The Extra Can't be A Hero

Chapter 104: Alverton (2)

"So we’ll be heading to Alverton next."

In the carriage of a flying boat, a group of young Knights gathered around a dining table while taking small bites of their refined white bread. Some were drinking coffee or tea, while others enjoyed their simple breakfast while keeping their ears open for the conversation between the two leads.

"Yes, we will be staying there briefly as well."

Amon answered Leon’s question as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Sipping on his tea, he glanced up at the confused youngster and continued:

"Our final destination is the Captial, Zephys. But since Grandpa Alrock won’t make it until a month later, we will stay in Alverton for the foreseeable future. Yue and I also have some business to handle there. Also, since it’s a tourist town, you can feel free to kick back and relax."

"Alright!!!" The first to celebrate was Gale. Raising his arms, he fell straight to the longue chair beneath him and exhaled. "It feels like forever since we last had a break! The Sword Bestowment Ceremony, the Blood Demon subjugation, and the formation of Eldorin! It feels like I lived ten years in a year!"

"Haha, I know how you feel…" Rufus laughed and devoured what was left of his sandwich. "Even after joining Eldorin, it has been one training session after the other. We hardly had any time to rest."

"Argh, finally some time off!!!" Adelia kicked her feet up and arched her back against the sofa. Her golden eyes brightened as she remarked: "I heard that Alverton has hot springs! Should we book an inn with one?"

"I’ve already done that."

Yue interjected while sipping on her tea. One might question why Yue had joined Eldorin, even though she was not from the Solaris House. The answer was quite simple. While Eldorin functioned like a Knight unit, their true goal was to hunt Demons and the Demon Cult. And among everyone present, no one was more suited to join Eldorin than Yue herself.

Not to mention, how could anyone with a heart separate the fantasy couple?

"We will stay in the best hot spring inn that Alverton offers." Yue continued with a sly smile.

"M-My god, can I call you big sister?"

"You can call me whatever you like."

"B-Big sister Yue!!! You’re like a Saint!"

Adelia hurriedly jumped into Yue’s arms, giving her a tight and loving hug. In all her life, the young Solaris Knight had never felt so enamoured with another girl her age. Until now, that is.

Not only was she a beauty, but Yue also provided Eldorin’s youngsters with the best amenities, services and luxuries. It was as if she were their sugar mommy, just that they didn’t have to put out to get anything.

"Now, you shouldn’t say that. Especially with the Saintess in front of us."

Yue joked as she glanced to the corner of the room. A young lady in a white cassock and matching pellegrina stood frozen there. In her hands was a slice of cheesecake that she was devouring halfway before she was rudely interrupted.

"A-Ah, I don’t mind. In fact, given how much she has given us, Sister Yue might be the true Saintess."

"Ella!!!"

Just like Adelia, Ellahan was bought over by Yue’s generosity. After all, Yue’s pastry chefs gave her the best cheesecake she had ever had. Leon hurriedly walked over to chastise the young lass who had sold her faith for a slice of cake, but she was too busy stuffing her face to care.

Of course, not everyone was amused by Yue’s blatant attempt to show off her wealth.

Lydia, the girl who didn’t join the group in the celebrations, observed the crew with renewed interest.

Amon and Leon needed no introduction. They were the two main characters of the Solaris House’s new generation. One was the greatest genius in modern history, while the other was the owner of Ascalon and likely the Hero of their age.

Then, they had three of the most promising cadets in the Knight’s Academy. Gale, Rufus and Adelia were geniuses in their own right, with Gale and Adelia summoning powerful swords from Sword Garden. The same went for Lydia herself. She had gotten a Mythic-grade weapon, making her the crew’s third most valuable young Knight in Eldorin.

The weakest among them was the adorable Arya, who was munching on a snack beside Amon. However, no one doubted her position in the group. As Amon’s younger sister, she was personally trained by the genius for the longest time. She was a talented Knight in her own right, as she was known as a Flower of the Knight’s Academy.

Finally, two of the Solaris House’s most legendary Knights were supervising them.

Horus Solaris, also known as the Knight of the Morning Star. Quite possibly, Alrock’s most trusted aide, Horus, was a legend in the world, known to be the pinnacle of righteousness. In contrast, his fellow Commander was the opposite.

Carmen Solaris. One of the Solaris House’s strongest Knights and a prime candidate to take over Alrock’s position should he relinquish it. She was the paragon of whimsicality and always resolved matters with brute strength and overwhelming power.

These two were legendary Knights that were hard to meet, even for members of the Solaris House. Yet, they were all gathered in one place.

And the person responsible for bringing them together…

"..."

Amon sat disinterested in the commotion surrounding him as he enjoyed his Darjeeling tea. As she watched her leader’s nonchalance, Lydia felt a migraine emerging from her spinal chord.

’Will this new unit be okay?’

???

A day had passed since Amon and the Knights of Eldorin left Solfea in favour of Alverton. The flying ship they were on faced no genuine issues as they arrived swiftly at their destination. After all, no one in their right mind would attack a flying ship bearing the flag of the Solaris House.

Landing on a private airstrip a distance from Alverton, the group emerged from their cabins, surprised to see an escort with several luxurious self-driving cars waiting to welcome them. Numerous servants, butlers and maids stood on each side of the red carpet. They all wore professional smiles, with some moving forward to take the crew’s luggage.

Baffled by the warm welcome, Leon and the other youngsters asked:

"What’s going on?"

"Looks like the Governor of Alverton knows we’re here. So he sent someone to receive us."

"Even so, do we warrant such a welcome?"

Carmen raised her eyebrow at the naive teenager’s question, only to realise that he mustn’t be used to the activities of High Society, given that he grew up outside of the Solaris House. Just as she was about to explain matters to him, Amon interjected with a thoughtful response.

"Leon, just think about it for a second. Among our party, there’s Commander Carmen and Sir Horus. Two great Solaris Knights that could level a city if they so choose. Then there’s the Saintess, the most influential figure in the Holy Church. And there’s you, the owner of Ascalon. Just these three factors are enough for the upper class of Alverton to freak out. They will do everything in their power to accommodate us."

"Ah…"

Those words finally clicked the missing piece for the ignorant Leon.

Throughout this time, he had been surrounded by remarkable people. However, Leon struggled to understand how the outside world would perceive them because they were so familiar to him.

But there was something that Amon had omitted in his explanation. Or rather, two great people that he’d missed out.

As the group were settling down, a well-groomed gentleman approached the group with a candid smile. He stood at over six feet, broad-shouldered and muscular. With a commanding yet approachable presence, he exuded confidence with a tinge of weariness.

Although he was possibly nearing his sixties, the man was long past his prime. His once-chiselled features, marked by scars and sun-weathered skin, were now plump and soft, possibly from years of being well-fed. Streaks of silver fell through his once raven-black hair, and his softer greyish eyes showed signs of decay from years of wear and tear.

Yet, no one present felt any weakness from the weary man. The way he positioned and presented himself was enough for the group to guess his title, given that he commanded respect from the subordinates who followed him.

"Honoured guests, welcome to Alverton!"

The man bowed down and declared.

"Thank you for the welcome, Governor," Horus answered the man, his tone carrying the same respect one would address a comrade. "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to welcome our paltry party."

"Oh, how would I dare not to?! It’s an honour to welcome you, Lord Horus, and the other honoured Solaris and Elune House guests."

The Governor glanced around, and his eyes zoned in on the youngsters in the group. Most likely, he was looking for the new owner of Ascalon, this generation’s latest hero.

"If I may be so bold, would you kindly introduce us, Sir Horus?"

"Of course!" Horus turned his back around before briefly introducing the Governor to the group.

"Everyone, this is Governor Valen Wrenleigh. An honourable man who has changed the course of Alverton from a slum to the thriving town it is."

"Hoh…"

The introduction brought whistles of awe to the young Knights’ mouths. They were well aware of the Alverton miracle and delighted to meet the architect and saviour of this former wasteland in person.

"Save would be an overstatement. I just did the best I could."

The Governor waved off his accomplishments like a humble chap. However, the pride hidden within his eyes was visible. Leon was the most impressed, given that among all the modern-day heroes he’d learnt about, Valen didn’t do anything flashy, yet he changed the lives of countless people in his town.

"Don’t look down on him just because he is behind a desk now; in the past, the Governor was a feared mercenary called the Iron Count! I hope your swordsmanship hasn’t rusted much behind that beer belly!"

"Please, you flatter me too much. My swordsmanship is nothing to behold in front of the Solaris House."

The distinguished gentleman feigned a blush while brushing off Horus’ praise. All the while, his eyes were focusing on the youngsters, eager to identify who the hero was.

Sensing his urgency, Horus didn’t play around much longer and slowly introduced the group one-by-one. When the Governor learnt who Yue and Ellahan were, his eyes widened with shock, but it wasn’t enough to floor him. The gentleman finally drops his jaw when Horus lands his finger on Leon.

"... And this here is Leon. This generation’s hero."

"I see… I had a feeling it was you."

Once Horus pointed out Leon, the Governor approached the young man with renewed fervour. It was as if the man were in a trance, guided like a moth to light at midnight. Before long, he stood in front of Leon and paused.

"Young hero, it’s an honour to meet you finally."

The Governor seemed on the verge of dropping to his knees and kissing Leon’s feet. Thankfully, his sense of personal dignity held him back, sparing them all from an incredibly awkward moment. To an outsider, it appeared as a heartfelt display of a noble, heroic figure meeting his idol. But to Amon and Yue, it was a nauseating sight.

Why?

’The Governor… he’s collaborating with the Foolish Lich.’