I Stayed Loyal When My Teacher Was Betrayed

49 – With You and Ramen 3

Rosetta returned faster than expected.

However, rumors about what she experienced in the kingdom…

No, to be precise, the stories about Lancelot’s misdeeds had already spread throughout the Adventurers’ Guild.

“So Lancelot completely betrayed us… How can he try to kill the guest who came to help… Even betraying Lady Rosetta, whom he swore allegiance to! What evil deeds can such a wicked person not do?”

“Well… That’s true… There’s no reason to hide the means and methods after trying to overthrow the country.”

Two adventurers were having a serious conversation while tilting their glasses.

They were discussing the incident as they pleased, accompanied by a slight intoxication.

Lancelot, designated as a traitor, was eliminated along with his three generations, literally becoming an example for countless people as an actual traitor, even receiving curses after death, losing all the reputation he had built up until now.

On the other hand, regarding this matter…

Rosetta’s reputation, officially known for preventing Lancelot’s rebellion, became even higher.

“Anyway, Rosetta’s achievements were great once again.”

“She is truly an amazing person. First, she saved the Demon Tower from the demons, and now she prevented the rebellion that aimed to overthrow the kingdom.”

“Huh? Weren’t you hating Rosetta not long ago? Lately, it seems like your attitude has changed…”

“Well, I did feel that way before. For a while, I thought I could become the Grand Master through a hidden connection with the Guild Master. As fellow adventurers, isn’t it stranger if we didn’t have any complaints?”

“Um… Well, I also had similar thoughts, so I have nothing more to say about it. Anyway…”

He didn’t show it, but he felt the same as his friend.

As an adventurer, he couldn’t say that he had a completely positive view of Rosetta.

Some have been stuck in gold for over ten years.

How can one respect someone who becomes a grandmaster in just a few years?

Moreover, the story that he has a personal relationship with high-ranking individuals was enough to naturally bring to mind the phrase “parachuting.”

However, the achievements of her and her colleagues over the past two years.

Not only have they never failed in minor missions, but they also saved the tower from the invasion of the devil and even destroyed the rebellion of the traitor Rancilott.

Such extraordinary achievements that cannot be broadly intervened naturally turned doubt and jealousy into respect and awe.

The strong stand out more in times of turmoil.

Now, there was no longer anyone among the adventurers who doubted the skills of Rosetta and her colleagues, and not only adventurers, but everyone across the continent considered Rosetta as the hero who would save the world and admired her.

And…

Thus, the Rosemary who had received the admiration and expectations of many people again, was now spending time with her disciple and friend, Hu-woo, whom she had not seen in a long time.

“Thank you for your hard work, Master!”

“Yes, Bernie, you must have worked hard to keep your seat.”

As usual, Rosetta smiled calmly.

Bernie, in front of her, began to take out the “homework” that the master had given him before leaving.

Materials summarizing the research books borrowed from the tower.

Seeing this, a smile formed on Rosetta’s lips.

“You’ve done well as expected. Thanks to you, we could make some progress in magic research.”

“Thank you, Master. By the way… I’ve heard all the news. You have dealt with the dirty traitors, haven’t you?”

With a smile tinged with joy, Bernie showed curiosity.

Regarding this, Rosetta said with a hint of bitterness.

“Well, I didn’t have any particular intention, but it ended up that way. From my point of view, I just stopped them because they rushed in excitedly, but that’s all.”

“Huh? What does that mean? Master, didn’t you understand all the details of the rebellion and then proceed with the work?”

“No, that’s not the case. Externally, there are rumors like that, but the reality is that he had a grudge against what the master and Queen Mikel were trying to do, and it was the trigger for him to act first.”

I was honest enough to tell Bernie because Rosetta asked me to do so, and also because I didn’t see any reason to give her distorted information as my colleague. Of course, I didn’t mention anything about Rosemary or my true identity, as I had decided to completely bury that part of my past along with my revenge.

“I see… I didn’t know there was quite a difference from what was known. Just by hearing that side of the story, it felt like a heroic tale, you know?”

“The origin of rumors or stories is often fabricated in such a way. In this case, it reflects the queen’s desire to minimize damage to the kingdom, but that’s beside the point.”

“I see…”

Bernie nodded slowly, accepting it.

Then, as if she had gained another curiosity, she cautiously opened her mouth again.

“But tell me, Master. What exactly did Queen Michela talk about that made that Rancilot glow like that? It doesn’t seem like an ordinary story, no matter how you slice it…”

Bernie’s questioning eyes.

Seeing this, Rosetta took a sip of her tea instead of answering.

A strong cup of black tea brewed by Bernie.

After putting it down slowly,

She looked straight at Bernie and said.

“Yes, it definitely wasn’t just an ordinary story. Depending on the situation, it could determine the flow of the kingdom… even the entire continent.”

“R…really? What happened exactly…”

In response to Roseita’s hesitant words, Bernie expressed her doubt slightly urgently.

About this,

After maintaining a moment of silence,

She finally opened her mouth with a serious tone.

“An alliance with the demons. That’s what was discussed.”

“W…what?”

In response to her words, Bernie began to express a moment of deep confusion.

“W…wait, I must have misheard, haven’t I? Alliance…? With the demons…?”

“Yeah, we talked about that, and Rancilot opposed it very vehemently. He was furious enough to almost hold a knife to our throats. Well… the result was not entirely bad in many ways.”

With that, Rosetta glanced at me, smiling meaningfully.

When I think about it, if he hadn’t used such an extreme measure, I wouldn’t have been able to see through my master’s intentions easily.

The situation allowed us to be honest with each other, though it shouldn’t have gotten to such an extreme point for love alone, but it was undeniable that I received help from this.

“Well, thanks to that, your reputation as a master has grown even more. You won’t believe how much everyone is buzzing about this story these days. Especially, Lord Oberin was running around more than usual, getting all worked up about it.”

“Haha… well, doing all that fuss over something like this…”

Of course, Bernie, who had no idea about this situation at all, simply saw it as another addition to her master’s accomplishments.

So, as I recounted the events relatively lightly…

I quietly raised my tea cup.

That time…

“Well, anyway, since it’s come to this… we need to have a serious conversation with the Demon King now.”

“T… Talk with the Demon King? Personally, I think that’s not an easy task. Isn’t just going to the Demon King’s castle within itself a problem?”

Starting with the demons deployed at the borders, to the guards protecting the defensive barriers of the Demon King’s castle, countless members of the magical races were keeping watch.

Given that even delivering letters to the Demon King’s castle was impossible, Bernier’s concern was only natural.

“So, I’m asking you, Bernier.”

“Y-Yes?”

Bernier expressed doubt, tilting his head in response to Rosetta’s words.

Unable to understand what Rosetta’s current conversation was about, I also couldn’t do anything but hold my doubts and observe.

However…

“What do you think about my proposal, Bernier? Do you believe that the demons and our Free Tribe can join hands?”

“W-Well… That’s… um… Why are you asking me about it?”

Bernier expressed his doubt in response to Rosetta’s sudden question.

And…

Regarding this matter,

The Master smiled deeply and spoke to her.

“Well, that goes without saying… Your opinion can be considered the consensus of the entire magical races, right? Isn’t that so, Bernier? No, Demon King Loriene.”

“!!!”

“Y-Yes?”

I began to be captivated by confusion at Rosetta’s sudden statement.

However, before I could question Rosetta about it in detail…

Bernier, who had just been expressing his confusion moments ago…

In a moment,

He showed a chilly smile and said:

“Busted?”