Extra 4
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In the capital of the Handal Union, Jayclaire, the Governor's Office.
"Sir, we have a problem!"
Aide Lamber burst in without knocking.
This was extremely unusual and at the same time indicated that something remarkably troublesome had occurred.
In an instant, Lord Aubrey, the Governor of the Union, composed himself and calmly inquired.
"What is it?"
This made Lamber realize just how flustered he had been.
But the fact remained that there was something substantial to report.
"Just now, it's been reported that the army of Stra Marquisate has invaded the Kingdom of Knightley."
"What did you say!"
Even Lord Aubrey, taken aback by Lamber's unexpected report, raised his voice.
The Stra Marquisate is one of the countries that make up the Handal Union.
Moreover, it is one of the ten major powers of the Union that have a seat in the Ten-member Council.
Among the countries making up the Union, only the Volturino Grand Duchy borders a foreign country on its western border… in other words, it borders the kingdom or empire.
However… there is a peculiar location where the width is only a hundred meters.
That place, called the Cantano region, is currently under the jurisdiction of the Volturino Grand Duchy, but it was once part of Stra Marquisate.
From Stra Marquisate, one can pass through the Cantano region and immediately enter the Kingdom's territory.
In fact, in the past, the invasion of the Kingdom has occurred several times through that route…
Most likely this time as well…
The current Marquis of Stra, Wiesn Gasco, is in his late twenties.
His rule, according to Lord Aubrey, is neither here nor there.
But his personality…
"If only he were a bit more thoughtful and cautious…"
Lord Aubrey sighed.
"Aricho-sama, his predecessor, was quite prudent."
"The Kingdom's border presses against the Cantano region. With that constant threat, we have to constantly remain on our toes."
Aide Lamber recalled the late Marquis of Stra, and Lord Aubrey nodded in agreement.
There were rumors that Lord Aricho, the previous ruler, intended to name his second son as his successor, not his eldest son, Wiesn.
But as soon as those rumors surfaced… Lord Aricho died in an accident.
Wiesn, who was twenty-three at the time, became the Marquis of Stra.
And naturally, two years later, the second son, who might have been the successor, passed away.
Wiesn found himself without any competitors.
"When Lord Aricho passed away, there were rumors that Your Excellency had a hand in it."
"Geez… I'm not an idiot. Considering the interests of the entire Union, the Marquisate of Stra is a very important state. It's obvious that someone as reliable as Aricho should be ruling there. So why the hell would I bother to kill him?"
"Well, the timing was unfortunate…"
Lord Aubrey sighed, and Lamber chuckled bitterly.
Lord Aubrey became the governor, and nine out of the ten-member council were replaced… and one of those nine was Aricho.
It's no wonder Lord Aubrey was suspected.
"So, why did Wiesn invade the Kingdom this time?"
"It seems that a band of bandits causing trouble within the country fled to the Kingdom through the Cantano region. He moved to suppress them, or so he claims."
"The hell…?"
Lord Aubrey sighed in exasperation at Lamber's report.
"Surely Wiesn is no fool, so I'm sure he'll withdraw before the army arrives from the royal capital. It'll probably take about two days."
"Not from the royal capital."
Lord Aubrey shook his head slightly at Lamber's speculation.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Lamber, this is a trap… or rather, a stratagem. Likely orchestrated by the Prime Minister, Marquis Heinlein."
"Eh…"
Lord Aubrey spoke with little amusement, and Lamber was taken aback.
"Most likely, the Royal Knights are lying in wait near the border. Perhaps even the Valkyrie Knights. They'll utterly crush the Stra Marquisate Army that violated the border… Attacking an invading force that crossed the border gives the Kingdom full justification. Really…what a mess they've created."
"You said it's a stratagem… how?"
"It's a grand unveiling, the debut of the new Grand Knight Commander and Chief Knight."
"Sera-dono of the Western Forest?"
"Yeah. It's almost certain that King Abel isn't around. They won't make an announcement, but it's unlikely he's present. But even without him, they're showing that the Kingdom stands strong, using this as an opportunity."
Lord Aubrey explained with a grimace.
He truly looked bothered by the whole affair.
"When Sera-dono was announced as the Grand Knight Commander and Chief Knight, Your Excellency mentioned. It's certain King Abel isn't in the country. Won't this confirm it?"
"It's fine. Despite Marquis Heinlein overseeing counterintelligence, it's still impossible to completely cut off information. Both the Union and the Empire will eventually treat King Abel's absence as confirmed intel. So, Marquis Heinlein intends to use even that as part of his scheme. By boldly presenting Sera-dono at this moment, he's showing that the Kingdom is impregnable. With this much done, neither our Union nor the Empire can easily make a move against the Kingdom."
"The world of stratagems is truly remarkable."
Lamber remarked, impressed by Lord Aubrey's explanation.
Lamber was completely ignorant when it came to such tangled matters…
"Sera-dono of the Western Forest… she's indeed a formidable elf. But that Prime Minister is even more troublesome…"
Lord Aubrey said with a sigh.
"Sera-sama, the surrendered enemies number around two thousand and thirty. We've made preparations for their transfer to Redpost as initially planned."
This location is near the eastern border of the Kingdom.
Just earlier, the Royal Knights, the Magician Order, and the Valkyrie Knights surrounded and utterly crushed the invading Stra Marquisate Army that violated the border.
As a result, they obtained over two thousand prisoners.
In preparation for negotiations with the Union, the prisoners are to be transferred to the border town of Redpost… that is all part of the plan.
All orchestrated by Prime Minister Marquis Alexis Heinlein.
"As expected of Alexis-dono's plan. It was flawless."
Sera remarked.
However…
"But… Captain Dontan, what do you think of the Royal Knights' movements?"
It wasn't a particularly harsh tone.
But Dontan felt a pressure tighten around him when he was asked.
Almost like the pressure he felt when he was questioned by the former Royal Knight Captain and current Prime Minister, Marquis Alexis Heinlein.
"Well…. Perhaps they still have some room for improvement."
"Hmm. Captain Dontan thinks so too."
As Dontan answered, one of the two knights standing behind him, frowned slightly.
His name was Commander Scotty Cobook.
But the other knight remained flushed throughout the conversation.
His name was Commander Zack Cooler.
And Zack spoke up.
"I-I'd like to make a suggestion to the Grand Knight Commander!"
At Zack's words, Scotty looked shocked.
He seemed to have a bad feeling about this.
"Hmm, Commander Cooler, what's on your mind?"
"Yes! I believe the Royal Knights still have plenty of room for improvement. I suggest we double the current training regiment!"
Zack said emphatically, his face still red.
Even Dontan was taken aback by that proposal.
"Hahaha, Commander Cooler is certainly full of enthusiasm."
Sera chuckled.
Seeing her reaction, Zack felt like he was on cloud nine.
His subordinates might resent him if they were subjected to double the training… but Zack didn't care.
"But, doubling the training might be a bit too much. How about starting with a twenty percent increase, Captain Dontan?"
"Yeah. As you say."
Sera's suggestion provided some relief for the subordinates. Just a little.
Then, Imogen, the Valkyrie Knight Captain, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"Sera-sama, I have a question."
"What is it, Captain Imogen?"
"We once had a mock battle with the Rune Frontier County Knights. They were truly one of the finest knight orders in the Kingdom. I heard that you served as an instructor for the Rune Knights for many years…"
"Yes, I did. Those were fun times."
"Now, I was wondering if you could tell me how it was compared to your instructions to us and the Royal Knights…"
The Valkyrie Knights, led by Imogen, had once engaged in a mock battle with the Rune Knights.
They were stunned by the vast difference in strength.
Since then, they had trained with the goal of matching the Rune Knights.
The Grand Knight Commander before them had spent years instructing the Rune Knights.
If so, she thought it was a good opportunity to ask her about it properly.
"Well…. Firstly, the Rune Knights have newcomers instructed in sword arts by Max Doyle. It's orthodox Hume-style swordsmanship, but Max is skilled at teaching it. They become quite strong quickly. Then, I focus on… honing the minds of those who have grown strong."
"Minds?"
"Yeah. Simply put, I beat them up repeatedly."
"Eh…?"
"Being defeated by a stronger opponent is something everyone experiences, not just on the battlefield. It's only by getting back up each time that you can strive for the next level of strength… that's what I believe. So, I defeat them repeatedly in mock battles. Of course, afterward, I guide them on what went wrong and how they can improve. But fundamentally, I'm shaping their minds. However, if they lose all the time, their spirits will weaken… it's a bit different from forming a losing habit… Right, how did Ryo put it…"
Sera paused there for a moment.
She was reminded of Ryo….
"Confidence only comes from winning. To build confidence, you have to accumulate experiences of success."
Sera imitated Ryo's tone.
With delight.
"Well, it seems that even before Ryo's advice, the Rune Knights occasionally accumulated experiences of success. They engaged in monster subjugation and mock battles with other knight orders."
When Sarah said this, Imogen's eyes widened in surprise.
Recalling the mock battle between the Valkyrie Knights and the Rune Knights.
Sera chuckled at her reaction.
"Looks like the Valkyries were also a victim."
"Perhaps…"
"Well, no one side benefited entirely. The Valkyries gained experience, and the Rune Knights gained confidence. Neville-dono, the Captain of the Rune Knights, is quite sharp. He thinks things through thoroughly."
"No… certainly, it was a valuable experience, so I don't hold any grudges."
Imogen replied with a firm nod to Sera's words.
"Anyway… ah, yeah, that's about the extent of what I did to train the Rune Knights. Not much, really."
"…"
"Also, after Ryo started sparring with me, I incorporated the advice of a sixty-minute continuous combat session into the training regimen."
"Sixty minutes…"
"Continuous combat?"
Sera nodded at the memory, and Dontan was speechless while Imogen raised an eyebrow in question.
"That's right. Continuously spar for sixty minutes. Hydration and such are handled in a combat-like manner, with each individual managing hydration breaks or even hydrating while fighting, depending on the situation."
"That sounds… grueling."
Dontan muttered.
"Well, in actual combat, battles may not end within an hour. In the most intense areas, there might not even be relief units available, right? It's about preparing for that. Naturally, within the unit, we rotate and give breaks as needed. It's training not only for the soldiers but also for the commanders. It's about efficiently rotating between units that are fighting and those resting. Come to think of it, Ryo used to say that training should be tougher than the real thing…"
Sera recalled with another smile.
This time, it was a radiant smile.
Apparently, thinking of Ryo brought joy to her.
"Ryo-dono…Duke Rondo is…quite intense…"
Dontan commented, and Imogen nodded in agreement.
More misunderstandings about Ryo were spreading.
But upon hearing this, there was a knight who renewed his determination.
"Sixty minutes…then I'll train one hundred and twenty minutes of continuous combat session to surpass him!"
Scotty glanced sideways at Zack's quietly spoken determination and shook his head slightly.
Then, he muttered under his breath, unheard by anyone else.
"It's a lost cause… Zack."
-x-X-x-
Extra 5
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Sera noticed the faint sound of a violin.
The skill was rudimentary, to say the least.
It almost felt like they had picked up the instrument for the first time in the past few days.
Moreover, the sound was coming from the room she was about to enter.
"Hmm?"
Given permission to enter without knocking, Sera quietly opened the door and peeked inside for a moment.
Surely, if Abel were there, he would say in an astonished tone:
"Sera, you're starting to take after Ryo more and more…"
And Sera, on the contrary, would be very pleased to hear that.
Inside the room, violin lessons were underway.
Receiving the lesson was Prince Noah.
His mother, Queen Rihya, sat in a corner of the room, smiling as she watched.
Sera quietly approached Rihya.
"Oh, Sera. The documents, right?"
"Yes, I brought them. But… is Noah having violin practice?"
"That's right. I learned this after getting married, but it seems all children born into the Knightley royal family must learn to play the violin."
"…That's impressive."
Rihya smiled wryly, and Sera was surprised.
Neither Rihya nor Sera could play the violin.
"They must learn to play…?"
"Our founding ancestor, King Richard, was apparently a virtuoso violinist, and that seems to have had an influence. So, learning to play the violin is not just a hobby but a duty."
"Noah is only three years old, though…"
"Yeah. It seems they start lessons once they turn three."
"Being royalty is quite demanding."
Sera sighed.
Royals are expected not only to acquire practical knowledge for governing the country but also to excel in various arts, martial arts, and even activities like dancing, horseback riding, and sailing.
When 'representing the Kingdom' abroad, any embarrassment brought upon oneself is tantamount to disgracing the Kingdom and its people.
Nevertheless…
Growing up in an environment where mastering these things is considered natural is anything but ordinary.
But Sera knew.
Rihya, standing before her, had been working hard to master these skills since marrying into the royal family.
"It's irrelevant to foreigners that I am someone who married into the royal family. I wouldn't want the reputation of the Kingdom to suffer because of me."
She laughed as if it were nothing, yet her dedication to her dance lessons was remarkable…
If one starts early, the time needed to acquire these skills is shorter.
But when starting as an adult… it often takes a considerable amount of time.
That's why Rihya's efforts were remarkable.
All for the Kingdom and its people.
The people of the Kingdom would never ridicule or laugh at Rihya.
But that wasn't the issue.
It was to ensure that the people of the Kingdom wouldn't be ridiculed… for having such a queen.
However, Rihya had her own reasons.
While it was undoubtedly tough, she didn't resent it.
Because… it was the path her beloved had once walked.
And now, she was allowed to walk it too… she was permitted to follow that path…
Following the path that Abel had walked since he was young… having that sentiment, despite the challenges, made it not so difficult.
The human heart is complex.
"I've heard that Abel can play the violin, but Ryo seems to be able to play the pia-no. However, I'm not familiar with the pia-no. Do you know about it, Rihya?"
"Pia-no? Hmm, I've never heard of it. At least, it's not an instrument you would find in the Central Countries."
Rihya replied, tilting her head in response to Sera's question.
Since joining the royal family, Rihya has been learning not only about the political situations in various countries but also about their traditional cultures and lifestyles.
The higher one rises in position, the more knowledge and culture outside of practical matters one is expected to possess.
In fact, even with exceptional practical skills, one might not be entrusted with significant responsibilities if one lacks broader knowledge.
Since external responsibilities often increase more than internal ones.
"Both men can play musical instruments, but we cannot."
Sera said with a small laugh.
Being careful as Noah was practicing nearby.
"Shall we try practicing musical instruments as a hobby? With the goal of being able to play in about twenty years?"
"A hobby huh… I've never thought about it, but that doesn't sound bad. But it won't be easy, will it?"
"Yeah, it might be incredibly difficult. Learning to play an instrument is truly challenging."
Rihya said, smiling as she watched Noah earnestly practicing.
"Your Highness, you're doing great. If you practice every day, you'll be able to produce even more beautiful sounds."
"Yes, teacher."
It was a conversation between the teacher and Prince Noah.
From a distance, the two watched with delight.
"The teacher is good at giving compliments, I see."
"Yeah. I insisted on that strongly. I asked them to praise and instruct as much as possible."
"Is that so?"
"That's what Ryo said. He mentioned that praising is the basis of education."
"Indeed, Ryo would say something like that."
Rihya said, and Sera agreed.
Yes, praising to encourage growth is fundamental.
Ryo often said so and indeed praised his students.
Of course, it wasn't just about praising; it was about praising specific achievements and improvements.
It meant paying careful attention to the other person.
Conversely, being able to praise accurately indicated that one was paying attention and caring for the other person.
The recipient of the praise feels it, which makes them happy.
They want to receive more praise, so they work harder.
And because they're working hard, they continue to grow.
And then they receive more praise.
It's a positive cycle.
That's what education is all about.
Rihya and Sera had seen Ryo teaching water-attribute magic to the children of the Gecko trading company.
As a result, the children were all happily using water-attribute magic.
"It's easier to learn when you're having fun."
"Yeah, Ryo was talking about something like the amygdala in the head and something hippocampus… I didn't quite get that part."
"Ryo occasionally says complicated things."
Rihya recalled, and Sera chuckled in agreement.
"But I remember him saying this: You become good at what you enjoy doing."
"Ryo seems to enjoy his training sessions too. That's so like him."
Both Rihya and Sera remembered the sight of Ryo enjoying his training in water-attribute magic and alchemy.
Fun. Surely, that's justice.
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Extra 6 Volume 3 Opening 2700 words
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"Hey, Ryo, wake up."
"…No, I can't. I can't eat any more cake. I'm full… mumble mumble."
"You probably ain't gonna find no cakes here, buddy."
Was Abel's statement the deciding factor?
Ryo's eyes widened, and he literally jumped up.
He looked around.
Beside him was Abel.
The two were on a sandy beach.
In front of them, the sea stretched out.
Behind them was a forest approaching near the coast.
He was wearing his usual robe.
He wore the shoes he received from Dullahan.
Murasame, Michael's knife, and his self-made sheath were all there.
The identification plate he was told to always wear was hanging from his neck.
There didn't seem to be any particular problem.
"Phew, that's good. It seems like there's no fatal problem."
After grasping the situation, Ryo expressed relief.
"No, it's definitely a tough situation no matter how you look at it…"
Abel, by Ryo's side, seemed unable to agree with Ryo's opinion.
That's inevitable.
The world is made up of diversity.
There are people with different opinions and ways of thinking, and that basic understanding must always be kept in mind.
"Indeed… since I left my usual bag behind, I don't have salt and pepper. That is quite a situation, but I want you to bear with it. Could it be that Abel, having become a king, can no longer bear to tolerate things?"
"It's not like that! Besides, where even is this place?"
"It's a beach, you know? Where else could it be…"
Ryo, with a mysterious expression, tilted his head in response to Abel's unjustifiable outburst.
"Yeah, okay…I guess my way of saying it was wrong. Why are we here at this beach?"
"I see. Abel, you don't understand what happened at that time, do you?"
Ryo finally understood why Abel was blurting out such things.
…Or at least, he thinks he understood.
"Djinn Garwin's magic power… or rather, magic went out of control. Djinns are good at gravity manipulation magic, right? Since gravity is the bending of space, as a great physicist said, I think space was twisted and we ended up somewhere unknown."
"…Sorry, I don't get it at all."
Despite Ryo's thorough explanation, Abel didn't seem to understand….
It's difficult to make someone understand without fundamental knowledge.
It's like trying to make someone who can't do addition and subtraction understand a 10-simultaneous second-order nonlinear partial differential equation. It's impossible.
…Yeah, I don't understand a 10-simultaneous second-order nonlinear partial differential equation in the first place.
It's not something you'd normally solve.
"So, both of us were sent somewhere far away, is that it?"
"Yes, I think that's a good way to put it."
Abel said roughly, and Ryo accepted his words.
"We need to get back as soon as possible."
"Yeah. But it's going to be difficult…"
Ryo responded to Abel's words.
And then, Ryo fell silent.
Even after waiting for a while, Ryo remained silent.
Abel could see that Ryo's expression was unusually serious, deeply lost in thought.
It was different from his usual pretense of seriousness.
With as long as Abel has been with him, he can grasp that difference.
"What's wrong, Ryo?"
"Abel… I think we're going to have to throw ourselves into a fight that we can't avoid."
"What's got into you?"
With a serious expression, Ryo said, and Abel tilted his head in response.
Ryo stretched out his arm.
Where he was pointing was…
"The sea?"
"Yeah. Unless we stay here indefinitely, we'll eventually have to venture out into this sea."
"Yeah…"
Then Abel understood what Ryo was concerned about.
"It's a different world out there in the sea."
"Yeah…. It's said to be a world where people shouldn't venture into, even more so than the forest at night."
Abel agreed with Ryo's words.
"No one can defeat the sea monsters underwater…"
Abel muttered.
Indeed, that's natural.
In an environment completely surrounded by water, attacks with fire magic or wind magic are meaningless.
Even generating stone lances with earth-attribute magic and throwing them… would be resisted by the water.
Moreover, the water in the sea is under the control of the sea monsters…
Furthermore… there's the fundamental problem of how to breathe underwater.
"That's why water magic stones obtained from aquatic monsters command astonishingly high prices… or rather, they're rarely obtained."
"Come to think of it, we hardly ever hear about water magic stones."
Abel remarked, and Ryo nodded as he remembered.
Abel spoke while looking at Ryo's ear.
"That earring you're wearing, Ryo, that's a water magic stone, but even at that size, it costs a fortune."
"This?"
Ryo's earring was a prototype made by Viscount Kenneth Hayward of the Royal Alchemy Workshop for Abel's 'Soul Resonance'.
It was a very beautiful earring with a small, blue magic stone embedded in the center.
"The Royal Alchemy Workshop only receives about two or three of these water magic stones a year. Despite being the institution with the highest priority magic stone distribution within the Kingdom."
"Ho-hoo~."
It seemed to be a considerably rare piece of equipment…
Yes, sea monsters sink to the bottom of the sea when defeated.
That's what happened when he defeated the Bait Ball…
They sink to the bottom of the sea… not in the shallows, but further down, where it's deeper.
Certainly, even if they were to defeat sea monsters, it would be impossible to retrieve the magic stones.
"But… if we don't defeat that guy, we won't be able to leave, right?"
"That guy?"
"Yeah. Our common archenemy."
"We have an archenemy?"
Abel tilted his head at Ryo's words.
"It easily took control of my magic and sank the ship you were on into the sea…"
"…Oh, the Kraken, huh. Wonder if it's here too."
It was off the coast of Rondo Forest.
It's uncertain if it's here.
Of course, it would be a different one, but… when crossing the sea, one can't ignore that giant squid.
"Of course, it would be great if it let us pass easily…. But from what I learned in the Western Countries, Krakens actively attack those who invade their territory. It's probably best to consider the possibility of a fight."
"For real…"
Even Ryo, who had fought a deadly battle against the legendary djinn, couldn't defeat a Kraken underwater.
Because in the water, he would lose control over water.
What would happen if he lost control over water?
He couldn't defend with
He couldn't attack with
He couldn't even swim.
And might even be crushed by the seawater….
In other words, he wouldn't be able to put up a fight….
But they might have to defeat such a colossal opponent…
For Ryo and Abel to survive.
-x-X-x-
Extra 7
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Five figures traversed the desert sands.
If anyone who knew the full circumstances were present, they would have been surprised.
That's because one of the five was a Djinn.
And the remaining four were his loyal followers.
Among the followers was a massive man exuding a rough, wild, and rugged aura.
His long, dark orange hair and matching eyes stood out even more than his imposing stature.
"Garwin-sama, I'm parched. It's been nothing but desert for so long."
"Shut it, Oranj! As my follower, you should know you won't die even if you don't drink water."
Garwin, a tall, blond, tan-skinned man, yelled with a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Well, I won't die, but… my throat feels dry… You get it, right, Isolde?"
"No, not particularly."
Isolde, a woman with long black hair replied, shaking her head.
"Seriously…? Huh? Then, is it just me?"
Oranj looked surprised, his confidence wavering.
Then he quickly continued.
"By the way, why are we walking in a place like this?"
"Because the magic
Isolde replied nonchalantly.
Though she should have been dead during the outburst, she seemed to understand somehow.
A child mixed among the five bowed deeply to Djinn Garwin as they walked.
It was Juke, the follower who had possessed the body of Erwin, Duke of Shrewsbury.
Garwin addressed Juke with a voice entirely different from how he spoke to Oranj, exuding a kindness that was absent before.
"It's alright, Juke. It's not your fault. Don't worry about it."
"…"
"Well, indeed, I underestimated the determination of that young duke. Truly fearsome is the tenacity of men. I had misjudged him."
"…"
"Hahaha, that's right, as expected of Juke. A lump of ambition, indeed. Well, I'm expecting great things from you."
After observing their interaction, Oranj tilted his head and asked Isolde, who was walking beside him.
"I always wonder, but Juke's voice can only be heard by Garwin-sama, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Why is that?"
"Beats me. That's just how it is, isn't it?"
"Even though we're fellow followers."
"We may be fellow followers of Garwin-sama, but Juke is special. He appears to be a child, but neither you nor I know his true form, right? Basically, he always possesses someone's body and sends their power to Garwin-sama… that's his role as a follower. Even while Garwin-sama was sealed, only that child could move. He's truly unique."
Isolde glanced briefly at Juke as she answered.
Oranj and Isolde led the way, followed by Garwin and Juke, with Vim Lowe bringing up the rear.
Compared to Garwin and Oranj, Vim Lowe was slender.
Of course, he was muscular and overwhelmingly stronger than a human.
That's to be expected, of course.
He's one of Djinn Garwin's high-ranking minions, one of the Four Generals.
However…
"Vim Lowe still doesn't speak much as usual."
"That's nothing new, is it?"
As Oranj and Isolde mentioned, he remained silent.
In fact, neither of them had any memory of hearing his voice.
"Can't hear Juke's voice, Vim Lowe doesn't speak… of the Four Generals, only you and I speak normally."
"There's nothing we can do about it now. Besides, it's been a while since all five of us, including Garwin-sama's main body, were together like this."
The five of them were walking in the desert.
"Anyway… where are we? We can't even enjoy the scenery in this desert."
Oranj complained.
"It's neither the Central Countries nor the Western Countries, that's for sure."
Garwin replied without yelling at Oranj for once.
He seemed somewhat certain.
"Really? I always wonder about Garwin-sama's words…"
"Shut up, Oranj! Unlike you, I have a reason for saying that!"
And just like that, Garwin ended up yelling again.
"Garwin-sama. What's your reason for saying this place is neither the Central Countries nor the Western Countries…?"
Isolde smoothly followed up.
But in reality, she was just curious about the reason and didn't intend to help Oranj….
"It's because there's no 'Accumulator' here."
"Accumulator?"
"We, Djinns… back then, we called ourselves Spellno…. We, Spellno, set them up all over the Central Countries and the Western Countries to gain power. They were installed at points where ley lines converged or erupted. If there were any, power would flow from there automatically, but there's none around here."
"So, that's why this place is neither the Central Countries nor the Western Countries."
Isolde nodded in understanding.
Even though they had been following Garwin as his high-ranking minion for a long time, there were still many things they didn't know.
"But weren't they installed a long time ago? Do they still work now?"
Oranj asked.
"Yeah. After a while, it seems that the humans also realized the benefits of those places. They built shrines and temples there."
"Could it be…the 'Hidden Shrines' that the humans were talking about…?"
"Yeah, that's it."
Garwin replied nonchalantly to Oranj's astounded inquiry.
"Is it safe to assume that they're gathering magic power?"
Isolde asked, tilting her head.
"Well… I honestly don't know. It's because no one really understands what 'magic power' is. We just vaguely sense it."
Garwin answered, shrugging.
And then, with a slight smile, he continued speaking.
"Well, as long as those accumulators exist, we will revive even if we're destroyed. We'd come back to life."
Garwin stated firmly.
"Even though that water magician chopped you up to pieces… even though he tried so hard."
Oranj lamented, shaking his head slightly.
Even if they were enemies, strong individuals were respected as such. That was Oranj's style.
"That guy… he's probably been sent somewhere along with Richard's descendant."
Garwin said, as if recalling something, then smiled happily and continued speaking.
"I'd like to have another exhilarating battle like that."
"Oh! Garwin-sama. I can see the city!"
Oranj exclaimed happily.
In the direction of the desert he pointed at, there was a city.
The group had arrived at the oasis city.
-x-X-x-
Extra 8
-x-X-x-
The city the group arrived at wasn't particularly large.
It was more of a settlement.
At its center was an oasis, where water bubbled up, and around it stood about twenty tents.
"It's quite cool around this pond."
Oranj exclaimed happily. Even as a Djinn's follower, he didn't like it too hot, cool was preferable.
"According to a book I read before, humans call this an oasis."
"Indeed, Isolde. If only Oranj could emulate your attitude even a little…"
Garwin praised Isolde's input.
"Why drag me into this? You didn't even know, Garwin-sama!"
"Silence, Oranj! I don't need to. As long as you guys serve me, you can make up for my shortcomings."
"How selfish…"
Oranj lamented Garwin's selfishness.
Being a follower seemed tough…
As the group washed their faces and drank water at the oasis, an old woman approached.
"యాత్రికులు."
"I don't understand the language."
Oranj muttered when addressed.
Garwin blinked his eyes two or three times.
Then…
"Travelers…"
"Oh? I understand her!"
The old woman spoke the same words again, which Oranj now understood.
"Yeah. We got lost and ended up here."
Garwin replied politely, a departure from his usual manner.
First, gathering information was crucial.
"It's best to leave here as soon as possible."
"Why's that?"
"Because the members of the 'Devil's Guild' will be arriving soon. Once they see your beautiful daughter, they'll definitely want to claim her for themselves."
The old woman said, glancing briefly at Isolde.
"The Devil's Guild. Devil as in, that Devil?"
"Obviously not. Besides, the Devil isn't interested in women."
Oranj and Isolde were whispering to each other.
"If that's the case, their naming sense is terrible."
"I agree, but…what name would you give them?"
"Naturally, I'd call them Orange Juice!"
"Yeah, I shouldn't have asked."
Ignoring Oranj and Isolde's conversation, Garwin asked the old woman.
"So, why are these Devil's Guild people coming?"
"They're coming to extort money and food from us."
"Oh, I see. They're a bunch of bad guys."
Garwin chuckled.
For some reason, he seemed happy.
"Where are they coming from?"
"They're coming from Tantoga, where the capital is."
"Oh, I see. Is the capital far? Is it big?"
"It's the capital, so it's big. It's just beyond two oases… Are you going to the capital?"
"Yeah. I'm starting to think that might be a good idea."
An hour later.
The five of them ignored the old woman's advice and sat by the edge of the oasis, resting.
The area around the oasis was surprisingly cool, so Oranj had been sleeping soundly.
Finally, men riding camels appeared from the western desert.
There were twelve of them.
"Hey! The usual collection…"
The man at the front shouted, but his words were cut off midway.
Not just him, but everyone else, their gaze fixated on one spot.
Approaching them was a black-haired beauty.
The woman spoke.
"Are you members of the Devil's Guild?"
"Yeah, that's right."
At that moment, no one noticed the sinister smile on Garwin's face.
Then, an order was given.
"Keep one of them alive. To guide us."
And then, three gusts of wind blew through the ranks of the Devil's Guild.
Oranj, Vim Lowe, and Juke.
The heads of four people flew, blood spurting from their necks, and three of them turned to stone.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Among the Devil's Guild, only the man who had been talking to Isolde at the front remained unharmed.
But a sword was pressed against his throat by Isolde.
"You're our prisoner. Now guide us to the capital."
"Yes ma'am…"
And so, Garwin's group obtained twelve camels, including spares, and a guide.
-x-X-x-
Extra 9
-x-X-x-
Six men and women arrived at the entrance of the city of Tantoga.
Each riding on camels and accompanied by spare camels.
"Ooh, quite an impressive city, isn't it?"
Djinn Garwin complimented the city.
The area surrounding Tantoga was no longer desert but had turned into grassland.
"This is the capital of the desert kingdom of Julban, Tantoga."
The human man explained.
His expression was not so much polite as it was timid, almost fearful.
"Hey, Bosun, let's eat first. Lead us to a good restaurant."
"Yes, sir, Garwin-sama."
Djinn Garwin ordered, and the man replied, nodding repeatedly.
Bosun was one of the ruffians from the Devil's Guild, but now he was guiding Garwin's group.
Along the way, he had come to understand that Garwin and the others were not ordinary humans but something far more terrifying.
"Garwin-sama, we don't really need to eat…"
"Shut up, Oranj! I want to eat good food. Of course, it's not a problem if you don't want to, but since we're in town, I might as well."
Garwin shouted angrily at Oranj, as usual.
The other three followers remained silent.
Vim Lowe was naturally quiet.
Juke's voice could only be heard by Garwin.
And Isolde preferred to leave the role of being scolded to Oranj.
That was Oranj's role.
After finishing their meal, the six of them left the restaurant.
"Well, that was certainly delicious. Bosun, I commend you."
"Haha. Thank you very much."
Bosun, the only human among them, bowed so deeply that his head almost touched the ground.
However…
"Huh? By the way, Bosun, did you pay at the restaurant?"
"Uh? N-No…"
"Why didn't you pay?"
"This is… a shop that pays tribute to the Devil's Guild, so eating and drinking are free…"
At Garwin's question, Bosun answered somewhat proudly.
"That's not good."
"Eh…"
Denied by Garwin, Bosun's face turned pale.
"People should pay when they eat at someone else's shop. That's only natural. Go pay up immediately."
"Yes sir!"
Bosun immediately ran off to the cashier at the shop.
Watching this with a puzzled expression.
Oranj decided to ask Garwin.
"Garwin-sama, it's quite unusual for you to ask him to pay, isn't it?"
"What are you talking about, Oranj? It's only natural for people to pay when they eat at someone else's shop."
Garwin replied to Oranj with a puzzled expression.
And he continued.
"Even if the Devil's Guild held a high position in collecting tribute. Rather, precisely because they hold such a high position…. Juke, what do you think?"
"…"
"Exactly, isn't it? Even the young duke that Juke possessed… he held a very high position among humans, but he still paid for his meals when dining in town, didn't he? Naturally."
"…"
"Indeed, the higher one's position, the more they must set an example for the people. Absolutely right. So, I really don't understand what Oranj is on about."
With that, Garwin shook his head slightly.
Beside him, Juke, who appeared as a young boy, also shook his head slightly.
"Am I the strange one?"
Oranj muttered, grimacing.
He continued speaking.
"But Garwin-sama, you've never paid humans for anything before."
"Hmm? Of course not. What's your point?"
"Eh? Wait, didn't you just ask him to pay…?"
"I'm a Djinn and you all are my followers. We are superior beings compared to humans. Why should we pay humans anything?"
By now, Garwin was looking at Oranj as if he were a pitiable fool.
"A-Am I wrong?"
"Oranj, think about it. For example, if some humans went to a restaurant run by chickens and ate there, would they pay the chickens before leaving? Of course not. Why would they pay those they consider their prey? Oranj, you really need to train your mind a bit more."
"Does that analogy even make sense…?"
Garwin explained confidently, and Oranj's response was so quiet that no one heard it….
"S-sorry for the wait."
Bosun said as he returned after paying.
"Bosun, who is the strongest person in this city?"
Garwin asked abruptly but with a cheerful demeanor.
"I-In the public eye, it would be Captain Zocklak of the King's Guard."
Bosun replied. His answer came smoothly, indicating that Zocklak was a well-known figure.
However, Garwin's curiosity lay elsewhere.
"You said in the public eye. Is there someone in the shadows?"
"Yes. If we include the underworld, then it would be our Devil's Guild president, Bazaar-sama."
This answer also came smoothly.
"Alright then, take us to this Bazaar of the Devil's Guild."
"Huh?"
"It sounds interesting."
With that, Garwin commanded, and Bosun nodded once before leading the way.
Bosun smirked inwardly.
(Finally, I'll be rid of these guys. I was wondering how to get help, but now they're asking to go to the headquarters themselves…seems my luck isn't completely gone yet.)
"…So, Bosun, who are these people you've brought with you?"
This was in the grand hall of the Devil's Guild headquarters.
Bosun led the six, including Garwin's group, into the hall, where they were met with suspicious looks.
"Yes, Vice President. These people wanted to meet the President."
"So you just bring anyone who says they want to meet the President?"
The Vice President asked further, frowning even more at Bosun's answer.
"N-no, um…"
Bosun stammered, unable to answer.
"Ah, Bosun was caught by us, so he brought us here to ask for help."
"What did you say?"
Garwin said with a laugh, and the Vice President, not understanding the meaning of the words, asked again.
"Isn't your President, Bazaar or something, supposed to be strong? He thought if he beat me, he'd be released, so he brought us here."
Garwin explained politely, and Bosun looked surprised.
He didn't expect his plan to be so easily seen through.
"In other words, this is an attack. If we kill all of you, will this President guy show up?"
"Talk about ridiculous! You will kill us all?"
"Yeah. Shall we show you?"
"Interesting! Let's see you try. Hey, you guys…"
"Do it!"
Before the Vice President could finish speaking, Garwin gave the order.
Four streams of wind blew through the hall.
Oranj, Vim Lowe, Juke, and Isolde.
Three heads flew, blood spurted from three necks, three turned to stone, and three had their hearts pierced.
The only one left alive was the Vice President.
"What the…"
The Vice President couldn't understand what had happened.
"Seems like everyone except you is dead."
Garwin stated the fact.
Then he continued.
"So, will this President or whoever come out now? Or do I need to kill you too?"
"W-wait!"
A side door opened, and a person came out.
"What is all this noise?"
"President!"
A young man in his mid-twenties appeared with a frown, and the Vice President called out happily.
"Oh, so he did come out after killing everyone. When in doubt, kill everyone."
Garwin said happily.
"…Is that so?"
"Don't ask me."
Oranj whispered, questioning Isolde next to her.
Isolde answered, looking annoyed.
"I heard the President or whatever is the strongest in this city."
"Yeah, I'm strong."
President Bazaar answered confidently to Garwin's question.
"That's right. Those who do bad things need to be strong. But, no matter how I look at you, you…"
Garwin laughed mockingly and continued.
"You look weak."
"You fucker!"
As soon as he spoke, Bazaar drew his sword and quickly closed in on Garwin's space.
Garwin dodged the sharp horizontal slash by leaning back.
Diagonal slash, thrust, continuous thrusts, upward cut, downward strike…
But all of them missed.
Unarmed and without even a sword, Garwin avoided every strike, not blocking, not even grazing… he dodged them all.
"This fucker…"
"Is fucker the only thing that comes out of your mouth? Oh, that's right, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Garwin. I'm a Djinn."
"A Djinn? Nonsense!"
Garwin was honest about his identity, but Bazaar refused to accept it.
The sword fight… or rather, Bazaar's one-sided sword swinging continued for a while.
However…
"Huff, huff, huff…"
Bazaar was breathing heavily.
It was understandable.
Every full-force sword strike was dodged.
Not only could he not inflict damage, but Garwin didn't even take a hit….
More than his physical stamina, his mental strength was being eroded.
"You…what are you…?"
"I told you before, didn't I? I'm the Djinn Garwin."
Garwin answered Bazaar's question again, properly this time.
"I'm quite kind, aren't I?"
Garwin basked in his own sense of kindness.
"Is Garwin-sama really kind?"
Oranj's question was completely ignored by Isolde.
"Hey, Bazaar or whatever, you're running out of stamina, aren't you? Come at me with your best technique for the last move. I'll take it without dodging."
"You fucker…"
"I even told you my name, but fucker is all you can say it seems…"
Garwin shook his head slightly.
Such sarcasm no longer reached Bazaar's ears.
Bazaar's face was filled with determination.
His ultimate strike.
If it hit, the fight would be decided.
Then he had no choice but to unleash it!
He readied his sword.
And then he struck.
"Sword Art: Five Claw Rapid Thrust."
It was an ultra-fast series of five thrusts.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.
All five were deflected.
"Impossible!"
Bazaar shouted.
If it were dodged, that would be one thing, but for his supposedly unstoppable five thrusts to be deflected!?
"Weak."
With that word, Garwin's fist slammed into Bazaar's abdomen.
"Guh…"
Bazaar collapsed.
"Do you know? When bad guys lose, they become the slaves of the ones who beat them."
A sinister smile spread across Garwin's face.
"You're my slave now."
Saying this, Garwin laughed heartily.
Thus, the Devil's Guild of the desert kingdom of Julban came under Garwin's control.
-x-X-x-
"This…this must be a dream."
Ryo's voice trembled.
But it wasn't fear that caused his trembling.
It was joy.
Yes, joy made him tremble.
What kind of joy was it?
"How many cakes… no, how many hundreds of cakes are there…?"
Before Ryo was a mountain of cakes.
"Can I really eat all of this?"
"Of course. I prepared it for you, Ryo. Let's eat together."
The one who answered Ryo's question was Sera.
Hearing that, Ryo finally broke into a smile.
Seeing this, Sera's face also lit up with a beaming smile.
"That's definitely too much."
But a voice resounded as if condemning the scene.
Even without turning around, Ryo knew it was that swordsman.
"Abel isn't interested I see!"
"Eh? No, I want to eat too…"
When Ryo declared sternly, Abel quickly changed his expression.
"Oh, you want some? Well, I suppose I can let you have a little."
"Oh, uh…thanks."
"Hehehe. You two are always so entertaining."
Ryo said, Abel responded with a slightly awkward expression of gratitude, and Sera laughed.
There was happiness in that moment.
If happiness could be embodied, it would surely look like this scene…
"This is… a chocolate mousse covered in glacage… Pouring melted chocolate over it… the person who thought of this is a genius. Such a sinful combination…. Oh yes, I had this at Doge Pietro… it's like silk."
What caught Ryo's eye was a chocolate cake draped in a dark, glossy coating.
Furthermore…
"This is… pistachio? Chocolate? Strawberry? No, raspberry? A mousse intertwined with jelly… ah, this is the light. This is Lumiere guiding us lost souls in the forest of gastronomy."
Ryo gazed at the beautiful cross-section, entranced.
After a while, his gaze moved further.
To the top of the cake mountain.
His eyes widened.
"Sitting at the peak is… yes, the queen of cakes. The highest pinnacle of the Alps that has captivated gourmets worldwide…the perfect and supreme name to represent this height… the White Lady, Mont Blanc."
Ryo's gaze was fixated.
"What a… marvelous sight."
Words of admiration slipped out unintentionally.
Just looking at cakes can captivate a person.
However…
"Oh no. I can't keep the cakes waiting any longer. Let's eat them right away. Let's all eat together. Let's enjoy them!"
Saying this, Ryo picked up the first piece.
The queen, Mont Blanc.
Beside it was Kona coffee.
Solemnly, but with joyous movements, he placed his fork into it.
In that moment, Ryo's face was filled with joy.
Without stopping, in a graceful motion… he stabbed the Mont Blanc with his fork and brought it to his mouth.
"Ah…"
Delicious.
Delicious.
Delicious!
Trying to express the deliciousness with words would be crude.
Yes, deliciousness makes one realize the futility of words…
Just eat.
Simply eat.
That is the only correct answer. The right solution.
A great truth that everyone in the world understands.
The only word necessary in the world is…
"Delicious…"
That word alone suffices.
"Mm, delicious."
"Indeed, it's tasty."
And so, the deliciousness spread.
Sera and Abel also became captivated by the flavor.
Happiness reigned.
The three ate cakes until they were full.
Smiles appeared, laughter ensued, and a feeling of forgiveness for everything arose.
Deliciousness is justice.
Now, justice has been served.
…
...
...…
"Hey, Ryo, wake up."
"…No, no more. I can't eat any more cake. I'm full… mumble mumble."
"You probably won't find no cakes here, buddy."
-x-X-x-
"When the new year arrives, Abel, you have to give me a new year's gift."
"…"
"Um…Abel? Are you listening?"
"No, I didn't hear anything."
"You did hear me! Why are you ignoring me?"
"Somehow… it felt like you were going to say something disadvantageous to me, so I decided to ignore it…"
Abel is a former A-rank swordsman.
His intuition has saved his life countless times.
And his intuition told him this time. Not to react.
Indeed, the water-attribute magician in front of him was frowning.
Not reacting was the right choice, it seemed…
But this magician was persistent.
His name was Ryo.
"It's a new year's gift!"
"New Year's Gift? Sounding ball*?" (*TLN: A pun, playing on the same pronunciation)
"No need for jokes, Abel. Joking is my role, and your role is to be the straight man."
"I don't understand what you mean."
Ryo often used words Abel couldn't comprehend.
By now, Abel was used to it.
Ryo was just like that.
"A new year's gift is when a bigshot gives you lots of money. That's what it is."
"The King gives money to the premier duke?"
"U-um, don't worry about ranks. The King is a bigshot, so he should give out new year's gift."
"Ryo, you're already an adult, right?"
"Eh? Yes, I am. So what…?"
Ryo's response was not smooth.
"A new year's gift is something adults give to children, right?"
"How do you know that…"
Ryo blurted out, panicking at Abel's calm observation.
"I've heard that there was such a custom during King Richard's time."
"Damn… King Richard… he should've left it more ambiguous!"
For some reason, King Richard was being blamed.
Of course, it wasn't his fault.
"Besides, Ryo, you're quite wealthy. You don't need a new year's gift, do you?"
"That's not the point. It's not about the amount… although a large amount would be wonderful…"
Ryo was trying to find another way to phrase it.
Abel sighed softly.
"There's no need for me to give you money, is there?"
"No, that's not true. This is… a custom, yes, a custom."
"A custom?"
"Yeah. A new year's gift is like the New Year's rice cake money or summer ice money. Everyone gets it. Do you know about the New Year's rice cake money or summer ice money? Bigshots have always given it out. People involved in politics all receive it."
"…Sounds suspicious."
"Ugh… Abel is sharp today."
The attempt to introduce factional politics and money politics failed.
"Fine, forget the rice cake money and ice money, at least give me the new year's gift…"
"I'll think about it."
Seeing Ryo's sad face, Abel shook his head slightly and said that.
(Ah, this is a dream…. I remember giving Ryo a new year's gift after the new year started. Though it wasn't much. And despite being wealthy, he was so happy…)
…
...
...…
Abel woke up.
He was on a sandy beach.
In front of him was the sea.
Beside him was the usual water-attribute magician, lying on the ground.
He was lying there, but… with a very happy expression.
Mumbling in his sleep.
"Hey, Ryo, wake up."
"…No, no more. I can't eat any more cake. I'm full… mumble mumble."
"You probably won't find no cakes here, buddy."
-x-X-x-
Extra 12
-x-X-x-
The Imperial Palace, Debuhi Empire.
"Haa～～～～～～."
The former emperor, Rupert VI, heaved a deep sigh.
"She's definitely going to be furious…"
With those words, he let out yet another deep sigh.
Since his son, Helmut VIII, had been defeated by Hahn, the king of the equestrian tribe, the supreme power in the Debuhi Empire had once again fallen into Rupert's hands.
And now, Rupert, dreading the anger to come, continued to sigh deeply.
Again and again.
Finally, the moment came…
"Duchess Rubine and Count Ruska have arrived."
"Let them in."
Duchess Rubine, Fiona, and her husband, the explosive blaze magician Count Oscar, entered the office.
"Thank you for coming, Fiona, Oscar. Please, have a seat."
"Excuse us."
Rupert sighed softly once more.
Fiona and Oscar had been summoned from their duchy, Rubine, to the imperial capital.
The reason for their summons was still unknown to them.
All they had been told was that the former emperor, Rupert, had something he wanted to 'consult' them about.
When they received the summons, both Fiona and Oscar had been puzzled.
It was extremely rare for Rupert to 'seek advice'.
During his reign and even after abdicating, Rupert seldom sought the counsel of others.
This might make him seem like a typical dictatorial emperor, but the truth was that Rupert was fundamentally a person who didn't consult others.
This was partly because he was always ready to take full responsibility for everything himself.
He never shifted the blame onto others. He took responsibility himself.
The only exception had been Hans Kirchhoff, the count who had served as his governor.
But now, Hans was not by his side.
Having remained in the western countries as the acting head of the imperial delegation.
"I called you here because… well, actually…you see…"
Rupert tried to explain, but he was surprisingly hesitant.
Fiona and Oscar were quite taken aback internally.
They had never seen him like this.
Fiona, though she was Rupert's youngest daughter, had been demoted from her royal status and was now a noble, a duchess.
Because her position was clearly different from that of Rupert, the former emperor, they generally did not engage in personal conversations.
However…
"Your Majesty, no, Father, if it's something difficult to say, please, go ahead. I am fine with whatever it is."
Fiona urged him to speak.
Prompted by Fiona's words, Rupert finally spoke.
"Well… alright. The truth is… I want Oscar to go to the Western Countries…"
Rupert couldn't finish his sentence.
Whoosh.
Rupert felt something invisible whisk past his cheek.
It might have been a light-attribute magic spell… or something….
He swallowed hard.
"Father… what did you just say?"
"A-ah, calm down, Fiona."
"I am calm."
"No, you're definitely not calm…"
From the moment Fiona was born, and especially after her mother, Empress Frederica, died shortly after her birth, Rupert had doted on Fiona.
Fathers often have a soft spot for their daughters, but Rupert's affection for Fiona was of a different magnitude.
That's why he feared Fiona's anger.
Though in his mind he thought, "But you just told me to say it", he couldn't voice that thought.
"F-Fiona, please listen to me."
"I am listening. Go ahead."
Fiona prompted, as Rupert spoke, sweating profusely.
Rupert thought honestly that he didn't want to say it, even though Fiona was urging him to.
Therefore, he looked at the person sitting next to Fiona.
Oscar, who didn't say anything aloud, understood what Rupert was seeking.
He also had an idea why Rupert wanted to send him to the Western Countries.
"Fiona, let's calm down and listen to what His Majesty has to say."
"…Alright."
Oscar held Fiona's hand and soothed her in a calm voice.
Fiona, still frowning, squeezed Oscar's hand back and nodded.
Seeing this, Rupert breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he finally began to explain the rest.
"Actually, I urgently need to call Hans back."
"Count Hans Kirchhoff? He is with the delegation in the Western Countries."
"Yes, that's right. I plan to use Hagen's
Rupert managed to explain, exhaling slightly.
He knew that this proposal would be accepted.
Fiona might be displeased, but Oscar wouldn't refuse.
Oscar was rational and quick-witted as long as it didn't involve Fiona.
Leading the imperial delegation as Hans's replacement in the distant Western Countries required not only command ability but also high charisma.
It was necessary to captivate emotions with charisma rather than just rational commands.
As they're in a faraway foreign land.
When considering this, there were very few options in the Empire besides Oscar.
In fact, excluding Rupert, there was only one other person.
That person was Fiona.
In other words, only Oscar or Fiona could fulfill this role.
However, sending both was impossible.
Since the emperor's death, the current Empire was far from stable.
Even with the return of the great Rupert VI, the former emperor.
The Rubin Duchy, ruled by Fiona and Oscar, was one of the key regions in the eastern part of the Empire.
Currently, it was an extremely stable territory due to their power, but it was also a land that had been confiscated from nobles at the end of Rupert's reign, so it couldn't be taken lightly.
It would be too reckless to send both of them to the Western Countries from such a territory…
"Father. No, Your Majesty."
Fiona called out.
Deliberately changing her manner of address.
"Ah, no, Fiona, please calm down…"
At that moment, Rupert saw a towering inferno behind Fiona.
An illusion for sure. It was likely an illusion, but he was certain he saw it.
The anger she was trying to suppress couldn't be contained and manifested.
It was as if it had taken form….
Fiona, who controlled both fire and light attributes.
Her fire attribute was, in a sense, very aggressive…
"Former Emperor, may I hear that again? What do you plan to do with Oscar, my husband?"
"Fiona, please, calm down…"
"Your Majesty, I am calm."
"No, you're definitely not calm…"
There was no emotion on Fiona's face.
However, it was more terrifying than when she showed anger. Rupert genuinely felt that way.
Rupert swallowed hard several times.
He was about to face the greatest anger from the person he cherished most in this world… something no one would want to experience.
Next to Fiona, Oscar shook his head slightly.
Exchanging places with Hans in the Western Countries.
He predicted that this order would be conveyed.
And it happened just as he expected.
Additionally… Fiona's anger was also as he predicted….
Oscar understood that this was the most logically correct course of action.
Ideally, if Baron Hagen Venda could use his
However, the former emperor was unwilling to do this.
This suggested there were reasons why it couldn't be done.
It could be an issue on the delegation's side or perhaps… a problem with Baron Hagen Venda's
During the last war with the kingdom,
Afterwards, Baron Hagen Venda reportedly hovered near death….
This time, the delegation was not as large.
If it were just the Imperial delegation, it would be a few hundred people.
Yet, the former emperor did not command it.
Oscar had a hypothesis about this
The hypothesis was that it might not be possible to teleport a large number of people over a long distance.
Teleporting one or two people over 4,000 kilometers was possible.
This had been proven.
However, as the number of people to be teleported increased, the distance that could be covered might decrease proportionally.
Thus, teleporting a large number of people between the Central Countries and the Western Countries might be impossible.
Details about Baron Hagen Venda's
Neither Oscar nor even Fiona had access to this information.
Therefore, there was no way to confirm it…
In any case, if it wasn't possible to move the entire delegation with
The most critical point was that the delegation was in the distant Western Countries, far from their homeland.
No matter how elite they were, being far from and away from their homeland for a long time would make them homesick.
They would want to return home.
This would create vulnerabilities.
It was an emotional issue, not a rational one.
Therefore, the person leading such people needed to be able to captivate emotions.
Oscar did not consider himself charismatic.
However, he understood that his presence provided a sense of security to his subordinates.
"A sense of assurance that following this person would be alright."
Such a sense of security.
This was, objectively, a part of charisma, but Oscar himself was not aware of it…
Oscar gently squeezed Fiona's hand.
That alone brought Fiona back to a normal state.
"Master…"
However, she still referred to him as Master even in front of the former emperor Rupert.
She hadn't completely calmed down.
"Don't trouble His Majesty too much."
"Sure. But…"
"I'll be fine."
Oscar smiled slightly.
Oscar could only smile in front of Fiona.
Since that moment eight years ago… when Oscar's frozen heart began to thaw, he might have understood this deep down.
"I'll lead the delegation back properly. Will you wait for me?"
"Yes…"
Oscar's unusually gentle words.
However, this was Oscar's usual demeanor in front of Fiona.
And Fiona accepted Oscar's decision.
The former emperor Rupert let out a silent sigh of relief.
The Imperial delegation remained in the Holy City of Marlomar.
Along with the delegations from the Kingdom and the Union.
With numerous administrative tasks, the death of the previous Pope, and the chaos caused by monsters falling from the sky, there was still no prospect of departure.
Rumors even suggested they might stay for several months, possibly nearly a year…
In the midst of this, the leaders of the delegations gathered.
The location was the Imperial delegation's quarters.
Visiting were Hugh McGrath, the leader of the Kingdom's delegation, and Roberto Pirlo, the leader of the Union's delegation.
"Actually, I need to return to the Empire urgently."
Count Hans Kirchhoff, the acting leader of the Imperial delegation, began.
"I see. So…you're introducing your replacement, though the term sounds odd."
"Your insight is humbling, Your Majesty."
Former King Roberto Pirlo remarked, and Hans replied with a respectful bow.
Simultaneously, the door opened, and a man entered.
"Allow me to introduce the person who will be leading the Imperial delegation in my stead, Count Oscar Ruska."
Hans said, introducing Oscar, who bowed politely.
"Oh my…"
"This is unexpected…"
Both Hugh and Roberto Pirlo were momentarily at a loss for words.
Knowing exactly who Oscar was.
Indeed, in the Central Countries, it would be no exaggeration to say that there was no one who didn't know of Oscar.
"The famed explosive blaze magician…"
"The former emperor's proxy, no less."
Hugh muttered, frowning, while Roberto Pirlo chuckled wryly.
Oscar Ruska's appointment as the acting leader of the Imperial delegation was announced that very day.
As a result, the morale of the Imperial delegation rose.
However, within the Kingdom's delegation were three adventurers with a deep-seated grudge against the explosive blaze magician.
"Isn't Count Oscar Ruska the one we faced in Whitnash?"
"Yeah, he's incredibly strong."
"Are we… going to be okay…?"
Etho recalled, Amon admired his strength, and Niels shook his head slightly, contemplating the challenges ahead.
It seemed that the delegation to the Western Countries was in for quite an ordeal…
-x-X-x-