Chapter 347: The Vote (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 347: The Vote (2)
A short while later.
“Is everyone here?”
Alon looked at the five people in the reception room, plus one more.
Yutia, Line, Seolrang, Ryanga, and Magrina.
And then there was Historia, who was sitting there with a somewhat sullen expression.
Why is Historia here?
Alon turned to Evan with a bewildered look.
“...Is something wrong?” Evan asked back, looking genuinely confused as to why Alon was staring.
“Historia wasn't on the list, was she?”
“Huh? The list? ...The partner list?”
“Yes.”
“...Were the people gathered here the ones on the partner list?”
Evan looked just as puzzled, as if he truly hadn't known. This only deepened Alon’s confusion.
“You didn't know?”
“Did you?”
“...How could you not know?”
“How would I have known?”
Alon was about to speak, recalling what Alexion had said yesterday—
“...Alexion clearly said you were the one who told—”
“Ahem, Teacher. That’s not what’s important right now, is it?”
—But unfortunately, he was cut off instantly.
“...It’s not important?”
“The result is already out, isn't it?” Yutia said.
“I think so too, Orabeoni.”
“Me too, Mentor!”
“Ahem—same here, Boss.”
“Indeed, Godfather.”
Starting with Yutia’s remark, the others chimed in with supporting fire as if they were a single entity. Alon was momentarily speechless.
...I thought I heard they didn't get along very well...
When he glanced at Evan, the man looked even more confused by the situation than Alon was.
“...Fine, let’s move on.”
There was no helping it. He’d have to overlook the circumstances of how these people received letters and ended up at the interview. It wasn't that he wasn't curious or that he found it tedious, but he had a gut feeling that asking wouldn't yield any meaningful answers anyway.
I’ll have to ask Alexion later.
Alon let out a light sigh and addressed the group.
“As you all seem to know, the reason I called you here is regarding the partner position.”
Alon looked at them as they nodded in unison and asked, just in case.
“Is there anyone who would like to withdraw their candidacy for the partner position now?”
He wondered if anyone had been forced into the interview against their will. However, his question was met with absolute silence—not even the sound of breathing could be heard. If anything, a strange sense of grim determination seemed to swirl in their eyes.
Alon fell silent despite himself.
“...”
Why were they so obsessed with the partner position?
It was troubling, but at the same time, he felt a bit pleased. To think they coveted the position this much. Though few among them likely knew the true ‘meaning’ of becoming a partner when they applied, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, and he cleared his throat.
“Since you have all applied, it is difficult for me to personally choose one of you.”
That was the truth. No matter who he chose, those who weren't picked might feel slighted. Alon didn't want those gathered here to feel that way.
Therefore.
“So, we shall hold a vote.”
Alon brought out the clever move he had been keeping in reserve.
“A vote?”
“Yes. I will give you one hour starting now. During that time, the people gathered here will vote among themselves.”
It was a vote... In a way, it was just a way for him to escape the pressure of having to choose, and not much had actually changed. However, he judged that this was something everyone could accept.
“A vote, huh—”
“That sounds interesting.”
“Good!”
Fortunately, the five candidates nodded without much objection.
“Then, we begin now.”
The voting commenced. And exactly one hour later.
* * *
Voting Results
Yutia: 1 vote
Line: 1 vote
Seolrang: 1 vote
Magrina: 1 vote
Ryanga: 1 vote
Historia: 1 vote
* * *
“...”
Even though it was an anonymous vote, the results made it obvious who had voted for whom. Furthermore, hadn't Historia been excluded from the list in the first place?
Alon shifted his gaze toward Historia. She had her usual blank expression, but her eyes were fixed on the ballot with grim intensity.
“...Since it’s a tie, we shall do it one more time.”
Noticing her tail wagging slightly, Alon suggested a re-vote without mentioning that Historia wasn't on the candidate list. Another hour passed.
And then.
* * *
Voting Results
Yutia: 1 vote
Line: 1 vote
Seolrang: 1 vote
Magrina: 1 vote
Ryanga: 1 vote
Historia: 1 vote
* * *
...The exact same situation repeated itself.
After contemplating for a moment, Alon spoke.
“I will give you two hours. Why don't you try discussing it this time?”
Leaving them with those words, he added, “I have some business to attend to,” and left the room.
* * *
A short while after Alon departed.
Evan, who had been calmly observing the situation as Alon instructed, heard a voice.
“...Phew. This will never end if we keep going like this.”
It was Magrina, who had been silent until a moment ago.
“Mm—true.”
“I agree.”
“Agreed.”
The others nodded one after another. Magrina added further:
“So, let’s decide among ourselves who to give all the votes to.”
“And how exactly do you propose we decide that, Magrina?”
“How about a game?”
“...A game?”
“Hmph—a game, you say—”
Starting with Yutia, who nodded with interest, the conversation progressed rapidly.
“Fine. Then tell us what game you want to play.”
The game they decided on was Rock-Paper-Scissors. Yes, Rock-Paper-Scissors...
Or so it was supposed to be.
“Magrina, come here for a second.”
“What is it?”
“Listen—”
“Seolrang?”
“What is it, Yutia?”
“Would you mind coming over here for a moment?”
“Huh?”
“...”
Evan witnessed it. He saw them gathering in small groups and openly whispering secrets to one another.
...Wait, isn't the winner and loser supposed to be clearly decided in this?
What kind of Rock-Paper-Scissors rules required them to gather and plot like this?
His thoughts were cut short. With grim expressions on every single one of them—
“...Ugh—”
Evan, who possessed the martial prowess of an average knight, felt an overwhelming pressure and stepped back as they began to emit a powerful aura of mana that he could barely withstand.
The result.
* * *
Voting Results
Yutia: 1 vote
Line: 1 vote
Seolrang: 1 vote
Magrina: 1 vote
Ryanga: 1 vote
Historia: 1 vote
* * *
...It was invalid once again.
“...Evan.”
“...Yes, Marquis.”
“Didn't you say a winner was decided?”
Alon, who had returned, asked Evan with a stunned expression. A winner had indeed been decided. It was Yutia’s victory.
“...”
Evan shifted his gaze and looked straight ahead. Yutia, the winner of the game that had been played with elaborate schemes and strategies despite being a simple game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, was smiling. ...Only with her mouth.
“Hahaha... To think you would all break your promise. You’re all being a bit much.”
Yutia spoke with a smile, but Magrina countered calmly.
“We didn't break our promise. You cheated, didn't you?”
“Cheated? Whatever do you mean?”
“Didn't you move your Divine Power from the very beginning to examine our muscles and see what we were going to throw the moment we threw it?”
“I’m sure we were all doing the same thing—”
“Besides, your throw was a bit late—”
“You didn't say anything about it earlier, did you?”
“That’s because I knew you wouldn't accept it like this.”
...So that explosion of mana and Divine Power, which made Evan fear the house might collapse, was all for that?
Just as Evan came to this realization, Alon, who was staring at the tied ballots, spoke.
“It seems a winner won't be decided this way, so I shall change the method.”
He made a calm decision. All eyes focused on him. Having captured their full attention, Alon declared:
“Exactly one month from now, we will hold a vote involving the residents of the territory.”
He had declared a territory-wide public vote.
* * *
Naturally, everyone was surprised by Alon’s statement.
“...I will follow Teacher’s words.”
“Me too. It certainly seems fair.”
“...If the Boss says so—”
“It’s my victory!”
“There’s a lot to consider, indeed.”
“...”
Starting with Historia, who nodded as she left, everyone disappeared, each showing a subtle confidence as if they had something up their sleeve.
Evan, who had been thinking, spoke quietly.
“...This will certainly produce a clear result.”
“Right?”
“Yes, well—the scale has grown quite a bit, but this is sometimes how partners are chosen.”
“...Is that so?”
Alon had blurted out the suggestion because he wanted to avoid the pressure of choosing personally, but he was secretly worried that he had made too big a deal out of it. Hearing that there was a precedent relieved him. He felt that he wasn't being overly dramatic.
As Alon nodded, Evan, who was deep in thought, added:
“It’s not entirely without precedent.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Well, it’s mostly royalty, though.”
“...What?”
“I believe royalty has quite often searched for brides or grooms in this manner.”
“...Royalty?”
“Yes. Well—but what does it matter? Just because royalty did it often doesn't mean there’s a law saying only royalty can do it.”
“I suppose so.”
“Royalty might think you’re imitating them if they see it, but that’s about it.”
Seeing Evan shrug his shoulders, Alon felt relieved once more.
A few days later.
“Marquis.”
“What is it?”
“A pilgrimage group is coming from Rosario.”
“A pilgrimage group...?”
“Yes. They said they are coming to coincide with the completion of the church.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“That’s not all.”
“Is there more?”
“A large number of fighters from the Colony are also coming to the Palatio Marquisate.”
“...From the Colony? Suddenly?”
“Yes, I heard it’s for some kind of training... Besides that, remember the merchant guild we contracted with recently? The one run by the Elf Queen? They are coming with a grand caravan in a month. And also—”
Alon realized instinctively. Something was happening.
“Is that the end of it?”
“No, sir. Actually, this part is the most important.”
“What is it?”
“You know what you mentioned before? About sending invitations to the Kings.”
“...Is there a problem?”
“Well, it’s more that it went too smoothly.”
“...Which means—”
“All the Kings have accepted your invitation. Their representatives will likely arrive soon.”
“I see... Wait, what?”
“I said the Kings have all accepted the invitation.”
“...Why?”
“Pardon? Well, even if you ask me that...”
The moment Evan’s voice trailed off in embarrassment, Alon froze at the incomprehensible situation, but he realized instinctively.
“Evan, if they accepted the invitation, when will they all arrive in Divine Land?”
“...In about two weeks.”
“...”
Something was going wrong.
Terribly wrong.