Chapter 10

The heavy oak doors slammed shut, sealing Naofumi’s exit. The throne room was left in a state of stunned, awkward silence. King Aultcray slumped back into his throne, rubbing his temples, furious but outmaneuvered.

Myne stared at Maya’s back, her mind spinning. She played us, Myne thought, a cold sweat breaking out on her neck. She used the rules of the Heroes to perfectly counter the trap. She's not a fool at all.

But before Myne's paranoia could fully take root, Maya moved.

The commanding, imposing aura of the Gauntlet Hero completely vanished. Maya let out a soft, trembling sigh, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of the confrontation had physically drained her.

She walked over to where the young noblewoman was still kneeling on the cold stone floor, trembling violently from her near-brush with a Slave Crest.

Maya dropped gracefully to her knees in front of the girl. The heavy iron of her newly forged gauntlet clanked against the floor, but her expression was one of profound, agonizing sympathy.

"I am so, so sorry," Maya whispered softly, her voice carrying easily in the quiet room.

The noblewoman flinched, expecting an attack, but Maya gently reached out with her bare left hand. With the utmost tenderness, she wiped away a fake tear from the girl's cheek.

"As a Hero summoned to protect this world, I am bound by the strict laws of justice and proof," Maya explained, her dark eyes swimming with manufactured sorrow. "I cannot take action against a fellow Hero without absolute certainty. But… seeing you in such pain breaks my heart."

Maya bowed her head slightly. "I do not know the darkness in Naofumi Iwatani's heart. But if he truly brought this suffering upon you, then on behalf of the Cardinal Heroes, I humbly apologize for your trouble. Please forgive me for making this ordeal harder for you."

The entire throne room watched in awe.

Itsuki nodded approvingly, deeply moved by Maya's display of "true justice tempered with mercy." Ren looked away, seemingly uncomfortable with the emotional display but respecting her honor. The King’s furious scowl softened marginally. The Gauntlet wasn't defying him out of malice; she was just an overly empathetic, strictly rule-bound maiden.

The lying noblewoman, realizing she had been given a golden ticket out of the lie without facing the Crest, burst into fresh, dramatic tears. "Y-You are too kind, noble Hero! I… I need to rest. Please excuse me!" She scrambled to her feet and practically sprinted out a side door.

Maya watched her go with a mournful sigh. Then, she stood up and turned to Myne.

Myne was staring at her, completely bewildered. Maya's eyes were practically shining with unshed tears. She reached out and took Myne's hands in her own.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, Myne," Maya said, her voice thick with emotion. She squeezed the spy's hands gently. "When I saw that girl crying, all I could think about was you. You are such a kind, pure-hearted adventurer… if some cruel man ever did something like that to you, it would make me so terribly sad. I don't know what I would do."

Myne blinked. The terrifying image of the calculating mastermind shattered in an instant, replaced by the reality of a hopelessly naive, overly emotional foreigner. Maya’s sudden shift perfectly fed into Myne's massive ego.

Ah, Myne thought, an internal, wicked smile spreading across her mind. She didn't do it to protect the Shield. She just has a bleeding heart and a rigid obsession with 'Heroic rules.' She's an idiot. A powerful, useful idiot.

"Oh, Maya-sama," Myne cooed, easily slipping back into her sweet, devoted persona. She rested her head gently against Maya's iron-clad shoulder. "You are too pure for this harsh world. Do not weep for me. As long as I am by your side, no harm shall befall either of us."

"Thank you, Myne," Maya sniffled slightly, hiding her own dark, triumphant smirk against Myne's red hair. The damage control was a complete success. She was back in the kingdom's blind spot.

King Aultcray cleared his throat, eager to move past the embarrassing failure of his plot.

"Ahem. Well. The Shield's darkness has been exiled from our halls. Let us focus on the future," the King announced. "Heroes! You have your funds and your parties. Use the coming weeks to level up. The hourglass in the Dragon Era Shrine shows exactly three and a half weeks until the next Wave of Calamity strikes Melromarc. Go forth, and prepare!"

The assembly was officially dismissed. Ren, Motoyasu, and Itsuki quickly led their eager parties out of the castle, discussing leveling strategies and hunting grounds.

Maya and Myne walked out into the sunlit courtyard together. The air was crisp and clear. Naofumi was long gone, surviving somewhere in the labyrinthine streets of the capital.

"Well, Maya-sama," Myne smiled, resting her hand lightly on the hilt of her rapier. "The Shield is gone, and the King's grace is upon us. We have weeks before the Wave. Where shall we begin our grand adventure?"

Interactive Choice: The First Real Move

With her cover secured and Naofumi off the board for now, Maya needs to focus on her own survival and power. Where does she lead her party of two?