The Price of a Hero’s Secret

After hearing Wawalde’s proposal, Sir Gernon’s smile froze on his face. His silver prosthetic hand clenched under his robe sleeve, its metal joints emitting a faint click. His single eye blinked rapidly twice, and though the curve of his lips remained, it struggled to maintain his facade of composure.

“Three gold coins?” he repeated, his voice half a tone higher than before. “Wawalde, there’s no need for this. The Silver Rider Badge is a symbol of the Guild; how can it be measured by a mere three gold coins?”

“Besides, I knew your father. He wouldn’t want you to turn out like this, would he?”

Wawalde tossed the badge in his palm, caught it, and tossed it again.

“I recall the Guild Charter states quite clearly that a lost or damaged Silver Rider Badge can be reissued for a compensation of three gold coins.”

He shrugged, as if discussing the day’s weather. “Sir Gernon, you’re not trying to tell me the Guild Charter is just a piece of scrap paper, are you?”

Sir Gernon’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

He took half a step forward, closing the distance to Wawalde. Sovenia instinctively thought he was attempting a sneak attack, a common tactic in the Demon Realm.

“Wawalde, listen to me,” he said, lowering his voice and trying to sound earnest. “You’ve slain the Demon Queen! What an incredible feat! Such glorious news should spread throughout the Holy Roland Empire at once!”

“Let everyone know that Wawalde, the Hero, has saved this continent! The Empire will prepare a grand celebration for you. His Majesty the Emperor will personally receive you. You will become…”

Wawalde cut him off. “Earlier, you told me that a hero who loses their power is no longer a hero. I don’t think there’s any need to rush.”

“Let’s wait until I ride my divinely blessed steed back to the Lorraine Duchy, to my homeland, before announcing this good news to everyone. By then, everyone will surely be overjoyed.”

Sir Gernon’s single eye widened abruptly.

“The Lorraine Duchy? How long will that take? Half a month? A month?” he pressed, his voice considerably more anxious. His silver prosthetic hand unconsciously clenched tighter within his robe. “Wawalde, you must think about your future! If His Majesty the Emperor of the Holy Roland Empire learns of this news immediately, he will surely be delighted. It will only bring you benefits, not harm! As a hero who has lost his Paladin powers, shouldn’t you consider your life after retirement?”

Behind the counter, the clumsy female clerk blinked.

She had no idea what these two men were talking about. Demon Queens, Emperors, celebratory banquets—these words were too far removed from her life, like tales from another world.

She only knew that the blond young man in the cheap robe held Sir Gernon’s Silver Rider Badge, and Sir Gernon’s forehead seemed to be beaded with fine sweat.

‘It’s as if he’s clutching a ‘Demon Orb’ rather than a badge.’

“Sir Gernon need not concern himself with me,” Wawalde said. “I’ve already made my preparations.”

Sovenia stood nearby, her golden eyes narrowed slightly.

She watched the scene intently.

‘This holds much value for learning.’

In the Demon Realm, the most direct way to acquire something from another was to simply sever their head—cleanly, without unnecessary words.

Yet, these two humans before her were different. One was as agitated as an ant on a hot pan, while the other remained as steady as a mountain. They exchanged convoluted words, neither willing to show their hand first.

‘Is this how things are done in the Human Realm?’

‘Can they truly make someone comply without severing their head?’

Her pointed ears twitched slightly, catching every detail of their conversation.

Just then, Sir Gernon’s gaze suddenly fell upon her.

A shrewd glint flickered in his single eye, and a knowing smile once again stretched across his lips.

“Wawalde,” he said, his voice softening considerably. “As a man, you should at least provide Miss Sovenia with a home, shouldn’t you?”

Wawalde’s smile froze.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Sovenia paused, taken aback.

She looked at Sir Gernon’s smiling face, then at Wawalde’s rigid expression, her mind racing.

‘What is this old fool saying?’

‘Do you believe he intends for me to marry him and bear children?’

Her voice was flat, devoid of any inflection, as if stating the most ordinary fact.

Sir Gernon merely smiled ambiguously, his single eye filled with a ‘I understand’ expression.

Sovenia’s pointed ears flattened abruptly against her head.

Her hand was already gripping the hilt of Wawalde’s blade at her waist.

“Let us fight to the death,” Sovenia said, her voice still calm, yet carrying a chill that sent shivers down one’s spine. “Since you refuse to be obedient.”

Sir Gernon’s smile froze for a moment.

He quickly raised both hands, his silver prosthetic limb waving in the air in a gesture of surrender.

“Miss Sovenia, please calm down, please calm down!” he said. “I spoke out of turn. I beg this beautiful young lady to forgive an old man’s abruptness.”

Yet, his gaze still darted between Sovenia and Wawalde, his ‘I understand everything’ expression showing no sign of fading.

Sovenia’s fingers tightened on the sword hilt.

‘She is Jimi the Cruel.’

‘She is the First Heavenly King.’

‘She is the demonic blade who once struck fear into the entire Elven Kingdom.’

‘How could she possibly be someone’s future wife?’

‘To have an old man look at her with such eyes, as if she were some maiden awaiting marriage, as if there were some unspeakable relationship between her and that idiotic dog—’

‘It was truly an insult to the esteemed First Heavenly King.’

“There is no intention of marriage between us,” Wawalde stated, his voice regaining its calm. “Sir Gernon, it’s better to let the people of the Duchy receive this surprising news first. I have my own considerations.”

Sovenia’s hand relaxed from the sword hilt.

‘Pointless.’

‘This old fool isn’t even worth her effort.’

“I have gold coins now,” she declared. “I shall command them to contribute to my path as a powerful warrior.”

Wawalde nodded and followed her.

“Wait! Wawalde! Miss Sovenia!” Sir Gernon’s voice chased after them from behind. “Listen to me! This matter is truly important! If His Majesty the Emperor is displeased because you delayed and failed to claim the Demon Queen’s bounty, what if you jeopardize the entire situation? This concerns the fate of the entire Empire!”

Wawalde did not turn back.

His steps were steady and unhurried, leading him inch by inch towards the Guild’s main entrance.

Sir Gernon pursued him.

“Sir Gernon,” Wawalde said in a low voice. “The influential figure behind you must have given you very urgent demands, haven’t they?”

Sir Gernon’s footsteps halted.

“I insisted that you transmit the news of us slaying the Demon Queen to the rear immediately,” Wawalde continued. “Coupled with your previous attempt to claim the bounty privately, Sir Gernon, you have lost my trust.”

He finally stopped and turned around.

A smile appeared on his young face, yet it held not a shred of warmth.

“Unless you tell me who the influential figure behind you is.”

Sir Gernon’s expression changed.

His lips moved, but no sound emerged. A complex series of emotions flickered in his single eye.

Sovenia suspected that the influential figure behind him might have placed an invisible ‘collar of servitude’ on him, much like the Demon Queen had done to the Four Heavenly Kings—including her own daughter, the Succubus Heavenly King.

He finally squeezed out the words: “This… this I cannot say.”

Wawalde nodded. “I anticipated as much. In that case, I advise you to buy a few horses and ride through the night to reach your figure.”

“What do you want?” Sir Gernon asked.

“Very well,” he said. “Then, as a compromise, write a letter of recommendation for Miss Sovenia, recommending her to become a Silver Master directly.”

Sir Gernon’s single eye widened abruptly. “This… how is this possible… others take at least ten years…”

Wawalde said nothing further.

He turned, reached out, and took Sovenia’s wrist, pulling her towards the exit.

Sovenia was momentarily stunned.

She looked down at her clasped wrist, then up at Wawalde’s profile.

‘How can this idiotic dog make such a natural movement with his hand?’

But it was also because everyone around them was watching.

In the Guild Hall, adventurers in various types of gear were observing them with curious gazes.

Some were winking, while others let out knowing chuckles.

“That elven lady is truly beautiful…”

“What’s her relationship with that robed fellow?”

“They look like a couple…”

Sovenia’s ears flattened even further back against her head.

‘These weak humans.’

‘She really should sever their weak heads one by one and offer them as sacrifices to the Blood God.’

Yet, she did not pull away from Wawalde’s hand.

The reason was simple.

Since those weak humans, who deserved to be beheaded, insisted on speaking such annoying words with their annoying mouths, why should she care?

She was a powerful warrior; powerful warriors paid no heed to the opinions of the weak.

These weaklings should be grateful their mothers bore them in the Human Realm.

As the two figures had just stepped through the Guild’s main doors, a hurried series of footsteps sounded from behind them.

“Wait! I agree!”

Sir Gernon’s voice trembled.

He stood on the threshold, the hem of his velvet robe stained with dust, his silver prosthetic limb reflecting a dazzling glare in the sunlight.

“I’ll give her the recommendation letter.”

Sovenia stopped, turning to look at Sir Gernon with an impassive expression.

“Will I become a Silver Master this way?”

Sir Gernon shook his head, his single eye filled with helplessness.

“No. You must at least complete one mission and gain the recognition of another Silver Master,” he explained. “However, I can grant your wandering group the Bronze Raven status. This will allow you to accept missions and move freely, though you won’t be able to establish training grounds or transfer tasks.”

He added, “Even so, the other Silver Masters will regard me with hostility. This is already the extent of my influence.”

Wawalde looked at Sovenia.

Sovenia remained silent for a moment.

‘No need to obey the commands of a Silver Master, no commissions deducted, no need to pay those miscellaneous fees.’

‘She could freely accept missions, move between cities, she could…’

Her gaze fell upon Wawalde.

‘This idiotic dog, he actually managed to secure a decent status for her in this manner.’

“I want to witness it myself,” Wawalde said. “The completion of the Demon Queen’s bounty mission, under my personal witness.”

Sir Gernon’s face was grim, but he still nodded.

Sovenia withdrew her gaze and held out her hand. “What about the badge, then?”

“It can be processed right here,” Sir Gernon said, his expression less than pleased. “But you’ll have to cover the material costs yourself.”