"Cloud, it sounds like you're going to leave us here and go somewhere… is that right?"
To Eri's words, Cloud nodded his head.
“Where are you going to go?”
“I plan to visit the Kingdom of Alitia, the Empire, and the Principality of Polycia. Maybe even the Kingdom of Carta, I don’t know.”
"That's almost going about the whole Continent… It's not a brief visit. Cloud, be honest. You don't need us anymore?"
Eri was persistently bullied at Lorian's party. Bullying was not as direct as beatings and abusive slurs.
Lorian, the core of the party, disliked such vulgar behavior.
Because of that, they ignored or persecuted Eri in an indirect way, that is, by turning their backs on her, to leave her out of the plans.
That's why Eri was a little sensitive to this way of speaking. It was only natural that the words of leaving behind three party members in the Kingdom's capital and going around the continent felt like he was saying that they were being abandoned.
“Is that really..?”
Neria asked in a trembling tone.
‘Cloud doesn’t need us… me…? W, Why..?'
Numerous thoughts ran through her mind.
Leaving Cloud's party at the Imperial Banquet.
The fact that Cloud knew her secret.
She was defeated by Mars in a simple swordsmanship challenge.
The figure of Cloud, who was more friendly with Frillite than her.
There were too many things that came to mind.
Neria's complexion turned pale blue.
Her expression stiffened, she no longer even knew what to say.
Eri said while pursing her lips.
“Tell us if there is anything we lack. I'll fix it, we will fix it. If you want, I will work harder than I did in the dungeon.”
Eri didn't put her pride in front of her as usual. She went open with a low attitude, she was ready to accept even harder trials.
Neria also came to her senses at that moment and nodded her head eagerly.
“I, too, will try harder than before. I'll try my best not to be a burden…"
Neria's eyelids trembled.
Looking at her face that looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment, Cloud let out a deep sigh.
“When did I ever say I was leaving you all? It's just a small breakup for a while for a purpose."
“That’s…”
"Different."
Cloud interrupted Eri with a more serious attitude than before.
“As you all know, I am a hero. I have a duty to protect citizens from demons. In order to fulfill that duty, there are times when we have to be away from each other for a while. Now is the time.”
Cloud had a lot of work to do.
Before any of the Four Heavenly Kings descend, he must recruit new colleagues and find the equipment left by the other heroes.
In the meantime, if something goes wrong and he was late, there may be a terrible situation where humanity will face a Heavenly King without a hero.
That is why it is necessary to delay the advent of the Four Heavenly Kings as much as possible by letting the party hunt the leftover demons.
“And did I ever try to give up on you guys, even a little? No, that will be the answer. I always try to bury the past and treat everyone like nothing ever happened. As such, I am very disappointed by your present behaviour.”
Eri and Neria's mouths closed shut.
He had treated them nicely, that's why they had forgotten what they did to him in the past. When they thought about the sordid past Cloud had been ignoring, they also realized how rude the remarks they had just made were.
A long silence ensued.
Neria, let alone Eri, couldn't figure out how to open their mouths.
Their frivolity was so shameful that their lips felt heavy.
“You seem to need some time to organize your thoughts. Let’s take a break today and talk again tomorrow.”
After breaking the long silence, Cloud left his seat and went upstairs.
After he left, the table went still.
After a moment, Eri leaned back on the chair, ruffling her bangs backwards. She turned her head to look at the other two.
Neria stared blankly at the table. Looking at her sad expression, Eri knew what she was thinking without asking.
Ophelia was quietly chanting after meal prayers.
Eri spoke to them.
“Ophelia, are you okay? There was no sign of agitation from the beginning…”
Ophelia finished her prayer and opened her eyes.
What should she tell Eri?
That it was because of the kindness and faith he showed in her?
Cloud did not accept the Archbishop's proposal to change the candidacy of the saintess. That showed he trusted her, and meant she should too.
Ophelia didn't forget the tingling tension she felt at that time, the panic that her heart drummed with, the looks she received from her fellow nuns.
As long as they remain in her mind, her faith in the hero will not be shaken.
However, she said it concisely because it was a bit difficult to explain this in detail.
“I just know that hero is not like that.”
To Ophelia's words, Eri smiled bitterly.
"That's right… I'll go up first."
She had not finished her food, but she was no longer in the mood to eat.
Eri climbed the stairs and entered her own room.
She laid down on the bed and organized her thoughts.
‘I understand Cloud's meaning, it's his duty. However, why…'
Whenever she imagined failing Cloud, her body and mind felt venerable.
For some reason, she expected it too.
Cloud was one of the few people who recognized and acknowledged her work. She would never want to fail such a person.
‘…Neria and Ophelia are the same, they acknowledge me.'
Cloud was not the only person who acknowledged Eri.
Neria and Ophelia also acknowledged her.
Even if Cloud was leaving for a while, the two of them remained, so she shouldn't be depressed.
Yet, there was another strange thing.
If things went well by doing as Cloud said, she can hamper the evil plans of the demons with her own hands.
If that happens, not only will she be acknowledged by the royal family, but will also be acknowledged and respected by the citizens.
It was Eri's lifelong dream.
It was at a different magnitude, where only a few people like Cloud acknowledged her.
Still, her heart was not moved.
Getting that kind of recognition and acknowledgement should have moved her heart, she should be squealing with joy, that should have been happening. But, whenever she removed Cloud from the picture, her heart felt empty.
Conversely, what if Cloud came into the picture?
What if he complimented her by putting his hand on her head, as he did at Roberto?
– Pound!
An exhilarating sensation rose from her chest, and at the same time a great sense of satisfaction filled her being.
This had been going on since Roberto incident.
At this point, Eri had no choice but to admit it.
Eri had come to crave recognition from Cloud, a single person, more than the recognition of all others combined.
His smile.
His hand moving her way.
After she admitted it, her mind felt at ease.
‘…I'm going to have to follow him tomorrow somehow.'
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