Chapter 111
I’m translating the chapter into the required HTML form and preserving the in-universe system text as styled blocks. I’m also keeping the glossary names and terminology locked so the chapter stays consistent with the series.CHAPTER_TITLE: Solution
Before the dimensional gate in the palace courtyard, Ho-yeong muttered under his breath as he watched the line of people waiting to teleport.
“This feels just like waiting for the one apartment elevator that actually works during rush hour.”
The royal palace did not let people leave any more freely than it let them enter. You could not simply walk out on your own, and magic was forbidden as well, so there was no escaping by magical means either.
They probably blocked flying out too. Set up a barrier in the sky or something...
The only way out of the palace was through the dimensional gate.
The gate could move a fair number of people and goods, but once it was used, it had to rest before it could be activated again. So on a day like this, when countless people had entered the palace and were now leaving all at once, it was practically an elevator at the start of the workday, just as Ho-yeong had said.
“Look at that. His Majesty has granted the Border Count one of the royal treasures.”
“Two of them, in fact!”
Those waiting their turn were all murmuring as they looked at Ho-yeong.
To Ho-yeong’s ears, with a little exaggeration, it felt as if the entire palace were buzzing around him.
Word’s already spread that fast, huh.
Marquis Iolid noticed the attention as well and spoke up.
“His Majesty granted you the treasures of the royal house? Two of them, no less? I felt it during the royal audience as well, but it seems His Majesty places tremendous trust in you.”
“Well, it’s less that I’ve been favored than that I was given them so I could protect the people properly.”
Demis Ezef could not hide his astonishment at Ho-yeong’s windfall either.
“To bestow the White Silver Hammer upon one who is not a holy knight. There has never been a precedent for such a thing in the kingdom’s history.”
“Ah, do you think the holy knights might object?”
“I do not believe so. As knights who serve their lord, how could they oppose a lord’s decision? Moreover, the Border Count proved himself worthy of wielding the White Silver Hammer by manifesting a clear hammer head of light. So from a clergyman’s perspective as well, there is no reason to object.”
“That’s a relief.”
Still, Sir Demis thought to himself that the commander of the holy knights, who still had not received the White Silver Hammer, might well feel disappointed. Yet that would not be disappointment in His Majesty, but in himself.
“Master, how long are you going to keep holding that belt? It must be inconvenient. Let me carry it for you.”
“No, it’s pretty heavy-”
“Eek!”
Peach staggered as she took the Black Dragon Belt Armor from him. It was a little thick, certainly, but how heavy could a leather belt really be? It felt like she had lifted a sack of flour packed solid with lead.
“See? Didn’t I say so? It’s made from layers and layers of dragon hide, so it’s heavy. But that also means it’s tough.”
“Let me help. I’ll cast a lightening spell on it.”
Marquis Iolid stepped forward.
Oh. So this is that no-incantation spellcasting. The one even most mages can’t pull off.
Ho-yeong admired the marquis for casting so swiftly without a chant.
“Oh? It’s much lighter now. Thank you, Marquis.”
The Black Dragon Belt Armor was an item that blocked only enemy magic that was harmful to the wearer. That meant it would not repel a friendly spell meant to help.
“But I was under the impression magic couldn’t be used inside the palace.”
“Those granted permission by His Majesty may use it. Otherwise, how do you think that pointy-eared palace mage managed to wave around that sorry excuse for a staff? Though he’s locked in prison now, so he can’t do that anymore.”
“I see. In that case, if possible, could we use teleportation to go straight to the marquis’s estate? Then we wouldn’t need to stand in line like this. Treating the third son is also official business, since I already reported it to His Majesty.”
“If it were up to me, don’t you think I’d like to move faster? But it would violate the rules, so I won’t do it. I’ve already ordered a carriage, so once we get out of the outer wall, we’ll be there in no time.”
“Understood. If I’d known, I should have asked for permission to teleport earlier.”
While they waited helplessly, Peach came over and suggested he equip the item.
“Master, it’s something His Majesty bestowed upon you, so rather than carrying it like that, wouldn’t it be better to wear it at your waist?”
“Oh, should I?”
“I’ll fasten the belt for you.”
“Thanks, Peach. But won’t it take a while...?”
With her pressed right up against his back, Peach gently fussed over his waist. She seemed to be satisfying some private agenda of her own.
He was wearing it over his plate armor, so why did it feel so ticklish? Ho-yeong found that oddly hard to understand.
“There are just too many straps. All done!”
“Oh, how is it? Does it look better?”
“It looks really cool!”
Joren Tamer had such a solid build that the Black Dragon Belt Armor suited his waist extremely well. And when he tucked the White Silver Hammer into the belt’s side pouch so he could draw it instantly in an emergency, the result was an impressive black-and-white legendary set.
I look like some kind of black-and-white knight. If they were going to give me more, they could’ve at least tossed in one more thing, tsk. Since I already got black and white, maybe gray would’ve been nice. Still, I was only supposed to get one thing and they gave me two, so I shouldn’t complain.
It was a little disappointing, but he decided not to be greedy, just as Daisy had told him.
Outside the palace’s outer wall, the carriage Marquis Iolid had summoned was waiting.
Pretty convenient. Feels just like a cab.
The ornate four-horse carriage was as comfortable as it was grand.
“Sir Demis. What are you doing? Why don’t you get on?”
But Sir Demis declined to board and instead borrowed one of the guards’ horses.
“I find a horse more comfortable, so I shall go on ahead. I know the location of the marquis’s mansion. I will go first and tell them to make preparations.”
“Would you do that? I feel bad, as though I’m making the vice-commander of the holy knights run errands. Thank you.”
“There is no need to feel bad, nor to thank me. It is all for the mission. If I go ahead, we can save even a little time. Then I shall take my leave. Hyah!”
And with that, the vice-commander rode off at speed.
“Good grief. What a rigid, stubborn man. He has a way of making you think you’re about to warm up to him, then slamming the door on it.”
The marquis clicked his tongue and offered the most comfortable seat to Ho-yeong and Peach.
“Perhaps he’s acting that way because he’s being considerate of you, Marquis.”
“What do you mean?”
“Even if the matter of the third son is an open secret, what happened between Peach and the marquis’s house is something he probably does not want to know about, nor spread around.”
“Hmm... You may be right. If so, then that is a kind thing indeed.”
Peach glared sidelong at the marquis and sat with her legs crossed.
“I’ve really made something of myself. Back when I was working at your house, I was thrown around in a wagon like a sack of luggage, and now I’m even riding in the same carriage as you.”
“...”
Ho-yeong briefly considered whether he should quietly make her lower her leg, then gave up on the idea.
“Anxiety Eye activated! Peach may be acting rough on the outside, but inside she is worried that she might not receive her master’s protection.”
“Anxiety Eye activated! Ashk Iolid, who values the family’s reputation, is worried that Peach might spread bad rumors.”
Looking back and forth between the two people who were nervous in entirely different ways, Ho-yeong stepped in to mediate.
“Please don’t worry, Marquis. Peach has a very kind heart. She would not go out of her way to expose the marquis house’s shame to the world. Though that only applies if the third son offers a sincere apology, of course.”
Both of them looked at him in surprise.
“Would the two of you promise me that much?”
“I shall do so. Thank you.”
“I’ll follow my master’s wishes.”
The anxiety between the two has subsided.
Along with that, the unpleasant pounding sensation he had felt from the Anxiety Evil Eye also faded.
Even so, an awkward atmosphere still hung inside the carriage.
“Marquis, thank you for earlier in the audience hall. For helping me when the palace mage kept trying to drag me into things.”
Ho-yeong spoke to freshen the mood. Rather than idly killing time, he also wanted to use the opportunity to study politics and current affairs, as Daisy had suggested.
“Ah, think nothing of it. I had long wanted to deal with that pointy-eared bastard. On the contrary, things went much more smoothly because I followed your lead.”
To the marquis, who had stubbornly resisted the extraction of his memory, Ho-yeong had used Remote Command and ordered him to cooperate with the extraction.
Since people were amazed when they watched my Bakgyeokpo leap strike, this time it should work well if we show them the footage too.
Because the content concerning the Cliad Sect was so shocking, he judged that it would be better to show it directly. Of course, it had already been verified through Sir Demis’s testimony, the Ring of Truth, and the clergy, but it would be better still if it left a stronger impact.
“Your suggestion that we extract the memory from the imprisoned palace mage was excellent too. Since the memory came from the man’s own staff, no one can complain that the process was manipulated. In any case, things turned out well. The civil and military officials all saw with their own eyes, and heard with their own ears, what those vile elf bastards were doing.”
“Indeed they did. Ah, and the advice you gave before the teleportation was also a huge help, Marquis.”
Originally, Ho-yeong had planned to use the teleportation trip to bring the tribute along in advance. He had thought that would remove the need to protect it and might also soften the king’s heart.
“If I had ignored your advice and taken the tribute with me, it would have reflected very badly during the royal audience.”
“Did His Majesty tell you that?”
“Yes, that’s right. It was all thanks to your foresight, Marquis. I hope you’ll continue to guide me.”
The marquis was proving to be an extremely capable pioneer.
“These days, it’s rare to find a young man who heeds an old man’s advice. It is deeply rewarding to help a young man like you. Besides, you made our house look respectable as well. It was all your achievement that we were able to hunt down all those mutant trolls and giant trolls.”
Edification has increased! Ashk Iolid’s conversion rate is steadily rising. If you maintain good relations with the allied Marquis Iolid house, you will be able to gain many talents and resources from the Magic Tower and the noble council.
Before long, they arrived at the marquis’s mansion.
Wow, this house is something else.
Ho-yeong was startled by the mansion’s imposing grandeur.
“Oh, Father! I was told you had gone out to the battlefield, so I was surprised to hear you were back already. And to think you came alone, leaving Kristian oppa and Keiji behind...”
The marquis’s eldest daughter had come out to greet them.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is my second child, Rosta. Rosta, this is the Border Count, Lord Joren Tamer, and his maid, Peach.”
She was a modest-looking mage. There was nothing particularly unusual in her status window either.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Border Count. I heard the circumstances from the vice-commander of the holy knights. Thank you very much for coming to my humble home despite your military duties being so busy. And Peach, it’s been a long time.”
“No, not at all.”
Ho-yeong, who did not know noble etiquette very well, found himself unsure how he ought to address her.
You should ask Peach, who knows etiquette well, for advice. Not knowing something is nothing to be ashamed of.
And so he immediately switched to whisper mode.
“Peach. What do I call that young lady? A noble lady?”
“Master, ‘noble lady’ isn’t really used as a form of address. You may call her Young Lady, or Second Young Lady. Lady Rosta is a good person, so there’s no need to be too fussy.”
As Rosta guided Ho-yeong and Peach, she looked terribly anxious.
“Um... Border Count. Will my youngest brother really recover?”
“That depends on the younger son himself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hmm... You’ll understand when you see.”
Garza Iorid’s quarters were on the highest floor of the mansion.
“This is the youngest brat’s room. So what do you intend to do now?”
“Now then, shall we go ‘treat’ him? Marquis, Young Lady, please come in together for now.”
The moment they entered the room, the stink of alcohol and rot hit them full in the face.
“What is it, hic. Who told you to barge in? I told you no one except Father can come in, didn’t I? Hey, old man there. Who are you? Hrrk. Could you be my father?”
“Yes, I’m your father, you little shit. And now you don’t even recognize me?”
“Huh? Really? Hahaha. I guess I could forget. Who told you to get so damn old?”
He looked like a young man not even twenty yet, but the way he acted made him look like a forty-year-old drunkard.
Ah. He’s about to make me film That Goddamn Son of Yours.
Shaking his head, Ho-yeong was about to sigh when he glanced at the status window and his eyes sharpened.
Positive event occurred! If you convert Garza Iorid, a strategy for the important quest Meeting with the Cliad Sect Leader will be added.