Epilogue 1...

"Thank you for protecting our kingdom. For you efforts, I shall reward you with anything you wish for," the king joyfully said.

"It's my duty to protect the lives of innocent people. Your majesty, I do not wish to be compensated for the duty the goddess had given me," the hero replied as he remained kneeling on one foot on the floor.

"How humble! Truly! You're worthy of your title!"

In the grand hall of the throne room, the hero was now being presented to the royalty of the kingdom of Belford. For the deed of defeating a ten thousand armed monster army, he was now being praised and rewarded.

At first, all of the major and minor nobles Lords were called upon here to simply attend his first appearance in the castle. However, the Dark army appeared first, and his introduction became an even grander celebration than it was already leading up to be.

So that's our new hero, eh? He still looks like a brat.

My guess is he's just a little younger than my youngest son, Nero. With that said, his looks can't be any farther than him. This new hero of ours has the look of a sheltered child. His appearance was almost feminine in elegance, even his prestine skin seem to glow under the sunlight. The term "handsome" was almost not enough to describe him, he was simply far too beautiful.

For that reason, it was not only the women in attendance who were lusting for him, even the men who lay their eyes on him seem to be immediately captivated. Those with questionable preference were even licking their lips in their unabashful excitement.

"We shall celebrate your victory!"

After the king finished reciting his heartful speech, the grand celebration in the castle had finally officially started. First, a feast, later entertainment, and then comes the ball in the evening. With only a few small changes, the cycle would repeat for three days.

"Hmph!" I groaned in protest.

How dare they celebrate while my territory is still being attacked by monsters?

I want to head straight to the king and complain, but I'm afraid that I will be sent straight to the gallows if I ruined his mood now.

Hopefully, Nolan and Ned were properly doing their jobs...

Other than to attend the first appearance of the newly assigned hero, another reason us nobles were called here was to inform us of the recent activities in the Dark continent.

Apparently, another hero from one of our allied nations had manage to defeat one of the seven generals of the Dark king. That explains the recent violent attacks that were coming from the enemy. They were competing against each other for the seat of their previously defeated general.

I thought that it was indeed a rather important info. However, were they not able to relay it to us via a messenger instead?

Well, either way, it's true that our attendance will be needed for such a monumental event like the appointing of a new hero. It's for appearances. I simply wish they would inform us beforehand and not surprise us like how they did it.

As I stand in the corner of the ball room, I suddenly saw the sight of the hero talking to one of the far-away nobles like me. He wasn't showing any kind of emotion, but the baron he was talking to seems flustered. Not surprising, considering how all of the people in attendance now has their attention on him.

I didn't bother to watch anymore, so I opted to drink the wine the servants served me instead.

"Baron, a letter from your assigned representatives," suddenly, another servant came to hand me a letter.

"A letter? At this time?" I suspiciously asked.

"I've been told it was important," the servant replied, after then leaving right away.

I looked around my shoulders for any glancing eyes. A private letter like this shouldn't be opened in a public area. I should be cautious, but even so, it was sent to me while knowing I was in such a place. That could only mean one thing, the message contained in the letter was important, but not something that shouldn't be shared to anyone else. Knowing that, I chose to open the letter and read its contents now.

"Wha-What!?" I unintentionally exclaimed.

A few people around me got unsettled and stared at me suspiciously. Fortunately, they turned away immediately when I nodded my head at them in apology.

With no prying eyes staring at me once again, I continued to read the letter.

I can't believe it...!

The letter states that the Dark army that was approaching my territory attacked earlier than anticipated. That's what gotten me alarmed, but fortunately, my relief came right after as it revealed that they were promptly defeated. However, when I read the latter part of the report, it gotten me suprised just the same.

Only a single individual came to defeat all the enemy...

"A-Amazing!" I can't help but think so.

Truly, I was right in relying on her...!

"Baron Muro," suddenly, a voice came to call me.

Satisfied, I subsequently returned the letter in its cover and put it in my chest pocket. My mood has been uplifted. I didn't even feel mad for suddenly being bothered.

After I secured the letter, I looked ahead to see who it was who appeared in front of me. To my surprise, it was the hero himself.

"Hero-sama, is there anything I can help you with?" despite the confusing situation, I remained calm and asked.

"No, I did not come to you for that. In fact, I came for the opposite," he replied without any change in his expression. "I heard that the Dark army is coming for your territory as well. Perhaps I can go there to defeat them myself?" he suggested.

I see, was that why he was talking to my fellow Baron earlier? From what I heard, he's also dealing with an invasion from the Dark army.

He's quite the diligent hero, isn't he...?

"There's no need for that. Apparently, it has already been dealt with," I replied with a boastful laugh.

"Were you able to assemble an army?"

"My sons, which were acting as my representatives were able to," I affirmed, but then I continued, "However, I don't think we'll have a need for them now. I received a letter just now telling me that the invading forces have already been defeated."

The knights I requested the king and the soldiers my sons negotiated for to send as reinforcements — they won't be of any help now. I frankly feel dissapointed, but it's better that way. They will surely still ask for compensation, but perhaps I can use the corpses that will be collected later for that purpose?

"Oh? Was it the adventurers in the guild?" for the first time, the hero showed emotion as he asked.

I contemplated whether I should tell him or not about Eria. In the end, I thought it won't really matter.

"You're right, but it was only a single elf adventurer," I revealed so.

"Just a single person...?"

"Indeed! Kuku, I never thought A ranks could be this reliable," I excitedly said.

"Can I perhaps ask for this person's name?"

"Her name's Eria, a rather attractive elf woman if I do say so myself."

Once again, I pondered whether to tell him or not. However, I was in really good mood. I was feeling the urge to boast.

"Attractive? If she was able to defeat all of the enemy by herself, shouldn't you describe her as powerful instead," the hero criticized.

"Well, both descriptions of her are true. I simply never witness the real extent of her power, while I was able to experience her allure first-hand," I laughed.

"I see..."

Hmm? What is he thinking? Did she somehow peaked his interest?

"Is something the matter?" I raised my brow and asked.

"No, I was simply thinking, she might be kind of similar to me," he showed an awkward smile as he replied.

"Now that you mention it..."

They really both were two beautiful people who happen to be strong.

"I shall keep her name in mind. Thank you for your time, Baron Muro."

Just like that, the beautiful hero finally walked away and left me alone.

Good.

"Kuku..." I chuckled.

As reality settled in, my mood uplifted even more.

I shall report this to the king. I do not know how he would react to Eria, but I'm sure he would appreciate the good news.