Chapter 96 - Alliance Meeting (2)

In Duke Comalon’s office in the Kingdom of Ashtalon.

“... Was it successful?”

“Yes. According to the report I received, it was. However, there seem to have been some shortcomings.”

He was listening to a report from a dark elf.

“Shortcomings? What do you mean?”

“To be precise, rather than the perfect manifestation you originally desired, it was a somewhat incomplete manifestation. The cause—I suspect it may have been a shortage of Abyssal Cores.”

“A shortage of Abyssal Cores?”

“Yes.”

The duke of Ashtalon murmured, “Hmm,” at the dark elf’s report and sank into thought.

“And there is one more thing I must report.”

“What else?”

“... They say Marquis Pallatio was the one who dealt with the artificial Outer God in the Holy Kingdom.”

“Hah. Pallatio again?”

“Yes.”

Duke Comalon gave a humorless chuckle at the dark elf’s words, then appeared to consider something.

“Understood, for now.”

“Yes.”

“And try putting a few more Abyssal Cores into the subject currently undergoing experimentation.”

He dismissed the dark elf with a wave of his hand.

The dark elf bowed slightly, turned, and vanished. Paying no further attention to the departure, the duke pondered something intently before suddenly speaking.

“It’s been a while.”

Although there was clearly no one there, Duke Comalon’s greeting received an answer.

“Indeed.”

With that low utterance, a figure stepped out of the darkness. Clad in a black sacred shroud, the thing appeared where nothing had stood moments before, as though it had been there all along.

“It has been a while.”

It seated itself before the duke as a matter of course.

“What brings you here?”

At Duke Comalon’s question, it leaned back in the chair.

“You know perfectly well why I’m here. I came to find out when you intend to make your move.”

“All preparations are complete. Once I obtain what’s in the jungle, I’ll make my move soon.”

Duke Comalon’s answer was dry.

The thing murmured, “Hmm,” and gazed at him. The silence stretched on, and tension gradually began to build.

“Well, is that so?”

The shrouded thing shrugged, dispelling the gathering tension.

“It’s quite remarkable, seeing how well you still get along as a human.”

It rose and turned away.

“Then I shall take your word for it—that you will soon set your great cause in motion.”

Stopping before the darkness on one side of the office, the thing in the black sacred shroud looked back at Duke Comalon.

Then, just before stepping into the darkness, it spoke.

“I wish you success in your great cause. Oh, and—”

“I mention this just in case, but be wary of that man.”

“... That man?”

“You know who I mean.”

It sounded faintly amused.

“Count Pallatio—no, he’s a marquis now, isn’t he?”

With those final words, it disappeared completely into the darkness.

Left alone in his office, Duke Comalon quietly murmured the name.

“... Marquis Pallatio.”

####

Having formally completed his investiture in the Holy Kingdom and risen from Count Pallatio to marquis, Alon traveled at a leisurely pace toward the lands of the comital House Pallatio—no, the marquisate now.

Normally, he should have gone straight to Teria after the ceremony, but he had decided it would be better to drop off the gifts he had received in the Holy Kingdom first.

Alon turned to look behind him. There was a wagon piled high with goods, much like the one he had received when leaving Coloni.

‘I never expected to receive something like this from the Holy Kingdom.’

He found the wagon Yutia had provided as a reward rather surprising. As far as he knew, completing quests in the Holy Kingdom in the game earned skill books or holy relics instead of money, not material rewards like these.

‘Well, material rewards are much better anyway.’

As Alon smiled unwittingly at the thought of the wealth that would soon fill his house’s storehouses, Evan called out.

“My lord marquis.”

Apparently, the word “marquis” had grown familiar enough that Evan could now use it without slipping up. Alon turned to answer him.

“What is it?”

“Something just occurred to me. Why are investiture ceremonies held in the Holy Kingdom?”

“... Who knows?”

“You don’t know either, my lord?”

“Well—”

Alon considered it briefly, then shrugged.

“It’s essentially a custom handed down from long ago. I doubt there’s any particular significance beyond that.”

“Is that so?”

“As far as I know, at least.”

Of course, he did not know much himself. His answer was based entirely on Yutia’s passing remark: [“You came because of a rather meaningless custom, but I’m happy to see you, Teacher.”]

“... To be honest, it does seem a little pointless.”

“I agree.”

He happened to glance toward the mercenary company traveling far ahead—or, more precisely, Myaon at its head—and felt a curious sense of puzzlement.

Last time, she had thought nothing of coming into his carriage to keep him company, making the journey fairly entertaining. This time, however, she had not visited his carriage at all.

What was more, she would flinch whenever she glanced back and happened to meet his eyes. Each time, she gave an awkward smile and a single nod before facing forward again.

‘... What on earth did Yutia say to her?’

He thought he had some idea why she was behaving this way. A few days earlier, he had seen Myaon freeze before Yutia like a mouse facing a cat.

Curious, he had tried asking what Yutia had said. But Myaon merely gritted her teeth and repeatedly insisted in a nonchalant voice, [“She really didn’t say anything, you know?”] By now, he had given up trying to find out.

‘Well, asking will only keep making her uncomfortable. I should stop.’

Alon sighed softly and settled into the carriage seat in an almost reclining position.

It was a leisurely afternoon beneath a blue sky.

####

About two weeks later, Alon arrived at House Pallatio’s marquisate. After parting with Myaon there and resting for a day or so, he set out immediately for Teria.

Passing through scenery he had now seen several times, he entered the royal castle and was granted an audience with Critenia Siyan.

This time, however, he met her in her office rather than the audience chamber.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“Raise your head.”

Her reply came as soon as he bowed in respect. Slowly lifting his head, Alon took in the interior of Siyan’s office.

‘Quite modest.’

Her office was extremely modest. The furniture was clearly of exceptionally high quality even at a glance, but compared with the office of Coloni’s king, which he had seen for himself, it was positively austere. He had only a moment to glance around before she spoke.

“I heard the news. They say you saved the Holy Kingdom.”

“... That account is greatly exaggerated.”

“Is it? There seems to be remarkably little dispute over it, in that case. Ah, sit down first. Staying on your knees must be rather uncomfortable.”

At her words, Alon carefully rose and seated himself in the chair before her desk, looking at Siyan.

The Golden History Eye unique to Arteria’s royal family gleamed as she spoke.

“Well—to continue, there is no need for modesty. It is certainly a necessary virtue, but in excess, it becomes poison.”

“Then I shall refrain from unnecessary modesty.”

“See that you do.”

Siyan smiled in satisfaction, then propped her chin on her hand and stared at the marquis.

Then, as though remembering something, she said, “Ah,” took something from one side of her desk, and handed it to Alon.

“... What is this?”

“A sweet potato. You like them, don’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you dislike them?”

“Uh... No. I do like them, but...”

“Take it.”

Looking thoroughly bewildered, Alon accepted the sweet potato.

For a moment, he wondered whether he had ever told anyone he liked sweet potatoes. Then he focused on Siyan’s next words.

“Normally, I would observe the appropriate formalities in the audience chamber and then send you on your way. Why do you think I summoned you here specially?”

“... As your servant, my insight is insufficient to—”

“There is no need to phrase it so formally. In short, you don’t know.”

“... That is correct.”

At Alon’s answer, Siyan said,

“It is nothing much, really. I called you to my office because I thought we might chat. My request will be simpler than you expect.”

“... May I ask what you would command of me?”

“Exactly one month from today, the allied kingdoms will hold a meeting.”

“A meeting?”

“Yes. In practice, it is a continuation of the previous talks. I would like you to accompany me as an aide. Can you do that?”

Alon fell silent briefly, then nodded.

“... I can.”

To be honest, attending the meeting would not be a bad thing for him either.

Tern, the center of the allied nations, was a place only caretakers could enter except when the kingdoms’ central meeting was held. Like the magic symposium, it offered something he could obtain.

He looked puzzled, unable to understand why she had specifically chosen him as her aide, but did not ask.

Whatever her reasons, he understood all too well the fundamental law of this world: when the sovereign told you to do something, you damn well did it.

“I like your straightforward answer.”

Siyan nodded in satisfaction and continued.

“Now, eat.”

“Pardon...?”

“The sweet potato. Do you not intend to eat it?”

“No, I do... intend to eat it. But here?”

“Yes. Where else would you eat it?”

“I shall eat it here.”

He had no idea why she was behaving this way, but he nodded and ate the rest of the sweet potato right there in front of her.

... Naturally, he could not taste a thing.

####

A few days later, as word began spreading quietly that Marquis Pallatio would attend as Siyan Critenia’s aide, two people reacted more strongly to the rumor than anyone else.

One of them was...

“Guildmaster.”

“Hmm? Whaaat?”

“I have good news.”

“What is it?”

“You know the alliance meeting you’ll be attending at the kingdom’s request?”

“Yes. Has it been canceled?”

... Seollang, who was slumped listlessly in the guildmaster’s office.

“No, it hasn’t, but—”

“Then it isn’t good news. I told you I don’t want to gooo.”

“But you have received a great deal of aid from them.”

“If I don’t want to, I don’t want to.”

She let out a long sigh as though the prospect bored her to death, expressing “I really don’t want to” with her entire body.

“Ahem. Still, I really do have good news.”

“What is it?”

“They say Marquis Pallatio will be attending the meeting.”

“... Really?!”

At her secretary’s next words, her drooping tail began to sway gently.

The other was...

“... Commander.”

“What is it, Deputy Commander?”

“I thought I should mention this just in case. Were you aware that Marquis Pallatio is coming to the talks you declined to attend?”

“... What?”

... Deus, who had refused the kingdom’s request so he could devote himself to training.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. They say Marquis Pallatio will attend the meeting.”

“I’m heading to the kingdom at once.”

“Then I’ll make prepara—ah—wait, Commander! At least dress properly...!”

As soon as he heard the news, he broke into a sprint toward the royal castle, still dressed in his training clothes.

... Determination filled his violet eyes.