Chapter 26: The Legendary Storyteller

I Became the Secretary of a Hero! — LNCrawler · All chapters

THE Minstrel’s ballad came to an end and a warm round of applause erupted from all who listened. The tranquil melody brought memories of the world she left behind as Aki attentively listened. The thunderous clapping roused her from her reminiscence. She glanced up at the Minstrel just as he pressed down on a string and finished the performance with one last vibrato. The noise and clamor of the Guild Hall instantly returned.

The Minstrel gracefully stood and looked across his audience with clear blue eyes. “Thank you for listening. I plan to perform in other cities as well, so it would be an honor to play for such an audience as all of you should our paths ever cross again,” he said in a voice that resounded through the hall.

I wonder if a good voice is one of the qualities required to become a Minstrel… If it is, the amount of Adventurers who can serve as Minstrels becomes even more limited.

Aki sipped on her juice and watched the Adventurers praise the Minstrel as they left one by one. “Hey, Elias, the Minstrel just said he’s going to perform at the next city. Are Minstrels traveling performers?”

“Yes, they are. They wander from place to place performing the ballads they’ve composed. Through their music they pass down this world’s myths and fairytales. They are an Adventurer who makes their livelihood through song rather than battle.”

“Neat,” Aki said.

Minstrels didn’t just wander around performing random ballads, but introduced myths throughout the land.

“A standard topic for their ballads,” Elias began, nonchalantly pointing to himself, “is the tale of the Hero and the Dark Lord.”

“Really? In other words, the song is about you and the Dark Lord?”

“That’s right. The songs would be about us for this generation. We only just embarked on our journey, so the ballads wouldn’t be played until after we defeat the Dark Lord. That is if we are successful in the battle against him,” he clarified.

“The Minstrel will compose the verses to his ballad from the Adventure Journal you are writing for us. Your notebook is of great importance to future generations, because it will be immortalized through song.”

What I write will be immortalized?! Cold sweat trickled down her brow as she flipped through her notebook. At least she kept an entry for every day, but she only wrote about three to ten sentences a day. Worse, she even had statements of regret about the things she failed to accomplish on particular days.

How unbearable it would be for a Minstrel to scrutinize her embarrassing journal filled with private thoughts and spread it through the world perpetually in song format.

What do I do with this? …I need to start keeping serious entries…

Elias curiously watched Aki moan and pound the table with her fist, when suddenly a shadow was cast on their table. They both looked up to find the Minstrel standing beside their table with a smile.

“Hi there. What did you think of my song, my most beauteous lady?” The Minstrel pulled out the chair across from Aki and sat down. He settled his elbows on the table and grinned.

Golden, wavy locks of hair dangled just above his shoulders. With long eyelashes and fair skin uncharacteristic of men in their world, he was handsome enough to make any lady swoon.

Wow, what a pretty person! He is a man, right?

When she first met Elias, she had been thunderstruck by his beautiful face, but the Minstrel’s appearance equally possessed the power to turn any maiden’s cheeks red.

Are all the men in this world pretty? Or just the ones I meet? With good-looking people all around me, I’m painfully made aware of how average I am.

Unsure of how to respond, Aki drew back in her chair. The Minstrel’s lips curled up in a coy smile. “Oh, was my voice so enchanting you’ve been rendered speechless? I’m honored.”

“Huh?” Aki’s face twitched at his overconfidence.

Is this guy a narcissist?

Having silently watched over their conversation, Elias’ eyebrows knitted together in disapproval over how the Minstrel approached Aki.

“Sorry, but could you quit flirting with her in front of me?” Elias warned in a low growl.

Reading between the lines, the Minstrel laughed and raised his hands in defeat. “Whoops, looks like the pretty lady has an exclusive knight already. Forgive my rudeness.”

“I would appreciate it if you found someone else to make a pass at.” Elias leaned forward, blocking the Minstrel’s view of Aki.

Is Elias jealous?

The dismay she glanced from the side of his face was so cute she accidentally laughed aloud.

“Why are you laughing, Aki?” he asked, flummoxed.

“No particular reason. I’m just kind of happy is all.”

“You’re happy?”

Wanting her oblivious Hero to realize his actions, she turned a teasing expression on him. “Yeah. I mean, weren’t you just jealous of the Minstrel, Elias?”

“Jealous? Me?” He gaped and nervously avoided meeting her eyes. “…Jealous…is this jealousy? I’ve never been attached to anyone or anything before, so I don’t really understand this feeling…”

As the Hero, Elias kept one step back from everything to avoid letting his surroundings shake him up mentally. A primary factor for his solitude was the demand for him to always remain calm. Calmness becomes more difficult when one is attached to people or objects. And now the distance he always maintained from others was steadily closing. Only time would tell if that was a good or bad thing, but Aki at least was happy he was conscious of her.

Together they shared a shy smile.

The Minstrel shrugged as Aki and Elias got lost in their little intimate world.

“I think I’ve seen enough to get the picture you two are very close and there’s no room for me to wiggle in,” he said with a pleasant grin. “I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? I’m the traveling Minstrel Louis Neal. I’m a loner who doesn’t belong to any Party. Our meeting here must be some kind of fate. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance from henceforth.”

The Minstrel Louis removed his stringed instrument from his back and rested it on his lap where he ran his fingers to play them a single chord. The gentle reverberation of the delicate chord drew a radiant smile and a round of applause from Aki.

“Beautiful! Every melody you play is heavenly! Between your lovely voice and talent with the instrument, you are a man of many talents, Sir Louis!”

“Call me Louis. Nevertheless, you are truly a delightful lady. You flatter me with your guileless compliments.”

“Louis…” Elias snarled, staring daggers at the grinning Louis.

“Don’t get so mad over there. Your knight is quite the jealous type, isn’t he?” Louis laughed merrily. Then his expression abruptly shifted as he narrowed his eyes on them. “By the way, are you by any chance the current Hero Elias Leland?” he asked in a deep tenor and a glint in his blue eyes.

Elias’ expression instantly sharpened and he held an arm protectively in front of Aki. She took the sudden foreboding mood as a sign to scoot closer to him and warily eyed Louis.

Louis knows who Elias is? Did he approach us because he knew Elias is the Hero?

Just like the time with Princess Carolina, Elias emitted a threatening air that could cut anyone who touched it. With a harsh look and tightened lips, he searched for Louis’ true intentions. “…The majority of people who approach the Hero come with good intentions, but there are just as many who come in hopes to make use of the Hero’s reputation. What is your purpose here?”

Aki dropped her gaze to the table. Elias was the beloved and respected Hero, but glory and adoration weren’t the only things that came with his title. He held a position he had to protect from others who plotted to benefit from the fame associated with the Hero title.

Elias has to protect so many different things… Daggers pierced her heart as she realized the gravity of what he had to protect. I knew it. I’m being conceited thinking someone like me could protect Elias. What role should the Hero’s Right-hand serve for him?

Louis raised his hands to prove his innocence at Elias’ blatant leeriness. “My apologies. My word choice seems to have caused a misunderstanding. I simply wanted to bring my name forward as a storyteller for this generation’s tale of the Hero and the Dark Lord.”

He smiled sheepishly and inclined his head. “I was raised since a child to appreciate the story of the Hero and Dark Lord. It has always been my dream to be the storyteller who weaves the Hero’s epic tale into song for future generations. That is why I became a Minstrel.”

Louis turned his gaze to Aki. “My heart leaped with joy when you both came over to listen to my song. I had heard the woman chosen as the current Hero’s Right-hand wore clothing from another world. When I saw your attire, I decided to see if you were the Hero and his Right-hand.”

Surprised, Aki looked down at her clothes. She never thought her attire would expose Elias’ identity. On second thought, no one else in this world wore a suit—no wonder she stood out. She apologized internally to Elias.

Louis took a deep breath and bowed his head to them. “Please recruit me as the storyteller for your adventures. I want to join the Hero Party!” he passionately declared, keeping his voice down to keep those around them from hearing.

Elias and Aki exchanged looks at his unexpected request.

Contrary to Aki’s bewilderment, Elias lightly smacked his hands together as if he couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. “Oh, is that what you wanted? I’m very grateful for your aspiration to join our Party. We were just about to look for a Minstrel too.”

“Really?!” Louis asked, his eyes sparkling like a young boy’s.

Elias nodded congenially. “But, as I’m sure you know, joining the Hero Party is the same as putting your life in danger. We have to continue the journey no matter what may come at us until we defeat the Dark Lord. Do you still want to join us?”

“Naturally I’ve offered my name up with an understanding of the dangers. Besides, I fall under the master class of Adventurers. I don’t think you have to worry about me clumsily slowing you down, Lord Hero.”

“I don’t doubt you. From what I can tell, your level is on par with ours. Minstrels aren’t suited for battle—it’s rare to see one anywhere near your level. I’d be more than happy to have you join the Hero Party, but…”

“But?” Louis prompted.

Elias scratched the back of his head. “I’m unreliable when it comes to these things, so admittance of a new member to the Hero Party can’t be decided by my discretion alone. The other members have drilled it into me to discuss it with them before making a decision.”

Aki hid her laughter behind her hand as she imagined Leo and Johann lecturing Elias on his decision making until they were blue in the face. They were like nagging mothers when it came to Elias. He took their opinions to heart because he cared about them.

When Aki asked Elias why the Hero Party needed a Minstrel, he told her all the prior Hero Parties had a Minstrel who recorded their adventures in verse.

“It’s a set rule in this world for the tale the Minstrel composed to be sung to the next Hero,” Elias explained holding a finger in the air.

Aki dropped her eyes to her notebook. “…Then I’ll have to show Louis this embarrassing notebook after all…”

“What, did you write something too embarrassing to show others? Here, let me have a look.”

“Waaaaah! Don’t!” Aki clenched the notebook to her chest. Elias and Louis were laughing at her when a loud voice called out to them from the other side of the hall.

“Elias! Aki!” Mina waved to them, her red hair flamboyant in the crowd of Adventurers.

“Mina! Over here!” Aki hopped out of her chair and beckoned her.

Mina nimbly cut her way through the wave of people and arrived at their table in no time. “Sheesh! I didn’t think you guys would be here! You had me searching high and low for nothing! Anyway, I successfully registered the Quest, but…” Mina paused, her eyes widening upon spotting Louis. “Oh my, who do we have here?”