It didn't take long to reach Lacia.
"Two days... is that pretty fast?"
Since both Aiz and I were high level, we could cross mountains and the like in no time, and we arrived in Lacia in just two days, faster than expected.
"...Nothing's changed, huh."
After passing the checkpoint, Lacia looked exactly the same as it had seven years ago.
"Where are we going first?"
"The royal castle. If we go to that cursed family first, I'm sure it'll turn into an argument."
"Got it."
"Then let's go."
We had come to Lacia to find the information we wanted, but...
Ares wanted the Crozzo magic swords, and the only person capable of making Crozzo magic swords had come to Lacia of his own free will. There was no doubt Ares had pulled some kind of scheme already.
"...Should I turn back now?"
I suppressed my unease and headed for the royal castle.
When I showed Marius's invitation to the guards, the maids working in the castle sent Aiz to a guest room, while the servants led me to the audience chamber.
"Welcome to Lacia, Bellf Crozzo."
"...Yes."
Martinius, the current king of Lacia, looked down at me arrogantly, while Marius stood beside him, expressionless, staring out the window.
"I'll get straight to the point, Bellf Crozzo. Return to Lacia."
"..."
...Is everyone in this country a stubborn fool?
"I refuse."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"I don't particularly like this country."
"..."
"I see... You may leave now, Marius."
"Yes, Father."
After a moment of thought, Martinius had Marius escort me out.
"Don't you have anything to say?"
"...I'm sorry."
As I walked down the absurdly long corridor, I demanded an explanation from Marius.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Lord Ares is completely serious. He's planning to use every trick in the book to drag you in."
"...What about the archive?"
"I'm the one who authorized that, so you can use it whenever you want."
"Well, that's a relief."
"It's not a relief!"
"?"
Marius shouted with a grave expression.
"It's about to start! Hurry up and get what you need, then run!"
"I already expected there'd be something. What kind of scheme did he pull to make you act like this?"
"...In exactly ten minutes, all the maids and princesses inside the castle are going to come after you."
"...What?"
"And Lord Ares is planning to win over the [Sword Princess] who came with you too. I'll explain the details in the archive!"
"..."
As expected, there was nothing about this country that I liked.