Quit The Hero Party

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EP.536 After Story, Epilogue (1)

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A tavern located on the outskirts of the imperial capital.

As the moon began to tilt in the deep night, the bartender wiped a glass and glanced around the bar. This was his tavern, which had gained some fame through word of mouth. Normally, this time of night, it would be packed, but…

Tonight, there were only two customers in the store.

Those two customers were the reason he was closed for business tonight.

They had become regulars who rented the place out like this once a month since about two years ago. Although he had gotten used to it over time, thinking of their status still sent shivers down the bartender’s spine.

After all, they were figures he could never hope to reach.

The moment the great powers of the Empire stepped into this tavern and spotted the two drinking at the bar… they would surely bury their faces in the ground. Not metaphorically, but physically.

The bartender glanced at the two patrons and mulled over their names. There was no one in the Empire who didn’t know their names. Their names were even featured on the first page of the recently revised imperial history.

Imperial First Blade, Rania van Trias.

Imperial First Sword, Kyle Toven.

Heroes of humanity who had brought an end to a thousand-year-long great war. It was surely a strange sight, no matter how many times you witnessed it, to see such colossal figures conversing casually over drinks as if they were ordinary people.

Hoo…

The bartender took a deep breath and poured some drink into the polished glass, heading toward the two.

Thud.

Even as he set the glass down, the two continued their conversation, allowing the bartender to eavesdrop somewhat inadvertently. He knew it was rude, but he couldn’t help his curiosity.

What do heroes who protect the Empire and humanity typically talk about?

The future of the Empire? The future of humanity?

Surely it must be some grand and elaborate topic beyond the imagination of an average person. After all, they were the heroes of the Empire. Just as the bartender indulged in such thoughts, a sudden noise interrupted him.

Bang!

The table shook violently.

Startled, the bartender turned his gaze to the source and found the Imperial First Blade glaring with bulging eyes, veins popping in her neck as she shouted. Her hand, which struck the table, trembled violently.

“Damn it, who’s getting married again?”

Thus, the first words uttered by the Imperial First Blade, the hero of humanity, were indeed astonishing. It made the bartender question whether he was truly watching an imperial hero seated before him.

“No, damn it… How many times has it been? I’ve gone to seven weddings in the last four years. Seven! I’ve attended seven weddings!”

The bartender blinked in surprise.

That was quite a colorful expression. Did he mishear? Just then, to ensure the bartender wouldn’t doubt it, Rania van Trias bellowed again.

“Please, please tell them to stop with the weddings!”

“Lower your voice…”

“Am I supposed to lower it now? Damn it, do you know how I feel? Of course, you wouldn’t, you’re married. Every time I go to these weddings, people’s gazes…”

Hmm.

The bartender silently stepped back.

He was an ordinary citizen, not someone who could spread rumors that the hero of the Empire visited his tavern to yell, ‘Please stop getting married.’

So, as usual, he resolved to hear today’s words in one ear and let them drift out the other.

“Weddings. Those damn weddings.”

Rania grumbled, pinching her brow.

Once a great mage who defeated the Demon Lord and cast down stars, now she heaved sighs at the mere mention of the word “marriage.” This was due to the relentless suffering she had endured over the past four years.

Gulp, whooo.

Pouring the harsh drink into her system, Rania opened her mouth.

“So this time, who is it?”

“Haven’t you received the invitation yet?”

“I did, but I haven’t opened it. I feel like I’ll just get annoyed the moment I do.”

“Well, you should’ve at least checked.”

Kyle said with a bitter smile.

“It’s the wedding of Belnoa and Chloe.”

“Oh, it was their wedding?”

Sure, at their level…

Belnoa and Chloe were two people whose wedding had been discussed for years. Their ceremony, which had been postponed numerous times under the pretext of Belnoa’s duties as Master of the Tower, was finally happening. Even Rania couldn’t help but genuinely congratulate them.

After all, they were her cherished disciples.

It was indeed something to celebrate.

A joyous occasion it might be, but what was this feeling?

They hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she felt inexplicably uneasy. Rania let out a series of deep sighs as she poured the liquor into her mouth. As the alcohol flowed in, her gut began to settle a bit.

“Yeah, they’re… they’re fine.”

“Your expression clearly says otherwise.”

While she was closer to enduring, Kyle understood Rania’s feelings and chuckled as he nibbled on snacks.

“Recently, there have been a lot of weddings.”

“Is that something you should say?”

“Well, if you put it that way, I have nothing to counter it.”

Rania glared at Kyle with wide eyes.

Out of the seven weddings she had to participate in over the last four years, three were for people close to her… and two of those were Kyle’s weddings.

Kyle and Sara’s wedding.

Lac and Natida’s wedding.

And, once again, Kyle and Remia’s wedding.

Even Remia, who had delayed numerous times out of embarrassment, seemed triggered by the sight of the brides in their wedding dresses and Rania’s cringing expression, and soon enough, she too had her ceremony. What on earth had triggered her?

“Why did you suddenly decide?”

“If I put it off any longer, I felt I’d end up like that.”

Later, during drinks, Remia would say that if she delayed further, she feared she’d become like Rania. Unfortunately, Rania was also present at that gathering. While Kyle feared the two would fight, Rania was faster than him.

“This crazy girl?”

A tiny accident unfolded when the mage who had cast down the stars punched the elf bride-to-be in the face right before their honeymoon, but that was all in the past now. Remembering that past, Kyle smiled, and Rania pursed her lips.

“Just hearing about weddings now drives me crazy. More specifically, the topic of relationships.”

“Oh really.”

“I’m not unable to date; I’m choosing not to. I don’t particularly plan to either. But every time I appear at a wedding, I feel those pitying gazes upon me. And that’s what I can’t stand.”

Honestly, she felt quite wronged.

Setting down her glass with a thud, Rania pouted.

“No… I’m totally fine. It doesn’t itch or hurt, and I’m not lonely, okay? Really, I’m okay! But why do people see me as someone not okay? I say I’m fine, so why do they act like that?”

There was moisture in her voice.

It sounded like a lot had built up within her.

“I’m comfortable being single. It’s not that I can’t date, it’s that I won’t. Why would I miss out on something?”

“Don’t cry and speak.”

“I’m not crying, you bastard. Life…”

Watching Rania down her drink without any snacks, Kyle smiled bitterly. While mages are typically resistant to alcohol, if one keeps chugging strong liquor like she was, it would only be a matter of time.

Kyle had only seen Rania drunk once. At that time, he discovered a surprising side to her when she got wasted.

When she got drunk, she would sob as she drank.

Not in a heart-wrenching manner, but more like, ‘Why does this happen to me?’ while downing her drink. Remembering that moment, Kyle eyed Rania. It seemed she was starting to get tipsy, as she was getting a bit teary-eyed.

‘If I let this go on, something bad might happen.’

It was amusing to see her drink while sobbing, but Kyle had no confidence in handling the aftermath.

“Let’s drop that subject.”

Kyle snatched Rania’s drink from her hand.

Sliding snacks toward her, he handed her a fork instead of a glass, quickly changing the subject.

“So, are you doing well these days?”

“I’m getting by well enough. The academy has gotten a bit bigger, so there’s a lot to do, but with some assistants, I don’t have too much on my plate.”

As she munched on the fries presented, Rania tilted her head. Looking at Kyle, she asked.

“And you? How’s Galatrick?”

“I’m not busy at all. It’s Kalt who’s busy.”

Kyle shrugged.

Even in the reconstructed Kirmelt Canyon, neither he nor his colleagues had too much work. In fact, he had held a sword in the name of teaching the recruits…

“Senior Kyle.”

“Senior, you should just give a demonstration.”

“Please, don’t say things like ‘you’ll make it if you try!’”

“The norm is, you won’t!”

The results had not been promising.

Most of the recruits who trained under him gave up swordsmanship, leading Kyle to realize he had no aptitude for teaching.

“I had no idea, though.”

“Oh.”

“I also seem to be in a similar category as you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Kyle said with a bitter smile.

“Seems to work out for me? Beyond that, it just doesn’t translate well. Teaching someone isn’t easy.”

“I told you, right? It’s not easy.”

Rania laughed as if expecting this response.

“It took me a while to get the hang of it too. Well, later on, you should see how Kalt teaches and learn from him. You’ll catch on.”

“Seems like I’ll have to.”

After chatting for a while, the two raised their last glasses. In the quiet tavern, clang, the cheers of their drinking glasses rang out clearly.

“To tomorrow.”

Thanks to Destel’s outbursts at every gathering, this had become an unwritten toast among them as they downed their drinks.

Though much had changed, they still clinked glasses like this from time to time.

Four years had passed since the hero’s retirement ceremony.

In those four years, the Kingdom had transformed into an Empire, Apuria had expanded through renovations and branches, the collapsed Kirmelt Canyon had been rebuilt, and humanity’s territory had grown. The world had changed like this, but…

Rania van Trias’s life hadn’t changed much.

“Haa…”

Rania let out a long yawn while sinking into the sofa in her professor’s office. Now, she was using a private office, not a shared one with Rosel. This perk had been granted when she returned to Apuria.

Though she had left her position as an associate professor to become a hero, once returning to Apuria after her retirement, she had become a full professor.

But that wasn’t all. Starting from the position of department head, she could have aspired for higher positions if she wanted, but out of laziness, Rania rejected all of them. A single title of the Imperial First Blade was enough for her.

Imperial First Blade.

The title, symbolizing the first pillar of the Empire and the first star representing the Empire. This was the title bestowed upon her during her retirement ceremony.

‘Thanks to this, I’ve dealt with tedious tasks.’

The moment she expressed her desire to return to Apuria about two years ago, she could ward off everyone seeking her help with that single badge symbolizing the Imperial First Blade. Thus, for Rania, titles meant just that.

Tools to handle bothersome tasks without hassle.

However, when faced with truly annoying matters, even the dazzling title of Imperial First Blade was of little use. This was especially evident with the wedding of Chloe and Belnoa that was coming up in a few days.

“Huuuu…”

Rania sighed heavily.

As her green eyes dulled, she recalled the questions she would likely hear from her master during the upcoming wedding. Her master never mentioned dating or marriage in direct terms, but… at every wedding, this question would always arise.

“How old are you this year?”

She knew he was fully aware as he asked.

This time, she couldn’t answer like last year, “I’m still in my twenties, Master.” Finally, Rania had turned thirty.

Thirty.

Just a shift from “2” to “3” in the tens place and yet, the weight of the word was immense. Reflecting on her age, Rania let out a hollow laugh. As people often do when cornered without excuses, she too somewhat resigned herself to her situation.

“I’m fine.”

Rania muttered to herself.

“I’m still young.”

It was close to self-hypnosis.

In reality, her words weren’t entirely untrue.

Having experienced the heights of the world and reached the realm of transcendence, Rania had made a conscious choice to give up her powers, but her physical form approached that of a divine body.

Her physique always remained in the prime of her twenties, and she looked as if she could easily pass for a teenager. Her skin was perpetually flawless, and her complexion was radiant.

Like elven beings who lived nearly immortal lives, the flow of time held no meaning for her. Just as elves did not concern themselves with their age, Rania could do so too, provided she set her mind to it, but…

“I’m still young…”

For her, with an awareness of being human, that was not an easy feat. As she pondered this, Rania suddenly recalled moments from her recent past—proof that she was indeed still young.

“Hey, student, get back in line.”

The words of a knight who had failed to recognize her during the field experience a few months ago. How good did she feel when she heard that? There it was, clear evidence that she stood undiminished.

While she smiled pleasantly recalling that incident, another thought crossed her mind, which prompted a sigh to escape her.

That moment had filled her with immense joy. She had joked in front of her master, “Should I do some identity laundering and enter Apuria as a student again?” All of it was meant to be a joke.

It had truly been just a joke.

So far gone was she in her joke that when her master’s warm gaze met her own at that moment, Rania couldn’t leave her room for a while.

“Huuuu…”

As Rania sunk into her thoughts of the past, a knock echoed at the door of her office. It was a rather urgent knocking.

Soon, her teaching assistant entered, panting as she exclaimed.

“Professor Rania!”

She called out.

“Dark mages who worship an Ancient Lich are holding students hostage near Apuria…”

Rania couldn’t believe her ears.

Was today April Fool’s Day? No, it couldn’t be. Who on earth would dare commit such a brazen act? As Rania blinked in disbelief, she slowly rose from her seat.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, outside….”

Looking out the window, Rania could see the scene the assistant had described in the distance. Only half listening to her assistant’s mutterings about knights responding, Rania couldn’t help but smile.

“Triana, my assistant?”

“Yes, Professor Rania…”

“Announce that the next class will start five minutes late.”

“Five minutes?”

As Triana was about to question what that meant, a gust of wind blew through. When she closed her eyes for a moment and opened them again, Rania had vanished.

Whoooo, clatter.

Only the curtain-blowing window swayed in the breeze.