Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside - Volume 3 - Chapter 3.5

Interlude

A Story from an Alternate Universe

This is not a story of Red and Rit, nor is it a path that could ever have occurred. Even after millions of iterations, this route would never have happened so long as Ruti remained Ruti and Red remained Red. This is merely a story from an alternate universe that never existed.

It is a “what if” that presents what might have happened had the two of them remained faithful to their roles of the Hero and Guide for just a little bit longer.

Three years had passed since the demon lord Satan had commenced the invasion of Avalon.

In that short time, four countries had been destroyed, and most of the continent had fallen into the demon lord’s hands.

People despaired, fearing that there was no longer anything left that humans could do to resist…but God had not abandoned humanity. There was a prophecy about the birth of a savior.

And then, a young girl appeared from a humble village and pushed the demon lord’s advance forces back. Ruti Ragnason arrived in the capital bearing undeniable evidence of the Hero blessing. She destroyed the underground band of thieves that had the city in an uproar. Then she proceeded to the ancient elf ruins where the proof of the Hero was rumored to have been left behind by the previous Hero.

Ancient elf ruins. The dilapidated structures near the capital of Avalonia had an unknown spell sealing their entrance that repelled anyone who tried to enter.

Written in ancient elf script above the entry was the phrase When the demon lord returns, the Hero shall arise again. We desire the Hero alone, and to the Hero alone shall we grant power. When Ruti arrived, the gates that had barred the way for all others for hundreds of years opened.

The giant machine, a clockwork knight over three meters tall, readied its ancient sword and shield and charged with a grinding screech.

“Watch out, everyone!” Ruti (the Hero, level sixteen) shouted as she readied her sword.

Ares (Sage, level fourteen); Kiffa, the prince of Avalonia (weapon master, level fourteen); Yarandrala, a high elf florist (Singer of the Trees, level twelve); and the frontier adventurer Gideon (Guide, level thirty-two) banded together and faced off against the clockwork knight.

“Martial art: Multi-Slash!” Ruti unleashed two quick strikes.

“Fireball!” Ares formed a sigil with his hands, summoning an explosion of flames.

“Martial art: Multi-Slash!” Kiffa loosed two cuts in rapid succession.

“Leaf-cutter!” Yarandrala formed a seal and attacked the enemy with a knife of foliage.

“Nrah!” Gideon slashed the opponent with a ceramic sword.

At the end of the fierce battle, the clockwork knight fell to its knees and stopped moving. Wounded from the struggle with the powerful opponent, the Hero’s party healed themselves.

“The problem is even if you defeat these mechanical monsters, your blessing level doesn’t go up any,” Ares muttered.

“I guess that’s because they aren’t really alive,” Kiffa responded as they looked at their defeated foe.

“But they will fill the coffers. The metal and other pieces that make up a clockwork monster can’t be made anymore nowadays. My sword was created by shaving away at a clockwork armor plate,” Gideon chimed in.

Walking up to the remnants of the mechanical guardian, Gideon pulled away the parts that looked like they could still be used and stashed them in his item box.

“That’s the famed frontier adventurer for you,” Ares praised as he watched Gideon efficiently sift through the remnants of the clockwork monster.

Gideon Ragnason. He was Ruti the Hero’s older brother and an adventurer known as the best swordsman in the frontier. He had been with the party since the Hero had started her adventure. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, he was regarded as a cut above the rest, even by the other members of the party.

“The proof of the Hero should be through here, Ruti,” Yarandrala said.

The group’s goal was just ahead. Hearing that, Ruti’s eyes gleamed.

“Yes! With this, the king will have to believe that I’m the Hero. With that, we’ll gain the right to enter all the other countries and permission to call on the army for support. Then we can finally set out on the journey to defeat the demon lord!”

Ruti’s voice was filled with excitement at the prospect of the quest finally beginning as she pushed deeper into the ruins with her comrades.

With Ruti having managed to acquire the proof of the Hero safely, the kingdom of Avalonia officially accepted her as the Hero. To celebrate the return of this legendary savior, the king hosted an enormous banquet on the eve of the party’s departure.

For a brief period, the band of mighty adventurers put thoughts of battle behind them and enjoyed the food and music.

“So this is where you two were.”

As the banquet began to settle down, Ruti had realized that Ares and Kiffa were no longer in the banquet hall. She had gone looking for them only to find they were on the terrace of the castle.

“Sorry to have troubled you, Ruti. You didn’t need to mind us. You should have just kept enjoying yourself at the banquet.”

“What are you looking at?”

“The town,” Ares replied as he gestured to the moonlit city. “There are so many people living out there. I think that is something incredibly precious, which is why I want to protect this place.”

“Ares…yes, I feel the same. I can’t stand by and let some demon lord or anyone else do as they please with our world!” Ruti responded.

Kiffa watched them, dazzled by the brilliance of their determination.

“I would have liked to have been able to go along with you. But I am soon to be married to Princess Serena, the daughter of the Duke of Dunwich. She is already here at the castle. She was even in the banquet hall tonight.”

“Ah, that woman who seemed so friendly!”

“Yes. If she had been a disagreeable partner, I might have been able to consider ignoring my duty and leaving with you, but…she is a wonderful woman. I want to stay by her side and protect her.”

“I think that’s a magnificent thing, Prince. You should pay no heed to us. It was a short time, but our adventure together was fun.”

“I enjoyed it, too! If my sword was of some use to you, then there is no higher honor.” Kiffa smiled cheerfully, which caused Ruti and Ares to break into grins as well. Kiffa was the sort of man who could always find a reason to beam. Ares found himself a little bit disappointed, as he thought that Kiffa would unquestionably have brightened the mood if he had remained with the group.

“There you all are.”

“Yarandrala.”

The elf’s silver hair swayed in the moonlight. She looked a little bit upset as she approached. “Argh, be a little more considerate, please. All of you just up and disappeared. Gideon was looking everywhere for you, Ruti.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“You shouldn’t make him worry so much.”

Ares tilted his head at that. “You’re always watching out for Gideon, aren’t you, Yarandrala?”

“Wh-what’d you say?”

Ruti’s eyes gleamed. “Ooooh, Yarandrala, are you maybe interested in Big Brother…?”

“N-no way! I’m just a little bit worried about him is all…”

“Oh reaaaally!” Ruti teased Yarandrala playfully.

Every once in a while, Ares would think that Ruti was reacting in a certain way, not because of her own feelings or goals, but because that was the response the person she was interacting with wanted to see. However, watching Ruti’s eyes light up childishly when the topic of love came up, Ares was left chuckling wryly at himself for overthinking things.

“Um.” Suddenly, a girl called to the four from behind.

Turning around, Ares saw a child, maybe ten years old, holding a bouquet.

“This is for the Hero.”

“For me? Thank you!” Ruti smiled as she approached the girl.

“One of the maids here?” Ares idly used Appraisal. “No blessing? It can’t be! Ruti! Get away from her!”

“?!”

At his warning, Ruti immediately leaped backward. The next moment, the girl’s bundle of flowers exploded. It was a narrow escape. As the blast cleared, moonlight illuminated the girl’s body, revealing torn clothes.

“A golem?!”

The child’s body had been an artificial creation. The arms and legs moved with ball joints, and the cute smile remained as the mouth opened wide, revealing razor-sharp teeth.

“She evaded it…”

Three demons appeared from the shadows.

“Marionetteer demons! They’ve even infiltrated the palace?!”

Ruti and the others readied their weapons.

“I don’t know whether you’re the real Hero or a fake, but we can’t ignore anyone who would dare call themselves that. This is where you die!”

The marionetteer demons attacked using their handmade golems.

“They were powerful enemies.” Ares groaned as he pressed his hand against the wound where one of the golems had bitten into him.

“I’ll heal you.” Ruti activated her Healing Hands, and Ares’s injuries quickly closed.

“There might be more. We need to warn the soldiers as soon as possible!” Kiffa had a grave expression. Yarandrala stood there deep in thought as she stared down at the demons’ corpses.

“Why did they attack now? …It can’t be!”

“Gaaaaaaaaaargh!” There was a tremendous scream and the sound of countless dishes shattering.

“The hall!”

The party dashed to the banquet hall. They could hear the sound of fighting from beyond the doors.

“Big Brother!”

Gideon was engaged in battle. Ruti reached out to open the entrance.

“Nrrrgh!”

“Gideon!!!”

The man’s pained grunt was audible from beyond the closed doors. After that sound, there was silence. Yarandrala pushed Ruti aside and charged into the hall. Ruti and the rest quickly followed in behind her.

As they entered, there was a clatter as the stained glass window shattered. They saw a giant shadow disappear into the night sky.

“No! Gideon!” Yarandrala screamed as she clung to the man lying there.

The banquet hall was the portrait of a massacre. Many lay dead.

“Father!”

That included the king. Kiffa ran over to his bleeding parent.

The prince’s voice trembled at the sight of his father’s grisly state.

“No! He’s already dead!”

“Ugh… Everyone…”

“Gideon! Thank God you’re still alive!”

“S-sorry…I couldn’t protect the king…”

“Don’t talk! We’ll heal you first…”

“No, there’s no helping me anymore… Y-Yarandrala, call Prince Kiffa… I can barely whisper…”

Yarandrala gathered everyone over.

“P-Prince Kiffa, Princess S-Serena was here, too…”

“Wh-what?! Then…”

“She was taken by the demon… She still lives.”

“Really?!”

“Wh-when I was fighting…the demon…dropped this.” Gideon held out a shortsword.

“That’s the crest of Desmond of the Earth!”

“The demon probably took the princess to Desmond… Gh…”

“I understand! You did well to tell us that much. It’s enough. You don’t have to push yourself anymore.”

“Ruti…I’m sorry…”

“Big Brother…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you to the end…but you mustn’t mourn me… You are the Hero who will save the world.”

“But…I understand, so don’t overexert yourself.”

“Hah… Hah… And, Y-Yarandrala…”

“No, Gideon, please don’t look at me like that…”

“I’m sorry…I couldn’t keep my promise to see Kiramin with you… Please, take this…” In Gideon’s hand was a magic earring made from a tortoiseshell that had resistances to poison and sickness. He held it out to Yarandrala.

“I thought it would look good with your beautiful ears…”

“D-don’t do this to me… I’m begging you… Don’t give up.”

“I pray…y-you find h-happiness… Gh…” With a final bloody cough, Gideon lost the strength in his arms. The earring dropped to the ground, bouncing gently.

“Noooooooooo!!!” Yarandrala hugged Gideon’s lifeless body as she cried.

An hour later, Ruti and Ares were hurriedly preparing to set after the demon.

“We have to make haste.”

“Yes, we must catch it before it can escape to Desmond of the Earth’s castle.”

Just as they finished packing, there was a knock on the door.

“May we come in?”

“Prince Kiffa? And Yarandrala?”

When Ruti opened the door, she and Ares saw Kiffa and Yarandrala standing just beyond it.

“Why are the two of you here? From the look of it, it’s not just to see us off.”

Kiffa tapped the short gladius at his waist. He had a round shield on his back. Yarandrala tightened her grip on the quarterstaff in her hand. They were both wearing travel clothes.

“It’s my duty to rescue Princess Serena. Please allow me to accompany you.”

“I’m closing my shop until I get revenge for Gideon. I’ll never forgive the demon lord’s army for stealing the man I loved away from me.”

“Thank you both… It’s reassuring to have your help!” said Ruti.

And so Weapon Master Kiffa and Yarandrala the Singer of the Trees both officially joined the party. Together with them, Ruti the Hero and Ares the Sage departed from the capital.

This was merely the prologue to the Hero’s story.

Having lost her brother, Ruti endured her sadness and proceeded on her path without pause. The Hero, the embodiment of humanity’s wishes, did not hesitate in the face of the tragedies that lay waiting for her, and she would surely never turn back until she defeated the demon lord Satan.

Oh yeah…

Seeing the teary determination in Yarandrala’s eyes, Ares was suddenly struck by the realization that Ruti never cried, even though her brother had perished. If Ares had been a bit more sensitive to others’ emotions, he would surely have noticed that Ruti’s heart was empty.

Ares repressed the slight discomfort he felt and pushed onward. His duty was to save the world alongside Ruti, a hollow girl who felt happiness, sadness, and anger only when others expected her to and had no emotions of her own.

Back to reality.

“Sir Gideon! Please help!”

Prince Kiffa was guarding the king as he called out to me.

Facing down the flying demon that had flown into the hall, I drew my knight’s sword.

“Things could get rough if it runs wild.”

I started running as I tensed my arms. Ruti was following along beside me.

“Let’s finish this in one shot. We’ll attack at the same time.”

“Got it.”

Ruti slashed from the left, while I did the same from the right, cutting an X across the demon.

“Gaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

The bloody cross-slice tore across the creature, and it collapsed to the ground.

“That demon was powerful. It might have been around level thirty-five.”

If I hadn’t trained up as a knight, it could have been pretty dan-gerous.

“Ooooh! That’s the twin hopes of humanity for you! The Hero, Ruti, and Sir Gideon!”

The hall that had fallen silent at the demon’s intrusion suddenly erupted into cheers.

“Are you okay?!” By the time Ares had opened the door and come dashing in, Ruti and I were being swarmed by the Avalonian nobility. The moment for questions like that had passed.

Ruti looked annoyed and started responding to the aristocrats with half-hearted answers, so I forced a wry smile and desperately tried to cover for her.

It almost felt like Ares was scoffing in the distance, but I couldn’t worry about him in addition to my sister.