Chapter 241: Turning Point (1)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 241: Turning Point (1)

A total of twelve knights had been dispatched as my bodyguards. Eight of them stood guard outside the house and three stood guard indoors just in case of anything unexpected. The remaining one followed me wherever I went, even inside the house, and provided a close, dedicated escort.

"Did you say your name is Rayman Keplow?"

"Yes, sir." The knight responded politely to whatever I said. This was new to me, but not all that unexpected. I was due to receive a title soon, so he must just have been treating me accordingly in advance.

Plenty of knights of the Royal Guard would have titles, too, but if all the guys he sent are like this... it would be fair to take it as a thoughtful gesture.

The first thing that told me was that Deer seemed like a meticulous person. I'd have to look more into that at some other time, though.

"You said earlier that this was an order from your superior. Who exactly gave you that order?"

Keplow answered my question. "To be honest... I don't know that, either."

I watched his expression carefully as he answered. It didn't seem like he was lying. When I pressed further, I learned he had been dispatched having only been told it was on the orders of his immediate superior.

Yeah, if he has a brain, he would try to hide his identity.

It was kind of a shame. Considering this involved the palace, I might've been able to reach Deer's identity...

...No, wait.

Suddenly, a possibility flashed through my mind.

"I heard he's being paraded around as a hero? It'll be so fun to see him die right after he receives his noble title. The palace's reputation will go down the drain!"

I had at first assumed this was just an emotional outburst because there was so much resentment in his voice.

"You couldn't control your emotions and even kindly warned the enemy? You really are a baby."

Deer also thought the same.

But had that bastard actually been aiming for this?

It was possible that what Clown really wanted was to dig up Deer's identity. Of course, since the jewel had turned green, the existence of an assassin was undeniable.

But if he can use this as bait to dig for clues about Deer, too, I'm sure he would have seen that as a win.

That made more sense. Clown may have been beaten up at the Round Table, but he was actually one of the big fish in this world. The "mistake" he had made was more than likely intentional.

Deer must have also had that possibility in mind to some extent, which is why he sent these men my way as discreetly as possible. Ha... there really aren't any straight-forward bastards here, huh.

While the urge to sigh was almost overwhelming, on the other hand, this was motivation to remain alert in the future. Just look at today. If I'd kept sleeping out of exhaustion, Deer would have been able to realize something was strange from the knights' report.

"Come drrrink this, Mr. Knight."

"I cannot receive private favors from civilians—"

"Hey, this isn't a favor. You're going to have a hard time protecting Bjorn, arrren't you?"

Missha went around serving tea to the knights like she was the lady of the house. Did this girl assume that a private escort was just one of the services that came with a title? Hmm, maybe, because she didn't know anything about the assassin.

"Mr. Rayman Keplow, was it? I don't know how long you're going to be herrre, but make yourself at home in the meantime."

In the end, Missha managed to seat Keplow at the table and serve him tea. "...I will call you Lady Karlstein."

"Hm? It's just Missha, but... if you want to call me that, I can't forrrce you to stop..." Missha smoothly borrowed my soon-to-be-conferred title and led Keplow into using an honorific for her. Of course, I didn't think that was intentional.

It must have just happened accidentally.

Anyway, Missha briefly introduced Keplow to Erwen and also Ainar, who was not here today.

"Should I call you Lady Erwen?"

"U-Uh... That's..." Erwen trailed off awkwardly.

Sensing Erwen wasn't comfortable with that, Missha came to her rescue. "That's not necessarrry. Can't you see she's uncomfortable? Just call her Erwen."

"Y-Yes! That would be good..."

"Then I will inform my subordinates to do so."

The titles were decided at lightning speed.

Knock, knock.

Then there was another knock at the front door, despite it still being early in the morning.

"A teammate of Lord Yandel's has arrived." A knight informed us that the visitor was like a house servant. Was this why everyone was so obsessed with power?

"What teammate?"

"A wizard named Arua Raven."

Keplow looked at me in askance and I nodded. That was enough.

Creak.

The door was opened by Keplow's hand. Still sitting on the sofa, I raised an arm and greeted the visitor elegantly. "Ah, you're here." This was Barbarian Noblesse Mode.

Raven scoffed at the ridiculous greeting. "'Ah, you're here?'"

"A cup of tea?"

"Black, please." Raven glanced at Keplow, who stood behind me like a bodyguard, and immediately sat on the sofa across from me. "So what's with this situation?"

"It's exactly what it looks like."

"...I'm going to get pissed."

What could this tiny girl do to me, anyway? Still, I quickly answered her. "The palace sent me knights as guards in case something happens before the conferment."

"Hmm, that makes sense. You have a surprisingly high number of enemies, after all." Raven readily accepted that explanation. Well, it was already well known that the Corpse Collector wouldn't be leaving me alone. The large clans seemed disapproving too.

"Raven, my enemies are also your enemies."

"...Why are you bringing that up so early in the morning?" As the morning was not usually when she was at her most active, Raven wasn't in that great a mood.

"Here, black tea. You know where the sugar is, rrright?"

When Missha brought her a cup of tea, Raven sipped on it and shifted her gaze to Erwen.

"H-Hello, Miss Raven..."

"Ah, yes... Hello..." As their eyes met, the two exchanged awkward greetings.

I involuntarily cocked my head. "Didn't you call each other by your first names before? I'm pretty sure that was the case."

"Mr. Yandel, just shut up." When my mouth clamped shut, Raven led the conversation as the elder of the two. "How ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are things these days?

"Mr. Rayman Keplow, was it? I don't know how long you're going to be herrre, but make yourself at home in the meantime."

In the end, Missha managed to seat Keplow at the table and serve him tea. "...I will call you Lady Karlstein."

"Hm? It's just Missha, but... if you want to call me that, I can't forrrce you to stop..." Missha smoothly borrowed my soon-to-be-conferred title and led Keplow into using an honorific for her. Of course, I didn't think that was intentional.

It must have just happened accidentally.

Anyway, Missha briefly introduced Keplow to Erwen and also Ainar, who was not here today.

"Should I call you Lady Erwen?"

"U-Uh... That's..." Erwen trailed off awkwardly.

Sensing Erwen wasn't comfortable with that, Missha came to her rescue. "That's not necessarrry. Can't you see she's uncomfortable? Just call her Erwen."

"Y-Yes! That would be good..."

"Then I will inform my subordinates to do so."

The titles were decided at lightning speed.

Knock, knock.

Then there was another knock at the front door, despite it still being early in the morning.

"A teammate of Lord Yandel's has arrived." A knight informed us that the visitor was like a house servant. Was this why everyone was so obsessed with power?

"What teammate?"

"A wizard named Arua Raven."

Keplow looked at me in askance and I nodded. That was enough.

Creak.

The door was opened by Keplow's hand. Still sitting on the sofa, I raised an arm and greeted the visitor elegantly. "Ah, you're here." This was Barbarian Noblesse Mode.

Raven scoffed at the ridiculous greeting. "'Ah, you're here?'"

"A cup of tea?"

"Black, please." Raven glanced at Keplow, who stood behind me like a bodyguard, and immediately sat on the sofa across from me. "So what's with this situation?"

"It's exactly what it looks like."

"...I'm going to get pissed."

What could this tiny girl do to me, anyway? Still, I quickly answered her. "The palace sent me knights as guards in case something happens before the conferment."

"Hmm, that makes sense. You have a surprisingly high number of enemies, after all." Raven readily accepted that explanation. Well, it was already well known that the Corpse Collector wouldn't be leaving me alone. The large clans seemed disapproving too.

"Raven, my enemies are also your enemies."

"...Why are you bringing that up so early in the morning?" As the morning was not usually when she was at her most active, Raven wasn't in that great a mood.

"Here, black tea. You know where the sugar is, rrright?"

When Missha brought her a cup of tea, Raven sipped on it and shifted her gaze to Erwen.

"H-Hello, Miss Raven..."

"Ah, yes... Hello..." As their eyes met, the two exchanged awkward greetings.

I involuntarily cocked my head. "Didn't you call each other by your first names before? I'm pretty sure that was the case."

"Mr. Yandel, just shut up." When my mouth clamped shut, Raven led the conversation as the elder of the two. "How are things these days?

"...All right. You don't have to worry about me."

"If you're okay, I won't. By the way, are you going to stay here from now on?"

"Yes... Thankfully, Sis gave me permission..."

"Hmm, is that so? That's interesting."

A few more exchanges followed and the conversation ended when Erwen returned to her room to get some rest.

"...Um, Mr. Keplow, are you going to keep standing there?"

"I'm used to these kinds of jobs, so don't mind me and feel free to converse as usual."

"If you say so..." She may have said that, but Raven's expression was full of discomfort. She showed no signs of opening her mouth first.

Therefore, I decided to just ask the question on my mind instead of letting the awkwardness drag on. "What was that?"

"Can you please use nouns?"

"I mean with Erwen. I'm sure you're not suddenly shy around her now."

I had definitely sensed it during their conversation. Raven was having a really hard time dealing with Erwen, and I didn't think it was simply because Erwen had recently lost a family member. So what was the real reason?

"Is there something I'm missing here?"

"Ugh, honestly, you're way too quick when it comes to the weirdest things."

"So, are you going to answer?"

Raven hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth with a sigh. "It's just a little... I sort of feel like it's my fault."

"Your fault?"

"The spell that your wizard Dwalkie used. I know how to use it too."

The gist of what Raven was saying was simple. When Fallen Scholar appeared, Raven had intuitively sensed the truly overwhelming difference in their abilities as wizards. And she knew that without using the Awakening technique, she wouldn't be able to overcome that gap.

"I had no problem with the formula or mana, but the spell wouldn't come out of me."

I could understand. It was an easy spell that any wizard could cast, but not one everyone could actually use when the time came.

"It happened when I was hesitating."

Fallen Scholar's spell had fired, and the stone wall of mana Raven had erected was shattered all too easily. And as a result...

"Sometimes, when I'm alone in my empty laboratory I think that if I had used that spell, maybe her older sister would have survived."

I smiled bitterly. I never dreamed that she would be thinking something like this.

"The same goes for you, Mr. Yandel, and everyone else on our team. We all could have died. But even knowing that, I..."

What was she talking about? I cut her off before the run-of-the-mill self-loathing rambling could start up. "Enough. Stop talking. It's unfortunate what happened to Erwen, but none of us died, right?" That might have been a bit cold-hearted.

"You're right." Raven nodded and agreed. Regardless of ifs, ands, or buts, her time spent with Erwen and Daria had been short, meaning she couldn't prioritize them over her actual team. "But the reason why things ended the way they did was because you did what I couldn't, Mr. Yandel."

I laughed light-heartedly and said in a joking tone, "Haha, that's because I'm the leader."

However, Raven just let out another small sigh. "Yeah, that's exactly why..."

"...All right. You don't have to worry about me."

"If you're okay, I won't. By the way, are you going to stay here from now on?"

"Yes... Thankfully, Sis gave me permission..."

"Hmm, is that so? That's interesting."

A few more exchanges followed and the conversation ended when Erwen returned to her room to get some rest.

"...Um, Mr. Keplow, are you going to keep standing there?"

"I'm used to these kinds of jobs, so don't mind me and feel free to converse as usual."

"If you say so..." She may have said that, but Raven's expression was full of discomfort. She showed no signs of opening her mouth first.

Therefore, I decided to just ask the question on my mind instead of letting the awkwardness drag on. "What was that?"

"Can you please use nouns?"

"I mean with Erwen. I'm sure you're not suddenly shy around her now."

I had definitely sensed it during their conversation. Raven was having a really hard time dealing with Erwen, and I didn't think it was simply because Erwen had recently lost a family member. So what was the real reason?

"Is there something I'm missing here?"

"Ugh, honestly, you're way too quick when it comes to the weirdest things."

"So, are you going to answer?"

Raven hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth with a sigh. "It's just a little... I sort of feel like it's my fault."

"Your fault?"

"The spell that your wizard Dwalkie used. I know how to use it too."

The gist of what Raven was saying was simple. When Fallen Scholar appeared, Raven had intuitively sensed the truly overwhelming difference in their abilities as wizards. And she knew that without using the Awakening technique, she wouldn't be able to overcome that gap.

"I had no problem with the formula or mana, but the spell wouldn't come out of me."

I could understand. It was an easy spell that any wizard could cast, but not one everyone could actually use when the time came.

"It happened when I was hesitating."

Fallen Scholar's spell had fired, and the stone wall of mana Raven had erected was shattered all too easily. And as a result...

"Sometimes, when I'm alone in my empty laboratory I think that if I had used that spell, maybe her older sister would have survived."

I smiled bitterly. I never dreamed that she would be thinking something like this.

"The same goes for you, Mr. Yandel, and everyone else on our team. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠We all could have died. But even knowing that, I..."

What was she talking about? I cut her off before the run-of-the-mill self-loathing rambling could start up. "Enough. Stop talking. It's unfortunate what happened to Erwen, but none of us died, right?" That might have been a bit cold-hearted.

"You're right." Raven nodded and agreed. Regardless of ifs, ands, or buts, her time spent with Erwen and Daria had been short, meaning she couldn't prioritize them over her actual team. "But the reason why things ended the way they did was because you did what I couldn't, Mr. Yandel."

I laughed light-heartedly and said in a joking tone, "Haha, that's because I'm the leader."

However, Raven just let out another small sigh. "Yeah, that's exactly why..."

"Huh?"

"...I'm just trying to say that being sentimental like this isn't like me."

I nodded subconsciously at that. Well, when I first met her, my impression of her was completely different from what it was now. Anyway, Raven didn't seem to want to talk at length about this as she changed the subject.

"Mr. Yandel, what are you going to do about Erwen? The team is full and there is no room for her to join."

"I'm thinking."

"Then what about the labyrinth? Are you going in?"

"I'm going to keep an eye on how things are developing for now. If things continue like this, it'll be tough to go in."

"...That's true."

"So, is that all you're here for today?"

"No, I have different matters. I have something to tell you."

I was a believer that no news was good news, so Raven's words were enough to activate my anxiety alarms.

"I've decided to take lessons from Sir Pevrosk."

"What? Surely you're not going to leave the team to take classes?"

"Sorry? Of course not. Why would you think that?"

That was because the exact same thing had happened to me several times before.

"But what are you going to learn in the class? Don't you have a school already?"

"I can't learn court magic at Altemion." Right, she had earned the right to learn court magic as her reward. "I was hoping someone could help me lay the groundwork, and thankfully Sir Pevrosk agreed." Raven proceeded to explain she would be staying at an inn near the palace instead of the Magic Tower and that I should come to find her there if I needed to. "That's the end of my business. I'll get going. See you later."

That was apparently really all she had to say because Raven left as soon as she finished the tea Missha brought her.

***

On May 18th, Team Apple Narak, excluding Raven, visited the palace again. There were still two days left until my conferment, but apparently, we needed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠come in advance to decide what I'd receive as a reward.

Yeah, I'm sure it'll look better to reward it where everyone can see.

There wasn't a banquet so we didn't need to dress as formally as last time. However, equipment was still prohibited in the palace so we were in clean everyday clothes.

"Oh, Yandel! Are you here today too?" Upon entering the palace, some adventurers I was acquainted with immediately struck up conversations. Like me, they were set to receive their rewards today.

They mentioned they started going down the list and calling everyone a few days ago.

The monetary compensation had already been paid in bulk, but those who had the opportunity to choose essences or equipment had had to wait on a waiting list.

"Then we'll head in firrrst, Bjorn!"

After arriving at the palace, I got separated from my team because their rewards were different from mine.

"S-So it's just us two..." I was in a waiting room with one of my knight escorts, a royal guide, and Erwen. "Mister... is it okay for me to accept something like this?"

"If not you, who will? Have confidence. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠These people are not kind enough to hand out rewards to people for no reason."

"But..."

Why was she acting like this after we'd already come all this way? "You have to get stronger. You and me both. That way we won't lose anything else."

"...Yes, you're right." Erwen nodded, looking more resolute.

As we made small talk, another guide arrived to take Erwen to the Silver Soul Repository, where rank-four essences and items of that ranking were stored.

If the Gold Soul Repository were open to her, I would've been able to feed her her final essence right away.

It really was a pity. It wasn't that there weren't any core essences for an elven archer among the rank-four essences, but one rank higher and she could've had that.

I'm sure she'll get it someday. It's about time to head up to the sixth floor.

I shook off my regrets. After these rewards, our combat power would rise significantly. There was no need to keep wandering around on the fifth floor, building up strength. The problem was those bastards from Noark, though. But considering the moves the assholes in the palace were making, it seemed they had some sort of solution to that too.

"Lord Yandel, please come this way."

As I sat there organizing my thoughts, my personal guide arrived and led me to the Gold Soul Repository. It was a basement with no windows, but because of the bright flames everywhere, it didn't feel dark at all. Rather, it was so bright it was hard to think of it as underground.

Feels like we've gone down to at least the fifth underground floor... the architectural technology in this world is strangely advanced.

When we arrived at our destination, a knight greeted me with great vigor. There was also a wizard next to him. He gave me brief instructions. The time limit was three hours. I could choose my desired essence or item, and if I attempted to steal or break anything, it could lead to severe punishment. He was basically telling me to be careful.

Geez, so intense.

After that explanation was over, the huge iron door opened smoothly like gravity didn't affect it at all.

Whistle...

Thousands of essences in Magic Vials and displayed in glass cases greeted me. Each was on par with an ogre essence. Although I could only take one, I felt my lips curl into a smile.

This makes it feel like I used some sort of cheat code.

It was time to get stronger.

"Huh?"

"...I'm just trying to say that being sentimental like this isn't like me."

I nodded subconsciously at that. Well, when I first met her, my impression of her was completely different from what it was now. Anyway, Raven didn't seem to want to talk at length about this as she changed the subject.

"Mr. Yandel, what are you going to do about Erwen? The team is full and there is no room for her to join."

"I'm thinking."

"Then what about the labyrinth? Are you going in?"

"I'm going to keep an eye on how things are developing for now. If things continue like this, it'll be tough to go in."

"...That's true."

"So, is that all you're here for today?"

"No, I have different matters. I have something to tell you."

I was a believer that no news was good news, so Raven's words were enough to activate my anxiety alarms.

"I've decided to take lessons from Sir Pevrosk."

"What? Surely you're not going to leave the team to take classes?"

"Sorry? Of course not. Why would you think that?"

That was because the exact same thing had happened to me several times before.

"But what are you going to learn in the class? Don't you have a school already?"

"I can't learn court magic at Altemion." Right, she had earned the right to learn court magic as her reward. "I was hoping someone could help me lay the groundwork, and thankfully Sir Pevrosk agreed." Raven proceeded to explain she would be staying at an inn near the palace instead of the Magic Tower and that I should come to find her there if I needed to. "That's the end of my business. I'll get going. See you later."

That was apparently really all she had to say because Raven left as soon as she finished the tea Missha brought her.

***

On May 18th, Team Apple Narak, excluding Raven, visited the palace again. There were still two days left until my conferment, but apparently, we needed to come in advance to decide what I'd receive as a reward.

Yeah, I'm sure it'll look better to reward it where everyone can see.

There wasn't a banquet so we didn't need to dress as formally as last time. However, equipment was still prohibited in the palace so we were in clean everyday clothes.

"Oh, Yandel! Are you here today too?" Upon entering the palace, some adventurers I was acquainted with immediately struck up conversations. Like me, they were set to receive their rewards today.

They mentioned they started going down the list and calling everyone a few days ago.

The monetary compensation had already been paid in bulk, but those who had the opportunity to choose essences or equipment had had to wait on a waiting list.

"Then we'll head in firrrst, Bjorn!"

After arriving at the palace, I got separated from my team because their rewards were different from mine.

"S-So it's just us two..." I was in a waiting room with one of my knight escorts, a royal guide, and Erwen. "Mister... is it okay for me to accept something like this?"

"If not you, who will? Have confidence. These people are not kind enough to hand out rewards to people for no reason."

"But..."

Why was she acting like this after we'd already come all this way? "You have to get stronger. You and me both. That way we won't lose anything else."

"...Yes, you're right." Erwen nodded, looking more resolute.

As we made small talk, another guide arrived to take Erwen to the Silver Soul Repository, where rank-four essences and items of that ranking were stored.

If the Gold Soul Repository were open to her, I would've been able to feed her her final essence right away.

It really was a pity. It wasn't that there weren't any core essences for an elven archer among the rank-four essences, but one rank higher and she could've had that.

I'm sure she'll get it someday. It's about time to head up to the sixth floor.

I shook off my regrets. After these rewards, our combat power would rise significantly. There was no need to keep wandering around on the fifth floor, building up strength. The problem was those bastards from Noark, though. But considering the moves the assholes in the palace were making, it seemed they had some sort of solution to that too.

"Lord Yandel, please come this way."

As I sat there organizing my thoughts, my personal guide arrived and led me to the Gold Soul Repository. It was a basement with no windows, but because of the bright flames everywhere, it didn't feel dark at all. Rather, it was so bright it was hard to think of it as underground.

Feels like we've gone down to at least the fifth underground floor... the architectural technology in this world is strangely advanced.

When we arrived at our destination, a knight greeted me with great vigor. There was also a wizard next to him. He gave me brief instructions. The time limit was three hours. I could choose my desired essence or item, and if I attempted to steal or break anything, it could lead to severe punishment. He was basically telling me to be careful.

Geez, so intense.

After that explanation was over, the huge iron door opened smoothly like gravity didn't affect it at all.

Whistle...

Thousands of essences in Magic Vials and displayed in glass cases greeted me. Each was on par with an ogre essence. Although I could only take one, I felt my lips curl into a smile.

This makes it feel like I used some sort of cheat code.

It was time to get stronger.