Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Short Banquet
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I followed Raistel out of the procession and headed to the imperial palace ahead of time.
His expression made it clear he knew something. But unless he brought it up first, I had no intention of prying.
I hadn't done anything particularly wrong, after all.
...Or maybe it was about the artifact.
They might have refused to hand it over to me.
With those thoughts, we soon arrived deep within the palace.
Raistel stopped, and a guard approached to search my body.
My sub-space artifact came out, which I handed over to Raistel.
Seeing that they weren't searching him, it looked like he wouldn't be coming in with me.
He whispered in a voice only I could hear.
"It seems to be something related to the Transcendent."
A majestic voice soon echoed through the hall.
"The child of House Vieirn, enter!"
The massive doors slowly opened, and as soon as I stepped inside, I knelt and bowed my head in accordance with the etiquette I'd learned at the Academy.
"I greet Your Majesty."
The first high-ranking noble I'd ever seen was during my Academy days—a marquis who had come as an instructor.
After that was Duke Parovian Eldis. Of course, he had already passed his title to his son and returned to the military, so strictly speaking, he wasn't a duke at the time.
And now, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.
In a way, I was following the classic path to success that lesser nobles dreamed of.
......Anyone hearing that would probably scoff.
At that moment, a deep, resonant voice came from above my head.
"So you're Ivan Vieirn, the one who's been making waves lately."
Making waves? Me?
"Speak!"
The man standing beside the throne bellowed.
I couldn't lift my head to see who it was, but his tone made it clear he was someone of significant authority.
"I am Ivan, the third son of Baron Vieirn."
"Are you pretending to be humble?"
"I simply stated the facts, as I have no idea what waves I've supposedly made."
"Your achievements are too numerous to list one by one. There's no need—you've earned ample recognition."
There was a note of magnanimity in that voice, as if reassuring me that I hadn't come here by mistake.
Hm. The man beside the Emperor heightens the tension, while His Majesty eases it. Classic good cop, bad cop.
"I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty."
"Are you curious why I summoned you?"
"Yes."
"Parovian said your contributions in this matter were remarkable."
"That's correct."
"......"
My immediate agreement caused the Emperor's words to pause for a moment.
"I thought you were the type who enjoyed false modesty."
"I merely spoke the truth."
So, about that heirloom-grade artifact. Please give it to me.
"He said talented mages have unpredictable personalities, and it seems that's true. But the facts back it up."
The Emperor continued.
"Parovian requested that I bestow an heirloom-grade artifact upon you."
"...I see."
"It's not as if I can't. We have even more precious items."
Do they really?
Hm... Well, if he says so, I suppose I should believe him.
"However...... I heard the battle you feared there didn't occur."
"Yes, that's correct."
As expected, he wasn't planning to hand it over easily.
Raistel had said it was Transcendent-related, so......
Did Joart pull some scheme?
"This incident isn't something that ends there. I'd like to see more of your talents."
That confirmed it for me.
"That was Joart's doing."
"Joart...? Surely you're not referring to the Transcendent by that name?"
I'd anticipated a complicated relationship between the Emperor of this vast empire and the Transcendent above him.
But judging from the Emperor's reaction... it wasn't complicated at all. It seemed more like a straightforward hierarchy with the Transcendent reigning supreme.
Was that Joart's issue? Or the Emperor's?
Joart claimed not to interfere in ordinary human society, yet he meddled in everything.
I wanted to ask who was breaking the hero's oath first.
Of course, he might be helping the human 'Transcendents,' but what about us ordinary humans beneath them?
'Survival of the fittest, huh......'
"It's just a name, Your Majesty."
"Hah... Where did you hear that name?"
"I heard it directly."
"The Transcendent told you his own name?"
The Emperor's voice wavered slightly.
It dawned on me now—the Emperor didn't even know I'd met Joart separately.
I couldn't shake the feeling that puppets were being maneuvered in between for communication.
And for some reason, that grated on me.
"I'll speak with Joart directly."
"That's not something you can decide on your own."
"If he has a deal to propose, it would be faster for him to come to me himself."
"...A deal? You said a deal?"
The Emperor repeated it incredulously several times before sighing in exasperation.
"Do you realize how outrageous that sounds?"
But to me, his reaction made even less sense... No, actually, it started to make sense.
The Emperor was different from me.
I acted on personal judgment and gain, but he bore the weight of the entire empire.
Even if the Transcendent couldn't interfere, he wouldn't want to risk offending him.
Hell, I wasn't even sure if he could claim non-interference.
If the Emperor and Transcendent were mutually wary, holding weapons at each other's throats, that would be one thing—but this didn't seem to be the case.
"Joart will understand."
"You... You're really a 5th Circle mage?"
"Yes. As for the artifact, do as Your Majesty sees fit."
"My judgment?"
"If you deem my contributions worthy of it, bestow it. If not, take it back."
The response came from the man beside the Emperor.
"Insolent! How dare you presume to influence His Majesty's will!"
"...Enough. You are dismissed as well."
"As you command."
I backed away without turning until the doors closed behind me.
Thud.
Thud.
As the doors closed, the Emperor let out a deep sigh and rubbed his eyes wearily with his palm.
"Your Majesty......"
The Prime Minister called cautiously, but the Emperor waved him off lightly, as if he already knew what he would say.
"It's fine. He's still young and brash."
"He seems past the age for that."
"That's what I'd like to believe."
"There's no need for Your Majesty to concern yourself so."
The Emperor fell silent for a long while before murmuring softly.
"It shamed me."
"Please refrain from such words, Your Majesty."
"For a moment, I saw myself in him. That 5th Circle mage speaks his mind to the Transcendent... yet here I am, hesitating before him from my throne."
"That's no different from reckless folly born of ignorance."
"I intend to relay that mage's words to the Transcendent exactly as spoken."
"But......"
"The results will tell. Whether it was true recklessness, or if he spoke with conviction."
As the Prime Minister fell silent, the Emperor added,
"And the artifact... I'll give it to the boy. He's earned it sufficiently. That's my will."
"As you command. But if it turns out to be mere recklessness, what then?"
"Then my judgment was wrong. Perhaps it's time for me to step down."
"Your Majesty!"
Even after reaching a conclusion, a shadow lingered on the Emperor's face, as if it were a trifling matter.
"More than that...... I'm worried this might bring ruin upon the empire."
"Because of this other unidentified Transcendent who appeared?"
"I never expected to identify them all, but this time... who knows what faction it is."
"It shouldn't be forces of evil. We clashed directly with it."
"I hope so. What can we do anyway."
The Emperor exhaled deeply. Exhaustion and anxiety hung thick in his breath.
"I hope I haven't unnecessarily provoked Lord Joart."
The Prime Minister gazed pityingly at the Emperor, whose worries shifted by the moment.
The awards ceremony dragged on far longer and more tediously than expected.
With each achievement read aloud, I just clapped mechanically, staring blankly ahead.
Perhaps because my mind was filled with other thoughts.
I needed to research human bones soon, and get as detailed a description as possible of Philip Deran's appearance from Vinsen.
'No telling when I'll get the artifact......'
I'd probably have to settle things with Joart first for the next plans to proceed.
"...Next, for outstanding contributions in this mission—"
As the herald's voice rose, gazes around me began turning my way.
My turn at last.
I lifted my head slightly.
"Ivan Vieirn! Step forward!"
The hall fell briefly silent, then scattered applause broke out.
Father would have been pleased to see this.
As I walked forward slowly, those seated glanced my way.
I didn't recognize most of them.
Their expressions varied.
Curiosity. Envy. Appraising looks.
"Your feats have greatly aided the Empire. For this, we bestow upon you an heirloom-grade artifact unearthed from the ancient ruins."
A chamberlain stepped forward and carefully unveiled the long-draped cloth.
There sat the yellow orb, even more ornately presented than it had been in the carriage.
In an instant, the fatigue and boredom in my head vanished.
'He seemed wary of the Transcendent, but they're just giving it anyway?'
If so, no delays.
Good. Now it really begins.
...Or so I thought, but I didn't expect to be dragged to the banquet afterward.
The one pulling me along was Parovian.
"Why the long face?"
"Aren't banquets for attending with a beautiful partner?"
"......A beautiful partner is waiting for you as we speak."
"Pardon? Then why are you dragging me along?"
"Not me. Your beautiful partner."
Did I have a beautiful partner?
Maybe the palace assigned one? ......Unlikely.
Parovian looked oddly displeased as he said it, so I didn't press further.
As we neared the banquet hall, eye-catching hair came into view ahead.
Deep navy-blue locks. Oz, who usually tied her hair on both sides, had let it down long.
Her long silver gown flowed like moonlight, brushing the floor.
The fabric clung smoothly to her curves, revealing the feminine beauty she usually kept hidden.
Slender waist, gentle shoulder line, and the light reflecting off the silver cloth made her glow like a painting.
So different from her rigid Academy image that even I couldn't look away for a moment.
Her partner would draw eyes all night.
"Commander, you don't seem to have time to worry about me right now."
"I plan to stare at you the whole banquet."
"...Why?"
Parovian stood rooted, unmoving.
Then Oz's gaze turned our way.
She approached us.
In the crowd, only her scent brushed my nose.
"You're here? Let's go in."
"Together?"
"......Who else?"
I had questions, but her face—asking curtly while staring—stuck the words in my throat.
In that moment, Oz's arm slipped naturally into mine.
"B-Banquets are done like this. That's how it's done."
I tried to glance at Parovian, but Oz tightened her grip, stopping me.
"Don't want to enter with me?"
"No, I'd love to."
"Then let's...... Huh? You'd love to?"
The words slipped out thoughtlessly, worry following late.
I could feel her tension in her subtle tremors.
She echoed my words, looking at me, but her focus drifted slightly.
Where was she looking?
Her cheeks were faintly flushed.
I might not have noticed normally, but with our bodies so close, it was impossible to miss.
'I'll just show face briefly and slip out......'
Truthfully, all my attention was on the heirloom-grade artifact and experiments with it.
I wavered seeing Oz for a moment.
But tangled worries brought reason back.
Her seeing me as a partner made me feel unnecessarily guilty.
I straightened my dazed expression.
"Shall we go in?"
"No, what did you just......"
"I'd love to. But it's a bit burdensome. You're so beautiful, everyone's staring."
"...Huh?"
She reacted like a machine auto-repeating questions.
Not wanting to pile on, I stepped into the banquet hall with her.
As expected, eyes turned our way briefly upon entering.
Oz followed half a step behind before hurrying to match me and spoke.
"Ah, um... Th-there's something I wanted to tell you."
"What?"
"No... It's your first banquet, so lots of people I could introduce you to."
She continued, glancing around cautiously.
"If you're not interested in the banquet, I was going to say we could let them know about your plans with Professor Palrez. It'd be good to spread the word to the nobles."
Her voice trailed off smaller.
"I was going to suggest it since you don't seem thrilled about banquets......"
"Then introduce me."
"You're interested?"
"Of course. But since when have you cared about my work with the professor......"
Before I finished, an unfamiliar voice cut in from the side.
"Well, if it isn't—"
I stopped and turned.
A man with neatly combed-back blond hair stood there smiling. He looked about my age.
The blond hair briefly reminded me of Joart...... but that unlucky thought was an insult to this man.
"Who are you?"
"......"
The bright smile on his lips stiffened slightly.
Hurt that I didn't recognize him?
But it really was a face I'd never seen.
"Felt. Academy classmate."
Oz whispered from beside me.