Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Royal Recommendation
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It had been nearly a week since I started scouring Asteron for hidden pieces everywhere.
‘At this point, I’ve pretty much grabbed everything worth getting, right?’
The end was finally in sight for this grind.
From District 7 all the way to District 2. I’d snagged every hidden piece I could get my hands on.
Now, only one district remained.
But.
‘Hmm…… Should I go there or not?’
I was inwardly torn.
The last district was none other than District 1.
Sure, it was packed with useful hidden pieces, but it came with just as many headaches.
‘Getting in will be tough to begin with…… And I didn’t exactly go the royal route.’
Even entry was an issue.
Royal commanders, royal guards, royal mages, and so on.
There were plenty of jobs that could get you into the royal area, but thanks to my deliberate pivot into the magic swordsman tree this time, I was miles away from any of that.
In short, getting into District 1 was going to be a pain.
Of course, you didn’t strictly need those roles to enter District 1…… but the alternatives weren’t any better.
None of them applied to me, anyway.
I pondered my options for a good long while.
Then, a somewhat feasible idea popped up.
‘The closest thing I’ve got is that royal commander offer…… Maybe I can leverage that?’
Asking for help from Elbert Tyran, the guy who’d pitched the royal commander gig to me in the first place.
Just enough to sneak me inside District 1.
As a noble, Elbert might know a way in.
It didn’t take long to decide.
‘Worth a shot.’
Worst case, nothing lost. No downside to trying.
Plus.
“Heh heh, number one guy. We’re really going into District 1? That place where only royals live?”
“I’ve always wondered what royalty even eats.”
“But is this actually doable?”
My companions were looking excited.
Though even if I pulled it off, I wasn’t sure if they could tag along.
“I’ll look into it. Don’t get your hopes up too much.”
After passing on the word, I headed straight to Elbert.
Elbert’s place was in District 2.
Not the easiest spot to access, but thanks to the ‘High Mage Guarantee’ issued by Asion Gail, entry wasn’t too bad.
Elbert and I met again.
Seeing him brought a smile to my face unbidden.
“Nice to see you again?”
“Only natural. You build a bond with comrades you’ve fought alongside—you can’t help it.”
“I’ll take that as the Knight Commander being glad to see me too.”
“……Not wrong. Look here.”
Mid-reply, Elbert suddenly raised one hand.
As if on cue, a middle-aged man bowed his head.
Looked like Elbert’s butler……
“Yes, Lord Elbert. Everything’s ready.”
We were at Elbert’s mansion.
The treatment was no joke.
Clack, clack, clack-clack-clack!
At a signal from the butler-looking guy, about a dozen servants wheeled in carts loaded with food and began setting the table.
Every dish screamed luxury—worth its weight in gold—and the portions were insane.
“……You expect me to eat all this?”
I was already stressing over how to polish it off.
“No need to force it. Just pick what suits your taste.”
‘……Guy’s swimming in cash.’
A stark reminder that Elbert was nobility.
Anyway, we’d barely started chatting and eating when Elbert cut to the chase.
“So, why’d you seek me out? You’re not the type to drop by without reason.”
“Am I really that predictable?”
“You kidding me?”
“……Guess I am.”
Elbert had clocked my ulterior motive.
No point beating around the bush, so I laid it out.
“Any way you know of to get into District 1? Me and my whole crew?”
“District 1? Why?”
“Uh…… tourism?”
“……?”
Elbert stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
Fair enough.
Who the hell wants to tourist in District 1, where only royals live?
I’d known that from the start but didn’t bother with excuses.
Tacking on some fake reason might limit my movement—no point risking it.
Right now, I needed a way in that let me roam freely.
“You serious?”
“Yeah.”
“……First time I’ve met someone gunning for District 1 just to sightsee.”
“Tough ask?”
Elbert stroked his chin at my question, then nodded abruptly.
“Not for tourism, but there is a way into District 1.”
“What is it?”
“Remember what I mentioned before? About becoming a royal commander.”
“Of course.”
“Accept the offer first.”
“……Pardon?”
My eyes went wide at the curveball.
Accept becoming a royal commander? What was this?
Despite my confusion, Elbert explained matter-of-factly.
“There are three steps to becoming a royal commander. First, Proof. Second, Endurance. Third and final, Duel.”
Proof, Endurance, Duel.
I knew these steps.
In simple terms: Proof showed you had commander potential.
Endurance meant surviving brutal training.
Duel proved your mettle against active commanders.
Elbert brought it up because of the first step: Proof.
“As royal commanders, Proof requires His Majesty to witness and judge personally. Meaning……”
“You have to enter District 1 no matter what.”
“Exactly.”
I got the gist.
Elbert was saying to accept the offer and use it for temporary entry into District 1.
I mulled it over in silence.
‘Not a bad play.’
It made sense.
If I followed through, I could stay in District 1, plenty of time to grab hidden pieces.
Once I had what I needed, I could just bail naturally—say I couldn’t cut it.
Only one hitch.
“Then it’s just me going in?”
This method wouldn’t let my companions enter.
Not a huge deal, but some District 1 hidden pieces needed four or more people. Shame.
But.
“It’s possible. Just say you need your comrades to prove your qualifications.”
Elbert surprised me by saying it could work.
“You’ve synced up with them plenty of times already. Explain it as a Proof requirement, and the royals should buy it.”
“……Yeah, sounds plausible.”
The more I heard, the more doable it seemed.
Good call asking Elbert.
Of course, one worry lingered.
“But what if—just hypothetically—I actually pass and end up stuck as a royal commander?”
What if I got locked into it no matter what?
That’d be a nightmare.
After all this, become a royal commander now? No way.
Especially since it wouldn’t let me take down Baal.
But Elbert didn’t seem fazed.
“Then just do it. What’s the worry? Passing for royal commander is a win, not a problem.”
He treated it like good news, not a concern.
“If it really happens, I’ll throw you a huge celebration.”
Hell, he seemed thrilled……
‘Is this why he suggested it?’
The suspicion crept in.
Whatever.
“Got it. Sounds solid.”
No denying Elbert’s plan was pretty good.
“Tell them I’m in for royal commander.”
“Will do.”
And so, my adventure for hidden pieces truly kicked off.
***
Three days later.
A letter arrived at the Asteron palace.
“Hmm, Elbert.”
The crest marked it from 7th Knight Commander Elbert Tyran.
Rip, tear!
The Asteron king tore it open with eager anticipation.
Elbert Tyran was one of the knight commanders who’d served him loyally for years.
A famously gruff man, too.
He was dying to know what was inside.
[Is Your Majesty well? Your health and peace are tied to Asteron’s fate, so my knights and I pray for your well-being daily……]
The opener was the usual fluff.
Standard well-wishes about staying healthy for Asteron.
Eager for the meat, the king skipped to the core.
[Thus, I wish to recommend a candidate fit for royal knight commander: the mage Yoo Hanes. Yoo Hanes is a mage with ample experience serving the kingdom’s safety and prosperity……]
Grasping the context, the king nodded.
“A recommendation letter.”
A royal commander rec from Knight Commander Elbert.
He’d seen countless such letters, but from Elbert?
“……Yoo Hanes.”
After reading it all, the king’s interest piqued in the name.
Hardly surprising.
Elbert Tyran had held his post for over a decade without recommending anyone.
Which meant.
“……How impressive must this guy be?”
Yoo Hanes wasn’t your average talent.
Impressive enough to sway picky Elbert.
Mulling the name, the king suddenly smacked his knee.
“……Yoo Hanes. I’ve heard it before.”
If memory served, this was the mage who shone in the recent [Prophecy of the Red Moon] war.
The one who took down a legion commander-level foe.
Oddly, a commoner, so he hadn’t paid much mind then.
But hearing the name again? Something was there.
Thump.
Feeling his heartbeat, the king murmured.
“I’ll judge him with my own eyes.”
No exceptional talent slips past him.
Yoo Hanes’s fate would hinge on that verdict.
In these dull days of routine, the letter was a welcome spark.