Chapter 164
Chapter 164
Anaye Traditional Liquor (1)
―Knock knock.
Red and gold. The door I arrived at after passing through a corridor filled entirely with those colors was overwhelmingly large.
It was a door that would have intimidated an ordinary person before they even approached it, but Vice-Commander Sheila knocked on it without a care.
―Come in.
The voice beyond the door was firm yet gentle. Sheila slowly opened the door and stepped inside.
“Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
“Mm. You’ve come.”
The Imperial Princess welcomed Sheila warmly. The Imperial Princess’s desk was covered with countless documents. Sheila was pleased with the Imperial Princess’s condition, as she had recently regained her vitality.
She had been going through days where she could barely sleep even two hours every three days. Her exhausted body could be aided by artifacts, but there was no way to treat mental fatigue.
There was no choice but to conclude that Davide’s treatment of her nightmares had been effective.
“Yes. Is there something you wished to tell me separately?”
“Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess. It’s about Student Davide.”
“……That bastard again.”
The Imperial Princess let out a deep sigh at Sheila’s words. Seeing that bright expression of hers made her not want to hear it.
There had never been an occasion where she had suffered because of news about Davide. If anything, she had received help from him. But seeing Sheila looking so excited for some reason made her stomach ache.
“What is it?”
“Here.”
Sheila handed the Imperial Princess an unusually shaped canister and a report. The Imperial Princess examined the canister with curious eyes for a moment before slowly reading the report.
“……Is this true?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Davide. Hah.”
The Imperial Princess let out an incredulous laugh. The report contained information about the Blood Mist. It also included the process through which the Imperial Knight Order had personally used it.
It was also written that Davide wanted to supply the Blood Mist exclusively to the Imperial Knight Order.
“You, Sheila. What do you wish to do?”
The Imperial Princess asked Sheila for her opinion with a serious expression. Sheila likewise composed herself and cautiously opened her mouth.
“We’re in checkmate.”
“……Is that so.”
The Blood Mist’s ability was not so simple. Press the button and throw the smoke grenade, and smoke came out. That red smoke rendered all magic in the vicinity useless.
It could affect not only magicians and magical devices, but even people directly. Seeing this, Sheila called it checkmate.
“Why?”
“Student Davide seems to intend to handle the Blood Mist differently from Candela. He intended to hand Candela over to the Imperial House no matter what, but the Blood Mist is different. If we do not negotiate, it will probably be released onto the market.”
Magicians were quite a rare resource. Their utility aside, the cost of educating them was considerable, so they were treated as highly skilled personnel.
Of course, it was a somewhat difficult path since one had to reach Double-class or higher, but once they did, it was easy to obtain not only a public position but also an appointment within a territory.
And where were the most magicians gathered? The Imperial House.
“We’ll suffer tremendous damage. Unless we have a countermeasure against this.”
The Imperial Knight Order consisted of seven knight orders in total. And each knight order had a separate magic unit of around twenty magicians, with even an entire knight order composed solely of magicians.
But if something like this, something capable of countering magicians, were released onto the market, it would be disastrous.
“How in the world does he make things like this? No, how does he keep coming up with them?”
The Imperial Princess was dumbfounded. Candela had also been an exceptional item. The lightning-attribute explosive had been remarkable as well. Even now, it was an item highly regarded by the Imperial Knight Order.
But this was even more extreme. It was so effective against magicians that one might think it had been created by someone who hated magicians.
And all these incredible items were being invented by a single person.
“Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess. Even so, we cannot kill him.”
“……I know that too.”
It was already too late for regrets. She had already received a great deal of help from him and had given him much in return. If she was going to do it, she should have done it when they first met.
Now, she had no choice but to fully embrace him. Of course, given that bastard’s rough personality, there was no way she could obtain anything like obedience or loyalty from him.
The Imperial Princess glanced at Sheila.
“You, Sheila. I’m saying this just in case, but even under circumstances like these, I will never permit it.”
“Pardon? I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Davide is absolutely out of the question! How could you covet the son of the man you loved! Do not even entertain such thoughts!”
At the Imperial Princess’s shout, a deep smile spread across Sheila’s face. To think she would misunderstand like that. She was so adorable Sheila could die.
The Imperial Princess felt a chill run down her spine upon seeing Sheila’s smile. She couldn’t tell whether her intentions had gotten through properly.
“Anyway, this is a contract we have no choice but to accept.”
“That’s right. Even the price isn’t bad.”
The Imperial Princess nodded at Sheila’s words. On top of that, each one cost only 100 gold. Considering its value and utility, it was priced slightly below what would be considered reasonable.
There was no way they could not buy it. The Imperial Princess stared at Sheila with a sullen expression.
“Does that bastard have a talent for business as well?”
“Isn’t he simply intelligent? The Duhein Family has never particularly liked merchants.”
Well, with a mind like that, it made sense that he could create weapons like these. The Imperial Princess sank deep into thought. She pictured Davide in her mind.
His combat prowess was considerable as well. Of course, rather than his own individual strength, it came from becoming a Cult Leader and making good use of a god’s power, but either way, it was still combat prowess.
“You, Sheila. Is it possible that bastard Davide deliberately sought to be excommunicated?”
“……It’s possible.”
Sheila frowned after hearing the Imperial Princess’s opinion. Davide’s abilities were remarkable. Of course, she believed the power of the Holy Scripture played a large role, but something was strange.
The Duhein Family had excommunicated a Davide like this. Even if he had stabbed a classmate in the stomach, a family of the Duhein Family’s caliber could have resolved the matter easily enough.
Either there had been a reason they had no choice but to let him go, or there had been no reason to keep him.
But looking at Davide’s current actions, neither explanation made sense. In that case, the idea that Davide had intentionally orchestrated this entire situation also had merit.
“Is there any reason the Duhein Family would have had to abandon Davide?”
“Even if there was a reason, look at what he has accomplished. A Cult Leader of an Order, a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary, major achievements against the desert Fiendbeasts, and now he has become the official successor of the Floating Island.”
“Indeed. It would be a waste to abandon someone this capable. If there had been a compelling reason, they should have abandoned him long before then.”
As they talked it over, it truly began to seem as though Davide had deliberately set everything in motion. The eldest son of the Duhein Family who sought to escape the Duhein Family.
“Mm? One moment.”
Sheila suddenly asked the Imperial Princess for permission to excuse herself. Once the Imperial Princess gave her permission, Sheila took a crystal orb from inside her clothes.
“You may answer it.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
At the Imperial Princess’s words, Sheila carefully infused magic into the crystal orb.
―Loyalty.
“Yes. What is it?”
―Student Davide has come asking to see you, Vice-Commander. I intended to send him away, but he pleaded so earnestly that I contacted you like this.
Sheila looked at the Imperial Princess. Speak of the tiger, and it comes. The Imperial Princess grinned and pointed at the table with her finger.
“Is Student Davide there?”
―Yes. He is.
“Put him on.”
Understanding the Imperial Princess’s meaning, Sheila asked for Davide.
―Vice-Commander. This is Davide.
“Yes. Student Davide. It’s something we need to discuss in person, correct?”
―Pardon? Ah, yes. That’s right.
***
“…….”
The next day, I headed to the Imperial Knight Order’s garrison once again. And surprisingly, I was able to reach the Imperial Princess’s room in no time.
How did she know when I hadn’t even said anything? I was surprised, but there was no possibility that the information had leaked. It was probably just a coincidence.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you, and you look radiant.”
“How could I possibly compare to the august countenance of Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess?”
The flattery now came out reflexively. Neither the person receiving it nor the person saying it felt much of anything about it.
“Yes. It is somewhat awkward for me to ask, but why did you wish to see the Vice-Commander?”
“I wished to ask her to arrange a meeting with Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. Wondering what was going on, I tilted my head. The Imperial Princess and the Vice-Commander were exchanging intense looks.
“Hmm. I see. What is the matter?”
Come to think of it, the Imperial Princess’s complexion looked somewhat better. In the past, she had given off a firm and rigid impression, but now she seemed somewhat more relaxed and easygoing.
The Imperial Princess immediately asked why I had come. I brought up the words I had prepared.
“I wished to ask whether you possessed an artifact related to time.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the Imperial Princess’s gaze changed. Her red eyes grew even deeper.
“Why are you looking for such a thing?”
“I received an oracle.”
“An oracle?”
Just then, the Vice-Commander brought tea. It was expensive tea characterized by an intense flavor that contrasted with its subtle fragrance.
Even then, the Vice-Commander placed a plate filled with cookies in front of me. When the hell was this crazy cookie villain going to give up?
Swallowing a sigh, I continued.
“Yes. The Goddess said she missed the liquor from her homeland and asked me to make something similar to it.”
“……Liquor? How peculiar.”
“She normally does not issue oracles about things like this, but for some reason, after seeing the offering I presented this time, she bestowed such an oracle upon me. So I intend to make liquor, and what I need to make is infused liquor.”
Once I said that much, the Imperial Princess nodded. Both the Imperial Princess and the Vice-Commander were quite intelligent, so they immediately understood my intention.
Infused liquor required an aging period of as little as six months and as long as five years. The difference in duration depended on the ingredients, but the need for aging remained the same. On top of that, the older it became, the better the liquor was considered.
“If that is what you need it for, I have one.”
I suppressed a smile inwardly at the Imperial Princess’s words. That answer had solved half the problem. Now it was time to negotiate.
I knew that the item was of little use to the Imperial Princess. It was merely something she possessed because of her desire to collect things.
But the Imperial Princess was by no means someone to take lightly. She was the type of person who would not even begin a battle she would lose.
“I am willing to give it to you, but I have no intention of giving it away for nothing. Is that acceptable?”
“That is only natural. Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
“Then what will you give me?”
At the Imperial Princess’s question, I paused for a moment. Then I slowly opened my mouth.
“The war among the Merfolk is still ongoing. I will bring that war to an end.”
The surroundings were once again enveloped in silence. In an instant, the Imperial Princess’s eyes turned cold.
“It is a war that even we could not end in one stroke. Are you saying you will resolve it by yourself?”
The Imperial Princess’s voice was filled with displeasure. I had already anticipated this reaction.
“Things would have been different if Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess or the Vice-Commander had personally stepped forward. I am saying that I will take on that role.”
I started with some well-chosen flattery. Maybe the Imperial Princess could have done it, but even if the Vice-Commander personally participated in the war, it would have been difficult to resolve.
“You are overflowing with confidence.”
“Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess. I do not fight battles I will lose.”
I showed my confidence by invoking the Imperial Princess’s own motto. The Imperial Princess’s penetrating gaze remained fixed on me.
“You are indeed not the sort of talent who would make empty boasts. However, that is a little insufficient.”
“……Is there something more you want?”
“I do not know whether you are aware of this, but the item you want is, in truth, of no use to me.”
The Imperial Princess stated the fact plainly. It was clearly a fact that worked against her in the negotiation. But the Imperial Princess showed no hesitation.
“However, the item itself is exceedingly rare. Jewels are not expensive because they are useful in everyday life, are they?”
“That is a fair point.”
“Indeed. Becoming a war hero should be enough. However, there is something I will need you for later. I would like you to help me with it.”
I couldn’t answer easily. People like Soloven might readily agree, but I was different.
Just what kind of quest was she planning to give me by saying this? I fell into thought for a moment.
“If you dislike that request, you may refuse it. You can simply carry out another request instead.”
She was giving me considerable leeway.
“I shall obey your command.”
I had no choice but to accept.