Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Microwave (6)
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The skies over Uzet in the Empire were so unbelievably peaceful that no one would believe the end of the world was just two days away.
This was because it lay in the south of Asetaria, a land even vaster than the combined territories of Penheim and Monarch.
With no threats from monsters or demons, the nobles' culture had naturally flourished here.
At the party celebrating Marquis Elvin's forty-first birthday, a small concert was held today.
It was for the young ladies making their social debuts to show off their musical talents.
Erzebet, who hadn't yet made a name for herself in the Empire's high society, had barely managed to seize this opportunity.
Tomorrow, he would make his appearance, so today was practically her last chance to secure an invitation.
She lightly flicked the hem of her skirt toward the audience and sat on the stool made of buffalo leather.
As her slender fingers pressed the keys, a beautiful serenade filled the air.
— Oh, splendid.
— Was there ever a piece like that in the Empire? It seems quite different from the rhythms borrowed by the classical school.
— Which house is that young lady from? Does anyone know her?
She deftly adjusted the volume by pressing the pedal with her pen-tip-like heel, forcing air into the reed with precision.
Her eyes gently closed, her snowy white nape, the line from her collarbone down her arms to her fingertips—every curve connecting her body's extremities danced softly, drawing all the nobles into the music she created, entranced.
It had been ages since she'd played the harmonium.
Recalling childhood memories, Erzebet poured her heart into showcasing the piece she loved most.
Whenever she played like this in the small music room of the royal palace, Piy would always come flying, circling around her.
Clap clap clap clap!!
Clap clap clap clap!!
As the performance ended, thunderous applause poured in.
She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and instinctively scanned the crowd, wondering if Louis might be watching.
'Right. He's probably busy preparing dinner by now.'
A bit embarrassed but feeling a twinge of regret that she couldn't show him this unexpected side of herself, she stepped down from the platform.
As she smiled and expressed her thanks amid the nobles' praises, someone approached her.
"Excuse me, miss."
"Yes?"
Unlike the nobles in their splendid tailcoats and gowns, a neatly dressed man who clearly looked like a servant thrust an invitation toward her.
"I enjoyed your performance. Would you grace Marquis Elvin's birthday celebration tomorrow with another display of your beauty?"
They had finally made the first move!
It was the moment her five days of hard work paid off.
"Of course, gladly."
Hiding her leaping joy, Erzebet politely accepted the invitation.
To share this happiness, she immediately boarded a carriage and headed to the Mariotts Hotel.
"Louis?"
But Louis was nowhere to be seen—probably still at the market.
Debating whether to wash up first and change out of this stuffy dress, she sat on the edge of the bed and tapped her knee.
"Well, since I won't need to show off at any more parties after tomorrow... maybe I'll just keep it on."
Voltibal Street No. 27, the dingy underground tavern 'Saknia' beneath the Fireworks Inn.
The owner, who also ran a smithy, had dementia and poured alcohol meant for disinfecting military supplies into oak barrels from September 14th to 17th, causing a spate of illnesses.
Afterward, the ledger noted not a single customer had come.
It was the perfect spot for me to secretly meet Ansen.
The reason was, naturally, Caroline.
There was no better place for a covert chat about the saintess.
"Hey, Ansen? What brings you here?"
"Huh? Oh, haha. Just some business."
"Hmm. Come to think of it, they've been saying you've been staying out of trouble lately. Wanna join our all-nighter here?"
"No thanks. Louis, sir? We should move somewhere else..."
Damn, our paths crossed with students reading the same ledger.
We quickly headed upstairs to the inn and grabbed an empty room.
"Only rooms with a single bed left..."
"That's fine. We'll take it."
"..."
"What?"
"End of days, tsk tsk."
I ignored the indescribable look in the old innkeeper's eyes.
Once inside, Ansen tapped the walls a few times and cast a soundproofing spell.
Only then could we get down to business.
I cut straight to it.
"About the Sacrear Dragon's Nest. Why exactly does the church want it?"
"Even if you ask me... I'm just the go-between."
"Still, there must be rumors floating around inside the church. Something like overthrowing the academy's hegemony, or the guards groaning under the gambling-addicted chairman hearing their prayers echo in the temple every day."
"The chairman?"
Ansen seemed clueless about why I'd suddenly mentioned Lehel.
The fact that the Sacrear Dragon's Nest was her cradle was some kind of secret.
But I didn't think Caroline, from the Blood Rune Brigade akin to Penheim's Goliath counterintelligence unit, would be unaware.
If her glancing at me and Liv in the library these past few days led her to uncover Sacrear's location, Lehel would be in trouble.
As her business partner—and someone who could barely use more than one or two unique spells—I felt compelled to protect her.
"Hmm... Well, I didn't sense any signs of the delegation from the Holy Kingdom approaching the grand duke. If it's the dragon's nest, wouldn't they want something else entirely?"
"Like what?"
"Treasure, obviously. Not just gold or silver, but all sorts of rare minerals hoarded by the dragon, scattered everywhere."
True enough, as the adventurers in the tavern below boasted, Sacrear's value was generally seen as a mountain of treasure.
And Ansen had one more intriguing tidbit.
"By the way, word is Monarch's been snapping up high-quality minerals lately. Some worry it's war prep..."
"No way."
The odds of that were low.
Even if the Holy Kingdom wanted war, large-scale logistics would be spotted first by Darling's intel network, not Ansen.
In other words, they didn't want Sacrear just for the gold strewn about.
"Got it. If any further orders come after we leave, report to me."
"And Sacrear?"
"Might not find it... but if I do, you'll hear from me first, right?"
"Yeah... I suppose."
The key was getting Caroline to abandon the church's mission first.
Even if she was a saintess chosen by the goddess and inherently good, it didn't mean she had universal human compassion like me, who personally wielded a sword to sever the demon king's head.
I couldn't guarantee Lehel's safety.
"I'll handle it. Sneak out in a few hours."
"Understood. But Louis, sir."
"Yeah."
"Aren't you worried about the princess's escort?"
Instead of answering, I held up the Liv chicken from the market.
"She's probably at the banquet hall. She wanted an invite to Marquis Elvin's party."
"Marquis Elvin... The Iron-Blooded Chancellor."
"You know him?"
"He left his mark on Imperial history. We learned about him in academy history class. Led an army of steel to victory after victory, but his end wasn't great."
"How'd it end?"
"Well..."
After hearing about Marquis Elvin from Ansen, I returned to the hotel.
While borrowing the kitchen to prep the chicken, Erzebet—who'd come back early today—approached me.
"Louis, you're late."
"The chicken flew off midway."
"...If you're going to lie, at least try to make it believable."
"I'll have it cleaned and fried up quick. Sit at the table."
As I severed the neck and tail, dividing the chicken into six pieces, her presence lingered.
Figuring she had something to say, I glanced over my shoulder and saw her still standing there, not even changed out of her dress.
"Heading out again?"
"No, the parties end tomorrow."
"Meaning?"
"I got the invitation. It's a harmonium—a keyboard instrument, just like the one in the palace. I played one clean piece, and I'm free from those dreadful parties. Isn't that befitting the next heir to the Penheim throne? What do you think?"
Erzebet lifted the hem of her blue dress daintily to keep it from the dirty kitchen floor, chin held high in triumph.
She was the picture of beauty, more than worthy to be the party's star.
"You look pretty."
"Don't lie, be honest... What?"
"You've grown up well."
"L-Louis...?"
It was my honest, unfeigned impression.
More than fifteen years ago, when she nearly became my fiancée, and even half a year ago when she was causing a fuss in front of the canteen—she'd grown even more.
—
"N-No...! That's not what I was asking... I mean... Of course, the compliment makes me happy, but I didn't wear it just to impress you...!"
And harmonium, at that.
An old memory resurfaced.
Just once, I'd seen her perform in Penheim's royal palace.
It was right after I'd freshly turned from a burger patty into a human—still immature—and snapped the king's neck.
— Don't worry too much, Hooksclo Captain. He's just on edge right now. Think about it? Calling in a kid living peacefully and telling him to hunt the demon king—I wouldn't hold back from punching either.
— Leave him be for now. The one preaching reconciliation is the traitor? We'll convince him once he calms down, me and Eris.
— We've got time till Whitelett arrives. The Reincarnation Duke's still in the castle, groaning though she is. Head back to the front lines. We'll depart soon.
Wandering the castle, I chanced upon music echoing through the corridor.
It wasn't that the beautiful melody stole my heart.
Our house was on the second floor, right above a daycare, and the kids pounding the piano there sounded just like this.
That's why I unwittingly headed toward it.
In a small hall reminiscent of a chapel, a golden-haired girl was pressing the piano keys.
She seemed to be trying to keep a rhythm, but it was basically just noise.
As I peeked through the door crack, Terra quietly placed a hand on my shoulder.
— That's the princess, Lady Erzebet, turning seven this year. Remember what the king said earlier?
— Don't get so pissed. The old man's just anxious. The capital was nearly fallen not long ago. Naturally, he'd want to stamp you as the savior for humanity and the royal family. Especially to protect his own daughter.
— We humans wield magic and shape mysteries, yet we're fragile creatures who can't believe what we can't see.
I pondered, gazing at her flowing blonde hair.
If they were that weak.
Not content with entrusting their fate to a kid just starting with a sword, trembling in fear.
I figured even without an engagement, I could end that anxiety for them.
— For real? You okay with that?
So I told Terra.
That I'd entrust them—humanity—with one of the two things I alone possessed in this smartphone-less world, as proof I wouldn't betray them.
— Names hold power, Louis. Mixing 'King of War' and 'Steel Heart' into yours wasn't just for the spell.
— Sure, your heart won't stop easily, but...
— Yeah, do it. The king'll love it. His future queen's got a solid backer.
And so I left it with her and departed.
Instead of becoming the fiancé of a princess whose face I didn't even know, I pledged a bond sparked by that cool line about the reconciliation preacher being the traitor.
I swore that if she ever sought my aid in peril someday, I'd answer.
And on the way, I sent one from the Lavière Mountains as a bonus.
"Piiiiieeee—!"
"Kyaaak!? What is this!? Eek! Don't attack! Louis! Get this thing away! Aaah, hurry!!"
Erzebet Brunhart.
The Golden Princess with the Steel Heart.
She was gradually growing, now on the verge of taking her first step down her own royal path.