On a plain not too far from Orario, the Lacia army had pitched its command tents and set up camp.
"Wait a moment! Who are you? Why have you brought Bell Crozzo here!?"
"Call Marius."
"That man is not someone trash like you can see!"
As I approached the command tent, a knight in full plate armor stepped in front of me and leveled his sword at me.
"Leave Bell Crozzo here and get out of this place at once!"
"You don't know who I am?"
"Hah? Why would I know some—wait a minute..."
So he finally noticed?
"I-I'll guide you!!!"
The knight hurriedly sheathed his sword and led me toward a tent that looked more lavish than the others.
"It's here."
"Yeah, good work."
I set my damn father down and opened the tent flap.
"Haaah..."
Inside the ornate tent,
"You been well?"
"...Huh?"
I saw Marius, sighing in a way that didn't suit him at all.
"...Bellf?"
"Long time no see."
"You... you...!"
When we met again after so long, Marius
"You've made me do even more work because of you!!!"
swung his fist at me.
"Calmed down yet?"
"Damn it... can't you hit a little softer?"
Marius grumbled while pouring a potion over the bump on his head.
"So what brings you here?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"...And you're asking with nothing in return?"
"[Trace on]."
I projected a magic sword and tossed it to Marius.
"Whoa! You're just throwing around something this precious!?"
"I made it, so it's fine to throw it around, isn't it?"
"...Fair enough. What does it do?"
"Generates a barrier."
"It's not for attacking, but for defense?"
"Pretty useful, isn't it?"
"I guess... but how good is it?"
"It can block my magic sword twice."
"...Oh."
When I first made it, all it could do was block attacks from monsters in the middle floors, but after some refinement, I'd managed to make it withstand a magic sword.
"All right, what's the favor?"
"Could I take a look at the Crozzo family archive and the royal castle archive?"
"Hmm... I think I can manage the royal castle, but the Crozzo family archive... that might be tricky."
"Even if it's tricky, try anyway."
"Fine... give me one magic sword. No, two."
"Why?"
"I need to show Ares some results if I want to retreat."
"Didn't you just retreat last time?"
"That was because I confirmed you were there."
"...I'm not royalty, so isn't it weird to call finding me a result?"
"You're the only one in this world who can make magic swords like these. Your value is higher than you think."
"...Is that so."
This time, I projected an offensive magic sword and handed it over.
"...You've become a total cheat while I wasn't looking, haven't you?"
"Is that enough?"
"More than enough."
"Don't use it on Orario."
"Yeah. It was good seeing you after so long. I'll send a letter once I can use it. Oh, do you happen to have any open spots for an adventurer?"
"There are some, but... why? You planning to quit being royalty?"
"Yeah. I want to become an adventurer! Not live this kind of royal life!"
"Fine. Come find me in Orario later, and I'll introduce you to a good Familia."
After getting a satisfying result like that, I returned to Orario.