Chapter 443: Giant Step (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 443: Giant Step (5)
The next morning, after falling asleep drunk, I reached out of my blanket to grab the flask on the nightstand and gulped down the strangely sweet drink inside. It tasted like someone had sweetened it with honey.
Ugh, that feels much better.
After rolling around on the bed for a bit, I slowly got up. The first thing I saw was a neatly folded letter on the nightstand.
I'm heading out to go to the holy land. But don't worry too much. I'll be able to step down without much issue. Oh, and... if you're having a hard time, be sure to tell me! Okay?
P.S. I heard you left the spot of the first clan member blank for me on purpose. Thank you. Really.
P.P.S. Oh, and it's today, right? Be careful!
Your first teammate, Erwen
So, Erwen's off to the holy land again. If I had come home earlier yesterday, we could have spoken. Jeez, why did I drink so much?
I sat there in bed for a while to give the stench of alcohol time to dissipate and revisited my memory of what happened after I parted with Mr. Bear. I remembered up to when Erwen and Amelia welcomed me home.
I think they helped me up to the second floor...
Was it because I drank while I was still exhausted? I was sure we talked about something on the way up, but I couldn't remember it at all. I was sure I didn't do anything bad, though. If I did, I would have definitely remembered it.
"Looks like you're awake," said Amelia from the doorway.
"Yeah, I just woke up now."
"Go wash up a bit. You're headed to the imperial capital today."
"...Okay."
"I'm going out now, so good luck today."
"Sure."
I heard Amelia walk down the stairs. I went to the bathroom to wash up and get ready to go out myself. For today's quest, I had to pay close attention to my clothes.
"...Tsk, I knew you'd do this." After I washed up, Amelia snuck up on me as I was putting on my suit and helped me get dressed. It was kind of fascinating.
"Why are you so good at this?"
"Who do you think got the clothes you're wearing?"
"Ah... you bought this, I forgot." It seemed she'd learned how to put on the clothes when she bought them. Amelia was oddly meticulous about everything she did.
"All done. You can go now. Looks like the carriage arrived a while ago."
"I should head out, then. See you in the evening."
"...Bye."
Amelia saw me off, and I took the carriage waiting for me in front of the house to the military platform. Then we used a teleportation circle to immediately arrive at the imperial capital.
I think this every time, but this is really convenient. Aside from the slight motion sickness.
Anyway, another carriage was waiting for me in front of the platform, and before long, I was able to arrive at my destination.
It's not really all that incredible anymore.
I'd visited the Palace of Glory several times over the past several years. A small event was being held here today, and my quest for today was related to that event.
"I am Mia Arbelto, first-class steward. I sincerely welcome you to the palace, Baronet Yandel."
As I followed my guide inside, a great hall appeared. This was the place I announced the return of our squadron.
"This is my first time seeing it so empty."
"There's still time until the ceremony begins. The lords will be arriving soon."
How many could there be, though? Even if everyone comes, there'll only be enough to fill the front rows.
"Please come this way."
Passing through the Palace of Glory, I moved to a private room reserved for me. There, the steward walked me through the program for today's ceremony.
A long while later, the door opened with a knock.
Knock, knock.
An old man I'd never met came in. It seemed the steward who was lecturing me knew him, though, as he immediately stopped what he was doing in shock. "Your Excellency, what brings you here?"
"I thought I'd have a quick chat with the star of the event. If you're not busy, do you mind giving us the room?"
"...I'll wait outside." The steward bowed politely at his superior and excused himself from the room. Only once he was gone did the formal meeting between the old man and I begin.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Duke Kealunus."
I was wondering which duke you were. So it's you.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel." I formally introduced myself as well.
"Wrong."
What the hell?
When I frowned, the old man burst into laughter. "It's Bjorn Yandel. Not 'son of Yandel.' You are now a member of the court, no?"
I wondered if he had come all the way here just to pick a fight with me, but I didn't particularly sense any hostility in his tone. Therefore, I held off on attacking him for now. I'd listen carefully to what came out of his mouth next so that I could make an accurate assessment of his personality.
"I may have no say over your unique way of speaking, for the king has officially allowed it, but you should make it clear to people who you are. Remember, you are not Bjorn, someone's son. You're not any old barbarian, either. You are Baronet Bjorn Yandel of Rafdonia. Ah, or would that be baron now? By the way, your tie is crooked." The duke laughed heartily and patted me on my shoulder.
This was sort of depressing. Now that I was shorter, even an old man like this could reach my shoulder. "Thank you for your advice. But I don't think you're just here to say hello." I couldn't wreck a duke just because I was in a bad mood, so I cut to the chase.
But was he unused to this kind of directness? "What? Haha, hahaha! Ahem... I apologize for laughing. I didn't mean to insult you in any way—I just find this fascinating."
I could understand that. Nobles liked wordy conversations, right? I was sure he didn't have much experience getting straight to the point right after introductions.
"Anyway... to answer your question, you are correct. If I just wanted to say hello, I could have come to see you another time. I came to find you now because I have a few questions for you."
Ugh, he's doing it again. Just say, "I have a question" and be done with it. Like I'm doing right now.
"What's your question?" He didn't respond. "...Are you hard of hearing?" I asked carefully.
"I am Mia Arbelto, first-class steward. I sincerely welcome you to the palace, Baronet Yandel."
As I followed my guide inside, a great hall appeared. This was the place I announced the return of our squadron.
"This is my first time seeing it so empty."
"There's still time until the ceremony begins. The lords will be arriving soon."
How many could there be, though? Even if everyone comes, there'll only be enough to fill the front rows.
"Please come this way."
Passing through the Palace of Glory, I moved to a private room reserved for me. There, the steward walked me through the program for today's ceremony.
A long while later, the door opened with a knock.
Knock, knock.
An old man I'd never met came in. It seemed the steward who was lecturing me knew him, though, as he immediately stopped what he was doing in shock. "Your Excellency, what brings you here?"
"I thought I'd have a quick chat with the star of the event. If you're not busy, do you mind giving us the room?"
"...I'll wait outside." The steward bowed politely at his superior and excused himself from the room. Only once he was gone did the formal meeting between the old man and I begin.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Duke Kealunus."
I was wondering which duke you were. So it's you.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel." I formally introduced myself as well.
"Wrong."
What the hell?
When I frowned, the old man burst into laughter. "It's Bjorn Yandel. Not 'son of Yandel.' You are now a member of the court, no?"
I wondered if he had come all the way here just to pick a fight with me, but I didn't particularly sense any hostility in his tone. Therefore, I held off on attacking him for now. I'd listen carefully to what came out of his mouth next so that I could make an accurate assessment of his personality.
"I may have no say over your unique way of speaking, for the king has officially allowed it, but you should make it clear to people who you are. Remember, you are not Bjorn, someone's son. You're not any old barbarian, either. You are Baronet Bjorn Yandel of Rafdonia. Ah, or would that be baron now? By the way, your tie is crooked." The duke laughed heartily and patted me on my shoulder.
This was sort of depressing. Now that I was shorter, even an old man like this could reach my shoulder. "Thank you for your advice. But I don't think you're just here to say hello." I couldn't wreck a duke just because I was in a bad mood, so I cut to the chase.
But was he unused to this kind of directness? "What? Haha, hahaha! Ahem... I apologize for laughing. I didn't mean to insult you in any way—I just find this fascinating."
I could understand that. Nobles liked wordy conversations, right? I was sure he didn't have much experience getting straight to the point right after introductions.
"Anyway... to answer your question, you are correct. If I just wanted to say hello, I could have come to see you another time. I came to find you now because I have a few questions for you."
Ugh, he's doing it again. Just say, "I have a question" and be done with it. Like I'm doing right now.
"What's your question?" He didn't respond. "...Are you hard of hearing?" I asked carefully.
The duke returned to his senses. "Sorry. I was distracted there for a second. No, not distracted... to be honest, I didn't realize you were already done speaking."
"Oh, I see. So, what's your question?"
When I repeated my question, the duke finally got down to business. It seemed he'd figured out how to communicate with me. "I'll keep this short. You are not the type to long for the life of an aristocrat. Why did you choose to ascend in peerage in return for your contributions to this mission?"
That wasn't short at all, but it was still to the point.
"The palace has offered Bjorn Yandel a higher title for his contribution to the expedition."
Deer had revealed that at the Round Table, but in truth, the promotion wasn't the only reward the palace had offered me. There were a total of four options presented to me by the Ministry of Veteran Affairs: a large sum of money, enough to build an entire mansion from scratch; two rank-three essences; a double-digit Numbered Item; and the title. After much deliberation, I chose the promotion. The reason for that was simple. The first three were things I could achieve on my own, and this was much more useful in terms of my immediate survival.
"I want to hear the truth. Why did you want the promotion?"
What a funny old man. The truth? How long have we known each other again?
I chuckled at his prodding and answered like he'd asked the most obvious question in the world. "Because it's good to have many wives!"
Though I'd deliberately shouted this with incredible enthusiasm, the duke's expression went blank. "Wives...?"
Jeez, does he actually have bad hearing?
"Yes, wives," I replied without a care in the world. "Barons can have three wives!"
In response, the look in the duke's eyes shifted significantly. Is this son of a bitch serious? he seemed to be asking. But the reason he couldn't bring himself to mount a counterattack was probably because he didn't know if it was even worth it.
Burp!
I was his opponent, after all.
"Oh, sorry. I had too much breakfast." I quickly apologized since this man obviously grew up with manners, but the duke didn't seem to care at all.
He just muttered to himself like he was starting to piece something together. "Certainly... you are known to have many women."
To be more accurate, I had comrades who were women, though lots of strange love stories and rumors had proliferated throughout the city. Perhaps it was because we lived together.
"So, does that answer your question?"
"At least half. There's one more thing I want to ask."
"Ask."
It seemed he was really starting to take a shine to the direct barbarian way of speaking because, without warning, the duke posed the following question: "Do you work for the marquess?"
This was short—much too short. Nothing wrong with being direct, but since this seemed like an important question, I started off by asking for confirmation. "When you say marquess, are you talking about the prime minister?"
"I am. Including the period you were missing, it seems you've been working with the marquess a long time."
"...I guess?"
This was a loaded question. Bjorn Yandel, who was believed to be dead, had actually been entrusted with various secret missions by the marquess over the two and a half years he was gone, and that was why the announcement that he was an evil spirit was made. As far as the public knew, this was the official story.
The duke returned to his senses. "Sorry. I was distracted there for a second. No, not distracted... to be honest, I didn't realize you were already done speaking."
"Oh, I see. So, what's your question?"
When I repeated my question, the duke finally got down to business. It seemed he'd figured out how to communicate with me. "I'll keep this short. You are not the type to long for the life of an aristocrat. Why did you choose to ascend in peerage in return for your contributions to this mission?"
That wasn't short at all, but it was still to the point.
"The palace has offered Bjorn Yandel a higher title for his contribution to the expedition."
Deer had revealed that at the Round Table, but in truth, the promotion wasn't the only reward the palace had offered me. There were a total of four options presented to me by the Ministry of Veteran Affairs: a large sum of money, enough to build an entire mansion from scratch; two rank-three essences; a double-digit Numbered Item; and the title. After much deliberation, I chose the promotion. The reason for that was simple. The first three were things I could achieve on my own, and this was much more useful in terms of my immediate survival.
"I want to hear the truth. Why did you want the promotion?"
What a funny old man. The truth? How long have we known each other again?
I chuckled at his prodding and answered like he'd asked the most obvious question in the world. "Because it's good to have many wives!"
Though I'd deliberately shouted this with incredible enthusiasm, the duke's expression went blank. "Wives...?"
Jeez, does he actually have bad hearing?
"Yes, wives," I replied without a care in the world. "Barons can have three wives!"
In response, the look in the duke's eyes shifted significantly. Is this son of a bitch serious? he seemed to be asking. But the reason he couldn't bring himself to mount a counterattack was probably because he didn't know if it was even worth it.
Burp!
I was his opponent, after all.
"Oh, sorry. I had too much breakfast." I quickly apologized since this man obviously grew up with manners, but the duke didn't seem to care at all.
He just muttered to himself like he was starting to piece something together. "Certainly... you are known to have many women."
To be more accurate, I had comrades who were women, though lots of strange love stories and rumors had proliferated throughout the city. Perhaps it was because we lived together.
"So, does that answer your question?"
"At least half. There's one more thing I want to ask."
"Ask."
It seemed he was really starting to take a shine to the direct barbarian way of speaking because, without warning, the duke posed the following question: "Do you work for the marquess?"
This was short—much too short. Nothing wrong with being direct, but since this seemed like an important question, I started off by asking for confirmation. "When you say marquess, are you talking about the prime minister?"
"I am. Including the period you were missing, it seems you've been working with the marquess a long time."
"...I guess?"
This was a loaded question. Bjorn Yandel, who was believed to be dead, had actually been entrusted with various secret missions by the marquess over the two and a half years he was gone, and that was why the announcement that he was an evil spirit was made. As far as the public knew, this was the official story.
I didn't think the truth would be kept from the duke too, though.
A strange prickle of wrongness crept over me.
"I've read all of the documents regarding your mission. You've done quite a lot of work. The documents are authentic as well. At first, I believed there might be some kind of deal in place between you two, but it seems the mission itself was real."
The marquess had prepared the documents already? And made them look good enough to fool even the duke? He told me it'd take two more months at the ceremony... Is this the kind of thing being the prime minister of a country makes possible?
The question came to mind, but I focused on my conversation with the duke for now. First, I needed to make this clear. "I am not working for the marquess."
"Then can you tell me your exact relationship?"
"We're kind of friends. Friends that help each other out of tight spots from time to time."
Maybe that was the answer he was waiting for because the duke's expression grew warmer. "Friends... What an interesting word. You are smarter than I thought. And quite sensible," the duke said, almost to himself, before asking another question. "Anyway, does your answer mean... that you are open to being friends with me too?"
His hand was already extended to me as if rejection was not even an option on the table. I wiped my hand on my thigh, then grabbed his. "Of course. The more friends, the better."
Well, real friends don't shake hands, though.
The fact was that Duke Kealunus was the third most powerful person in the kingdom after the king and prime minister. Though he did not hold political power as the prime minister did, his family had incredible sway. He sponsored dozens of clans, and among them were a surprising number of medium-sized ones. One of his younger brothers was even the lord of the Magic Tower.
Friends with a duke like that, huh?
The offer was unexpected, but there were no downsides to accepting it. It wasn't like we were real friends in the first place. The duke was only suggesting a friendship to keep me from working for the marquess. I just had to do with him what I was already doing with the marquess—give what I could give and take what I could take. At least until I didn't need 'friendships' like that anymore.
The duke chatted with me until right before the ceremony began. Most of it was small talk to build rapport, but some of the things he brought up were more important. According to him, the reason why our squadron survived was because the Order of the Rose clashed with Noark's troops while on standby for another mission.
"It's about time for me to go, so I will. See you later."
"Sure."
I still don't know if he was feeling me out by mentioning the Order...
I wasn't sure of the duke's motives, but one thing was clear. At the very least, the kingdom's Department of Intelligence was interpreting what had happened on the seventh floor the way I wanted them to.
I wonder what that son of a bitch marquess thinks.
Actually, that was the thing I was wondering the most. Ever since the return ceremony, I hadn't seen the marquess once. Today would be our first reunion in weeks.
"Baronet Yandel."
So, it's begun.
I stood in front of the door and waited as instructed by the steward. As soon as the door opened, I slowly walked in.
Step. Step.
The Palace of Glory, which had been empty two hours ago, was now filled with quite the crowd. Or, well, the front two rows were, at least.
Step. Step.
It was different from our squadron's return ceremony. Not all the seats within the hall were filled, and no loud music or soldiers was marching behind me. In terms of scale, it couldn't compare to the previous ceremony at all.
Step, step.
Still, it would be wrong to describe this event as small. The people filling the seats were all titled nobles, after all.
"It's really been a long time since everyone got together like this."
"I was very surprised to see the notice of attendance. A promotion in rank for Baronet Bjorn Yandel..."
"Haha, this is actually my first time receiving a notice of attendance."
"Oh, it hasn't been long since you inherited a title, right?"
"I can't say it hasn't been long, but... yes, promotion ceremonies aren't common in themselves."
The nobles whispered among themselves as I walked down the carpet. Some seemed to be enjoying the rare spectacle of a rank promotion, but some seemed to feel the opposite.
"...a mere barbarian..." Some despised me.
"...he was just born at the right time..." Some envied me.
"...I hope this is over soon." Some were attending out of obligation and had no interest in me. They preferred that this end as soon as possible.
I walked between the rows and arrived before the empty throne. The marquess stood in front of it this time, too. And here I thought I might get to see the king's face for once.
"Long time no see." The marquess greeted me quietly so that only I could hear him, and immediately raised his voice to launch into a speech before I could even respond. Then he handed me an empty box. "Seal your family crest in this box."
This was a ceremony that only occurred when a baronet was promoted to Baron. The titles of baronet and baron were worlds apart, so this was treated as the historic moment it was—another noble family being added to the thousands that uplifted the kingdom.
Slide.
As soon as the cloth I prepared was folded and placed inside the box, his dignified voice rang out through the hall. "With this, an eternal covenant has been made."
The marquess sealed the box himself and handed it to the royal guards waiting next to him. They solemnly accepted it and left the Palace of Glory. That box would enter the Palace of Immortality and be stored under lock and key from now on, until either this kingdom burned to the ground and perished, or I committed treason.
"Baron Bjorn Yandel, rise." I stood up. "Nobles, I hope you will be pleased to welcome the emergence of a new pillar that will serve to uplift the kingdom!"
I received quiet applause without any cheers or whistles.
"Now, this concludes the ennoblement ceremony!"
From there, the banquet began.
It seems I've just taken a big step forward.
So it was time to move on to the next step.
I didn't think the truth would be kept from the duke too, though.
A strange prickle of wrongness crept over me.
"I've read all of the documents regarding your mission. You've done quite a lot of work. The documents are authentic as well. At first, I believed there might be some kind of deal in place between you two, but it seems the mission itself was real."
The marquess had prepared the documents already? And made them look good enough to fool even the duke? He told me it'd take two more months at the ceremony... Is this the kind of thing being the prime minister of a country makes possible?
The question came to mind, but I focused on my conversation with the duke for now. First, I needed to make this clear. "I am not working for the marquess."
"Then can you tell me your exact relationship?"
"We're kind of friends. Friends that help each other out of tight spots from time to time."
Maybe that was the answer he was waiting for because the duke's expression grew warmer. "Friends... What an interesting word. You are smarter than I thought. And quite sensible," the duke said, almost to himself, before asking another question. "Anyway, does your answer mean... that you are open to being friends with me too?"
His hand was already extended to me as if rejection was not even an option on the table. I wiped my hand on my thigh, then grabbed his. "Of course. The more friends, the better."
Well, real friends don't shake hands, though.
The fact was that Duke Kealunus was the third most powerful person in the kingdom after the king and prime minister. Though he did not hold political power as the prime minister did, his family had incredible sway. He sponsored dozens of clans, and among them were a surprising number of medium-sized ones. One of his younger brothers was even the lord of the Magic Tower.
Friends with a duke like that, huh?
The offer was unexpected, but there were no downsides to accepting it. It wasn't like we were real friends in the first place. The duke was only suggesting a friendship to keep me from working for the marquess. I just had to do with him what I was already doing with the marquess—give what I could give and take what I could take. At least until I didn't need 'friendships' like that anymore.
The duke chatted with me until right before the ceremony began. Most of it was small talk to build rapport, but some of the things he brought up were more important. According to him, the reason why our squadron survived was because the Order of the Rose clashed with Noark's troops while on standby for another mission.
"It's about time for me to go, so I will. See you later."
"Sure."
I still don't know if he was feeling me out by mentioning the Order...
I wasn't sure of the duke's motives, but one thing was clear. At the very least, the kingdom's Department of Intelligence was interpreting what had happened on the seventh floor the way I wanted them to.
I wonder what that son of a bitch marquess thinks.
Actually, that was the thing I was wondering the most. Ever since the return ceremony, I hadn't seen the marquess once. Today would be our first reunion in weeks.
"Baronet Yandel."
So, it's begun.
I stood in front of the door and waited as instructed by the steward. As soon as the door opened, I slowly walked in.
Step. Step.
The Palace of Glory, which had been empty two hours ago, was now filled with quite the crowd. Or, well, the front two rows were, at least.
Step. Step.
It was different from our squadron's return ceremony. Not all the seats within the hall were filled, and no loud music or soldiers was marching behind me. In terms of scale, it couldn't compare to the previous ceremony at all.
Step, step.
Still, it would be wrong to describe this event as small. The people filling the seats were all titled nobles, after all.
"It's really been a long time since everyone got together like this."
"I was very surprised to see the notice of attendance. A promotion in rank for Baronet Bjorn Yandel..."
"Haha, this is actually my first time receiving a notice of attendance."
"Oh, it hasn't been long since you inherited a title, right?"
"I can't say it hasn't been long, but... yes, promotion ceremonies aren't common in themselves."
The nobles whispered among themselves as I walked down the carpet. Some seemed to be enjoying the rare spectacle of a rank promotion, but some seemed to feel the opposite.
"...a mere barbarian..." Some despised me.
"...he was just born at the right time..." Some envied me.
"...I hope this is over soon." Some were attending out of obligation and had no interest in me. They preferred that this end as soon as possible.
I walked between the rows and arrived before the empty throne. The marquess stood in front of it this time, too. And here I thought I might get to see the king's face for once.
"Long time no see." The marquess greeted me quietly so that only I could hear him, and immediately raised his voice to launch into a speech before I could even respond. Then he handed me an empty box. "Seal your family crest in this box."
This was a ceremony that only occurred when a baronet was promoted to Baron. The titles of baronet and baron were worlds apart, so this was treated as the historic moment it was—another noble family being added to the thousands that uplifted the kingdom.
Slide.
As soon as the cloth I prepared was folded and placed inside the box, his dignified voice rang out through the hall. "With this, an eternal covenant has been made."
The marquess sealed the box himself and handed it to the royal guards waiting next to him. They solemnly accepted it and left the Palace of Glory. That box would enter the Palace of Immortality and be stored under lock and key from now on, until either this kingdom burned to the ground and perished, or I committed treason.
"Baron Bjorn Yandel, rise." I stood up. "Nobles, I hope you will be pleased to welcome the emergence of a new pillar that will serve to uplift the kingdom!"
I received quiet applause without any cheers or whistles.
"Now, this concludes the ennoblement ceremony!"
From there, the banquet began.
It seems I've just taken a big step forward.
So it was time to move on to the next step.