Chapter 13 : Reconvening the Hero’s Party (2)

Alec was pacing in front of me, looking unsure of what to do.

Isn’t it about time he got it together? Why is he acting like a dog that needs to pee?

“We’re all here, so let’s begin the explanation.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ignoring Alec, I sat on the chair the adjutant had prepared. Karl and Sierra sat beside me, sensing the mood, while Alec and Eris remained

standing.

“What are you doing? Sit down.”

“Alec…”

Once Alec and Eris sat, the adjutant cleared his throat and began briefing us.

“Currently, the remnants of the Beast King’s army are hiding in the nearby Great Forest.”

“Troublesome place to go into.”

“Yes, exactly. If you get lost in there, it’s nearly impossible to get out. So, we’re stuck just observing for now.”

The Great Forest — a labyrinthine woodland bordering the grain fields and the demon realm. Once inside, you can’t get out easily. It’s also a

habitat of beastkin, so rushing in would be reckless.

“And according to reports, their leader is using Fenrir.”

“Fenrir? You mean a giant wolf? Why would beastkin follow a Fenrir?”

“No, it’s that Fenrir.”

“So that’s why you called us.”

Karl sighed and scratched his head like this was going to be difficult.

He’s right. Fenrir is a magical beast on par with dragons in the northern regions.

“So how are we going to lure them out? That’s the tricky part. And we’ll need to block their escape routes. Our knights won’t be enough.”

Karl started ranting, clearly annoyed. Sierra nodded slightly, seeming to agree.

“We plan to set fire to the Great Forest as bait. And we’ll need Eris’ weather-control magic.”

“Uh… I can’t cast Control Weather on my own…”

“Mages from the Raspan Kingdom are on their way to assist.”

“Then… we should be okay…”

So they’re going to start a fire, then use magic to make it rain afterward.

The grain fields are already destroyed. Even if the fire spreads our way, there’s nothing left to lose — that must be their thinking.

“We’ll handle the rest of the Beast King’s forces with the Royal Guard and our knights.”

“Oh, the Royal Guard’s here? His Majesty must be seriously pissed.”

“That’s right. We’ll proceed as soon as we’re ready.”

The Royal Guard — the Emperor’s elite unit. The strongest warriors in the Empire, directly under the Emperor himself.

For them to be sent means the Emperor is really taking this seriously.

After the adjutant bowed and left, silence filled the tent. Karl, clearly uncomfortable with the tension, tried to break it.

“Hey, Charlotte, once this is over, could you officiate our wedding?”

“Sure.”

“That was too easy! Are you sure it’s okay?”

“If people ask me like you did, I’ll always say yes. Right, Alec?”

He didn’t respond — probably avoiding my gaze.

Good. That cursed mouth of his should stay shut for once.

Was it my crying and yelling last time that worked on him? Should’ve done it sooner.

As the awkward silence dragged on, Alec tried to leave the tent — only to bump into someone walking in.

“Oh! Sorry!”

“No worries. Who are you?”

“I’m Sericia, Commander of the Royal Guard. An honor to meet the Hero’s party.”

“Sericia…?”

“It’s been a while, Saintess.”

Sericia — a person from my past.

Same long blond hair, emerald eyes.

Slim enough that you wouldn’t believe she’s a knight.

Aside from a more mature face, she looked just like she did when we were kids.

“ Why is Sericia here…? Huh?”

“You still freeze up when you’re surprised, huh, Charl?”

“You… seriously…!”

Sericia knelt in front of me and gently stroked my face.

That rough hand… it’s been ten years since she vanished from the cathedral.

I hoped she hadn’t starved somewhere, but to see her now, a commander of the Royal Guard…

“Your face says it all, Charl.”

“Right back at you.”

She smiled faintly and kissed me on the cheek.

Still the kiss-monster, huh? Some things never change.

“I’m here for work today, but I’ll come find you at the cathedral after.”

“Don’t go there. Come to the academy instead.”

“The academy? At your age? Are they letting you enroll?”

“I… I’m just visiting. I’ll explain later.”

Our companions were staring at us curiously — especially Sierra, her eyes gleaming with interest.

Probably wondering about the kiss.

“Let me introduce her. This is Sericia, someone I met back at the cathedral when we were kids.”

“I’m Sericia, Commander of the Royal Guard. I’m kind of like Charlotte’s big sister.”

“Who’s your big sister?”

“I am.”

Sericia laughed and ruffled my hair.

She and I had trained as Saintess candidates together.

Back then, no one in the group escaped her “kiss baptism.”

“Oh right. Lady Eris, the mages from Raspan have arrived.”

“Oh, yes! I’ll go now!”

“You came all the way just to say that?”

“No, I came to see you.”

She kissed my cheek again with a grin.

Seriously, hasn’t changed a bit…

“You’re not a kid anymore, knock it off.”

“You’re so cold! It’s been ages~”

“Still though…”

Karl, Sierra, and Alec all stared at me in silence.

At my age, being kissed like this in front of others… it’s humiliating.

“Anyway, time to go.”

“Yeah, too bad — guess that’s it for now.”

Sericia planted a deep kiss on my forehead and dashed out of the tent.

“Are all Royal Guards like that?”

“No, Sericia’s just… special.”

Karl chuckled strangely at the scene.

I stood up and grabbed a mace from the weapon rack in the corner.

Alec looked displeased.

“Charlotte, you won’t need to fight this time.”

“Well… we’ll see about that.”

Alec gave me a look, like I didn’t trust him.

Well, yeah. He hasn’t once compromised in three years — where’s this confidence coming from now?

The Beast King’s forces aren’t the type to beg for mercy.

Maybe I won’t have to step in, but I should at least be armed to protect myself.

“Let’s go.”

In the distance, smoke began to rise as the Great Forest caught fire.

Beastkin riders on giant wolves burst out from the flames.

No one told me there would be wolf riders.

Knights and Royal Guards formed a perimeter to stop the swarm.

They looked overwhelmed at a glance — but each Royal Guard was on Karl’s level, even if not a hero.

Sericia drew her sword and charged into the wolf riders and beastkin.

“Focus, Charlotte!”

“I know!”

Sierra’s sharp voice snapped me back.

I ran across the scorched plain.

A massive silver-clawed wolf burst from the burning trees.

“Holy hell, how are they riding Fenrir? Even Garaa didn’t pull this shit.”

Karl cursed, visibly shaken — his shield even trembled.

“So it was true.”

“The hero really has returned.”

The beastkin on Fenrir glared at Alec with pure hatred — like he wanted to rip him apart on the spot.

“A revenge for the Beast King?”

“Garaa’s revenge is only the beginning.”

He growled, baring his fangs at Alec.

I could even hear his teeth grinding from here.

“I’d love to tear you apart right now…”

The beastkin looked around, then raised his hand.

“There’s nothing more to gain here. Time to head south.”

At his signal, the Beast King’s forces stopped advancing and retreated into the burning forest — like the fire didn’t scare them at all.

“Where the hell are the knights who were blocking the escape route?!” Karl shouted.

Then the beastkin started throwing something toward us.

Heads of the knights Alec had sent to block the path rolled to his feet.

They were so mutilated you couldn’t even tell who they were — eyes, noses, ears gone, and fingers stuffed into their mouths.

The moment Alec’s expression froze, a chill ran down my spine.

“Wait— you’re not going to—”

Before I could finish, Alec ran straight into the burning forest.

“Stop! Alec!!”

It was obviously a trap.

They threw the heads to provoke Alec into charging.

Only someone with no sense would fall for that — and that someone was Alec.

“Huh?!”

“Eris!! Weather magic!!”

Alec’s shout startled Eris, and she began chanting with the Raspan mages.

Clouds gathered over the forest and rain started pouring.

“Damn it, Alec!!”

Karl cursed and chased after him like a madman.

Sierra, annoyed, followed.

Eris slumped to the ground, exhausted from casting.

I was the only one left in the field.

The rain cooled my burning head.

“If I don’t go, they’ll all die.”

We’re going to die either way.

Even with rain, that forest is still ablaze — and it’s the beastkin’s home turf.

No sane person would go in there.

“Am I going to die too?”

I couldn’t calculate this.

Even if divine power can instantly heal severe wounds — it doesn’t work well on my body.

“Charlotte!!!”

Sericia shouted from behind, rushing toward me in panic.

If I brought her too, would we have a chance?

But no… I didn’t want Alec’s recklessness to hurt her too.

This was a Hero’s Party problem.

“I’ll be back.”

“Charl? Charlotte!!”

Leaving Sericia behind, I ran into the burning forest.

I saw Karl and Sierra at the entrance.

“Where is he?”

“He went deeper in.”

“That bastard — if he survives, I’m chaining him up so he can’t run around anymore.”

“Even Eris would approve of that.”

Sierra gripped her bow angrily.

Was it really okay to drag your future spouse into a death zone like this?

After casting a minor blessing, we followed Karl into the forest.

The smoke from the burning trees made it hard to even breathe.

What the hell is Alec thinking?

Is his head completely empty?

Rustle.

A huge shadow moved beside me.

A wolf leapt out of the flames.

“Kyaa!!”

“Charlotte!!”

It bit into my arm and tackled me.

It happened so fast I couldn’t use my divine power.

Sierra’s arrow struck its head, but I lost my balance under its weight.

“Charlotte!!”

I fell, rolling down a slope with the dead wolf.

Pant… 

How far did I roll?

Thanks to the wolf cushioning me, I wasn’t badly injured —

But my bitten arm was a shredded mess.

“Shit… I’m lost.”

The pouring rain made my body shiver.

If I didn’t find fire, I might die from hypothermia.

But there was no fire in the area I fell into.

All that fire earlier — where did it go?

As I healed my arm and looked around—

A dying wolf cried out nearby.

Could Alec be nearby?

Please let it be Alec…

I quietly crept toward the sound.

But the person standing beside the dead wolf—

Wasn’t Alec.