Chapter 166: The Ball (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 166: The Ball (1)
It had been two weeks since Alon set off for Teria to attend the ball.
“Are we finally arriving?”
“Looks like it.”
The scenery of the capital began to appear in the distance.
Evan, standing beside him, let out a long breath as if the heat was getting to him.
“Are we heading to Lartania after the ball again, and then straight to the Colony?”
“That will likely be the case.”
“I see.”
“...You look a bit disappointed.”
When Alon looked at Evan’s face with curiosity, Basiliora chimed in.
[Hmph. Judging by that expression, like a mutt that needs to pee, it must be a woman problem.]
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
[Am I wrong? I saw you pull a letter out of your shirt a few days ago and make a lewd face.]
“Ugh—you! When did you—!”
[‘Oh, the night I find myself longing for Sir Evan’s eyes—’]
“Waaaaaaagh!!”
As Basiliora raised his voice to recite the contents of the letter, Evan let out a scream.
Alon watched with a peculiar expression as Evan’s face turned beet red. Evan caught his breath, looking embarrassed, and soon let out an awkward laugh.
“Haha... Well, it’s about when we went to the Zenonia family last time. I met a female knight there, and, well... we just clicked.”
“I see you’ve been exchanging letters.”
“Yes, yes, something like that.”
Watching the bashful Evan, Alon asked in a low voice.
“...You’re more embarrassed than I expected. Haven’t you dated once or twice before?”
“Well, that’s true, but...”
Evan had been following him diligently, yet he was always the type to chat and laugh with all sorts of women.
However, there was a hint of grievance in Evan’s voice.
“That and this feel a bit different.”
“In what way...?”
“Those were just casual conversations, but this is, how should I put it... a bit more developed than a mere fling? Something like that.”
[Hmph. What a load of rubbish.]
“Don’t ruin the mood, you snake-headed bastard! You’re the one hitting on the maids at our Master’s house!”
[What?! Hitting on them?! When did I ever do that! They were simply worshipping me with such fervor that I deigned to speak with them a few times!]
“Don’t give me that. You were doing all sorts of tricks just because a maid brought you a snack or two!”
[Kuaaaaagh!]
Basiliora began to writhe his entire body at the sudden exposure of his dark past, while Evan began to press his advantage.
[Kyu...]
At the noisy commotion, Blackie poked his head out from Alon’s chest to watch the two bicker. After a while of this, the group finally reached the capital.
Teria remains the same as ever.
The carriage crossed the well-maintained and bustling streets of Teria and entered the Inner Castle.
As Alon stepped out of the carriage in front of the ballroom, an escort soldier approached as if he had been waiting.
“Marquis Palatio. Before you join the ball, the King requests an audience.”
“...? Very well, lead the way.”
Alon tilted his head in confusion but followed behind him.
* * *
Having been invited by the King, Alon entered her private office for the first time in a while.
“It has been a long time, Marquis Palatio.”
“I hope you have been well, Your Majesty.”
He saw Siyan greeting him with her usual enigmatic smile.
“Sit down first.”
The Queen pointed to the chair directly in front of her.
Once Alon was seated, the Queen pulled out a sweet potato and placed it before him, just like before.
“You may eat.”
“Ah... yes. And, Your Majesty...?”
“I shall simply watch.”
“...Understood.”
And so, the sweet potato feast began.
He felt like he should be used to this by now, but he simply couldn't...
After the sound of chewing sweet potatoes echoed through the office for a while.
“You still eat well.”
“I am honored.”
Alon bowed his head slightly at Siyan’s ambiguous praise, then—
“...Hmm?”
His movement stopped as his gaze caught a statue.
It was a statue placed in a corner of the office.
He was certain he was seeing it for the first time, yet it felt strangely familiar.
“Ah, this?”
Noticing his gaze, Siyan picked up the statue.
“It is a statue brought from Luxible.”
“...From Luxible?”
“Yes. I heard they worship the figure in this statue as a god. So—”
Siyan paused for a moment before uttering a name.
“Was it ‘Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver’?”
“...I have heard that news as well.”
“Then have you seen this statue before?”
“No, this is my first time seeing it.”
At Alon’s answer, Siyan stared at the statue in her hand as if amused.
“This is the first time I have seen it as well. It was brought as a gift from the Grand Duchy of Luxible.”
“I see.”
“So, what do you think?”
“...About what, Your Majesty?”
“This statue. To me, this god named Kalanon looks quite a bit like you, Marquis. What do you think?”
She asked.
* * *
Sergius stared blankly ahead.
There, Elivan’s party stood facing Cardinal Yutia.
The very group that had cleared the numerous Strange Gates outside the Holy See.
“You have done a wonderful job again.”
“It is all thanks to the power bestowed upon us by That Person.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Naturally, we could not have achieved this much without His power.”
Cardinal Yutia and Elivan exchanged pleasantries amidst a crowd of priests.
After some time had passed.
“Then, I shall see you again, Cardinal Yutia.”
“Yes, Chosen One. I look forward to our next meeting.”
Cardinal Yutia handed Elivan the reward for clearing the Strange Gates.
“All for That Person.”
“Yes, all for That Person.”
After exchanging such greetings, the Chosen One led his party away from the Holy See.
Once the ceremony ended and the priests dispersed, Sergius followed Cardinal Yutia as he usually did and cautiously spoke up.
“...Excuse me.”
“Hmm? What is it, Cardinal Sergius?”
Yutia looked at him with her usual gentle smile.
Sergius remained silent for a moment under her calm gaze before slowly continuing.
“...Lady Yutia. May I ask a question?”
“Go ahead.”
Yutia gave her permission.
However, Sergius hesitated, his lips twitching.
Even though he had been given permission, he wasn't sure if it was right to ask this.
He knew better than anyone—no, he had experienced—that doubting Cardinal Yutia was the height of stupidity.
Yet, despite that, Sergius could not suppress the curiosity and doubt that constantly filled his mind.
“...About the Chosen One.”
“Yes.”
“...Is he not someone who failed to receive power from Lady Sironia?”
Sergius recalled the ‘Chosen One’ whom Cardinal Yutia had just acknowledged as having been chosen by Lady Sironia.
His power certainly bore a clear resemblance to the divine power bestowed by Lady Sironia.
The divine power he radiated was also similar to the gentle brilliance scattered by a ‘Saint.’
In fact, the priests who had been watching Elivan earlier seemed convinced that he was one chosen by Sironia, seeing the brilliance he emitted.
The other Cardinals were the same.
However, Sergius alone—
It was definitely different.
He had noticed that the divine power Elivan emitted was not Lady Sironia’s.
He recalled Elivan’s divine power in detail.
It was a pure silver-white, yet it faintly held a blue light within it.
It only looked similar to Lady Sironia’s divine power; it was something entirely different.
To that.
“...Heh.”
Yutia let out a low hum as if amused.
Sergius became certain that his intuition was correct.
“You noticed. I was a bit worried since it’s still immature, but I thought everyone except the Saint had been fooled.”
Sergius remained silent at Yutia’s calm admission.
Normally, Sergius shouldn't have been able to realize the truth either.
The divine power used by that ‘Chosen One’ was almost identical to the divine power granted by Lady Sironia.
In fact, the other Cardinals, excluding the Saint who was currently out on relief efforts, hadn't noticed even a hint of dissonance.
But there was only one reason Sergius could feel that dissonance.
It was because of Cardinal Yutia.
Having been used like a servant by Cardinal Yutia for a long time, he knew.
He knew that Cardinal Yutia used not only Lady Sironia’s divine power but another kind of divine power as well.
Of course, he had only seen Yutia use that other divine power a few times.
However, for someone in the position of Cardinal, those few times were enough to recognize that Elivan’s divine power was similar to Yutia’s ‘other’ power.
...The Chosen One is not a being chosen by the Goddess Sironia.
He was able to reach that conclusion.
“How did you notice?”
At the cold question, Sergius tried to calm his racing heart.
“...The divine power Lady Yutia showed for brief moments was identical to his.”
“Mmm—I see. So that’s how it happened.”
Yutia nodded as if she understood the situation.
Her red eyes turned toward Sergius once more.
“Still, it seems you haven't noticed everything yet.”
“Pardon...?”
“It’s nothing—more importantly, you don't need to worry much about this part.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yes. Because anyway—”
The corners of Yutia’s eyes curved softly.
“—Soon, they will become ‘the same.’ To the point where even you, Cardinal Sergius, won't be able to tell them apart.”
“...Become... the same?”
“Yes. Everything will become the same. The divine power, this, and that. It might look a little different now, but from now on, everything will be identical.”
“....”
...Sergius couldn't understand a single word.
What on earth was going to become the same soon?
What were ‘this’ and ‘that’?
What was going to happen from now on?
Above all—
He had no idea what Cardinal Yutia was plotting.
The only thing he could infer from the information so far was one thing.
...Perhaps Cardinal Yutia was involved in the recent situation where the words of Goddess Sironia could no longer be heard.
Surely, she must be.
But even if that were the case, there was nothing he could do.
“...In fact, it might even be a bit better. Rosario is corrupt right now. When that time comes, it will probably be better.”
No, he couldn't do anything.
“Corruption and injustice will disappear. All Paladins will move for ‘That Person,’ all believers will bow to ‘That Person,’ and everyone will offer their faith toward ‘That Person.’”
Because he,
Sergius,
Was already overwhelmed by the suffocating, deep fanaticism swirling within Cardinal Yutia’s pupils.
“But if word gets out before that happens... it might get a bit annoying... so...”
He had been overwhelmed again and again—
And in the end, he had surrendered.
That was why.
[[IMG_1]]
“—Keep it quiet. Please? Cardinal Sergius?”
Inside the Holy See, now cast in shadows by the setting sun, Yutia whispered with her index finger to her lips against the flickering red light.
“I... understand.”
That was the only answer Sergius could give.