The Moving Saintesses (3)
In the Chimera faction’s dormitory, the academy’s official holiday schedule had sent most of the wealthy, high-born students into the city to enjoy wine and food. The building stood quiet, empty of any human presence. Inside the largest and finest room, however, lamplight flickered as a hushed conversation unfolded.
“The Desert King, you say?”
“That is correct, Lord Cardio.”
Beside the sixth saintess of the Saras Order stood a servant whose features were almost sculptural. He quietly refilled her wineglass. The saintess took a satisfied sip, then smiled once more.
“Unusual events had already drawn the attention of both the Order and Gandharva’s officials. Their investigation has tentatively confirmed it—this is a precursor to the appearance of a giant monster. They are cautiously speculating that the creature in question may be none other than the Desert King.”
“Merely hearing the description makes it hard to believe. Something that enormous, swimming through the desert as if it were an ocean.”
The saintess gave a pleased laugh at Cardio’s intrigued expression. She leaned in a little closer.
“Because of this creature, the Order and Prince Rial are currently clashing. The Order insists on immediate subjugation or repulsion to calm the situation, whereas Prince Rial is utterly preoccupied with preparing his little spectacle. That is the simplest way to put it.”
“More like the temperament of a gambler,” Cardio replied with a chuckle. “He intends to wait until the final, razor-thin moment when a response is still possible, defeat the invading monster with the Academy’s own forces, and then formally introduce a clearly superior weapon. Has he already been bitten once?”
At that picture-perfect smile the saintess beamed with satisfaction and asked softly, “It seems you had already guessed.”
“Even so, I could sense the haste. The Gandharva nobles aren’t fully behind him yet, but he still appeared relaxed. I assumed he was putting on a bold front. That doesn’t mean I consider him easy to handle.”
“That makes sense. After all, he only toppled his final rival and secured the succession a year ago. Originally his rank was low—fifty-third, was it? I was living comfortably in Vespia and paid little attention, but I did notice him climbing steadily until he finally became the heir.”
Cardio laughed at her words. “He truly is remarkable. When one of our family members was staying in Gandharva on business, he boldly proposed a deal. According to Uncle Hephaestus, the offer was something like, ‘Make me king and I will deliver enormous profits to Vespia.’”
“I heard he was once the sort of man who might drop dead tomorrow, to the point he had to send his own younger sister to the Order. So there was more to him after all? The Abatus family supported him from the shadows?”
“Hahaha. Who can say?”
How utterly clueless.
It was not a statement to be made openly. The Abatus family were nobles of Vespia; claiming they had backed a Gandharvan royal and placed him on the throne would never sound favorable. Cardio swallowed an inward sigh at the saintess’s careless question, spoken where ears might be listening. Still, he had to endure it.
This idiot is the only one inside the Order whose goals align with ours.
The Abatus Count family maintained tight connections with Vespia’s nobility and had secured numerous commercial rights, yet their relationship with the Saras Order could not be called good even in jest. The Abatus family had not openly opposed the Order, but when they began expanding into the weapons sector by producing chimeras, the first saintess had sent a letter that amounted to a warning to reconsider.
Although the saintesses did not hold absolute decision-making power, the symbolic weight of their position was enormous. With the highest-ranking of the twelve saintesses taking such a stance, most senior officials—while technically neutral—echoed her opinion. As a result, the relationship between Abatus and the Order remained strained.
Many within the Order were from Vespia, so entanglement itself was not difficult, yet the second and fourth saintesses were Vespian and remained neutral, while the fifth saintess, Mina, stood firmly on the opposing side. It was no exaggeration to say the sixth saintess was the only high-ranking Order member connected to Abatus.
Without her, this information would have reached us even later.
They had been collecting data on suspicious points, but the precursor to a giant monster’s emergence had remained hidden. Naturally—if such a sign existed, the Academy would never have come. They must have concealed it with everything they had.
That implied Prince Rial possessed an intelligence network or spies capable of hiding such critical foreign information. At minimum, they were skilled enough to prevent ominous domestic rumors from leaking beyond the palace walls.
“Even so, Baron Arclight cannot have obtained this information yet.”
“It is only a matter of time. That money-obsessed ghost is attached to him, after all. He will undoubtedly scatter gold to purchase every scrap of intelligence.”
The sixth saintess spoke languidly. Cardio offered a gentle smile. He knew the opponent nicknamed the money ghost quite well.
“I was told Saintess Mina is not merely a person who cares only for money.”
“As if. She bought her very position as saintess with coin. The moment talk arose of handing a golem over to the Order, she narrowed her eyes and looked ready for a fight. She cannot win even a single bout.”
“I understood that saintess appointments are decided by council among the saintesses themselves. Was that incorrect?”
“More voices favored giving her a lower seat, but the top four saintesses insisted on the fifth position, so she received it. I wonder how much coin changed hands? How much would it take to buy even the first saintess?”
Time to cut this off.
She had claimed urgent business and he had granted her the time, but Cardio had no desire to listen to every complaint.
If she possessed the power to overturn the situation herself, she would have done so long ago.
He accommodated her only because she still held utility.
“I nearly forgot. We brought some excellent cheese this time, yet I neglected to serve it. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“It is I who arrived without warning. I shall wait obediently and with anticipation.”
The saintess smiled. Cardio rose briefly, returned carrying a platter of cheese and desserts himself, and set it down with a smile.
“Please enjoy. Our chef prepared it with delight upon learning of the saintess’s visit.”
“My thanks.”
For a time only the sounds of wine being poured and food being eaten filled the room. Observing the sixth saintess, who appeared increasingly cheerful as they shared drinks, Cardio spoke quietly.
“From what you said earlier, the first saintess’s highest priority is to subjugate the Desert King as quickly as possible and dispel the anxiety gripping this nation. Is that the heart of it?”
“It seems she is manufacturing justification so that the fifth saintess may take action. You should have seen the annoyance on her face.”
“A pity I missed it. Still, that is how matters stand.”
This piece of information was the most valuable. It presented a golden opportunity to transform their uncomfortable relationship with the first saintess into active cooperation. The board Prince Rial had prepared was expanding into an unprecedented contest involving not only Vespia and Gandharva but the Saras Order itself. Learning the nature of their opponent was an enormous advantage.
Cardio immediately began writing. The sixth saintess tilted her head in curiosity.
“You have a good plan, I take it?”
“We have our own thoughts on the matter.”
With a casual wave, a white crow descended silently to perch beside him. The same white crow he had once sent to Eisen lowered its head and spoke.
“You called, Master?”
“Go to my uncle at once. He should be nearby. This letter requests that the family head dispatch chimeras in support.”
Considering the opponent’s nature, the forces he had brought would not suffice. With that judgment, Cardio sent the letter. Once it was fastened to the crow’s leg, the bird took flight. The sixth saintess watched it depart and murmured,
“As expected. House Abatus has already completed its preparations.”
“We are nothing like those rootless fools who raise a commotion almost every night.”
Cardio smiled as he spoke. The sixth saintess continued softly,
“Then I shall inform the first saintess. Unlike Baron Arclight, who knows nothing, Lord Cardio Abatus has already produced an answer.”
“There is truly no need to mention it, however…”
Cardio nearly asked whether that would not imply the sixth saintess herself had leaked information and that collusion existed between them, but he held his tongue. In any case, the relationship between Eisen and Mina was similar, and those who needed to know already understood the sixth saintess’s closeness to House Abatus.
So this is the shape of it.
Cardio slowly recalled and organized the information he had gathered. Prince Rial needed only a means to solidify his position as successor. The first saintess needed only a means to resolve the crisis quickly. Beyond that, each could simply claim their own share of the benefits.
“Let us proceed that way. If all goes well, we may even be able to topple Saintess Mina.”
“Of course!”
That was what the sixth saintess truly desired. To drag down the detestable Mina and rise one rank higher herself. She clearly meant to exploit the Order’s slightly negative gaze toward Mina caused by the golem issue.
Whether it succeeds or not, I will at least cheer her on.
Thinking so, Cardio took another sip of wine.
“The situation is complicated, yet the answer is simple. How fortunate.”
Many threads were entangled. But the solution remained straightforward.
“We simply need to win overwhelmingly.”
In the Gandharva marketplace, evening stars had risen and the streets grew even more crowded.
“…Hey, aren’t you three tired yet?”
“Hm? We’re still fine. Oh, this looks nice!”
“Those shoes look good too.”
“This coat is nice as well. Though wearing it in a hot climate might be a bit much…”
He had been wrong. They had no intention of answering him.
Just where did things go wrong?
Ever since they had decided to travel together on the way back from the library, several hours had passed. The women’s remark—“Don’t you think that outfit would suit Lord Eisen?”—had become the signal. Since then he had been dragged from shop to shop and forced to try on dozens of garments.
“Ah, as expected, this color is a little more…”
“Hmm, black is good, but navy seems nice too, doesn’t it?”
“While we’re at it, let’s buy him an entire proper wardrobe.”
The three women picked out clothes for him with sparkling eyes. Not a trace of fatigue showed on their faces.
“Um…”
Can we please go back, rest a moment, and let me finish building the golem?
He cried out inwardly while looking at Noel, but—
“Lord Eisen, hurry! The next shop is over there!”
Noel pointed ahead with a radiant smile. Mina and Erica were also tugging him along, faces alight with excitement.
They’re going to drag me around until dawn.
Gazing at the bright smiles of Noel, Mina, and Erica, Eisen quietly closed his eyes. Unfortunately, the night in Gandharva was far too long.