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Hero, Great Victory!

The hero who swept away all the remnants of the Demon King’s army within the Anari Principality announced the victory across the entire principality.

“So, are we safe?!”

“Not yet. They fled to the Empire. They could rampage there and come back into Dragon Tail, so it’s not safe yet.”

“Still, at least they won’t come this far!”

Thanks to the hero’s efforts, the Anari Principality regained peace, even if just for a moment.

It was the same when the hero wiped out the Demon King’s army with the Heroic Beam, but as the hero led the army of the Anari Principality, people couldn’t help but think.

“Hero, are you working for our principality?”

“The hero… is on our side?”

“Wow, that’s amazing! Hey! Tell the Empire to come out! We’ve got the hero with us now!!”

Just the fact that the hero was supporting them made the people of the principality stand taller.

Since the moment the Magic King entered, everyone had barely lifted their heads, and now with the hero added to the mix?

Perhaps in ten years, the Anari Principality could reclaim its former glory as a ‘kingdom’, not to mention possibly stealing everything from the Empire through war and transforming into a new Empire.

Of course, the opinions of the parties involved were the most important, but isn’t it also true that the masses easily get swept away by public sentiment, especially regarding the hero?

“Waaaaahhh—!!!”

As the hero returned with the victory herald, everyone rushed into the streets, waving and throwing flowers at the hero.

“Hero! Please help our Anari Principality!”

“That’s definitely the hero! Hero! Hero! Hero!”

“Hero, long live! Glory to the hero!! May the Moon Goddess bless the hero!!”

Amidst the crowd cheering, the knight in white robes riding a white horse merely nodded silently.

Although their face was difficult to see beneath the hood of the robe, the golden sword slung across their back radiated a brilliant light that unmistakably suggested it was the Holy Sword.

“Hero! Wave your hand a little!!”

When someone shouted, the hero stretched out one hand and lightly raised it.

“Kyaaaahhhh—!!!”

As his hand appeared through the robe, women squealed at his thick, long, and sturdy hand.

“Just from the hand, I can tell he’s a handsome man. Sigh, starting today, the hero is mine…!”

“Is there no man in the hero’s party…? There has to be at least one, right? What? They’re all women? …No, surely there’s one childhood friend who’s a guy!”

“If not, we can make one! Hehe, if things get rough, there’s always the Prince…!”

There were suddenly overly enthusiastic women showing their sincere interest in the hero.

That interest extended not only to the hero himself but also to the party members who walked with him.

“A hero so exceptional that even the Saintess assists him. The hero is indeed a hero.”

“Accompanied by a High Elf on the left and a knight on the right. And even the Saintess? Sigh, so jealous. If only I could become the Master of the Holy Sword…!”

“Is that all? Even that Sorceress of Crimson Lotus…. Eek, um, suddenly feel an aura of danger…?”

The attention given to the hero quickly transformed into interest in the entire hero party.

Everyone from Rosmas, who had started making a name for herself in Normans, to Droniel, the gallant knight, and of course the Saintess, were all flawless powerhouses as members of the hero’s party.

Creak.

In front of the plaza leading to the royal castle, the hero’s party halted their horses.

Before them stood the Magic King, along with a somewhat pale-haired red mage who had come out to greet them.

“The Magic King personally welcomes the hero…!”

“Is that red-haired person the Witch said to be the hero’s Master?”

“Yes! Sigh, don’t you think they look perfect together? Like a couple… Oh no! The hero looked over here! He waved at me!”

“Fool, he’s looking at the lady behind you. Why would he wave hello to a guy like you?”

“Is that so…? Oh, look over there…!!”

The red-haired Sorceress of Crimson Lotus stepped forward.

At that, the hero dismounted and walked forward, momentarily pausing to look down at the Sorceress.

“Congratulations on the victory, Hero.”

A clear voice echoed across the plaza.

The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus greeted the hero with a proud smile, and the hero—

Flap.

Removed his hood and revealed his face.

The companions behind him were flustered, but many people in the plaza held their breath at the appearance of a striking young man with flowing golden hair.

“I’m back, Master.”

“…You’re not hurt?”

“No. I returned safely without a scratch after completing my mission.”

“You did well. So… should we go inside?”

The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus stepped aside, pointing toward the inside of the royal castle.

After a moment’s gaze at the Sorceress, the hero nodded vigorously and strode forward.

Grin.

With the hero’s refreshing smile and stride, the crowd clenched their fists.

“Waaaaahhhh—!!!”

The hero’s victory.

A mere Demon King now posed no threat.

Because the hero is here.

*

One day.

Though the great evil known as Satan has yet to vanish, they decided to hold a simple party at the royal castle in celebration of the hero safely returning with the principality’s soldiers.

Despite the grand name of a party, one couldn’t hold a large celebration under the looming threat of the Demon King’s army.

Thus, the gathering was limited to a small party, with only the Mage King participating from the hero’s party.

“We can’t not share a meal together after a victory. Congratulations, Lucius, on returning victorious.”

“I should be the one congratulating you. I can’t express how worried I was when you collapsed, Master.”

Lucius brushed his chest and gave an awkward smile.

“This party will be more about celebrating your swift recovery than my victory.”

“I merely collapsed due to overworking. Compared to you defeating the Demon King, it’s worlds apart. By the way….”

I scanned Lucius’ white tailcoat.

“Surprising, right? I thought you wouldn’t wear something like this.”

“Master insisted we dress appropriately. I dressed for that reason.”

“Hmm, is that so? For that reason, you chose quite well.”

“I learned how to wear a tailcoat while in Belselphia.”

“True. I spent a week partying in Belselphia, and I wore their party clothes all the while, so these clothes do feel somewhat quaint.”

“…….”

While Lucius said nothing, he smiled knowingly.

“If the other girls are changing, it might take a while; how about we go see them?”

“That’s fine. Instead of distracting them while they change, it seems better to wait for the complete dresses.”

“Kid. You’ve finally learned something.”

Lucius was starting to understand the hearts of women.

“It’s said that when a woman is trying on a dress, it’s best not to just watch but to wait until she’s completely ready. You’ve learned well.”

“I had an epiphany. A woman’s dress… is like full plate armor.”

“That’s true.”

Dresses.

Those are the strongest gear to showcase one’s charms in the social world, or rather, their own battlefield.

Rosmas, Droniel, and Yan were all busy changing into their gowns with the help of the principality.

Me?

I’m still in my usual clothes.

“Master… well, there’s no need for you to change, I suppose.”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t change into a dress?”

“Will you?”

“I also consider the time and place. If it’s just us here, there’s no need for a dress. But if it’s a large party involving the whole royal castle, then of course I’ll wear a dress.”

I didn’t want to hear it said that the hero’s Master would be so unrefined and oblivious to occasion.

Above all, I wouldn’t let anyone say that the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, who broke her seal 500 years ago, lacked fashion sense.

“Just like what happened in Belselphia, after defeating Satan’s Demon King, there will be a party. At that time, I must wear a dress.”

“…I don’t think a dress would suit you, Master.”

“What? Oh, come on. I may be like this now, but back in the day, I was quite the catch!”

The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus was like that.

“You don’t know, but I was immensely popular at that time.”

She was courted by the Demon King himself.

“Mark my words. Once I gather a little more mana, I will create a new body and show you the ‘real Sorceress of Crimson Lotus’ from 500 years ago.”

“…You can create a body?”

“Yes. By applying magic, alchemy, and various other things. You know what a homunculus is? The merfolk were also an application of homunculus technology. With enough time, materials, and budget, I could make a body anytime.”

“……What do you need?”

“An enormous amount of magic stones.”

Creating something from nothing, combining various materials to make one ‘physical body’ requires a lot of magic stones.

“…Then, I guess I’ll need to work harder to defeat the Demon King’s army for Master’s true body.”

“What? I wasn’t really saying you should.”

That’s right.

After the party ends, you should earnestly farm magic stones and offer them to me, my disciple.

“By the way, Master, I heard a strange rumor on the way.”

“What is it?”

“…I heard they’re recruiting many muscle-bound men. Is that true?”

“Yeah.”

What’s there to hide?

“Why?”

“Why, you ask? To defeat the Demon King, of course.”

With muscle.

“Lucius.”

I pressed my hand against his chest beneath the tailcoat.

“…This should be enough. Lucius, there’s something you need to do for world peace.”

“What is it?”

“Simple.”

Something any hero can do.

“You just need to strip.”

 

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