Chapter 34: The Boss…? Me…? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 34: The Boss…? Me…? (2)
The North—a place where biting cold and ashen lands stretched on without end.
It was the site where the descended Outer God and the Count of Asteria had recently clashed, and where countless graves now stood for the bodies the expedition had failed to retrieve.
Step—
It appeared.
It was clad in a black Holy Shroud.
Wearing ominous black accessories that clattered at its waist and hands, the figure—its face hidden beneath a hood—seemed to scan the surroundings.
"…?"
Its mouth twisted into a lopsided smirk.
It looked as though it didn't quite understand the situation.
However, after a brief moment of surveying the area, it smiled as if finding the whole thing amusing.
"Interesting."
A cheerful voice, utterly out of place in this desolate, ashen land.
The figure muttered in a voice that sounded like many voices overlapping—making it impossible to tell if it was male or female—and slowly looked around before fixing its gaze on the ground.
It stared silently at the spot where the Outer God had vanished, the very ground where Alon’s strike had landed during their legitimate duel.
"I wonder how far you can go. Shall I watch and see?"
Muttering those cryptic words, the figure turned away without hesitation, as if its business there was finished.
Soon, nothing remained on the ashen plains but the silent graves.
* * *
Five months had passed since gifts began arriving at the Palatio estate almost daily. Time had cycled through spring and into the vibrant heat of summer.
It was a season where the wind blew warm—not yet scorching, but pleasantly balmy.
As Alon continued his magical research and the excessive influx of gifts finally began to dwindle, two major tasks arose for him.
The first was the appearance of the forgotten city, Kahara.
After relentlessly commissioning the Information Guild, Alon had quickly acquired news that a forgotten city had been discovered in the desert.
The Information Guild’s report was merely a rumor about an explorer finding a hidden city, but with his prior knowledge, Alon easily deduced that it was the forgotten city of Kahara.
In other words, he only needed to depart from the Colony to finally obtain the information he sought.
However, he was currently heading not toward the desert city, but in the exact opposite direction: Teria, the capital of Asteria.
This was because of his second task—the Grand Council, a mandatory event held every three years that all nobles were required to attend.
"…Are we almost there?"
"Yes—we should be arriving shortly."
Evan replied to Alon, who was looking out at the clear sky from inside the carriage.
"I’d rather we weren't just 'arriving shortly.'"
"But it’s difficult to go any faster than this."
Alon nodded at Evan’s words.
The carriage was already moving incredibly fast for one traveling on unpaved roads.
I hate drawing attention by being late…
Having miscalculated the time, he was on the verge of arriving late to the Grand Council. Behind his expressionless face, he let out a heavy internal sigh.
Part of him wanted to throw everything aside, turn the carriage around, and head straight for the Colony, but unfortunately, that wasn't an option.
Just like the social club he had attended previously, the Grand Council had a regulation stating that every noble in Asteria must participate at least once every three years.
Why does such a regulation even exist?
Actually, Alon knew the reason, having scoured documents to find a way out of attending.
…Is this a communist state? Ah, it’s a monarchy, so I guess it technically is?
Even knowing the reason didn't change his mind.
Alon had never intended to join any political faction in Asteria, and he was even less inclined to do so now.
Joining a faction was essentially the same as making various enemies within the kingdom.
While it was true that making such enemies often came with significant gains, unfortunately, none of those gains were things Alon wanted.
As for money, he already had more than enough thanks to his truly filial son, Deus.
…At some point, the gifts became so burdensome that I started sending them back. But it’s true that I’m well-off.
In any case, considering the conditions for the dream life he wanted, there was almost no benefit to joining a faction, so he hadn't even considered it.
"Evan."
"I can see the capital over there."
Evan answered immediately, as if he had been waiting for Alon to speak.
Shifting his gaze outside the carriage, Alon saw Teria, the capital of the Asteria Kingdom.
"Oh."
Teria’s level of development was quite impressive compared to any other kingdom he had seen so far.
Granted, he had only visited about five territories and the only other capital he’d seen was Calliban.
Regardless, even compared to Calliban, the level of development wasn't that different, excluding the sheer size of the land.
Alon stared blankly at the capital’s scenery for a moment before—
"It’s right there."
Seeing the Grand Council building in the distance, his expression grew anxious as he felt like a college student walking into a lecture ten minutes late for the first time in a long while.
"Hmm…?"
However, as soon as he entered the grounds of the Grand Council, Alon tilted his head in confusion.
Even though the session should have already started, a significant number of nobles were still outside, engaging in small talk.
What’s going on?
Alon questioned it briefly, but the feeling was quickly replaced by relief that he wouldn't have to face the cold stares he usually expected when being late. He hurried out of the carriage.
I need to get inside quickly.
He quickened his pace toward the Grand Council.
* * *
Immediately after.
"Whew—"
Evan, who had driven the carriage at a breakneck pace to make it on time, let out a sigh of relief as he watched Alon.
Alon was moving toward the interior of the Grand Council with somewhat hurried steps.
He must be in a rush.
To others, it might have just looked like he had a long stride.
However, having spent nearly eight years with Alon, Evan could vaguely tell that he was quite flustered.
Well, even if I notice, that’s about all I can tell.
Despite the years they had spent together, there was still much he didn't know about Alon. Evan wore a slightly bittersweet expression, but then—
"…Huh?"
His face turned to one of confusion.
The nobles who had been chatting just moments ago began to follow Alon as he hurried inside.
Of course, that could happen. They might have lost track of time talking and realized they were late.
But that wasn't why Evan was confused.
…It looks like they’re all lining up behind the Count?
The nobles near the Grand Council weren't gathered in one spot; they were scattered.
From the stairs to the entrance, they were spread out across a wide area.
This meant that the nobles who realized they were late after seeing Alon could have just walked straight to the entrance.
And yet.
…No, it’s true.
Alon, currently consumed by the obsession of not being late and the relief of avoiding that "late student" feeling, seemed unaware, but every single noble was walking behind him.
Step—
"…???"
When Alon finally reached the top of the stairs and entered the hall, it looked as if he were leading all the nobles into the Grand Council. Evan watched the scene with a bewildered expression.
* * *
Meanwhile, Alon, feeling a sense of relief, finally saw the interior of the Grand Council.
It looked remarkably similar to the circular National Assembly halls he had seen on TV in his previous world.
The only difference was that it was clearly divided into three sections, as if to emphasize the distinction between the factions.
…The left is the Royalists, and the right is the Noble Faction?
Alon glanced at the nobles on the left and right, then looked at the vast number of empty seats in the middle.
…I guess this is where the unaffiliated nobles sit. Were there always this many?
Alon looked puzzled.
But soon, sensing eyes beginning to drift toward him, he naturally moved to take a seat in the very back row.
At that moment, Alon felt a gaze from behind and turned his head, only to be startled.
"…."
Behind him, the nobles were staring at him intently.
Every single one of them had an expression that seemed to ask, 'What are you doing right now?'
Wait, weren't you all just outside a second ago??
Baffled, Alon naturally moved further down to sit in a middle row, but—
"…Ah."
Seeing the nobles still looking at him as if to say, 'Seriously, what are you doing?' Alon finally realized why they had been waiting outside the hall despite the time.
Don't tell me they just didn't want to sit in the front?
It was an absurd thought, something that only applied back in his college days.
Since the Grand Council of Asteria had never appeared in the game and Alon had never attended such an event, he was eventually pressured by the nobles' stares into sitting at the very apex of the triangle.
…In the seat that anyone would recognize as the spot for a faction leader.
As soon as Alon sat down, the sound of the other nobles taking their seats followed like clockwork, confirming his suspicion.
…I guess I can see why they didn't want to sit here.
Alon glanced sideways at the leaders of the other two factions sitting at their respective apexes.
The leader of the Royalists, Duke Rimgrave.
The leader of the Noble Faction, Marquis Philboyd.
One looked like a gracefully aged middle-aged man, while the other looked like a man who had weathered all the storms of the world. The aura radiating from them was substantial.
It wasn't mana.
If he had to describe it, it was the sheer weight of experience from people who had led their respective factions through countless trials for a very long time.
They’re staring like crazy.
Just as Alon was realizing why the other nobles avoided the front seats, a man in the center—who looked more like a clergyman than a noble—spoke, looking at Alon and the other faction leaders.
"Now then, we shall begin the Grand Council."
I hope this ends quickly…
As Alon turned his head with that thought, he spotted Duke Altia looking at him from the back.
Sitting in the row directly behind Alon, she exuded the aura of a true mastermind, looking quite different from when he had last seen her.
"Now, before we begin the session, the newly formed 'Kalpa' will henceforth hold voting rights in the Grand Council of Asteria."
Today was the day. He had pushed the rumors to the back of his mind, thinking they would eventually fade away.
He remembered that today was the official launch of the faction formed by the Young Lady of Zenonia and Duke Altia—
"Now then, Count Palatio, as the representative of Kalpa, do you have anything to say?"
"…Pardon?"
—And at that moment, he realized that he had become the leader of the mastermind faction created by Duke Altia and the Young Lady of Zenonia.