Chapter 121
Chapter 121
After that, the remaining schedule went smoothly.
When evening came, we rested at the inn we had reserved, and when dawn broke, we got back into the carriage and moved again.
From time to time, Alice looked at me with a wistful expression. It was only a brief glance so others would not notice, but even without consciously paying attention, I, as the person concerned, could feel her gaze.
Aside from that, nothing in particular happened.
If I had to single something out, it would be that while we were eating lunch on a certain grassland, a few magical beasts were wandering about in the distance.
Even those fled in panic the moment I lightly released my presence.
Because the journey was so smooth, we entered the Holy Kingdom a little earlier than planned.
The trip to the capital was not much different. To begin with, it was a place with almost no crimes such as highway robbery compared to other nations, so everyone merely expressed slight boredom.
When we arrived at the capital, Vatican, and went to the agreed meeting place, a familiar face welcomed us.
“Good work getting here. Nothing happened, I trust.”
“Nothing at all. It was dull enough to sap my strength.”
“Even if that might happen in the Empire, there wouldn’t be anyone bold enough to start a fight in the Holy Kingdom. In any case, get some rest. We will enter the palace tomorrow at noon.”
This exchange meeting fundamentally had the purpose of fostering friendship. For that reason, no matter that we were the Academy Representative Team, it was an unusual affair to enter the palace and have an audience with the Pope, but the very fact that there was an exchange meeting with the Holy Kingdom was unprecedented to begin with.
‘They must have been quite anxious.’
At the words that we would be entering the palace as early as tomorrow, I gave a bitter smile.
Normally, they would allow a day or two to rest and recover from travel fatigue. But seeing how urgently they summoned us like this, I thought things might go more easily than expected.
When we headed to the inn that the Bayern Academy Representative Team had booked in its entirety, familiar faces came into view. Aside from the teachers, they were all upperclassmen, and they merely glanced at us without going so far as to strike up a conversation.
Petra hesitated briefly as she looked at them, but chose to remain by my side.
Perhaps out of Delke’s consideration, Petra shared a room with our side of the group, and unlike the two men, I was assigned a private room.
After saying that we should each rest until tomorrow, we turned our steps toward our assigned rooms.
I too opened the door to my room and stepped inside, but there was already a figure seated on the sofa.
“You’re here.”
Carius, with his gentle voice, set down his cup. He would not have come simply to welcome me, so he must have had some business.
“It has been a while, Brother.”
I casually scanned the room, wondering if someone else might be there, but no one was in sight. Perhaps noticing my gaze, Carius gave a slight bitter smile.
“Darius did not come. Please understand.”
“It doesn’t particularly matter.”
It was only fortunate that the face I did not want to see was not there. If it had been, it would not have been strange for me to throw a punch at his philtrum.
‘How much does this guy know?’
I set my luggage down in a corner of the room, sat across from him, and gave him a look asking what his business was. In response, Carius slowly opened his mouth.
“First of all, congratulations. I hear you obtained Excalibur.”
It was something that had happened quite a while ago, but due to the recent matter with the Emperor, it seemed to have reached his ears as well. I lightly nodded.
“Thank you.”
“I heard from Father. He said that this journey to the Holy Kingdom was decided because of that matter.”
“I declined the invitation, but they contacted the Academy and pushed things through regardless. It seemed it could work to our advantage if handled well, so I accepted.”
At my words, he calmly nodded. It seemed he took the ‘our side’ I mentioned to mean the Empire. In truth, I had been referring to myself alone.
‘He’s calmer than I expected.’
I felt a bit surprised by Carius’s unexpectedly composed manner as he spoke to me.
In any case, as my achievements piled up, his position was bound to be threatened. Not only had I obtained Excalibur, but I had also made a name for myself as the disciple of the Sword Saint.
Even if I said I would not become Emperor, politically it was a different matter. Yet Carius showed no particular jealousy over the fact that I had obtained Excalibur.
“I see. As you’ve probably heard, there is quite a lot we must gain from this journey to the Holy Kingdom. I meant to offer some advice, but seeing your face, it seems unnecessary.”
If that truly was all his business, he stood up just like that. As I followed him toward the door out of courtesy, intending to see him off, he stopped at the threshold and glanced back at me as he asked,
“…Have you perhaps had some kind of trouble with your brother lately?”
Judging by the pause before his words and the hesitation in his eyes, it seemed to be an unplanned question. I replied with narrowed eyes.
“If you wish to know, it would be faster to ask him than me.”
“…I see.”
After letting out a small sigh, Carius left. Once I confirmed that his presence was gone, I closed the door and threw myself onto the sofa.
Even as the sensation enveloped my body, an uncomfortable feeling lingered on one side. After sinking into thought for a moment, I realized it was due to a dissonance arising from my perception.
‘The difference between Carius as seen from the protagonist’s point of view, and Carius as seen from Darius’s point of view.’
Inclusive, considerate, always wearing a smile.
Cynical, discriminatory, different on the inside from the outside.
For a short while, confusion arose from these differing perceptions.
But the persecution and oppression that Leios had suffered since childhood had undeniably existed. No matter how much Carius had devoted himself to the protagonist, that did not erase it.
Still, seeing his current attitude, it felt like something had changed. Perhaps it was because his essence walked the path of good.
“…Well, the important one is Darius anyway.”
In any case, there was no real need to pay attention to Carius.
Darius, however, was different. There had been that incident at the Academic Festival. Setting aside his attempt to kill me, I needed to determine whether he knowingly joined hands with the Majin, or whether he was simply used by them.
Given his personality, it was hard to believe he had been merely used. That meant he had joined hands with them knowing they were Majin.
‘Then this becomes quite troublesome.’
If he were to become a Majin himself and cause chaos—
Even an ordinary human who became a Majin would grow several times stronger in an instant. If that were someone who carried the bloodline of Ribera, then his potential would surely be on an incomparable level.
‘…I may need to consider removing him from the stage sooner than planned.’
It would be best to eliminate obstructive elements as quickly as possible.
Bwoo—.
With a trumpet blast that shook the ground, the grand gates of the Holy Palace opened. At the sight revealed within, exclamations of admiration naturally spilled from the group behind us.
Holy Knights clad in pure white armor lined both sides without a single gap, welcoming our visit.
However, rather than drawing their swords like ordinary knights, they stood at attention, which seemed to be a consideration so as not to give off an oppressive air.
“Shall we go, then.”
The Bayern Academy representative group was divided into three lines.
On the left was Darius.
In the center was Carius.
On the right was me.
Behind us, the Academy members following in our wake stepped forward with notably confident strides.
Passing through the knights’ inspection, we proceeded straight to the audience chamber. Normally, only the three of us as representatives would have been allowed to enter, but perhaps out of the Holy King’s consideration, everyone took their places together.
That said, everyone except the three of us knelt on one knee and bowed their heads.
The three brothers, myself included, could not easily bow except before the Emperor, given our status. Thus, we substituted that with a light gesture of courtesy.
“You have worked hard coming such a long way.”
The Holy Kingdom fundamentally practiced theocracy. As such, the Pope who governed the faith and the King who governed the nation fulfilled both roles simultaneously under the title of Holy King.
“Thank you for the grand welcome.”
Carius stepped forward as the Academy’s representative and offered his greeting with a slight bow. In response, the Holy King lightly waved his hand and told everyone to raise their heads.
Seated upon the jeweled throne, the Holy King was an elderly man with white hair and white eyes, bearing a kindly impression. Yet his physique was no less robust than that of a strong man. Surely, within him lay unprecedented power, much like the Emperor.
As it was not a sight one commonly saw, the eyes of the group sparkled. Merely meeting someone of this standing was a rare experience for them, so it was only natural they would find it fascinating.
“Originally, I wished to have discussions that would be of greater benefit to both our nations, but did not our Saintess say she had something to say?”
The Holy King smiled softly as he stroked his beard. At that, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind us.
“……?”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the rear. Soon, we saw a young girl slowly walking in from the entrance of the audience chamber.
“Ah…….”
Someone let out a quiet gasp of admiration. It might have been considered rude before the Holy King, but no one could fault it.
Her rustling white hair fluttered, and a neat white dress wrapped around her body. With each step she took, the warm aura she exuded caused everyone to wear expressions of rapture.
“I greet the Holy King.”
She stopped once she reached the space between us and the Holy King. The Holy King nodded with a pleased expression, and the Saintess turned her body to face us.
“…I was unable to convey it earlier, but not long ago, there were words that He whispered into my ear.”
“……!”
At that, surprise spread across the faces of those present. Her words meant that she had received an oracle from the Goddess.
Even the Holy Kingdom’s own officials seemed flustered, as if this were the first they had heard of it. Unconcerned, the Saintess clasped her hands together and looked at us with tear-filled eyes, the image of a pitiable young girl.
“Just as there have been several omens, darkness is soon to descend upon this continent. However, the Goddess has taken pity on us and bestowed upon us a hero to drive that darkness away.”
Hero.
At that word, I felt my body stiffen.
It was an unavoidable fact that Alice being the hero would be revealed. There was no deceiving the eyes of high-ranking priests or the Saintess.
But having it revealed so openly here was a mistake. Once known as a hero, she would become a target for the Majin and demons spread across the continent. Alice’s awakening had only occurred once so far.
She could truly die without anyone knowing.
“…….”
After pausing for a moment, the Saintess’s gaze turned toward me. More precisely, it turned toward Alice, who stood directly behind me with a stiff expression, suppressing her agitation.
“And now, here in this place, that hero is present. That name is…….”
Paaaat—!
In the middle of her words, a dazzling light burst forth in the hall.
Startled by the sudden situation, the knights guarding the audience chamber flinched, but once they realized the light was close to the divine, they quickly steadied themselves.
“Well now.”
I let out a light sigh and stepped forward.
In my hand, Excalibur, which I had just summoned, emitted a pure white light, asserting its presence. I casually brushed my hair back and lifted my head.
“I didn’t expect such a welcome for my visit.”
The Excalibur in my hand, and the abundant holy light enveloping me.
All eyes gathered upon that sight. There would be no one left looking at Alice, who had been standing stiffly behind me.
“…….”
The Saintess, whose words had been cut off, looked at me as I stepped forward and formed a small smile at the corner of her lips. In response, I narrowed my eyes and glared at her.