I informed everyone about our return, and as if they had been waiting, their faces brightened.
We all wore masks. The pictures of us that Charon had spread were still up, and even if they weren't, we had to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Upon arriving in Palma, we first looked for Pielott.
Pielott had fully recovered during the rest of the break. However, it seemed the wound was deep, as a scar remained on his abdomen where the arrow had pierced him.
As I checked his scar, Pielott looked at my face and immediately exclaimed,
“Teacher! It's okay! This is like a medal of honor! It doesn't even hurt anymore!”
He desperately tried to assure me that he was fine.
What kind of expression did I have on my face?
Afterward, we purchased a new vehicle in Palma.
To be precise, Arald had ordered it in advance. He had heard that our original vehicle was still at the explosion site.
I thought we had escaped the damage from the explosion, but Arald insisted that we needed a new vehicle, claiming that was not the case.
Well, if Arald says so, it must be true.
We each got into the car. Lily and Arald were to drive, and since we were just going to drive back, everyone got in without any issues.
Not long after the car started, Basileo had a dissatisfied look on his face.
“……No one knows.”
“Knows what?”
“That you stopped the war, Teacher.”
“Hahaha. What difference would it make if they knew?”
“It would make a difference! At least we wouldn't be leaving Palma so sadly like this, but with the support and gratitude of many people….”
As Basileo spoke, his eyes sparkled as if he were picturing the scene.
I said,
“If they knew I stopped the war, wouldn't they also know that I knocked out all the citizens of Palma, became the Devil King, and was ultimately killed by a God?”
“Ah. No, well, they only need to know that you stopped the war!”
“If there's a way to only tell them that, I'd like to have it.”
“Still, no, hmm, if we could just somehow hide the devil-related parts….”
Basileo diligently pondered the best possible scenario.
I just smiled at his efforts.
“Everyone's alive. That's all that matters.”
“……Still….”
Basileo seemed unconvinced.
Actually, it wasn't just Basileo; everyone in the car seemed to share similar thoughts. I'm sure the people in the other car felt the same way.
I didn't stop the war alone. Everyone here made valuable sacrifices.
To think that the result of all that is escaping like this without any reward. It's understandable that they wouldn't be satisfied.
“When we get to Atlas, I'll reward each of you accordingly. Arald, is that possible?”
“……If it's money, I can give you all as much as you want. However,”
Arald, who was driving, looked at everyone's faces through the rearview mirror.
“This isn't about that, Frondier.”
“……Yeah, I'm sorry. This isn't something I can repay with money.”
“That's not it!”
This time, Elodie, who was sitting next to me, grabbed my arm. She looked straight at me and said,
“Who's going to repay you?”
“…….”
“I don't need money or anything. I wasn't the one who risked my life in that fight! But!”
Elodie's eyes were like a lake.
And the lake was rippling.
“I can't accept sacrifices going unrewarded. Even if it wasn't me.”
“……Elodie, I…”
“You saved Senior Edwin during the golem incident.”
Elodie cut me off and continued.
“You brought down Indus, stopped the war with Manggot, prevented the devil invasion and their attack on the Empire, and even stopped the war here in Palma.”
The lake ripples.
Tears welled up in Elodie's eyes.
“What did you get in return? What did you gain after accomplishing all of that?”
I was speechless.
There were many things I could say.
There were definitely things I gained that she didn't know about.
“Being branded a devil and exiled from the Empire? Having to wear a mask and hide in Palma? Living under the threat of both Gods and devils? Are those your rewards?”
Elodie's overflowing emotions poured onto me.
And I made a mistake without realizing it.
I ended up empathizing with her words.
─Are you alright?
Unnecessary words came to mind, and I mumbled,
“……I'm fine.”
I'm fine.
I'm not hurt.
“You're not fine!!”
Elodie shouted, as if striking the entire vehicle.
Everyone inside seemed startled, but no one tried to stop her.
As if they all understood.
As if something that was bound to burst had finally burst.
“Fron! You're not fine at all!!”
Elodie's head hung low. Her shoulders were trembling.
“Because you're not fine, I…!”
Elodie couldn't finish her sentence.
And I couldn't bring myself to respond.
A moment of silence filled the quietly moving vehicle.
“……Frondier, up ahead.”
At that moment, Arald, who was driving, spoke to me.
I looked ahead and saw someone standing there.
Arald continued,
“They've been standing there from a distance. I thought they would move out of the way as we got closer, but it seems they were waiting for us.”
I focused on the figure standing ahead.
It was an unfamiliar woman.
“……Who is that?”
“I'll go check.”
“No, I'll go.”
She didn't seem hostile, but there was something unreadable about her. If a dangerous situation were to arise, the one who could handle it…
‘…Ah.’
I see.
Maybe this is why Elodie was so upset.
While bewildered by my own actions, I got out of the car.
As I approached, the woman bowed deeply.
“Frondier, it's an honor to meet you.”
Caw─
As soon as I heard her voice, a crow landed on my shoulder.
[Frondier, it's the Nine.]
“The Nine?”
[The organization that helped you save Colin from Charon. That voice from behind the door, it was hers.]
I see. So a member of the Nine has finally revealed themselves to me.
The woman nodded and said,
“I am the leader of the Nine, Evelyn Pere.”
“……Leader?”
“Well, you can call me the head, representative, chairman, or anything you like.”
That's not what I meant.
“The leader of the Nine is showing themselves to me? And even revealing their name?”
No, it must be an alias.
But Evelyn denied even that thought.
“This is my utmost respect for you. Revealing my real name is also part of that.”
“Why would the leader of the Nine show me such respect?”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“You saved Palma.”
“……The Nine are a more righteous organization than I thought.”
“This is not about righteousness.”
Her next action was even more surprising.
Evelyn knelt on one knee before me.
“This is our decision, Frondier.”
“…….”
I was speechless at the sight. The crow on my shoulder seemed equally stunned.
“This…”
Evelyn then took something out from her pocket and offered it to me.
It was a thin, glowing ring. At first glance, it resembled a Dragon Heart. However, unlike the triangular Dragon Heart, this one was perfectly round.
“What is this?”
“It's a Golden Apple.”
“!”
At Evelyn's words, I looked at the round crystal again.
A Golden Apple?
It's neither gold nor an apple?
“……You're saying this is a Golden Apple?”
“Well…”
Evelyn made a soft sound and then,
in a manner similar to before,
but with entirely different words, she said,
“Golden Apple, Idun's Apple, Amrita, Nectar, Ambrosia. You can call it whatever you like.”
Read ahead by supporting me on Ko-fi. Tiers starting at 10$ per month and you can access upto 40 advance chapters! Choose your tier by clicking the 'Support me' button! Join our discord server for latest release updates and novel discussions. Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel. Bonus chapters on reaching milestones. Happy reading!