Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 28
“I’m just worried. We should be chasing the Black Flame Dragon right now… What if it’s off causing more havoc somewhere else?”
Even in this situation, Elonen was still worrying about others. But since the Black Flame Dragon was also locked up with them, there really was no need for that concern.
“But how long has it been since we actually got to rest like this?”
At that moment, Kyle suddenly sat up and spoke.
In the story, Kyle had set off to become a hero about five years ago.
Since then, the group had been constantly traveling and fighting enemies every day without a moment to catch their breath.
“I don’t even remember the last time I just lay around all day doing nothing.”
“That’s true. We’ve been camping nearly every day, wandering all across the continent, always busy.”
Elonen replied as he sat up following Kyle’s lead. Caught between them, I ended up sitting up too.
“For now, let’s not think about anything and just rest. It’s not like we can fix anything just by worrying. We’ll deal with the Black Flame Dragon stuff once we’re out of this prison.”
Kyle boldly declared a break, and Elonen nodded with a bright smile. Since we were stuck here anyway, trying to think positively didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“You two are awfully carefree.”
But Gerard crossed his arms and looked at the two of them as if they were hopeless. In my opinion, the truly ridiculous one was Kakaros, who had already fallen asleep in the corner.
Just as Kyle was about to close his eyes and fall asleep, faint footsteps echoed from afar.
“What’s that? Sounds like someone’s coming.”
Despite having been the one to call for a break, Kyle reacted first. He pressed himself against the bars, peering out into the corridor.
Clink, clink. The sound of armor scraping grew louder as the hallway gradually lit up. Soon, several soldiers appeared.
“Lysian Felix, His Majesty the Emperor summons you.”
When the soldiers called my name, Kyle whipped his head around to stare at me with wide eyes.
“The Emperor is summoning you?”
“…I don’t know either.”
Though in truth, I had a pretty good guess. Reynold had probably told the Emperor about my identity. He was likely calling me to confirm it.
“Do you think he’s letting Lysian go because he’s not involved with us?”
Elonen looked at me hopefully. That was exactly the outcome I was praying for more than anyone else.
“Then this could be our last goodbye.”
Kyle said it with a note of regret, but I felt no such thing.
Just as the atmosphere was getting weirdly sentimental, the soldiers thankfully rattled the iron bars with a loud clang clang!
“What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and come out!”
As I stepped through the open door, I heard Kyle’s voice behind me.
“Be careful.”
I paused briefly and glanced back. Kyle’s eyes, filled with concern, glowed blue in the darkness.
If this really were the last time I’d see him…
That sudden thought struck me with an unexpected pang of regret. I’d thought I would be happy once we parted ways.
“…You too, Kyle.”
Suppressing those feelings, I exchanged a brief glance with him. A flurry of emotions passed in that instant, but I turned away from him coldly.
With heavy steps, I followed the soldiers. I expected to be led back to the audience chamber, but we were headed somewhere entirely different.
At the end of a long hallway was an ornate room. As I expected, inside were Emperor Ferosen and Crown Prince Reynold, waiting.
“Lysian, come sit here.”
Reynold gestured for me to sit across from him. Emperor Ferosen sat beside him, glaring at me with a piercing stare.
“It’s been so long I can’t quite recall… I think you might be, but also maybe not. Are you really the great sage in the black robes, Lysian Felix?”
“Yes. I’ve confirmed it.”
As I listened to the Emperor and Crown Prince’s exchange, I kept my mouth shut.
“But is it true that you’ve lost your memory?”
This time, Emperor Ferosen directed the question straight at me.
“…Yes.”
“You mean to say you don’t remember why you left the capital or what you’ve been doing all this time?”
“Not at all.”
They were the same questions Reynold had asked before. Emperor Ferosen continued asking things he already seemed to know the answers to.
“You can’t use magic either?”
“My mana core was destroyed, so I can no longer use magic.”
I added Gerard’s earlier explanation for consistency. At that, Emperor Ferosen’s face twisted in a most unpleasant way.
“How did such a great sage end up so useless? If that’s the case… is there truly no one left who can stop the Black Flame Dragon?”
The Emperor muttered in despair, dragging a trembling hand down his face.
“That’s why Kyle and his companions—who have endangered the Empire—must be severely punished.”
