The World After Leaving the Hero’s Party

Chapter 35: Unexpected Turn – 2

“Ah…”

Claire lowered her head, her face pale as if she had realized the meaning behind my smile. But it was only for a moment. Clenching her fists tightly, she looked back up with determination.

“Someday… there will be a time when you’ll need me. When you’ll need us, won’t you?”

“Who knows.”

“You’ve always said it, haven’t you? That the world is full of uncertainties.”

This world thrives on unpredictability. The motto here is anything that seems impossible is possible. Even back in my previous life, people often smashed their keyboards in disbelief over such absurdities.

Because of that, I used to remind the Hero’s Party constantly: “You never know what might happen. Be prepared for anything.”

I never thought those words would come back to me like this…

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

“Right?”

Claire stepped closer to me, her gaze resolute, her fists still clenched.

“Someday… someday, I’ll make it happen.”

Would such a day really come?

Even I couldn’t say for certain. Most of the situations where I might need the Hero’s Party had been dealt with during the main storyline. But things could still go sideways, and it wasn’t impossible that I might require their help.

Even so, as a seasoned veteran, I had prepared extensively. This was as much a contest between me and the Hero’s Party as it was preparation.

And I’d never lost in such contests before.

“I like your resolve,” I said.

“Huh? Heh… hehe…”

“But if you get in my way, I won’t forgive you.”

If she tried to interfere with my achievements under the guise of rekindling our relationship, she would become my enemy that very day.

Claire gulped audibly and gave a small nod.

Good. That was enough for me.

I patted her shoulder and resumed gathering Crystal Grass. Claire hesitated briefly before kneeling down beside me to do the same.

“You don’t need to help.”

“I’m just gathering it on my own. No big deal.”

“Sure.”

Once we finished collecting enough Crystal Grass to fill a bag, I stood up. Claire handed me the bag of grass she’d collected, then unsheathed the Hero’s Sword.

“Where to next?”

“Hmm…”

“I’m going to fetch Leventia and Evangeline. They’re working on the Pope’s request too.”

“Hmm… where are they?”

“Curious? Want to come along?”

“Not really.”

Claire pouted at my blunt reply, then turned her head sharply.

“Roguel Coast.”

Roguel Coast, huh? Thinking about the threats there and the sort of task the Pope might issue, I nodded.

“They’re tackling Rutvill’s Mansion, aren’t they? The Pope must want Rutvill’s relic.”

Rutvill’s Mansion was a dungeon once visited by a saint from the Church for purification. Defeating the boss there rewards the Divine Mark of Rutvill, which is likely what the Pope requested.

“…You really don’t miss anything.”

“Well, if you piece things together, it’s the only answer. The dungeon’s limit is two participants, and the Pope wouldn’t ask for anything else from there.”

“Yeah. By now, they’ve probably cleared it. I’ll take them and—”

“Alright. Good luck.”

“Hyun Woo, once you gather what you need, are you heading straight to the Elves Forest?”

“Maybe. I’ll probably stop by the royal palace first.”

“Then… if I open a portal for you…”

“I’ll be teleporting ahead. But go ahead and do what you want. The kingdom might ask for it.”

I planned to arrive early, conduct my investigation, and prepare the initial treatments before the alchemists arrived. This would speed up the plague’s resolution.

There was no need to travel with the others.

“…What about Cardinal Veronica?”

“She’ll probably come with the Church’s team.”

“And Princess Lucille?”

“That’s for the kingdom to decide. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

It was clear why Claire kept talking—she wanted to spend a little more time with me.

Seeing the regret and longing on her face, I raised my hand in a casual wave and teleported away.

My destination was the western continent, to Dwarven City, home of the dwarves.

“Hyun Woo…”

It felt like a dream. That brief meeting had already vanished, like waking from sleep only to find the dream gone.

Claire’s legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground.

She ran her hands over her face, wiping away the forced smile she had barely managed to maintain. Tears she had been holding back now flowed freely.

“Hyun Woo…”

It had been so hard.

Keeping up that smile in front of him.

So painful.

Acting unaffected in his presence.

And more than anything, it was heartbreaking.

Because throughout their journey, Hyun Woo had always been like this.

The only thing he ever gave them was cold rationality.

Facing that alone had been difficult, painful, and unbearably sad.

Yet Hyun Woo had never once complained about his own suffering.

How had he done it?

How had he endured?

Recalling his distant, composed demeanor from earlier, Claire felt her chest tighten, as though it were being torn apart.

“Ah… Ahhh…”

Her sorrow poured out as tears, streaming down her face. Even as she tried to cover them with her hands, the tears seeped through her fingers.

“Hyun Woo… Hyun Woo…”

She sobbed alone, unmoving, for a long time.

Eventually, after crying herself out, Claire pulled a small white pill from her bag.

It was a tranquilizer, something she took whenever guilt and despair overwhelmed her.

Popping the bitter medication into her mouth, she clenched her eyes shut as the acrid taste spread, leaving her tongue numb.

Had Hyun Woo taken these too?

He was the Sage, capable of using skills from every profession.

So of course, he would have been able to craft something like this for himself.

Surely… he had.

How much more painful must it have been for him, enduring far worse circumstances than I ever faced?

He carried such burdens without faltering—what would a bitter pill like this mean to someone like him? Probably nothing at all.

“Ah… Hyun Woo…”