Chapter 340: This Wasn’t in the Plan (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 340: This Wasn’t in the Plan (3)
“I’m sorry! I was away for a bit.”
“Our apologies, Marquis.”
“It’s fine.”
Silli and Deus naturally joined the group while Alon was speaking with Ryanga and Historia.
Alon waved his hand dismissively to show he didn't mind, but only for a moment.
“Oh, before we talk, let’s move to a different spot.”
“Hmm? Is there a reason for that?”
“Yes, there’s something I want to show you!” Silli suggested.
Alon looked puzzled but eventually nodded.
After finishing his conversation with Ryanga and Historia, he followed the siblings.
They hadn't walked for long when Silli stopped.
“We’re here.”
“This is—”
“It’s your residence, Marquis! Even if you aren't here often, you do visit occasionally!”
Alon stared at the massive tent erected in the center of Divine Land.
No… can I even call this a tent? This is—
“…Isn’t this just a palace? No, what do you even call this…?”
Evan muttered blankly, seemingly thinking of terms like ‘tent-style palace.’
Just as he said, the structure before them looked more like a palace made of cloth than a simple tent. Both men stood there, dazed.
“Let’s go inside!”
Following an incredibly excited Silli, they stepped into the interior.
Soon, they reached an office where they could finally sit down and talk properly.
“…”
Silli gazed at Alon with sparkling eyes.
Alon fell into thought for a moment. There were so many things he wanted to ask, but now that she was right in front of him, he wasn't sure where to start.
After a brief silence, Alon spoke slowly.
“I heard from Ryanga and Historia earlier that you created a position called the ‘Four Knights.’”
“Ah, those are literally your personal guardian knights, Marquis!”
“Guardian knights?”
“Yes! Those who guard a god are always present! So, I created the positions for now. I intend to select only those capable enough to protect you no matter what!”
Silli added that two spots were still vacant.
“Oh, and I’ve also reorganized the soldiers into different grades!”
“The soldiers too?”
“Yes, into five main ranks—”
She began to report the status of the reorganized military in detail.
This went on for about thirty minutes.
During those thirty minutes, Alon realized two things.
First, the hierarchy that previously consisted only of ‘knights’ and ‘soldiers’ had been subdivided into fifteen distinct ranks.
Second, the days when Divine Land was just his little ‘Divine Land Tycoon’ game were now a distant memory.
“Of course, Brother helped me a lot!”
At Silli’s remark, Deus puffed out his chest with a proud, expressionless face.
Alon wondered why he looked so dignified about it, but he continued the conversation.
“By the way, is there a specific reason you divided the ranks so much?”
“Ah, yes. It’s because the population has grown so much…!”
“…The number of soldiers did seem to have increased.”
Alon recalled the sight he had seen earlier. There were so many soldiers gathered that it didn't feel like the Divine Land of old, making him tilt his head in confusion.
“Oh, a significant number of the mercenaries who came last time have settled down here!”
“…Hmm?”
As if sensing his doubt, Silli explained, making Alon even more bewildered.
“Yes!”
“I… I thought they were in the process of leaving?”
“Hmm—some did leave, but most of them have come to believe in you, Marquis!”
Silli shrugged as if to say, ‘See? Didn’t I do a good job?’
Looking at her confident, youthful expression, Alon felt his confusion deepen.
The mercenaries had only come to Divine Land in the first place because of distorted rumors. In other words, once they arrived and saw the reality, they should have naturally left.
So how on earth did they end up settling down?
“…Is there a specific reason they didn't leave?”
“I proselytized them!”
“…Proselytized?”
“Yes!”
Silli’s bold answer didn't clear up his confusion. After all, the mercenaries of Psychedelia were people who valued practical gains far more than faith.
“…Did the mercenaries really believe in me that easily?”
When Alon asked back, still unable to resolve his doubts, Silli smiled.
“Not at first.”
“Then how?”
“I made them believe in you. That’s my job as the Saintess, after all.”
Silli gave a proud, huffy smile.
“Could I… ask how exactly you proselytized them?”
“Of course!”
As Alon asked with increasing curiosity, Silli nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“First, I started by giving power to a weak knight.”
She began her story clearly and concisely.
About thirty minutes later.
“—And that’s how I was able to give faith to everyone, whether they were weak mercenaries or strong ones!”
“We don’t have enough scriptures, you know? So now, there are even people desperately waiting for them!”
Silli finished with a smile.
Alon sat with his mouth hanging open before slowly turning his gaze to the side.
“…”
Evan’s mouth was hanging open just like his.
It was only natural. If everything Silli said was true… it was hard to believe that a girl with such an innocent smile had planned and executed it. To be honest, it was quite devious.
“…But, isn't there a side effect to making them believe that way?”
“Hmm, in what sense?”
“If you gave them power to make them believe, won’t that power eventually fade?”
At Evan’s question, Silli replied with a refreshing smile, as if she didn't have a care in the world.
“You don’t need to worry about that. What they need is hope, anyway.”
“…Hope?”
“The hope that those who gained power through me can exert that power again if they hold a pious faith. And for the others, the hope that they too can wield greater power if they possess such steadfast faith.”
“…Isn’t that a lie?” Evan pointed out cautiously.
Silli let out a bright laugh. “A lie? In the end, they become able to handle power, so it’s not a lie.”
“Well—maybe there’s a bit of exaggeration involved—” Silli added. Evan awkwardly replied, “Oh, I… I see,” while glancing at Alon and Deus.
Fortunately, the three of them—excluding Silli—seemed to be on the same page. But his relief was short-lived.
“…Huh? Why are you all looking at each other like that?”
When Silli asked, Alon quickly cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“Anyway, where did you go?”
“Oh, I went out to proselytize.”
“…I see.”
“Yes. You told me to gather more believers, Marquis.”
“…I did?”
Me? When? Alon thought. Of course, his outward expression remained as calm as ever.
“Yes, the Guardian Deity told me.”
Alon followed the tip of Silli’s finger as she pointed to the side.
There, he saw…
Flinch!
Kalanon, in the form of a cat, was guiltily shifting her eyes back and forth.
It was you… Alon thought.
Kalanon, who had been watching Alon’s reaction, suddenly hopped onto Alon’s lap and began to rub against him.
[Nya-nyang—]
It was as if she were saying, ‘Forgive me—I couldn't help it~’
Alon wasn't sure what exactly she couldn't help, but just as he moved his hand to stroke the soft fur, something happened.
Pop!
Blackie, who had been in Alon’s chest pocket until a moment ago, suddenly appeared.
Pat-pat-pat—
Seeing Kalanon on Alon’s lap, Blackie instantly scrambled down.
And then.
Whack! Whack!
[Nya-nyang!?]
He slapped Kalanon right on the head. It was a ‘kitty-punch’ strong enough to make a thwacking sound.
As Kalanon fled in surprise, Blackie glared at her.
[Gyuuu—]
Then, he proudly took his place on Alon’s now-empty lap.
““…””
“…”
It was a sudden series of events. Alon’s hand hovered in the air, unsure of what to do.
* * *
A short while later.
After finishing her general report, Silli left for a moment, saying she had work to do.
“Mentor!”
“My God.”
“Boss!”
As if they had been waiting, Seolrang, Historia, and Ryanga arrived.
Their eyes were clearly fixed on Alon, but for some reason, all three of them were bumping heads with each other.
“…”
What on earth had they been doing to end up like that?
“Move, will you—”
“You move.”
“You blockheads—”
Each of them had a smile on their face, but their eyes were burning with enough intensity that their mana was starting to manifest physically.
Watching them, Alon let out a small sigh.
…Right. Come to think of it, Seolrang and Historia never did get along.
Based on the past, he expected that from those two, but he hadn't expected Ryanga to be involved as well.
I thought it was fine when it was just her and Historia.
As Alon continued his quiet thoughts, he suddenly turned to look at Deus.
“…”
Deus was looking at them with as much interest as one would show a chicken. His entire being radiated the message: ‘I don’t care if you fight in front of me or not.’
Just as Alon was about to nod in agreement with that sentiment, Evan spoke up.
“Ah, Marquis.”
“What is it?”
“I forgot to mention this today, but Alexion contacted us around this morning.”
“…Alexion? Why so suddenly?”
“You know, for your partner.”
At Evan’s mention, Alon let out a soft exclamation.
“But why is Alexion the one bringing it up?”
“I told him to.”
“Again?”
“Don’t worry too much. A bothersome situation like last time won’t happen.”
“…That’s a relief.”
“Yes. He said the interviewees should be arriving soon.”
“Interviewees?”
“Alexion said he sent letters only to the young ladies who are interested in you. If they bring that invitation-like letter, he’ll interview them and select candidates who roughly match your status.”
“…Is all that really necessary?”
“For someone of your standing, Marquis, this should have been done a long time ago. However, choosing the final partner will probably take a bit longer. He said there are some places where the letters haven't arrived yet.”
Alon still felt suspicious, but he nodded as Evan answered firmly for once. At that moment…
“?”
He suddenly felt a strange sense of dissonance. The voices of the three who had been growling at each other until just a moment ago had suddenly gone silent.
When he turned his head, he saw Historia, Seolrang, and Ryanga standing there with wide eyes.
“Boss? What does that mean? A partner?”
At Ryanga’s question, Alon casually explained about the ball.
The three of them listened silently, and then…
“Uh… Boss! I just remembered I have something to do…!”
“Master! I’ll be back in a bit!”
“Me too, for a moment.”
As if they had been waiting for the signal, they vanished like the receding tide.
Not only them, but…
“Marquis, I shall step out for a moment as well.”
Even Deus left.
“…?”
Alon looked at Evan in bewilderment. The two of them could only shrug at each other.
Exactly two days later.
“Um, Lord Alexion.”
“What?”
“About the letters that were being delivered…?”
“What about them?”
“It seems… several of the letters were stolen?”
“…What?”
Alexion was baffled by his secretary’s report. These weren't political documents; why would anyone steal letters inviting someone to be a partner?
“Who stole them?”
“They say they don’t really know. Some said they lost consciousness and found the letters gone when they woke up, while others said the letters vanished from their pockets before they knew it.”
“Hmm—”
Doesn't that just mean they lost them? Alexion thought, tilting his head. But soon, he felt goosebumps all over his body.
He remembered a certain girl who had burst in to see him just two days ago.
‘Oh my—is it a scoring system?’
‘Ah, this is—’
‘Hmm—so you evaluate them one by one, and if they’re above a certain score, they become a candidate for Teacher’s partner?’
‘That… is correct.’
‘You truly are excellent. This is the only way to filter out those who aren't worthy of Teacher.’
‘Thank… you.’
‘I hope my score is as high as possible.’
‘Pardon…?’
‘I said, I hope my score is as high as possible.’
‘…Ah, yes.’
Yutia Bloodia, the Cardinal of Rosario, who had a smile on her lips but not in her eyes.
Recalling that girl, Alexion wondered if she might have intercepted the letters, but he soon shook his head. She was currently staying at the Marquis’s estate. It was impossible for her to steal letters that were being distributed across the country in real-time.
If she had intended to eliminate all other candidates besides herself, she would have had to get rid of all the letters.
The fact that she hadn't meant the thief wasn't the Yutia who had visited him.
Then who is it?
While Alexion was trying to deduce the culprit, the secretary cautiously brought up a new topic.
“And there’s one more thing I should tell you.”
“…What is it?”
“It seems the rumor that you’re looking for a partner for the Marquis has spread everywhere.”
“…”
Alexion let out a sigh. He wasn't particularly angry. Even if he had tried to invite the young ladies discreetly via letter, it was impossible to prevent rumors from spreading.
The rumors had spread faster than expected, but he had anticipated this situation to some extent.
Therefore…
“That’s fine.”
“So—what should we do?”
“What else? We’re in a hurry, so we have to send them again. Tsk—it would be so much easier to talk through a crystal ball, but having to exchange letters for official matters like this… aristocratic culture is still so inconvenient.”
Alexion dismissed it as no big deal, but the rumors spread even faster than he thought.
“……So, you’re saying they’re looking for a partner for my brother?”
“That is correct.”
“……Godfather’s partner?”
“Yes—the partner for the one who will become the Primordial Elf… or so they say.”
The news even reached the land of the elves.
Myu, Magrina’s secretary, who was relaying the story to Magrina and Line during their tea time, flinched.
And for good reason.
“Sister, I just remembered I have something urgent to do. May I leave first?”
“Sure. I’ve suddenly developed some business to attend to as well.”
The eyes of the two women were glowing with an ominous light.
Seeing them like that, Myu felt it instinctively.
…W-What is this?
She felt as if something big was about to happen.