Chapter 163
A Triumphant Return
What shall we do now, Chief? Leyn wrote quickly on his slate.
Illumca, upon seeing the question, said thus. “As you are serving under me, then you all will also serve Connie. Treat her words as my own.”
The young girl who was sitting on a rock received the gesture with one arm propped on one knee, her face looked tired and gaunt. “The Dark Elves will make their base here and wait for further instruction. No one is to go out of the Untouchable Marshes until we return. Otherwise, I will make sure you regret being saved.”
The Dark Elves looked at each other with uncertainty. Although they knew how strong Connie was by the fact that she was able to defeat Bet-Zebek - the one who had enslaved them for many years - the thought of obeying a Human did not sit well with them.
Very well. I’ll make sure to keep them in line, Lady Steelheart. Arryn wrote decisively upon seeing their reaction.
“Good, at least one of you have her head screwed on right,” she said as she gulped a bowl of water Martell brought for her. “Ah, can I also request that everyone keep this a secret?”
Connie’s eyes swept to the others around her.
The first one to answer was Caelin, who stood up with a flourish. “You have helped me find my friends. I’m sure that I’m speaking for all three of us when I say that we will keep your secret.”
Rhoddes and the plain woman sitting by his side nodded at his words.
“How about you, men of the Bearkillers?”
Barney let out a deep sigh. “We’ve lost many of our men in this quest. Only these few of us left now. And I’ve to give some money to the families they left,” he said with a deep voice. “We’ll keep mum…for the right price.”
These words caused Illumca to stare daggers at the man, whereas the young girl to whom the words were directed to simply smiled. “I’ve promised to give you your dues and more. And I’ll honor it. You’ve done well.”
“Thank you for your generosity, Lady Steelheart,” the fat man said. It’d be good to make nice with the Lady, he thought to himself. She’s a proper one, she is.
“But what about the prisoners?” Martell asked.
“They are in catatonic state due to Azure Dream. It’s fine,” Connie said.
Half an hour later, Nick and a few of the surviving Bearkillers returned with the horses that they left at the edge of the Untouchable Marshes. They tied the carts onto the horses and went on their way, with the Dark Elves seeing them off at the edge of the Untouchable Marshes.
Connie immediately meditated upon climbing onto the cart. She did it to try and recover from the damage that her impromptu bending of the baleful Energy had caused. As she did it, her body released an unpleasant smell that made everyone distanced themselves from her.
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The journey back took a bit longer than it took for them to arrive at Untouchable Marshes, due to the number of people that were with them now. So, by the time they arrived at Greyvault, it was about four hours after lunchtime.
Before they reached the gate, Nick took the initiative to ride ahead of them to inform the townspeople of their coming.
Three of the Town’s Guards who saw Nick riding towards them quickly shouted to their friends below them.
“It’s Mister Nick! Open the gate and let him in!”
Nick stopped his horse and informed them of their success, which caused the Towns’ Guards to become elated and almost fall upon himself as he ran to tell Mayor Harrison.
Not long after, the news spread to all corner of the town with incredible speed. Within a quarter of an hour, more than half of the people of Greyvault had come to the front of the gate. Mayor Harrison and Captain Davis were at the front; their faces could not betray their anxiety.
One of the children, who had squeezed through to try and get a better look, shouted once they spotted the row of people heading their way. “They’re here! Quick! Look!”
About twenty minutes before they arrived at Greyvault, Connie had awoken from her meditation and took a horse for herself so that they townspeople would see her riding at the front.
“Lady Steelheart,” Harrison bowed deeply in gratitude and respect upon their arrival. “I am glad that you have returned safely.”
“Unfortunately, not all of us made it back,” she replied. “We have lost a few good men. But we managed to bring back many of those who were lost in their Dreams.”
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She looked back and saw many of the townspeople running towards the cart filled with Daydreamers. Those who saw their loved ones safe cried in happiness as they took them into their arms. For those who did not, some fell to their knees and cried bitterly.
“Captain, take the Daydreamers to the Healers. Arrange for their families to see them only once they are properly settled,” she said before turning back to Harrison. “Lead us to the square. There are some things I need to announce.”
She then gestured towards Caelin and the Bearkillers. “Give the Daydreamers to the Captain and follow me inside.”
“By your order, Lady Steelheard. Make way!” Harrison shouted.
Within minutes, the Towns’ Guards parted the throng of people and made a path so that Connie and her entourage could enter unhindered.
“Long live Lady Steelheart!!”
“Glory to the Lady of Arlaine!! Savior of Greyvault!!”
Lead by the Mayor, Connie and the others rode into town with cheers of gratitude and jubilation.
Once they reached the square, Connie got down from her horse and walked up to the wooden stage that once hosted the hanging of the Ex-Mayor. Although the apparatus had been dismantled, the stage had been left alone to be used by the Administration to announce new policies and such.
She raised her arms, and immediately the whole square became silent.
“People of Greyvault!” she began. “Today, is a glorious day! For today, I and these brave people had succeeded in exterminating those who have harmed you!! With their help, we have thwarted their nefarious plan and managed to save those who had been kidnapped.”
She then raised her arm and took out the head of Bet-Zebek from her Item Ring. With a loud thud, the giant skull dropped onto the stone pavement and cracked the surface.
The townspeople let out a collective gasp as they took a few steps back in surprise. A few of the women let out a small shriek before fainting from fear.
Connie then spoke. “Behold! Behold and rejoice! For what you see before you, is the severed head of the Demon Bet-Zebek the Bone Eater!!”
She jumped down from the stage and fearlessly placed one hand on one of its severed horns.
“This Demon had plotted to turn your peaceful town into a meat farm for the Demons. He was the one who orchestrated your suffering! The one who spread the use of Azure Dream to the ones you love!!”
This gruesome revelation caused the people, men and women alike to feel nauseated. How could something like that happen in Greyvault? Many were almost disbelieving of her words. Even deeming it fantastical. But the proof was in front of them.
They had never seen a Demon whose was head so large that it was a few heads taller than an average male. They could not fathom the full size of the Demon. If it was loose in town, Greyvault would have been erased from the face of Grea.
But at the same time, they realized that for that fearsome Demon to be killed, its slayer would have to be stronger. As such, their respect and worship of their Lady grew even more fervent.
“But this is not something that I can do alone,” Connie continued. “I want to appreciate the help of those who made this journey fruitful. Starting from my party members. Illumca, and Akula, who had taken down a few Named Demons on their own. And Martell, who helped me when I was fighting Bet-Zebek. And Nick, who had stood his ground protecting the victims from the Demons.”
For each one, the townspeople cheered and shouted their names.
Illumca accepted this with indifference while Akula raised her weapon high and shouted cheerfully. Having people from other Races cheering her in earnest made her feel good.
Is this how it feels to be a Hero? Not a bad feeling. And this time there’s no trickery or politics!
As for Martell, he simply waved and smiled, earning him looks of fondness from many of the women. Nick laughed awkwardly, not used to the attention.
“And for Caelin Yor Baradin and the Bearkillers, led by Mister Barney. Their help was paramount. We could not have saved the kidnapped Daydreamers without their effort.”
“But let us not forget, that this wouldn’t have happened if not for the corruption running rampant in the Administration. Were it not for the greed of the few, you wouldn’t have lost your loved ones. As I have promised you when I took charge, we have started to take a few steps in the right path. All I ask is for your support!”
Connie took a deep breath and continued. “As for the Daydreamers who have fallen to the deepest end, I promise you that the Healers will find a cure! And for that, I will spare no expense!!”
At this point, many of the people who had been affected by Azure Dream, directly or indirectly, fell to their knees in gratitude.
“And finally!” Connie raised her arm for a final time. “I shall place this head on display, as a reminder for all the Demons that may have thoughts on Greyvault! Those that dares to try and disturb our peace, will share the same fate as this wretched creature!! This, I promise you! For I am Cornelia Asterium Steelheart, the Hero Killer!”
At this point, the chanting of her name had reached such a feverish pitch that it reached every corner of Greyvault.
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Once she was finished with her oration, Connie got down from the stage. Behind her, the townspeople were still chanting her name.
Harrison - who was listening to her speech - stood transfixed. “I have never seen someone so young, but so good at speaking. If only all of our Nobles are as excellent as she is.”
Martell, who was standing next to him shrugged. “That’s not necessarily a good thing. A dragon cannot share a lair. There cannot be two pack leaders.”
As Connie walked down the steps, she suddenly felt her body tilting. She wobbled and almost lost her footing.
“Mistress,” Sui Lihua, who was standing nearby, came to her with worry.
“I’m fine. I just need to rest,” she said while refusing her hand. “Harrison, I want you to station men around the clock. Make sure that everyone can see the skull, but no one can touch it.”
“But, Lady Steelheart. Shouldn’t you just keep it on your person? Something like that is bound to attract thieves.”
Connie gave him a thin smile. “Let them come, then. In fact, I dare them to try. Like moth to a flame. Death will be their just…rewards.”
As soon as she said that, Connie slumped forward. Akula, who was standing by her side, managed to catch her in time.
“Connie?!” She exclaimed in surprise.
“Connie!” Illumca shouted.
While they fussed about what just happened, Lihua came over and placed a long, white finger on the vein of Connie’s wrist. “Don’t worry. She’s just sleeping. She seems to have had expended too much Energy during her last fight.”
“But wasn’t she recovering while on the way here?” Illumca asked.
“The body is not that simple, young one. Her will is strong, but the body is fragile. Best we get her to a place to rest, away from the crowd.”
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Standing at an alley, a familiar Beastfolk with a mischievous streak watched the performance of the girl in Centipede Robe with great interest. On her lip was a smile that masked her intentions.
"And thus, the heroine slayed the great enemy and returned triumphant. Quelle Joie! Quel bonheur!" though her words denote joy, there was a sense of sarcasm in them.
Henri-Artur bent forward as she laughed until her face was red from lack of air.
"But then, that means that the prediction of Le Pape is wrong. The first time after more than a hundred years! Magnifique! Oh what waves shall this bring into Grea? This is why I love this work of ours! Nous observons et nous rions!!"