Chapter 201
Chapter 201
The moment those words were spoken, Stella's image flashed through Logan's mind.
The adorable baby who had recently started calling him "Uncle" with her tiny voice—his master's daughter.
The scene he'd witnessed at her naming ceremony naturally surfaced in his thoughts.
"Hmm. I believe I've seen something similar before, but is it a serious issue?"
"Well... It's not particularly severe. Records of people with such constitutions are more common than you'd think."
But then why—
"If it's just a constitution, doesn't that mean it's insignificant?"
"Indeed. There have often been people whose bodies poorly receive divine power. Our order has even invited such individuals to research how the great gods' grace might spread more widely."
Research...?
What kind of research could they possibly be conducting?
Logan's brow furrowed slightly.
"However, until now, only one or two such cases were discovered per century across the entire continent. Recently, rumors say babies with this condition have been born consecutively in Grandia... Oh my, you truly don't know?"
"No, my apologies. I only happened to witness it once by chance..."
"As a ruler, I thought you'd naturally take an interest in matters like births and children's welfare... Ah, I overlooked your age. You must still be in the position of an heir."
"Not at all. I'm ashamed of my own lack of attention."
The excuse that temples didn't exist outside major cities in Grandia no longer held water—the MacLaine territory had grown too vast.
As Logan bowed his head in response, Bishop Phentas hastily continued.
"Not at all. Since parents often bring sick children to temples, it might just be baseless rumors stemming from illnesses that were slow to heal. Sadly, the divine power of lower-ranking priests lacking faith and discipline has clear limitations."
She added this because her words had inadvertently sounded like criticism, but it only ended up sounding like an excuse to placate Logan.
'If it were mere rumors, the bishop wouldn't have mentioned it.'
Given Stella's case, he couldn't help but feel slightly concerned.
'Should I look into it when I return?'
Bishop Phentas's words left a small question lingering in Logan's heart.
"At last, our young hero returns!"
Upon arriving back at the Star Palace, Luther greeted Logan with boisterous enthusiasm.
With arms spread wide in what seemed like a crushing embrace, his posture resembled a giant about to pulverize its prey—so ferocious that Logan could only force a strained smile and deftly sidestep the rough welcome.
Chuckling at Logan's reaction, Luther then gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"I was genuinely surprised at the Grand Hall meeting."
"So was I."
"No, I meant your response."
"Ah..."
"Even I thought the Emperor's offer was unprecedented. I couldn't help but admire your patriotism."
Logan could only sigh at Luther's words.
"Even if I'd accepted, I would've had to pay a price."
"What?"
"Do you think they'd just hand over territory and wealth equivalent to a kingdom? Not even the Emperor could do that. He likely would've demanded achievements worthy of such a reward."
"If you have the ability, you can just accomplish those feats, no? Anyway, I'm newly impressed by you. You're truly remarkable."
The giant's massive hand clapped Logan's shoulder, but Logan couldn't bring himself to smile.
'Those "achievements" would most likely involve conquering a kingdom.'
No matter how powerful the Empire was, territory the size of a kingdom couldn't just materialize out of thin air.
'Ordering me to conquer a kingdom and appointing me as governor would allow the Emperor to both keep his promise and gain new territory.'
For now, it was just speculation, but he had a strong feeling it wouldn't be far from the truth.
The Emperor who ushered in the Empire's golden age didn't seem the type to make such offers lightly.
Regardless, the mere fact that he'd caught the Emperor's attention was problematic enough.
"The Acerian Spring Festival lasts a month, doesn't it? I should return as soon as it ends."
"Right. Let's do that."
One week.
A week had passed since the Grand Hall meeting, during which Logan deliberately avoided drawing further attention by staying within the Star Palace. The Emperor, too, made no attempt to summon him.
Instead, all sorts of people came to the Star Palace.
To be precise, all sorts of imperial nobles.
"I wish to meet Lord Logan. I am Baron Burton..."
"Viscount Cuffs, from the Acerian Tax Office..."
"Earl Fomaine of the Treasury here. Is Lord Logan present?"
It seemed every noble below the rank of count currently residing in Acerian had knocked on the Star Palace's doors at least once.
And none came empty-handed.
"What is all this?"
Luther Kyle's jaw dropped at the mountain of gifts piled up.
Over a hundred presents cluttered a corner of the Star Palace.
There were low-grade artifacts, rare gemstones, and even elixirs and tonics that would be difficult to procure in Grandia even with unlimited wealth.
Each was worth at least hundreds of thousands of gold, with some easily surpassing millions—all given as mere greeting gifts.
And these were from the Empire's "mid-to-lower" nobility.
"Unbelievable. They're giving these as greeting gifts?"
The combined value of these items could fund a count-level territory in the kingdom for several years.
No matter how wealthy the Empire was, this couldn't possibly be standard practice.
'Most likely...'
Logan couldn't help but recall the Emperor's words again.
- Show them the Empire's prosperity.
Higher-ranking nobles, perhaps to preserve their dignity, didn't visit in person but instead sent servants with invitations.
Of course, none were ordinary invitations.
The moment a seal was broken, strange mana seeped from the letter, materializing the image of an elderly official with a white beard, followed by a soft voice.
[Lord Logan. Earl Ashley Burtman, Deputy Minister of Acerian's Treasury. I wish to discuss the Empire's future and amity with the kingdom with you, favored by His Imperial Majesty. If you would accept...]
"Magic letters in scroll form. Seems money really does rot here."
"There are dozens of such invitations. Attending them all would consume months."
"Right. That's not feasible."
Logan sighed in response to Victor's words, but Luther, who'd been silently observing, interjected.
"Now even I'm receiving all sorts of gifts and party invitations—asking me to bring you along. To think I'd be treated as a side attraction. What an absurd situation."
Despite his words, Luther's smirk suggested he wasn't entirely displeased.
To someone unaware of the impending imperial conquest, this situation might not seem so bad.
After all, it involved the haughty imperial nobility bowing their heads.
Of course, Logan's perspective was slightly—no, vastly—different.
'No, the imperial war isn't the main issue. Even just the kingdom's affairs are enough to worry about.'
Here, he had no way to access external information.
As Logan sighed deeply, Luther teased him.
"Why so glum, popular one? Thanks to you, even your subordinates are making quite a profit. You should enjoy this moment too."
Subordinates?
Logan's brow furrowed as he noticed Henderson and the other knights flinch under his gaze.
Only Victor met his gaze calmly.
"You all..."
"W-we only accepted a few coins to put in a good word for them, nothing more!"
"We swear, we disclosed no sensitive information, my lord!"
Right—they wouldn't have.
'Because they don't know anything.'
An involuntary sigh escaped him.
"Don't be too hard on them. With the Emperor openly courting you, of course people would approach your subordinates. At least none of them delivered any requests to you."
That much was true.
Had they crossed that line, he wouldn't have let it slide.
"That's commendable enough. Though to the other side, it must seem like they took bribes and gave nothing in return."
As Luther's chuckles continued, Logan deployed a magical phrase to end the frivolous conversation.
"Keep this up, and I might just naturalize here?"
"Hey now! Since when did adults teasing you warrant such dark humor? I'm just saying you should relax. There's no urgent business, is there?"
"...There's plenty of urgent business."
The growl slipped out unintentionally.
"Ah. Well, if you say so... Hmm."
Even Luther, who'd been cheerfully ribbing him, hesitated and toned down, while the knights began eyeing Logan cautiously—plunging their gathering space into awkward silence.
Only then did Logan realize his mistake.
'Obsession, I know it's obsession...'
Only two weeks confined to the imperial palace.
He was aware that feeling this restless was abnormal.
Even training to pass the tedious time proved difficult to focus on.
But how could he not feel this way after witnessing the Empire's might firsthand and seeing the Emperor—a veritable giant—up close?
All his preparations seemed pathetically inadequate in comparison.
It was only natural to grow impatient.
'Should I just go back?'
The thought of disregarding the Emperor's will and returning home suddenly crossed his mind.
As an unofficial diplomatic envoy, they couldn't formally protest his departure.
'But hoping nothing comes of it would be naive.'
Three weeks remained until the Acerian Spring Festival—the official pretext for his visit.
He could leave as soon as it ended.
Trying to soothe his restless thoughts with this reasoning—
The Emperor sent an invitation.
A palace banquet.
One couldn't refuse an invitation from the Emperor himself.
Logan intended to make a brief appearance before leaving, but he instantly regretted attending the moment he arrived.
"Red hair, red eyes. You must be the rumored one. What was your name again?"
"Logan, my lady."
"Ah, right!"
Despite the grand ballroom spanning over a thousand pyeong, the crowd clustered unnervingly around Logan, creating the bizarre spectacle of him appearing to host the event.
'What is this nonsense?'
A chandelier of unimaginable size, delicacies he'd never seen nor heard of, exotic wines whose mere sip sent thrilling aromas and flavors cascading through his mouth—all accompanied by elegant performances.
A truly extravagant affair, yet Logan's heart treaded a path of thorns.
"Is that the..."
"Kingdom bumpkin..."
"The Emperor's favor is excessive..."
"Should we greet him just in case?"
"Can't hurt to make a good impression."
Their voices reached him clearly as they approached with feigned smiles, oblivious to being overheard.
Dealing with these fools who only deepened his animosity toward the Empire drained him completely.
Just as his patience wore thin—
- His Imperial Majesty arrives!
All eyes turned as the ballroom's massive doors swung open.
The Emperor entered with a dozen knights and attendants in tow, his majestic presence commanding the room.
"All hail His Imperial Majesty!"
As everyone knelt and bowed—
Instead of proceeding to his seat of honor, the Emperor approached Logan.
"Logan MacLaine, Star of Grandia. Are you enjoying the festivities?"
The new title in his amused voice.
'Star of Grandia?'
Logan's face involuntarily twisted slightly as he kept his head bowed.