Chapter 87: The Title Conferral Ceremony (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 87: The Title Conferral Ceremony (3)
Hidan was well aware that the Moons, including Yutia Bloodia, revered and worshipped the Great Moon.
After all, the slogan of the Blue Moon had always been "For the Great Moon."
But even so—
[That’s why I’m telling you not to talk about marriage when you don’t even properly understand what it means!]
[I do understand! I can make the Great Moon happy!]
[That’s not for you to decide!]
[Yes, it is!]
[No, it’s not!]
He hadn't expected it to be quite this—
[I have been consistently raising this point, but regarding the matter of sending letters, we should each send them individually—]
[As I mentioned before, that might overwhelm the Great Moon, so didn't I say I would collect them?]
[Wouldn't it be just as natural for me to be the one collecting them?]
[Is there really a need to change the way things are done now?]
[I want to change it. So, when sending the letters... whew... hee.]
To be honest, he hadn't imagined they would be this fanatical.
[Now, listen. Back then, the Great Moon stood with such dignity even before an Outer God. The sun lowered its gaze before his eyes, staining the world in twilight, and the ashen world reclaimed its pure white snowfields. And that wasn't all; the strike he unleashed was truly—]
For twenty minutes now, the other members—who, excluding Yutia, usually feared Deus—looked dizzy, caught in his "I shall now begin the praise of the Great Moon" mode.
...Of course, since Hidan also revered and worshipped the Great Moon, he didn't think this behavior was necessarily wrong.
...It was just... a bit different from the image of the Moons he had imagined, which left him slightly flustered.
“….”
To be honest, it was a bit of a turn-off.
[Everyone, let's stop. We have reports to hear.]
Just as Hidan was secretly letting out a sigh, a voice rang out.
There stood Ladan, wearing a calm and faint smile, unlike the others who were talking so passionately.
“…!”
That was the very image that had once made Hidan feel awe toward the other Moons.
Feeling a strange sense of relief, Hidan cleared his throat with a "hem, hem" and spoke to the other Moons, who had suddenly fallen silent.
[Then, I shall begin the report.]
Strictly speaking, there was only one topic for his report today: the forces attempting to slander the Great Moon.
[First, to conclude, we have not yet identified the organization behind the attempts to slander the Great Moon.]
[The reason?]
Yutia, the Red Moon, asked, her expression having returned to a serious one.
[They seem extremely reluctant to reveal their identity. Even when we find a location connected to them and capture a contact person, most of them are merely being used as messengers.]
[...So even those acting as contacts don't know the organization?]
[That is correct.]
He cleared his throat again and continued.
[We did manage to trace one person above the contact level, but that location was also just being used as a communication hub.]
[...They are hiding their identity quite thoroughly, then.]
Hidan nodded at the murmur from Line, the Green Moon.
[Yes. However, I have obtained some information that might help identify them.]
[Information?]
[It is minor, but I have found about eight organizations that the higher-level group uses as contacts to slander the Great Moon. So, using these organizations as a base—]
[How did you find them?]
[It seems orders were issued to other organizations to slander the Great Moon. While investigating this matter, I was able to compile a list. The names of the organizations start with Dark Finger—]
As he began to recite the names of the organizations in response to Deus, the Purple Moon.
[Then we can just kill them.]
[...Pardon?]
Hidan blanked for a moment at the unhesitating remark from Ladan, who had been silent until now and had seemed the most normal of the bunch.
[No, well—killing them is correct, but first, we should focus on finding the higher-ups—]
[Didn't you just say they are trying to slander my brother—no, the Great Moon?]
[I did, but.]
[Then they must die.]
Ladan spoke with an expression that suggested it was as obvious as one plus one equaling two. Hidan stared blankly for a second before speaking again.
[...It is true that they should all be killed as the White Moon says, but isn't it also important to get information about the parent organization first?]
[Regardless of that, they are targeting the Great Moon, aren't they?]
[...That is also true.]
[Then it's only right to kill them.]
[...?]
[Killing them is the right way.]
[….]
Looking at Ladan, who was nodding as if making a firm vow, Hidan had a sudden realization.
He hadn't noticed because Ladan had been quiet until now, but Ladan wasn't the kind of person he had imagined him to be either.
Furthermore.
[This won't do.]
[?]
[I'll be back in a moment. Dark Finger is based near Laxas.]
[W-Wait a moment, Lord White Moon.]
[What is it?]
[Well, Dark Finger is connected to the Laxas Royal Family, so if you touch them carelessly, it might become troublesome for you.]
Hidan tried to warn him, but.
[I heard they're trying to slander my brother. Does that matter?]
[!]
As if his previous smile had been a lie, Ladan turned away with a bone-chilling, expressionless face.
Hidan could only watch with his mouth agape as Ladan, visible in the corner of the projection, grabbed his spear and leaped out the window.
A short while later.
“….”
In the end, the meeting concluded with the decision to find those slandering the Great Moon while leaving only a few locations for the Moons to handle.
With Ladan gone, the report continued.
[This is the final topic for the report. Currently, the Great Moon is caught up in a strange rumor.]
[What kind of rumor?]
[A rumor that the Great Moon and the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower are in that kind of relationship. Of course, it's not a major rumor, but since it concerns the Great Moon, I am reporting it.]
At Hidan's words, Yutia, who had been presiding over the meeting leisurely until a moment ago, nodded once and spoke.
[Hmm—it's obviously a false rumor.]
[I think so too! There's no way Mentor would break his promise!]
Seolrang nodded in agreement.
[I think so as well.]
[Yes, it's a false rumor, so don't pay it any mind. None at all.]
Hidan nodded naturally, but Yutia, her smile still fixed on her face, continued.
[Yes, I understand.]
[Because even if by some miracle the rumor turns out to be true, I'll turn it back into a false one.]
[...Pardon?]
[Of courseIknowsuchathingisabsolutelyimpossibleshouldnthappenandiscompletelyoutofthequestionbutifbysomemiracleitweretruelwouldmakesuretherumorceasestoexistsoyouneedntworryaboutitatal.]
[….]
She spat out the words in a rapid-fire burst.
Moreover, the fountain pen in her hand had been crushed into complete oblivion.
[...Yes, I understand.]
'I should report on that man I saw back then separately tomorrow.'
Hidan decided to simply agree with Yutia, who looked anything but peaceful to anyone watching.
And the next day.
Upon hearing the news that Dark Finger had been annihilated overnight, Hidan found himself once again contemplating the fanaticism of the Moons.
* * *
At that time.
After learning that the mercenary group that caused a stir yesterday was the Ancient Chaser guild operating in Lartania, led by Myaon.
Alon, who had settled the matter as a simple incident by having Myaon smash a new mercenary's head twice—once with a glass bottle and once with a wooden cup—was currently traveling with the Ancient Chaser guild from Nenda's inn.
The reason was that the Ancient Chaser guild's destination was the same as Alon's: the Holy Kingdom Rosario.
'An extermination request, huh...'
Of course, Alon hadn't told Myaon the details of the Holy Kingdom's request or whether there were constraints on the contract, but recalling what she had said yesterday, Alon thought.
'...Is something happening in Rosario?'
He couldn't help but wonder.
After some time had passed.
Alon, who had stopped the carriage for a quick lunch.
"Count—no, should I call you Lord Count?"
"Call me whatever is comfortable."
"Then I'll call you Lord Count. And—hey! Get over here, fast!"
Soon, he saw a mercenary approaching with Myaon.
The man, a head taller than Myaon, came up to Alon and immediately.
"I am truly sorry! I have committed a mortal sin!"
Thud!
He slammed his head onto the ground and begged for forgiveness.
As soon as his head hit the ground, blood began to pool around it.
"Don't worry about it. I'll consider it just a minor incident."
Alon was slightly startled but shook his head lightly. At that, the man, who had looked like he was on death's door just a moment ago, suddenly beamed with a bright smile as if he had been granted a new life.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! Truly, truly, truly thank you!"
As if he owed Alon his life, he bowed several times before returning to where the other mercenaries were.
"This guy's lucky."
"Wow, he survived that?"
"Incredible."
They thought they were speaking quietly, but Alon, whose hearing was enhanced by mana, heard their conversation clearly and felt strange.
'Just what do they think of me?'
Though hidden by his expressionless face, Alon felt a bit absurd. Myaon also let out a sigh of relief and spoke.
"That's a relief. I thought for sure the Count wouldn't forgive him. He's a new recruit, so I felt a bit bad for him."
"...I don't think I have that kind of image."
"But didn't you turn someone into an ice statue just for saying one wrong word last time?"
"…."
That had only been to seize the momentum of the situation, but since it could be seen that way from Myaon's perspective, Alon stopped talking and then spoke.
"The situation was what it was back then. I am not that merciless."
"From the rumors I've heard, it didn't seem that way."
"...Rumors?"
"Yeah."
Myaon nodded at Alon's question.
"...Rumors that you make anyone you don't like disappear quietly from behind without a moment's hesitation."
"…."
At Myaon's words, Alon recalled how he had been hugging the other mercenaries with a tearful face earlier and felt a bit wronged.
He had never once "disappeared" another noble or person just because he didn't like them.
...Of course, even if he tried to appeal his innocence, he knew well that such an appeal wouldn't work at this point, so he just let out a small sigh.
"Is it alright to say that in front of the person himself?"
"Hmm, actually, nobles involved in the underworld tend to quite like these kinds of stories. After all, reputation is important in that world, isn't it?"
Seeing Myaon's relaxed reaction, Alon felt a bitter taste in his mouth, thinking that for some reason, the strange rumors only seemed to increase as time went on.
* * *
Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.
Except for the uncomfortable incident at the village inn at the very beginning, Alon was able to reach Rosario very comfortably thanks to the Ancient Chaser guild.
And thanks to Myaon as a conversation partner, the two weeks weren't boring at all.
To be more precise, Myaon had simply visited him frequently even though Alon hadn't sought her out.
Anyway.
Thanks to that, Alon had a fairly decent life until he arrived in Rosario, and the same was true for Myaon.
The two-week journey with Alon had been quite helpful for her as well.
Of course, Count Palatio hadn't done anything specific during the trip, but at least a lot of rapport had been built between the two.
That was right.
In fact, Myaon was putting in quite a bit of effort to see if she could get close to Count Palatio...!
Of course, it wasn't a plan she had from the start, but rather one she had hastily formed after meeting Alon while on her way to the Holy Kingdom for a request.
She had plenty of motivation for the plan.
Given the nature of the Cat Tribe, being attracted to strong men was an instinct, but the conditions he possessed were also excellent from the Cat Tribe's perspective.
That was why Myaon had frequently talked with Count Palatio about this and that, wondering how she could make a move on him since he was so much to her liking(?), and in her opinion, there had actually been some progress.
...Of course, to Alon, it just felt like he had gained a friendly conversation partner.
Anyway.
'We've finally arrived.'
'Should I try to be a bit more aggressive if I get the chance? He seemed to dislike it when I was too over-the-top last time, so I'll try to be more like a human—'
As the two, having finished a journey that was good for both, reached the capital of Rosario with different dreams.
"Have you arrived? Teacher."
"...Yutia?"
"Yes."
"...I did send a letter, but it must have been difficult to come out to meet me."
"No, this much is not difficult at all."
"...Is that so?"
Alon met Yutia, who was waiting for him with paladins even before they reached the city gates.
And Myaon, who was watching the scene from the side.
'Wow, she's really beautiful.'
She stared blankly at Yutia's appearance.
Even though she was wearing black mourning clothes, her beauty was undiminished, making Myaon marvel. The red eyes visible through her smiling eyes had a magical quality that seemed to pull her heart in.
But that was only for a moment.
'...Count Palatio is truly amazing. I'd heard about it, but to think he even has connections with a Cardinal.'
Myaon was soon impressed by Count Palatio.
She knew he had many connections, but to be honest, she had been half-doubting it.
At the very least, as far as she knew, Count Palatio had incredibly deep friendships with high-ranking officials in various countries—though she couldn't say every country.
Thus, as Myaon looked at Count Palatio with an admiring expression.
'As expected, should I try a more daring plan?'
Just as she was refining her plan, feeling the desire to somehow claim him grow even stronger in her heart.
"Teacher, let's move inside first. From here on, we will provide the escort."
Yutia instructed the paladins to escort the carriage, and as soon as Alon's carriage departed under their protection.
"You over there—I believe you are the ones who came on our request, is that correct?"
She approached Myaon with a flawless smile and asked.
"Yes, that's right."
At the smile that seemed to embrace everything like a saintess, Myaon nodded reflexively.
Soon, Yutia, who had reached her, leaned her face close to Myaon's ear.
"?"
Though puzzled, Myaon instinctively judged that she had something secret to convey and leaned her head in return.
And then.
"Hey."
"?"
"You want to die?"
She heard a chilling, desolate voice that sent goosebumps all over her body.