No more words were exchanged.
Both Ellen and Harriet silently went to their respective bedrooms to sleep, while I sat on the terrace, staring blankly at the crashing waves on the coast.
I had made this choice to prevent losing Charlotte.
But in doing so, I lost something else. I couldn't precisely describe what it was, but I had lost something and would continue to lose more.
This was not the end.
I had to become a hero.
Only when the world knows that I am the master of Alsebringer, and I gain public fame, will there be political ground for a princess engaged to such a hero.
The integration of the hero into the royal family.
I didn't know exactly what Bertus wanted, who desired this and tried to reignite a battle that had already ended. Whether it was truly for fun, or if there were other hidden intentions.
Nevertheless, I had to become a hero.
Not only should it be known that I am the master of Alsebringer, but I also had to do something.
I had to do countless dangerous tasks that were undoubtedly risky.
Aah...
On the beautiful beach where the sound of the waves and insects mixed, I spent the night unable to sleep.
—---
If it had been a year earlier, the engagement of Reinhardt, a beggar, and Princess Charlotte de Gardias would have been a laughable matter.
But now, it had become an unfunny affair for different reasons.
A princess losing her political footing.
The master of Alsebringer, which had become the most potent symbol among the relics after the Great Demon War.
In a way, the successor of Ragan Artorius.
The engagement had now become an absurd matter, with the logic of why the descendant of the hero should marry a hollow princess.
The trio who had left for Kamsencha Archipelago returned the next day. There was hardly any conversation. Ellen remained silent, Reinhardt couldn't speak, and Harriet wanted to say something but stayed quiet, knowing that no words could provide a solution.
They were not in a state fit for training.
Reinhardt locked himself in his room, while Ellen wandered around the dormitory blankly.
Ellen encountered Princess Charlotte de Gardias, who had returned to the temple from the palace, in the central lobby on the second floor.
Naturally, Ellen and Charlotte's eyes met.
"Uh, ah... hello?"
Although they were in different classes, they had encountered each other often, and it was not a completely unknown relationship, so Charlotte could greet Ellen.
It could happen.
But even as she greeted her, her fingertips trembled slightly.
Her eyes wavered.
It sent a signal to Ellen.
Charlotte seemed to feel guilty just by facing herself. Had it been like that a few times when they encountered each other recently?
Ellen couldn't remember it well.
However, she knew what that behavior of Charlotte meant now.
Reinhardt's strange state these days, the shaking sword tips, and the anxious appearance - all of it.
It wasn't because of the Demon King, but because of this problem. She didn't know how to explain it to herself.
Now she knew.
When Ellen approached, Charlotte awkwardly brushed past her without returning the greeting. Seeing Ellen come closer, Charlotte retreated a half-step, seemingly frightened.
Though Ellen was ultimately a commoner, she was the wielder of the sacred artifact, Lament, and the younger sister of Ragan Artorius.
Since she entered the temple, even without knowing her status, Ellen was someone who never fell behind anyone based on her position alone.
But Ellen had never tried to exploit that fact, not even once.
That's why Ellen had never been intimidated by anyone.
Ellen stared straight into the princess's eyes.
"Tell me one thing."
"Uh? Uh... Uh... Yes."
Biting her lip slightly, Charlotte looked at Ellen, who asked her question.
"Do you... like Reinhardt?"
"..."
Charlotte's eyes trembled, as if she hadn't expected such a direct question. Embarrassed, she could have run away while scolding Ellen for asking.
But Ellen's expression seemed as if she would grab Charlotte by the collar if she fled.
Charlotte probably intuited what Ellen knew.
The engagement.
Knowing about that issue, feeling frustrated and sad, but unable to change Reinhardt's heart, Ellen could only ask Charlotte that much.
As Charlotte looked into Ellen's eyes,
"Yes."
She spoke sincerely, amidst a wretched feeling.
"A lot... very... very much."
Ellen could clearly sense it in Charlotte's gaze. At the very least, Reinhardt wasn't being used by Charlotte. If Charlotte was merely using Reinhardt to survive, Ellen wouldn't know what she'd do.
But Charlotte was genuine. She didn't know when it started, but Charlotte had high expectations for Reinhardt, and even in this situation, she wasn't happy but felt sorry for him.
The last glimmer of hope she had clung to.
Now shattered.
Ellen mumbled blankly,
"I... "
Her words trailed off.
I was first.
I loved him more.
I spent much more time.
"..."
Ellen couldn't bring herself to finish those words, as they only made her feel more miserable.
In front of the distorted expression of guilt on Charlotte de Gardias' face,
I loved him before you did. When everyone thought Reinhardt was nothing but a lowborn, I was with him. We spent irreplaceable, precious time together.
Because Reinhardt had to choose you to save your life in this dangerous situation, isn't this too unfair?
Ellen couldn't bring herself to say those words.
"I'm sorry..."
In front of Charlotte's fragile expression, Ellen averted her gaze.
"..."
It was painful to see Charlotte, who had everything she wanted, unable to find happiness.
In the dormitory, Ellen, of course, and Harriet would pass by me without a word when they saw me.
Harriet seemed unsure of what to say, while Ellen would pass by with her head down.
It seemed less like they disliked me and more like there was a slightly different issue.
It felt like they were avoiding me now because they didn't know how to handle the situation.
Ironically, Charlotte seemed to be having as much trouble dealing with me as Ellen and Harriet. When she saw me, she would hesitate as if she didn't know what to say, and ultimately say nothing at all.
Would she find expressions of gratitude or apologies strange?
Regardless, Ellen and I were scheduled to take our major classes together.
It felt strangely similar to the first time I encountered Ellen in my freshman year.
There she was, Ellen Artorious with her cold expression, trying not to feel anything for me, devoid of emotion.
Her swordsmanship was not emotional, but rather restrained.
The dry lessons continued, with her overpowering me in the most accurate timing and manner possible.
Ellen didn't share a single word of personal conversation with me. Thus, the lessons went on all day long.
"That's enough for today. Go back and rest."
After the lesson, Saviolin Turner said that. Ellen left without a word.
"Reinhardt, stay for a moment."
"Yes."
I had a feeling I knew why she called me. In the high-ranking combat training room waiting area, where only I remained after Ellen left, she sat next to me with her arms crossed.
"I heard you're engaged to Her Highness the Princess."
"Yes."
"..."
She had a complicated expression on her face as she looked at the waiting room exit, lost in thought.
"His Majesty has pondered over various aspects of this issue, like whether to publicly announce your existence."
While my existence being made public would secure Charlotte's safety, it could also put me in danger. That's why the Emperor approached this issue cautiously.
"The royal family will not take any position on this. However, rumors will spread among the nobility."
"I see."
"Yes, that's the safest way."
The current issue wasn't with Bertus, but with Charlotte's supporters. To prevent their defection, rumors would spread within the royal family and the nobility.
The next successor of Alsebringer has appeared, and the successor and the princess have agreed to marry.
It's a measure to stabilize the current unstable situation without taking any official stance.
"You understand the intention behind this, right?"
"...Yes."
Technically, it's a scandal. The royal family's lack of an official position on such a rumor implies that it is true while also allowing them to dismiss it as baseless gossip later on.
In any way possible, I should not be excessively entangled with the royal family.
Perhaps.
That would be Charlotte's intention.
"Once it becomes known that you are the master of Alsebringer, you will inevitably face dangerous situations. There's no guarantee that you'll be completely safe even in the temple. The Demon King may target you first. You know that, right?"
"Yes."
As for the Demon King, how could I be a threat to myself? That part is not a problem, and there's nothing to actually bear.
The important thing is not the fact that I've agreed to an engagement.
I must build up achievements.
To appeal to the nobility as someone remarkable while rumors of being the master of Alsebringer spread, I must have achievements.
Soon, I must engage in hero-making.
"There could be various tasks. Clearing out demons in Darkland, or on a smaller scale, bandits and thieves, and since you possess Tiamata, exterminating undead will be easy. Of course, Shanafel's support troops will take care of it as long as you are physically present to ensure your safety."
The Empire wouldn't want me to be in danger. So it's not about becoming a hero, but rather, making a hero.
It's only important that I was there, and the actual fighting and battles are resolved by more skilled veterans. And then, it's packaged as if I did it. In other words, I'm gaining fame overnight.
It's good for me and the Empire.
"I don't intend to do it that way."
"..."
"I have to resolve it myself. Whatever it may be."
"Reinhardt, I know you're not being arrogant. But if you jump into dangerous situations and get hurt..."
"Inflated fake skills through fake fame will put me in more danger. If it becomes known that everything I did was fabricated, the situation could get worse."
The larger the scale of what I didn't personally resolve, the more my abilities are overestimated. Then, I become more dangerous. Of course, the Demon King won't threaten me, but this is to avoid the temple's surveillance instead.
It's actually easier for me to act alone.
So it's not hero-making, but actually resolving things with my own hands, and it has to be that way. Saviolin Turner watched me and quietly nodded.
"I thought you'd say something like that."
She seemed to have naturally guessed that I wouldn't like that kind of thing due to my personality.
I don't need the help of someone excessively stronger than me. It would be nice to have such a person, but if they exist, they might end up being shackles instead.
Saviolin Turner was silent at my words that I didn't need help and stared at me.
"From now on, under the pretext of special activities, it will replace all your classes. Soon. The time you devote to special activities will be considered as having completed the temple curriculum."
It probably means that, as a special student, it's no longer an issue for me to wander outside the temple.
"Do you know about Levaina?"
"Levaina... Wasn't that the place that was recently attacked?"
"Yes."
The royal secret operation base disguised as a demon attack. It was there that Duke Grantz met his end.
"Head to Rajeurn, the capital of Levaina."
Investigations into the demon attack are underway, but I know it wasn't actually a demon attack.
There shouldn't be any threat from demons, so why are they sending me there? I know there's nothing for me to gain there.
"Olivia Lanze should be at the Special Investigation Headquarters there."
Olivia Lanze.
I couldn't help but be a little surprised by the sudden, unexpected name.
"Go and assist Olivia. If an emergency arises, Olivia and the investigators should be more than capable of handling it. It's also likely to be a less dangerous assignment."
Now that I think about it.
It's been quite a while since Olivia sought me out.
It wasn't that she didn't seek me out, but rather that she hasn't been at the temple at all, right?
