Report Of The Hero's Return

“…That concludes the report.”

“Hmm…”

The audience chamber of the Estraia Empire’s imperial palace.

The Emperor, Karl Franz von Estraia, propped his cheek on his hand and let out a light sigh.

A boy named Jonah, said to have slain Zarichu, the Demon Army officer nicknamed ‘Hunger,’ a claim relayed by Quylindra, the hero of the Human-Demon War five hundred years past known as the ‘Silent Archer.’

He had ordered agents placed throughout the Empire and the western nations to search for the boy Jonah, but there had been no particular progress.

“Leonardo. Is that boy Jonah really worth such effort?”

Jonah, who supposedly defeated a Demon Army officer—a feat even heroes and champions find exceedingly difficult.

Whether it was true was uncertain, but if it were, he could be a tremendous asset against the remnants of the Demon Army.

Of course, even after slaying remnants of the Demon Army.

However, the Estraia Empire was a major power boasting one of the largest territories among the western nations; it did not feel a great need to rely on a single hero.

Above all, the Empire possessed magical device technology honed through battles with the Demon Army remnants.

That the Empire was holding its own against the Demon Army remnants led in the south by Taromati, the Demon Army officer called ‘Apostasy,’ was due largely to magical devices.

So Emperor Karl wondered whether the boy Jonah, so praised by Quylindra, really needed to be given such importance by the Empire.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, the ability to face a Demon Army officer alone seems equivalent to at least ten of the Empire’s most powerful magical devices, the ‘Judgment of God.’ Considering he can supposedly assault a stronghold by himself, he should not be underestimated.”

Kneeling before Emperor Karl, Leonardo responded fluently.

The reason he advised the Emperor to bring Jonah into the Empire was nothing other than to gain favor with the hero Quylindra.

He had never truly believed that a mere boy like Jonah could defeat a Demon Army officer.

Rather, he aimed to curry favor with the heroes of five hundred years ago, whom Emperor Karl respected, to gain an advantage in the still unsettled struggle over succession.

Then.

“Please wait, Your Majesty. Even if Quylindra requests it, is it necessary to go so far for a mere child?”

“Hm…”

Interrupting their conversation was the sharp-featured second prince, Wulfe.

“As my brother said, if he’s worth only about ten ‘Judgment of God’ devices, it means little. If we have time to concern ourselves with that, we should mass-produce magical devices and send support to Duke Lanberg in the south.”

Like Emperor Karl, Wulfe had no expectation for Jonah, who was nothing more than a boy.

More importantly, magical devices were the key to the Empire’s warfare; he believed focus should be placed there.

With an eye toward further expansion of the Empire’s territory.

“Wait. As I have said many times, producing magical devices requires enormous funds and personnel. It also requires skilled mages. You should know it’s not something done easily.”

“Is that so? Isn’t it possible to collect funds from the nobles who line their pockets under Your Majesty’s name? As for mages, we could secure as many as we like by bringing the ‘Mage Tower’ people under our sway.”

The ‘Mage Tower’ Wulfe mentioned was the mages’ research institution in the neutral city of Florance on the Central Sea coast, farther west than the Benedia Kingdom.

Mages from the western nations gathered there and spent their days absorbed in magical research.

Wulfe had long eyed Florance and suggested bringing it under the Empire’s control for military use, but Emperor Karl would not agree.

Because.

“I have told you many times. Florance is neutral. Even the Estraia Empire cannot interfere. Moreover, the ‘Mage Tower’ has prospered precisely because it maintained neutrality, and our mages benefited from that to develop magical devices. Understand that already.”

“…Yes.”

Chastised by the Emperor, Wulfe immediately bowed his head.

But he couldn’t hide the bitter look on his face, and seeing it the Emperor sighed.

“In any case, Leonardo, continue the search for the boy Jonah.”

“Yes!”

After glancing at Wulfe, Leonardo also bowed his head.

A somewhat triumphant smile gracing his face.

At that moment.

“Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

The one who entered the audience chamber was Chancellor Ekmund Hasser.

He carried a single letter in his hand.

“A report has arrived from Princess Patricia, who is on campaign in the Kingdom of Karelia, that she succeeded in slaying the White Dragon Lindwyrm that dwelt on Mount Baldia.”

“Oh! Is that true?!”

“Yes!”

At the unexpected good news, Emperor Karl rose from his throne involuntarily.

She had felled one wing of the famed ‘Paired Dragons,’ the White Dragon long thought invincible to humans. The Emperor’s reaction was understandable.

On the other hand, Leonardo and Wulfe were displeased.

Patricia, called the ‘Silver Sword Princess’ and beloved by the Empire’s people, had slain the White Dragon, and particularly for Wulfe—despite being in the same military—his sister had now outshone him even more.

Though he now stood above both the marshal and General Patricia in rank, that might change because of this achievement.

In any case, they needed to prepare measures before Patricia returned.

Leonardo and Wulfe began to devise plans for what to do next.

“Princess Patricia will return ahead of the Imperial Army. Also, she will be accompanied by a boy named Jonah as a guest; prepare to receive them with proper ceremony.”

“Jonah?!”

“…!?”

Whether true or not, there was a boy named Jonah said to be accompanying Patricia as her guest.

Emperor Karl, not expecting such a coincidence to pile on, brightened further.

In contrast, Leonardo bowed his head and twisted his face in utter displeasure.

It was natural—his plan to curry favor with Quylindra and, if possible, draw the hero into his circle, had been thwarted.

And of all people, by Patricia, the ‘Silver Sword Princess.’

“Very well! Prepare quickly to receive Patricia, the hero who slew the White Dragon, and the boy Jonah! Inform Lady Quylindra of the hero’s return!”

“Yes, My Liege!”

At Emperor Karl’s command, Chancellor Hasser and those present in the audience chamber sprang into action.

Leonardo and Wulfe also hurriedly left the chamber to take steps that might improve their positions.

The news of the hero’s return was then widely relayed to the Empire’s nobility.

Among them were.

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.
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“Marguerite! Jonah is coming back to the Empire!”

“…! Is that true?! Jonah…!”

Marguerite, thinking of reuniting with Jonah, showed a blooming smile.

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“Jonah… could it truly be you…!”

The Duke of Langheim crushed the report in his hand, his expression complex.

Before long, various fates and schemes began to intersect within the Estraia Empire.

—All centered on Jonah, once called a useless failure by his family, now a hero.