Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Chapter 32: Tail Chase (2)
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It was a sudden proposal.
Unable to grasp the intentions behind it, I hesitated, but Gretman continued without pause.
“On the way here, I saw they were making a huge fuss about a banquet for the princess today. If I send word, you’ll get an invitation right away.”
Even though the church had severed ties on an institutional level, if he wanted, he could come and go freely.
His confident attitude left me speechless.
But that lasted only a moment, and soon I understood the source of his confidence.
‘Well, they call him the strongest human—who would dare stop him?’
If push came to shove, no one could block him even if he forced his way in, so what meaning was there in restricting his access?
‘Influence far beyond what a single individual should possess.’
Even in a situation where priests and holy knights no longer received blessings, one reason the Palao Church maintained its existence, however marginal, was surely this man’s influence.
For such a person to offer to take me to the imperial palace.
Gretman’s proposal was more than enough to fulfill what I desired.
And yet, precisely because it was so perfect, it sparked suspicion.
‘We’re in the same church, sure, but is there any reason for him to help me this much?’
Gretman referred to Palao as the Goddess.
I already knew Palao took a feminine form, but few actually called Palao the Goddess.
‘It seemed like a title used only by those with deep faith who had formed a direct bond with Palao.’
Even Rasha, who followed Palao, had never referred to her as the Goddess.
In contrast, Gretman used the term as naturally as Yulia did.
It meant his attachment and bond to Palao were strong.
‘For someone like that to reach out first to the imperial family, who mocked Palao and the church?’
And all to bring me, a mere outsider, to the palace?
‘What’s he thinking?’
Kindness without a clear reason bred suspicion.
But rejecting the offer felt too raw in light of the unease Galonic had left behind.
‘I can’t leave it to the church.’
There was suspicion they had deliberately excluded Galonic’s information.
I had no choice but to see and judge for myself.
‘In that case.’
After agonizing over it, I reached a conclusion and bowed my head slightly.
“I’d be grateful. I’ll definitely repay the debt.”
There was no guarantee I’d gain anything by going to the palace.
‘At least I’ll get a chance to keep an eye on that guy.’
It was better than not going at all.
No sooner had I steeled myself than Gretman, scanning me up and down, asked,
“You’re not planning to go dressed like that, are you? Don’t you have any clothes here? Formal wear.”
“Ah.”
I realized my mistake. It was something I hadn’t considered at all.
A banquet was basically a party, wasn’t it?
I’d never been to one, so it was odd to even have clothes suitable for it.
“……I don’t.”
I was pondering whether to ask someone on Earth to send a tuxedo when Gretman suddenly reached out.
I clearly saw him move, but the thought to dodge didn’t even cross my mind.
As a result, I had to let him take full measure of my body with his hands.
“You’re leaner than I thought.”
Wondering what he was doing, I realized he was sizing me up with his hands, not his eyes.
“My clothes might need altering, but trying them on first would be more accurate. Let’s go. We’ll head in first, Lady Yulia.”
“But Gretman…….”
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t run into him.”
Did “him” refer to the second prince mentioned earlier?
The discord between the Palao Church and the second prince seemed clear, but now wasn’t the time to ask.
“……Please take care of it, Gretman.”
“Yes, don’t worry. You, follow me.”
With that, Gretman grabbed me and strode off.
“Uh, uh…….”
Startled, Kim Yul tried to follow but stopped in his tracks.
He seemed unsure if he was supposed to come along.
I was just as flustered.
‘I know there’s no point dragging things out since we’ve already decided to go…….’
Gretman bulldozed everything his way without hesitation.
Having lorded over others for so long, his interactions felt overwhelmingly one-sided.
Dazed, as I was pulled along by Gretman, I matched his pace so he wouldn’t have to drag me anymore.
He let go, and we quickened our steps.
Sticking close behind him, I sent a chat to Kim Yul, who remained near the conference hall.
- K: I’ll let Lily Evans know, so you head to Robole and build some rapport with the association folks. You can handle that, right?
- Kj: Yeah, got it……
By the time I confirmed Kim Yul’s reply and exited the central temple,
“How much do you know about Atar Empire etiquette?”
I was already overwhelmed studying training and key personnel, so I hadn’t learned that.
“I haven’t studied it separately.”
“I see. Then I’ll have to teach you the basics.”
Honest as I was, the crash course began right then.
I strained to focus on Gretman’s words for a moment.
Then it hit me—he’d been speaking casually to me from start to finish.
It was an extremely late realization.
I was usually sensitive to how elders treated me upon first meeting.
In Confucian culture, unconditional deference to elders honors the time they’ve lived.
But plenty hadn’t earned respect through time accrued—instead, they deserved condemnation for their lives.
That’s why I held elders to a stricter standard than younger people.
Yet with Gretman, the thought hadn’t even occurred to me.
It meant I’d lost my usual composure.
‘……He’s completely overwhelmed me with his presence.’
No wonder I’d followed so easily.
‘I’m going to dig into Galonic’s trail, but…….’
I had no intention of being swept along blindly.
With no clue why this near-stranger Gretman was volunteering to take me to the palace, I needed to stay grounded.
‘One misstep, and I’ll just get tangled in someone else’s scheme.’
I stared at Gretman’s back, a step ahead, trying to regain my calm.
Of course, it wasn’t very effective.
The moment we entered the banquet hall, I had to exert every effort not to grimace.
“Isn’t that an outsider?”
“Goodness, what’s that on his head?”
“Palao…… Could that be the outsider named Kai?”
“Gretman has returned to the palace…… Has his anger subsided?”
“As if. He must finally regret cutting ties with the imperial family.”
Whispers and stares so blatant they stung my skin.
Every single one registered sharply—it was excruciating.
‘I get it, I’m the only one wearing the emblem, but…….’
Understanding didn’t make being gawked at like a monkey in a zoo any less unpleasant.
To make matters worse, Gretman’s visit to the palace after so long was drawing attention from all sides.
I ignored the gazes pouring in from every direction and surveyed the opulent banquet hall.
At the same time, I recalled what he’d said while I tried on his clothes and sorted my thoughts.
‘The emperor of the Atar Empire has five children.’
Four were sons from concubines, and the remaining daughter was the only child born to the empress.
‘And she’s the youngest, born after the emperor passed forty.’
It wasn’t strange that the princess monopolized his favor.
In the past, the emperor had clashed with his ministers just to marry a woman of humble birth.
What father wouldn’t cherish a child born late in life to the woman he truly loved?
The emperor’s affection for the princess ran so deep that, a few years ago, rumors swirled that naming a crown princess instead of a prince wouldn’t be surprising.
Of course, the emperor showed no intention of passing the throne to his daughter.
‘That’s why he threw this banquet.’
This event had opened solely because the princess whimsically wanted a party.
Food replaced after barely being touched because it had “cooled.”
Fountains filled with liquor for lavish drinking.
Light refracting everywhere from dazzling jewels.
The extravagantly luxurious banquet, enough to make one’s head spin, was set to last a full week.
Looking at what lay before me, I could tell.
This banquet brimmed with the emperor’s wish for his daughter to live happily, laughing carefree without entanglement in complex politics or headaches.
I shrewdly grasped the undercurrents beneath the revelry.
Meanwhile, Gretman pointed out people filling the hall, offering brief explanations.
“That guy over there owns a spirit stone mine.”
What I’d studied mostly covered personnel assigned to church forces, so I knew little about Atar Empire figures.
I committed Gretman’s commentary to memory diligently.
“Do you know what spirit stones are?”
Of course. They were what I wanted most right now.
“They’re essential materials for magic tools. I hear they’re the only way to acquire attribute mana later in life.”
“Right, you know your stuff.”
It was one reason nobles and wealthy commoners bought magic tools.
To equip children born without attribute mana.
If luck struck and they gained it, they could rise in status.
“After the southern continent’s magic stone mines were largely contaminated, that guy’s influence skyrocketed. Problem is, he’s petty. Won’t deal with anyone who falls out of his favor.”
Born into wealth, he valued his pride over money.
“So if you ever cross paths, flatter him a bit. Swallow your pride. I hear you’re after spirit stones too—better to stay on his good side. You’re pretty famous among outsiders, so you’re perfect to stroke his ego.”
“……Understood.”
“And there, see the woman with her hair piled up strangely?”
“The one in red…….”
“Yeah, Atar’s top matchmaker with the widest reach.”
From a collateral branch of a lower noble house, yet she’d arranged hundreds of marriages.
“She’ll probably approach you on her own. You’ve got clean features women like, and your skin tone stands out.”
Recently, outsiders were the hottest topic in Gemal high society.
That’s why many were growing curious about them.
“It won’t be fun being treated like a toy, but making connections will open doors for you. Don’t initiate—just respond politely if she comes over.”
“……Yes.”
There wasn’t a word of Gretman’s advice to discard.
He didn’t stop at explanations; he dragged me around, making introductions.
He was doing for me what I’d done for Kim Yul.
‘Sudden favor, but…….’
I knew opportunities like this didn’t come often.
Thanks to it, I gained quite a bit.
That was undeniable.
But my purpose here wasn’t to expand Bihal’s network.
‘He’s keeping quiet.’
An hour into the banquet.
While following Gretman, I continuously tracked Galonic’s position.
But Galonic showed no notable movement.
Just exchanging banal chatter with those who greeted him.
He’d spoken as if plotting something before even RSVPing.
‘Who’d he give the extra invitations to? Wasn’t he planning to meet them here?’
I hadn’t expected instant results just from coming, but.
The letdown was inevitable.
‘Still, you never know.’
I kept watch, ready to tail him if he moved.
Gretman’s constant movement meant constant vigilance.
Thanks to that—or perhaps because of it—I suddenly spotted a man pouting somewhere between me and Galonic.
‘What the.’
A portly man in Agnotia priest robes.
‘Why is that guy here?’
Unless doppelgangers existed in this world, that was definitely Belego.
Damn System