Chapter 75: The Pirate King of Laxas (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: The Pirate King of Laxas (2)
Tyrian stared at Deus, utterly dumbfounded.
Anyone would have thought he was a madman, seeing how he had smashed the door to the detached palace’s office and marched inside without a second thought.
Tyrian opened his mouth to speak immediately, but—
“!”
He quickly realized it was a futile gesture.
The knights who were supposed to be on standby for him were already sprawled out in front of the shattered door.
Aghast, Tyrian looked at Deus Macallian with a look of pure incomprehension.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“I merely came to ask a question.”
“A question about what?”
“I heard rumors that you are framing Count Palatio. Is that true?”
Tyrian fell silent for a moment as Deus asked the question, his eerie purple eyes flashing.
What is this bloodlust…!
No matter how much of a scoundrel he was, Deus was still a knight at his core. Tyrian realized that the murderous intent radiating from Deus wasn’t being intentionally projected; it was a natural aura. He looked startled for a moment before his expression soured.
“And if it is?”
“I would like you to retract that decision.”
Tyrian stared intently into Deus’s eyes at those words.
“Ha—”
A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
“And why should I do that?”
“…….”
Deus simply stared back at Tyrian.
The faint pressure of his bloodlust weighed down on him, but Tyrian soon grasped the situation and twisted his lips into a smirk.
“More importantly, do you have any idea what kind of mess you’ve just made?”
“I told you, I only came to ask a question.”
“Ha! You do something that only a rebel would do, and then claim you just came to ask a question?”
As Tyrian spoke with a scowl, Deus replied.
“Let me tell you in advance: there is absolutely no way that will happen.”
“…You’ve turned the situation into this mess, and you say it won’t happen?”
“Yes. Of course, this detached palace could suddenly collapse, and the successor could pass away in a most unfortunate accident.”
“?”
“But I have no intention of starting a rebellion.”
His expression was so dead serious that Tyrian found himself wondering what on earth this bastard was talking about.
“Are you… threatening me right now?”
“It is exactly as I said. I have no intention of starting a rebellion, nor do I have the slightest intention of threatening you. However—”
“However?”
“I was simply mentioning that the successor might pass away due to the architectural flaws of this palace.”
“…….”
The words ‘That’s a threat, you crazy bastard’ rose to the tip of Tyrian’s tongue, but he was forced to keep his mouth shut.
The eyes meeting his were unmistakably those of a man speaking the truth.
This guy is serious…!
As cold sweat trickled down Tyrian’s back, Deus spoke once more.
“So, will you retract your decision?”
“And if I don’t?”
Tyrian spoke up, thinking there was no way Deus would actually do something so insane.
Upon hearing that answer, Deus…
“I see.”
He muttered as if it were a pity.
Then, he lightly flicked his hand.
Creeeeeak—!
“!?”
Purple thread-like lines began to spread throughout the entire palace.
Soon, as the lines filled the palace, intertwining like a spider’s web—
Rumble, crackle—!!
A sound that should never be heard from a massive palace began to echo.
“I suppose the crack that has been in the eighth pillar for eighteen years has suddenly collapsed due to an unexpected impact—”
“!?”
Along with those words, a voice rang out, sounding as flat as if he were reading from a textbook.
Looking at Tyrian with a look of profound regret, Deus prepared to clench his fist without hesitation, as if there were no more room for negotiation.
“W-Wait, stop—!!!”
“Is there a problem?”
“I’ll retract it! I’ll retract the decision!”
At Tyrian’s desperate shout, the palace, which had been shaking just moments ago, fell silent in an instant, as if it had all been a lie.
“…Now that I look closer, it seems there isn’t much of a problem after all.”
“…….”
At those words, Tyrian, who looked as if he were wondering what kind of lunatic he had encountered, let out a deep sigh.
If I can just survive this situation, I’ll find a way…!
He was secretly harboring such thoughts, but Deus returned to his usual expressionless face and spoke.
“Then, we’ll need to get our stories straight.”
“What?”
“Let’s say the reason I entered the palace so aggressively was because the successor harassed my younger sister.”
“…….”
Tyrian’s jaw dropped at the sheer absurdity of it.
“Fine. Let’s go with that.”
He soon nodded silently.
Tyrian had no intention of granting his request from the very beginning anyway.
Once I’m out of this situation, I’ll use what happened today to bring this bastard down no matter what…!
Instead, he secretly wore a bitter smile, planning how to drag Deus down the moment he left.
“Ah, and just in case, I should tell you: if you’re thinking of anything else, you’d better give it up.”
Unfortunately, Tyrian’s spiteful plan was cut short by Deus’s next words.
“Unless you want the fact that the successor is deeply involved with an underworld organization from another country to be made public.”
“…How… did you…!”
He was left with no choice but to despair.
For Tyrian, who still coveted the throne, that was a fact that must never reach the ears of the royal court, let alone the King.
And with that, it was over.
“I trust you will make the right choice.”
Leaving those final words, Deus turned around and exited the palace as if he had said everything he needed to say.
Tyrian, left alone staring blankly at the entrance, finally—
“Aaaaaaaagh—!!!!”
He let out a scream of pure rage and threw the chair he had been sitting on, smashing it to pieces.
About a day later.
…Rumors spread throughout the royal palace that the scoundrel 2nd Prince had harassed Deus Macallian’s younger sister.
* * *
While that was happening in Calliban.
Alon was able to meet Line in Merde without the difficulties he had faced before and have the badge, his original objective, appraised.
“Here it is, Godfather.”
“Thank you.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you, Godfather.”
“I’m glad to see you like it so much.”
Alon received the badge from Line and nodded with satisfaction as he saw her fiddling with the fountain pen he had given her, a small smile on her face.
If I’d known she’d like it this much, I would have bought it sooner.
He thought to himself as he looked at Line, who was smiling, albeit very slightly.
Is it just my imagination, or has she become a bit more expressive since last time?
He wondered if it was just because she seemed to be in a very good mood, but he noticed her emotions were much clearer than before.
Alon suddenly recalled the story he had heard earlier.
But he soon shrugged it off.
There’s no way Line would do that.
At least in his judgment, he didn’t think Line was the type of person who would kill someone so casually just because they had insulted him.
…She wouldn’t, right?
Alon suddenly thought of the son of the Labyrinth City Lord.
After some time had passed.
“Well, I should probably head out a bit early today.”
“Are you leaving already, Godfather?”
“Yes, I have some matters that require me to move a bit quickly.”
Alon confirmed that the sun was still high in the sky and decided to part ways with Line a bit earlier than usual.
Since the appraisal of the badge was finished, there was no reason for him to stay in Lartania any longer.
As Alon was preparing to leave—
“Ah,”
He let out a soft exclamation as if he had just remembered something.
“What is it, Godfather?”
“Is it possible to obtain an artifact like this?”
When he explained what he needed, Line thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Yes, I think I can give you an artifact of that level right now… Would you like it?”
“If you could, I would appreciate it.”
She moved immediately and returned shortly after with a box containing the artifact he had described.
“Here it is, Godfather.”
“Thank you. How much do I owe you?”
“There’s no need to pay. It wasn’t that expensive to begin with. You can consider it a gift.”
At Line’s words, Alon hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Then I shall accept it with gratitude.”
“Yes, Godfather. If there is anything else you need, please let me know at any time.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
After saying his goodbyes to Line, Alon concluded his short stay in Lartania and set out on his journey once more.
And.
Line, who had been quietly watching Alon’s carriage disappear into the distance, looked toward the Lord’s castle of Lartania in the distance.
“…Not much longer now.”
She whispered softly to herself.
* * *
Five days after leaving Lartania.
With only about a day’s journey left before reaching the port city of Laxas.
“…It’s the sea.”
“It is the sea….”
The ocean was visible through the window.
Just as they were staring blankly at the scenery of the sea appearing beyond the forest—
“Halt—!”
A man jumped out in front of the carriage.
A blue-haired boy wearing a pointed hat, the symbol of a mage, spoke to Evan with an incredibly pompous expression.
“You there, bring out some food.”
“?”
Evan looked bewildered at the boy who had suddenly appeared in the middle of the forest and started speaking informally.
Perhaps he didn’t like that expression.
“Did you not hear me?”
The boy frowned and spoke even more arrogantly.
Hearing the voice from outside, Alon poked his head out of the carriage window and looked at the boy blocking their path.
“Oh, are you the master? I was having trouble communicating with your servant, so this is perfect. Could you share some food with me?”
The boy actually brightened up and demanded food as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
After a moment of confusion—
“…Who are you?”
At Alon’s question, the boy made a triumphant expression and said, “Hmph!”
“I am Pellin, a 3rd Tier mage belonging to the Blue Magic Tower.”
He introduced himself in a very excited voice.
As Alon’s jaw dropped at his self-absorbed attitude, Pellin became even more full of himself.
“As you probably know, the chance to earn a favor from a mage doesn’t come often. And now, you are facing that precious opportunity.”
“…Is that so?”
“Indeed! It’s a bit much to say it myself, but I am a genius, even if I’m not quite on my sister’s level.”
As the boy boldly declared that they should buy his favor with food, Alon was wondering what to do with him when—
“Hey, Pellin! I told you not to run off on your own!!”
A very familiar voice echoed from the nearby bushes.
It was a voice he hadn’t heard in quite a while, but he could recognize its owner instantly.
When Alon turned his head toward the bushes, Penia appeared.
“Are you really going to keep acting however you want? Do you need a good thrashing to come to your senses!?”
Penia, who was venting her frustration at Pellin, suddenly—
“…Eh?”
—spotted Alon poking his head out of the carriage window and froze in her tracks.
“Sister, don’t worry, we’ll be able to get some food now—”
The moment Pellin spoke, completely oblivious to the situation—
Whack—!
“Gah!?”
Penia’s eyes widened, and she struck Pellin on the head with her staff at lightning speed.
Pellin face-planted into the ground.
And then.
“I-I am so sorryyyyy—!!!”
Seeing Penia prostrating herself on the ground—
“…….”
“……?”
Alon and Evan could only stare with blank expressions.