Chapter 309: Isaac(3)
Chapter 309: Isaac(3)
This world—or more accurately, this planet—is on the smaller side compared to Earth. This is something I heard directly from the gods.
However, considering that seventy percent of Earth is covered by oceans while this world is not, its actual landmass is likely just as vast.
The Minerva Empire, the Ters Kingdom, Helium, Albenheim, Animus, Machina, the Holy Theocracy of Savior, the Duchy of Bellua, and so on.
While many countries, both large and small, have been mentioned so far, their number is significantly lower than those on Earth.
The reason there are so few nations despite the lack of modernization is none other than the "monsters" and the absolutely dreadful "natural environment."
No matter how much the elves are blessed by the gods, they are powerless against monsters and nature. True to its nature as a fantasy world, there are many places where humans simply cannot survive.
Volcanic regions, areas where blizzards howl daily like the South Pole, environments where not a single blade of grass can grow, and more.
There are still unexplored regions, but for now, they are occupied by monsters, and the areas habitable for civilization are extremely limited.
Given this, it’s not strange that there are so few countries. Consequently, the number of people gathered in the waiting room right now isn't particularly large, nor is it small.
If several centuries had passed, there would be many more, but that’s a story for the distant future, so let’s set it aside for now.
For now, the priority is building connections with the people gathered here. To be honest, I’ve already established most of these connections, but it’s better to maintain appearances.
Besides, even among those I already know, there are distinguished guests I haven't met yet.
"A pleasure to meet you. My name is Gis Hal Verano."
Like the man right in front of me. He possessed a magnificent physique, though in a different sense than Musk, and sported dirty-blonde hair and a beard.
His appearance carried the charisma expected of a king, yet he gave off a strangely friendly impression. If he were just a bit more easygoing, I might have believed he and President Musk were brothers.
I accepted his brief greeting and looked at the woman beside him. In truth, the person who caught my attention more than the man was the woman I presumed to be his partner.
She had sky-blue hair and eyes, much like King Friedrich, but unlike Hiriya, she projected a gentle image.
"Hello. I am Olivia Hal Verano, the Duchess of Bellua. It is an honor to meet Xenon."
The woman with sky-blue hair greeted me with perfect etiquette. Unlike a certain someone, her greeting exuded innate grace and elegance—a truly noble introduction.
As you might have guessed, this woman is King Friedrich’s eldest daughter and the First Princess of the Ters Kingdom.
From what I’ve heard, Gis fell in love with Olivia at first sight. After a persistent courtship, they eventually ended up together.
It’s said that Olivia found Gis annoying at first, but after recognizing his character, she married him. While it was partly a political marriage, I’ve heard many rumors that they are head over heels for each other.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you. As you may know, I am Isaac Ducard Maishal, the author of the Xenon Chronicle. I would appreciate it if you called me Isaac rather than Xenon."
"I am Mari Hausen Rekilis, the eldest daughter of the Rekilis family and Isaac’s fiancée. It is an honor to meet the distinguished guests of the Duchy of Bellua."
As I introduced myself, Mari, who was standing by my side as my fiancée, bowed her head gracefully.
Since Mari has been publicly announced as my fiancée, she can stand proudly like this.
I imagine she’s feeling a bit of a thrill deep down. Until now, she was the fiancée of Isaac, not Xenon, but as of today, the situation has changed.
Though most of the people here are familiar faces, the thrill of meeting new people in this capacity must be indescribable.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rekilis. Isaac is one thing, but you are truly beautiful, Mari. The two of you look wonderful together."
"Thank you. You are also beautiful, Duchess Olivia."
"But tell me, Mari, how did you and Xenon—no, Isaac—first meet?"
The expected question came from Olivia’s lips. On the surface, one would assume the Minerva Empire had paired Mari with me to keep me tied to them.
Not just her, but everyone who doesn't know the full story would think the same. But that wasn't the case at all.
I wrapped my arm around Mari’s waist and pulled her close. It was a way to flaunt our affection and confirm our relationship at the same time.
"Many people think the Empire paired Mari with me to keep me here, but that’s not it at all. Mari confessed to me before she even knew who I was."
"Really?"
At my unexpected answer, both Olivia and Gis widened their eyes and looked at Mari.
When I glanced at Mari, I saw her face flushing red with embarrassment. The way she leaned even closer to me confirmed it.
She looked so cute I wanted to give her a squeeze, but with so many people watching, I had to restrain myself.
"Yes. I revealed my identity shortly after. But I don't think Mari would have cared who I was. Right?"
"Yeah..."
Despite her shyness, Mari clung to my arm. Unlike her usual bold self, she becomes a different person when we show affection like this.
Olivia watched the two of us with a warm smile before asking another question.
"Then, Mari, what part of Isaac did you like so much that you confessed? I’m quite curious about that."
"His face, of course. Even now, I feel like I’m living off his good looks every day."
I love this honest side of her. Olivia was momentarily taken aback by Mari’s bold answer, but after staring at my face for a moment, she nodded.
"Hmm... I suppose I have no choice but to agree. Still, I think my husband is the most handsome man in the world."
"Haha. I was quite the looker in my youth, too."
"Talk to me after you lose some weight."
The conversation with the royals of Bellua, including Olivia, proceeded without a hitch. We didn't touch on any sensitive topics, and Olivia notably refrained from mentioning Adelia, who was standing by my side.
It wasn't that she was ignoring her like the other Ters royals. Rather, she was avoiding a situation where acknowledging her might make things awkward for everyone.
She probably picked up on the situation after Hiriya’s recent display of weeping and begging. However, the reason I could treat her favorably was because of Adelia’s own assessment.
Adelia had told me that when she was living in the Ters Kingdom, Olivia had treated her like a real older sister. Even though it was for a short three months, she had provided as much comfort as Lara.
If she hadn't become the Duchess of Bellua, perhaps she could have lessened Adelia’s trauma even more.
"The Duchy of Bellua has also benefited greatly from the Xenon Chronicle, haven't you?"
"Indeed. Our national treasury is so full right now that we’re worried about how to spend it all."
As Gis’s joyful answer suggested, the Duchy of Bellua is a country that has profited as much as the publisher.
Olivia cleared her throat to signal him to be discreet, but it was impossible to stop Gis, who was already drowning in happiness.
The Duchy of Bellua has always been known as a neutral state with a highly developed commercial sector. Its geographical location is practically a cheat code.
It was the only region where humans, dwarves, beastkin, and elves could all gather in one place.
Although its territory was smaller than other nations, its importance surpassed even the previously mentioned Stavirk region. It was a strategic chokepoint and a hub of transportation.
The fact that Gis could maintain neutrality in an era where anyone could start a war of conquest at the slightest whim spoke volumes about his leadership.
If the magical locomotive is ever invented, Bellua would likely be the first place it’s installed.
Since the Xenon Chronicle must pass through Bellua to reach distant lands, they could become a reliable partner, much like Musk.
"I look forward to our continued partnership."
"As do I. I’d love to introduce you to my children, but they’re still quite young."
"That’s quite alright. They can meet my children later."
"That is wonderful news indeed! Hahaha!"
The only problem is I don't know how many children I’ll end up having. They don't yet know that I have more women in my life than just Mari.
Even if they suspected it, they wouldn't say it out loud. Bringing it up would only make the atmosphere awkward.
As the conversation with the Bellua royals was winding down, Olivia shifted her gaze from Mari and me to Adelia.
Adelia flinched for a moment when their eyes met, but she soon gave a faint smile and a polite bow.
Olivia returned the nod briefly and then spoke to me.
"Isaac."
"Yes, go ahead."
"You have a truly magnificent guard knight by your side. Just looking at her makes me feel secure."
Her words were tinged with both regret and pride. As soon as I heard her, I looked at Mari instead of Adelia.
As everyone knows, Mari has an innate ability to perceive people’s true intentions. In other words, she could tell if Olivia’s words were sincere or not.
And when she met my eyes, she gave a slow, deliberate nod.
That confirmed it. Olivia, along with Lara, was someone who had treated Adelia with human decency.
Because of that, I was able to respond with genuine warmth.
"Thank you. As you said, Sir Cross is someone I can trust implicitly. Both as a person and as a knight."
"That..."
Olivia started to say something but hesitated, her lips trembling slightly. Soon, she gave a bitter smile and shook her head.
"I look forward to working with you, Isaac."
Olivia’s farewell carried many meanings. Whether it was aimed at me or Adelia, I nodded in affirmation.
With that, the conversation with the Duchy of Bellua ended, and we moved on to the next group.
"Huh? You guys are..."
"It’s been a while. No, it has been a long time."
Surprisingly, the next people to approach were beastkin. And they were beastkin I was already acquainted with.
One was Balkan Lions, a lion beastkin and Leona’s half-brother. The other was Zinai Krochuker, a hyena beastkin.
Since this event was for representatives of each nation, seeing these two here meant...
"Don't tell me you’ve become the Grand Chieftain?"
"And whose fault do you think that is? Hahaha."
Zinai let out a hollow laugh at my question. Balkan glared at her sharply for the remark aimed at me.
The idea of Zinai actually becoming the Grand Chieftain was a bit unsettling, but it was a development I could have easily predicted.
Currently, Animus needed a wise ruler rather than a strong one. Zinai might have used her head for the wrong things in the past, but she had the qualities of a king.
Still, I hadn't expected her to overcome all that opposition to actually take the position.
"To be honest, I never imagined this person would become the Grand Chieftain. But since it was the advice of the great Xenon, it makes sense."
Balkan, who had been glaring at Zinai, spoke to me. His tone was polite and respectful, unlike before, which felt a bit awkward since he’s Leona’s brother.
When I scratched my head sheepishly, Zinai grumbled. She wasn't being rude; she was literally just muttering to herself. The problem was that I could hear everything.
"It was Xenon’s advice, so I had no choice but to become the Grand Chieftain. Now I have nowhere to run. I don't even know anymore."
"If you’re going to grumble, do it outside."
Surprisingly, even Balkan was using formal speech with Zinai. Despite all the trouble it took, it seemed Zinai’s wisdom had been proven.
I chuckled at the strangely fitting chemistry between the two and asked about their recent situation.
"How is Animus these days? Is everything going well, as I suggested?"
"There is some pushback, but since it’s the only tournament where they can display their fighting spirit, many beastkin are in agreement. It’s rare to have an opportunity to vent the most important instincts of a beastkin all at once."
"That’s good to hear. Anything else?"
"It’s hard because everyone is a muscle-brain. No wonder the country was in this state when officials were chosen solely based on strength. It’s no surprise we were so easy to exploit."
"Ahem. Ahem."
Despite Zinai’s blunt criticism, Balkan only cleared his throat and didn't offer any excuses. It seemed everything she said was a cold, hard fact.
Still, it looked like Animus had nothing but progress ahead of it, so there was no need to worry. I could trust Zinai to get things done, whatever else her personality might be.
"By the way, regarding Leona..."
"Uh-uh. Save that for a private conversation. Not here."
See? Even now, when Balkan was about to mindlessly bring up a sensitive topic, Zinai quickly stopped him.
As she said, it would be fine in private, but bringing it up in a crowded place like this would only lead to complications.
This alone was proof of Zinai’s superior wisdom.
"Then, I look forward to our future dealings."
"I do as well."
The conversation with Animus ended, and next was...
"It has been a long time. Have you been well?"
It was the turn of Arwen, the Queen of Albenheim. Unlike the others, she didn't use formal speech, maintaining her characteristic mature and regal tone.
It would have felt awkward if even Arwen used formal speech, so this was more comfortable. Above all, since elves were known for being arrogant, others wouldn't think much of it.
"It’s been a while. I’ve been doing well. How about you, Arwen?"
I debated whether to use formal speech but decided to speak casually. Unlike the others, Arwen was someone who, along with Musk, had known my identity from the start.
So, to show our existing friendship, speaking casually was perfectly fine.
Arwen smiled at my friendly greeting and replied.
"I have been busy every day, but the thought of meeting thee kept me going. Seeing thee today, it feels as though all my hardships have vanished."
"Oh... really?"
Arwen’s answer was loaded with intent. As soon as I heard it, I checked on Mari, not anyone else.
Mari was smiling brightly, but I knew better. That smile was a mask to hide her true feelings.
Knowing that Arwen had romantic feelings for me, it was only natural for her to be on guard.
"Nothing major happened, right?"
"Nothing. Albenheim is gradually stabilizing, and the elves are uniting as one. All of this is thanks to thee."
"I didn't do anything. I just gave a little help."
"On that note..."
Arwen trailed off for a moment and glanced around. A few people were stealing glances at our conversation, but most were preoccupied with their own networking.
For some reason, her face flushed, and she spoke in a cautious voice.
"I wish to give thee a gift. This is something not only I, but all the people of Albenheim have agreed upon."
"Ah. The gift you mentioned before?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
As I asked, I glanced at Keir, the guard knight standing beside her. It seemed he had been officially appointed as Arwen’s personal guard.
When our eyes met, Keir cleared his throat and looked away—a silent sign that he couldn't tell me.
Meanwhile, Arwen’s cheeks turned red, and she spoke shyly.
"If... if thou art curious about the gift, then come to Albenheim. But do not forget to send word before thou comest."
"Hmm... Not today?"
"T-Today? N-No! Absolutely not!"
What kind of gift could it be that she would discard her queenly dignity to refuse so vehemently? I looked at Arwen with a puzzled expression.
Perhaps because of her outburst, the gazes directed our way were quite intense. Especially from Cecile’s direction.
If this continued, strange rumors might spread, so I felt the need to smooth things over.
"Alright. I’ll visit Albenheim whenever I have the time. It won't take long."
"Ugh... I understand. I apologize for causing a scene."
"It’s fine."
"Then... my dear."
"Yeah?"
Arwen, who had called out to me, fidgeted and began to glance around. She seemed to be hesitating, or perhaps checking the mood.
While I wondered about her behavior once more, Arwen spoke in a voice as tiny as a crawling ant.
"...thee?"
"What was that?"
"W-What... what color dost thou prefer?"
Out of nowhere, Arwen asked about my favorite color. I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Regardless, Arwen was hiding her face in her hands, lost in whatever imagination she was having.
Since this looked like it might lead to more misunderstandings, I answered quickly. I did have a favorite color, after all.
"If I had to pick, maybe red?"
"...A fitting answer for thee. I understand."
"Is that related to the gift, too?"
At my question, Arwen couldn't bring herself to meet my eyes and answered softly.
"...Yes."
What on earth could the gift be?
Anyway, the conversation with Arwen ended there.
Squeeze!
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Hmph. You don't need to know."
Mari pinched my side.
"A gift, she says... Is it even legal for an elf to be that suggestive? 'Chosen of the gods,' my foot. Honestly..."
It seemed she had realized the true nature of the gift Arwen mentioned.