The Apostle of the Calamity God (2)
The capital was flooded with nobles representing both the political and financial worlds, all eager to attend the imperial banquet. They had received invitations to an event hosted by the royal family itself. Dressed in their most resplendent attire, the nobles puffed out their chests and held their heads high with pride. Being invited to such a gathering was tantamount to receiving official recognition from the Valtaria Empire of their family’s prestige and influence. That was precisely why they carried themselves with such arrogance.
“Ahem! Shouldn’t we flaunt our family’s power to the fullest and show these central nobles our dignity?”
“The country bumpkins from the provinces will surely be stunned.”
The petty power struggles between central and provincial nobles existed in every nation, and the Valtaria Empire was no exception. The extravagant banquets irregularly hosted by the imperial family were privileges reserved exclusively for the great central houses. As a result, the central nobles loved to show off their family’s might while openly mocking the provincial nobles, whom they regarded as little more than country hicks.
“Just how much money did they slather onto those things?”
Every time a carriage adorned with gold and jewels rolled in, tongues clicked in disbelief. The vehicles were practically plastered with glittering gemstones. Some were even fitted with defensive magic circles capable of blocking arrows and magical barrages. At that point, could you really still call them carriages? They were practically villas on wheels. No, they might even be more expensive than actual villas.
The six-horse-drawn carriage looked like a grand palace in its own right. I had often heard rumors about the immense power of the central great nobles, but I never imagined it would be this ridiculous. No country bumpkin living on the eastern frontier could ever hope to imitate such extravagance.
“How expensive are those things anyway? That crazy expensive?”
“Selling just one of those carriages could probably buy tens of thousands of Nong-jjuk Candies.”
“Hieeek! I-I can’t even imagine it…!”
“You’re telling me.”
From the top of a tall spire in the imperial palace, I watched the procession of central nobles entering one after another, repeatedly sticking my tongue out in disbelief. Lue, perched on my shoulder and looking down as well, seemed equally stunned. Perhaps it was because she had lived a life that disregarded luxury and pleasure, but she couldn’t understand the vanity of these great nobles draped in gold and jewels at all.
“It’s getting a bit chilly. Shall we head down?”
“Yeah!”
After fully absorbing the harsh reality of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, we descended from the spire. The waiting maids of Isabel greeted us immediately.
“Their Highnesses Isabel and Ludmilla are waiting for you, young master.”
“Understood.”
The sun would soon set, and the banquet would begin. Countless servants of the imperial palace were frantically preparing to welcome the distinguished guests. Observing their orderly movements, I made my way toward the palace where the beautiful princesses awaited.
It was truly a luxurious moment. To think I would be able to behold the stunning figures of princesses dressed in elegant gowns. If word got out, I would surely be met with envy and jealousy from countless men. Still, I decided to embrace this extravagant opportunity despite the risks.
I really wanted to see Ludmilla in a dress… Oh well. She must be busy commanding the troops guarding the imperial palace.
Unfortunately, I had been informed that Ludmilla would not be attending the banquet. With so many nobles gathered in one place, it made sense that she couldn’t leave her post. Isabel and Elizaveta, dressed beautifully, would surely welcome me warmly, but I still felt a twinge of disappointment. I knew it was a greedy complaint, but I had really wanted to see Ludmilla in a dress.
“Y-Your Grace…!”
Following the maids’ guidance, I stepped into the palace. At that moment, a princess in a captivating red dress greeted me. To my surprise, it was Ludmilla. The sight of her twisting her body in embarrassment left me completely speechless. The fatal allure she radiated, like a radiant rose, made my face flush with heat for a brief moment.
“Ahaha, just as I expected! Edanant is completely mesmerized!”
“Hehe, what a passionate couple.”
Isabel and Elizaveta, adorned in luxurious dresses and jewelry, poked their heads out and intervened in the awkward atmosphere. Ludmilla bit her plump lips at her older sister and younger sister’s mischievous teasing. Since she had always been in charge of security whenever banquets were held, wearing a dress seemed completely unfamiliar to her.
“S-Sister…! Liza…!”
How adorable. Was it even fair for a woman four years my senior to be this cute? Watching Ludmilla tremble with embarrassment, a smile naturally formed on my lips.
“You look truly beautiful, Your Highness Ludmilla.”
“Ugh…! I-If you say something like that right now… it’s too embarrassing…!”
I later heard from Elizaveta that Ludmilla had avoided wearing dresses ever since her coming-of-age ceremony. I didn’t need to ask why. The second princess of the Valtaria Empire was someone who valued her duties above all else.
“You have no idea how hard I worked to convince my stubborn sister who kept insisting she would never wear one. If Sister Isabel hadn’t scolded her, she probably would have held out until the end.”
Elizaveta, wearing a pure white dress as beautiful as lily of the valley, leaned in close and whispered softly into my ear. Yeah, I could roughly imagine how that conversation went. Ludmilla was as stubborn as a mule when it came to her sense of duty. Just as Elizaveta said, she wouldn’t have given in unless Isabel had intervened.
Of course, I’ve thought this for a while now… but she’s incredibly beautiful.
Dressed in a noble gown befitting a young lady from a prestigious family, Ludmilla truly deserved the title of the imperial family’s jewel. Her neatly arranged golden hair. The white silver hair ornament that accentuated her noble charm. Her voluptuous breasts and slender waist were seductively revealed, and her thighs, wrapped in garter belts, peeked out from the dress’s slits, radiating an enchanting allure. Above all, her vividly shining red eyes were more beautiful than any gemstone.
“Ahem! I must change quickly before the banquet begins. I need to return to my duties.”
“Ah, I see.”
Ludmilla cleared her throat as she spoke. It was only natural. The Empire’s Red Dragon was the guardian deity protecting the imperial family, after all. Even knowing that, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. For a fleeting moment, I had entertained the arrogant desire to dance while holding the princess who was more beautiful than any young lady in the empire.
“She says she’ll dance with Edan after the banquet ends and the nobles leave?”
“Well… if Duke Edanant wishes it.”
At her younger sister’s bold question, Ludmilla looked troubled but gave a small nod. Then she turned her gaze toward me, glancing sideways. Her eyes seemed to ask for my permission, as if seeking confirmation that I would dance with her. There was no reason to refuse. I smiled faintly and accepted her cautious proposal.
Since an invitation had arrived from the Valtaria imperial family, I began preparing to attend the banquet. I took out a black suit. It was the one Ludmilla had given me as a gift from the tailor shop. I had worn it when I had an audience with the emperor, so it should be appropriate for the banquet as well. It wasn’t that I was reusing it because I couldn’t afford to buy a luxurious banquet suit like the other nobles. Absolutely not.
“Auntie was super pretty! So Auntie was actually a princess all along!”
“…She was always a princess, you know.”
Lue, who had witnessed Ludmilla in her dress, jumped around excitedly as she shouted. Her fussing was understandable. Ludmilla had looked like a goddess straight out of myth.
Obviously, weapons won’t be allowed inside the banquet hall. But what about the Holy Sword?
Should I bring Aldebaran with me? Or should I leave it with the guards at the entrance? I pondered the question for a moment. Guns were obviously out of the question, but perhaps a holy relic from the Holy Kingdom would be permitted. In fact, if I entered wearing the Holy Sword, the nobles attending the banquet might actually be pleased.
“Edan?”
Lue tilted her head and called out to me. It was because I had suddenly thrown open the window while changing into formal attire. A cold night breeze blew in. At the same time, an ominous stench subtly stimulated my instincts. There was no mistake. This was the ‘fear’ emitted by monsters who worshipped the Calamity Gods.
I wondered if Ludmilla had detected the foul stench of the demons. I wanted to run to her immediately, but the group worshipping the Calamity Gods was approaching far too quickly.
“Lue. Go to Ludmilla right now and tell her that demons are coming.”
“O-Okay…!”
The fairy ran off with a horrified expression. At the same time, I leaped out the window and headed outside.
The Apostle of the Calamity God, who had manipulated those hostile to the Valtaria imperial family like puppets, possessed a cautious personality befitting his exceptional strategic mind. It wouldn’t be wrong to call it excessive worry. After all, considering every possibility was the hallmark of a true ‘strategist.’
The old man, whose face was covered in deep wrinkles, had deliberately scattered traces detectable only by Apostles who worshipped the Calamity Gods throughout the entire capital. It was to confirm a certain possibility.
The blessing of the Calamity God is still flowing irregularly. There is definitely another Apostle in the Valtaria capital. Otherwise, this phenomenon cannot be explained.
An Apostle who worshipped the Calamity Gods naturally had the right to join their cause. No matter how many forces they gathered, it would never be enough. That was why the strategist continued scattering his traces while waiting for news.
Some time passed. Someone arrived at the top of the clock tower where the strategist stood.
“Hey, old man. Who are you calling so desperately?”
A man dressed in formal attire asked in an irritated tone. Judging by his disheveled clothes, he seemed to have rushed over the moment he sensed the trace. The strategist narrowed his eyes as he looked at the man. He needed time to organize his thoughts. He furrowed his brow and pondered repeatedly.
“You are a Holy Sword user. The Hero’s blood relative. It seems I made an oversight. Scattering the traces ended up summoning a Holy Sword user instead.”
Having come to that conclusion, the strategist clicked his tongue and stood up. He picked up his cane. To punish the foolish one who followed the Earth Mother. Sensing the killing intent radiating from the old man, Edanant gripped the hilt of his sword. Before they fought, he gave the elderly man a warning.
“I don’t go easy on old people. If you want to retire quietly to a nursing home, surrender now.”
“What an insolent way to speak.”
“I have a prior engagement with the princess, so I’d like to finish this quickly.”
“Then it seems you won’t be able to keep that engagement.”
Tap.
The strategist struck his cane against the ground. At the same time, pitch-black shadows surged up to the top of the clock tower. They were the Calamity God’s inquisitor-knights. Fanatics wielding sharp longswords surrounded Edanant.
“…This is going to take forever.”
These were no ordinary enemies. They possessed all the blessings of the Calamity Gods. In other words, the inquisitor-knights who had occupied the clock tower were the same kind of monsters as the culprits who had targeted Elizaveta. Realizing it would be a difficult battle, Edanant let out a heavy sigh.