Chapter 141: Inquiry (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 141: Inquiry (1)
Immediately after Yuman gave his warning and departed.
Alon returned to his room to take a brief rest.
"So, that Rikrakakmur fellow, or whatever his name is—was he big?"
"…Where did that come from?"
"I keep hearing the soldiers who returned from the expedition talking about it non-stop," Evan replied.
[Hmph, he was nothing but an oversized brute.]
However, it was Basiliora, not Alon, who answered.
"Huh? How did this guy get out?"
[Do not point your finger at me! You mere human!]
Basiliora flared up at the finger pointed in his direction.
"He said being trapped inside the ring was too boring. I've made it so he can come out freely."
"…That was possible?"
"Following his instructions, I lightly linked my mana to the ring's socket. Now he can enter and exit as he pleases."
[Kwahahahaha!! Yes, I have finally become a free spirit!!]
Basiliora curled his body and opened his mouth wide.
…As always, he was less than 30cm long, so he only looked adorable.
"…Anyway, Rikrakakmur was bigger than Basiliora."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then this snake-brain might have died in a single hit, huh?"
Evan let out a snickering laugh as if teasing him.
The small snake became infuriated.
[What did you say?! If I had only manifested my true form, I could have slaughtered a creature like that!]
"Sure, sure. Whatever you say."
[Do not ignore me, human!! Especially when you lost to me at cards!!]
"You won exactly one game out of thirty by pure luck! What kind of bullshit is that!"
[Hmph! In the end, the final victor is the true winner!]
The two began bickering again the moment they met.
‘…Are they on good terms or bad terms?’
Meanwhile, Blackie, who had been tucked in Alon's chest, suddenly poked his head out of the coat and looked at Basiliora with a curious expression.
[Hmm?]
Basiliora noticed the gaze.
[Hmph, where does a brat who still reeks of his mother's milk get off looking up at me!!!]
He let out a shout that felt like a thunderous "Silence!"
However, Blackie simply tilted his head once and then—
Whack!
[Gah?!]
He swatted Basiliora’s spiritual body, sending him flying.
Basiliora tumbled across the floor like a fallen toy.
"Oh. Ohhh!!! I finally have a means of attack!"
Evan picked up Blackie as if he had found a great weapon, but—
Kreeeeeeeeek!!!!
The moment he did, the small cat-like creature revealed red eyes all over its body and let out a shriek. Evan had no choice but to set Blackie down immediately, his smile frozen on his face.
Watching this entire scene, Alon…
"…It’s a circus."
…briefly defined their triangular relationship.
* * *
While Alon’s group was spending their own version of a peaceful time.
Inside a guest room at the border.
"…."
"…."
Two people sat facing each other.
One was Yutia, a Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom.
The other was Yuman, the Saint of the Holy Kingdom.
"Saint, you said you had business with me. What might it be?"
As Yutia gave a light, eye-curving smile, Yuman got straight to the point with a stern face.
"Cardinal Yutia. Were you at the border a month ago?"
It was a dry, interrogation-like question, devoid of any flowery language.
Yet, Yutia did not lose her smile.
"Why do you ask so suddenly?"
"I heard a report that you were seen in the northern canyon region a month ago."
It was strictly a rumor.
However, Yuman hadn't come to see Yutia based on rumors alone.
"Cardinal Yutia, you were in Calliban about a month ago, weren't you?"
"That’s right. I was scheduled to attend the royal banquet."
"No, that’s incorrect. Originally, Cardinal Sergius was supposed to attend that banquet, but didn't you abruptly twist the schedule to go yourself?"
"…."
Yutia did not answer.
She simply maintained her faint smile, looking at Yuman as if prompting him to continue.
Yuman continued calmly.
"I heard that after you arrived in Calliban, you disappeared for about three days."
"I clearly told the priests that I was going to another village to spread the word of Lady Sironia."
"I am aware. And the village you supposedly went to was 'Pigani,' located a day's journey from Calliban. It’s a place famous for its 'cheese.' A generous village that always makes sure outsiders get a taste of it."
"I see."
"Did you eat the cheese?"
"Yes."
Yutia answered immediately with a smile.
In contrast, Yuman’s expression grew even colder.
"That is unfortunate. What I said was a lie."
"…."
"It is true that Pigani’s specialty is cheese. However, unfortunately, no cheese was produced this year. Nor is there any in storage. Pigani’s food warehouse was destroyed in a fire months ago."
In other words, Cardinal Yutia could not have eaten any cheese.
Yuman stared intently at Cardinal Yutia before dropping the final blow.
"…Cardinal Yutia, you were at the canyon."
"Was I?"
Even when her lie was exposed, Yutia continued to smile.
She didn't show even a hint of fluster.
Rather, her smile deepened as if she found the situation amusing.
It was Yuman who felt troubled instead.
His voice grew even colder.
"If you have no intention of answering, I will change the question. What are you trying to do to Marquis Palatio? What kind of plan are you hatching?"
"Are you curious about that?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"…He is a brother who is already undergoing countless tribulations. He is not someone you should be allowed to move around recklessly."
For the first time, a strange flicker of doubt crossed Yutia’s eyes.
It was a very brief moment.
A split second that even Yuman failed to perceive.
But it passed quickly, and Yutia wiped that look away, touching her lips.
"Perhaps you and I are looking at the same place."
"…What did you say?"
"You said you were curious about what I’m planning for the Teacher, right?"
"…."
"It’s simple. I just want to make the Teacher into a slightly greater being. Yes, just about that much."
"…A greater… being?"
"Yes. A great being."
"He is already great."
"I wonder. Is he really?"
The sound of clear, bell-like laughter echoed in the room.
"I agree with those words. But it’s still not enough. He will become even greater. No, he must become greater. More, more, even more."
Yuman felt goosebumps break out involuntarily.
The person in front of him was definitely Cardinal Yutia.
There was no mana or divine power leaking out.
There was no physical change.
Nothing had changed.
And yet, his skin crawled.
Because in Yutia’s eyes, a vivid madness was melting through.
Looking into those eyes, Yuman became certain.
There was no way he and Yutia were looking at the same place.
She was dangerous.
"…."
Thoughts raced through Yuman’s head.
He wondered how he could separate her from the Marquis.
No matter how much he thought, no solution came to mind.
Or rather, he could think of a few ways, but he couldn't predict how Cardinal Yutia would act if those situations arose.
Therefore.
"…I will not let you do as you please with Marquis Palatio," Yuman declared to Yutia with firm resolve.
Even at those words.
"Please, do exactly that, Saint. The more you do, the more it will help the Teacher."
Yutia countered softly.
Their gazes crossed for a long time.
Gazes mixed with unknown emotions and will.
And at that moment.
Alon, who was the actual center of their conflict…
Poke, poke!
[Kuaak… Please, please stop. Spare me…!]
"That’s it, Blackie! Crush that stupid snake-brain—!"
"…."
…was blankly watching the one-sided arena match between Basiliora and Blackie.
‘…Should I just eat a sweet potato?’
* * *
About a day had passed since then.
Around the time Alon was debating whether to head to Lartania or return to the Marquis’s estate.
At an auction house located within the Palatio Marquisate.
"Kwahahahat—!"
Alexion the Appraiser—no, Alexion, who was now the owner of the auction house—was letting out a very hearty laugh in his office.
He was in a situation where he was lucky to get even four hours of sleep out of twenty-four, but even so, he enjoyed his current life immensely.
It was because of the money.
Currently, Alexion was making so much money that it could be said he was enjoying a second golden age, rivaling his peak in the back alleys of Laxas.
If you asked how much, he had already recovered all the money he had been forced to invest while crying under Satan’s evil gaze.
Was that all?
Just by operating an auction house in the Palatio Marquisate, he was able to gain a tremendous amount of goodwill and connections.
And that was without any effort.
Simply because he had opened an auction house in the Marquisate, people made the simple assumption that he must have some connection with Marquis Palatio, leading to a vast amount of goodwill—
No.
"Hehehe—"
It was bribes.
Clatter!
Alexion repeatedly plunged his hands into the two boxes sitting on his desk and pulled them out.
The boxes were filled with items that could be turned into cash.
They were lifted by Alexion’s touch and fell back down in a cascading clatter.
He was happy just looking at them.
It felt like all the dog-tired labor of the past few months was being rewarded, and an ecstatic smile naturally formed on his face.
He was even happier because the money had rolled in purely by taking advantage of someone else's status.
It was a windfall, like finding blind money on the street without any labor involved.
Just as he was fully immersed in his ecstasy.
Knock, knock!
The sound of someone knocking on the office door came, and he said in a cheerful voice.
"Come in."
However.
He couldn't help but freeze the moment he identified the person who opened the door and entered.
"My, my—"
The man who slowly stepped into the room said.
"You’ve been eating quite well, haven't you?"
"…Eh?"
Because it was a being who should absolutely not be here.
"…Ladan?"
"Ladan?"
"Lord…?"
"That’s the one."
Ladan, the Pirate King of Laxas, looked at him with a thick smile spread across his face.
Alexion stood with his mouth agape in disbelief for a moment.
"So, you’ve been taking quite a lot of bribes, haven't you?"
Before he could even ask how Ladan had gotten here, those words dropped, and he answered immediately.
"Ah, this is, well… I-I was planning to give them to you…!"
"Really?"
"Hahaha—of course! These are items obtained through the Marquis’s status, so naturally, I should share a certain amount with you…!"
Alexion slyly tried to leave some room for himself.
However.
"A certain amount?"
"Ah—hahahaha, no, I mean, exactly half—"
"Half?"
"—is not enough! I should give you a bit more than half! Still, I did put in some effort—"
"…You think you need the rest?"
At Ladan’s following words.
"…No."
"Then?"
"…I should give it all to you."
Alexion nodded obediently.
And.
"That’s more like it."
Seeing Ladan nod along with him.
‘This sea-fish bastard…!’
He vented his indignation internally, but—
"Can you get me a cup of coffee?"
"Yes, yes, I’ll bring it to you right away."
He quickly tucked his tail and pulled up the corners of his mouth.
…It was a smile truly saturated with the will to live.