That’s right, there was no desk, no chair, not even a wooden basin for washing face and rinsing mouth.
On the tabletop, there was only a cheap-looking, low-quality little lantern.
The entire room exuded an extreme minimalism, as if it had just been ransacked by a swarm of hungry locusts.
“Ah, it’s truly unique… S-so this is where you, Lady Hero, live…”
Histori awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing a dry compliment through clenched teeth, trying to hide her true feelings.
‘Is this really a place where living people live?’
‘No, what is this?! It’s way too shabby!’
‘Isn’t Amir the Hero who saved all humanity? There are thousands cheering for her on the streets today! Can’t they arrange better living conditions for their hero?’
‘And, putting it bluntly, wasn’t Amir a top assassin who struck fear into everyone? The money she earned should have been enough to buy a big villa with a garden in the center of the Royal Capital, right?’
Aside from interest, the hedonistic Histori couldn’t think of any reason that could make Amir live so casually in this broken place where turning around would get you covered in dust and even stray dogs would disdain.
However, Amir seemed completely unaware of the confusion and bewilderment in Histori’s eyes.
Or rather, even if she noticed, she simply didn’t care.
This strongest human Hero, who had just returned triumphantly from the Demon King’s Castle and conveniently collected the other three races’ Sacred Artifacts, just lazily stretched toward the bed board, then casually pulled off the light gray cloak she used for disguise and tossed it onto the shabby wooden bed.
Then, Amir walked to the narrow louver window in the corner of the room and sat down cross-legged without any regard for her appearance.
“…Phew.”
She closed her eyes and gently exhaled a breath of stale air toward the window.
Although this spot was quite remote and extremely dim, definitely not a good place suitable for sleeping or resting, it had a unique advantage.
Because beneath this attic room was exactly the cheap and chaotic commoner tavern.
All kinds of noises clearly reached upstairs through the thin plank walls and dilapidated louver window that provided almost no soundproofing.
There was the cracking sound of drunkards smashing bottles during their drunken antics, the shouting and cursing of mercenaries fighting over uneven spoils, the splatting sound of carriage wheels splashing mud as they rolled through puddles, and even the earth-shaking roar of some aunt scolding her child in a sharp voice.
Histori’s head, already slightly swollen from the journey, felt like it was about to split after being battered by this mess of noise.
“…I say, Lady Amir.”
While silently covering her ears, she cautiously took two steps toward Amir, who was sitting by the window resting with her eyes closed.
“Although you seem used to it, this environment is actually hard for people to rest well, right? Since we’ve already come to the Royal Capital of the Unified Kingdom, why don’t we just switch to a better inn to stay at?”
“It’s fine.”
Amir didn’t even lift an eyelid, flatly rejecting her suggestion.
She slowly opened her eyes, reached toward the louver window, and pushed the window outward a bit more.
Instantly, the sounds from the street and tavern below became even clearer into the room.
“Rather, the reason I chose to live here is to listen to these sounds.”
Amir waved at Histori, signaling for her to sit beside her.
“As long as I push the window open, all the rumors of the entire Unified Kingdom will uncontrollably drill into my ears, including what the hottest topics currently are.”
She extended her slender finger and pointed at the dilapidated little tavern downstairs.
“Histori, can you hear what they’re discussing?”
“Discussing?”
Histori tilted her head in confusion, but still obediently nodded.
Lifting her hem, she carefully stepped around the raised floorboard, approached the louver window, and pressed her ear against it.
Soon, the originally indistinct hubbub began to clearly flood into her eardrums.
“Hey, did you see that ‘Triumph Ceremony’ on the street? I heard it’s a ceremony to welcome the Hero back from the Demon King’s Castle!”
“…What bullshit Hero!”
An extremely rough male voice with heavy drunkenness suddenly rang out.
Accompanied by a “bang”, he slammed his mug heavily onto the wooden table.
“The Church Knights Order blocked the roads! Because of that, my goods didn’t get delivered today! They said they can’t let the Hero see people who affect the city’s appearance — does my face affect the city’s appearance?”
“That does affect it.”
Another person chimed in with a jeer.
“But, do you really believe that black-haired brat sitting in the carriage just now could single-handedly storm the Demon King’s Castle and cut down the Demon King with one swing?”
“That’s right! That’s too ridiculous! The Church’s propaganda is way too shameless!”
As they chatted, someone suddenly lowered their voice and waved to those around.
“I’ll tell you, I have a distant relative working in the Royal Palace who revealed that there’s definitely something fishy about this!”
“What fishy thing?”
“Maybe the Demon King of the Eternal Night Territory isn’t dead at all! This is a trick cooked up by that old bunch, the King and the Pope! They just want to set up a so-called ‘Hero’ to fool us commoners!”
“Think about it, why did they not choose the ready Saint for the Hero slot, but instead choose a God-forsaken One? Isn’t it because she’s easier to control? The King tells her where to go, and she goes.”
“Makes sense! It really seems like that!”
“And think about it, what did that person used to do? She grew up in the slums, in the sewers, a Black Market assassin who would kill anyone for money!”
At this point, the person’s tone became even more sharp and bitter.
“Chosen by the deity? Becoming a Hero? It’s a blasphemy against the deity! How could a killer abandoned by the deity suddenly become some Savior?!”
“That’s right! She’s just an abandoned bastard, and the Church even throws a victory banquet for her with great fanfare. The God of Light will surely spit on these scumbags!”
All kinds of harsh, malicious jeers came up from downstairs without restraint.
“…Huh?”
Histori, standing behind the louver window, was completely frozen.
‘These people… what are they even saying?’
‘She had personally witnessed Amir’s strength.’
‘Whether it was piercing the Demon King with one sword strike or kicking the Dwarf Guild Leader flying, Amir did it all casually, as if strolling through a park.’
‘And yet now, in the mouths of these wastes who can only huddle in a tavern drinking cheap alcohol — Amir has become a puppet manipulated at will by the kingdom?’