- 14: A conceited reflection time.
“This was a failure! A failure! A BIG failure!!”
The place is the Light Church’s main headquarters, the meeting room at a section of the grand light church.
Suppressing the monster strife, escorting the people to their houses, and finishing the work that was left, Karen-san and I returned and we were soon called.
What was waiting for us there, were a lot of important-looking people.
One of the people there, an armoured knight, was losing his temper for some reason.
“Hero Karen! In this monster cleaning mission, there’s no other word to describe it but failure! To think we would have the glory stolen by the Fire Church!! That’s the worst! Is there any worse disgrace than this?!”
Is what the knight said as he slaps the pile of papers on top of the table.
I got interested in it, so I checked the pile of papers and there was this heading written there.
‘In the monster strife at the Trixia forest, the Fire Hero played a big role’
I know about this. This is called a newspaper.
Apparently, there’s an ethereal powered machine that is able to print the same words in several hundreds of papers. Using this, they spread around the daily news.
While we were in the middle of returning here, Karen-san was also interviewed by a newspaper reporter, and I who was accompanying her, learned about the existence of this.
“Hero Karen, what is your job as a hero?”
“…Protect the people from the threat of monsters.” (Karen)
“In that way, we show the outside world the majesty of the Light Church, and in turn, increases the divine virtue towards the Light Goddess, Inflation-sama! And yet, this time’s result…made it look like our Light Church was lacking compared to the Fire Church!!”
“Knight Commander Dobbe, calm dow—!”
“Do you think I can be calm here?!” (Dobbe)
The surroundings tried to calm him, but the armored knight that was called the knight commander didn’t show any signs of calming at all.
Or more like, that’s the Knight Commander?
“…Hero Karen. As a Knight Commander, I have questioned your aptitude as a hero for a long time now. This is a good opportunity, so today, I will be thoroughly placing the blame on you about this.” (Dobbe)
“…Yes.” (Karen)
Karen-san accepted the words of the Knight Commander without any energy.
Even though she just returned from the monster subjugation after doing her best, I haven’t heard a single word of gratitude from them.
“First of all, hero Karen, at the time you were heading to the site, I heard that you utilized the small-sized flying machine. Is that true?” (Dobbe)
“…Yes.” (Karen)
“That accursed machine that only corrupts us humans, the use of it is completely forbidden inside this church. For the hero herself to take the initiative and break the rules is inexcusable!!” (Dobbe)
“……”
“We will be disposing of that machine immediately. Listen here hero Karen, if you are going to act as the representative of our Light Church, have awareness of it, and follow the rul—” (Dobbe)
“Can rules kill monsters?”
Those words silenced the place.
No one showed any signs of interjecting, so I continue.
That’s right, I was the one who spoke.
“Following the rules and defeating monsters; if you are able to do that and still manage to protect the people, then follow it as much as you want. But reality is different. Against an impending threat, rules serve nothing.” (Haine)
“W-What did you say?!” (Dobbe)
The hostility of the Knight Commander was directed at me.
“What’s with you?! I am the Aurora Knights’ Knight Commander, Zeberphon Dobbe, you know! And you are going to go against me?!” (Dobbe)
“Giving out different opinions and looking for an unified answer, isn’t that what a meeting is? Are you going to deny that very definition?” (Haine)
Karen-san who was at my side, was sending me worried gazes.