Chapter 25: Isn’t This a Bit Much? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25: Isn’t This a Bit Much? (1)
Carmine, the third son of Duke Comallon, had been in a foul mood for the past week.
Part of it was because the marriage talks had ended in a total collapse, but what was grating on his nerves even more was Count Palatio.
At the recent banquet, he had tried to relieve his stress by picking on the Count, only to end up being publicly humiliated instead.
Naturally, the entire situation was purely Carmine’s own fault.
If he hadn't been critiquing the appearance of another young lady in the first place, the marriage proposal would have proceeded smoothly. If he hadn't provoked Count Palatio, he wouldn't have had to endure such disgrace.
However, Carmine had completely forgotten that he was the one who started the fight. He obsessed over the scene, thinking only of the insult he had suffered.
After all, it was the first time in his life he had ever experienced such an absurd humiliation.
Indeed, Carmine had never known a moment of disgrace while living under the shadow of Duke Comallon, a pillar of the kingdom. The memory was seared into his brain.
For about ten days, Carmine had been gnashing his teeth over the incident.
The moment he arrived at the Comallon estate, he spoke as if he had finally made up his mind.
"Hey."
"Yes, young master."
"That bastard... where did you say he was going?"
"As I mentioned before, Count Palatio had business in Calliban—"
Without waiting for the knight to finish, Carmine stormed into his room and yanked open his desk drawer.
Inside were numerous crystal balls.
Picking up the one on the far right, Carmine pulled a magic stone from his robe and pressed it against the magical tool.
The crystal ball began to glow brilliantly.
After a few moments, the light gradually dimmed.
[Well, look who it is. If it isn't my friend, Carmine?]
A voice drifted out from the crystal.
"I'll get straight to the point. I need a favor."
Carmine spoke while holding the magic tool.
[Oh? A favor? Like what?]
"Count Palatio should be on his way there right now. Deal with him for me."
[Deal with him? You mean Count Palatio?]
The person in the crystal ball asked back, sounding as if they didn't quite understand the situation.
"You don't have to kill him. I just want him turned into a total wreck."
The man in the crystal fell silent for a moment at Carmine's words, then tried to speak.
[Even so, that's a bit—]
"Five."
[...What?]
"If you crush that bastard, I'll give you five more. You need them, don't you? To increase your strength."
[Heh...]
The man in the crystal let out a hollow laugh and asked again.
[Are you serious? You can get five of them?]
"As long as you carry out my request properly, I can get as many as you want."
The man in the crystal went silent.
"You can do it, can't you?"
[Ha...]
The man laughed as if he had no choice.
[My friend, you know me too well. How do you know exactly how to play with my heart like this?]
"Are you doing it or not?"
[I just have to crush him, right?]
"Yeah. As brutally as possible."
[Wow, he must have really gotten on your bad side. Anyway, I got it. I'll contact you when the job is done, so I'll see you then.]
With those words, the communication ended.
The room fell silent, as if the conversation had never happened.
However, there was one difference.
Grin.
'You didn't think you'd get away with making a fool out of me, did you?'
A mean, crooked smile spread across Carmine's face.
* * *
"Are we finally here?"
"Looks like it."
It had been about two weeks since meeting Elivan, the protagonist of this world.
Alon looked toward Kirdam, the capital of Calliban, visible in the distance, then turned his gaze to the back of the carriage.
The carriage was loaded with various gifts. Naturally, they were all for Deus, whom he was about to meet.
"Ugh, I'm seriously exhausted."
Beside him, Evan let out a tired yawn while looking at the gifts.
As he said, Alon was also feeling the fatigue.
"Long journeys are always tiring."
"...I think it would have been a lot more peaceful if we hadn't gone to that labyrinth place."
The reason for their exhaustion wasn't just the length of the trip, but the fact that Alon had stopped at so many places over the past week.
"It couldn't be helped," Alon replied.
In fact, the reason he had been busily running around and making detours on the way to Calliban was to prepare for the fight against the Outer Gods.
The lotus-shaped necklace currently hanging around his neck—which he hadn't possessed two weeks ago—was one of those preparations.
Alon naturally brushed off Evan's look and spoke.
"You said Deus returned from his expedition?"
"Yes, he should be there."
Alon was silent for a moment before asking, "...Will he meet with me?"
"...He'll probably meet you, won't he?" Evan replied.
Despite the answer, Alon was actually feeling a bit skeptical.
'The important thing isn't just meeting him, it's getting him to agree to my request... Will it be difficult after all?'
Of course, Alon had provided Deus with significant financial support and had even saved his life when it was on the verge of falling into a pit of misery.
In terms of cause and effect, he definitely ranked as a clear benefactor.
But that was only from a logical perspective. In reality, from Deus's point of view, Alon was likely just a grateful stranger who had spent money to save him without ever showing his face.
This was because Alon had never actually met Deus in person.
Since they had never met, there was no way they could have any real intimacy, even if there was some goodwill. Now that they were actually in Kirdam, he was starting to worry.
'I can only pray the gifts work.'
As Alon was lost in thought, they reached the northern gate of Kirdam. He began to wait in line for the inspection to enter the capital, just like any other traveler.
Even if he was a noble in the Asteria Kingdom, once he was outside its borders, he had to undergo inspection regardless of his status.
After giving his basic information to the soldier who came to verify his identity, Alon waited for Evan to finish the inspection while watching the line of carriages move slowly.
"Um, Count?"
"What is it?"
"We have a bit of a problem."
Alon tilted his head as Evan poked his face into the carriage, but he eventually nodded and stepped out.
There, he found a knight with an incredibly smug expression.
The knight had red hair and a lion crest on his chest. He looked like an arrogant prick. Alon tilted his head in confusion, and the man spoke.
"Are you Count Palatio?"
"I am."
As if to prove that physiognomy in a fantasy world is generally accurate, the knight spoke informally despite it being their first meeting.
As Alon answered, Evan whispered in his ear.
"That knight appears to be a disciple of Piola."
"...Piola?"
"Yes, you know. The Fourth Sword."
Only then did Alon let out a low exclamation.
Recalling Piola, a Master Knight known as the Fourth Sword, he nodded but still looked confused.
"So, why is the Fourth Sword's disciple here? ...And with a bunch of other knights, no less."
Alon glanced around and saw several knights wearing the same lion crest as Piola.
"...What business do you have with me?"
When Alon turned his gaze back to Piola's disciple, the man walked forward with a relaxed smirk.
"First of all, I am Biran, a direct disciple of Lady Piola."
"...And?"
"I heard that a friend of mine received a bit of 'favor' from you."
"A friend?"
When Alon asked back, Biran smiled.
"Yes, a friend."
"I don't have any particular connections in Calliban."
"My friend isn't from Calliban either. He's in the Ashtalon Kingdom."
At those words, Alon subconsciously muttered, "Ashtalon Kingdom...?" Then, with a small "Ah," he spoke.
"...Carmine?"
"Right, you remember. He contacted me."
Alon looked at him with an incredulous expression.
'Wait, I didn't even do anything to that guy. ...And besides, has it even been a few weeks?'
He was briefly impressed by the petty brat who had gone running to his friends after barely two weeks.
"I've received a few things from him myself, you see. I have to at least make an appearance."
"And you've been waiting here all this time just to 'make an appearance'?"
"To be precise, I was waiting for word. Every carriage coming from the Asteria Kingdom has to pass through here."
Alon felt a headache coming on at Biran's words as the man shook his head as if he found the situation regrettable but unavoidable.
No matter how much power a noble had, it diminished significantly in another kingdom. Even so, he shouldn't be treated like this at the city gates.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"I'll give you two choices. The goods in your carriage look quite expensive. How about you gift them all to us?"
"And the other choice?"
"Spending about three weeks in the dungeon."
"...You must be well aware that I am a noble of another kingdom?"
Alon asked because imprisoning a foreign noble without cause would normally lead to serious consequences for an individual knight.
"I am the one and only direct disciple of Lady Piola."
Alon couldn't help but look dumbfounded at the follow-up.
What Biran was essentially saying was, "I can act like a total prick because my status is high enough that I won't face any consequences."
But the even more ridiculous part was that Biran was somewhat right.
Here, Alon was just a foreign noble, while Biran was the sole direct disciple of a Master Knight.
'Birds of a feather really do flock together.'
As Alon sighed, thinking that spoiled brats really did hang out with their own kind, Biran gave him a greasy smile.
"But honestly, the result will be the same regardless of which one you pick."
He lifted his sword and casually poked Alon in the stomach with the tip.
"Because my friend only asked for one thing."
"..."
Biran was threatening Alon without a second thought.
Evan, who had been staying quiet, began to scowl and instinctively moved his hand toward the sword at his waist. At that moment—
"H-Hic!"
A gasp from behind caused both Alon and Biran to turn their heads.
And there, Alon saw him.
'Deus Macallian...?'
Clad in black iron armor with a cold expression, Deus was walking toward them.
The moment he appeared, the air at the gate grew impossibly heavy.
Even though it was just one man, the soldiers' eyes widened as they snapped to attention, and the knights who had been looking relaxed just moments ago straightened their postures with tense expressions.
"Salute—!"
The soldiers, who had been leisurely watching the situation unfold, immediately raised their swords in salute the moment they saw Deus. But Deus didn't even look at them.
"We greet the Great Sword—!"
The knights of 'Existence,' the order Biran had brought along, shouted with respect, but Deus ignored them as well.
Instead.
Deus walked straight toward where Alon was standing.
Seeing him, Biran quickly pulled his sword away from Alon and tried to speak.
Crunch!
"Gack—!"
Deus's hand clamped around Biran's throat.
"W-What are you—!"
Biran grabbed Deus's hand in a panic, trying to protest.
"What do you think you're doing?"
At the words that followed, Biran's face turned pale as he hung by his neck.
"How dare you touch my benefactor."