Epilogue. 10 years later

“Did you hear that rumor?”

Adventurer’s Guild, Lobby. Several young adventurers were gathering around the poster and talking. Is there any new request today, a request that is easy enough to eat raw and the reward is salty. The adventurers licked their lips and repeatedly lifted and released the paper attached to the wall as if they were sorry.

“What rumors?”

“A rumor that a fearsome adventurer is coming to the capital.”

A middle-aged adventurer who heard that he was a terrifying adventurer snorted.

“under! No matter how scared you are, is it as scary as the ‘sword demon’ of the royal capital? While some say that he is the strongest adventurer of all time, rumors about him being the strongest adventurer must have spread!”

“I do not know. What do you think of ‘Bocchan’ who is making a huge achievement this time?”

The ridiculing adventurer’s eyes soon sank. The smile on his face had completely disappeared, as if he was thinking over the adventurer’s nickname.

“If it’s ‘Bob’, then is he the one who subdued that ‘Arachne’ this time and made great achievements over the past five years?”

“Yeah. That adventurer who has a beautiful face and is even rumored to have knocked out all the adventurers who took it lightly and rushed at him is right.”

The middle-aged adventurer crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

“Well, I don’t think it will work for the ‘sword demon’. Right now, even within the Knights of the Kingdom, if we had to pick a knight who could fight that person, there would be very few.”

“Yes. The only ones I think can win with certainty are the captain of the escort knights and the captain of the raven knights.”

The adventurers who agreed with each other nodded their heads. In this way, it was a time of peace where there was time to talk childishly about who was stronger than who. After the turbulent times, the kingdom that welcomed the queen was spending quieter days than ever. There were no invasions or expeditions, and the beasts in the east were slaughtered by the strong knights of the no-man’s land before crossing the barrier.

“Hey, what do you think?”

A middle-aged adventurer asked an adventurer who was staring blankly at a list of missions. The appearance of wearing an old, worn-out hoodie seemed to be a person with a rich experience as an adventurer. The adventurer sighed and turned his head. The spirit was unusual. The middle-aged adventurer asked, putting his hand on the adventurer’s shoulder.

“It looks pretty strong, but can you predict what will happen if the ‘Sword Demon’ and ‘Bocchan’ fight?”

Hood’s adventurer sighed and shrugged.

“Well, shouldn’t you know by sticking around?”

“Ah, not funny. If you’re a man, you have to come to a conclusion.”

In the eyes of the middle-aged adventurer who spoke dissatisfiedly, I saw the smile of a hooded adventurer.

“Well then, vote for ‘Bocchan’.”

The middle-aged adventurer raised his eyebrows.

“Surprisingly. Is there any basis for this?”

Before he could feel anything out of place, the hooded adventurer flipped the hood back. The entire guild was stunned by the adventurer’s ‘pretty’ face revealed in that way.

“Because I’m that ‘boyfriend’.”

—

There’s a lot going on. The day will come when I will be compared to that ‘sword demon’.

‘Bob’ smiled with satisfaction as he left the adventurer’s guild. Her light brown hair swayed gently in the autumn breeze.

Is the royal capital 10 years old?

A lot has changed. There was no anxiety to be found in the people roaming the streets, and there were more merchants and wagons roaming around. There is no stern look that was sometimes seen among the guards.

“It’s better.”

The adventurer looked at the palace, the center of the royal capital, and smiled thinly.

“Wow!”

When I turned around the alley and went out to the side of the main road, someone bumped into me and I fell. The adventurer lowered his head and tried to support the person he bumped into.

“… children?”

She was a very calm-looking, cute girl. I think I was about 8 years old. Her long black hair was tied in two pigtails, and her golden eyes were shining brightly. I was worried that the child would fall down and cry, but the child got up without incident and gently brushed off the dirt from her skirt.

“Are you okay?”

The child nodded and backed away from the hesitant adventurer. At that time, faces that were too familiar to adventurers appeared around the corner.

“Dad!”

The child ran at him at full speed, teasing his short legs. Chak, the child clinging to my father’s leg. The child’s father calmly stroked the child’s head.

“Liz, I told you to be careful in the alleyways.”

“sorry… .”

The child’s father raised his head. Upon meeting the adventurer’s eyes, he opened his eyes wide and stiffened, then smiled deeply. A beautiful black-haired woman who seemed to be the child’s mother couldn’t hide her surprised expression when she met the adventurer.

“majesty.”

Father, Maxim gently called the adventurer.

“Maxim.”

The adventurer called ‘Your Highness’, that is to say, Louise Loir, responded to Maxim’s smile with a bright smile. The adventurer slowly approached Maxim. Maxim seemed unsure of how to say hello. Louis held out his right hand to his teacher.

“It’s been a while.”

Maxim vigorously grabbed Louis’s outstretched hand. The grip strength transmitted through his hands showed that Maxim had reached a much higher level than before. Lewis was very happy about that. It meant that the knight he was aiming for was growing as fast as he was developing.

“You have become strong.”

“I don’t think you meant anything, Commander of the Escort Knights.”

Louis burst out laughing and winked at the boy who was looking at him curiously.

“Is it your daughter? Your name is Liz?”

“Yeah. Marion and my daughter.”

Maxim said while stroking his daughter’s hair.

“Dad… . Who is this uncle?”

Maxim smiled at his daughter’s question and looked at Louis.

“Um, daddy’s friend.”

“friend?”

“yes. An old friend.”

friend. It sounded really good. Louis was very pleased with Maxim’s open expression. Even after a 10-year hiatus, Lewis couldn’t feel much of a sense of distance from Maxim.

Louis also awkwardly exchanged greetings with Marion.

“Your Highness, how are you?”

“I’m not even a member of the royal family, so please drop that title of honor. I’m glad you seem to be doing well so far.”

“Yes. It’s all thanks to Maxim’s hard work.”

Marion’s eyes turned to Maxim. As if he was still not used to being praised, Maxim shrugged as if he was embarrassed.

“Others… .”

Louis asked, glancing at Marion. Maxim laughed as if Louis was having fun.

“Theodora is directing regular training today. It’s a regular military competition soon, so even though it’s a holiday, I’m working hard on training. Christine and Adeline are now at home with other children. These days, the kids take priority over me.”

The name Adeline intrigued Lewis.

“You mean ‘sword demon’? I see she’s doing well too.”

“Yeah. It’s about to compete well with Theodora. How could His Highness give her a nickname… ?”

“The adventurer guild was making a bet on who would win if the ‘sword demon’ fought.”

Louise’s voice, when she said that, had a strong sense of selfishness at the bottom.

“You’ve become a brawler, Your Highness.”

“After traveling around the world for 10 years, people have changed a lot. Holding a knife is no longer burdensome. I know what that pleasure is.”

Saying that, Louis touched the sword hanging from his waist. Maxim nodded in sincere admiration.

“You are wonderful.”

“Not enough yet.”

Louis then turned his head toward the palace. Maxim followed Louis’ gaze.

“Are you going to see His Majesty?”

Maxim’s question penetrated Louis’ mind. Although he set foot on the capital again after 10 years, he had no clear purpose. It could have been that he just wanted to see the peaceful royal capital again, or he might have wanted to visit an old friend like this.

“… I’m not sure. I really don’t know.”

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No, these are all excuses. Lewis blinked.

“His Majesty is still waiting for you.”

At Maxim’s words, Louise’s eyes shook. I wanted to see Michelle. He knew it too. That thought has not dulled even in 10 years. Would Michelle feel the same way?

“… Really?”

Lewis just asked. Maxim nodded.

“Yes. It is the truth, without a single lie.”

Louis let out a long sigh. Louise’s face, which raised her head again, was determined. The 10 rough years made his heart stronger. The worry didn’t last long.

“Shall I take you there?”

Maxim’s proposal was rejected by Louise with a smile.

“Okay. I think you’d better go alone.”

“Your Majesty will be very pleased.”

“I hope you don’t get hit by saying you came too late.”

then,

“I’ll come back to you, Maxim. Please, I hope you don’t shut up at the door.”

“You are welcome anytime, Your Highness.”

After saying goodbye, Louis disappeared from his seat. Maxim looked at Louis’ back as he walked away, then turned his head away holding Liz and Marion’s hands. It was time for Theodora to return home from work.

“Shall we buy some apple pie before we go home?”

“Apple pie!”

“It’s not long until dinner, and you… .”

Liz’s big golden eyes twinkled, and Marion’s eyebrows curled, saying no to snacking, before being silenced by Maxim’s kiss. Marion still had the side of a shy girl.

We buy snacks like that, hold hands tightly, and head home. The autumn afternoon sun was warm and brilliant, like honey dripping from an apple pie. Our wounds were slowly being erased over the past 10 years.

“Have you been?”

“Have you been?”

When you open the door of the house, there is a family. Maxim smiled at Christine and Adeline, who turned their heads toward him. Theodora was walking toward Maxim, tying her hair back.

“Yeah, I’ve been.”

My ex-girlfriend was appointed as the knight commander -complete-