Vol 5: Chapter 32
Has Dante-san already decided what he wants?
「Go ahead.」
The elderly Lev looked at the Emperor, and then the Emperor said so.
「Thank you. The person who worked the hardest and contributed the most is Reiji over here.」
…MeI? Why is Dante-san suddenly bringing me up?
「Although his hair is dyed right now, he was originally black-haired and black-eyed. He was called and discriminated against by many as the “Child of Disaster” due to that. Even though he is a man who fought so hard for everyone’s sake.」
Though surprised that he used the word “Child of Disaster”, I was more overwhelmed that he called me a “man”, and gasped despite myself.
“Man” instead of “boy”.
In other words, he recognized me as a full-fledged adventurer.
「What we want is for Reiji not to be discriminated against. In short, acknowledgement and identification by the Lev Magic Empire, and the backing of His Majesty the Emperor.」
No way! That’s what they want!?.
Mimino-san was smiling next to me. Non-san, who was in front of me, also turned around and smiled gently.
Ah… these people had decided this from the beginning.
Not glory or money as adventurers.
But an identity for me.
A social position where I can live without being discriminated against by others.
「——」
The inner corner of my eyes became warm and I turned my face down.
Tears dropped and were sucked by the carpet. Mimino-san gently held my hand. It felt warm and comforting.
「Hmm… Are you okay with something like that? We don’t believe in superstitions such as the “Child of Disaster”, but… Director of Foreign Affairs, what about the other countries?」
「Yes, Your Majesty. In farming villages and remote areas, there are many who deeply believe in superstitions, and discrimination exists to this day.」
I just listened without raising my head, but the person who answered was the elderly Lev. …So that person is the Director of Foreign Affairs, Abba-san’s boss.
「Such an unscientific thing?」
「Yes, sir.」
「Hmm… the human race doesn’t make any sense.」
As the name suggests, the Lev Magic Empire has been greatly developed by the technology of magic tools. That is why they only believe in real technology and not superstitions.
Dante-san surely brought this up after thinking about it.
「Alright. I promise you, Silver Balance, that Reiji will be backed by the Emperor of the Lev Magic Empire and we will guarantee his identity.」
As soon as the Emperor announced that, the Levs in the audience stirred into noises.
Dante-san’s hand stretched out and stroked my head.
「Aren’t you glad, Reiji?」
「This is unfair…」
I wiped my face with the handkerchief that Mimino-san offered.
The voice of the Director of Foreign Affairs echoed when the noise from the Lev audience still remained.
「Silence.」
The hall calmed down once again.
「It’s an admirable request, but I feel it is a little insufficient.」the Emperor said.
「Yes, Your Majesty. We will be the laughing stock of other countries if our 1st class reward is just “guaranteeing identity”.」the director of foreign affairs said.
「Is there anything else you wish for? Money perhaps?」
The Emperor wanted to offer even more.
「Um, what should we do? We didn’t think about anything other than Reiji.」
「Father…」
「Well, we only talked about doing something special for Reiji.」
…So they did talk, after all.
「I think we should go with Reiji-kun’s wishes.」
Mimino-san said, prompting Dante-san and Non-san to look at me.
「That’s right.」
「Reiji-kun worked the hardest, after all.」
「W-Wait a minute! I don’t want to be the only one benefitting from this.」
「Nevermind that. If there is something you want, just say it. You can ask for a special weapon if you want.」
Dante-san grabbed my arm, and made me stand up.
The gazes of numerous people pierced me—and I could feel the Emperor looking at me in an amused manner.
「Former “Child of Disaster”, whom I shall personally guarantee your identity as Adventurer Reiji. What do you wish for?」
I closed my mouth.
I thought this might be a good chance, depending on how I thought about it.
「Your Majesty, although it may not be possible, I would still like to speak my wishes.」
The Emperor’s eyes widened in interest when he heard that it might not be possible.
「My wish is…」
**
I was tired after leaving the audience.
All four of us were sitting on the sofa in the waiting room.
「Aaaah… I’m completely spent. I’d much prefer receiving a reward from the counter at the Adventurer’s guild than this “world stage”…」Dante-san said.
「Indeed… but I think it was a good experience. Father, you can’t retire without making more money, right?」
「Uh, right…」
「More importantly, Reiji-kun… I didn’t imagine you would say something like that. Rather, we haven’t heard that story at all, have we!?」Mimino-san said, standing up.
「Haha… yeah. Well, we didn’t really have much time to talk.」
I got up and scratched my head.
We were embroiled in a battle just yesterday, and we were summoned to an audience today. With【Healing Magic】, the wounds on the surface have healed, but the fatigue on my body and mind have yet to recover.
Even Non-san was actually running around until dawn healing soldiers. She only took a short nap before coming here.
From now on, the Lev Magic Empire will have to deal with the aftermath of this turmoil, and move towards reconstruction. Their great task will continue.
「Well, it is exactly as I said to His Majesty the Emperor—」
Right when I was trying to explain another one of my “wish”,
「—Reiji-kun!」
The door swung open, and Abba-san came in in a hurry.
「What happened? Don’t tell me the “wish” I spoke has–」
「No, it’s not that. No, well, obviously your “wish” was so beyond expectation that an emergency meeting was to be held with His Majesty the Emperor and his aides. And this is not the first time you have done the unexpected, but…wait, that’s not important right now.」
Abba-san shook his head.
「Actually… I heard that you were acquainted with the Black Sky Pirate, but… she has disappeared together with her companions.」
