Chapter 23: A Hero’s Relief

【Siegfried PoV】

I stood near the edge of the courtyard, trying to find a comfortable spot on the cold stone bench.

A faint breeze swept past me, rustling my hair.

The early morning sun cast long shadows across the stone.

Reginald-sama Blackwood stretched his arms in the middle of the courtyard.

Eksu stood a few paces away, looking as tense as a cornered rabbit.

Elizabeth and Genevieve-sama watched from one side, grinning with excitement.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

My entire plan was about to pay off.

Finally, Eksu was taking center stage.

In other words, the spotlight was no longer on me.

I fumbled in my pouch, searching for a small snack.

I found a handful of salted nuts and started to munch quietly.

Elizabeth’s father hefted his sword, testing its weight.

His muscles flexed, giving off the impression of a man half his age.

Eksu gave a resigned sigh, clearly dreading this fight.

I tried to contain my laughter.

This was exactly what I had dreamed of for the last eight years.

No more random heroic encounters.

No more forced training sessions.

No more unwanted adoration from villagers calling me the “prophesied champion.”

All that was shifting onto Eksu’s shoulders.

I shifted on the bench, popping another nut into my mouth.

My plan was brilliant, if I do say so myself.

Orchid perfume?

Check.

Convince Eksu it would repel Elizabeth?

Check.

Watch their relationship blossom in the exact opposite way he expected?

Double check.

He was now engaged to a girl with enough enthusiasm to conquer kingdoms, and parents just as enthusiastic.

The perfect recipe for someone else’s heroic saga.

Reginald-sama took a step forward.

“Are you ready, Eksu?” 

His voice boomed with a mixture of anticipation and kindness.

Eksu mumbled something inaudible.

I saw the flicker of his blue shielding skill, that telltale ripple of energy.

I grinned.

Yes, fight well, Eksu.

Prove yourself worthy, so I won’t be dragged into this madness.

Elizabeth clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on her heels.

“Go, Father! Don’t hold back!”

Genevieve-sama nodded in agreement.

“Show us your finest swordsmanship!”

I caught a glimpse of Eksu rolling his eyes.

It was almost like he was silently begging for mercy.

But there would be no mercy in this family.

They all believed in strength, endurance, and a healthy dose of chaos.

Reginald-sama dashed forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc.

Eksu tensed.

His blue shield shimmered and absorbed the blow without issue.

Elizabeth’s father laughed with genuine delight.

“Magnificent!”

He attacked again.

Left, right, overhead slash.

Each strike failed to leave a scratch.

I leaned back, chewing slowly.

This was going to be entertaining.

In truth, my heart pounded with a slight worry.

If Elizabeth’s father rejected Eksu, everything would fall apart.

I’d be back to square one.

I needed this fight to end with Reginald-sama’s satisfaction, or I might lose my precious peace.

So I rooted for Eksu.

Silently, of course.

He just had to keep blocking.

That was all he needed to do.

For a moment, I wondered if Reginald-sama would lose patience.

Yet every time his blade struck that impenetrable shield, his grin grew wider.

He wasn’t angry at all.

He genuinely wanted to see just how powerful Eksu’s defense could be.

Elizabeth jumped up and down.

“Yes, Father! Harder, faster!”

I raised an eyebrow.

She truly inherited his insane enthusiasm.

I snuck another nut from my pouch, savoring the salty crunch.

Reginald-sama’s attacks became more ferocious.

He spun, jumped, and lunged with acrobatic finesse that didn’t match his age.

Still, Eksu’s shield stood firm.

It glowed faintly each time an attack connected, dispersing the force harmlessly.

Minutes passed.

Reginald-sama began to sweat.

His breath came in louder bursts.

His once-smooth moves grew ragged.

Yet he refused to stop.

He was determined to see the limit of Eksu’s power.

I wondered how much stamina he had left.

He swung overhead once again.

The sword clanged against an invisible barrier.

Eksu held his ground, expression resigned but steady.

Reginald-sama stepped back, panting.

He tried to speak, but laughter spilled out first.

“Impressive… so impressive…”

Elizabeth’s mother clapped with refined grace.

Elizabeth’s smile shone like the rising sun.

I chewed another nut, feeling relief wash over me.

This was going perfectly.

Reginald-sama readied another strike.

He rushed forward, attempting a powerful thrust to Eksu’s midsection.

Blue light shimmered again.

Another flawless block.

He stumbled back, struggling to maintain his footing.

His laughter filled the courtyard.

“I haven’t had… such a workout… in years!”

He inhaled deeply, wiping sweat from his brow.

His grin never wavered.

He launched one final series of attacks, each more desperate than the last.

Eksu’s shield absorbed them all, rippling gently like a serene pond disturbed by small stones.

At last, Reginald-sama slumped to one knee.

His sword slipped from his hand, clattering against the stone floor.

“I yield,” he gasped.

Elizabeth squealed with delight.

Genevieve-sama beamed proudly.

I breathed a silent sigh of relief.

This was precisely what I needed.

Eksu stood stiffly, eyes wary.

He seemed unsure whether to move or speak.

Reginald-sama pushed himself to his feet.

He approached Eksu, placing a hand on the younger man’s shoulder.

“Truly astounding, Eksu.”

Elizabeth ran forward, practically tackling Eksu with a hug.

“I knew you’d do great!”

Reginald-sama laughed, still catching his breath.

“You’re as mighty as Elizabeth claimed.”

He stepped closer, voice echoing with finality.

“Welcome to the family, son.”

Eksu’s eyes went wide.

His posture slumped a bit as if the weight of those words settled on him.

I bit back a chuckle.

Yes, he was stuck now.

No chance of backing out.

This was the outcome I wanted.

Elizabeth embraced Eksu with both arms.

Her mother joined them, smiling with genuine happiness.

I stood there, nibbling the last of my salted nuts.

I felt strangely proud.

Not proud of Eksu, necessarily, though he did well.

But proud of myself, for orchestrating this entire scenario.

Now that Elizabeth’s father had welcomed him, my own obligations were done.

No more forcing me to be the hero.

No more random travelers demanding my help for outrageous quests.

Eksu had replaced me as the main event.

I stifled a victorious laugh.

It was time for me to fade into the background of their story.

I stepped forward slowly, giving Eksu a playful pat on the back.

“Nice job, man.”

He turned, his eyes filled with exhausted relief.

“I… I guess I’m part of this family now.”

I nodded, forcing my grin to remain polite.

“You definitely are.”

I could see the mix of dread and resignation swirling in his gaze.

Poor Eksu.

He had no idea what lay ahead with this enthusiastic clan.

But that was his problem now, not mine.

Reginald-sama clapped me on the shoulder.

“And you, Siegfried! Thank you for guiding our daughter to such a fine husband.”

I smirked, bowing my head slightly.

“I was just… doing what came naturally, Reginald-san.”

He bellowed another joyful laugh.

Elizabeth’s mother led Eksu toward the mansion, probably to prepare a feast.

The newly christened future son-in-law had to celebrate with them.

I stayed back, watching from a short distance.

A small part of me felt a pang of guilt.

But the larger part felt pure relief.

Finally, I was free.

Finally, the main story would revolve around Eksu.

He had the girl, the family, and the headaches to match.

I remained in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky.

Warm sunlight touched my face, offering the promise of a peaceful future.

“Good luck, Eksu,” I murmured to myself.

I knew he’d need it.

At least now, my life would be quieter.

No more urgent calls for heroics.

No more comedic misunderstandings with Elizabeth.

No more frantic attempts to dodge her punches.

All I had to do was step aside gracefully.

I strolled over to the worn bench at the edge of the yard.

My plan had succeeded.

I’d successfully transferred more of the heroic spotlight onto Eksu.

He was now the main event in this bizarre tale of romance and battle.

I sank onto the bench, exhaling slowly.

A strange sense of peace settled over me.

I felt lighter, as though a burden had been lifted.

At this rate, I could finally enjoy the quiet life I’d always longed for.

A breeze ruffled my hair, carrying the echo of Elizabeth’s laughter from inside the mansion.

I found myself smiling, just a bit.

I was genuinely happy that Reginald-sama had accepted Eksu.

He would handle all the chaos from here on out.

That was the final piece of my puzzle, neatly in place.

I closed my eyes, letting the warm air wash over me.

With this, I’d achieved my goal.

Eksu was the star.

I was merely a background figure, right where I belonged.

Then a faint, rhythmic noise sounded in my ear.

It was like an echo, a whisper of something beyond ordinary hearing.

I opened my eyes in confusion.

The courtyard was empty.

No one else was near.

Yet I sensed a shift, a ripple in the atmosphere.

It felt like something was changing in the very fabric of this world.

A strange shiver crawled up my spine.

I stood quickly, scanning the courtyard.

No sign of intruders.

No monstrous enemies.

Nothing.

Still, the air felt different, as if a new chapter of fate had begun.

I forced a laugh, trying to shake off the unease.

“Must be my imagination.”

I turned toward the mansion, planning to join the feast.

At least I could claim some victory meal.

Yet that unease lingered, nagging at the edge of my mind.

I could not pinpoint the cause.

I exhaled slowly, deciding it was just leftover nerves from watching the duel.

Yes, that was all.

I walked toward the tall doors, ignoring the unsettling sensation.

Whatever it was, it couldn’t be my problem anymore.

My time in the spotlight was over.

Eksu was the hero now.

I smirked confidently, pushing the door open.

But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help wondering what that ripple meant.

It almost felt like an omen of something grand and terrible lurking just beyond our peaceful horizon.

I tried to push the thought aside.

I had no intention of getting involved.

Not again.

Not after all my careful planning.

Still, a tiny corner of my heart felt uneasy.

I stepped into the mansion’s lively hallway, following the cheerful voices.

My role was finished.

That was all that mattered.

Yes, I told myself.

Everything was perfectly fine.

Nothing could possibly draw me back into the limelight.

Nothing.

《You have passed 30% of the protagonism to Eksu》

《Attention…》

《The Story is being changed… Demon King added》