hunger.

“Now… it feels a little more real. I’ve really… made it back alive…”

As always, returning to the city after hardship gave us a strangely bittersweet feeling.

Sure, it’s good to be alive, but our hearts felt heavy.

Because there are those who couldn’t make it back with us.

“If only they could’ve held out just a bit longer… just a little more…”

If that had happened…

Maybe a few more people could’ve come back with us.

“Marone.”

At Sven Parab’s call, Marone—who’d been talking to herself—clamped her mouth shut.

Well, just because we’ve made it back to the city doesn’t mean our troubles are over.

It’s too early to feel relieved. For all we know, things from here on could be even harder than they were in the Labyrinth.

Still…

We swallowed the complaints that were bubbling up inside of us, and not just because this is the same mansion where we stayed for a few days before venturing into the Labyrinth—and thus we have to watch our words.

It’s simply because we mustn’t do otherwise.

No matter how steep and treacherous the mountain before us may be—

We had to leave behind those who fought until the very end just so we could stand here.

“Kaislan, are you alright?”

“Ah, I couldn’t be better. But it seems I am the last one?”

Once Kaislan returned from his appointment with a priest who had been summoned to the mansion, our entire squadron gathered in the entrance hall.

 “Instead of just waiting around here, what do you say we go for a walk? Looks like the weather’s quite nice today.”

“That’d be nice.”

“What do you mean, ‘that’d be nice’?”

“You saw the knights standing in front of the reception room, right? The moment we try to step outside for some fresh air, they block us.”

At Akuraba’s explanation, the mage Marone let out a disgruntled complaint.

“Ha! It’s as if we did something wrong! We risked our lives to complete our mission, and this is how they treat us? If anything, we should be treated like heroes!”

“Um, Miss Marone…”

“What? Am I wrong?”

Sven Parab looked at me, but I didn’t feel the need to intervene.

It’s only natural to have at least this level of complaint.

In fact, it’s something I told them to do anyway.

What truly matters is something else.

“Haha, well, our expedition force belongs to the military, doesn’t it? Until we file an official report to the higher-ups, our mission isn’t considered over.”

“Even so, I’m from the military too, and this is too strict.”

“Now, now, calm down. Didn’t we destroy the Eye of the Sky to turn the tide of war? Once we’ve finished reporting everything, it’ll finally be time for the rewards we’ve been waiting for.”

“Whew, about time.”

James Carla whistled in agreement at Kaislan’s words.

Naturally, the conversation that followed was all about what kind of rewards might be coming, what each of us planned to ask for… those little mundane, materialistic things.

Obviously these were words meant for the ears of those outside.

Our entire conversation is likely being relayed directly to the ears of some high official.

“Mister, at least they managed to get us food quickly. Try this.”

“Ah, thanks.”

As I tore into the meat on the plate Erwin brought me, I thought again about everything that had happened.

In case there’d been any slip ups, I’d need to make arrangements.

The guards at the checkpoint didn’t seem to suspect anything.

As soon as we returned to the dimensional plaza, we put our equipment into the binding-type subspace.

Of course, because we had to separate the gear we could show the royal family from the stuff we absolutely had to keep hidden.

And then at the checkpoint.

There, I loudly announced that we were part of the Royal Special Unit and asked them to summon the Marquis.

It was a calculated move.

‘With explorers swarming the checkpoint, news about the special unit would have spread through the city by now.’

The checkpoint official, unsure of what to do, repeated the Marquis’ words that we were to be held here.

Then—

[From here on, we’ll escort you.]

Less than thirty minutes later, knights from the Marquis’ estate arrived. They took us to the same vacant mansion in the imperial capital where our unit’s inaugural ceremony had been held.

[We’ll carry your luggage for you.]

 

[Our luggage…?]

 

[On the Marquis’ orders. I swear on my honor as a knight that no items shall go missing.]

 

Even the packs containing the “safe to show” spoils were seized in the process, and when we reached the manor, priests summoned by the knights treated each of us.

That’s how time has passed up to now.

Knock knock.

Soon there was a knock on the door, and it opened.

Right, that took long enough.

So they’ve finally sorted things out?

“The Marquis requests an audience with you.”

From this moment on, I need to stay sharp.

***

Following the knights, we arrived at a reception room quite similar to where we had been. The unusual part was the empty seat of honor…

Instead, there was a single crystal orb.

“A message stone…”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

It’s not that far from here to the Marquis’ estate, yet he’s resorting to long-distance communication?

Well, at least it shows he’s aware.

He knows he’s done something so heinous to us that if we saw each other face to face, his head might be crushed on the spot.

[Forgive me for greeting you this way. I have urgent business to attend to.]

 

“I can understand that.”

 

[Hmm, judging from your casual tone… I assume the others already know?]

 

His subdued voice came through the moment we sat on the sofa.

 

There was nothing to hide, so I admitted it outright.

 

“They found out somehow. I’ve already told them that I’m Bjorn Jandel. Though, I said it was something I had to do under orders from the royal family.”

 

[I see. That’s a relief, then.]

 

“Rather than that, don’t you have something to say first?”

 

Time to cut the small talk and get to the point.

 

Speaking in a voice tinged with anger:

 

“Spit it out. Why didn’t the rescue party ever show up?”

 

In our remaining time, the squad and I had already discussed what our natural reaction should be.

“Surely you heard my broadcast across that entire region. Don’t tell me you never received it. What happened?”

 

[…We’re still looking into the exact circumstances.]

“This late, and still assessing while using a crystal orb?”

“From what I’ve heard, the enemy forces in Deadwood were unexpectedly large. Attempts were made to rescue you, but eventually, they had to give up.”

That was roughly the kind of response I expected.

But there was one thing I hadn’t anticipated.

[Likely when you sent out your wide-area communication, Noark’s side realized there was a rescue force.]

 

Wow. So he’s implying it’s partially my fault?

 

How thick is the Marquis’ skin?

 

“Then what about the initial lack of response? If everything had worked correctly from the start, none of this would have happened!”

 

[Well… it seems my son made some sort of error.]

 

“…Error?”

I asked as if I heard something unbelievable.

And then—

 

[Allow me to apologize on his behalf. I’m sor—]

I exploded with rage.

“Bethel—RAAAAAAAAAH!”

 

Directed not at the Marquis or the royal family,

 

But at the pawn responsible.

 

“Eltora Tercerion!”

 

[Wait, calm down—]

 

“So it was all that bastard’s fault?! Because he’s incompetent, because he messed up, we didn’t get our message through on time?!”

 

[Listen, that’s—]

 

“Marquis! Where is that bastard? Actually, don’t tell me. Because the moment I lay eyes on him, I’ll probably smash his skull by accident.”

 

[…]

 

Like a person who can’t contain his anger, I slammed my fist into the table in front of me, shattering it.

 

Then I sucked in sharp, ragged breaths.

 

[…Have you cooled off enough?]

 

Beyond the crystal orb, suspicion flickered in the Marquis’ eyes.

 

Well, it’s not like me to blow up like this.

 

Even if my emotions run hotter than most, I usually do things based on profit and loss.

 

Which means—

 

“Compensation.”

 

I spoke, tempering my rage.

 

Not that my anger was entirely gone,

 

But it’s obvious I was making a scene just for this.

 

“I expect proper compensation. I carried out your request to lead the expedition. I accomplished the mission.”

 

[Ah… of course, of course. Compensation… yes, it’s only fair.]

 

The Marquis agreed at once. As soon as he said it, I exchanged glances with the members.

A few of them nodded as if to say ‘well done.’

Details are crucial in these matters.

“Well then, let’s postpone the discussion of compensation for the mistakes…”

“…….”

[“May I hear it? What exactly happened over there?”]

Right, this is the part.

After taking a single breath to steady myself, I began the story I’d prepared. It took a bit longer because the marquis kept interjecting with questions, but we finished well under an hour.

[“You’ve been through a lot because of my good-for-nothing son.”]

Those were his only words once I’d finished my story.

Been through a lot, huh…

That one sentence made my blood rush to my head for some reason, but I managed to hold it together.

[“I’ll make sure you receive proper compensation for my son’s blunder. I’ll put in every effort.”]

The marquis continued.

[“And… truly, congratulations on surviving.”]

Huh, saying something he doesn’t even mean.

[“I’ll be in touch again.”]

Anyway, that ended our contact with the marquis.

“Allow me to show you to your rooms.”

I wondered if our story had gotten through to him or not.

Well, we’d know with time.

***

Afterward, we were escorted to our respective rooms by the knights.

A large bed with fluffy blankets.

The warm sunlight streaming through the window.

Considering the times I had to sleep bare on ice, the room was more than generous, but my body, worn out from 75 days of fatigue, showed no signs of falling asleep easily.

Probably the same for my comrades in other rooms.

There was likely some worry we might be attacked by knights in our sleep.

“…….”

Despite that, as soon as I lay down, my body began to feel drowsy, and I eventually fell asleep.

And then…

“At least my head’s still attached.”

The next morning, I woke up alive and well.

Whew, does this mean that even in the city, I’m going to have to sleep every night with this sense of unease?

We have a long road ahead of us.

Well, what else can we do? We just have to keep going.

Anyway, that was how our second day of survival began.

We got back our backpacks that had been confiscated the day before.\

When I asked the marquis why he bothered taking them at all, his explanation was so absurd it was actually impressive:

[“Oh dear… I see it was delivered to you that way. I simply meant to have your spoils appraised on your behalf, since you were tired, and let my people know I’d be willing to purchase them at a price higher than market value. I’ll be sure to caution them so they don’t distort my words like that again.”]

Ridiculous as it sounded, the marquis did keep his word. For any items we wished to sell, he bought them at a price far above market value. We jumped on this chance and sold off everything we didn’t need.

Well, at least our funds would be abundant for a while.

[“Oh, and one more thing. Since you showed up at the checkpoint, the public’s interest in the expedition team is pretty high.”]

There was some good news, too.

During the war, a radio transmission about the ‘Eye of the Sky’ being destroyed had spread throughout the entire Dark Continent. 

And the appearance of the royal family’s special unit in the city.

“A triumph ceremony?”

[“It’s to be held in the royal palace. Before the kingdom’s nobility and its citizens, your role in this operation—until now kept secret—will be revealed, and your achievements will be celebrated.”]

Well, I’d expected as much, but two days is awfully soon. Is it really possible to arrange everything that fast?

I was skeptical, but soon understood:

Ah, they’d already been preparing for this.

The triumph ceremony had probably been prepared long in advance.

The lack of survivors wasn’t going to be enough reason to cancel their little ‘celebration.’

They’d planned to promote the destruction of the Eye of the Sky as their own great achievement, honouring the “fallen expeditionary force” while sharing the glory among themselves.

[“So get ready. I’ll have someone send along the schedule and ceremony details for you to go through.  Of course, we’ll also provide all the clothing you’ll need.”]

“Understood. I’ll pass that along to the other members.”

[As I said, the public will be watching closely. It may be uncomfortable, but for everyone’s sake, just lay low here until the ceremony. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”]

“Then… there is one thing.”

I made a single request of the Marquis, and after that, time flew.

And so, finally –

“WAAAAAAAHHHH!”

“The heroes have arrived!”

The day of the triumph ceremony arrived.