Chapter 27: Debt 27 - Audience with the King

Sophia’s voice continued echoing through the guild.

Helen grumbled, crossing her arms.

"Tomorrow morning? You haven’t even paid us for the materials!"

"Hm? Paid you, you say? This mission was meant to settle your debt, remember?"

"Eh, I don’t remember anything like that," Helen muttered.

Ryan looked straight at Sophia. He was exhausted. This whole situation felt like a waste of time.

"Besides, if the celebration is already over... what’s the point of going to the castle? I didn’t want to get involved with the kingdom’s higher-ups, much less the King."

’Right now, all I want is to go into a dungeon and level up.’

Ryan leaned against the counter as he spoke.

"Sophia, isn’t there any way to skip this...? I’m not an S-rank hero. I’m just support. Let me go to a dungeon. I want to reach Rank A already."

Sophia let out a mocking laugh and leaned on the counter.

"Ryan, seriously, just give up on that. No matter what achievements you have in an S-rank party, it would be impossible for you to rank up. You’re a support member. Your role is to assist. You can’t fight alone. Just forget it."

"Of course he can fight!" Mirian and Helen shouted at the same time.

"You have no idea what you’re talking about, Sophia," said Mirian. "Ryan isn’t just any support."

"Exactly," Helen added. "He’s really strong. Probably stronger than many Rank A adventurers. You should see him fight before saying stupid things."

Sophia laughed.

"Strong? You mean durable or clever," Sophia shot back. "He’s a support member, after all. They’re not strong, they’re useful."

Sophia sighed and continued.

"But that’s exactly why no one wants to be support, and why they’re so rare."

Karol moved closer to Ryan while the others argued. She nudged him with her elbow and whispered.

"I have to admit, you do give off that impression as a support. When I first saw you, I thought you were weak. But you captivated me... in more than one way..."

She gave him a mischievous smile.

"Hey... we’re in public, keep those comments to yourself."

"So you don’t mind if it’s when we’re alone?"

"I didn’t say that..."

Karol laughed teasingly, and Sophia turned back to the group to end the argument.

"Enough stubbornness! Your offenses for the previous mission where you disappeared for a month and this new mission will be overlooked. Just go, present yourselves before the King, and don’t cause trouble."

Sophia stared at them, her voice intensifying.

"I mean it. Don’t cause trouble in front of the King."

"Don’t say it like that," Helen replied. "You make us sound like troublesome adventurers."

’They

are

troublesome. I even got dragged into that bad reputation...’

In the end, they reluctantly agreed, and since it was late, they went to rest after their long journey.

◇◇◇

Each of them went to a room, and Ryan fell asleep immediately. When he woke up, he felt a weight. Mirian was hugging him in her sleep. On the other side was Karol.

’Hm? After what I did with both of them, it’s not strange, but for both of them to be here is... since when do they get along this well?’

"Good morning. I came to see you, but you were already asleep," said Mirian. Then she complained when she noticed Karol beside him, since she had the same idea.

Karol was waking up and greeted Ryan with a lazy smile. Instead of getting up, she went back to sleep resting against his chest.

"That’s enough! How can you both be so relaxed? There’s a lot to do!" Ryan said, getting out of bed.

Karol and Mirian stayed behind arguing briefly before heading out.

They went downstairs to eat something quickly. While they were eating, Helen appeared, walked up to the table, and stole food from Mirian and Karol without asking.

"That’s enough for me," Helen said with her mouth full.

"Hey! Give that back!" the other two shouted.

Ryan found it amusing watching them. They looked like children fighting over candy. Once they finished, they went to see the King, guided by Mirian through the city streets.

◇◇◇

The guards led them into the throne room. It was a massive hall filled with people wearing expensive clothes. A man acting as the King’s spokesman stood there, and upon seeing them enter, he struck his staff against the floor.

"Here we have the infam... S-rank heroes of Lunar Veil!"

’He was going to call us infamous, wasn’t he?’

Helen complained about the nickname, but Mirian stopped her. There were royal guards and several mages in the hall watching them. Murmurs echoed everywhere. The spokesman ordered them forward.

"Kneel!" the man shouted.

Mirian, Helen, and Karol obeyed and knelt. Ryan didn’t do it immediately. He remained standing, observing the place.

’Kneel? Even if it were a deity, I’ve always thought it’s stupid that they need to see people on their knees. I don’t want to do that...’

The spokesman was outraged and shouted about the disrespect. Helen laughed quietly, as did Karol. Mirian tried to silence them with a look, but the sound of footsteps echoed from the back.

Ryan suddenly felt a massive weight on his body. It was a physical pressure trying to crush him to the ground.

"Gravity Domain," a voice echoed behind him.

Ryan dropped slightly, but endured the weight, remaining crouched. He pushed with his legs and refused to go any lower. He would not let his knees touch the floor.

The girls immediately stood up, their auras turning threatening.

"Who the hell are you, bastard!" Helen shouted, gripping her sword. In an instant, both Helen and Karol were already armed.

The people around them went on alert.

The spokesman shouted, trying to restore order.

Several mages stepped in front of the King.

The skill suddenly stopped. And the one responsible spoke with surprise.

"Well. Even though I only used 40%, I didn’t expect you to endure it. You’re unusually strong for a mere support. Do you carry many magical relics?"

Ryan stood up fully and glared at him.

"What are you talking about? I have no reason to answer you... Attacking someone without introducing yourself is extremely rude."

"He’s right, I am—"

"Shut up! If you want to fight, go ahead," Helen snapped, and without waiting for a response, she lunged forward.

Five thrusts, but they were stopped by an instant barrier created by that man.

"He stopped Helen’s attack?" Mirian murmured.

"Calm down, I wasn’t planning to harm you," the man said to Helen as her sword clashed against his barrier.

"Bastard! You say that after attacking us!"

"I only wanted to prevent such disrespect toward His Majesty."

Helen was about to launch another attack, but the King’s voice stopped her.

"Enough. Let’s end these games," the King declared from his throne, raising a hand. "I summoned you today to talk, not to fight."

Helen and the others looked at Ryan, and seeing that the man with the gravity ability made no further moves, Ryan nodded. They all put their weapons away.

The rest of the guards and mages in the room also calmed down and lowered their weapons.

The King looked at the spokesman and gestured. The man began introducing them again, this time formally.

"The newly formed S-rank hero party consists of... Mirian, S-rank archer. Helen, S-rank swordsman." The spokesman looked at Karol, whom he did not recognize.

"I’ll answer myself," Karol said with a smile. "I’m Karol, an A-rank mage."

"Very well. Continuing... they also have Ryan, a Rank B priest."

The spokesman paused briefly before continuing.

"And although he currently has no party, on the other side we have the Hero William, an S-rank mage."

’So that’s the one called William?’

"Inspect."