Volume 4 Chapter 31 The Eastern Hero
Just a moment ago, the cursed tree was standing right in front of us.
However, now our view is filled with the "ocean".
"..."
Despite the trees being so thick that we could barely see ahead.
The land was eroded like crushed baked goods, and beyond that, the waves were rough.
"Well, I guess that settles things for now. Let's go home and have some celebratory cake."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
While Cosmos was trying to stretch her back and head home, I couldn't help but call out to her.
Then she turned around, looking confused as if she didn't realize what she had done.
"What? Did you prefer gelato over cake?"
"It's not about the type of dessert! This is going too far! The land is missing a piece!"
"Well, I suppose I did go a bit overboard. But you know what they say, you have to get rid of the weeds at the root."
"They're not weeds, that's a cursed tree!"
It's fine that the cursed tree is gone, but this was originally the territory of the Kingdom of Ratisse.
Won't we get scolded later for erasing it so boldly like this?
No, what kind of magic involves erasing a land anyway?
"Amazing, Ms. Cosmos! To think you could eliminate that cursed tree in one blow...!"
"But I got embarrassed in return. I never want to chant such a phrase again."
"But Cosmos was cute"
"Don't call me cute! I want to defeat my enemies in a cooler way!"
Cosmos puffs out her cheeks in dissatisfaction while Rose and Ms. Nemophila look on with a smile.
Well, all's well that ends well, I guess.
To completely destroy the cursed tree, it would have been necessary to use magic large enough to cut down the size of a land.
In fact, it could be said that this was possible because of Cosmos.
If she had not been here, the destruction of the cursed tree would not have been completed and the town would have suffered damage.
When I think about it like that, I'm glad Cosmos is here.
"Anyway, this is finally over..."
We were able to completely thwart the schemes of the Forest King's Army and the Spirit King's Army.
It seems that a few remnants of the Forest King's Army are still around, but the royal army of the Ratisse Kingdom will manage that.
We've already done everything we could.
Rose and Ms. Nemophila were also able to get their revenge on the Spirit King's Army.
I wasn't able to extract any information about the Dragon King's Army, which was my goal.
Despite having accomplished something incredible, there's still one person who seems frozen in time while the 3 girls are chatting without any awareness of it...
"...Wh-what is it with you all? I can't believe there are people like you!"
Dahlia mutters in shock as she stares at the fragmented continent and the collapsed ruins.
Seeing the abilities of these 3, it seems she can't quite keep up with her understanding.
"These are the gems from the town where it all began. There are still many hidden talents in that town. I'm acting as a Nurturer, helping people like that bloom their talents."
"...!"
Hyamars is known as the town for novice adventurers.
Dahlia lumped together those adventurers who are just languishing in such a place as having no talent.
That's why, seeing Rose and the others' power again, she probably couldn't accept that fact.
She still doesn't doubt that she is the protagonist of this era.
I wonder if this incident might make her reflect on her own arrogance a little.
And if so, if it could lead to a change of heart...
'Aroze, your powers may not be what makes you the protagonist of a story, but you have the potential to become something even greater than the protagonist.'
I told Dahlia, remembering with nostalgia the conversation I had with my mother and father.
"I may not be able to be the protagonist. But I can make you the protagonist."
"...What are you trying to say?"
"If Dahlia is aware of her power and steadily builds her strength, you should be able to catch up to them. Even from now..."
"..."
Dahlia looked at me with a surprised expression, as if she understood what I was trying to say.
Well, since I said I'd take it on, I'm already in the boat, right?
It's frustrating to half-heartedly abandon my work as a "Nurturer," so I plan to help her enough to at least return her level to what it was.
How things will change from there is up to Dahlia.
That's what I was thinking when I made the suggestion, but...
"...Hah, who said I need your help?"
Dahlia scoffed, dismissing my proposal.
I had a feeling she'd say something like that.
"I will become strong with only my power and show you that I can completely regain my strength. And with just my power... I will take back the title of 'Eastern Hero' from you all."
With anger and frustration etched on her face, Dahlia said this in a serious voice.
"...Huh? Wait a minute. What do you mean take it back? The title of Eastern Hero should belong to Dahlia, right?"
"The title of Eastern Hero will surely be awarded to the greatest contributor for this achievement. I said I would definitely take back the title of Hero with my own hands from the one who receives it."
"..."
I see.
The title of "Hero" is awarded to the strongest adventurers.
Adventurers who have left historic achievements or some kind of accomplishment in each of the 4 regions──North, South, East, and West──have succeeded one after another.
Dahlia was also a prodigy who climbed to Rank 1 adventurer at the youngest age, and at that time...
But with this battle, the title of Eastern Hero will no longer be in Dahlia's hands.
The girls saved the towns and people of the eastern continent, including the Kingdom of Ratisse, a great power in the east, from the threat of the Forest King's Army and the Spirit King's Army.
In fact, we could even say they were the hero who protected the entire Central Continent from the curse of the Cursed Burial Tree that was supposed to be rampant.
So in recognition of this achievement, someone here will be given the title of Eastern Hero...
"So remember this. I will definitely take back the title of Eastern Hero from you all. And this time, I'll annihilate another Demon Lord army with just my party."
Dahlia said that with her usual confident attitude and turned on her heel.
She was about to head home alone.
However, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, turned back for some reason, and placed her hand on her "sword."
She unsheathed it from her waist and threw it toward me.
It was sudden, but somehow I managed to catch it, and seeing my puzzled expression, Dahlia spoke up.
"The Nurturer's fee."
"Huh?"
"You help with my growth and get paid for it, right? I don't want to create any more awkward debts, so sell that and turn it into money. It should easily be enough."
And with that sparkling sword and her words, Dahlia finally left the scene.
I stared at the sword handed to me by Dahlia, blinking in surprise.
I never thought Dahlia would actually give me a reward.
She seemed like the type to forget and just head home.
It might be that this incident triggered some kind of change in her feelings after all.
After watching Dahlia's back as she walked away, I suddenly found myself thinking about what she had said.
"...The greatest contributor, huh?"
In this case, who would that be?
That person would almost certainly be celebrated as a Eastern Heroern country and given the title of Hero.
However, since everyone played different roles in defeating the Forest King's Army and the Spirit King's Army, it's ambiguous who the title will go to.
Well, I guess it'll be one of the 3 girls I'm chatting with right now.
"Huh?"
Thinking like that, I turned to look at them, and for some reason the 3 of them were looking at me with meaningful smiles on their faces.
"Why is everyone looking at me?"
"Well, you see..."
"There can only be one person who is the greatest contributor..."
"I think that's a good idea, too."
...No way?
Having a bad feeling about something, I quickly shook my head and hands to show my refusal.
"It was Rose who dealt the decisive blow to the Spirit King Vamph, and it was Cosmos who destroyed the largest cursed funeral tree, and above all, we were able to travel safely thanks to Ms. Nemophila..."
"But, who raised us to be like this?"
"Everyone became stronger thanks to Roezé."
"So, the most deserving person this time is..."
"N-no way! That's ridiculous! The title of 'Hero' is too much of a burden for me!"
After all, I'm currently focusing more on being a Nurturer than on my activities as an adventurer.
Even if I were to receive the title of Hero, I would just let it go to waste.
If that happens, I can't say Ms. Nemophila is well-suited to be the next queen either, so I would rather have either Rose or Cosmos take it.
In any case, putting aside who will receive the title of Hero for now, we decided to report to the Ratisse Kingdom army that we successfully thwarted the plans of the Forest King's Army and the Spirit King's Army.
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