Chapter 32
Franz didn't particularly welcome this situation.
Receiving thanks from someone felt awkward.
On top of that, with everyone's attention focused on him, it was hard even to lift his face.
However, he couldn't just refuse Yuna's gratitude.
If he didn't end things cleanly here, Yuna would keep worrying about it.
So, well, he just hoped this situation would pass as quickly as possible.
'I want to hurry back to the Magic Tower and sleep.'
"Franz."
Yuna called Franz's name, but her gaze was directed not at him, but at the floor.
She looked like a sinner.
"Yuna, it's okay, lift your head."
Of course, it was a bit troublesome.
He had brought Yustia from where she was sleeping at St. Serpia Cathedral, had to stop Yuna from becoming a villainess, and even dealt with Duke Ishtar.
There had truly been countless things to worry about.
But that was all something he had done willingly.
Hadn't he said so from the start? That he would handle it somehow, as far as his power allowed.
He had simply kept that promise, so there was no reason whatsoever for her to feel guilty.
No, rather, he should be the one expressing thanks.
Because she had spoken honestly, he had been able to prevent her from becoming a villainess.
If Yuna had laughed it off this time too, saying she would handle it herself somehow, wouldn't the outcome have been obvious?
She surely would have become a villainess, and the world would have walked the path of ruin.
Anyway, the sinner was that Ishtar guy over there, beaten to a pulp, so Yuna could afford to be a little more confident.
"It's a good day, isn't it? You should be smiling, why are you like this?"
Franz offered words of comfort in his own way, but it seemed that had burst the dam of tears Yuna had been holding back.
"Yeah, that's right. It's a good day. Franz, thank you. If you hadn't approached me and asked first, I definitely would have tried to handle it all alone again this time. Really, thank you so much, Franz."
Tears flowed from Yuna's eyes, streamed down her cheeks, lingered momentarily at the tip of her chin, and then fell to the floor.
Even as she cried like that, Yuna kept bowing her head, expressing her gratitude to Franz.
Seeing her like this, Franz's embarrassment reached its peak.
There were many eyes watching, yet he didn't know what he should do.
He felt more comfortable mentally when he had faced the Demon King.
"St-stop crying."
Eventually, Franz started patting Yuna's shoulder comfortingly.
He wasn't exactly keen on it, but the gazes from the crowd were so piercing that he really had no choice.
Among them, the sharpest gaze belonged to Arian.
Whatever her dissatisfaction was, she was glaring as if she could kill him.
And that hadn't changed even now as he comforted Yuna.
'Shouldn't a secretary at least take the Tower Master's side?'
'If she's so unhappy, she could come over and comfort Yuna herself.'
...There was no way he could say that out loud, so he just hoped Yuna would stop crying even a little bit sooner.
'Ah, I want to go back to the Magic Tower.'
How much time had passed like that?
"Tower Master, thank you once again. Thanks to you, we survived."
"Ah, yes. Please get home safely."
The nobles who had attended the social gathering began to leave, offering brief words of thanks.
Franz saw them off.
If he had his way, he would have wanted to be the first to leave, but departing just like that left a strangely unsettling feeling.
Perhaps it was because, in a way, he felt like the one ultimately responsible for this situation.
Finally, when all the nobles had departed and only the main parties involved in this incident remained.
"Ugh, ugh..."
Faint groans suddenly came from Yuna's family members who were collapsed on the floor.
Yuna's eyes widened, and she rushed over frantically.
"Mom...! Yuria...!"
"Ugh, hmm...? Could it be Yuna...?"
"It's my big sister's voice..."
Yuna carefully embraced the two of them.
It was truly a touching moment.
Thanks to that, he couldn't bring himself to say he was leaving.
Well, still, the slight lingering unease in his heart had completely vanished, so it wasn't too bad.
A little time passed, and once the two who had awakened had calmed down to some extent.
"Yuna, what are you going to do now?"
"For now, I need to stay with my family. Since we've only just been reunited."
Yuna was still sniffling.
She was already thin, and he worried she might lose all the moisture in her body through tears.
Even a Hero couldn't withstand dehydration.
"Right, you should do that. More importantly, if you have any difficulties, make sure to tell me. Don't suffer alone."
"Th-then, could I shamelessly ask for just one favor?"
At Yuna's words, Franz's body flinched involuntarily.
A favor? Could there possibly be something else? — a sense of anxiety arose.
However, Franz's worries proved unfounded.
"If it's okay, could you take us home...? It's a bit far, and my family isn't in good condition.... O-of course, if it's difficult for you, you can refuse. We can just rest here for a bit before leaving."
Franz let out a sigh of relief.
If there had been consecutive bad ending turning points, his mind surely wouldn't have held up.
It was truly fortunate.
"I'll take you."
It wasn't particularly difficult, just a quick blink, so he should grant that much.
"Thank you so much. There isn't much I can do for you, but... if you ever need my help, just tell me. I'll come anytime."
"Yeah, thanks for the thought."
With those words, Franz headed towards where Yuna's family was, together with Yuna.
Soon, a magic circle was drawn on the floor, light flashed, and the four figures disappeared.
The place they reappeared was atop the highest nearby mountain.
This was because teleportation didn't guide you blindly to the destination like navigation.
You had to know the precise location at a minimum, or else see it directly with your own eyes.
"See that small house down there?"
Yuna pointed her finger towards a tiny house at the foot of the mountain.
It was a house one could never imagine the Hero who saved the world living in.
"We just need to go there, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Once again, a magic circle was drawn beneath their feet, and soon they arrived in front of their destination, the tiny house.
"Franz, thank you so much, right up to the very end."
"Yeah, I'm leaving now too. Get plenty of rest. Take good care of your family."
With those final words, a magic circle formed beneath Franz's feet.
Just as Franz was about to leave,
"F-Franz...!"
Yuna called out urgently.
Franz paused the activation of the teleport and looked at her.
"Why?"
"C-can I come visit the Magic Tower next time...?"
"Well, the Magic Tower isn't exactly a playground, though..."
"R-right...? Sorry."
Yuna's shoulders slumped, and she looked downcast.
When she smiled, she only smiled endlessly, and when she was downcast, she was only downcast endlessly; there seemed to be no middle ground.
"Just kidding. Come by anytime for tea. It'd be even better if you could help out with some office work while you're at it."
At Franz's words, Yuna's downcast expression brightened again.
"Okay...! I'll definitely come!"
"Alright, see you next time then."
Flash—.
With those words, light flashed, and Franz's figure vanished.
Staring blankly at the spot where he disappeared, Yuna thought.
'He's like a knight straight out of a fairy tale.'
* * * * *
Returning once more to the social hall, Franz faced Arian and Yustia.
"Arian, wait just a moment. I'll take Yustia back first and come right back."
"...Yes."
Arian's response was quite indifferent.
But Franz couldn't help it.
Arian had come along for the purpose of the social gathering, but he had truly dragged Yustia here against her will.
Furthermore, after making her drink an Elixir and using her as a purification shuttle, he couldn't possibly postpone taking her back.
"Yustia, let's go."
"Yes, I need to go and sleep quickly. I'm tired."
In the end, Franz deliberately ignored Arian and headed towards St. Serpia Cathedral with Yustia.
Eventually, upon arriving in the room via teleport, Yustia took off the coat draped over her shoulders and placed it on the desk.
"I'll wash the coat and return it to you."
"You can just keep it, you know?"
"I don't want to. It feels a bit weird."
"Suit yourself then."
He didn't know the reason, but since she refused so firmly, he had no intention of pushing his opinion.
Though, since it was a coat Arian had gifted him, he did need to get it back eventually.
Conversely, as long as she returned it, it didn't really matter how.
"Yustia, you worked hard today. Somehow, I feel like we'll be seeing each other again soon, though. See you next time."
The Emperor would likely summon them to hear the full story of this incident, so they would probably meet again.
'I'd like it to pass uneventfully if possible, but I feel uneasy for some reason.'
"Yes, you worked hard too."
Flash—.
With Yustia's farewell, Franz returned once more to the social hall.
Arian, left alone in the hall, was sitting in a chair, her lips protruding significantly as if all her dissatisfaction had gathered there.
Franz let out a small chuckle at the sight and approached her.
"Arian, let's go."
"Yes..."
Arian replied dejectedly and came closer.
Soon, a magic circle formed beneath their feet, light flashed immediately, and the two arrived in front of the Magic Tower.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow. You worked hard."
Arian turned around, her shoulders slumped.
Just as she was about to take a step.
"Arian, I'll walk you home. Let's go together."
Franz's voice echoed, breaking the quiet stillness of the deep night.
Arian spun around sharply.
"Really?"
"Yeah, so let's go together."
Franz thought.
'Isn't comforting the secretary also part of the Tower Master's role?'