The grand Human Empire capital was filled with excitement. Glittering banners streamed back and forth with the wind, resounding trumpets echoed down the streets, and the roars of the sea of civilians filled the air to the extent that the birds took flight with a scare. It was the day of the highly anticipated arrival—the Hero Party's glorious return, the legendary warriors that had put a stop to the rampaging Great Continent War that had ravaged the continent.
At the head of the parade strode the Hero himself, blonde-haired Rael Starwind. His green eyes burned with the justice of a chosen warrior, his blonde tresses shimmering like the sunlight itself. At his side strode the ravissante Priestess Seraphina, the delicate beauty of her face and the sweet loveliness of her smile so entrancing that a number of the men fainted where they stood. To the other side of him, the dazzling Mage Lysandra strode with the grace of a masterpiece that had stepped out of a frame. Behind them, the eternally suave Rogue Mirielle winked at the crowds, provoking a spontaneous chorus of squeals of delight and fawns.
And towering above them all was... a mountain.
No—wait. That was not a mountain. It was a man.
Standing at a towering two meters tall with his body brimming with muscles like sculptured boulders clad by his armor was the Hero Party's swordsman—Balfour Ironhide. His unruly dark locks framed intense blue eyes with a fierce intensity to them. His very presence was sufficient to spread a long shadow of intimidation upon the raucous celebration, and involuntarily the group drew back away from him.
"Mommy, why is a frightening demon following the Hero?" a little boy asked softly while holding on to his mother's apron.
"Shh! Don't look at it directly. If you look at it a lot, you will be cursed!"
Balfour's left eyebrow twitched.
He heard that.
No—he heard everything.
'Oi, oi, oi... Kidding me? I really saved this entire continent from destruction! I cut down thousands of monsters with ease, shattered fortresses with bare fists, and held off the army of the Demon King while all of you had time to finish the mission. And this is the way they reward me?!'
He glanced at the Hero Party standing ahead of him. Members of the Hero Party smiled graciously at the cheering crowds with their faces lit by the light of admiration. The only other male among them was Rael, who luxuriated in the limelight while the women around him radiated otherworldly beauty. The so-called Hero himself struck a pose of drama with his blonde hair shining so radiantly that it could rival the very sun itself.
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Balfour cautiously raised a hand to wave.
The crowd flinched in unison.
A tomato flew across the sky.
'...What the hell, man?!'
As the parade moved closer to the grand palace, the Emperor himself was ready to greet them. With magic-enhanced voice projection, the Emperor addressed the crowds with the weight of a ruler. "Hail, Heroes of Light! You that have saved this world shall have titles, lands, and wealth beyond your imagination!"
The audience erupted into a cheer.
"Rael Starwind! Your title will be that of the Duke of Everglow, with vast lands and riches!"
The Hero smiled with his teeth sparkling like highly polished jewels.
"Priestess Seraphina! You shall be elevated to the rank of High Priestess, revered for your sacred beauty and boundless compassion!"
The Priestess curtsied graciously, with blonde tresses cascading like silk.
"Mage Lysandra! You shall proceed to the rank of Archmage and lead the Grand Academy of Magic!"
The Mage smiled enigmatically, the flash of arcane magic shimmering about her presence.
"Rogue Mirielle! You will serve the Emperor directly as his personal advisor and master strategist!"
The Rogue winked again with a roguish grin, causing another round of swoons.
At last, the Emperor turned to Balfour... only to quickly look away again. His face hardened as he raised a parchment to the light, holding it like a man unwilling to look at its message.
"Ahem. And with respect to... uh... you." He hadn't directly referred to Balfour by name. "On account of your... ahem... efforts, we have arranged a quiet retirement at a secluded area where you can, ah... relax and enjoy your well-deserved break."
A vein throbbed on Balfour's forehead. "And where exactly am I being retired to?"
The Emperor coughed nervously. "An outlying village deep inside the mainland. Extremely... quiet. Picturesque, even. It has a manor house."
Balfour's eyes opened a little wider. 'A house? Possibly this isn't so dreadful—'
"One that is... very much aged. It is haunted, they say. And the ground... well... is somewhat peculiar. The earth is so desolate that not even weeds will sprout upon it. But of course, a man of your... stature will find it acceptable."
The crowd was filled with laughter.
Balfour's fists curled into a ball, his knuckles cracking. 'I see how it is... They're discarding me like rubbish. After all that I've done...'
His gaze turned to his so-called comrades, who were now very resolutely looking away from him.
'Rael, you condescending piece of... you flirted with Seraphina more than you fought. Lysandra, you NEVER moved off the backline. And Mirielle... I saw you helping yourself to all that plunder! I did ninety percent of the work! Ninety percent!'
Balfour's aura darkened, his body tensing with raw fury that surged within him. The earth itself creaked ominously beneath him.
"IS THIS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!" he roared, his voice shaking the entire capital. Birds dropped to the ground, windows shattered, and the Emperor fainted on the spot.
The Hero Party turned stiffly, their well-practiced grins now seeming very uncomfortable.
"Oh... you're still here?" Rael asked, blinking innocently.
Balfour's fists shook with fury. His face contorted into a terrifying grimace.
"...Ah. I understand now. All of this is a joke, isn't it? Hahaha... Ha... Ha... HAHAHA... YOU'RE DEAD, YOU SPARKLY FRAUD!"
What followed was absolute pandemonium.
The Hero Party fled in a panic while Balfour chased them, wildly swinging his sword in righteous indignation.
And thus began the legend of the "Exiled Brutal Hero"—a tale that would shake the entire continent to its foundations.