S-Rank Adventurer Betrayed by His Fiancée in the Hero’s Party Sets Off on a Journey to Heal His Broken Heart ~The Strongest Betrayed Adventurer Ends Up Forming a Harem Party~ - Chapter 03: Unforeseen Devotion [Sage's Side]

Chapter 03: Unforeseen Devotion [Sage’s Side]

“Haa… What should I do?”

Millia, having lost sight of Abel, walked through the corridors of the royal castle, where she had been staying for the past few days. 

She had wanted to go search for Abel, but a call came through her magical device, the Far-Sight Crystal.

“Don’t worry, Millia. He’s just a lowly adventurer, right? Even if he talks, who do you think people will believe? The Hero or some adventurer? It’s obvious.”

“That’s true, but still…”

Walking beside her was the Hero, Yuto, who was cheerful, but Millia couldn’t shake her unease.

“There was nothing left behind as evidence, so… it should be fine, I guess?”

“Haha, but his face was priceless! It was totally like something out of an NTR story!”

“Come on, stop saying that, Yuto… You’re the one in bigger trouble, you know? You’re engaged to the princess.”

That was the biggest issue at hand. 

In this world, having relationships with multiple partners was allowed. 

Those with wealth, whether men or women, often built harems.

The reason behind it was simple—the population had been steadily decreasing due to the ongoing war with the Demon King.

In the country where Millia and Abel were born, monogamy was the norm. However, in other nations, polygamy was actively encouraged.

However, that only works if everyone involved agrees.

Even if someone has relationships with multiple partners, it must be based on mutual understanding and consent.

If the princess were to find out about this relationship, without any prior discussion, it would be a disaster.

Although the other members of the party have noticed and stayed silent, there’s a chance Abel could spread the word.

On top of that, Millia was troubled by the promise she had made to Abel, which weighed heavily on her mind.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it somehow. So relax!”

“Oh, Yuto…”

But that reassurance quickly faded.

Millia, slightly exasperated by Yuto’s confident words and chest-thumping, drew closer to him.

After days filled with parties and parades that felt more like work, they had finally taken a break and ventured out into the city.

It was, of course, a secret date.

Disguised, they slipped out of the castle and mingled with the festivities in the royal capital.

…And when they saw that quiet, romantic church, their pent-up desires led them to do what they did.

Millia had completely forgotten the promise she had made at that church. Running into Abel had been purely coincidental.

“Still, you finally got to meet your fiancé, but then you were summoned by the king. What’s that all about, I wonder?”

The summons that had arrived earlier through the Far-Sight Crystal, a magical item that transmits voices and images from a distance, had come from the King of the Kingdom of Sildiel.

“That was about to get interesting, but the King had to call us. I’m the Hero who saved the world, you know.”

“Interesting…? You shouldn’t say things like that. He’s still my childhood friend, after all.”

Even though Millia had cheated, she still felt some affection for her childhood friend with whom she had spent so much time.

(Well… I’m sure Abel will forgive me if I apologize. He’s kind, and there’s no real proof, so it’ll be fine.)

Millia shook her head, trying to push away her anxiety. 

Eventually, the room they were headed toward came into view at the end of the hallway. Yuto reached the large double doors and opened them.

“You’re finally here. Took your time, Yuto… Millia too, I see.”

The room faced the castle’s garden, a glass-walled salon typically used for tea parties, offering a full view of the garden. 

The room was dimly lit by magical lamps and moonlight, and there were already two people waiting inside.

“Sorry, Sir Ed. We came as fast as we could.”

The man sitting down was so large that the chair seemed small beneath him.

However, his neatly trimmed gray hair and calm demeanor gave him an air of dignity. 

The giant calmly sipping tea was Ed Heims, a Holy Knight known by the title Heaven’s Wall, and he was the commander of the Knights of the Kingdom of Sildiel. 

He was also the eldest member of their party and acted as their leader.

“You were summoned suddenly too, right, Sir Ed?”

“Indeed. I was spending time with my wife and daughter, but when the King calls, I cannot refuse.”

“Your loyalty never wavers, huh? That’s impressive.”

“Yes. Though I’ll probably get an earful when I get home.”

He was also known as a devoted husband.

Though polygamy was common among nobles, his famous love story was about a grand romance, where he chose to love only one wife. His tale was well-known.

Sitting in the chair next to him was another person—a woman with strikingly pale features.

“Is something wrong, Millia? You seem a little off…”

“Huh? Oh, no, it’s nothing serious, Ciel. I’m fine!”

“Really…? Well, if something’s bothering you, feel free to talk to me, okay?”

The other person in the room had light blonde hair that almost seemed to glow.

Her face was more striking for its beauty than its coolness, and she wore pure white robes with a staff resting by her side. She was the last member of the Hero’s Party—Saint Ciel Alfanum.

Millia headed straight for the chair next to Ciel and sat down.

After their three-year journey together, the two women had grown close, developing a deep friendship and becoming best friends.

“Are you sure? After returning from the journey, you’ve been attending all these unfamiliar parties—it must be tiring, right?”

“Haha, well, it would be a lie to say it hasn’t been exhausting… but it’s not really that.”

“I see… well, you two have been going out together a lot recently, after all.”

“Haha…”

Millia felt a nervous sweat form under Ciel’s narrowed gaze.

They were in the same party, so of course Ciel knew about their relationship.

She had been silently observing their affair for about two years now, pretending not to notice.

“Sigh… Yuto, your engagement to the princess was arranged a year ago. Yesterday, it was even officially announced. It’s about time you—”

“Yeah, yeah. But still, what’s going on here? This is so sudden. We’re not the King’s errand boys, you know.”

“Seriously…! Although I have to admit, this isn’t like His Majesty.”

I always check with them before I go to these gatherings. I always check with them before I go to these gatherings.”

“That’s true. He usually plans these kinds of gatherings well in advance.”

“Exactly. It was so sudden… even the King hasn’t—”

“Ah, you’re all here. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Just as Millia and Yuto sat down and began talking, a voice echoed from the salon entrance.

The person who had summoned them stepped through the door—a man with hair as white as snow, seemingly an elderly gentleman. Yet, his air of authority and sharp gaze had not diminished. 

It was none other than Randed di Sildiel, the King of the Kingdom of Sildiel.

“Y-Your Majesty. I hope you are well today.”

“No need for that, Ed. Tonight is just a private tea gathering. Let’s keep the formalities to a minimum. Sorry for calling you all so suddenly.”

“Yeah, Your Highness, that was a bit much. It really caught us off guard.”

“My apologies, Hero. But this is something I felt I needed to tell you in person before the day is over.”

King Randed sat in the last available seat and, after instructing the servants to prepare tea and refreshments, dismissed them from the room.

“I wanted to talk to you about one of the guests invited to tomorrow’s victory party with key contributors.”

“The party with those who supported us, right? I’ve heard they helped a lot with money and supplies.”

“Didn’t we decide that since we can’t introduce everyone individually, we’d just meet them at the event?”

There were many who had financially backed the Hero’s party. 

As Millia mentioned, the event was supposed to be an opportunity to introduce them and build connections.

“Yes, but this particular person couldn’t be treated the same as the others. I was sworn to secrecy, and I hesitated to speak, but I can’t stay silent any longer.”

However, King Randed shook his head.

“He’s an adventurer who continuously supported your Hero’s party—someone who helped save the world.”

“An adventurer…?”

“Yes. But not just any adventurer. This person alone covered about 30% of the aid you received.”

“Huh? So what? We’re the Hero’s party that saved the world. Supporting us financially is expected, isn’t it?”

“Yuto! Are you an idiot? Do you have any idea how much that 30% is!? Even the largest merchant guilds couldn’t manage that!”

While Yuto brushed it off with a “What’s the big deal?”, Ed’s reaction was completely different. Yuto muttered, “Is it really that impressive?”, but the support they received for their journey was enormous.

The fact that one adventurer, a single individual, had provided 30% of that aid was practically impossible.

Millia, who had been an A-rank adventurer just before their journey, realized the gravity of it, and that’s when she came to a startling possibility.

“No adventurer could do that… unless… could it be them? No way…”

“It seems Lady Millia understands. Yes, that adventurer is an S-rank.”

“S-rank!?”

“Millia, what’s the big deal? S-rank or not, they’re still just an adventurer. They can’t be as strong as us.”

“No, Yuto! Those people… they can’t even be called human!”

Though her words might sound rude, this was actually the first thing adventurers said when referring to S-rank adventurers.

It was a phrase chosen out of both fear and respect.

“There are countless A-rank adventurers in the world… but there are only eleven S-rank adventurers. That’s how high the bar is! If they fought solo, they would definitely be stronger than you.”

“W-What!? That’s ridiculous! If they’re that strong, why didn’t they come help defeat the Demon King!?”

“No one can force them to. Their strength is so overwhelming that they answer to no one.”

According to past records, S-rank adventurers are said to possess strength comparable to that of the Demon King.

While they usually act for the benefit of humanity, they are such important figures that if things went wrong, they could destroy an entire nation.

“W-What should I do!? Meeting an S-rank adventurer… how am I supposed to—!?”

“Hahaha, yes, to an adventurer, meeting an S-rank is quite the event.”

To adventurers who dream of greatness, S-rank adventurers are symbols of ultimate power.

Millia, suddenly told that she’d meet one, was so overwhelmed with nerves and excitement that her words became jumbled as she pressed her hand against her chest.

Seeing her like that, King Randed began to speak about the real reason for the conversation.

“But relax, Lady Millia. This person has a connection to you.”

“Huh…? But I’ve been an adventurer for three years, and I’ve never met an S-rank adventurer—”

“Now that you mention it, I heard there was a new S-rank adventurer during our journey, right?”

Ciel, the Saint, suddenly interrupted Millia’s words with a quiet comment.

“I think I remember hearing something like that too. Your Majesty, could it be…?”

Hearing this, Ed raised a question, and the king nodded in response.

“Yes, it’s him. He worked tirelessly to support all of you and quickly rose to prominence.”

“Oh, I’ve always wanted to meet him someday. And to think he’s our benefactor as well. I’d love to express my gratitude.”

“Yes, he—”

“I’ve heard stories about him. They say he flies through the sky, cuts through the sea, and has mastered a unique technique that combines swordsmanship and magic, single-handedly defeating thousands of magical beasts. He’s said to be a kind and compassionate person as well.”

“That’s right… but you seem to know quite a lot about him, Saint Ciel.”

“Oh, no, not really. It’s just that he often comes up in conversations with people I know.”

“I see…”

As a key figure in a powerful religious order at such a young age, it wasn’t surprising that Saint Ciel’s network frequently heard about this person.

“…What? You’ve got to be kidding…”

Yuto, the Hero, was stunned by what he was hearing.

“Hmm, do I know someone like that? Hehe.”

Millia giggled nervously, unsure how to respond.

“It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? But—”

Millia blushed at the thought of knowing someone like that, but she couldn’t recall anyone fitting that description.

However, the King’s next words froze the room.

“He told me this himself. He said there is someone dear to him in the Hero’s party. And that he has been helping her… so that he can meet her again.”

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[Afterword]

The response after just two chapters has honestly surprised me.

I am incredibly grateful to all of you who are reading.

Since I started posting to keep my motivation up, I don’t have much of a backlog, but I’ll do my best, so I hope for your continued support!