How To Leave The Hero Party- Chapter 8

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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The word “fate” exists in this world. A compass pointing the direction of a mortal’s life, predetermined.

Some plummet from great heights due to fate, while others claw their way up from the depths.

Some astrologers and astronomers claimed that everything about a person was predetermined by fate.

Claire was quite fond of the word “fate.”

After all, it was fate that had transformed her from a nobody village girl into the world’s hero.

It was fate that allowed her to draw the sword no one else in the kingdom could, leading her to fight for the world’s salvation.

And…

It was fate that led her to meet the Sage by drawing the Hero’s sword.

That’s why she liked the word “fate.”

Even though the Sage had left them, it was merely a mistake born from her own inadequacy.

She and he were bound by fate.

There was no other explanation for his presence on their journey to defeat the Demon King.

And she had to cling to the hope that fate would bring them together again.

But sometimes,

That very fate terrified her.

Like now.

Like when she was forced to make a decision, with no other options.

“Let’s be off.”

General Leoden, a middle-aged man with a gruff voice, weathered skin, and prominent scars on his face, spoke bluntly.

Claire didn’t like him much. Admittedly, his appearance was rather intimidating for a woman her age.

However, the monsters she had faced during her journey to defeat the Demon King were far more terrifying.

So, it wasn’t his appearance that bothered her.

She disliked General Leoden for one simple reason.

He knew everything.

And knowing everything, he still forced her to make a choice.

“…Can’t I just open the portal for you?”

Claire blurted out before she could stop herself, despite knowing it was her duty, her responsibility as the Hero.

Leoden, as always, calmly and firmly rejected her plea with his deep, reprimanding voice, forcing her to comply.

“The regular report is your duty.”

“…Understood.”

Hadn’t she already shirked her duty once?

Hadn’t she already experienced the consequences?

So why was she trying to run away again?

Claire bit her lip at the mocking voice of the darkness within her. A sharp sting. The familiar taste of blood filled her mouth.

“…I’ll open the portal.”

The portal, a magic exclusive to the Hero, a feat even the all-powerful Sage couldn’t replicate, opened.

General Leoden, glancing at one of the blessings bestowed upon her by God, stepped through the portal. Claire hesitated, her gaze fixed on the royal capital beyond.

It was summer in the capital.

The first Summer Festival since the Demon King’s defeat.

The preparations seemed even grander and more vibrant than the last time she had attended. Claire lowered her head.

She didn’t deserve to reminisce about the person she had shared that festival with.

Suppressing the bittersweet memories that surfaced, Claire forced herself to step through the portal.

The royal capital was bustling with preparations for the festival. The warm sunlight, a stark contrast to the battlefield, lifted everyone’s spirits. But Claire’s steps remained heavy as she walked towards the palace.

“Welcome, General Leoden and Hero. Her Majesty awaits. Please, come this way.”

The vice-captain of the Lily Knights, the kingdom’s elite knight order, escorted them with a stoic expression. Walking through the familiar palace corridors towards the throne room, Claire sighed heavily.

The palace, the grandest structure in the royal capital, steeped in history and tradition, weighed heavily on her heart. It reminded her of someone.

“…Haaah.”

She had entered the palace many times with Leventia and Evangeline, but never with Hyun-woo.

He had loved ancient ruins, artifacts, and grand places, but she had never brought him inside the palace.

After all, he was an unofficial party member, practically just someone tagging along.

She had requested his entry a few times, but her requests had been denied by the nobles and knights.

They wouldn’t allow an unknown individual,

Someone without divine protection,

Someone whose motives for following the Hero’s Party were unclear, to enter the palace.

So, whenever she had the chance, Claire had spoken to the Queen about the Sage.

About how good and capable he was.

She had even secured permission for him to enter the palace.

But he had never joined her.

By then, their relationship had become too strained.

Walking through the opulent marble hallways, Claire felt as though she were treading on thorns.

The grandeur suffocated her.

He…

What was he doing now?

“The Summer Festival is coming up soon, right? Amy, are you going with your boyfriend?”

“Yes! I bought a new dress. Hehe. I’m going to be brave and try to seduce him.”

Her keen hearing picked up the maids whispering in a corner.

Their idle chatter, a trivial conversation to them, struck a chord within her.

She had done the same.

Worn an outfit she would never normally wear.

What had she been thinking back then?

…Ah, right.

She had wanted him to be happy to see her.

To boast that he could have such beauty by his side, admired by all.

Arrogantly, haughtily,

As if she were bestowing a reward upon him.

She shouldn’t have done that.

If only…

If only…

If only…

If only she had embraced him, just as he had stood there, waiting for her at the entrance to the festival grounds.

If only she had apologized.

If only she had told him how grateful and sorry she was, how ashamed she felt for pushing her responsibilities onto him.

If only she had offered to take back the burden she had placed on him.

How could a mere dress matter so much when she had leaned on him so heavily?

Even if her body was stained with monster blood and scarred, she should have done anything to keep him from leaving…

“…Huh…?”

Seeing him standing before the throne room, a familiar, easygoing smile on his face, her mind went blank.

The regret that had constantly plagued her thoughts,

The self-loathing that had clung to her like a foul odor,

All of it vanished, replaced by a blank canvas.

And on that canvas, a single drop of ink, bearing the name “Hyun-woo,” spread rapidly.

Why was the Sage, Hyun-woo, here?

She didn’t know. But she had to speak.

No, she had to talk to him.

She hadn’t seen him since he left. She had desperately wanted to apologize, to beg for forgiveness, but…

He had consistently refused to meet them.

And yet, here he was.

As if by fate.

Yes, perhaps this was fate.

Then she had to do it.

No matter where this was.

No matter who she was.

No matter what her duties were.

“…Sage…?”

She wanted to speak in a pleasant voice, but what emerged was a hoarse, unpleasant sound, revealing her inner turmoil.

No.

He would hate it.

Hyun-woo, who always emphasized the importance of a positive outlook, would hate this voice.

As she tried to clear her throat and speak again, Leoden raised his arm.

“The audience is about to begin.”

Why was he stopping her?

Why. was. he. stopping. her?

She had to speak now.

She didn’t know when he would disappear again.

Suddenly, just like before.

Or perhaps he would disappear again, disappointed that she hadn’t immediately fallen to her knees and begged for forgiveness the moment they met.

So, she had to do it.

She had to.

But the opportunity never came.

Because of the Sage’s, Hyun-woo’s, casual words.

Her mind went blank, her body frozen.

His voice, which she hadn’t heard in so long, was so sweet.

His smile so bright.

Like darkness fleeing from the sun, she felt utterly insignificant.

She could do nothing but stare at him.

She couldn’t remember what happened during the audience. The ink on the blank canvas was too vivid,

Overpowering everything else.

Claire felt like a traveler lost in the desert.

Tormented by unquenchable thirst, the mere sight of the Sage, like a single drop of water, was enough to erase everything, so overwhelmingly sweet.

So, she had no choice but to follow him.

Even though she should have apologized.

Even though she should have faced the consequences of pushing her duties and responsibilities onto him.

Even though she had so much to say to him.

All she could do was silently follow him.

When they reached his door, Hyun-woo spoke to her. It was her chance. Her chance to apologize, to bridge the gap between them by talking about the past.

But…

Claire, who could only ever be that timid village girl in front of him, couldn’t speak.

What should she say?

Where should she even begin?

The ink that had spread across the blank canvas was too vivid, too sweet, too painful.

Claire could only move her lips soundlessly, losing her chance once again.

Just like she always did.

As he entered his room, Claire snapped out of her daze.

She had done it again.

Foolishly wasted her chance.

Hyun-woo, who had been right in front of her just moments ago, was gone.

The despair, the regret of the oasis vanishing like a mirage, transformed into a crippling fear that consumed her.

No.

Not like this.

She couldn’t lose him again.

She couldn’t think, couldn’t remember.

Just… desperately…

Like a child scolded by her parents, blindly begging for forgiveness, she poured out her anxiety and fear.

And he, her hope, calmly opened the door.

Ah.

You were always like this.

Always saving us.

Supporting us with your comforting smile.

And even now,

You’re reaching out to me.

Her strength drained away. Addicted to the sweet comfort he offered, she was speechless.

Yes, there was no need to think.

Forget about her duties as the Hero.

Right now, she was just Claire, the village girl.

So…

Get angry at me.

Scold me.

Tell me I was wrong, and guide me again.

Only you can.

So please…

She poured out the jumbled thoughts in her head.

And he listened silently,

Just like he always did.

Smiling as he endured their verbal abuse and accusations, their frustrations, her own bitter smiles as she failed to protect him.

After rambling for a while, she finally looked at his face and realized.

Was she burdening him again?

As she was about to apologize again, the door opened.

Standing there was a girl with striking red hair.

Unlike her own rough appearance, she was elegant, beautiful, and kind.

Lucille Ermeier.

The Queen’s daughter, the one who had once tried to draw the Hero’s sword.

The one who had been the pride of the royal family for her exceptional talent, but had lost her confidence and withdrawn after Claire drew the sword.

She was calling him…

“Tutor.”

That single word brought Claire back to reality. And as the Hero, she saw it.

The Sage smiling at Lucille.

Helping her up, just like he used to do for them.

Confusion washed over her. Her mind went blank, unsure what to say or do.

After comforting the Princess, Hyun-woo casually walked away, leaving Claire behind.

Watching him go, a dark emotion, hidden deep within her heart, surfaced without her realizing it.

“…Why?”

I know I don’t deserve it.

I know I can’t go back.

I know that place isn’t mine anymore.

I know I don’t deserve your support, and that your words can’t fix what we broke.

But Sage,

Why…

The Princess?

Claire slowly lowered her head.

The Hero’s sword in her hand emitted a soft glow.

As if fate had chosen her as the Hero, the sword continued to shine brilliantly in her grasp.

Yes.

She was the Hero.

The Hero destined to defeat the Demon King and be saved by the Sage.

That’s how it was supposed to be.

But the Princess…

She shouldn’t have had that special connection.

And yet…

–Crack.

She bit her lip hard, drawing blood again. Tasting the bitter, metallic tang, Claire murmured in a low, gloomy voice,

Why?

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Lucille returned to her room, escorted by the Sage, her heart filled with a strange joy.

She didn’t know why.

No, she knew.

She had simply been pretending not to, hiding it behind the facade of royal decorum.

Dismissing her maids, Lucille hugged her pillow tightly and smiled, remembering.

The look on the Hero’s face as she watched them leave, a mixture of envy and jealousy.

The woman who had drawn the Hero’s sword, a feat Lucille herself couldn’t achieve.

And…

The one who had lost this wonderful person, the Sage.

And the fact that the Sage was now by her side.

The thought made her giggle uncontrollably.

A thrill ran down Lucille’s spine, a dark, insidious feeling,

A forbidden pleasure unbefitting a noble. She laughed again, a sound devoid of any grace, and thought,

Of him,

Who had so gently escorted her, not the Hero,

Her tutor, her man.

Ah.

Mr. Sage.

My Tutor.

You truly are a Sage.

You truly can do anything.

You saved me from the very beginning.

And you…

I…

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