Eugene was certain that even if he considered his present life, his past life, and the life before that, the experience he endured in Shimuin was the pinnacle of humiliation.0

The parade on the Platinum Lion had been dreadful enough… but now, he found himself striking a pose in front of countless onlookers who surrounded the square.10

"I’m asking because I’m truly curious, and I don’t know any better, but do we really need to do this here?" Eugene inquired, his voice barely more than a whisper.0

It was clear that his patience was strained to its limit. The dwarf responsible for the statue’s creation had a notably crafty appearance. He raised an eyebrow in response to Eugene’s question, “Should we not construct the most fitting statue for the scenery?”0

"Shouldn't a master sculptor be able to capture a pose in the confines of a workshop and still optimize it for this kind of backdrop?" retorted Eugene.0

"Well, if our Hero here were a professional model, one who could reveal vitality with the movement of his every fingertip and naturally fit into any landscape simply by standing, then perhaps that might be possible, but…," the dwarf trailed off here.0

He adjusted his bread-shaped hat with a touch of disdain, then continued, "A statue's essence is produced not just by its sculptor but also its model. Regrettably, for all your striking appearance, your posing leaves much to be desired, Hero."16

Eugene fell silent at this blatant declaration.0

"Do not feel awkward, nor be shy. There are statues meant to convey such feelings, but the one we're erecting here should depict the Hero, the person who vanquished the Demon King, right? It should radiate your valor, your nobility, yet you seem overly embarrassed right now," complained the dwarf.0

"If you want those emotions from me, remove the spectators first,” Eugene said through clenched teeth.0

"Each of those individuals admires and reveres you. They came here out of respect. And, Hero, forgive me for asking...3