BXBX NOVEL Chapter 67 – Joyful, the Savior Has Come (4)
“How have you been, Dian?”
As I looked out the window of the running carriage, Linus asked.
“Judging by your face, it seems you’ve been well.”
“I’ve been great. There’s no reason not to be.”
I turned my gaze from the window and smiled.
“These days, the headmaster is working hard, no one interferes with me, and the academy has everything I need. Everything is perfect. Except for the fact that you invited me to this event today.”
“Haha. Sorry, but it couldn’t be helped.”
Linus raised both hands.
“You have no idea how the people of Tatarnok village have been longing for you these past ten years. Although I know you don’t want to rely on past glory and attract public attention, you might change your mind when you get there.”
“I don’t know yet. I’m not sure.”
“By the way, have you checked the patient logs?”
“Not yet. The timing hasn’t been right.”
“I see. As you know, the Lormane…”
“Enough. There’s no need to bring up Lormane on a day like today.”
Linus smiled awkwardly and fell silent.
“Recently, I visited the Ivronic Castle for a battlefield tour.”
I changed the subject to shake off thoughts of Lormane.
“It’s changed a lot. It’s become a tourist attraction.”
“The Imperial Palace exaggerated my achievements to gain public support.”
“It seemed so. There were murals of you and markings on the cliffs.”
“Ha, yes…”
Linus, embarrassed, rubbed his forehead and sighed deeply.
“When I first heard about the development plan, I opposed it. As you know, reclaiming Ivronic Castle wasn’t solely our achievement. We stepped over the bodies of the dead and delivered the final blow.”
“Right. Many had already died before we got there.”
“Disregarding all that and only putting my name on the signboard is an insult to those who died there. I didn’t even climb the cliff alone.”
“It’s kind of funny, actually.”
“I wanted to preserve the original form of Ivronic Castle and carve the names of the fallen on the cliff. But the result is what you saw there. Guides, cafes, souvenir shops, murals. It’s absurd.”
Linus continued speaking with a grim expression, looking out the window.
“Now that you’re back in the Empire, you’ll see many more places like this. There are countless places similar to Ivronic Castle here in the Empire.”
Familiar names flowed from Linus’s mouth.
The Camel Ridge, Dervion, Callias, Rajoram, the Black Swamp, Orandir, Pinluk, Pensimian, Tiraellen, and many more.
“Every place where you and I briefly visited has a small monument or statue. These are all the Emperor’s desperate attempts to maintain his political life.”
After the war, the power structure of the Empire completely reversed.
The nobles’ council, the Emperor, and other old elites who had controlled the Empire achieved nothing significant during the war.
Their rigid thinking, self-preservation, and strategic incompetence, which they had hidden behind their authority, were exposed.
In contrast, the Second Princess, a concubine’s daughter, and officers from commoner backgrounds achieved remarkable results against the Demon King’s army with their unique cleverness and flexibility.
To restore his weakened base, the Emperor heavily promoted the achievements of the Demon King Slayer Special Force, especially those of Linus.
The Emperor himself had approved the formation of the special task force, and it was his only accomplishment during the war.
‘The task force personally established by the Emperor achieved these great exploits and restored peace by killing the Demon King.’
But my name isn’t there.
I refused all offers from the Palace and disappeared, which enraged the Emperor.
His anger stemmed from my refusal of his proposal, his fear that it might tarnish his only achievement, and his concern that I might harbor other ambitions.
“The Second Princess wants you to remain a secret even while serving as a professor at the academy.”
“That’s what I want too.”
“But it’s not just out of consideration for you.”
“I can guess. She probably wants to keep me for herself. You’re already under her control.”
Linus nodded.
“I am publicly known as a hero of the continent, and Celine is now in no condition to act. Lormane is the chief executive of the church and untouchable. Kaiden is isolated in the Magic Tower.”
“But the one missing member of the task force is now a professor accessible to anyone. She wants to prevent opposing forces from approaching and recruiting me. Since she can’t forcefully bind me, she’s hiding me in the Special Mission Academy she controls, keeping my existence a secret?”
“You’re remarkable. You’ve already figured everything out.”
“It’s obvious to anyone who isn’t an idiot. But there’s one thing I still don’t understand.”
“What is it?”
“Your actions.”
I pointed at Linus.
“I don’t care about being treated as a hero, and the Second Princess prefers me staying quiet, right? So why are you trying to take me to this event?”
“Because you and I did it together.”
Linus said with a serious expression.
“It’s not just my achievement. It’s ours. It’s unfair for me to be celebrated while you’re forgotten.”
“But this could go against the Palacel’s intentions. Rumors will spread eventually.”
“That too is unfair.”
Linus replied firmly.
“I want you, Dian, to be in a position worthy of what you’ve done. I don’t want you to be hidden or revealed due to complex political purposes against your will. You shouldn’t be treated like that.”
“I understand what you’re saying. It’s my choice to decide whether to be a hero or remain hidden. But I want to live quietly.”
“Ten years ago, you left the Palace and moved to a distant port city, unaware of how the world changed. You don’t even know how many people who owe you are waiting for and honoring you. I want you to experience everything objectively and then decide for yourself.”
“Hmm…”
“If, after meeting the people of the Tatarnok village today, you still want to live quietly disconnected from everything, I’ll respect that. I prioritize your free will and choice. The Palacel’s intentions are irrelevant.”
As I slowly nodded, Linus asked,
“You visited Ivronic Castle, so you must have met the veterans there. Didn’t they recognize you?”
“They did. The guide there seemed to have already heard about me from them.”
“There are many people across the continent waiting for you. And over there too.”
Linus pointed out the window.
Between the mountains, a rather large village came into view.
Is that the Tatarnok village? It’s grown so much since then!
Seeing the village, which had been in ruins, standing intact, I felt an indescribable emotion.
“After the war, I continued to support the village in our names. I’m sorry I couldn’t get your consent in advance. But there was no way to contact you.”
“It’s okay. And… it’s not bad. It looks good.”
“And over there is the valley where we took a brief rest.”
Following Linus’s gesture, I saw a sunken valley not far from the village.
Memories from that time flooded back.
Linus and I ran straight to the village from there and immediately struck the rear of the Demon King’s army.
The Demon King’s army then had about thirty soldiers, roughly a platoon size.
It was night, and they were attacking civilian houses, so they were scattered.
Thanks to that, Linus and I hunted them down one by one.
But the houses were already burning and collapsing, and the villagers were thrown into an extreme situation in the path of the main force of the Demon King’s army.
I never thought this village would recover….
“They’re coming! Sir Linus’s carriage is here!”
As the carriage approached the village, people rushed out and cheered.
“Sir Linus! Did you bring him with you?!”
“You promised to bring him this year!”
As Linus got out of the carriage, people grabbed him and bombarded him with questions.
“I did bring him. Dian, come out.”
Linus stepped aside with a smile, and I awkwardly stepped out of the carriage.
As soon as I fully stepped out, a cold silence fell over the crowd.
“S-Sir Dian…”
“Sir Dian is really here!”
“Waaaah!”
At someone’s shout, people screamed and rushed toward me.
They immediately grabbed me and started tossing me in the air in celebration.
# # # # #
“What’s going on…?”
Meanwhile,Lina, who had been hiding in the nearby mountains, observed everything happening at the village entrance.
It was indeed Sir Linus and Professor Dian who got out of the carriage. Knightley’s words were true.
And suddenly, the villagers enthusiastically welcomed Professor Dian and even tossed him in celebration.
Not understanding the situation, Lina decided to infiltrate the village.