Bridges extended toward the moored ships. It appeared as if they were carved from crystal-clear glass. These ornate bridges floated through the air and moved with magic.
With dozens of ships anchored, there were equally many bridges. But even though the bridges were moved by magic, the structures were solid.
‘How ostentatious.’
Only a week had passed since the announcement of their victory over the Demon King of Fury. Such preparations had been made in only a week.
Suddenly, a carpet unfurled over the crystal bridge. Though the sky still showcased a magnificent light show of magic, it was impossible to hear the sounds of the loud fireworks like before.
Clap, clap, clap….
A smattering of applause started, initiated by the emperor, the pope, and the kings. Soon, the knights that had accompanied them and the citizens behind joined in. In only a moment, the harbor echoed with thunderous claps.
"You should descend first," Ortus, who had led the victorious forces, approached Eugene and whispered, but not without a deferential tone. "The victory over the Demon King was mostly due to your efforts, Sir Eugene."
"Uh.… Even so, you are the commander of the expedition, Sir Ortus…,” Eugene retorted.
‘However, Eugene isn’t denying the fact that he deserves the most credit for the subjugation,’ thought Ortus.
Ortus shook his head, "I may have held the title, but I did little that befits it. I did nothing as the commander of the expedition during our time at sea. If I were to descend first, not only the members of the expedition but even the esteemed guests would see it as a mockery."
Had it been in the past, Ortus might have coveted the glorious spotlight, but no longer. The brutal battle against the Demon King of Fury had matured him.
Still, he thought, ' I should follow after the Great Lionheart, the Wise Sienna, and the Saint.'
Even though he may have matured, a person’s nature wasn’t so easily transformed. In the first place, Ortus preferred being second or third, blending in rather than taking the lead.
"Very well…,” Eugene resigned, making a face that said he had no choice. In fact, he was intentionally making such a face.
Even in his fragmented memories as Agaroth and his time as Hamel, Eugene had always loved being the center of attention. He liked being recognized, preferably by many.
Yet, he never overtly showed this. He had feigned indifference. He would be downplaying compliments outwardly, but in reality, he would secretly and quietly revel in them internally.
[Liar,] Mer grumbled. [You pretend not to care, but you fume when others disregard you, Sir Eugene. You work hard to maintain your face and secretly bask in your own praises.] Mer’s observations were to the point.
‘It’s natural for people to bristle at disrespect,’ Eugene countered. ‘If you just take it, you become a pushover.’
[You say that, Sir Eugene, yet you endure it when it’s from Lady Sienna and Lady Anise,] Mer observed.
‘That's... because I'm... conscientious and kind-hearted. Their lives became bleak because I was a little… well, because I died like a complete idiot,’ said Eugene while sneaking glances at Sienna and Anise. He felt a twinge of guilt.
‘So,’ Eugene pondered, ‘it's alright if they mock or belittle me. I know they don't genuinely think of me that way anyway.’
With a smirk, Mer replied, [Well…. That’s true. Both Lady Sienna and Lady Anise might tease you, but the moment you turn serious or wear a stern expression, they’re always looking for your opinion.… In critical decisions, they always defer to your judgment.]
‘It's because I put myself on the line, physically, more than they do,’ Eugene reasoned, thinking back to their early battles.
It had been the same three hundred years ago.
Anise and Sienna were more attuned to supporting roles rather than directly engaging in battle. As such, they would often rely on the strategies of front-line warriors like Vermouth and Hamel.
[And why do you always dismiss Sir Molon’s opinions?] Mer prodded.
‘That idiot? Whatever we suggest, he was always rushing ahead blindly without any thought,’ Eugene scoffed.
[You might embellish your own achievements,] Mer teased, [but you never do for your comrades.]
Annoyed, Eugene said, ‘What are you even saying. Oi, brat. In my life before the last, I was basically the greatest, but my name is only barely remembered, isn’t it? And look, I did so much in my last life, but history only remembers me as the Stupid Hamel! They think I’m a historical idiot!’
Eugene clenched his fists. He was frustrated with being painted with such a skewed representation.
‘Well, of course…. Of course, I did act a little stupid... It’s true that I died like an idiot, but that's too harsh.’
[Well.… Lady Sienna and Lady Anise probably never imagined that you would be reincarnated, right?] Mer asked.
Eugene responded with a sigh, ‘I’m telling you that they’re probably rotted to the core. Anyway, all I know is that now, I have to work hard since I’m known as an idiot. But what about Molon? That dimwit was still recorded as the ‘Brave Molon!’’
Mer couldn’t find the words to respond to Eugene’s rising ire. Instead, she simply clicked her tongue.
To think that such a petty human was once revered as the God of War in the distant past….
Well, being a good warrior had nothing to do with being a petty man.[This lady thinks Benefactor should receive a fair evaluation,] Raimira suddenly chimed in.
[Oh, my. Don’t even try. I can see right through you. Don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to win Sir Eugene’s affection by fawning over him!] Mer retorted.
Mer and Raimira began to bicker inside his cloak.
Eugene terminated the connection with the two and composed his expression. Upon looking to the side, he noticed that Kristina… or rather, Anise was giving him a thin, sidelong glance.
"What conversation were you having in your head for that long?" she inquired.
"Ehem… It wasn’t anything important," he deflected the question, adjusting his uniform as he crossed the bridge. It had been too pathetic of a topic for him to explain to her. The luxurious, fluffy carpet led him all the way to the harbor.
However, his destination couldn’t really be called a simple harbor anymore. The anchored ships from before their arrival had been relocated and the necessary facilities were cleared. The harbor was transformed into a grand plaza bathed in the brilliant, cascading lights from above.
Despite the bridges connecting to all the ships, no one had ventured across yet. Instead, there were thousands of eyes — those belonging to the survivors of the battle with the Demon King of Fury — as well as hundreds of thousands of eyes from the gathered crowd, fixated on just one man, Eugene.
"Uh.… Um...." Eugene hesitated, searching for the right words.
"Thank you all... for coming."
In the past, Eugene had always relied on Vermouth to make eloquent speeches in such situations. Thus, he had often been, and was, at a loss for words. As such, he ended up saying whatever came to his mind.
“Uwaaaahhh!”
A roar of cheers greeted his brief acknowledgment. Aman, the Beast King, was the only one among the monarchs who joined in with a cry of his own.
Ivatar and the natives of Samar Forest stood close to Aman. They not only shouted but also stomped their feet and danced to a rhythm, their movements a celebration of the moment. The pope’s eyes, filled with faith, were fixated on Eugene and Kristina. He raised both hands.
With a resounding clash, the knights of the Blood Cross Knights drew their weapons skyward and pointed them heavenwards in unison. The sky, previously adorned by the wizards of Aroth, suddenly filled with a divine light. The shimmering particles of Light intertwined in the sky, forming into feathers. High above, angels appeared and sang hymns and sounded their trumpets.
"Kyaaah!" Melkith, too, spread out her hands while screaming alongside the citizens.
Tap, tap, tap!
She started tap dancing, and the Earth Spirit King responded to her wishes. The ground rippled like waves, and various attention-grabbing structures rose around the square.
'What is she trying to achieve…?' Eugene pondered as he descended from the crystal bridge.
The pope began his approach as he saw Eugene’s descent. But as the pope neared, Eugene extended a hand.
“Later.”
“…..?”
Aeuryus, the pope and the leader of the Church of Light, stopped in his tracks, confusion evident in his eyes. Yet, he felt no anger towards the abrupt interruption.
' Eugene Lionheart. He is truly a godly man ,' the pope thought. The pope had once doubted both Eugene's claim to be the Hero and the authenticity of the current Saint.
All the popes knew that the divine humans throughout history were fakes. As was with the current pope, most of the stigmata that the previous popes and cardinals had been etched with were fakes. Moreover, the Saints had been a product of man.
However, the Saint of the current era was different. Although she had been created as the Imitation Incarnation of Light, she had truly received a stigmata. The eight wings she had showcased were irrefutable proof that she was looked after by the Light. In addition, Eugene Lionheart’s identity as the Hero and his divine nature had been proven through his conquest of the Demon King of Fury.
"I understand," the pope responded before bowing and retreating.
This humble gesture from the most powerful religious figure on the continent left the onlookers in sheer disbelief.
'Why is that cunning old fox acting so subserviently?' Emperor Straut II pondered while stealing a glance in his direction. 'Is it possible that he…? Does he also know that Eugene Lionheart is the reincarnation of the Stupid Hamel?’
Even if Eugene was the Hero, it didn’t make sense for the pope to act so politely. Naturally, the emperor never imagined in his wildest dreams that Eugene and Kristina had once charged into the pope’s residence and put a blade to his neck. He never imagined that Kristina had slapped the pope.
As such, the emperor stood in place without attempting to approach Eugene.
His initial plan had been to publicly shake hands with Eugene, acknowledging his feats as a citizen of the Kiehl Empire in front of the masses.… But thanks to the pope making a move first, the emperor could avoid losing his face.
King Daindolph of Aroth and Honein were smart enough to remain quiet and still. Naturally, Melkith did not seem to care even a little about such things.
Kyaaah!
With a burst of excitement, Melkith raised her arms and attempted to fly toward Eugene and Sienna. However, she was abruptly stopped in her tracks by Lovellian and Hiridus, who grabbed her from each side with a horrified expression.
Eugene ignored the commotion and gazed at the gathering of the Lionheart clan. Beside them now stood Carmen, Ciel, and Dezra.
He slowly moved to where the Lionhearts were gathered. His steps were measured, and his expression was unreadable.
“…..”
What should he say?
He had kept everything a secret, including his travel to Shimuin and his participation in the expedition. From the perspective of his family, Eugene had suddenly left the mansion, as always, then suddenly reappeared in the Southern Seas after defeating the Demon King of Fury. He had often taken actions that surprised his family. But even Eugene felt that he might have taken it too far this time around.
Just look at them.
He saw the elders from the Black Lion Castle, distant relatives from the collateral lines, whose faces he hardly recognized. There were also the familiar faces of the White Lion Knights in their entirety, as well as the novice knights.
"I'm sorry for worrying you—" Eugene started.
"Do not say that," Gilead interrupted Eugene with a stern expression. "Eugene, you've done nothing that warrants an apology."
Gilead suddenly approached him and placed a comforting hand on Eugene's shoulder. "We were taken aback by the sudden news.… But as the head of the Lionheart family, I couldn't be prouder of you."
The Lionhearts were the descendants of the Great Vermouth.
"Anyone bearing the blood of the Lionhearts should perform acts befitting a hero, even if they may not be the Hero," Gilead declared.
If the newly crowned Demon King from the Southern Seas had proven to be an impossible figure to negotiate with, an existence with whom peace and coexistence could not be achieved, there had been no alternative but to subdue her.
The Lionhearts must lead the charge in such a battle.
Gilead truly believed this, and had he known earlier, he would have participated in the battle without hesitation.
Thus, Gilead was immensely proud of Eugene. His recklessness didn't concern Gilead; Eugene's actions were righteous, both as the Hero and as a member of the Lionheart family.
"Why would you need to concern yourself with the opinions of the family?" With a sardonic smile, Gilead removed his hand from Eugene's shoulder. "Eugene, you…. From the moment the Demon King of Incarceration recognized you as the Hero, you became the representative of the Lionheart family. The moment he acknowledged you, we, the Lionhearts, existed for you."
As was the case before, if Eugene ever wanted to become the head of the Lionheart family, Gilead would step down without hesitation. Eugene could take his place as the head of the Lionheart family whenever he wanted. If Eugene wanted, all of the Lionheart family would take arms and carry out his will. If he judged that a war was necessary, the Lionhearts would step onto the battlefield.
This wasn't just the sentiment of the head of the family. Klein, the Chief Elder of the family, nodded, and both the White and Black Lions saluted Eugene with respect.
Deep respect. Trust.
Eugene felt respect and trust from the Lionheart knights, as well as reverence and admiration from the pope and Holy Knights of Yuras. He felt the emotions spreading to even the knights of other lands. He could feel that the masses looked on with admiration and aspiration beyond the boundary lines.
He unconsciously placed a hand over his left chest.
The White Flame Formula.
Within the universe dotted with countless stars, he felt a light growing from its depths. It was a diminutive light that seemed to be growing larger. His divine power, which had been hardly recovering, surged.
‘Right, this is what it feels like.'
Eugene lowered his hand from his chest and looked up. He saw his father, Gerhard, whose eyes brimmed with tears. Behind him stood his guard, Laman. He looked at Eugene with eyes full of emotion.
"…Thank you for those words," Eugene said while bowing his head slightly to Gilead. Then, he approached Gerhard.
There was a moment of realization: he had been Agaroth in the past. Moreover, he still held all his memories from his time as Hamel. Yet, Eugene truly regarded Gerhard as his father. It was impossible for him to not view him as such. He still remembered vividly the softness in Gerhard’s eyes as he was cradled as a crying newborn. He remembered the warmth of his father’s touch.
The sound of Gerhard’s laughter still rang true to his ears from the time he spent as an infant, the times when he could not control his body well. When his frail mother passed away, Eugene felt profound pain despite having clear memories from his past life.
There were times when he wondered if he had robbed them of their dearly awaited child. The guilt and pain of never calling her 'mother' weighed heavily upon him.
Upon his mother's death, Gerhard had wept profusely while holding the hand of the infant who had barely outgrown his cradle. Gerhard never remarried and single-handedly raised his baby boy. He catered to every whim of his child, a fact that Eugene was well aware of.
"Why do you shed tears so often, Father?" queried Eugene.
For this, Eugene considered Gerhard his father and addressed him as such.
"Goodness. Why do you cry every day? It’s not like someone beat up your son. And our family head said I did nothing wrong," continued Eugene.
"It's because I have a son who exceeds all expectations. I’m… just so proud,” responded Gerhard.
"Huh." Eugene chuckled softly and embraced Gerhard, "If the son is exemplary, surely it reflects on the father too, right?"
Since early childhood, Eugene had been taller than Gerhard. After patting his father's back a few times, he glanced ahead. He was taken aback. There stood Ancilla and Cyan, both looking surprised as they gazed upon Ciel, realizing the difference in her eye colors.
“…..” They didn’t say anything but just stared at her eyes.
Gilead, too, gazed at Ciel with a slightly open mouth. Feeling the gaze of her family, Ciel offered an awkward smile and began to move forward.
"It's my fault," Eugene confessed after releasing his father. "While trying to protect me—"
"No, it's not! I moved of my own accord," Ciel interjected hastily.
Gilead was the first to recover from his surprise. He alternated his gaze between Eugene and Ciel before giving a subtle nod.
"Ciel…," Ancilla whispered her daughter's name in a soft voice. Her steps faltered for a moment, and Cyan supported Ancilla in alarm. However, Ancilla gently shook her head and refused Cyan's aid.
Ancilla Kaenis was the mistress of the Lionheart clan. The Lionhearts’ proudest moment in this era was undoubtedly now. Ancilla didn't wish to appear weak in front of all those who had gathered. Standing tall with pride, she approached both Eugene and Ciel.
"...You aren't hurt anywhere else, are you?" she asked.
"No, Mother," Ciel responded in a faint voice. Up close, the disparity between her mismatched eyes became more pronounced. Ancilla gently touched Ciel's cheek with her hand.
"I am so proud of you, Ciel."
Ancilla, too, was born into a family of warriors. Her family had been a military clan for generations, and it was not uncommon for her to witness a seemingly healthy relative return from the battlefield injured.
She had braced herself for such familiarity when she married into the Lionheart family. Marrying into a family of warriors meant she might someday face such trials.
She had mentally prepared herself, but the reality of the situation weighed heavily on her heart.
Eugene had explained that Ciel had been injured while trying to protect him. Yet, even so, Ancilla couldn't harbor any resentment towards Eugene.
Ciel's actions had been just.
Had Ancilla been in that situation, she too would have believed that she ought to act as Ciel did…. No, she would have hoped to act with such bravery. But faced with such a moment, would she truly have sacrificed herself to save another?
"I am... truly proud."
Ancilla extended one arm and pulled Ciel into a comforting embrace.
"And you, too, Eugene."
With her other arm, she drew Eugene close. Though surprised, he didn't resist Ancilla's gesture. Both Eugene and Ciel quietly nestled into her embrace.