Chapter 34: Northbound

The day the hero’s party departed from Alphares, a large crowd gathered to see them off.

“I apologize that we couldn’t offer you a grander farewell,” Count Alphares said to Aswell.

“Not at all. Your hospitality was more than enough,” Aswell replied.

As the Count and Aswell conversed, Rui felt a burning gaze on her.

‘…Of course,’ she thought, recognizing the source.

It was the Count’s daughter. Hidden behind her mother, she was staring at Aswell with undisguised adoration.

If she had been a potential heroine in the original story, Rui would have encouraged the match. Unfortunately, she was only fourteen.

It was a delicate situation, and Aswell seemed to be avoiding any private interactions with her.

Aswell continued to chat with the Count and Countess, while the three heroines mingled with the people they had befriended during their stay.

“Miss Rui,” a voice said.

“Ah,” Rui turned to see her assigned maid.

“Please, no formalities. So you’re leaving today,” the maid said.

“Yes. Thank you for all your help,” Rui said sincerely, bowing her head in gratitude. She had been incredibly comfortable thanks to the maid’s attentiveness.

The maid smiled. “It was my pleasure. I received plenty in return, so there’s no need for thanks.”

“…??” Rui blinked, confused by her cryptic words. As the maid walked away, Rui noticed several other maids glaring at her with envy.

But her maid maintained her serene smile, seemingly unaffected.

‘Well, it’s probably fine,’ Rui thought, dismissing the strange interaction.

“Alright, shall we depart?” Aswell announced, having finished his farewells.

Everyone mounted their horses.

“Lux, it’s been a while,” Rui said, stroking Nightlux’s mane.

Snort.

“Ah, sorry. Don’t lick me.”

It seemed Nightlux was upset about being neglected before and after the fortress incident. He nuzzled Rui affectionately, almost licking her face. She quickly calmed him down and mounted him.

“The citizens will be escorting you out of the city,” Count Alphares announced.

“Ah…”

The mansion gates opened, and everyone gasped.

“Aswell!”

“Thank you for protecting our city!!”

“Hooray for the hero’s party!!”

Crowds lined the road leading to the North Gate, cheering and waving.

‘…This is… a lot,’ Rui thought, overwhelmed.

This was her first experience with such a grand send-off. The others had likely experienced similar farewells in the capital and other cities. But judging by their expressions, they were genuinely touched.

The hero’s party, led by Aswell on Tempest, slowly made their way through the cheering crowds, waving and greeting the people. Rui followed quietly behind.

But then…

“Miss Rui! Look over here!!”

“Our city’s savior! A true beacon of light!!”

“Huh?” Rui blinked, confused.

They weren’t just cheering for the hero’s party. They were specifically calling out to her, with a fervent enthusiasm.

‘Why?’ she wondered.

Her contributions to the battle at the Twilight Fortress had been limited to reinforcing the walls and enchanting everyone’s equipment. Compared to Aswell’s feat of destroying the fortress, hers seemed insignificant.

“Gah! I made eye contact with Miss Rui! I have to study magic now…!”

“Praise her! Just shut up and praise her!”

“The citizens of Alphares officially declare their unwavering support for Miss Rui! Any insults or derogatory remarks directed towards her will be considered an insult to all citizens of Alphares…!”

“…??”

This was… strange.

Snicker…

“Hee hee…”

Rui noticed the three heroines trying to suppress their laughter.

‘What is going on?’ she wondered, bewildered.

As her confusion grew, she happened to make eye contact with Aswell.

“Um… Rui,” he began.

“Yes?”

“That thing you asked me to do before you passed out…?”

“Yes…?”

“I kind of… failed,” he admitted, avoiding her gaze.

“Huh?”

She had asked him to take credit for destroying the fortresses.

“I tried to keep it a secret, like you asked… but there were too many witnesses. The rumor is that it was a combined attack, a special technique you and I developed together…”

“Pffft… hahahaha! Look at Rui’s face! Ahahaha!” Raphilia burst out laughing.

“Raphilia! You shouldn’t laugh… giggle,” Aria scolded, though she was also struggling to contain her amusement.

“I feel so safe with the Goddess of Bombardment on our side,” Serin said with a smirk.

“Ahahahaha!!”

“Goddess of… Bombardment…?” Rui muttered, turning towards the crowd.

Several people were waving small banners.

[Goddess of Bombardment, Rui of the hero’s party! The citizens of Alphares support you!]

[Miss Rui, show us another bombardment!]

[The true wife of the hero is Ru…!]

“…,” Rui mentally checked out.

She was happy to have supporters, but this was too much to handle.

She steadfastly ignored her new nickname, mechanically waving at the crowd as they approached the North Gate.

Just before exiting the city, she spotted someone familiar and quickly dismounted Nightlux.

“Rui?” Aswell asked, surprised.

“I’ll be right back. I just need to talk to someone,” Rui said, hurrying towards a nearby alley.

The figure, noticing Rui, smirked and entered the alley as well.

“Diyursil,” Rui greeted her.

“Oh my, I was just about to leave,” Diyursil replied, her smile as enchanting as ever.

“I would have preferred to visit you at the mansion, but… it seemed a bit too chaotic,” she explained.

“I see,” Rui replied.

“So, did my lessons prove useful?” Diyursil asked.

“Very much so. Your gem crafting techniques were invaluable,” Rui confirmed.

She wouldn’t have been able to create the tracking bracelets without Diyursil’s teachings. Although the bracelets had degraded due to her incomplete mastery of the techniques, the potential was immense.

“Thanks to you, we were able to gain an advantage in battle,” Rui said.

“Really? Then I suppose I helped the Goddess of Bombardment quite a bit,” Diyursil teased.

“Ah,” Rui groaned.

“Ahahaha. I knew you wouldn’t like that nickname. It was coined by that humorless West Gate Captain,” Diyursil revealed.

Him? Rui had saved the western wall from collapsing, and this was how he repaid her?

“Anyway, where are you headed next?” Diyursil asked.

“North, I believe,” Rui replied.

And she would likely encounter the witch heroine soon.

Diyursil waved her hand dismissively. “Well then, safe travels. I wish you the best.”

“Thank you,” Rui replied.

“Oh, by the way, how’s that opal you gave Aswell?”

The opal? Why did she suddenly ask about that? Rui had seen Aswell wearing it every day, close to his heart.

“It’s fine,” Rui replied.

“Hmm, then do you know the meaning of a water opal?”

It wasn’t just an opal; it was a water opal. Rui knew next to nothing about gems.

“Is there a meaning?” she asked.

“Well, if you don’t know, it doesn’t matter. Now, you should really get going. Everyone’s waiting,” Diyursil said, ushering her away.

“Goodbye,” Rui said, bidding farewell to the enigmatic witch.

They exited the North Gate, exchanging final goodbyes with the guards. Finally, away from the crowds, they could relax.

“Phew…”

“Good work, everyone,” Aswell said.

“It’s nice to be appreciated, but those farewells can be tiring,” Raphilia commented.

“But as long as everyone’s happy, I’m happy,” Aria said cheerfully.

While Raphilia and Aria chatted, Serin and Aswell discussed their next destination.

“Where did you say we were headed?” Serin asked.

“Our first objective is a city near the mountains in the northwest,” Aswell explained.

“It’ll be getting colder soon, then,” Serin observed.

Rui remained silent, lost in her own thoughts.

With the Twilight Fortress incident behind them, the hero’s party was heading north, following a clockwise route that would eventually take them to the northwestern and then northern regions of the Empire.

‘That’s halfway,’ Rui realized.

They had joined forces in the south. They had traveled half a circle around the Empire. What awaited them on their journey north?

‘We’ll be meeting the witch heroine soon.’

The witch heroine’s arc was next.

In the original story, they met her after passing through two villages. It should happen within a month.

That was according to the original story. But Rui had another objective.

‘When is Aria’s affection event?’

She had prioritized the other heroines because of Aria’s significant role in the original story.

‘She was practically the main heroine,’ Rui mused.

That’s why she had put Aria’s arc on hold. But now it was time to help her. She needed a plan.

‘The question is…,’

Should she do it before or after meeting the witch heroine?

Both options had their merits and drawbacks.

“Hmm…”

As Raphilia finished talking and Aria took a sip of water, Rui approached her.

“Aria,” Rui began.

“?” Aria looked at her, tilting her head slightly.

It was always best to discuss these things with the person involved.

“You like Aswell, don’t you?”

“Splutter! Ah! I’m sorry!”

Rui realized she had chosen a very bad time to bring this up. But she had already started, so she quickly wiped the water off her face and carefully considered her next words.