Chapter 0269 Harold
-x-X-x-
"The western countries…I bet Ryo would like to go…"
"Oh, definitely."
The Royal Palace, King's office.
King Abel I had finally moved out of that detached wing in the castle and returned to his original office.
And he was currently consulting with his prime minister, Marquis Heinlein.
"The golem corps was it…actually, even I'd like to see that."
"You can't go, Your Majesty."
"Mm…that goes without saying."
With a slightly forlorn look on his face, Abel let out a small sigh.
He was originally an adventurer.
To want to see things never seen before is a natural instinct.
However, he is now a king.
Moreover, Ryo had managed to save his life, so he can't afford to do anything reckless….
"If this were a normal delegation, Ryo, the premier duke, would be fine as the leader, but with the Empire and the Union in the picture…it'll be too heavy a burden on Ryo."
"There's no doubt regarding his abilities, but his experience in negotiations…"
Abel frowned and so did Marquis Heinlein.
"That's his only drawback. Now then, who else could serve as the leader?"
Abel frowned more than before.
Abel had no siblings.
His only brother, the previous crown prince Cain, had died of illness.
No sisters either.
Furthermore, his father, the late King Stafford, also had no remaining siblings.
The previous king's brother Raymond committed suicide after rebelling. And Raymond didn't have any children.
Stafford had no other brothers or sisters.
Thinking about it again, it certainly does look like the current royal family of the Kingdom of Knightley isn't really fertile.
"Talk about a scanty bloodline, or should I say insufficient direct lineage…"
"Your Majesty, please make a lot of children."
"S-Sure…"
Marquis Heinlein said with a serious face, and Abel nodded.
"If necessary, you may even take one or two concubines…"
"Nah, Rihya is likely to beat the shit out of me if I do, so I'll pass."
Abel shook his head again and again as he pictured the scene of Rihya hitting him with her staff technique.
As the two were discussing this, misfortune fell upon them.
"Your Majesty, a C-rank adventurer, Mr. Harold is here with his party requesting an audience."
"What?"
Abel frowned as he asked.
Moreover, Marquis Heinlein was putting on an even more displeased face than Abel.
It was unusual for him to frown so much….
It was completely by chance that Ryo saw the party.
He was planning to escape from the castle and go to 'Cafe de Chocolat' to have a cake set when he saw the group walking around.
Normally, he wouldn't have paid any attention to them.
Perhaps, even failing to recognize them.
If he was staring at a table full of cake.
But this time, perhaps because the keywords 'Cafe de Chocolat' were in his mind… he immediately recognized the group.
"That's the Mont Blanc punk and the capable priest! Plus, one."
Yup, the party of three, including the future heir to a dukedom, who had previously made a fuss at the 'Cafe de Chocolat', saying, 'Get us some Mont Blanc!'.
The three of them were walking around the castle.
It was quite unusual to see C-rank adventurers walking around the castle.
Of course, Ryo is also a C-rank adventurer, but he is the premier duke as well … so it's fine.
"This reeks of trouble."
Muttering a line as if he were the protagonist of a mystery novel, Ryo decided to follow the three of them.
The group entered the audience hall, led by palace guards.
Ryo followed them from a little distance away.
The whole spectacle was visible to those working in the royal castle, but no one said a word.
When one of the guards tried to call out to him, the other stopped him and explained.
The guard was surprised by the explanation and looked at Ryo from a distance.
Such scenes were repeated throughout the royal castle.
In his usual robes, he certainly didn't look like the 'Premier Duke'.
Nevertheless, he is known to many of those who work in the castle, as he always wandered around the castle from time to time.
Even if the nobles were oblivious to that fact, the guards knew… that he's Duke Rondo.
There were, of course, guards at the door to the audience chamber, but they too didn't stop Ryo.
They consciously kept looking straight ahead, trying not to change their expressions.
In the midst of all this, Ryo sneaked in stealthily…at least, from his point of view.
When it comes to an audience with the King in the audience chamber, there would normally be courtiers… lined up in the audience chamber, but this time, there were only three nobles at the lower floor.
Besides them, only the three members of the group that had entered were present.
Atop the stairs, King Abel was seated on his throne, with Queen Rihya standing just behind him.
After confirming this, Ryo continued moving stealthily.
Of the three courtiers, the one with the most information is the prime minister closest to the throne, Marquis Heinlein… but sure enough, he's reluctant to stand in such a conspicuous position.
The only other courtier on the nobles' side is a cunning-looking man who fits the image that Ryo has of a rotten noble….
He felt like he'd never met a noble who fits the image so well, and in a way, he was impressed, but wasn't feeling inclined to move next to him.
Thus, he moved next to the one remaining.
"Whoa, Ryo…uh, why are you making a weird face that seems to say, how did I get found out! …"
It was Hugh McGrath, the Grand Master of the Adventurers' Guild in the royal capital.
As expected of a former A-rank adventurer, he reacted immediately to Ryo's sneak movement.
In the midst of all this, the audience began….
"I'm glad to see Your Majesty in such excellent spirits…"
"Thanks. Harold, please state your reason for requesting an audience."
Abel cut off Harold, a C-rank adventurer, aka Mont Blanc punk, who was down on one knee at the bottom of the stairs and bowing, and asked him to state his business.
Which is very rare.
(It doesn't seem like Abel likes this audience very much…)
Ryo just kept watching, as he thought that.
"I have but a single request. I want you to make me a Duke!"
Harold uttered shocking words… but somehow, only Ryo was surprised among those present.
Abel grimaced more than ever, Marquis Heinlein didn't even flinch, the sly-looking noble grinned and… Hugh shook his head slightly.
The only one who didn't seem to understand what's going on was Ryo.
And Ryo muttered in frustration.
"Is a Dukedom something one can easily acquire if you desire it…?"
"Like hell it is."
Hugh next to him sighed and said so, albeit in a whisper.
"That guy, Harold, the C-rank adventurer, is the son of the late crown prince."
"The late crown prince? Abel's brother, Crown Prince Cain?"
"Oh, you knew the crown prince?"
Of course, Ryo did not know Crown Prince Cain directly.
But he had seen the impromptu king training course assignments that Cain had given Abel.
They were a truly excellent set of questions.
One can only imagine the level of the question set's creator by looking at the questions.
And he could pretty much infer that Crown Prince Cain, who created such wonderful sets of questions, must have been quite an amazing person.
"The crown prince was a wonderful person, wasn't he?"
"He was. And Harold over there, being the crown prince's last living heir, would have been the one sitting on the throne if things were different…it's all very complicated."
"Complicated or not…I don't see a shred of excellence in him."
Ryo glanced at Harold and said in no uncertain terms.
"He may have just been promoted to C-rank, but he's still a C-rank adventurer at the age of eighteen, that should qualify as excellent, though?"
"If it was Crown Prince Cain, he would have made it to B-rank at the age of eighteen!"
"Nah, that's unlikely…"
That was so like Hugh… a diligent man who would firmly rebut Ryo's baseless and random opinion.
Meanwhile, the conversation within the audience session carried on.
"I believe I told you that you would get your dukedom when you're good enough?"
"I've moved up to C-rank. I think I've become competent enough!"
Harold retorted King Abel's words.
Perhaps because he was also his nephew, the orphaned son of his late brother whom he adored.
Abel shook his head without correcting his impolite behavior.
Seeing this, Harold continued.
"Uncle, I mean, Your Majesty, once said to me. That, if I could defeat you in a sword fight, you would make me a Duke without question."
Abel made no reply to that.
"In that case, how about we do it right here, right now!"
"…Excuse me?"
As expected, Abel's tone was a little deep, as if he was offended by what he just heard.
"Let me guess…you think you have a better chance of defeating me now that I'm ill?"
Abel narrowed his eyes, glanced at the cunning-looking noble, and then glared back at Harold.
"T-That wasn't my intention! I just thought I'd show you my ability!"
Harold retorted, his face bright red.
Someone probably suggested it to him…the cunning-looking noble over there maybe.
Abel stared at Harold for a while.
Harold, too, met Abel's gaze squarely.
(A face-off between an uncle and a nephew… the same thing happened during the Kingdom Liberation War. It's a sad thing watching family squabble.)
Ryo compared Abel and Harold, who were glaring at each other, remembering the conflict between uncle Raymond and nephew Abel during the Kingdom Liberation War.
(I believe…this is where I, the premier duke, make my entrance…if he were to make this kid a Duke, it will upset the order of the country.)
After concluding so on his own, Ryo walked out of the line of courtiers and got down on one knee at the bottom of the throne.
"I, Ryo, a C-rank adventurer, have a matter I wish to discuss with His Majesty the King."
Harold and the rest of his party were startled by Ryo's sudden appearance.
Another startled fellow, a cunning-looking noble, began to rant.
"Hey bum, what are you…?"
Having said that much, he couldn't get another word out because… his mouth had been gagged with ice.
And it wouldn't come off….
Harold and another party member were surprised to see this.
They didn't even understand what was happening.
But only the priest narrowed his eyes, as something glowed in his eyes.
(Oh, he noticed it? Got to hand it to you, capable priest…)
He had once laid Ice Bahn outside 'Cafe de Chocolat' to make the three of them trip.
Needless to say, only the priest didn't fall, on the contrary, he even recognized that he had been attacked from somewhere.
He may have even recognized that the 'slippage was caused by ice' at that time.
And the 'Ice Muzzle' this time, put together….
"C-rank adventurer Ryo, you have my permission. You may speak."
Abel said solemnly.
"Your Majesty, this man, Harold, was so angry at a famous coffee shop for being out of Mont Blanc that he lashed out at the manager and even the customers around him. He is such a child…no, an immature brat, who shamelessly claims that he is a C-rank adventurer and will become a Duke in the future."
"Wh…What are you…"
Harold's lips trembled and he couldn't form any words against Ryo's accusation… or rather snide remark.
The people around him were left with their mouths hanging open in shock.
So, Ryo continued.
"To appoint such a man, who is a disgrace to the people of the Kingdom as a Duke, would be to heap shame upon shame…"
"You bastard, you shut your mouth!"
At this stage, Harold's face turned red and he shouted.
Then, at the same time, he drew his sword.
Ryo glanced sideways at him and smiled.
"Mr. Harold, do you understand the implications of drawing your sword on me?"
"You bet your sorry ass! After smearing my name with this much insult, what better way to redeem my honor than with a sword!"
"I see…I guess you have yourself a duel."
Ryo said and stood up.
-x-X-x-
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for defiling your presence with blood."
Ryo turned to Abel and bowed reverently.
"M-Mm…since it's a duel, it can't be helped."
Abel, too, may just be struggling to keep up with the rapidity or abnormality of the development, or perhaps had outright given up on the whole thing and was just waiting to see how things played out…probably the latter.
"Now, Mr. Harold, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Quit bitchin'! And draw out your sword too!"
Ryo tried confirming one more time, and Harold yelled back.
By this time, Hugh McGrath had retreated to the wall of the audience chamber, watching the developments.
Marquis Heinlein also moved to the opposite side of the wall, along with the muzzled cunning-looking noble, after instructing the guards.
In the center of the audience chamber, only Ryo and the party of three were left.
"
Ryo chanted, and a wall of ice was erected on all sides and the ceiling.
However, only the priest in the group was surprised by it.
Harold's other party member…probably a dual swordsman judging from his gear, was apparently too worked up to even notice such changes.
"Wait,
Abel's muttering was heard only by Queen Rihya, who was standing by his side….
And Rihya shook her head slightly.
"Now, I'm fine with the three of you coming together. With Mr. Harold alone, I'm afraid it won't even qualify as a warm-up."
"Say that again, you wretch!"
Harold easily fell for Ryo's provocation.
The dual swordsman too had lost it completely.
Only the priest was keeping his cool with his staff at the ready.
(I knew it, the priest is about the only exceptional one among this lot…although he's got me all curious…)
That's right, although he's piqued his interest, he didn't provoke Harold just to see how well the priest would fare.
Not by a long shot.
Probably…not.
Okay, scratch that, my bad. That was a lie.
He roped Harold in because he wanted to see how skilled the priest was.
"This duel will be fought between Harold and his party members against Ryo, a C-rank adventurer. Are both sides ready?"
Abel confirmed.
"Sure."
"Anytime."
Harold and Ryo both agreed.
"Then, you may begin!"
"Ugh-hoo!"
"Ugh-ha!"
As soon as it began, a thick ice lance with a rounded tip was thrust into the bellies of Harold and the dual swordsman.
Before the two fell down in agony, Ryo, the C-rank adventurer launched at Priest Zeke, brandishing an ice sword, with a smile on his face.
Priest Zeke was well on guard.
He understood that the C-rank adventurer Ryo, who had suddenly entered from the side, went through the trouble of bringing up the matter of 'Cafe de Chocolat' to reveal that he was the one responsible for their mishaps that day.
Plus, the ice wall….
That alone was enough to demonstrate that he's no ordinary opponent.
He is an extraordinary magician.
But since he's a magician, he might be able to turn the fight into close combat… or rather, he had no choice but to do so to stand a chance.
With that in mind, Zeke also held up his staff.
However….
(Generating ice out of nowhere… taking both Harold and Gowan out of the fight!? Like, what the hell!)
As that thought was going through his mind, the magician appeared in front of him.
Wielding an ice sword, no less!?
(I can't take it head-on!)
At that split moment, Zeke decided so, stopped parrying the ice sword with his staff, and dodged it with his body movement.
Furthermore, the sword which should have been swung downward, zeroed in on him from below diagonally without pause, and he tried to dodge it again by shifting his balance and pulling his leg back slightly.
However….
(Damn, I can't…)
He reached his limit.
"Ugh-oh!"
The sword slammed into his torso…and although he didn't get slashed, he passed out right away.
Ryo was surprised.
Because the priest avoided the attacks up until the final pseudo Tsubame-Gaeshi* move. (TLN: Swallow flight reversal – a kendo technique)
(I knew it, this priest seems to have been trained from a very tender age…and not in orthodox swordsmanship… not staff technique. It seems a bit different from those of Hume teachings that Abel and the others practice…it's so intriguing.)
Which was why he reversed Murasame's blade and struck his torso with the so-called 'back of the sword', knocking him out.
Then, he went on and hit the back of the head of the dual swordsman, who was somehow recovering from his agony, with the back of the sword, knocking him out again.
He was only interested in the capable priest.
Very typical of Ryo….
The duel, however, was initiated by Harold, the Mont Blanc punk, and must be settled properly.
That's the dueling tradition.
Ryo stood in front of Harold and said.
"Well, mont bla…Harold, your friends are all out cold. What now? Oh, I am so sorry, I was wrong. Even if I become a duke, I will never again speak or act in a way that mocks or mistreats the people of this country, if you can say that, I'll let this be water under the bridge, what say you?"
"Screw you!"
Harold said, pulling himself up, sword at the ready, and glaring at Ryo.
"You've got spunk, I'll give you that. However, that alone won't win you this duel…"
"Uwooooh!"
Harold shouted, brandishing his sword and charging forward.
But…with Ryo as his opponent, he wouldn't even graze him, even if he did it a hundred million times….
Ryo in turn caught his sword with Murasame, twirled it around, and flicked it away.
He then struck the Murasame diagonally through Harold's left shoulder… with the back of the sword, of course.
"Aarghhhh!"
At the same time as his scream, the sound of Harold's shoulder bone being shattered was heard.
He poked his shattered left shoulder with Murasame, and then, in one go, with
The back wall meaning … he slammed into the ice wall he had erected.
Harold passed out from the impact.
Upon confirming this, Ryo withdrew Murasame.
In fact, Harold only suffered a broken shoulder bone because the blade was blunted, thinking that it would be too much to stab him.
Harold's body fell helplessly to the floor.
"
Ryo deactivated the ice wall, and the priests were hastily called in to begin healing the three of them.
"Shattering someone's shoulder and then sticking a sword through it…"
"I didn't stick my sword in though. But, I heard that Mr. Alfonso once had a sword stuck into him in the past."
Abel muttered, and Ryo added his explanation. In a very third-party manner.
Needless to say, it was a certain elven female swordsman who stabbed him.
Alfonso Spinazola succeeded the Rune Frontier Count two years ago. He is now twenty-two years old.
"So…what are you going to do about Harold and his party, Ryo?"
"What do you mean?"
They were still in the audience chamber.
Ryo was standing at the bottom of the throne, without getting down on one knee.
Then a man who seemed like he wanted to complain to Ryo approached him from the side….
"Mughghghgh…"
"Oh, my bad."
Ryo said and peeled off the ice covering the mouth of the cunning-looking noble.
"You mongrel! The gall to do that to my mouth, I, the Count of Dotama…"
"Oh, I see that you and that Mont Blanc punk are birds of the same feather.
The cunning-looking Count, Count Dotama, was frozen in ice.
"Finally some quiet."
"Ah, yeah, how merciless…"
Ryo looked at the ice coffin and nodded in satisfaction at the workmanship as he said so.
Abel was about to utter some short remark as he usually does as King… but decided not to, and returned to his usual self.
"So, you asked what I'm going to do about them…well, nothing?"
"No, that's kinda…"
"If Crown Prince Cain were here, he would scold him way harder!"
"Nah, he probably wouldn't scold him…"
"Oh, so he'd give him a mountain of homework and let him figure it out for himself… damn, that's deep."
"That's right…a crushing mountain of homework like I was given…"
Ryo admired the deep thoughtfulness of Crown Prince Cain, and Abel immersed himself in reminiscing the mountain of homework Cain had given him.
"I don't want to be violent, but someone needs to give him one more good whack… oh, and I don't give two shits about the Mont Blanc punk, the priest on the other hand, is something else. He's a super, super gem!"
"You mean Zeke. He's originally from the Empire. And a priest from the Imperial Temple, which is rare. When he turned eighteen, he moved with his mother to the Central Temple in the royal capital and became an adventurer two years ago. His skills in particular is regarded rather highly by Etho."
Grand Master Hugh added to Ryo's impressions.
"I see. Well, his skill as a priest is one thing, but he's pretty good with the sword, too, you know?"
"I knew it…I thought so when I saw his staff techniques…. His movements are those of one who has been thoroughly drilled in the basics since childhood. You can't hide something like that even if you tried."
Hugh said as he nodded repeatedly.
Abel sighed deeply as he watched them.
On account of Harold.
He will have to make Harold a duke, eventually.
He is the cherished nephew of the current king.
The direct bloodline of the Knightley royal family is already scarce enough as it is.
He cannot afford to leave a precious male heir unattended in case something happens to him in the future.
However, he's also wondering if it's a good idea to appoint someone so lawless as a high-ranking noble and someone related to the royal family… to the position of duke….
If what Ryo accused him of before the duel is true, then he's someone with far too many issues….
"What do I do…?"
Abel muttered and sighed yet again, very deeply.
-x-X-x-
The next day, Ryo visited the Adventurers' Guild in the royal capital.
Reason being that he wanted to know more about Zeke, the capable priest, after what he learned about him yesterday.
As a golden rule, the guild doesn't give out personal information, so he thought he'd ask Etho from 'Room 10', who seems to be acquainted with Zeke…but he didn't even know where Etho lives….
Needless to say, he had no clue about Niels' and Amon's address either.
So he dropped by the guild to see if he could meet someone who does….
"Hey, you, what the hell are you doing?"
He probably noticed Ryo sneaking around.
As someone who had never been seen at the Adventurers' Guild in the royal capital… he looked extremely suspicious.
And then being called out by some random belligerent adventurer was probably inevitable.
Since by all appearances, Ryo doesn't exactly look strong …
Only one person was delighted by such a turn of events.
It was Ryo himself, obviously.
Yeah, finally! At long last!
The classic development in isekai reincarnation stories, a clash at the guild… he might get to experience it.
At long last, it's finally here! Oh yeah, finally!
It's been a long time coming!
No one could fault Ryo for breaking into a smile.
And if this suspicious character that was singled out were to have such a condescending look on his face, the belligerent adventurer would naturally lose it.
"You little shit, what's so amusing!"
He said, raising his fist in the air….
"Hey, what are you doing!"
A sharp, intimidating voice echoed around the vicinity.
"G-Grandmaster…"
The voice belonged to Hugh McGrath.
The adventurer, who raised his fist, broke out in a cold sweat while sloppily making excuses.
"T-This guy was acting suspicious and making me look like a fool…"
His statement was lacking in any manner of sense, but it couldn't be helped…the pressure from Hugh was that tremendous.
Hugh then shifted his gaze from the asshole adventurer to Ryo beside him.
And somehow got a read on the situation.
By observing how chagrined Ryo felt by how close he was.
"Ryo…could you please stop teasing him…"
"Huh?"
Ryo and the adventurer spoke out in unison.
Both of them meant 'how'…but their connotations seemed to be very different.
"Listen up, that guy is Ryo, a C-rank adventurer from Rune. And while he's a C-ranker, the rank is just a sham.
"Eh…"
Ryo was absolutely mortified. The grandmaster himself had called him out as a scam.
"Don't mess with that guy. You've at least heard of Rune's water-attribute magician, right? This guild will collapse. And not metaphorically, but physically. Now, if you like the idea of staying alive, you'd better steer clear of him."
The grandmaster was never one to shy away from saying such things.
The surrounding stares were making Ryo uncomfortable….
"No, I wouldn't go that far…"
"More importantly, why are you here? I mean, you've never been here before, have you?"
Hugh said, and walked into the back with Ryo.
Then the rest of the adventurers began chattering.
"I've heard of him, Rune's water-attribute magician Ryo…"
"You're talking about that rumor from a long time ago, right…where he froze a couple of A-rank adventurers back in the day…"
"That was just a rumor, wasn't it?"
"It's got to be true, right? For the grandmaster himself to have mentioned it?"
"His nickname, I believe, is Silver Duke…?"
"Or, Ice Fall…"
When Ryo got to the Grand Master's office, he found that there were prior guests there.
Three people.
They were the dandy B-rank adventurers, Niels, Amon and…
"Etho! Actually, I need to ask you something…"
"Hmm?"
Ryo found Priest Etho and immediately began asking him questions.
"It's about Zeke, the priest from the Empire."
"Zeke? How do you know him, Ryo?"
In response to Etho's question, Ryo told him about what had happened at the 'Cafe de Chocolat' and in the audience chamber.
In a nutshell.
Conveniently omitting the duel part…in the audience chamber.
Niels, Amon, and even Etho were taken aback…but at the end, Ryo was slightly dissatisfied with the fact that they seemed to be convinced by the one statement, "That's so typical of Ryo", but…decided to let it go.
Ryo is someone who can take a hint!
But gathering information was the priority.
"Zeke is the same age as me, twenty-one this year. I'm about six months older than him. And as you know Ryo, he hails from the Empire, but what's even more unusual is, he's from the Imperial Temple of the Empire."
"Is that unusual?"
"Yeah, very much so. The Empire has a national training institution for healers. There, you can learn healing magic such as heal and cure, so very few people enter the temple. Originally, the number of people who can use healing magic, in other words, light-attribute magic, itself is small compared to that of wind, fire, earth, and water, but since they are admitted to the training institution, the number of people who enter the Imperial Temple is even smaller."
This was the first time Ryo would learn about the situation of priests in the Empire.
"When I left the Central Temple after becoming an adventurer, we were only together for about six months, I guess? Zeke is of course a highly capable priest, but he also seemed to know martial arts and was trained in staff techniques alongside the monks."
Monks are the armed monks of the Central Temple.
They dedicate themselves to the Goddess of Light and are capable of fighting endlessly.
They are the vanguard who fight with their holy blessed staffs, exposing themselves to the front line of battle.
Ryo also remembered fighting alongside them in defending the underground tombs during the royal capital disturbance.
"I see…"
Ryo nodded several times as he said this and reconciled it with some of his memories.
That's when it happened.
A commotion erupted at the guild entrance.
"What now? Has another Ryo walked in or what?"
Hugh peeked toward the guild entrance with a skeptical look.
Ryo, who had suffered damage to his reputation, hung his head down… looking back on the failure of his classic development which was so close to realization.
"Goddamn it, I was so close!", he said.
But the ruckus at the entrance seemed different this time.
It quieted down immediately.
Then, the receptionist brought in the visitor.
"Grand Master, His Majesty the King is here to see you."
"His Majesty? Oh, His Majesty the King. King… Abel."
The receptionist announced the visitor, and Hugh identified him.
Then Abel I, former A-rank adventurer and current king of the Kingdom of Knightley, appeared.
"Grandmaster, sorry for the sudden…hmm? Niels, Etho, and Amon? Been quite a while, guys."
"Your Majesty!"
Niels exclaimed, and the three of them got down on one knee and bowed.
"How rare…it's quite unusual seeing Your Majesty come to the guild."
Hugh said, and took a bow on one knee, albeit a little lackadaisical.
"You're skipping work again, Abel…"
Ryo said, shaking his head repeatedly in the same position, shrugging his shoulders with an expression that seemed to be saying, good grief.
Of course, he didn't take a bow….
"What are you doing here, Ryo?"
Abel asked Ryo.
It's very unusual for Abel to visit the guild, but it's also unusual for Ryo to be in the royal capital Adventurers' Guild.
For the most part, he is either lounging on the sofa in Abel's room or eating cakes at the Cafe de Chocolat…since that's the impression he portrays….
However….
"Well, I'll have you know that I'm an active C-rank adventurer. It's only natural to find me in the guild."
"…I'm speechless at how you're able to say something that no one is likely to believe, so brazenly."
Abel said, shaking his head slightly.
"How is that hard to believe…?"
"Well, probably because of your daily routine…"
Ryo's despairing muttering was overshadowed by Niels' confident muttering.
"Grandmaster, although this is still yet to be decided…"
Abel cut to the chase as soon as his coffee arrived.
With Ryo and the three from 'Room 10' still in the room, listening to Abel.
On the condition to keep their mouths shut and not leak any information out of this room, of course.
"I would like Grandmaster to head the delegation from our kingdom."
"Seriously…"
Abel said, and Hugh muttered softly.
After thinking for a while, Hugh glanced at Ryo and then opened his mouth.
"Wouldn't it be better to have the Premier Duke there as the head rather than me? I believe it will also boost his reputation."
"Unfortunately, Ryo doesn't have much experience negotiating with royalty or high-ranking nobles…"
Ryo nodded his head repeatedly as Abel explained this to him.
He's aware of his lack of experience on the subject, as well as his distaste for it.
"I don't like it either…"
"But you're a better choice."
"Yeah, Mr. Hugh will do fine."
To Hugh's lament, Abel irresponsibly assured him, likewise Ryo.
"Uh, I'm having a baby and…"
"Lady Frederica, right? Don't worry, the royal family will be responsible for taking good care of your wife."
"If the grandmaster were to be absent from the guild for an extended period of time…"
"We have thought of that as well. Don't worry, I will arrange for a perfect substitute for the interim."
Abel debunked Hugh's complaints one by one.
After repeating the same dance a couple of times…Hugh finally gave up.
"Fine…. I'll take up the role."
"I see! I knew I could count on you, grandmaster. With this, we won't have to worry about whoever is representing both the Empire and the Union!"
Abel said in high spirits.
Ryo, who was listening next to him, was also pleased.
The three from Room 10 didn't exactly know what was going on, they just sat there drinking their coffee.
But whether or not they thought they would soon be looped in….
"So, listen Niels, you guys were asked to stay behind because you'll probably be coming along."
"Us? Yeah absolutely, if Mr. Abel, I mean, His Majesty wills it, we'll even go to the end of the world!"
Niels answered enthusiastically.
Both Etho and Amon chuckled, but basically they were unlikely to turn it down.
"I see! I'm so relieved to hear you say that! Because you'll be taking a trip to the Western Countries."
"Eh…"
Abel's words made the three of them exclaim.
Although they had said, "Even to the ends of the world", they had no idea that they would really be going to the far West….
Later, after getting briefed about the delegation, its scale, and the explanation that the Kingdom would not be the only one participating and that many adventurers and knights would join in, the three from Room 10 were able to calm down.
As one would expect, there is a difference in the sense of security between a couple of kids going to the Western Countries on their lonesome, and going with several hundred people.
"By the way, Your Majesty…"
Hugh cut in when the conversation seemed to be almost over.
"Yes?"
"What about the Premier Duke and C-rank adventurer over here?"
Hugh's gaze turned to Ryo, who was drinking his second cup of coffee and already wondering in his mind what the golem of the west would be like.
It was only with these words and his gaze that Ryo realized for the first time.
His part had not yet been officially decided.
"Eh…well, I'm going too, obviously? I am going, right? I mean he just said something about it boosting my reputation or whatnot, right? Well, I'm going just so you know!"
"Uh~, Ryo is a valuable asset to the country, and it'll be a little inconvenient if that asset were to leave the country…"
"I'm definitely going! I don't care what you say, Abel, I'm going!"
Ryo stood up and shouted with half-teary eyes at Abel's words.
"But you know…"
"Fine. Today, as of this moment, the Rondo Dukedom, will secede from the Kingdom of Knightley, and I will head to the western countries! If the Kingdom tries to stop me by force, I will muster the full strength of the dukedom against her!"
"Hey, knock it off, you blockhead."
Abel said somewhat impatiently to Ryo, who wiped away his tears and tried to declare his independence.
He knew it was impossible to stop Ryo from going anyway.
He was just being a little mean.
That would have been something if Ryo became independent because of that.
"Fine, I'll include you in the delegation too. You'll be going as a C-rank adventurer and escort personnel, and not the Premier Duke."
"Wow, I knew I could trust your judgment, Abel! Now, the monsters of the Rondo Forest won't need to attack the Kingdom anymore."
"Yes, and you're going to keep it that way."
Abel shook his head slightly, imagining a distressing scene of griffons, wyverns, or behemoths attacking the Kingdom.
Although he didn't think that Ryo could order those monsters at will… he had a feeling that Ryo could be inclined to strike up a bargain with them using meat, for instance… which as a matter of fact, was something he was already doing….
-x-X-x-
The city of Gilsbach, in the northwestern part of the Empire.
The former Emperor Rupert VI, who had abdicated, was currently residing there.
Fifty-five years old.
He had finally been freed from the paperwork that had been bogging him down for decades and was now living a life of leisure.
And now, Rupert seemed to be desperately trying to solve a problem at hand with a deep crease between his eyebrows and a grim look.
"Hmm~"
Sometimes he would grunt, for it was indeed a difficult problem.
Count Hans Kirchhoff, Rupert's right-hand man, was sitting on the sofa across from him, drinking coffee without a care in the world.
"Got it!"
Rupert exclaimed softly and moved his hand.
Hans moved his in response.
They both moved their hands back and forth…over a dozen times….
"Phew, I managed to bring it to a draw."
"Nicely done, sir. I thought I could maintain my position to the end, but…what a shame."
It was chess.
After a couple hundred games, Rupert had managed to pull out a draw from an overwhelmingly inferior position.
After the heavily contested game, Rupert drank his coffee with a satisfied look on his face.
"At any rate, I didn't have Helmut pegged as someone that petty. To think he'd kick you out of the Imperial Castle without even giving you a chance. After going through the trouble of leaving you behind so he'd have one more capable hand."
"It can't be helped. Lord Helmut has his entourage. But thanks to that, I can be in the company of Your Majesty once more."
"Well, I guess I should thank Helmut for that."
Rupert smiled broadly as he said this.
The current emperor of the Empire is Helmut VIII, Rupert's eldest son.
Rupert had no interest in cloistered ruling*, so he gave up the imperial throne and left Helmut in charge of all the affairs of the Empire, and he was now in a comfortable retirement. (TLN: Abdicating the throne but still retaining power and influence)
His daily routine includes playing chess with Hans, sword sparring with Hans, and occasionally messing around with magic.
In between these activities, he worked out, and as a result, he was in much better health than when he was on the throne, and his body was even more toned than when he was emperor.
"Speaking of which, I heard that Helmut is planning to send Konrad to represent the Empire."
"Yes, that seems to be the case. Lord Konrad now has his own dukedom and finally seems to be on the right track…"
"Hmm…"
Konrad, the third son of Rupert and the younger brother of Helmut VIII.
After Helmut ascended to the imperial throne, he and his other siblings were demoted to vassalage and established a dukedom.
"It was an invitation from the Western Church that prompted the mission to the western countries in the first place, was it not?"
"Yes, it was. A well-known party in the western countries came to deliver it. The Pope is being replaced for the first time in several decades, and this time marks the 100th generation. They want us to send a large delegation to coincide with the inauguration."
"Sounds shady."
When Rupert said that, Hans chuckled.
Then he asked.
"Your Majesty, you mean there's more to this than meets the eye?"
"You bet there is. Plots like this usually have several angles in the works. Has the size and the escort already been decided on?"
"Yes, sir. A hundred civilian officials, escorted by about twenty Imperial Knights, and two hundred men from the Imperial Army."
"I see…. With that much escort, I guess Helmut also thinks that there might be some problems on the way or at the destination."
Hearing that, Rupert nodded his head slightly a few times as he said this.
"And yet, he's sending Konrad over there…if that's a plot…then that's taking his little cheap tricks a tad too far."
His soft murmur was just barely audible, even to Hans.
After a few moments of silent contemplation, Rupert said.
"Okay, I'll represent the Empire."
Hans must have been expecting that because he chuckled and shook his head.
After some haggling, Rupert got Emperor Helmut to approve his appointment as head of the delegation.
Helmut's reluctance was noteworthy, but Rupert straight-up ignored it.
Then, the Empire announced to the Central Nations.
Saying, "The Empire will send a delegation to the Western countries. The delegation will be headed by the former emperor, Rupert VI".
"His Majesty Rupert, didn't see that one coming…"
Abel muttered in the King's office.
On the sofa in front of him sat Marquis Heinlein, the Prime Minister, and Hugh McGrath, the Grand Master who would be the representative of the delegation that the Kingdom would send out this time.
Incidentally, Ryo was sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, quietly reading an alchemy-related book.
That's his usual position when the sofa is occupied.
"Our previous intel revealed that they had decided on Duke Konrad of Elbe, brother of His Majesty Emperor Helmut…"
Even Marquis Heinlein let out a small sigh.
Even he, with his unrivaled intelligence network in the Central Nations, failed to intercept this information.
"Marquis Heinlein, by the way, who do you think is going to represent the Union?"
Making a reluctant face, Hugh attested.
"There has been no official announcement yet, but I'm pretty sure it will be His Majesty Roberto Pirlo, the former King of Capitone."
"Ugh…. The man Lord Aubrey couldn't kill…huh?"
Roberto Pirlo is sometimes referred to as 'The Man Lord Aubrey Couldn't Kill' as the only surviving member of the Ten-Member Council.
Of course, his extraordinary capabilities are known throughout the Central Nations.
"Well, I guess we're screwed any which way."
"You shouldn't be the one saying that, Your Majesty…"
Abel said carefreely, and Hugh countered, looking sterner than ever.
"A former emperor and a former king…while I, on the other hand, am just a grand master…safe to say, I'm way out of my depths here, am I not?"
Hugh said, shaking his head repeatedly.
"It's all right. The Kingdom delegation has a secret weapon, the 'Premier Duke', lurking in its midst. If push comes to shove, he's sure to be our best asset!"
"Are you planning on starting a war on the way…?"
Hugh shook his head again and again at Abel's words.
It looks like the ride over is going to be a bumpy one.
-x-X-x-
While the Central Nations were excited about the dispatch of delegations to the Western Countries.
A C-rank party was in danger in the eastern part of the Kingdom.
A swordsman was barely conscious, but unable to move on his own.
A twin swordsman, carrying the swordsman on his back, trying to escape the crisis.
And a priest clearing a path of retreat with his staff for the both of them.
Swinging, striking, and thrusting his staff.
Due to the nature of the weapon, it can even attack at range, so the priest Zeke, was using his staff to clear the monsters out of the way.
However, since they were in the forest, he couldn't swing as much….
They just needed to get out of the forest right away.
"Gowan, we're almost out of the forest. Just hang in there a little while longer! "
"Sure! I still have some strength in me!"
Gowan followed Zeke with Harold on his back.
Though he said he was fine, Zeke understood that his fatigue was also reaching its peak.
Because Zeke was also reaching his limit.
"Okay, we're out! …?"
Gowan exclaimed happily, but… his words were soon cut short.
The reason was obvious.
A swarm of monsters was just ahead of the three of them as they exited the forest.
"Orcs…"
Orcs.
Bipedal monsters with the head of a pig, less than two meters tall.
They often carry weapons in their hands.
It could be swords or simple cudgels.
They are more intelligent than ogres and more robust than goblins.
In terms of strength, they are somewhere between the two, but their intelligence makes them troublesome opponents in group battles.
There were roughly fifty such Orcs.
"Why are they here…?"
Gowan muttered involuntarily, but Zeke also wondered the same thing.
Moreover, they were waiting for them with weapons, as if they knew the three of them were coming.
But that wasn't the time to think about it.
(I need to find us a way out of here…)
Zeke, while holding his staff in front of them, moved only his gaze left and right, searching for a way out.
However…he found none.
(Seems the only way out is by slaughtering these pigs…)
There was no other way.
Fifty orcs… that too while protecting Harold and Gowan.
He felt nothing but despair.
Perhaps, if he were alone, he could break through the orcs and escape.
Even Gowan might be able to manage.
But with the deadweight Harold in tow, it would be impossible.
And leaving Harold behind wasn't an option for Zeke.
And he wasn't the only one with that sentiment ….
"Zeke, I've got Harold. I won't let them lay a finger on him!"
Saying that, Gowan laid Harold on the ground and stood in front of him with both of his swords drawn.
Neither Zeke nor Gowan had any intention of leaving Harold behind.
"Okay. I'll leave him to you."
With that, Zeke kicked the ground and plunged into the orc pack.
'Cuts like a sword, thrusts like a spear, sweeps like a naginata*.' (TLN: A pole weapon)
That is an ancient Japanese poem describing how the staff has all the characteristics of a spear, a naginata, and a sword.
And there is another one.
'To admonish, without hurt.'
That's right, originally, a staff is meant to subdue without harming the opponent… originally.
But on 'Phi', likewise, even the staffs used by priests, don't conform to such teachings.
Because the staff is a 'holy blessed' weapon.
It's an ordinary staff when used against humans, but not against monsters.
It inflicts dozens of times more damage than it does to humans.
Depending on the target, even an orc can be killed with a single blow.
Of course, if used against the undead, the damage is doubled.
Zeke dove into the swarm of orcs, swinging his staff.
Even if he couldn't defeat them, he would incapacitate them. If not, he'd aim to reduce their fighting strength.
So he kept thrusting! Thrusting! And thrusting!
His appearance was like that of a demon god.
"Damn, Zeke really is amazing…"
The dual swordsman, Gowan, muttered.
Gowan had given all of his loyalty to Harold.
Since he saved his life.
But he had full, unwavering confidence in Zeke.
Harold also trusted Zeke.
Zeke was also opposed to their trip down east this time.
Normally Harold would listen to Zeke's opinion, but this time he stubbornly refused….
Hence their current predicament.
At any rate, Zeke is amazing.
Not only in terms of his light-attribute magic as a priest, but also in his judgment, action, and combat ability.
It was the first time he would see him pull out all the stops on his staff techniques since joining the party, and yet it wasn't at all surprising.
That's Zeke alright …. He felt so from the bottom of his heart.
And for that reason!
Several orcs rushed towards Gowan and Harold avoiding Zeke altogether….
"Over my dead body!"
He slashed at them with his dual swords, not allowing even a single strike.
Gowan, too, is a C-rank adventurer.
His combat prowess was proof enough that he was worthy of the C-rank.
However… it was still tall a task for the two of them to defeat fifty orcs.
While still fighting like a demon god, a part of Zeke's mind was calmly analyzing the battle situation.
(We can't defeat them all…)
But they couldn't stop either.
Even though he had reduced the number of orcs, it was no longer possible for him to escape now.
The point of no return… the chance to turn back had passed.
(At the very least Harold and Gowan must make it…)
He thought, but Gowan was also fighting covered in serious injuries.
Since Zeke wouldn't be able to maintain his combat awareness while using Heal, Gowan remained wounded and continued to protect Harold.
"Ugh…"
An orc's cudgel hit Zeke's leg, causing him to yelp and fall to his knees.
(Shit! )
But then.
Several offensive magic spells and arrows struck the orcs from behind.
At the same time, an order echoed around the vicinity.
"Knights, charge!"
A group of knights suddenly attacked the orcs from behind.
That was something even the orcs had not anticipated.
They became disoriented, and could no longer move in an organized manner.
They began to flee, and then the knights attacked them from behind, culling them even further.
And in just a minute after the knights made their appearance, all the orcs were on the ground.
"Are you guys all right?"
The commander walked up to Zeke, who managed to stand with his staff as support.
The crest on their chest…
"Knights of Silverdale?"
"Silverdale is a dukedom in the central region, near the royal capital, right? What brings them to this eastern part of the country?"
Zeke identified the knight order, and Gowan questioned after hearing that.
But before anything else, they conveyed their gratitude.
"Thank you for your assistance. My companion got caught in some kind of hidden trap and we came under attack by a group of orcs while fleeing. So, thank you very much."
"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad we made it in time. And it looks like you're heavily wounded, Priest, and so is the dual swordsman. If you don't mind, I can have my priests heal you."
"Please do."
Zeke bowed his head as he said this.
Soon after, the priests with the knight order split up to heal Zeke and Gowan.
Then, they examined Harold, but….
"What in the world is this…"
The priest muttered involuntarily. He had never seen anything like it.
Harold appeared to have what looked like a blue flame… erupting right near his heart.
Like some kind of illusion…it probably wasn't a real flame, since he didn't feel any heat when he held his hand over it.
But the priests with the Knight Order had no idea what it was…or how the situation came to be.
"I don't think you'll have much luck alleviating the condition of that fellow around this region. As you may have figured out from our crest, we are the Knights of Silverdale. We are currently in this eastern part of the country on an expeditionary exercise… and are staying in Wingston, the largest city in the east, but there is no High Priest here at the moment…"
"Yes, we're aware of that. Pardon me if I'm wrong, but aren't you Lady Faith of the Silverdale Dukedom?"
"Indeed, I'm Faith."
In response to Zeke's question, Miss Faith nodded and replied.
"This fellow of mine is Master Harold, nephew of His Majesty the King."
"Harold? The late Crown Prince Caindish's orphaned child, huh…"
Miss Faith seemed surprised by that.
"I see. Then you best make haste… right, it would be best to have him examined at the Central Temple in the royal capital. The Silverdale Dukedom will provide you with a carriage. From Wingston, you can be in the royal capital in two days if you hurry."
"Much appreciated."
In unison, Zeke and Gowan expressed their gratitude.
"Very well. All hands, clear out!"
-x-X-x-
On a normal day, the Central Temple in the Royal Capital always maintains a serene environment.
That day, however, it had been bustling with activity since morning.
It all started when a priest and a dual swordsman showed up with a languid companion.
"Hm? Zeke? Long time no…"
"Please, call the high priest immediately!"
"Uh? Sure, okay."
Quite a number of priests were familiar with Zeke, who once trained in this Central Temple.
It was pretty obvious that Zeke, who always maintained a calm demeanor, was in a very difficult situation seeing how distraught he was, desperately calling for the high priest.
As soon as Harold was carried in, High Priest Gabriel turned up.
Without so much as a hello, he quickly took notice of the area near Harold's heart.
"Could this… perhaps be, 'Spirit Curse'?"
High Priest Gabriel muttered, and Zeke became alarmed.
He had never heard the term 'Spirit Curse', at least not while he was in the temple.
He had no recollection of learning about 'Spirit Curses' at the temple, not only in the Kingdom, but also during his time in the Empire.
In other words, it was not a common occurrence in the Central Nations.
"We need to dispel the curse. Start the preparation. Also, please send for Queen Rihya and Rashata."
"Queen Rihya?"
"Yeah. You're in luck, Zeke. Queen Rihya is in the Central Temple right now."
Gabriel nodded broadly as he said so.
Zeke knew that Queen Rihya was a 'saintess'.
"
Saying that, High Priest Gabriel smiled.
Zeke had seen that smile many times when he was in the Central Temple, and each time it was soothing.
And this time too….
"Understood, thank you, High Priest."
Harold was brought into the 'Quiet Room', in the northernmost part of the Central Temple.
It was a huge oval room with a radius of fifty meters, and in the center of it is the stairway to the underground tomb.
Harold was lying beside the stairs in the 'Quiet Room', on what appeared to be an altar.
It is said that healing in this room is the most effective, as it harnesses the sacred power of saints, saintesses, and high priests of the past that flow from the underground tombs.
The one examining Harold as he lay there was Viscount Rashata Debuo, the folklore officer.
He is said to be one of the best folklore officers not only in the Kingdom but also in the Central Nations, and as a special exception, he is even allowed to retain his peerage as a priest.
High Priest Gabriel approached Rashata and called out to him.
"Rashata, do you know what kind of Spirit Curse this is?"
"Unfortunately I don't, Sir Gabriel. This Spirit Curse is unfamiliar to me."
Rashata replied, shaking his head apologetically.
"No, you don't have to apologize. In the first place, Spirit Curses are not that common in the Central Nations. Of course, there are some at the level of folklore, but this kind of supernatural… 'Spirit Curse' beyond the scope of human understanding is…"
High Priest Gabriel said, and Rashata nodded in agreement.
"High Priest, the preparation for the
Queen Rihya, dressed in her saintess robe, announced to Gabriel.
Gabriel nodded and started walking.
Ten high-ranking priests, including Gabriel and Rihya, formed a circle around Harold.
After regulating his breathing, Gabriel began to chant.
"O Great Goddess, we bow down before Thee and implore Thee, our friend who is trapped by truth different from ours, and Thy child who is trapped by truth different from Thine, to return once more to the truth of this world, and to free our friend who bears wounds different from ours, and Thy child who bears wounds different from Thine, from its yoke,
As High Priest Gabriel's chanting ended, a light emanated from the ten people congregated in a circle and gathered around.
The light slowly enveloped Harold.
The warm and gentle light….
Suddenly popped.
"What the!?"
"It failed?"
Failure in the dispelling of a curse in which high priests and a saintess participated… meant that, as it stood, no one could break this 'Spirit Curse'….
After that, many priests, mainly from the Central Temple Library, began to dig into past records in search of clues to Harold's Spirit Curse.
'The Central Temple renders healing to all, to the best of its ability.'
The words of High Priest Gabriel are words shared and honored by all of the Temple priests…and they demonstrated that through their actions.
The news that Harold had fallen under some kind of 'Spirit Curse' and that even the Central Temple had been unable to break the spell, naturally reached King Abel immediately.
When Abel heard the report, he was crestfallen.
He could not find the right words to say.
Certainly, Harold is a troublesome person in many ways, as was the case when he was suddenly granted an audience.
He has a penchant for causing problems.
Nor can he be called thoughtful.
Eventually, he will become a duke and protect the Kingdom and the royal family, but at present, he's still a long way off.
Even so, he's still the child of his late brother.
If things were different, he would be the one sitting on the throne instead of him… and he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel some guilt….
With such conflicting emotions jumbled up, he couldn't find the right words to say.
In the end, all he could say was.
"Okay."
That was it….
It was probably a stroke of luck that Ryo was stopped for a chat that day.
Ryo was in the Royal Castle Library as usual.
Not from looking up stuff on Harold's Spirit Curse… obviously.
He was just looking for a book to read at the 'Café de Chocolat'.
So, he had even made a plan in his mind to order a cake set at Cafe de Chocolat as soon as he found the book.
"They said something about a new seasonal cake set, so maybe I should try it out…"
And perhaps because he was heard talking to himself or not… Ryo was approached.
"Sorry to bother you, Your Excellency."
"Yes? Oh, hello Chief Librarian."
The chief librarian, Gasparnini, is a good man.
So, Ryo greeted him with a smile.
But then it suddenly dawned on him….
Wondering if there was another book he had forgotten to return.
"Could I have forgotten to return some books again?"
At that moment, a cold chill ran down his spine.
However, the answer that came back reassured Ryo.
"No, sir, not at all. There are no long-term books yet to be returned."
"Oh, good…"
Ryo said from the bottom of his heart.
But other than that, he couldn't think of any other reason why the chief librarian would call out to him.
Ryo then asked, tilting his head.
"So…is there something I can help you with?"
"Uh, yes. I would like to confirm this, but I've come across a rumor circulating in the royal castle right now about Master Harold, being afflicted by some kind of illness of unknown origin."
"Harold? I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with the people within the castle…"
Ryo straight-up had no idea.
He probably would have recognized it if he had been told that he was the Mont Blanc punk or a party member of the capable priest Zeke.
"A C-rank adventurer swordsman, and a relative of His Majesty the King…"
"Ah! Mont Bl…ahem, excuse me. Master Harold, yes, he seemed to be searching for something. Do you know anything about it, chief librarian?"
Ryo wasn't interested in Harold's matter, but not because he didn't want to help, since Rihya pretty much spends all her time in the Central Temple and Abel also seemed concerned, although he wouldn't say anything.
"Yes, sir. As a matter of fact, Master Harold visited this library about half a month ago, read a book, and then went and made a partial
"Abel, I need to talk to…"
As Ryo was saying, he then realized that there was a guest ahead of him.
And it was a familiar face.
"Ah, Mr. Rashata, the folklore officer. What a pleasant surprise."
"Mr. Ryo, no, excuse me. It has been a while, Your Excellency."
"Nah, call me Ryo as you normally would…"
Saying that, Ryo remembered why he came.
"Abel, this is Mr. Gasparnini, the chief librarian of the Royal Castle Library. He has some information about Harold."
"Hmm. Of course, I know Mr. Gasparnini. He's been a librarian since I was a little boy. He helped me out a lot."
"I'm undeserving of your kind words."
Abel said, and the chief librarian Gasparnini bowed deeply and thanked him.
"So, what is this about Harold?"
"Yes, sir. About half a month ago, Master Harold read this book in the Royal Castle Library, and a part of it was
Saying so, chief librarian Gasparnini presented a book titled 'Those Who Seek Power: From Angels to Demons'.
"Hm? I believe the author of this book is…"
Rashata reacted.
"Yes, Count Gusu."
The chief librarian, Gasparnini, must have understood what Rashata was thinking.
He nodded and replied.
"Count Gusu's book is kind of a mixture of wheat and chaff…"
"Exactly. Some of his works are dubious at best. This book, too, can't exactly be taken at face value… by any means. But it is this page that Master Harold
The chief librarian, Gasparnini, opened the page and pointed to it.
"…I see, obtaining the power of a demon… huh?"
Rashata read softly.
Abel peeked in from the side.
"Is this…the 'Rupture Spirit Curse'? So this is the Rupture Spirit Curse… which means, what I saw was the Rupture Spirit Curse…"
Rashatha's eyes widened and he brought his hand to his forehead, pondering.
"In other words, Harold sought that power, and instead, he fell under this Rupture Spirit Curse?"
Abel muttered with a frown.
"That's probably the case, Your Majesty. There are several folklore about the 'Rupture Spirit Curse'. It is rare in the Central Nations, but it is a well-known Spirit Curse in the Western Countries. I have never seen it before, and even though I knew the term 'Rupture Spirit Curse', I didn't know what kind of state one would be in if trapped under the Spirit Curse, since there was no folklore detailing it…. But given the circumstances, it seems to me that Master Harold's Spirit Curse would be the 'Rupture Spirit Curse'."
"Harold…that big fool… As if it's that easy to gain power out of nowhere…"
Abel's words were filled with bitterness.
But now other factors need to be confirmed.
"So, what is the nature of this rupture spirit curse? The book doesn't say anything about the details of the rupture spirit curse."
"No, it doesn't. Dispelling the curse using magic is ineffective. As for the condition of the subject, in three more days the spirit curse will take root and the subject will regain mobility as before. Spirit curses don't control one's movement or emotions. However, as the name 'Rupture Spirit Curse' implies, the body will eventually rupture."
"Rupture…"
Abel couldn't continue after hearing Rashata's explanation.
Neither could Ryo.
(It's like having a time bomb in your body…how cruel…)
Ryo, who wasn't exactly rooting for Harold's misfortune, felt pity for him.
"You say it will eventually rupture, but any idea when?"
"Can't say for sure. Only that it won't rupture for a year according to the folklore…"
Rashata answered Abel's question, shaking his head.
"So…how do we break the curse?"
Abel asked Rashata…the most important question.
Rashata's answer was one that no one could have imagined.
"A drop of the Demon Lord's blood on his forehead…"
-x-X-x-
Total silence.
No one uttered a thing… not a word….
It wasn't the same as being quiet.
For a full minute, no one opened their mouths.
Ryo couldn't stand it anymore, so he decided to speak up.
He raised his right hand and went ahead to speak.
"I have a question, Mr. Rashata."
"Go ahead, Mr. Ryo."
"When you say blood of the Demon Lord, do you mean the blood of the Demon Lord, literally? Or is it a metaphor for something, like maybe a wine…"
Ryo asked in the sense of the blood of Christ.
"Yes, literally, the blood of the Demon Lord."
"Whoa…"
Ryo was truly surprised by Rashata's answer.
It was like some kind of role-playing game…right, like some fantasy setting.
Rashata must have thought he should probably go into the details. So, he began to explain.
"As I mentioned earlier, this 'Rupture Spirit Curse' is so rare in the Central Nations that there is hardly any folklore left about it. Perhaps this incident has something to do with the sealed 'Demon from the East'."
Ryo and the others had encountered the 'Demon from the South' before.
There was an uproar surrounding demon insects at that time….
"But this spirit curse is well known in the Western Countries. As it would appear that people are affected by it quite often. That being the case, it is said that the Western Church keeps the blood of the Demon Lord."
"Wha…"
Everyone there was absolutely stunned by Rashata's explanation.
Demon lords are indeed born periodically.
Heroes capable of defeating said demon lords are also born periodically.
A few years ago, the Western Church announced that the Demon Lord had been defeated by the hero, Roman.
It would certainly be possible to store the blood if it was taken when it was defeated….
"I guess…we should all discuss this after Harold regains consciousness."
Abel said, and Rashata and Ryo nodded.
Five days later.
In a special conference room in the royal castle.
Various parties were gathered there.
King Abel I.
Queen Rihya.
Marquis Alexis Heinlein, the Prime Minister.
Gabriel, High Priest of the Central Temple.
Viscount Rashata Debuo, Folklore Officer of the Central Temple.
Hugh McGrath, Grand Master of the Royal Capital Adventurers' Guild.
C-rank Adventurer Ryo.
B-rank Adventurers Niels, Etho, and Amon. Party name 'Room 10'
And C-rank Adventurers Harold, Zeke, and Gowan. Party name 'Room 11'
The six adventurers in the latter half of the group were tense as hell.
"We look so out of place, don't we?"
Amon was the only one who could possibly utter such words.
Niels became stiff as a corpse in Abel's presence.
Etho too, in the presence of Rihya.
While Harold and the others…became stiff in the presence of the lads from 'Room 10'.
"Let's begin."
The moderator was Marquis Heinlein, the Prime Minister.
Harold's current situation was briefly explained.
Since the matter had been previously disclosed, including to the members of 'Room 10', it was more of a summary.
Harold was indeed upset when he first heard about his situation, but two days have passed since then and he had now accepted the situation.
"…And that's the current situation."
After Marquis Heinlein finished his explanation, someone quietly raised his right hand demanding to speak.
"Go ahead, Master Zeke."
Marquis Heinlein urged him.
"Thank you. I would like to make a request of His Majesty and Lord McGrath. Please allow 'Room 11' to participate in the delegation to the Western Countries."
The request was naturally expected.
However, many thought that it would be Harold himself who would make the request, not Priest Zeke….
"Zeke…I'm already…"
"Don't, Harold. As long as there is hope, there is no shame in clinging to it! You are going to establish your own dukedom, are you not? You can't just give up on your great aspirations, especially now. You must do your utmost to fight this damned spirit curse."
The conversation between Harold and Zeke was in a hushed tone, but it was still heard by everyone present.
The members of 'Room 10', Folklore Officer Rashata, and High Priest Gabriel, all five weren't aware of the fact that Harold was the son of late crown prince Cain, but their expressions didn't seem to change in any way regardless.
A meeting that's being held in the royal castle with the King in attendance… safe to say the person at the center of it all can't be simple… anyone could guess that much.
"What do you think, Grand Master?"
Abel asked Hugh McGrath.
"Uh…well, these guys are C-rank adventurers, so they have clearance to receive escort quests out of the country. In terms of their capability… in all honesty, their combat ability is fairly decent."
Hugh scratched his head and continued.
"Although their combat prowess is pretty decent… I'm also not one to sugarcoat things, so I'll be frank. Harold, you have a very shitty personality. I honestly have a lot of reservations about adding you to the escort detail of this delegation, when I think about what might happen if you go out of control."
Hugh looked Harold squarely in the eye as he said so.
Harold glared back at Hugh at first, but quickly averted his gaze.
He seemed to be self-aware ….
"But with Grand Master leading the mission, can't you just keep him in check?"
Abel said.
To Abel, he's his nephew.
Even though he has some troublesome aspects such as his personality, he's still the child of his late brother and a direct descendant of the declining royal blood… as things stand, he's bound to die a certain death from the 'Rupture Spirit Curse'… so, he wasn't opposed to letting his friends defy his fate if they wanted to help him, even if he himself didn't have the courage.
Abel may very well be an adventurer before he is a King.
"Well, I certainly could… but I won't always be by his side, you know. Since I'll be busy dealing with His Majesty Rupert and Roberto Pirlo, just thinking about it alone is nerve-wracking."
Hugh shook his head as he said that.
"I'll do it! I'll take responsibility! I'll take responsibility for Harold's actions. I will make sure he doesn't do anything that will cause trouble. So, please…"
Sure enough, it was Priest Zeke who made this proposition.
Then he bowed his head.
Following him, party member Gowan also bowed his head.
And Harold… wearing an expression that was a mixture of frustration and remorse, stared at Zeke, who was bowing his head.
Then he bowed his head as well.
Hugh watched the three of them in silence.
Hugh understood that Harold's life will eventually end if things continued as they were.
He would also like to avoid that if at all possible.
He has a shitty personality, that's for sure, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care if he dies.
In a way, he's his subordinate and a fellow adventurer.
And no one would want to see their comrades die!
Thinking about this, he shifted his gaze.
And the three from 'Room 10' and Ryo came into his line of sight.
"Hey, Harold!"
Hugh called out his name.
"Yes, sir."
Harold saw that Hugh was not looking at him, but at other people as he called him.
Hugh was looking at the three from Room 10 and… the C-rank adventurer who had shattered his shoulder ….
"You look up to Niels and his party, don't you?"
"Yes, I do! I look up to them."
Harold spoke the most forcefully so far.
Hearing this, Niels in particular started getting flushed.
(Oh, so that's why their party name is 'Room 11'…)
Ryo seemed strangely convinced.
Moreover, he seemed to respect Niels the most among the guys from 'Room 10'… so much so that even Ryo could tell from his enthusiastic gaze.
"Niels and the rest of 'Room 10' will be participating in the delegation this time. Meaning you guys of 'Room 11' will have to fight alongside Niels and the others, so if you act foolishly, you will be tarnishing the reputation of 'Room 10', which is one of the parties representing the Kingdom."
Hearing this, Harold's eyes widened.
He obviously had no intention of ruining Room 10's reputation, but what surprised him was not that, but the fact that Hugh already seemed to be talking on the assumption that they would accompany the delegation.
"You understand what I'm saying? Your actions may damage the reputation of the guys from Room 10. So, always keep that in mind before you act."
"Yes, sir. Understood!"
Harold nodded and replied.
Zeke and Gowan also looked at Hugh and then at Harold.
They, too, finally realized the connotation implying they'd be tagging along.
"So, Your Majesty, Harold and his party will be added to the adventurer escort detail of the delegation."
"Alright. I'm counting on you, Grand Master."
"Sure thing… although, rather than me …"
Hugh said and turned his gaze to the water-attribute magician who was sitting politely next to 'Room 10', pretending to be listening to what was being said.
"Also, Harold, Ryo, the C-rank adventurer over there will be accompanying us on the delegation."
"! "
He had a hunch, but when he brought it up, Harold's expression tensed up.
It was only natural, since he was the culprit who did those terrible things to him ….
"Yeah. The same Ryo who shattered your shoulder and pierced you with his sword."
Hearing that, the three from 'Room 10' were startled and turned toward Ryo.
Exposed to their gazes, Ryo turned his in another direction, saying that he didn't pierce him with his sword, and then tried playing dumb by whistling… which proved futile obviously.
So he decided to make an excuse.
"T-That's because, Mont Bla… I mean, Harold, over there challenged me to a duel. It was simply the byproduct of a good old-fashioned duel. How's that my fault? Hey, Niels, what's with that suspicious look you're shooting my way?"
"Nah, just thinking you probably instigated it anyway…"
Correct.
"W-W-What are you talking about?"
Ryo couldn't hide his agitation.
"Anyway, that aside. Harold, if you really admire Niels and his party, then you may have heard of this. 'The fourth member of Room 10'."
"Yes, of course, I have heard the rumors. About there being a magician in Room 10 who was the fourth member. Though I don't believe those rumors."
"It's true. And that fourth member is Ryo."
The impact of those words was profound.
Harold stood up involuntarily and looked at Ryo.
With eyes wide open.
Then he looked at Niels.
Niels, who was being stared at, could understand what he was trying to ask.
"It's true. Ryo was originally a roommate of the three of us, and he helped us many times to complete our quests."
Niels answered candidly.
"B-But then… then why isn't this man… Ryo… a member of Room 10?"
"It's because he's too friggin strong."
Etho, also the priest of Room 10, answered.
The answer surprised not only Harold but also Priest Zeke.
So, this 'Ryo' fellow was really the fourth member of Room 10… Harold was clearly having a hard time accepting this fact, that even a casual observer could tell.
"Well, there you have it, so you should listen to Ryo during this delegation. And Ryo, you too, please take care of these guys from 'Room 11'."
Hugh looked alternately at Harold and Ryo while saying that.
"I understand. That means letting them go through the same kind of training that Niels and the others went through."
"Hey, come on, stop it."
Ryo replied while nodding solemnly, and Niels hurriedly tried stopping him.
Etho shook his head repeatedly, and Amon chuckled.