Chapter 41
Crescent opened her eyes, narrowing them sharply.
“Thank you for worrying. Luckily, I’m fine. But please don’t hug me so suddenly—I was startled.”
She finished her thorny remark, her eyes narrowing in a clearly displeased expression. Anyone could tell she was annoyed.
Adrian’s face immediately turned red.
“S-sorry… I was just so glad and relieved that you came back…”
“Yeah.”
Seeing Adrian genuinely apologetic, Crescent relaxed her annoyed expression.
“Your Eminence Cardinal!”
Just then, other cardinals and bishops pushed through the crowd and ran over. They had only just heard the news.
Within ten minutes of Ruben and the knights returning from the demon realm, everyone at the palace had rushed to the front yard.
“You’ve returned! As expected of Your Eminence!”
“I knew you’d come back safely! Clearly, the demon realm is no threat to you, Your Eminence, hahaha!”
“It’s wonderful to see everyone again.”
Ruben shook hands and hugged everyone individually.
Even though he had met these people just yesterday, surviving a life-or-death ordeal overnight made the reunion indescribably joyful.
Ruben was usually composed, but for some reason, he felt a twinge of emotion now.
He knew all too well how much worry had filled the palace in his absence. Beyond his own life, the situation could have shaken the palace’s morale and standing.
People eagerly asked him, one after another:
“What happened in the demon realm? Everyone wants to hear about Your Eminence’s adventure!”
“Adventure? There’s nothing remarkable about it. It’s something that could happen to anyone. But we must use this experience as a warning.”
“I see… You’ve truly become our hope. We’re so happy you came back alive!”
“All thanks to Your Eminence’s grace and ability!”
Endless words of praise for the cardinal filled the air.
The other knights bore visible cuts and torn clothes, but Ruben remained almost unscathed. Apart from a slightly dirtied uniform, he was perfectly composed—truly a model paladin of the nation.
“I have something I want to say to everyone here.”
Suddenly, Ruben spoke seriously, and the crowd fell silent, all waiting, moved, for his next words.
He began telling the story everyone was most curious about.
“We fought a demon named Count Izmir there. He commanded over a hundred terrifying monsters.”
“…!”
“No way!”
People murmured in shock. Facing demons was already dangerous, but over a hundred monsters?
Everyone could now imagine just how horrifying the demon realm he visited must have been.
When the crowd quieted down again, Ruben continued.
“The knights who followed me into the demon realm were extremely brave. They faced the demons head-on. But there is one thing I want everyone here to know.”
“?”
What could it be?
Everyone was curious.
Ruben’s gaze then lowered. There, standing quietly, was a young girl with blonde hair and brilliant pink eyes.
As Ruben looked at Crescent, the crowd grew even more puzzled.
Why her…?
They had already heard that Crescent had gone to the demon realm with Ruben. But why had she accompanied him?
Finally, Ruben spoke:
“Above all, I hope everyone recognizes this girl’s contribution. Don’t you agree?”
He asked the knights who had gone with him. Without hesitation, they all agreed.
“Of course! Without Crescent, we wouldn’t have returned so quickly!”
“Exactly! Without Your Eminence and this girl, we all would have died!”
“…!”
Shock spread instantly through the crowd.
It was surprising enough that Ruben credited Crescent, but even the knights agreed immediately!
What on earth happened in the demon realm?
She was barely even a paladin yet—how much could she have really contributed?
All eyes focused on Crescent, and she felt awkward. It was such an unexpected statement that she didn’t know where to look.
‘Wait, is he talking about me…?’
It was unexpected.
Cardinal Ruben had seemed stern and strict. She never imagined he would publicly highlight a child’s accomplishments, no matter how capable she had been.
Praising a young girl in front of everyone, while downplaying his own contributions, was not something anyone could easily do.
The crowd’s eyes were a mix of curiosity and astonishment.
It was hard for anyone to picture what young Crescent had done.
Ruben continued.
“Crescent played a decisive role in ensuring our safe return. Despite being young and recently made a paladin, she remained calm and wise. And as it turns out, she has a very special ability in addition to her holy power.”
“…!”
Oh?
A silent wave of astonishment swept through the crowd.
She had an ability beyond holy power? What could it be?
“I did not expect much from Crescent simply because she is a Primrose. But that was my arrogance and my mistake. This girl has a great talent for communicating with, controlling, and persuading animals. Thanks to her, we were able to recruit the monsters to our side and defeat Count Izmir. We came back unscathed.”
“!”
“That’s impossible!”
“Oh my goodness!”
People were more shocked than ever.
A human communicating with monsters to defeat a demon?
Truly a devilish talent!
Murmurs spread like raindrops across the crowd.
Slightly embarrassed, Crescent added hesitantly:
“…Well, I somehow seem to understand what the chicks and chickens at home were saying. I guess my holy power gave me this talent.”
Of course, that was a lie.
She couldn’t understand animals before she retrained as an animal management specialist. Ducks just quacked, pigs just oinked…
“There are occasionally those who possess such gifts. Consider it a gift. I’m glad you discovered your ability early.”
Ruben spoke to Crescent with authority, then turned his gaze back to the crowd.
“This girl also tried to save my daughter in the demon realm previously. Thanks to Meteor, we all returned alive, but she bravely went to save her sponsor alone in that unfamiliar demon world. And this time, she saved me and the knights. I might have managed to return safely on my own, but her ingenuity got us back faster. Crescent can truly be called the hope of the North.”
“!”
Hope of the North?
Crescent’s eyes widened as she looked up at Ruben. Others were equally speechless at the compliment.
Meeting her gaze, Ruben nodded calmly.
‘He’s praising me this much…?’
It was unbelievable. At this moment, Crescent herself was the most shocked and flustered.
“Crescent, you were remarkable and brave. From now on, continue to use your strength to protect this world.”
“…Yes? Ah, yes.”
Crescent answered dazedly.
Those around her were equally stunned and could barely speak.
‘Ah, my head feels dizzy…’
I started moving in a daze.
People followed Ruben like a cloud into the building.
His words kept echoing in my mind:
‘Crescent can truly be called the hope of the North.’
Hope of the North… for me?
Wasn’t that way too much praise?
I felt flustered.
Yet at the same time, my heart thumped loudly.
I had been acknowledged as a paladin in front of so many people.
Still, did I really deserve to be called the hope of the North?
I felt bewildered.
Turning toward the dormitory, I felt a mixture of confusion and exhilaration. It wasn’t a bad feeling.
‘Feels like I’ve taken a step forward as a paladin…’
Clearing my throat, I almost blushed. I quickened my pace, worried someone might see.
A whole night had passed while in the demon realm.
I hadn’t realized so much time had gone by, but now fatigue finally hit me.
‘Ugh… North’s hope needs to get to her room and rest.’
Then,
“Crescent.”
A familiar silver figure appeared before me. After visiting the grim and brutal demon realm, it seemed even more radiant.
