The Transcendent's Duty
Ever since the Monarch of Manpower had failed in his attempt to infiltrate the kingdom, the Spear King had sent nobles and Mirinae to the site.
He was prepared to appear in person if necessary to drive out the Monarch of Manpower. At the same time, he expressed regret to Evan.
“No, it’s nothing. She’s just a glutton who lives off the food at home anyway.”
“Even so, she remains your property. If there is anything you desire, speak. I will grant it.”
“Ah, then—”
Evan had wanted to receive the education the Spear King had spoken of right now. The knowledge about what it meant to be a Transcendent.
The Spear King nodded in understanding and assigned him a dedicated instructor.
“Huh? You must be… Carnelly’s friend, right?”
“Wow! Thank you so much! Please take good care of him!”
“……Do not speak so loudly. Come along.”
Archivist of the Royal Library, Saya, led Evan toward the library. Despite expecting a vast collection of books, what lay before them was a surprisingly well-prepared space for reading.
A few small desks and chairs were all there was—more than enough space to study common sense. As Evan sat on the chair, Saya sat beside him as if she had been waiting.
Evan wondered if she needed to sit so close, but since she was the designated instructor, he set the thought aside.
“Um… actually, it might be better to ask what I do know. I’m from a rural village, so I didn’t get to learn much.”
“You don’t know the ways of the world… Very well. Then let’s begin with the basics.”
Thus Saya began teaching Evan reading and writing, along with simple arithmetic.
Fortunately, Evan already knew many of these things, so the lesson moved quickly. Realizing Evan needed no further instruction in that area, Saya shifted to general social knowledge.
“Do you know the name of our kingdom?”
“Yes. The Astra Kingdom… right?”
“Correct. Then what about the Eight Great Families and the Thirteen Castle Lords?”
“I’ve learned those too. Surely….”
The Eight Great Families were an alliance built by eight different races.
The Thirteen Castle Lords referred to cities governed by thirteen Transcendents.
Obviously, even a castle was only the size of one city in the kingdom.
“The Castle Lords lack the strength to protect other territories, is that why?”
“If it were simply a lack of power, it would sound as if there is another meaning to it. To be precise, let us say their abilities differ. If the Spear King did not possess that anomalous power, he would likely have remained the ruler of only one kingdom.”
“Ah, yes.”
While the power of Transcendents was indeed extraordinary, it did not mean they were strong enough to rule an entire kingdom alone. Evan himself was a prime example. Able to swing his sword and cut down everything within sight, he could not reach beyond the horizon.
If Evan were to found his own kingdom, cities one after another would fall to monsters, bandits, secret societies, or attacks by other Transcendents—eventually leaving only his city standing, the others dying of thirst.
“Unlike ordinary Transcendents, the Spear King possesses the ability to enter the bodies of those who have been infused with his blood. This is an extraordinary power. It is the very force that has allowed the kingdom to claim the largest territory on the continent.”
“Are there any countries larger than a kingdom elsewhere?”
“—I like students who focus well in class.”
Saya smiled brightly and brought out a large map, pointing to a distant continent.
Her own village, where the blacksmith duo had taught her swordsmanship.
“To the east, there are rumors of a single empire ruling the entire continent.”
“……How is that even possible?”
“Well. We cannot imagine it, but perhaps that emperor possesses even greater power than our lord.”
Power greater than the lord. Evan marveled at the idea as he wondered what kind of ability would make such a thing possible, then suddenly tilted his head.
“Wait a minute. You said thirteen Castle Lords, right?”
“Yes. I heard that you were the one who destroyed one and made the count twelve.”
“That’s not it… The Castle Lord is the term. Hence the title ending in ‘lord.’”
“Correct? Why is that?”
“Then what exactly is the Monarch of Manpower?”
At these words, Saya gave an satisfied smile and ruffled Evan’s hair vigorously.
“Your progress is fast. I’ll explain now.”
“Ah, yes—.”
“Having ‘King’ in the name means he is a monster capable of facing an entire country alone. Not just one castle, but a whole kingdom.”
While saying so, Saya listed the points to watch out for.
“The Monarch of Manpower, the Sword King, the Labyrinth King, the Golden King… There are many kings, but the ones you must be most cautious of are the kings you meet while walking on the road.”
“……Huh? What do you mean?”
“Those who wander from a country other than their own. They have no home behind them. They roam about, causing chaos, and because of their strength, everyone keeps quiet.”
“Even the Monarch of Manpower does that, but it is said that the one who primarily wanders is only one person.”
“—The Sword King. Be especially careful of him. His other titles are…”
Transcendent Hunter.
The worst murderer who has slain the greatest number of Transcendents.
***
After the lesson ended, Evan spent time drinking tea with Saya and Elenoa, who had come to find out the news. Only when the sun set and the moon adorned the darkening sky did he finally return home.
The capital was bright. The mithril street lamps glowed on their own, driving away the darkness, while people celebrated the artificial second day with feasting and revelry.
“—Young Master, where are you going? Let’s play together?”
“Kyaaaa-! Look at this tender skin. It’s so soft.”
“How cute… Why don’t you come work at our shop?”
Evan ignored the advances flying toward him and walked down the street, overwhelmed by the stench of alcohol. After a long walk away from that rowdy place, he finally recalled the people he had seen moments ago and fell into thought.
“Those people… aren’t they worried about anything?”
Outside, monsters roamed freely. Transcendents who treated human lives like insects could appear anywhere at any time.
A weak human could barely handle the constant worry of death. Yet the citizens he had just seen had been enjoying themselves as if they had no concerns whatsoever.
It was incomprehensible. Were they even human beings like himself? If they were, shouldn’t they at least worry?
“Why…?”
After thinking it over and over, he could not make sense of their behavior. Evan decided to ask Saya again tomorrow and headed home.
It was already very late—past bedtime—but Anya was waiting at the entrance.
“Ah, you’re back! Master Evan!”
“Anya…? You didn’t sleep?”
“Since the Master never told me when you would return, I stayed awake waiting!”
“Isn’t the usual opposite, Anya? If you don’t know when he’ll come home, you should go to bed first….”
“As a maid, I cannot do that! I may be a lower maid who hasn’t received proper education, but I am a royal maid dispatched by His Highness!”
Demonstrating the proper spirit of a maid, Anya asked if Evan had eaten and bathed. When he answered that he had neither, she began hopping in place in dismay.
“H-how did you…! I-I’ll prepare dinner right away! Please wait just a moment!”
“I ate snacks and cake on the way, so I’m not hungry….”
Before Evan finished speaking, Anya dashed into the kitchen. Seeing her hurry, Evan let out a chuckle and entered the house.
After changing his clothes in his room and coming downstairs, he found the dining table already laden with food.
“—Here! Master Evan, please eat as much as you like!”
“I’m not hungry.”
“What?! You said you hadn’t eaten dinner, right?”
“Yes. I had snacks and cake. I’m not hungry.”
“Ah, I see… Then this is….”
“But— it’s prepared by Anya. I’ll eat it deliciously.”
“M-Master Evan…!”
With tears glistening in her eyes from emotion, Evan finished his meal. Soon he headed to the bathroom. Hot bath water steamed invitingly as he entered and sank in to relax, allowing his mind to sort through the events of the day.
“—So that’s it. They weren’t not worried at all.”
Why could they enjoy themselves so freely?
How could they turn their eyes away from the danger right in front of them?
He had thought that was foolish of them.
People were not turning away from danger. They were simply taking a short break.
To endure the day ahead.
They had merely set aside their worries for a moment.
When the morning sun rose, people would go out to do their assigned tasks. They would give their best at what they were responsible for.
“And protecting those people is the duty of a Transcendent…….”
Precisely, it was the duty of the king.
Evan had always considered it a distant story for himself.
That was only natural. He was not yet ready to shoulder the lives of so many people.