3 bar menu

Beast Tamer Who Got Kicked Out From the Hero’s Party Chapter 222 Part 2

CHAPTER 222: THE BANQUET PART 2

「I hope that you are able to enjoy yourself tonight?」

「Oh, yes, very much. This banquet is even more than I could have ever hoped for. And it’s not only me. I can see that the rest of my party members are having a wonderful time, which is really good to see…… So thank you very much for doing this for us.」

「Oh, you flatter me. But you don’t have to thank me for anything. This is the least that I can do in order to repay you for everything that you have done for me. And I still think that this is not nearly sufficient enough.」

As if recalling the events that transpired during her trip back home, Thalia-sama said so while she put her hand on top of her chest.

「It was thanks to you, Rein-san, that I was able to successfully accomplish my goal. So once again, please allow me to express my gratitude to you for that.」

「So I guess that the purpose of your journey was to get the proof for those knights’ treachery and have them arrested, correct?」

「Yes, it is precisely as you say.」

「……………」

「You look worried. Is something the matter?」

「No, it’s just that…… I guess it must have been extremely hard for you, isn’t that right, Thalia-sama? Having to personally go through something like that, even though you are a member of the royalty.」

「Fufu, believe it or not, but my responsibilities do not consist solely of suicidal tasks such as this one. There was also no need for me to get personally involved in the investigation, but if we were to allow those knights to roam free and unchecked, the situation would have surely escalated into a real problem sooner rather than later. So I decided to act, knowing the risk of doing so full well. And besides, as a Third Princess, someone with very little power and authority, it was the least that I could have done here.」

「So that’s your honest opinion about that entire plan?」

「Well, I mean…… Of course, I would be lying if I said that I did not have my reservations about this entire plan. I want to be of use to my own country, but I am neither the Saint nor a martyr. So Rein-san, the moment when you met my Father and you told him off, it made me feel really happy. Although I must say, I was pretty nervous the entire time and there was a moment where I had no idea how this whole thing might end up.」

「Ahh…… I am really sorry about that. You see, I tend to be a person who is driven by my emotions, so I just couldn’t help myself there but to lose my composure and speak my mind without thinking.」

「Fufu, I knew it. You really ARE a pretty interesting person, Rein-san.」

Thalia-sama said so and then she chuckled lightly.

I could see a sort of expression of familiarity on Thalia-sama’s face. Familiarity towards me.

Apparently, she must have taken a liking to me.

Maybe it was all because I was the type of person that was never really around her all those years, a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant environment.

「Fumuh. I can see that you get along really well with my daughter, Shroud.」

This time around, it was the King who appeared before me.

I was about to bow my head in a hurry, but he stopped me with a quick movement of his hand.

「At ease. After all, tonight’s banquet is mostly in honor of your achievements and helping Thalia out. So what good of a host would I be if I were to worry you when you are supposed to be merry and relax?」

「You heard my Father’s words. So I really hope that you can just sit back and relax, Rein-san. What’s more, you could even try to forget for the duration of the banquet that Father is the King.」
「Well, I think that this is a rather tall order to fulfill, but…… Yes, I understand. I will try to do just that.」

I mean, if this is what His Majesty wants, then I guess I need to do just that, without trying to overcomplicate things too much.

…… That should be alright, right?

「Could it be that you are finding Shroud to be pretty intriguing, Thalia?」

「Why, yes, Father, I do. And I would very much like it if the two of us could be friends.」

「Oh my, I would never……」

「Fumuh. Does that mean that you find Thalia lacking to be your friend, Shroud?」

「W-What? No, that’s not what I…… I didn’t mean to……」

「Hahaha! Now, now, I was only kidding! Don’t make that face, Shroud! It makes me look bad!」

Does this man really understand that his position gives his words much greater weight?

Also, I had a weird suspicion that he was not joking at all.

But anyways, people like that are really bad for my poor heart.

If I could, I would like to get out of here for the time being, but……

For some reason, the King just continued to stare at me.

Could it be that there was still something on his mind?

「Thalia, I’m really sorry for this, but could you please leave me alone with Shroud here for a moment? There’s something I would like to discuss with him.」

「That’s really rude, Father. Hogging Rein-san all to yourself.」

「Which is why I am apologizing to you right now. This will only take a moment. And once we get back, you can have him all to yourself.」

「I trust that you are going to keep your word.」

It would seem that the conversation was going forward on its own without me.

Oh well, Thalia-sama seemed to be enjoying herself greatly, so I was not really going to object to that.

「Now then…… How about we go and get some fresh air?」

After saying that, the King invited me to go to the terrace together with him.

A pleasant night breeze blew across my face and stroked my hair.

「Now, we won’t have to worry about anyone eavesdropping on us in here.」

「Could it be that the matters you wish to discuss with me are confidential in nature, Your Majesty?」

「Yes, that’s right.」

What in the world was he going to talk to me about?

Since the other party was the King, I couldn’t help it but to get worried about that and become nervous.

「Well then, before I talk about the main topic at hand, I would like to ask you a few questions first. Shroud, are you perhaps from the Southern Continent?」

「…… Huh? W-Well, yes. Yes, I am, Your Majesty.」

「Next question: are you perhaps from the small and rural place that was known as the Village of Beast Tamers?」

「Y-Yes, but…… How did you know about that, Your Majesty……?」

While I was still surprised by the King’s question, he himself has a look of satisfaction and approval on his face.

「So, is that how it is, huh…… And there is not even a sliver of a chance that “Shroud” is not your real name, but something you have assumed yourself?」

「What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?」

「What I mean by that, is that you have the blood of the Gods flowing through your veins. That means you have the right to call yourself a Hero as well.」