Reina and Natalie
Fantasy of Pangea blended fantasy elements into a medieval setting, which made nobles an absolute necessity. Within the game, nobles appeared in all sorts of forms. The Seiros Kingdom where they were currently staying only had the royal family, with no separate aristocracy, yet those royals essentially functioned as nobles. The neighboring Sog Kingdom and Tempo Kingdom, meanwhile, were places where the nobles’ influence could eclipse even the king’s authority. Elven Terra, the kingdom of the elves, also treated people differently depending on their family lineage, so it might as well have had a noble class. And though it lay farthest away, the Bolton Empire possessed the strongest noble power of all. Its very name declared it an empire.
Bagan’s attitude remained unchanged. Why should he give nobles special treatment? There was no law demanding it. After all, this was the same man who tore down walls by speaking informally to everyone he met—kings, nobles, and dragons alike.
“Ah, that’s…”
Reina faltered, clearly not expecting Bagan to respond so bluntly. Seeing his opening, Gion jumped in.
“Why don’t you try saying to Bagan what you said to me? You seem to think that because someone’s a noble, moving them is easy. But even nobles require proper procedures for such matters.”
As both the head of Seiros Kingdom’s adventurer guild association and the guild master of De Meca’s adventurer guild, Gion found himself in an awkward position. Considering how often he had to handle these troublesome affairs, it was no surprise he suffered from headaches. Bagan nodded in agreement, thinking that high positions truly weren’t meant for just anyone.
Yeah, procedures matter.
Curious about what situation could have made her blush so fiercely, Bagan asked directly.
“So, what is it?”
Why would the eldest daughter of a count become an adventurer, and what exactly did she want to say to him?
“Hoo~”
She seemed to need a moment to steel herself. After taking a deep breath, Reina looked straight at Bagan and spoke.
“The Sog Kingdom is on the verge of civil war. There are many reasons, but the biggest is the slave system I mentioned before.”
Bagan didn’t think those words should come from her mouth. He raised a hand, cutting her off.
“I don’t want to hear that from a noble of the Sog Kingdom.”
Where did a mere noble get off bringing up that topic? At Bagan’s firm rejection, Reina’s words died in her throat. She couldn’t continue after being cut off so abruptly, but she opened her mouth again, desperate to clear up the misunderstanding.
“Please understand that our family stands for the abolition of the slave system.”
As she spoke, she glanced carefully at Natalie.
(Reina definitely doesn’t seem to harbor any aversion toward beastmen or other races. Despite the way she talks, she clearly maintains a good relationship with the guild master.)
Combining that with Sally’s observation, it seemed correct to conclude that the Mercury family—Reina’s house—rejected the slave system.
“Then you’re Royalists?”
The word ‘Royalists’ coming from Bagan’s mouth was so unexpected that Reina nodded before she could stop herself.
Royalists, huh…
The nobles of the Sog Kingdom could be divided into two factions. Every family inevitably fell into either the Royalist or Noble faction. Royalists placed the king’s will above all else and included the major houses that had stood with the kingdom since its founding. The Noble faction, by contrast, was a newer group. Originally, nobles distanced from central rule had been granted recognition under the pretext of national defense. Now, however, they were simply those who opposed the king’s wishes. In short, being acknowledged had gone to their heads. As a result, power in the Sog Kingdom never settled in one place; it swayed like reeds in the wind.
Reina placed a light hand over her chest and declared, “I swear on my family name. The Mercury family is a deeply rooted loyal house that has stood with the Sog Kingdom since its founding. We are Royalists who currently serve the aging King Paheira de Jibril Sog.”
“Yeah, from what I hear, that old man’s power is fading. The succession isn’t decided yet, and the Noble faction is backing the second and third princes, right?”
Bagan’s words cut straight through the kingdom’s political situation. Everyone around him fell silent. Even Sally was shocked.
(What is this?)
I just figured that’s how it would be.
(Sometimes you really seem like a ghost. Is this one of those times?)
Yeah.
After finishing his mental exchange with Sally, Bagan spoke aloud. “Am I wrong? That’s why he scattered his seed in so many places…”
Having come this far, he spoke even more forcefully. His words placed the blame squarely on the Sog Kingdom’s king. Reina couldn’t let that pass.
“No matter how much of a countryside bumpkin you are, insulting the king in front of me doesn’t seem like proper behavior, does it?”
She was every inch a noble—using that classic aristocratic trick of pretending not to be angry. If you were going to get mad, get mad properly. To Bagan, that fake composure was a definite minus.
“You really are a noble through and through.”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
At Reina’s retort, Bagan thought, Mercury family. He tried to recall the house she belonged to, but nothing came to mind. For a count’s family, they apparently hadn’t made much of a name for themselves.
While he was lost in thought, Reina got to the main point. “Now that it’s clear our family are Royalists, I’ll ask you directly. Please help us.”
He understood the circumstances. However—
“I’m not interested.”
Bagan shook his head, making his refusal clear. But Reina wasn’t finished.
“Our family intends to abolish the slave system and weaken the Noble faction’s power. The problem is that even the Royalists aren’t united right now.”
There was no point in listening any further. As she herself admitted, the Royalists lacked unity—so what proof or assistance could she possibly offer? Still, the Mercury family’s willingness to act despite everything was praiseworthy. Yet Bagan felt no pull. Abolishing the slave system was something he could accomplish on his own.
At that moment, Gion began briefing them on the Sog Kingdom’s situation, as if he had anticipated this.
“The king is critically ill and the Noble faction’s power is growing. The Royalists are stretched thin doing the king’s work in his place, leaving them unable to act effectively.”
“Sounds frustrating.”
“It is. Most Royalists are keeping their heads down, so even a determined house like the Mercurys would struggle without outside help. If the solution can’t be found domestically, they have no choice but to bring in foreign powers.”
“So that’s why they’re reaching out to Seiros and the adventurers?”
“Exactly. However, the adventurer guild can’t intervene directly. If anyone could help, it would be—”
“Someone like me?”
After the previous incident, everyone knew Bagan’s strength. He could come across as arrogant, but no one could deny his overwhelming ability. The others nodded quietly. Paul in particular wore an apologetic expression, clearly ashamed to be asking this favor.
“I’ve gotten to know all of you quite well, and I’d like to help for Natalie’s sake, but what can’t be done can’t be done.”
His gaze shifted to Natalie. Even now, she was sleeping soundly. In a way, it was probably for the best.
Gion, who had been sorting through a pile of overdue documents, spoke up. “Personally, I’d really like you to help.”
Only then did Bagan understand the guild master’s earlier explanation. “Why?”
“After yesterday’s incident with the underworld, I became certain of something. Among the underworld routes I’ve been investigating, there are connections to nobles from various countries. I thought it might interest you. What do you say?”
Bagan had already known how proactive Gion was being about the underworld. And after the interrogation inside Sally’s space, the information was nothing new to him. He felt grateful that Gion had considered him, but his own resolve remained firm.
“Thanks for thinking of me, but I have my own plans. Abolishing the slave system is only natural, but I have a bigger goal. For that reason, I don’t want to waste effort on minor matters. So I’m sorry.”
Gion shook his head. “...I’ve heard your thoughts. If I kept pushing after this, I’d only tarnish my family’s name. I’ll back down.”
Reina looked disappointed but didn’t press further. It was the correct choice.
“But remember this. Even without your help, our family will do everything in our power to abolish the slave system.”
Reina practically shouted the words, desperate to convey her sincerity. Bagan found himself curious.
“Are you doing this because you met Natalie, or was this the spirit your family upheld from the beginning?”
He was asking when they had first developed their desire to abolish slavery. Reina answered without hesitation.
“Both.”
There was, of course, a reason she said both.
The clock rewound five years, to the Mercury count’s mansion.
Though they were Royalists, the estate lacked nothing in displaying noble authority. Its vast scale was matched by furnishings that all gleamed with polish. The carpet’s dizzying pattern drew the eye toward the dual staircases leading to the second floor. In the center, a proud chandelier bathed the surroundings in bright light while radiating elegance. Upstairs, a long corridor awaited, its displayed artworks and weapons kept in such pristine condition that not a single speck of dust could be found.
Clang!
Suddenly, a suit of armor standing alone in the middle of the corridor began to shake.
Clatter! Bang!
At the noisy disturbance, a white-haired man in neat formal attire came running.
“Young miss, the master will scold you if he finds you here.”
The butler looked at the armor as though it were a hopeless child. “Sebastian! If I don’t do at least this, I’ll die of boredom!”
Seeing her bold tone, Sebastian swallowed the observation that she was the spitting image of her father, Valeon Mercury. The armor clattered as she hurriedly climbed out. She was Reina Mercury, thirteen years old.
As the eldest daughter of the Mercury family, her only sibling was the six-year-old Lenin Mercury, who had yet to make his mark. Because of this, there had already been talk of naming the upright and spirited Reina the next family head.
“Reina? Come down for a moment, dear.”
A beautiful voice called to her from below. The sound was so welcome that Reina didn’t even glance at Sebastian waiting in the corridor. She dashed straight down to the first floor.
“Yes, Mother!”
“Reina! I told you not to run!”
There stood her father, Valeon Mercury, and her mother, Julia Mercury. Sog Kingdom custom dictated that wives take their husband’s surname, so Julia—from another family—had become a Mercury.
“Honey, she’s still growing. Reina is bursting with energy; you have to play with her at times like this.”
Compared to the strict Valeon, Julia was an angel to Reina. Even so, the current situation left her visibly tense. It went against the Mercury family’s principles.
“L-look at this? I brought a friend.”
What Reina saw was a slave—the kind she had only heard about in rumors. Though it was her first time seeing one, she didn’t panic. She turned to Valeon.
“Father, didn’t we decide not to buy slaves?”
She knew far too much for him to brush it off as simply a friend. Julia covered her mouth in shock. She had hoped Reina wouldn’t realize, but the thirteen-year-old was far too mature for her age.
Reina, eyes filled with shock, gritted her teeth and threw herself into her father’s arms, pounding her small fists against him.
“Release her right now! Father!”
Thud! Thud!
“Reina, it couldn’t be helped. The Noble faction’s influence is too strong. Families that refuse to take in even one slave lose their authority.”
The Mercury family had always felt negatively toward the slave system and had never kept a single slave. Yet Valeon had momentarily yielded to the Noble faction’s growing power.
“Right now! Release her right now! She’s in our house—there are no eyes watching!”
Reina’s words somehow carried more weight than either of her parents’. At her command, the servant set down the iron cage and pulled out a black-haired beastman girl with striking cat ears.
“Kyaa!”
The girl hated being touched. She immediately scratched the servant’s hand.
“Aack! You wretched thing!”
The servant lost control of his temper in front of the entire Mercury family. He seized the cat beastman by the throat.
“Kyak! Kkuk!”
Valeon drew his sword and leveled it at the servant.
Shing!
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“I-I was wrong!”
The servant shrank back with the face of a man who had committed a capital offense. Unable to execute him in front of his daughter, Valeon signaled Sebastian with his eyes. The butler quietly led the servant away.
Meanwhile, Reina approached the girl—slowly, so slowly the child might not even notice—and gently helped her to her feet.
“I’m sorry.”
The girl was filthy from not having washed in a long time and carried a foul odor, but Reina didn’t care. She hadn’t even considered it. She simply pulled that dirty body into a warm, comforting embrace.
The cat beastman had bared her teeth, ready to lash out at the touch, but something in Reina’s embrace stirred an unknown feeling inside her. Slowly, she lowered her head.
That was the first moment Reina and Natalie met.