Wealth, Fame, Power...

How the hell am I supposed to get home? I just assumed that as soon as I killed the demon lord, I would've been sent back home.

Jun was lying down underneath his covers in the room he shared with the other guys from his party. He slowly pulled his knees closer to himself, pulled the blanket over his head, and wept quietly.

How will I ever be able to see my family or any of my friends again? I've really just been distracting myself all this time instead of trying to find a way back home. I'm such a loser.

"Ugh," Jun retched. He ripped the covers off of him and broke into a stumbling sprint towards the bathroom. He bumped into the doorway, nearly tripping over himself. Jun braced himself by grabbing hold of the toilet bowl and vomited painfully. The only thing that came out was water. He hadn't eaten dinner. With his head sunk low, he went back to bed.

Tonio, Jordan, Channel, and Viktor, having finished their bath, walked back into the room through the screen door separating the springs from their private room.

"Look, all I'm saying is that I'm stoked for what's to come," Jordan said.

"Try to keep your voice down. Can't you see that Jun is already asleep?" Channel reprimanded, before he trapped Jordan in a chokehold to noogie him.

"Don't get too cocky so soon. Did you forget who won our last wrestle?" Jordan countered.

"Hey, you two! Settle down!" Tonio yelled.

They are living their best lives and will continue to. All I was asking for was to go home. Is this too much to ask for? Mom… I miss you.

Several Weeks Later - Goldswind, Hopelea, Evening

Jun spent much of his day lying in bed, except for the few bathroom breaks he had needed to take. The catering that was delivered to his room for breakfast and lunch stayed untouched, causing the intense aroma of fried food to fill the room.

In this room were uniform dark stone tiles that ran across the floor, which complemented the rich dark brown wood panels that covered the walls. Along the corners of the room were tall, black marble pillars holding up the high ceiling. It was adorned with rock mosaics of legendary heroes, lit up by a low-hanging glass chandelier.

"Ughh," Jun groaned.

My head is killing me. I could do with some Tylenol.

Knock Knock!

Immediately after knocking, Amber opened the door to let herself in.

"If you were going to barge in anyway, what was the point in knocking in the first place?" Jun said without raising his head from his pillow.

"That's beside the point. Why are you still lying in bed? Everyone else is already ready and enjoying themselves," Amber said as she face-palmed.

"Alright, I'll start getting dressed," Jun replied while he massaged his temples.

Jun pulled the blanket off of him and climbed out of bed.

Amber looked at the dishes of untouched food left on top of the bedside dresser and locked eyes with Jun once more. "Dude, you look awful. Have you been eating well?" She asked with a concerned tone.

"I'm fine," Jun replied as he wiped the crust from his eyes. He walked over to the mirror affixed to the wardrobe a few feet from the foot of the bed. He took a moment to run his fingers through his hair to detangle it as he looked at his reflection.

Amber was not exaggerating. I'm pretty sure my eye bags have gotten far worse.

"Go wash your face and hair real quickly. It'd be shameful if you looked so ragged in front of the king."

Jun entered the restroom and gave his shoulder-length hair a good wash. Jun dunked his face into the still mostly clean water and gave his face a solid rinse. He grabbed a towel neatly folded on the counter, patted his face down, then wrapped his hair in order to let it dry quicker.

"See, you look a lot better already. Now come take a seat over there while I handle the rest," Amber said after taking a peek into the bathroom. Amber took out her vanity box and set a few products and tools down on the desk in the corner of Jun's room. Jun took a seat on his chair, and almost immediately Amber started working her magic. She brushed his hair, then tied it into a neat, low-hanging ponytail.

"I think this is a good color match. Let me see your wrists," Amber said.

"I'd rather not wear makeup."

"Would you rather look this rough in front of his majesty?"

"Good point."

Amber grabbed Jun's wrists and pulled them closer. She applied a small amount of concealer to get a good color match. Amber walked around Jun to get a good look at his face. She applied a layer of concealer under his eyes and on his blemishes, stepping back every few sections to make sure his skin looked clear.

"This isn't going to be a full makeover, but you look a lot healthier," Amber said.

"I appreciate the help. Do you mind stepping out for a minute as I get dressed?"

"Yeah, no problem. I'll see you in the banquet hall later."

Amber collected the beauty supplies she left strewn across the table, neatly arranged them within her vanity box, and she left as quickly as she came in. Jun stood up and started changing from his funky-smelling clothes into his pristine tailored outfit. After pulling up his pants, they slipped back down, only hanging lopsided with one end running down his thigh.

Damn, these fit snugly when I had just got them.

Jun opened the wardrobe in front of him and pulled out a white belt. It complemented the blue dress jacket and pants he was wearing.

I look quite nice for once.

Jun let out a miserable chuckle before he left his room. He walked through the castle aimlessly until he found a large set of double doors that people were chatting around. Behind the doors was a massive banquet hall with hundreds of people inside. There were plenty of nobles, politicians, and commonborn folk with abundant wealth. At the end of the hall was a staircase leading up to a platform with a throne sitting atop it.

On the right side of the room were Cali and Amber. They were fraternizing amongst themselves over drinks.

"Now everyone's going to know you by candied apple," Cali teased.

"There's no way you're still bringing that up. It's not like I still bring up your mom's nickname for you," Amber protested.

"I take it that you're a part of the hero's party? I hope I'm not interrupting," a mature woman dressed in formal black attire said. The woman had a hooked nose, muted red eyes, and slicked-back, medium-length hair.

"Oh, yes, we are. I'm Cali, nice to meet you. My friend over here is Amber," Cali introduced.

"Cali and Amber… I'll note that down. Nice to meet both of you guys. I am Madam Mur, a part owner at the Merchants Guild," The woman replied.

"I'd like to ask, what do you guys have planned out next?" Madam Mur asked.

"I'd like to study governance. During my travels, I've seen so many issues that can be solved with a little bit of focus," Amber answered.

"Personally, I'd like to travel across Hopelea. During my time as an adventurer, the thing that frustrated me the most was the navigation process. So many of the maps we purchased were cheap forgeries or contained blatantly false information. Traveling long distances was always a hassle. I'd like to create better, and less expensive maps using everything I've learned so far as a hero," Cali explained.

"That seems noble," Madam Mur responded. "Actually, our biggest expense is logistics at the merchants guild. If you're willing to help us improve our trade routes marginally, I'd be willing to sponsor your endeavors and travels." She added.

"This sounds like a great offer. I'd have to think it over before making any commitments, though."

"That sounds more than fair. Feel free to walk into the Merchants Guild headquarters here in Goldswind, and this position will always be open to you."

Alongside the left side of the banquet hall were rows of tables that seated numerous patrons. Shelby and Channel were playing a game of poker with elites they met a few moments prior.

"Two pairs," Shelby said.

"King high," Channel replied.

"I'll fold out," a young, well-dressed man said while revealing his hand. In his hand were two kings.

"Why would you fold on that hand?" Channel called out while trying to hold back his laughter.

"There's no way I can sleep nicely knowing I bested our two heroes during the last hand," the young man replied.

"So does that mean I win?" Shelby asked enthusiastically.

"I guess so," Channel responded while sliding the chips the other players at the table lost towards her.

"What do you two have planned for next?" The young man asked.

"Personally, I'd like to open a self-defense school. I've been a frontline fighter for a couple of years now, and have become quite good at wrestling," Shelby responded with her fingers still counting her chips.

"Knowing or not knowing how to fight, you'd still manage to kill one of your students," Channel jabbed.

"I think I have a good idea as to who'd make a great first test subject," Shelby responded.

"I honestly think that's a great idea. A self-defense school managed and taught by a retired hero is bound to be successful," The young man complimented.

"Ehh, success is no big deal for me. I just want to have a fun, active, and purposeful career. Running a small-time school in my hometown is more than enough," Shelby said.

"It doesn't matter where you start it. People will move across the country just to attend simply because of your accolades," Channel threw in.

"Oh well, we can cross that bridge when we get there," Shelby said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm pretty sure that makes this our last hand," The young man commented as he pointed towards the end of the hall, directing the small group's attention. A large man with a neatly trimmed beard, short middle-parted hair, and exquisite purple robes stood up from the throne at the end of the courtyard.

"Can the heroes step to the center of the room? Everyone else, please make your way to the sides," The king commanded. In a matter of seconds, the once-filled hall had hundreds of people filing into neat lines towards the sides, leaving only the party of eight heroes in the center.

"Great, now give me a moment," his majesty announced.

The man lifted up the extravagant sword on his lap, then stood up. He descended from the throne, down the staircase, and walked towards Jun, who was in the center of the banquet hall.

"It is my understanding that you led the hero's party and dealt the final blow to the demon lord?" His Majesty asked to confirm while raising his sword.

"Yes, that is correct," Jun responded.

The king took the unsheathed sword and placed the flat face of it down onto Jun's shoulder. "By my authority as the King of Hopelea, I raise you to the rank of Viscount," His Majesty announced.

"The last noble who controlled the region fled, leaving his people behind, without leaving as much of a warning, allowing the Demon Lord to get established. Who better to fill the vacancy he left behind than the one who stopped this impending calamity?" His Majesty vocalized to the entire room. Everyone in the hall began applauding, formally accepting Jun as one of their own. "As for the rest of your party, you'll each be granted an estate and a large amount of gold as financial compensation. Finally, you'll all be granted the official title of Hero," his majesty continued.

"Is this an adequate reward?" He asked.

"This is far more than enough. We really didn't do much," Cali blurted out.

"In that case, let's consider this matter settled and let the festivities continue."

"C'mon, we could have fleeced him for more. That's what he was hinting at," Tonio whispered to Cali jokingly.

Cali and the rest of the party broke into laughter before all heading off in their own directions to rekindle previous conversations.

There's not much for me to say here. I'll head out to the balcony to clear my head.

Jun exited the main banquet hall through one of the many glass doors towards the right side of the room. Outside was a massive terrace attached to the castle that overlooked the entire capital.

This is it. There really isn't any way for me to get back home for the time being.

Jun leaned forward over the balcony and took a deep, relaxing breath.

There's no use in fretting over what I can't fix. I do miss home. But there's a chance I may never make it back home. What can I do next, though? If I can't get back home anytime soon, why not bring over some conveniences from Japan? I think well-paved roads are an easy place to start… I'm pretty sure Ancient Rome stacked layers of rocks to build their roads. I'll have to do some experimentation on that, but that's for another day. I'm gonna go back inside and join everyone else for some fun.

Jun let out a deep breath to collect himself. He walked back into the party, and almost instantly was bombarded by men and women alike asking for details about his journey.

"Tell me about your first expedition," one stranger asked.

"Tell us about how you defeated the demon king," another face demanded.

"How did you get so strong so quickly?" one more person threw in.

"Sorry, I'm not trying to spend all day answering questions. I'm looking for my friend," Jun said politely as he walked past the small crowd formed around him.

Oh, there's Amber. There's something I've been meaning to tell her.

"I appreciate everything you've helped me with, ever since I woke up in Hopelea," Jun confessed. "Would you entertain me with one dance this evening?" Jun continued.

"Honestly, I'd rather not," Amber replied as she stared into the glass she was holding.

"How come?" Jun said, while his voice wavered.

"I just don't think we'd work out well together. You're also much younger than me."

"You know she's lying," a deep voice says from behind Jun.

Jun looked around briefly to figure out who said that, only to find no one who the voice would match. Jun turned back to face Amber. "Please give me a straight answer," Jun begged.

"I don't want to be overshadowed forever. I'm twins with Jordan, but he always gets all the attention. I don't want to be the footnote in someone else's story. So I decided to study governance." Amber said before downing her drink. "In our time adventuring, didn't you recall all the kids who ran off trying to be like us just to never return again? My biggest goal is to reform the guild to prevent needless casualties like those."

I don't recall anyone who died like that. It's just a matter of stacking quests that are slightly below your level to grind. Anyone with a video tutorial could do that in their sleep.

"She's telling you she doesn't want to spend the rest of her life under your thumb, you idiot," the familiar voice repeats before letting out a hearty chuckle.

"Excuse me, but I'll see my brother before he gets blacked out drunk," Amber said.

Jun stepped back out to the terrace once more and looked out over the balcony. This time he is sure he's alone.

"You really blew that, you goof," Jun told himself quietly.

"Being a goof is a massive understatement," the same voice said again.

Jun took his hand off the railing of the balcony to take another look around. It was getting past dusk at this point, and everyone else was back inside.

Where the hell is that scumbag hiding anyway?

Jun put his hands back onto the railing to overlook the capital of Hopelea.

I think I can bring over some conveniences that made life back home in Japan easier. I'm also really craving some takoyaki, but I don't know where on earth… I'm not on Earth anymore… Where the hell would I find octopus and a chef?

Authors Note

This chapter took a long time and was quite difficult for me to write, and I'll be honest in explaining why.

In the previous chapter, during the bathing scene, I gave all of the male leads distinct and realistic dreams for them to pursue after they gave up adventuring. I didn't do the same for the female leads, leaving them as passengers within the plot. In other words, subtle misogyny. I spent several rewrites on this chapter trying to address this by making sure the female leads have distinct characterization and agency. Is this chapter perfect? Of course not. I have, and will continue to have blind spots. The goal isn't perfection, but progress instead.