Chapter 97: Union Conference (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 97: Union Conference (3)
King Karmakeses III of Colony looked as if he had a massive headache.
The cause was Seolrang, the proud first Babayaga of Colony, who currently stood before him.
“So—”
Karmakeses trailed off in spite of himself.
After a moment of deliberation over how to phrase his next words, he finally managed to finish the sentence.
“You’re saying you want to go to the conference as my aide?”
“Yeah.”
Watching Seolrang nod without a hint of hesitation, Karmakeses let out a long, heavy sigh.
This was the same woman who had sworn she wouldn’t attend a conference even if the sky came crashing down. For her to suddenly volunteer as an aide—what on earth had happened?
…Of course, there was no practical issue with Seolrang coming along as an aide.
In fact, for Karmakeses, it was an incredible stroke of luck.
The Union Kingdom’s conference was a diplomatic meeting, but as was usually the case, it was also a place where allied kingdoms engaged in subtle power struggles. That was exactly why Karmakeses had tried to convince her to go in the first place.
However, there was one problem.
“Um, didn’t you say before that you absolutely hated the idea of going?”
Because he had heard that Seolrang would rather die than attend, Karmakeses had already appointed someone else as his aide.
Specifically, Colony’s second Babayaga, Makria.
“I changed my mind.”
“Do… do you really have to go?”
“I really have to.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
Karmakeses found himself in a bind at her firm, uncompromising attitude.
To be honest, it wasn’t an easy situation. While taking Seolrang would be far more beneficial for him, breaking a promise to the second Babayaga after everything had been finalized was problematic.
…Of course, if he didn’t care about the official aide position, he could simply take both of them. But that was guaranteed to cause its own set of issues.
Fundamentally, accompanying the King as an aide to such a conference carried a certain level of prestige. This meant the second Babayaga had accepted the proposal with that honor in mind.
If Seolrang tagged along now, all eyes would inevitably fall on the first Babayaga, regardless of who held the official title of aide. After all, the woman standing before Karmakeses possessed a level of strength that no one could hope to match.
In short, the second Babayaga’s dissatisfaction would likely explode.
“…How about going next time?” Karmakeses asked, wishing he had been notified sooner.
“Ah.”
The moment he asked the question.
“I said, I want to go.”
The Seolrang who had been wagging her tail playfully just moments ago vanished as if she had been a lie. Seeing her temperature drop so sharply that anyone would have flinched, Karmakeses had no choice.
“…Then let’s do that.”
He could only concede.
“Hmph~♬”
Her expression softened as if she had gotten everything she wanted. Seolrang hummed a tune as she strolled out of the royal castle.
Watching her retreating figure, Karmakeses rubbed his tired eyes.
“…”
Today is a day that calls for some mana grass, Karmakeses thought briefly.
* * *
Meanwhile.
“…So, you’re saying you want to go to the conference?”
“That is correct.”
“But the Third Sword was already scheduled to go—”
“I wish to go.”
“Hmm… the matter has already been decided.”
“I wish to go.”
“…”
The exact same scene was playing out in Calliban.
“Hmm…”
King Palmalian IV of Calliban looked visibly flustered as he questioned Deus Macallian.
“Um, didn’t you refuse last time, saying you didn’t have the time?”
Palmalian IV was saying the exact same thing as a certain desert king elsewhere.
“I have found a way to make time.”
However, he fell silent upon seeing Deus Macallian change his tune so casually.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to take him. He was well aware that the Union Kingdom’s conference was a conference in name only; in reality, it was a battlefield of invisible power struggles.
But for Palmalian IV, who had already appointed the Third Sword as his aide after Deus had initially refused, this request was a burden. No matter how much of a king he was, he couldn’t simply do everything as he pleased. He knew that a ruler, more than anyone, had to be consistent.
A king must provide his subjects with a reason to trust him.
After a long silence, Palmalian IV spoke.
“Regrettably, I cannot grant that request.”
“And why is that?”
“Because a promise has already been made.”
“With the Third Sword, I presume.”
“Indeed.”
As he nodded and spoke with Deus, Palmalian IV could vaguely guess why he was so intent on attending this particular conference.
…It must be because of Count Palatio—no, Marquis Palatio.
He must have come running the moment he heard that Marquis Palatio would be attending as an aide for the Asteria Kingdom.
It was quite fascinating to see.
…Just how much does he admire that man?
He knew very well that Deus Macallian didn’t just admire Marquis Palatio; he practically worshipped him.
Actually, it was impossible not to know. During the meetings of the Five Swords held every few months, the moment the word ‘Mage’ was even mentioned, Deus would immediately start talking about—no, praising—Marquis Palatio.
There was even an incident where the newly appointed Fourth Sword, sick of hearing the same stories, made a disparaging remark about the Marquis and was beaten within an inch of his life in a duel.
As a result, Deus’s reverence for Marquis Palatio was common knowledge to anyone who mattered.
…Along with the rumor that one should never even utter the first syllable of the word ‘Mage’ in front of Deus.
Palmalian had been slightly worried that Deus might push his luck too far, but he was surprised by the response.
“I understand.”
Deus simply nodded and prepared to withdraw. Palmalian IV was taken aback, as he had expected Deus to do something… or try some scheme to secure the aide position.
However.
“Since the matter is already settled, it would be improper of me to cause you further distress by insisting.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
“Not at all.”
Deus gave a perfectly polite bow and turned to leave.
“…”
Palmalian IV was left wearing a bewildered expression. Exactly one day later, he received a request for an audience from the Third Sword, who was supposed to accompany him to the conference.
“…I greet the Master of the Five Swords, the Great Sword of Calliban.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but may I be relieved of my duties as your aide?”
“…So suddenly?”
“Yes.”
“And why is that?”
“…It seems that my blade is not yet sharp enough to serve as Your Majesty’s support.”
At those words.
“Ah.”
The scene from yesterday flashed through Palmalian IV’s mind.
‘Regrettably, I cannot grant that request.’
‘And why is that?’
‘Because a promise has already been made.’
‘With the Third Sword, I presume.’
‘Indeed.’
It didn’t take long for him to realize exactly what had happened.
“…I understand.”
“Thank… thank you.”
That day, Calliban’s aide was changed.
* * *
Three weeks later.
Alon, who had only managed to rest for about two weeks before returning to Teria, headed toward Tern, where the conference was to be held, accompanied by Cretenia Siyan.
During his rest, he had figured out why Cretenia Siyan wanted to take him as an aide.
A power struggle, huh.
He continued his train of thought, recalling what he had heard from Evan.
It’s true that wherever powerful people gather, there’s always this kind of petty power struggle… Well, as for why I was chosen… wait, am I actually a good choice?
Objectively speaking, his resume was quite impressive, so it made sense.
…Of course, that was only on the surface. In reality, he was a half-baked mage who would be rendered combat-ineffective after a spell or two due to his tiny mana hole.
Well, I guess it’s a win-win in the end.
Cretenia Siyan got to use Alon’s reputation, and Alon could obtain the item he needed, which could only be found in Tern.
About a week later, they reached their destination.
Oh.
He marveled inwardly at the sight of the massive castle in the distance, built solely as a meeting place for the royalty of the United Kingdoms.
The outer castle, situated in the middle of a vast plain, looked quite atmospheric, and its exterior was magnificent. Though, it felt more like an iron-blooded fortress than a meeting hall.
Regardless, Alon arrived at the castle shortly after.
“The meeting is this evening, so go to the banquet hall and rest for now.”
“Understood.”
Nodding at Siyan’s words, Alon headed toward the banquet hall.
* * *
There are surprisingly few people here.
Alon thought as he looked around the quiet interior of the banquet hall. He shrugged and began to snack on the displayed desserts.
He wanted to move immediately to secure the item, but unfortunately, due to the nature of the item’s timing, it could only be obtained at night.
This is delicious.
He was lost in the sweetness of an egg tart when a voice called out.
“By any chance, are you Marquis Palatio?”
“?”
Alon turned his gaze toward the voice and saw a man standing there.
He was a classically handsome man with red hair, a cross earring in one ear, and a sword at his waist.
“I am. And you are?”
“Oh, it really is you! It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
The man introduced himself with a bright smile.
“I am Philian, the eldest son of the Merkillan Ducal House of the Ashtalon Kingdom.”
“…If you’re a Merkillan, are you the Sword Master of Ashtalon?”
“Oh? You know of me? I’m honored that someone so famous recognizes me. I guess I’ve become a bit of a celebrity myself.”
Watching Philian laugh cheerfully, Alon thought to himself:
Well, it’s not so much that you’re famous as it is that I already knew who you were.
Alon knew him.
Philian Merkillan.
He was the youngest Sword Master in the history of the Ashtalon Kingdom and a character who could be recruited as an ally by the player in Psychedelia.
“You are quite famous. The youngest Sword Master in the kingdom, after all.”
“Thank you for the praise. But—”
As one could see, Philian’s personality wasn’t prickly. Since he was a companion character for the player, he was quite a cheerful fellow with no hidden agenda.
However, there was one flaw.
“Marquis, you seem a lot weaker than I expected?”
“…”
As if to emphasize that the character’s talent was entirely poured into the sword, his interpersonal and social skills were catastrophically low.
“That’s strange. I thought you’d be much stronger.”
…Just as he was demonstrating right now.
To make matters worse, he was also quite competitive.
“…Hmm.”
Alon, of course, knew that Philian harbored no ill will. Philian Merkillan simply wasn’t the type of person to mock someone.
…Whether that was because he was incapable of such thoughts or just lacked the intelligence for it, Alon wasn’t sure.
Regardless, just as Alon was wondering how to respond to the man’s pure, guileless remark, another voice spoke up.
“What did you just say?”
“…Huh?”
Alon instinctively turned his head toward the voice coming from behind him.
“?”
His eyes nearly bulged at the familiar silhouettes.
…Seolrang and… Deus?
There stood Seolrang and Deus, both wearing expressions of absolute fury.