Chapter 51

Swinging my sword relentlessly, I delivered the final blow.

The battered Reinhart stumbled and fell, and I pointed my sword at his body.

"Crest...!"

Elis's voice reached my ears. At the same moment, a soft light enveloped my body, and my left arm had regenerated.

I could take such risks because of Elis's healing magic.

Fully recovered, I then lowered my gaze to Reinhart.

The next moment,

"Hahahaha!"

With a laugh that could be mistaken for a cackle,

"This is pain! I realize death is approaching! This is what battle is!"

"...Reinhart, what was your purpose—"

For doing this?

But the question was drowned out.

"That was the best battle. It was fun, Crest."

With that, Reinhart smiled broadly and thrust the remaining blade into his own throat.

"Hey...!"

Even though I still had questions, Reinhart committed suicide before I could stop him.

What a self-centered guy.

Though I still had questions, I turned my gaze to the rescued Livia.

"Livia, are you alright?"

"Yes... I was forcibly brought here, but other than that, I'm fine."

That's good.

While breaking her collar, I looked around again.

The reason for the sudden silence was simple.

"R-Reinhart-sama... lost."

"It can't be...! The dimensional holes are gone!"

The subhumans and humans who had followed Reinhart in a panic.

For them, who had relied on Reinhart, the loss of their leader must have been devastating.

There was no way we wouldn't take advantage of this.

"Capture them!"

The order from the human side rang out, and I looked over.

There, I saw the slightly more matured Minu.

With Minu's declaration and the confusion in Reinhart's army, the tide of battle quickly turned in our favor.

...Now, we didn't need to do anything more.

With their leader lost, they seemed to have lost the will to resist and were only trying to escape.

Those who judged they couldn't escape became non-resistant and were captured.

All the dimensional holes that had been visible around us were now sealed, probably because Reinhart was dead.

After finishing off the remaining monsters, the battle ended in victory for the Upper World.

* * *

One week had passed since we fought Reinhart and his group in the capital.

I was still in the Upper World.

Today, I was being led to the audience chamber to meet the king.

Not only I, but Elis, Minu, and their fathers were also present.

Many powerful noble families were also there.

Being able to stand in such a place without hesitation might be due to my past experiences.

"Crest, raise your head."

Following the king's voice, I raised my head.

When our eyes met, he had a pleased smile on his face.

With the dimensional holes in the Upper World now under control and the damage from the monsters gone, there could be no more joyful situation for the king.

Before I could say anything, the king continued.

"Crest, I am very pleased that you have returned to the Upper World."

Though I had many thoughts about the king's words, I didn't voice them now.

"By the way, to reiterate, as the lord of the Haberst family—"

"Regarding that... I have one request."

"What is it? You are a hero of this country. I will do my best to accommodate you."

The king answered happily to my request.

Well, whether it would be accepted or not.

While thinking this, I continued.

"The reason I want to stay in the Upper World is... to protect the subhumans."

"......Subhumans?"

At my words, the king and the nobles around him showed signs of unease.

In the atmosphere of "What are you talking about?", I continued.

"Yes. The reason for this problem is nothing but the unfair treatment of subhumans. I don't think everything can be improved immediately, but ultimately, humans and subhumans must coexist... Otherwise, similar problems will arise again."

"...That is indeed true, but—"

"That's why I want to be given certain authority regarding subhumans, along with the succession of the Haberst family. ...First, I want to start by accepting subhumans in my own territory."

The evaluation of subhumans had likely worsened due to this incident.

But the problem was that they had been treated unfairly, as I mentioned earlier.

I didn't have to get involved to this extent.

But if there was a possibility to make a difference, I didn't want to leave it alone.

That was the condition for me to stay in the Upper World.

Amid the unease of the nobles and the king, Elis spoke up.

"Your Majesty, if I may."

After saying that, she continued.

"Crest is right. If we continue to treat subhumans as we have, similar incidents will surely happen again. There are still many subhumans in the Lower World, and it would be beneficial for the stability of the country to entrust this matter to Crest, who is familiar with the Lower World."

"...That is true. ...Not all subhumans can be handled, of course."

The king said this as if muttering to himself, then stood up from his throne.

He came to me and spoke.

"Understood. I will leave the matter of subhumans to Crest. Everyone, is that acceptable?"

No one objected to the king's question.

...That's good.

It seems I have managed to gain a position.

Becoming the head of the Haberst family, I returned to the original mansion.

I felt nostalgic about my long-absent home, but that was all.

The Haberst family was already in a state of disarray...

My father and brothers are still receiving treatment in the hospital. They are not dead, but they are in a state where they could die at any moment.

...Well, that doesn't matter.

Returning to the Haberst family mansion, I gathered all the subhuman leaders who had joined from the Lower World and told them the reason I was staying in the Upper World.

Then, I bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry. I said I would spend time with you all in the Lower World, but it ended up like this. ...I want you all to continue living freely in the Lower World—"

Before I could finish, Livia spoke up.

"I will stay in the Upper World."

"...Livia?"

"Is that not allowed? I want to support Crest-sama, who will work hard for the coexistence of subhumans and humans."

"It's not that it's not allowed, but—"

"Then, please take care of me."

Livia's words were very heartwarming.

Following her, others also spoke up.

"I'll stay too, Crest."

"Me too. As Crest's wife."

Orphe and Sphy also said the same.

Their words made me feel my cheeks relax, and more subhumans spoke up.

"I'll stay too. There are vampire species in the Upper World, you know."

"I'll stay too. I haven't repaid Crest for everything yet."

"Me too... Can I stay?"

Vanya, Gorga, and Katrina also said the same.

...To be honest, I was worried.

About fighting for the coexistence of subhumans and humans alone.

But with them, I think I can manage.

"No, it's not that. ...Thank you, everyone."

Since being exiled to the Lower World until today.

I have so many important friends who have struggled with me.

The battle in the Lower World is over.

But this might be the beginning.

To protect all the subhumans in the Upper World, I have to fight again.

But with them, I might be able to do it.

I could honestly feel that.

This is a new series. ↓ Please read from the link below!

I accidentally went on a rampage against an S-rank monster while helping my sister stream a dungeon, and now I'm a big buzz.

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9783ig/

The Dark Knight who time-leaped uses future knowledge to go on a rampage—From the most unfortunate job, I rise from the bottom.

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9795ig/