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 30: A Flower Offered from the Sword

Chapter 30: A Flower Offered from the Sword

“—Huh? Why… why would you…?”

The image of Ciel reflected in the crystal showed her completely stunned.

“She’s the one who saved my life. Even though she caused me so much pain, enough to make me want to die… I don’t think she deserves to die for it. And it’s true—she supported me when I needed it.”

These weren’t blind words born from some lingering debt to Millia.

It was a conclusion weighed on the scales of gratitude and betrayal.

“If Millia had died during that journey, I would’ve been completely shattered and taken my own life soon after. I wouldn’t have had to endure this pain or sorrow, but… I also wouldn’t have been able to save Elmie and the others.”

Maybe I would’ve been happy, left in the dark about her cheating.

But if I found out after her death, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it.

At least now, I have somewhere to direct my anger and grief.

“And honestly, even if you’d told me about their affair, I probably wouldn’t have believed you until I saw it with my own eyes. And then… I’d have ended up feeling the same despair I do now.”

Maybe knowing earlier would’ve helped me cope a little better, but only a little.

“Even if you’d managed to stop those two from cheating, and even if you’d told me about it… what would’ve changed? Apologies and a ‘let’s start over’? No. Nothing would’ve been different. I still couldn’t forgive her.”

It’s obvious. After all, it doesn’t matter when you find out—it’s still betrayal.

“Cheating isn’t about how many times it happened. The fact that it happened at all is the ultimate betrayal. At the very least, I never betrayed her.”

Three years is a long time.

My position and status changed drastically. Plenty of women approached me during that time.

Fellow adventurers, townsfolk, nobles—even those at the same S-Rank as me.

I’m a man, after all. Of course, I’ve had urges and desires. But I held them back.

I didn’t betray her. Not once.

But Millia betrayed me.

“It doesn’t change anything. Millia being the kind of person who’d cheat within a year, or the pain I’ve gone through because of it. The ones truly at fault are the two who knowingly chose to betray me. Even if you couldn’t stop them, the responsibility isn’t really yours.”

In a situation like this, there was nothing someone like Ciel, an outsider, could’ve done.

The bond could only be broken by Millia or me. All Ciel or the Souther Sky Faith could’ve done was inform me.

That’s why—

For Ciel, just showing genuine sincerity is enough to settle things.

“Well, sure, there’s a part of me that doesn’t feel entirely at peace… but that’s what apologies are for, isn’t it?”

“…Even after all Millia’s done, and even to me… what kind of person are you, ―(So precious, it’s painful… I feel like I’m going to die…)?”

Ciel’s image on the crystal seemed to be muttering something with her usual blank expression.

Her voice was faint, almost inaudible, so I couldn’t quite make it out.

She didn’t seem to care whether I heard her or not, though, so it probably wasn’t important.

“Ahem—still, it doesn’t change the fact that I hurt you. In the end, I used you. Isn’t that right?”

As I vented my frustrations, Ciel calmly threw those words back at me.

“Hmm… maybe. But it was more of an unintended result, don’t you think? That’s how I see it. What about the others?”

“If Abel’s okay with it, then I’ve got nothing to say. I was practically an outsider in all this anyway. And honestly, Millia was never the type to listen to anyone, especially if she’s grown more arrogant.”
“Exactly. That brat never paid attention to others in the first place.”
“Honestly, Abel, the fact that you managed to date such a spoiled girl is kind of amazing.”

“Ahaha… well…”

As expected of my old friends, they know her—and me—well.

I figured as much myself. Millia’s stubbornness, arrogance, and tendency to push back against advice would’ve only made her more defiant toward Ciel.

Back then, though, her stubbornness came from her adventurous spirit. That made it kind of cute.

“Even so, the result is the result. I will atone. If you have any requests, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“You don’t have to go that far—”

As I tried to refuse, Ciel interrupted sharply.

“Your bond with Millia was sworn under our Souther Sky Faith. —I can still nullify it if you wish.”

“Wait, you mean…”

“You can break their bond, Miss Ciel?”

“”Lady Ciel!?””

“Yes. If I stand as the witness, it can be annulled immediately. So, what will you do, Lord Abel? —What do you truly feel about Millia?”

Ciel’s unwavering gaze locked onto me.

Millia…

“…Millia is my savior. Even if she cheated, it doesn’t erase the fact that she saved my life.”

“Abel…”

Elmie looked at me nervously.

My gratitude toward Millia couldn’t just vanish—it was an undeniable fact. But…

“…But honestly, I think I’ve repaid that debt by now. Not just once, but dozens of times. I’ve saved her life as much as she saved mine—maybe even more, considering how many times I nearly died in the process. At this point, I really don’t want to see her face. I’m not saying she should die—after all, we’ve known each other since we were kids—but, uh… I wouldn’t mind if she suffered a little. For a long time. Oh, and I really hope she breaks up with that hero guy.”

I let it all out in one breath, everything I’d been holding back!

And that’s my conclusion!

“Miss Ciel. …I’ll leave the witness role for the bond annulment to you.”

“Understood.”

““”YESSS!!!”””

The moment Ciel agreed, the Oathsworn Radiant Swords trio pumped their fists into the air in celebration.

“I’m so relieved! Abel, you’re way too kind, so I was worried you might say something like you wouldn’t break it!”

“We were ready to risk penalties to make you ours if you didn’t!”

“Nightly visits and dawn raids were on the table, you know…!”

…I decided not to ask why they were celebrating or delve into the implications of what they just said.

“I’m glad as well. I personally don’t believe Millia is qualified to continue the bond… However, Lord Abel, I have one favor to ask of you.”

“A favor?”

“It’s about my former… friend, Millia.”

What now? She wants me to at least leave her with some kind words or something?

I’d really rather not see her again…

“Allow me to assist you in your revenge against her…! While I have my own sins to bear, that wretched woman deserves to see hell!”

“Whoa, your tone just took a nosedive. Wasn’t she your friend…?”

“Former friend! As that, I hope she reflects and reforms, but as every other part of me—whether as a Saintess or just a woman—I can’t stand it! To spit on the devotion of someone who cherished her so deeply? She deserves nothing but despair and a miserable end!”

“That doesn’t sound very Saint-like, you know…”

“It’s perfectly fine! Lord Abel doesn’t even have to lift a finger. The Souther Sky Faith will dedicate its entire strength to your revenge! And as her former confidante, I’ll keep playing my role to crush her hopes from within!”

I could feel myself getting overwhelmed by her intensity.

No, that’s not what I had in mind! Sure, I thought Millia deserved some hardship, but from what I’ve heard about her being under suspension, she’s probably already dealing with it.

“Hey, Miss Ciel. Don’t you think that’s a bit… much?”

Glare.

Elmie turned her sharp eyes toward Ciel, and for a moment, I felt a bit of relief.

Yes, thank you, Elmie! Tell her this isn’t the way! I never wanted to personally—

“Don’t do this alone, Miss Ciel. Add me to your revenge plan.”

“I’d like to be part of it, too.”

“Count me in as well.”

“Why!?”

What I thought was an ally’s support turned into an ambush from my own team. It felt like they all suddenly defected to the other side!

“Abel, you’re way too kind! Millia needs to understand everything you’ve endured and how hard you’ve worked! It’s only fair!”

“Exactly! And let me remind you, Millia wasn’t exactly nice to us either! She constantly flaunted her relationship in front of us, over and over again…!”

“Yeah, isn’t it our turn to give her a taste of her own medicine?”

“All three of you are, of course, more than welcome. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.”

Why are they all more fired up about this than I am!?

Look, I never wanted Millia to get physically hurt. I need to cool these three—and Ciel—down before this spirals out of control.

“Alright, alright. Let’s focus on the positives here. In the end, things worked out, right? That annoying guy who couldn’t be killed no matter how many times I cut him is dead, and the world’s a bit safer now. Maybe that even earns a little leniency, don’t you think?”

“That’s beside the point, Abel! This is about Millia betraying you, not some random world-saving excuse!”

“Exactly! Just because Millia’s in the hero party and helped defeat the Demon King doesn’t erase the fact that she completely betrayed you, Abel!”

“Kindness has its limits, you know. No matter how strong an S-rank is, they can’t just repeatedly kill someone and—wait… Abel, what did you just say?”

“…What?”

In that instant, the room fell silent.

I watched as the three women—and even Ciel—froze in place, their expressions completely still.

“I said there might be some room for leniency…”

“No, before that. The part about what couldn’t be done.”

“You said, ‘no matter how much you slashed, stabbed, burned, crushed, or froze it, you couldn’t kill it,’ right?”

“You’ve added a few things there, but yeah, that’s it.”

“And then you said he’s dead, bringing peace to the world…? Wait, are you saying—”

“Hold on. It wasn’t just me. I brought in a few other S-ranks to gang up on it. It’s not like it was a big deal or anything, like the Demonkin or the stampede…”

“Um, Lord Abel, pardon me, but… what exactly couldn’t be killed, even with multiple S-ranks?”

“Oh, the Demon King.”

The room fell into utter silence.

The four women stared at me, completely dumbfounded.

“Abel, what exactly have you been doing? Wait… are you saying you actually went after the Demon King!?”

“And not just that—you’re making it sound like you completely overwhelmed him! Why are you acting like this is no big deal?”

“Judging from this, I suspect there’s much more than we anticipated… This is beyond expectations…”

They started talking amongst themselves, completely ignoring me.

For some reason, I felt a faint sense of being left out until Elmie turned back to me with a serious look.

“Abel, listen. If you’ve gone through so much and done something incredible, you need to share it properly.”

“E-Elmie?”

“It sounds like you’ve helped Millia far more than we realized. If that’s the case, then it’s perfectly fine to demand something in return for it.”

“You think so? But, I mean… I did it because we were in a relationship, so it’s not like—”

She grabbed my shoulders with an intense grip… squeezing tightly.

Elmie’s eyes widened, staring at me as if trying to burn a hole through my soul.

“Let’s exact revenge. No, you will exact revenge.”

“Uh… okay?”

Wait… is she furious?!

Why?! What nerve did I hit?!

“Why is it that you don’t seem to value your own incredible achievements? Seriously… we’re getting everything out of you, everything. Then we’ll decide how to proceed.”

“You don’t even seem to realize the weight of what you’ve done. Millia has to understand this, one way or another…”

“In that case, why not use that thing? You know, the one Miss Alvia mentioned—”

“There’s much I still don’t know, it seems. Would you kindly enlighten me as well?”

And so…

What should have been my revenge against Millia steadily slipped further and further out of my hands.

[Side: The Fallen Sage]

One day, within the grand halls of the Kingdom of Sildiel’s royal castle, the members of the Hero’s Party were summoned, much like they had been countless times before.

The scene unfolded in a familiar salon, its elegant decor contrasting the sour atmosphere hanging over the room.

“Tch, another damn summons, huh…?”

The one muttering in irritation while picking at the table’s tea cakes was none other than Millia Xelei, the Sage.

“Ugh, we’ve been stuck under house arrest for days, and now this? Can’t they give us a break?”

This complaint came from the Hero, Yuto Amano, slouching on the sofa while tapping his foot incessantly, an unmistakable look of annoyance plastered on his face.

“Come on, you two. This is all the result of our actions—no, of everyone’s actions here. We’ve got no choice but to accept it.”

Watching the pair with a visible sigh was Ed Heims, the Holy Knight, his features noticeably haggard after the events of recent days.

“That may be true, but if that’s the case, we should’ve patched things up with Abel by now. Where the hell has he disappeared to, anyway?”

“What are you even going on about? Three days ago was the same thing! They scrambled us for a supposed emergency with that Stampede, only for it to fizzle out right before we deployed. And now I feel like crap! The king, though—”

“Yuto, watch your tone. Your behavior is crossing the line.”

The Holy Knight, Ed Heims, sighed deeply, his reprimand directed at Yuto. However, the Hero simply averted his gaze with a dismissive “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

Yuto’s frustration was increasingly evident.

His own infidelity had not only resulted in the annulment of his engagement to the Princess but had also obliterated any chance of him becoming the future king consort. Moreover, his actions had drawn the ire of an S-Rank Adventurer, leaving him in an awkward position.

As a Hero, celebrated for saving the world, he couldn’t be treated too harshly. Yet, after earning the wrath of the Four Swords, neither could he be coddled. This left him in a limbo of neglectful treatment, which seemed to further stoke his resentment.

(If they’ve summoned us again, it must be for something significant… or perhaps…)

Lost in thought, Ed considered the situation grimly. But his musings were interrupted as the last two individuals entered the room.

“Thank you all for waiting.”

“We apologize for keeping you.”

The first voice belonged to the King, Randed di Sildiel, the master of the castle.

The second came from the Saintess, Ciel, the final member of the Hero’s Party.

The King took a seat near Ed, his demeanor grave. Meanwhile, Ciel stood at a slight distance, placing something delicately on the table before her. The item sat conspicuously in view of everyone in the room.

“You’ve been summoned today at the request of Lady Ciel. I’ve already heard the details, and I must warn you—be prepared.”

“Ciel…? Did something happen?”

“Yes, it’s something of great importance.”

Millia’s concern was evident in her expression, but Ciel’s face remained as impassive as ever. However, the air around her was notably heavier than usual.

“There is something I must show all of you. This was delivered through Souther Sky Faith, intended for everyone present here.”

Ciel gestured to the crystal placed before her. Unlike a typical far-sight crystal, this one had a distinct design. She activated it, and in an instant, a hologram-like projection appeared in the air above it—a visual concept familiar from Yuto’s world.

“—Hmm, oh… Is this already recording? Feels like I’m talking to myself here…”

“What…!?”

“Huh? That guy…!”

Millia and Yuto stared at the projection in disbelief.

The projection displayed a man with white hair and a calm, gentle demeanor. His soft expression was a stark contrast to the four magical swords casually resting at his side, their ominous presence emphasizing his unique aura.

…It was a face they had seen not long ago, a presence that left a mark.

“What should I say…? Well, hello there. Long time no see—Millia.”

The speaker was none other than the S-Rank Adventurer, known as the “Four Swords”, Abel.

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[Author’s Note]

I’ve updated the progress notes. Stay tuned!