The Sacred Beast Parade

In the afternoon, with the sun beginning to slope westward.

I was standing in the shade of a tree at the northern edge of the forest, a little apart from the road used by adventurers.

Because the Unicorn’s existence had been discovered, we ended up holding the sacred beast parade before the Church could begin its investigation.

It was unfortunate that Liricia still had not returned from the witch’s place.

From the passage connected by Kou, Sophia, dressed in formal priestly attire, emerged first, followed by the sacred beasts one after another.

They lined up in a single file and headed for the Royal Capital.

After Sophia came the Pegasus parent and child, followed by the Unicorn. On his back rode the Almiraj.

Next, the White Boar pulled a cart, and on the wagon bed rode the White Uribōs.

Since they were small, there was a risk they would get lost if they walked on the ground.

Fenrir walked at the rear, and on his back rode the Sacred White Dragon, Rāna.

“Kyai, kyai!”

Since Rāna did not really look like a divine beast, we gave her horns, makeup, and large fake wings to make her look more like a dragonkin.

After marching in that procession for about an hour, around the time the western sky turned red.

We arrived at the east gate of the city wall surrounding the Royal Capital.

Along the way, the traveling merchants and adventurers we passed all looked equally stunned.

At the east gate, we were met by the Royal Knight Order.

Milford, the vice-captain, a man with a sturdy build and an intelligent light in his eyes, looked at me and gave a wry smile.

“I heard there’s a place in the forest where sacred beasts gather, but you were the one who found it, Alec? The moment you quit being the hero, you started making a flashy name for yourself.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just living however I want.”

Milford snorted, then turned his eyes to the sacred beasts behind me.

“And this is the result, huh. No wonder His Majesty keeps an eye on you. As expected of Alec.”

“I don’t know what exactly is ‘as expected,’ but more importantly, I’m leaving their security to you.”

“Leave it to me.”

With a reassuring smile, Milford led his subordinates and quickly entered the Royal Capital.

We followed behind Sophia in her formal attire and entered the Royal Capital.

We walked along the broad stone-paved main avenue running east to west. Nothing blocked our path.

Here and there along both sides of the road, I could see knights focused solely on security duty.

The townspeople had been made to wait along both sides of the road, leaving the center of the main avenue clear for us.

And the people were stunned by the sight of the sacred beasts.

“How beautiful…”

“It’s my first time seeing both a Pegasus and a Unicorn!”

“Is that one a White Fang!? It’s huge!”

The people stared in amazement at Sophia, who walked with her priestly robes swaying.

“That person is surely the top-ranked Archbishop…”

“What a lovely woman…”

“Ahh~, she’s beautiful.”

Sophia, walking with her chest held proudly high, seemed not entirely displeased and wore a smile.

But voices were even directed at me, though I had only come along as an attendant.

“Isn’t that Alec-san, the former hero?”

“There’s no mistake, it’s him. As expected of Alec-san.”

“I’m sure Alec-san was the one who saved the sacred beasts too.”

“He’s such a good person, he even handed out people’s keepsakes.”

“As expected of a hero!”

Apparently, word had spread about me handing out the keepsakes.

—It was only something I did on a whim.

Still, maybe when it came to keepsakes full of people’s feelings, it had been better for me to hand them out myself rather than leave it to others.

Feeling my cheeks grow warm somehow, I walked with my head lowered.

The people’s cheers showed no mercy and poured down upon our whole group.

When we arrived at the Royal Castle, knights guided us to the inner courtyard.

A garden covered in white sand.

On the second-floor balcony overlooking the courtyard stood the King and an elderly man who looked important. The old man wore thick priestly robes. He was probably the Archbishop.

The old court mage chief was there too, and beside him stood Mackybell with a grin on her face.

Around the courtyard, I could also spot nobles and high officials here and there. Apparently, they had come to watch out of curiosity.

Sophia and I stood at the front, while the sacred beasts lined up behind us as they pleased.

The King, looking down from the balcony above, swept his gentle gaze over the sacred beasts.

“Mm. Well done in coming, sacred beasts. Seeing you with my own eyes, your beauty surpasses even what is imagined through poets’ songs. Everyone, remain at ease as you are—and.”

The King looked at me.

I stepped forward and raised my voice.

“Your Majesty. I came today to ask a favor.”

“Speak whatever you wish, Alec.”

“These sacred beasts have recently begun living in the forest southeast of the Royal Capital. Through the guidance of this priest, Sophia.”

“Is that truly so, Sophia?”

Sophia nodded, her short blue hair swaying smoothly.

“Yes, Your Majesty. There was a place in the forest where sacred power had pooled. When we made it more livable, many sacred beasts began to visit.”

Sophia turned gentle eyes toward the Pegasus.

Mireine spread the white wings on her back with a flap and lowered her head. It looked like a graceful greeting.

“Human King, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Mireine of the Pegasus. Just as they said, there was such a comfortable place to live that we were allowed to stay there. …May we continue living deep in the forest from now on as well?”

“I ask the same of you. I believe it is entirely thanks to the power of the sacred beasts that the southeastern forest, once overflowing with monsters, has become a purified forest inhabited only by animals… for the safety of the Royal Capital as well, I ask that you please consider it.”

Sophia bowed her head deeply. Her blue hair fell down.

The Almiraj bobbed her little head repeatedly, saying, “Please, please!”

Rāna gave a cheerful smile and cried, “Kyui!”

The people watching over the courtyard were astonished, saying things like, “It talked!” and “Amazing!”

The King narrowed his eyes in a smile, then nodded deeply.

“Holy power that drove away monsters. Let us place the priest Sophia, who became the catalyst for bringing it about, among the Saints. Furthermore, let us recognize as a sanctuary the place that had until now merely been called the southeastern forest or the Demon Forest, and name it the Forest of Saint Sophi—what say you, Archbishop Remedium?”

“A most auspicious occasion indeed! By taking in holy protection, this kingdom shall surely prosper all the more. With this, we can wipe the smile off the Pope’s fa— ahem, ahem! …At any rate, may the glory of God and prosperity be upon the Fortis Kingdom!”

The elderly Archbishop, dressed in thick robes and with a beard long enough to hang over his chest, raised a hand and offered a prayer.

Sophia also bent one knee and prayed.

I raised my hand and spoke to the King.

“Your Majesty. Please make only the deep part of the forest the recognized sanctuary area.”

“Oh? Alec, why is that? Would it not be fine to designate the whole thing?”

“That is because the people who gather medicinal herbs and hunt would have difficulty making a living. I want people to be free to enter the front and middle of the forest, and only have the deep part enclosed as the sacred beasts’ dwelling place.”

“I see. If the whole area were designated, it would not benefit the people. Very well. Let it be only the deep part of the forest.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“As expected of Alec. Even after quitting as a hero, you still think so well of the people. Truly splendid.”

“Th-Thank you very much.”

The smiling eyes of the King seemed to be saying, “While I’m recognizing the Saint, I’d like to re-recognize Alec as a hero too,” so I decided to leave as soon as possible.

After that, things proceeded peacefully, such as with a simple ceremony to grant Sophia the Saint’s staff, and Mireine giving thanks as the representative of the sacred beasts.

The sanctuary came to be managed by Sophia and me.

The King, who apparently wanted to see them from closer up, came down into the courtyard and, while being guarded by the Knight Commander, greeted the sacred beasts one by one.

After that, we left the courtyard.

As we walked through a wide corridor inside the castle, the mage Mackybell came running up.

Walking beside me, she gave me a grin.

“It went well, Alec.”

“Thanks, Mackybell.”

“Ah, I changed it to Maribelle now.”

“Changed it? Why do you keep changing your name so often?”

“Ah, well. I just can’t come up with a name I really like, you know~. I’m just calling myself whatever, really.”

“You’ve got a name your parents gave you, don’t you?”

Maribelle furrowed her brow deeply and spat the words out with distaste.

“I hate my real name.”

“Why?”

Letting out a sigh, she walked over the red brick floor, the brim of her hat swaying.

“You see, apparently from the moment I was born, I was already the kind of baby with a strong will, or rather, violent emotions.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And so my family named me Meidily, meaning ‘gentle and ladylike,’ hoping I’d grow up into a refined girl.”

“That doesn’t sound that bad, does it?”

“It does! Ever since I was little, I hated studying, and I ran around playing with boys so much I became their little gang boss. But my family always said, ‘Meidily, you have to be ladylike, just like your name!’ ‘Meidily, act cuter!’ ‘Meidily, Meidily!’ —I was so sick of it! I’ll live however I want! I’ll go all out and blast things with magic! That’s how I live!”

She furrowed her brow, snorted hard, and clenched her fist.

Her intensity made me let out a wry smile without thinking. Mireine the Pegasus, walking behind us, had also opened her eyes wide.

“That’s a good way to live in its own way.”

“Right? I knew it, Alec really does get it! —So? Have you fallen for me? Have you?”

“Sorry, but I already have Liricia. I’m sorry I can’t answer your expectations.”

I told her frankly how I felt.

Then Maribelle puffed out her cheeks exaggeratedly and grumbled.

“So men really do like gentle, ladylike women…”

“Someday, a man who accepts all of you will appear.”

“Mm, yeah, I guess.”

“Maribelle-sama, I need a word with you!”

As we came to a crossroads, a voice calling for Maribelle echoed through the corridor with its high ceiling. A knight was shouting from the passage at the far right.

Maribelle nodded, her triangular hat swaying.

“Ahh, looks like there’s still cleanup to do after all. —Well then, I’m off to keep searching for men~.”

“Yeah. Good luck.”

When I held out my fist, Maribelle, blushing a little shyly, lightly bumped her fist against mine.

“Thanks, Alec. Bye-bye.”

“See you.”

“Yeah, see you later.”

Maribelle smiled with a strongly cute little grin.

Then she turned her back, her bright brown hair spreading out behind her.

She headed back toward the courtyard. I kept walking toward the exit.

When I stepped outside the castle, the sky was dyed red with sunset.

And once again, we walked in a long line down the main avenue, aiming for the forest.

Long shadows fell over the Royal Capital at dusk.

As we walked toward the east gate, feeling awkward under the curious gaze of the townspeople, I spotted Liricia near the Adventurer Guild in the northeastern district.

She was staring at me with her violet eyes wide open.

With a wry smile, I murmured, “Later,” and she nodded, her silver hair swaying.

Then, hugging her bag tightly in both arms, she headed off toward the back alleys.

After that, we continued the parade while listening once more to the cheers of the people.