Chapter 0601 Four Third-Rank Adventurers
-x-X-x-
"Seventy men, you say? Seventy Second-Rank adventurers dead or captured—what is the meaning of this!"
The furious roar of the lord of the residence echoed through Prince Bin's Royal Residence.
"They say one of the Six Saints, Lord Rowon, intervened."
"Even if it was a Saint, it was only one person! And seventy Second-Rank adventurers could not bring him down…?"
"My deepest apologies."
Prince Bin, master of the Royal Residence, lashed out while Lin Sui—the one delivering the report—bowed low.
"So… how many Second-Rank adventurers remain?"
"Roughly eighty."
"Only half…"
Prince Bin's face twisted into a scowl.
But then, as if struck by a thought, his expression sharpened.
"Why did Lord Rowon just happen to appear? Don't tell me information leaked from this residence?"
"I don't believe so, Your Highness…"
"Then why would a being like a Saint show up? Are you claiming he was merely taking a stroll?!"
"They say Lord Rowon claimed as much."
"Do you expect me to believe that!"
Prince Bin's voice thundered again.
The gap with the leading contenders—Prince Kouri, the Second Prince, and Prince Churei, the Third Prince—was not closing… Worse, Prince Ryun, who until now had not even been a rival, was advancing toward the title of Imperial Prince.
And the first target of the newly elevated Prince Ryun would, of course, be him.
Compared to the other two princes, his own base among the Shitaifu Class was fragile.
Ryun would drag him down, expand his influence, and only then challenge the other two…
Such were Prince Bin's calculations.
Thus, the impatience.
Thus, the reckless moves.
And from recklessness came widening cracks…
At that moment, Lin Sui produced a sheet of paper for an additional report.
"The whereabouts of the four missing Third-Rank adventurers have been confirmed."
"Third-Rank? Bah… after losing seventy Second-Ranks, who cares about four Third-Ranks? Dispose of the matter as you like."
"Yes, uh…but the place where they are being held is troublesome."
For the first time, Lin Sui's face tightened.
"I am the Fourth Prince, an Imperial Prince! Whatever it is, we can handle it! Unless you mean they're confined in the Taiji Hall, the Emperor's own hall of state!"
The Taiji Hall was Emperor Tsuin's audience chamber, hardly a place for prisoners.
Yet indeed, there were few locations in the Imperial Capital beyond Prince Bin's reach.
Perhaps only the Emperor himself, or Prince Kouri or Prince Churei.
"No… it may be an even worse place."
"Worse? Out with it."
"Yes, Your Highness. They are said to be confined in the residence of Duke Rondo."
"Duke Rondo?"
At Lin Sui's words, Prince Bin first blinked, then scowled even more deeply.
To be frank, Prince Bin disliked Duke Rondo.
He could not forget the oppressive aura he had felt from the Duke at the wedding banquet of Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen.
Each time he heard the name 'Duke Rondo', that humiliating memory resurfaced.
And he knew full well that the name now carried immense weight in the Imperial Capital.
Most troubling of all: Duke Rondo was the Emperor's favorite.
No matter how great an imperial prince's authority, it could not surpass the Emperor's.
Rare though it might be, the Emperor could strip an imperial prince of his title.
To oppose the Emperor was unthinkable.
And Duke Rondo was the Emperor's chosen favorite.
Foreign noble or not…
"I don't like it."
Prince Bin said flatly.
Lin Sui held his tongue.
"I've decided. Leave them."
"…Pardon?"
Prince Bin muttered the words, and Lin Sui asked for confirmation.
"Those four Third-Rank adventurers. Ignore them."
"Is that acceptable?"
"What then? Should we attempt an assassination? Sneak into Duke Rondo's residence? Do you know what would happen if that became known?"
"…Exactly as Your Highness fears—disaster."
And so the four Third-Rank adventurers were abandoned.
The day after Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen were attacked on their way back from the Imperial Palace.
Ryo and Abel paid a morning visit to their neighbors.
"For a prince and princess to be assaulted in the very center of the Imperial Capital. Frightening, isn't it?"
"Surely one of the three princes orchestrated it. When those close to the core of power move, anything can happen."
"Will our own Kingdom of Knightley be safe?"
"It will. Marquis Heinlein is there."
The Duke Rondo voiced his concern, and the King answered breezily.
"Abel, you always say that."
"Eh?"
"You rely on Marquis Heinlein for everything!"
"I won't deny it."
"The world isn't so kind! A supreme ruler must always stay vigilant."
"But the poajou you're holding in both hands is sweet and delicious."
Perhaps a premier duke's stern words lose force when his hands are full of snacks.
"Still, I was surprised to hear that the one who came to their aid was Captain Lu Yao's master."
"Yeah. An alchemy master—and a water-attribute magician, no less."
"And one of the Six Saints! The name alone sounds so cool!"
"I knew you'd say that."
Abel said, while Ryo nodded enthusiastically.
"A powerful water-attribute magician and alchemist… rather like you, Ryo."
"Perhaps fate decrees we'll have to fight someday!"
"Why? He's not an enemy."
"Because that's the classic storyline!"
"Right…"
Ryo insisted; and Abel nodded saucily.
Humoring him, perhaps.
"I thought you'd go ask him about that magic formula."
"I'd love to… but even Captain Lu Yao said she doesn't know where he is."
"She did. But he's in the capital, surely?"
"Probably. Before retiring, he served in the Ministry of War. They say he owns a villa in southern Darwei but has no house here. Maybe he's staying at an inn. Like the old 'Crimson Sword' days."
"Could be. Inns handle all the cleaning. Easy life."
Back when Abel led the adventuring party 'Crimson Sword', they always stayed at the luxury inn 'Golden Wave Pavilion' in Rune.
People with steady income could live like that.
"Extravagant!"
Ryo flicked his finger in mock reproach, lacking such income himself.
"You're wealthy enough to do it."
"That's not the point. Without a steady future income, such spending is dangerous."
"Is it?"
"Yes. One risks bankruptcy."
"Sounds tough."
Ryo lectured, Abel let it slide.
"Those with little income can't be understood by the rich! Down with social inequality!"
"I have no idea what you're on about."
The Premier Duke raised a fist to the sky in protest; the King remained baffled.
Perhaps it was a picture of politics leaving commoners behind.
Though maybe it still brought them happiness… maybe.
Abel's eyes drifted to the garden.
The ice golems were cleaning as usual.
And at the center stood four ice sculptures.
"Those four Third-Rank adventurers… no one's come for them."
"Right? I expected someone to make contact, or intruders, or even sudden assassins…"
Abel stated the facts; Ryo spun out his fancies.
"Assassins would be troublesome… but with not a single reaction, it seems they've been discarded."
"How pitiable…that adventurers can be cast aside the moment they fail."
Ryo lamented the precarious life of an adventurer.
"Compared to that, Your Majesty has it good!"
"Hmm?"
"You can't be thrown away at someone else's whim. You are the power!"
"Why do I feel accused…?"
"I'm not accusing you, Abel. I mean kings in general."
"I'm not sure there's such a thing as a general king…"
Then Ryo suddenly gasped.
"But kings are executed in revolutions… Literally losing their heads to the guillotine."
"Gui-what? I sense something ominous…"
"There's a saying in my homeland: 'Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely'."
"H-hmm…?"
"As long as you govern for the people, you'll be fine… But if you stray, I'll stop you!"
"O-okay… I'll count on you, I suppose."
"By the way, Secretary Shau said these four haven't committed any crime."
"Right. They were only spying."
"Yes. And I have a little plan for what to do with them next."
"…This plan doesn't involve risking their lives, does it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like using them for your magic experiments…"
"No! I'd never do anything so cruel. A-ha-ha-ha!"
Ryo laughed heartily, taking Abel's words as a joke.
Anyone else watching Abel's expression would know… it was not entirely a joke.
"So, tomorrow let's visit the Censorate."
Ryo announced with a bright smile.
-x-X-x-
The next morning.
Ryo and Abel visited the Censorate.
As usual, the street-facing gate of the Censorate was open.
Of course, no one stood guard there.
The inner gate was firmly shut, and in front of it stood a drum taller than a person.
Those with petitions struck the drum.
On past visits, the two had never seen anyone around that drum.
But today there were people.
Three men.
Each of the three wore Darwei Attire — one red, one blue, one yellow.
Their robes were properly worn, their hair neatly tied, swords hung at their left hips; at a glance, they could pass for officials… yet somehow they gave off a coarse, rough impression.
Those three did not seem intent on striking the drum.
They were only watching with curious eyes.
Neither Ryo nor Abel intended to strike the drum.
Only those with a complaint may beat it, and since they had come to see Secretary Shau, they must not strike it.
So they tried to pass by the drum.
The three noticed them.
Then all three recognized at once.
"Hey — you!"
"Wait up!"
"What are you doing here, you bastard!"
The three barked at Abel.
Abel, however, tilted his head in puzzlement.
Ryo asked his companion.
"Abel, do you know them?"
"No, I don't."
Abel shook his head.
The three went into a rage at Abel's answer.
"Hey, don't mess with us!"
"We'll make you pay!"
"You'll feel my wrath for those eggs!"
Only the last one was oddly specific.
Perhaps that triggered a memory—or perhaps not…
"Ah, the Three Colors, huh."
Abel nodded several times.
"Three Colors, is it?"
At Abel's phrase 'Three Colors', Ryo recalled.
Right after they'd arrived in the Imperial Capital, the three had bumped into, or rather, nearly collided with them— specifically, Abel.
They had worn red, blue, and yellow Darwei Attire then as well, so Abel had nicknamed them 'Three Colors'.
At that time, Abel had been focused on obtaining a Flight Ring above all else, so a duel with the three had been put off.
By a sequence of coincidences, a one-versus-three duel ended up taking place at Holy Emperor Square… and Abel won easily.
It should have been over.
"It's over between us. See ya."
For Abel, it was finished.
"Wait up!"
The red one shouted, and the inner gate opened a crack. A Censorate official stepped out and said,
"Please wait quietly."
"Ugh… sorry."
The three were scolded.
Ryo and Abel quickly stepped forward in front of the official.
"I would like to see Secretary Shau."
Ryo asked with a smile.
For a moment, the Censorate official didn't seem to recognize them, but upon seeing their robes, he quickly realized who they were.
"Ah! I will inform him at once; please wait a moment!"
After hesitating for an instant as to whether he should close the gate, he retreated inside with the gate half-shut.
He apparently felt reluctant to slam the gate in front of Duke Rondo.
"It seems he's here. Good, good."
When Ryo told Abel that, a hostile voice called out.
"Hey, don't ignore us!"
"We'll settle this right here!"
"Eggs are expensive, you know!"
The three had not given up.
Abel let out an exaggerated sigh for show.
"Abel— you're definitely doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Ryo's mutter was too soft for anyone else to hear.
"Hey, Three Colors…"
"I'm Gaji!"
"I'm Guza!"
"I'm Gobo!"
The three answered Abel's question with their names.
But Abel only tilted his head.
Ryo beside him also tilted his head.
"Sorry, I don't really know which is which."
"What a coincidence—I don't know either."
Perhaps their names were simply too similar.
Neither Ryo nor Abel could quite match faces to names.
On closer look, however… their facial hair differed considerably.
From the left: clean-shaven, a little mustache, half the face bearded.
"Yeah, the amount of beard is different, but… sorry, I still don't know."
Abel answered honestly.
"That's enough!"
The Three Colors shouted in unison.
And then drew their swords.
But at that very moment…
"Enough of this!"
The voice struck them like an invisible whip.
All three dropped their swords.
The voice had come from a vigorous, sprightly old man.
Right behind him stepped out Li Wu, the Inspector, who must have come to visit Shau as well.
"You lot, do you know where this is? This is the Censorate! Drawing blades in the Censorate is unheard of! Li Wu— are these the three under your supervision?"
"Yes, Shau-sama. I am terribly sorry."
Li Wu bowed his head repeatedly under Shau's furious words.
The Three Colors' reactions were slow.
They dropped their swords when shouted at, but they seemed unable to grasp the situation.
By the way, Abel had not drawn a sword; he shrugged and, with Ryo, bowed to the arriving Shau.
"Duke Rondo… I heard you had come, so I came out—was there some trouble with Li Wu's… disciples?"
"No, Shau-san. My guard was previously caught up in a scuffle with these three. It should have been settled, but meeting them again here must have brought back bad memories for them."
Ryo answered Shau's question with a smile.
It wasn't a lie.
In fact, it wasn't only that it should have been over; Ryo had even forgotten the encounter himself…
"So you're saying these three drew their swords first…"
"Hey, wait a minute!"
The red one blurted out in objection to Shau's remark.
But…
"Stand down, Gaji!"
This time, Li Wu admonished the red one. He must be Gaji.
Shau turned to Li Wu.
"Li Wu, you took them in to straighten their characters, did you not?"
"Yes—it's an embarrassing matter, but…"
Li Wu sighed.
"However… they drew blades in the Censorate. Even I don't recall such a precedent… It will likely mean amputation of the arms."
"Eh…?"
Shau declared without expression, and the Three Colors were dumbfounded.
Li Wu also stared wide-eyed in silence.
"If I recall, these three's parents are… the First-Rank Marquis Hau Gin, who leads the patrol troops?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Understood. I will obtain permission from His Majesty via official channels for the amputation."
Shau said that plainly, emotionless.
The Three Colors began to tremble.
Amputation of the arms—as the name implies.
Since it is a punishment, limb regeneration would not be permitted; they would live without arms for the rest of their lives.
An unimaginably severe sentence.
"However… if they work diligently for one year at the Censorate, I might petition His Majesty for a reduction in the sentence."
"!"
Secretary Shau spoke with no expression.
The Three Colors' faces shot up and they began to nod repeatedly.
"Work at the Censorate's menial tasks will be harsh. If you give up halfway, the punishment is doubled. That is, both arms will be cut off. Will you still work?"
Shau asked.
By then, about ten Censorate staff had emerged from beyond the gate.
Likely drawn out by Shau's shout.
"We will work."
"Please make us work."
"We'll work like hatchlings, with all our might."
Thus Gaji, Guza, and Gobo took on work at the Censorate.
The Three Colors were led inside by their senior Censorate staff.
From today, they would be subjected to rigorous training.
"Shau-sama, I am truly sorry…"
"It's all right, Li Wu. The Censorate is forever short of hands. In a year, they will be respectable officials you can send anywhere without shame. I shall personally go to explain the situation to Hau Gin-dono. He will be surprised… but it should be no problem."
Secretary Shau said with a laugh.
Then he faced Ryo and Abel.
"Duke Rondo, it was quite unlucky for you to come at this time."
"No, it's nothing serious. Though I wished to confirm something…you mentioned the three would face arm amputation—is that true?"
"Yes. As I said, drawing blades for a duel in the Censorate is unheard of. In light of past cases, that is the likely outcome."
"Ooh…"
Ryo had thought it might have been a threat, but that did not appear to be the case.
Rather, Shau truly seemed concerned for the three's future and offset the punishment with Censorate labor.
Something like substituting a year of social service for the sentence.
"By the way, Duke Rondo, did you come today about those four adventurers?"
"Your insight is as keen as ever—I am impressed."
Secretary Shau said playfully while Ryo smiled.
"No, we have been interrogating the matter of Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen's attack the day before yesterday."
"Aren't you busy then?"
"No, no—it's no problem. We captured them at the scene. They're resigned, actually— spilling everything in the hope of earning some mercy."
"But if they attacked a prince and princess, can their sentences really be reduced?"
"In Darwei law, if they provide exceptionally rare information, it might be possible… but at present it seems unlikely."
An attack on royalty is a capital offense in any nation— the death penalty.
"It can't be helped… but there is also the aspect of coercion by powerful people…"
"Indeed. However… there is no evidence that any prince was directly involved."
"Yeah…"
Secretary Shau frowned and Ryo nodded as if confirming what he suspected.
Shau also refrained from specifying 'which' prince he meant.
He spoke only in the general term, a prince.
Of course, everyone present knew it was Prince Bin, the Fourth Prince.
At any time in any world, the true mastermind leaves no evidence of direct involvement.
Even if everyone sees it… it becomes the subordinates' doing.
"They claim the prince never appeared before these adventurers. All orders were relayed by Lin Sui."
"Even if it's obvious to everyone…"
"Yes. Without clear evidence… it will be hard to hold the prince accountable."
"But what about informing His Majesty, the Emperor?"
"Yes—of course we will report all facts to His Majesty. Seeing them, doubt may flicker in His Majesty's mind about the prince. But even if it reaches that point…"
"Because there is no definitive evidence, His Majesty would not punish the prince."
Shau and Ryo both sighed deeply.
Even an absolute ruler like the Emperor cannot wield unlimited power, not even against his own children.
That would be different in a private household.
But they were dealing with the massive Darwei imperial family.
Surrounded by many people.
Many lives depended on them.
Families and livelihoods hung in the balance.
'Probably' wasn't enough.
Some would call this a flaw of the law.
Some would say the perpetrators are protected.
They would not be wrong.
Not wrong at all.
But still…
"It cannot be helped."
"…Yes."
Shau shook his head slightly; Ryo grimaced and nodded.
"Well, putting that aside…"
"Yes—the four Third-Rank adventurers in Duke Rondo's garden."
"Yes. We suspect they were cast aside by the prince."
"I agree. From the prince who lost some seventy Second-Rank adventurers… four Third-Rank adventurers would be nothing."
Secretary Shau concurred with Ryo's thinking.
"So I have a plan…"
At Ryo's proposed plan, Shau nodded with a sly smile.
Abel, who had been listening, quietly shook his head.
Afterwards, Ryo and Abel returned to Rondo Manor, accompanied by Shau—and ten of his subordinates.
And, for some reason, Inspector Li Wu.
"Why me?"
Li Wu asked, but no one answered.
The party entered the garden. Ten burly Censorate staff semi-encircled the ice sculptures.
Facing them were Shau at center, Ryo and Abel on his right, and Li Wu on the left.
"
They surrounded the four sculptures.
Ryo was making sure to be cautious.
Then…
"
The four adventurers were freed from the ice after several days.
They were Third-Rank adventurers.
Unquestionably senior adventurers.
But they had been locked in ice so long their spirits were broken. Freed, they glared at the Censorate men and were mentally strained.
Then—
"You four have been abandoned by Prince Bin."
Veteran interrogators say the most important line is the very first one.
Shau's opening—delivered bluntly from on high—directly struck the already battered hearts of the four.
"…"
None of the four spoke.
If one were to title their expression, it would be 'stunned, dumbstruck'.
A full minute of silence passed.
The first to speak was the central swordsman.
"…Is there evidence?"
His voice was weak.
Rather than a rebuttal, it sounded like a last-ditch resistance.
"No one has come forward until now. That in itself is evidence."
"No way…"
"You know who I am, yes? I am Shau, who serves as Chief of the Censorate. As such, let me inform you— seventy Second-Rank adventurers belonging to the Imperial Capital were captured in the attack on the prince the day before yesterday."
"Eh…?"
The adventurers were stunned again.
Not only the central swordsman, but all three were struck dumb.
"Half of them are dead; the rest were caught and interrogated. It goes without saying whose orders they followed. They were hired by the same party that hired you."
"…"
Prince Bin didn't even appear before the Second-Rank adventurers.
He certainly had not shown himself before these Third-Rank adventurers either.
But these adventurers were not fools.
They could deduce who their true employer was.
"If even Second-Rank adventurers were discarded, it should be no surprise that Third-Rank adventurers like yourselves were discarded."
Shau shrugged.
"But even if you were abandoned… if you return to your employer, you can guess what will happen, can't you?"
Shau asked.
No one nodded, but fear trembled in their eyes.
"You understand, then. Of course, your mouths will be sealed."
Shau stated it unequivocally.
No one could argue.
They expected to be killed.
"Frankly, you cannot appear in public anymore. You know too much."
"…"
"That means you cannot continue as adventurers, nor take any job where you'd be known."
"…"
"Tell me—do you have enough savings to retire quietly?"
Shau's tone was gentle when he asked.
The four were likely in their late twenties.
They were at the prime of their adventuring years.
Absent extraordinary circumstances, they would likely have advanced to Second-Rank.
Perhaps even First-Rank in time.
Being Third-Rank in your late twenties meant real potential.
So if asked whether they had savings sufficient to retire, the answer was probably no.
That's the way of people in their twenties.
Shau spoke with full understanding.
"Duke Rondo has graciously said he will not ask for punishment for you. Be grateful. Even though His Grace could, by the Emperor's leave, dispose of you as he sees fit, he has chosen to pardon you."
"T-thank you."
In weak voices, the central swordsman bowed.
The others bowed as well.
Ryo accepted that and inclined his head magnanimously.
"Nevertheless, you cannot appear in public. Or rather, if you value your lives, I advise you not to. If you have savings, you should retire away from the Imperial Capital, or even out of Darwei—that would be best. What say you?"
At Shau's words, the four exchanged glances.
Then, they shook their heads.
They did not yet have sufficient savings.
"Hm. If you wish, you could assist the Censorate with work."
"!"
At Shau's offer, the four lifted their faces in surprise.
"It would be work out of public sight. We'll change your names on record… furthermore, we will publicly announce that the four captured at Duke Rondo's mansion were executed. That should largely end inquiries from Prince Bin's faction… how about it?"
"When would that assignment end?"
"Hm… it will take about five years for things to cool completely. You must work for at least five years. Of course, you will be paid and housing provided. The Censorate gives hazard pay on dangerous missions. Compared to some ministries, you'll take home more."
Shau laughed heartily after saying so.
The ten Censorate men surrounding the four also laughed.
The four considered for a time.
They did not consult each other.
Each thought alone—then…
"We want to be employed."
All four bowed their heads.
Thus, the Censorate acquired four former Third-Rank adventurers—a rather talented addition to its ranks.
-x-X-x-
"Ah, doing something good really makes you feel great!"
After the group from the Censorate— including the newly joined adventurers—and Inspector Li Wu, who still truly did not understand why he had been brought along, left Rondo Manor, Ryo said this in the garden as he stretched his back.
"Well, it wasn't a bad thing, so I don't see a problem."
Abel shrugged as he answered.
"Abel is always like that! Always so sarcastic and dismissive in your replies. That kind of 'cool' act is out of fashion! Since you are His Majesty the King, you should try to understand the flow of society a little better."
"Dismissive? I don't mean to be."
"I'll throw down a challenge at you then!"
"A challenge?"
Abel tilted his head at Ryo's inexplicable line of logic.
Well, that was par for the course, so he didn't really mind…
But he was curious about this 'challenge'.
"Abel, you can already fly the sky fairly well with the Flight Ring."
"That's true."
Abel answered and then floated up smoothly, performing a backflip in midair.
"But! Are you prepared to challenge the Flight Ring's full-power capability?"
"Full-power capability?"
Ryo asked with an exaggerated grin.
Abel, not understanding, tilted his head again.
"That Flight Ring isn't that fast at its normal setting, is it?"
"Well, yeah."
Its top speed was at most about forty kilometers per hour.
About the speed of a slow car, perhaps.
"But that's because a limiter is set to intentionally slow it down."
"…Ah, the thing you mentioned before?"
"Yes. If you remove that limiter, you can push it to about five times that speed."
"…"
Abel imagined what hitting a wall at five times the speed would look like and gave a small shake of his head.
"For ordinary people the current speed is plenty fun. Abel, you enjoy it, right?"
"Yeah, it's fun."
"But… it would be hard to use in battle, wouldn't it?"
"Indeed. It's not something for close-quarters combat."
Abel nodded in response to Ryo's question.
There's really no need to use Flight Rings in close combat, after all.
"But what if you could fly at five times the current speed? Wouldn't that broaden your horizons?"
"My horizons would broaden, but…"
"How about it, swordsman Abel! Abel, former A-rank adventurer! Would you be willing to challenge the Flight Ring's limits?!"
"Can we try that right away?"
"Takes like five minutes."
"Do it."
Abel took off his Flight Ring and handed it to Ryo.
Instant decision, instant action… perhaps the true quality of King Abel.
Five minutes later.
Abel put the Flight Ring back on after Ryo had removed the limiter.
"All right, here we go!"
Thud.
With a dull sound, Abel crashed into a wall and crumpled.
"Abel—!!"
Records say that afterwards Abel, lying in Rondo Manor's garden, was made to drink Ryo's special potion as if being soaked in it…
"That five-times jump was reckless from the start."
"…I thought I was going to die."
Abel said this in a dazed tone.
Ryo had never before heard such a genuine "I thought I was going to die".
"Hey, Ryo. Instead of jumping straight to five times, can't we start with two times… something like that?"
"You can…"
"I think it's better to go gradually from something like that."
"That might indeed be wise. I think that's a very reasonable opinion."
"Well, I nearly died, after all."
Having the experience of hitting a wall at two hundred kilometers per hour, it's understandable.
But Ryo suddenly thought.
If a bare human hits a wall at two hundred kilometers per hour, they'd normally die.
Yet Abel survived.
Probably, at the moment of impact or just before it, Abel gave the Flight Ring a command with reflexes no ordinary person could muster—'stop'.
So surely the speed at the instant of collision was reduced below two hundred kilometers per hour… or so Ryo guessed.
Even Ryo couldn't follow the whole motion with his eyes and could only speculate.
Ryo took Abel's Flight Ring again and adjusted the limiter.
Specifically, he just entered numbers into the relevant slot of the magic formula.
In other words, the magic formula was designed so that once it's incorporated, someone with aptitude could draw out the maximum speed.
Of course, an ordinary person can't directly tinker with the magic formula.
Perhaps the creator intended to warn ordinary people not to tamper with the Flight Ring's magic.
Abel put on the Flight Ring adjusted to run at twice the purchase speed and flew again.
"Oh, this is great!"
"It's always better to advance step by step. If you aim straight for the top all at once…"
"Yeah, you die."
Ryo and Abel nodded ruefully.
That afternoon.
Rondo Manor received an unusual visitor.
Kabui Somal, Lord Protector, arrived with Captain Gorick Dew of the Suje Kingdom Navy's First Fleet, aboard the ocean cruiser Lone Dark, and with Vice-Captain Lena.
They were making the rounds to pay their respects because they would depart the imperial capital for their home country the day after tomorrow.
The Lone Dark was the ship that had taken Ryo and Abel from the Suje Kingdom to the autonomous city of Kwebasa.
They had been well looked after in Kwebasa as well.
They had gone to the blue island together with the fleet of the Atinjo Grand Duchy…
"Welcome, Kabui Somal-san. Long time no see, Captain Gorick, Vice-Captain Lena."
Ryo greeted them with a beaming smile.
But among the three, one was clearly odd…
Both Ryo and Abel saw Captain Gorick step forward with his right hand and right foot moving at the same time.
Neither Kabui Somal nor Vice-Captain Lena displayed that.
After the formal greetings, Ryo asked Kabui Somal.
"Is Captain Gorick… unwell?"
They had never seen the captain like that during the voyage or even in Kwebasa.
"No, he's simply nervous."
Kabui Somal answered with a laugh.
Vice-Captain Lena smiled wryly beside him.
Captain Gorick flashed a strained smile.
Ryo and Abel were people he knew well.
There was no reason for them to make him nervous.
Even when entering the room and sitting down, Captain Gorick remained twitchy.
"After arriving in Darwei, when he learned that the familiar Ryo was Duke Rondo…this isn't widely known in Darwei, but—and when he discovered that Abel was King Abel, the captain became nervous."
"I see…"
Ryo and Abel both nodded at Kabui Somal's explanation.
But Ryo tilted his head.
"Anyway, how did he find out Abel's true identity?"
"It was the Queen who told him."
"Queen Iliaja?"
Ryo tilted his head at Kabui Somal's explanation.
He didn't understand how Queen Iliaja would know.
"Actually, Her Majesty the Queen realized your identities while you were still in the Suje Kingdom."
"Really?"
"She sang me 'The Ballad of Duke Rondo' that the bards sing… and she also solved the riddle."
"I had my suspicions."
Abel gave a small nod.
"Eh? Abel, you knew?"
"No, I didn't have any certainty."
"Then why didn't you tell me…?"
"I wasn't certain, and besides, it's not something to announce. I am me, Ryo is Ryo."
"Well, that's true…"
Ryo puffed his cheeks in displeasure.
But then he suddenly looked thoughtful and brightened.
"When you return to the Suje Kingdom, I'd like you to take this with you if possible."
Ryo brought a bundle of papers from the back of the room.
"To Queen Iliaja… ah, but it's written in the Central Countries' language, so I'd be glad if you could have it translated there and deliver it."
"That is…?"
"It's the sequel to my work, 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel'."
"What?!"
All three raised their voices.
Even Captain Gorick's tension eased for the moment.
"Eh, Captain and Vice-Captain, you know it too?"
Ryo and Abel had left the Suje Kingdom on the Lone Dark after the first edition of 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel' had already been published there.
Captain Gorick and Vice-Captain Lena shouldn't have read it…
"Of course."
Vice-Captain Lena said, producing something from her pocket.
A small paperback-like volume—the handy edition.
"It's my favorite!"
Vice-Captain Lena, who usually maintained a calm image, nodded with some excitement.
"Ah, thank you."
Ryo was the one surprised.
"On this trip to Darwei I brought this portable edition."
Kabui Somal said with a laugh.
It turned out he'd given Eastern-language editions as souvenirs to several people.
"I-I see…"
A work spreading without the author's knowledge.
With the full backing not of a publisher but of a publishing country… formidable.
"If it's the sequel… about giving it to Her Majesty the Queen, may I publish it back home if Her Majesty permits?"
"Yes, of course."
Ryo nodded cheerfully at Kabui Somal's confirmation.
Knowing readers eagerly awaited a sequel is the greatest honor for an author.
There was only one person…
"I haven't read it yet… that's inconvenient."
Apparently the hungry swordsman muttered that line.
After the Lord Protector and his party, carrying the new manuscript, departed Rondo Manor.
They were not the only guests that afternoon.
"Long time no see, Chairman. Welcome as well, Banhu."
Ryo and Abel greeted Bandelsh, the head of the Blue Jade Trading Company from the merchant guild in Manyamya of the Komakyuta Principality, and his youngest son, Banhu.
"Duke Rondo… no, allow us to call you Ryo-sama and Abel-sama. It's been some time."
Bandelsh smiled warmly as Banhu joined the greeting.
Of course, Bandelsh and Banhu were visiting 'Rondo Manor' to pay respects, so they fully understood Ryo's position.
Still, they deliberately addressed them with the old honorifics used when they first met: "Ryo-sama", "Abel-sama".
That was first-rate commercial diplomacy typical of merchants.
Not too distant, not too close.
In negotiations, the greatest weapon is the trust you receive from the other party.
Or rather, being trusted by the other party is the most important—and most difficult—thing when building a relationship.
If you earn someone's trust… barring any extremely strange requests, things will go through.
If you had been making strange requests all along, you wouldn't be trusted in the first place…
"In fact, the day after tomorrow, we'll be leaving the Imperial Capital and returning to our home country. So we came to pay our respects."
"The day after tomorrow? Could it be that you're returning with the Suje Kingdom…?"
"Yes. I believe Lord Protector Kabui Somal is also here. His detached fleet and our merchant fleet will return together. That's safer for both parties."
Bandelsh explained with a smile.
Ryo nodded along with a smile.
But inside, he was surprised.
(What the head of the trading company says makes sense…but these are rival countries in the archipelago region, both maritime powers. I would have thought ship operations were a state secret…even so, who benefits from deciding to return together?)
Of course, it was understandable that both sides would gain.
Because there were mutual advantages, the leaders decided to return together.
There must be various unstated calculations behind the scenes between Bandelsh and Lord Protector Kabui Somal…
"By any chance… is the Blue Jade Trading Company considering a regular trading presence in the Imperial Capital in the future?"
Ryo spoke on a mere impulse, and Bandelsh showed a slightly surprised expression.
He answered with a small laugh.
"We do intend to, eventually… but we'll need more time to become familiar with the sea lanes between the autonomous city of Kwebasa and this Imperial Capital. For now, we'll travel back and forth irregularly."
"I see."
Their visit today had been planned with that business prospect in mind.
Moreover, by traveling alongside the rival Suje Kingdom navy, perhaps they hope to compensate for something they currently lack.
Merchants instinctively look for ways to gain multiple advantages with a single move.
"Isn't it a voyage with no guaranteed safety…? For the head of the company to personally lead the convoy is impressive."
"If the highest-ranking person doesn't take the lead, others won't follow."
Bandelsh smiled in response to Ryo's words.
After answering, Bandelsh looked toward Abel.
Abel returned the look with a nod.
Naturally, Bandelsh understood that Abel was the Abel sung by bards—Abel the First—who had led the Liberation War and personally taken the helm to lead his people.
That unspoken understanding carried meaning.
What's unsaid often contains the most information.
Understanding that requires experience on the receiver's part.
"At home, we're building ships that prioritize speed and range. Once they're finished, the archipelago region and Darwei will grow closer."
"Ooh!"
Ryo and Abel exclaimed at Bandelsh's words.
Both had seen the evolution of ships in both the Central Countries and the Western Countries.
They understood that as ships evolve, distance over the sea shrinks…in other words, travel becomes easier.
That evolution was happening even in the Eastern Countries.
Hearing that made them quietly happy.
"Also, my sons or I may visit Darwei again. Please take care of us then."
"I'd like to come back."
"Please stop by when you do."
"Take care."
Bandelsh and Banhu said their goodbyes as Ryo and Abel saw them off.
The merchants' farewell was full of smiles.
-x-X-x-
"The Sixth Prince Ryun, in recognition of his loyalty and merits, is hereby bestowed the title of Imperial Prince. That is all."
"How fortunate and grateful I am."
The imperial rescript read aloud by the Chief Eunuch was received by Sixth Prince Ryun with solemn reverence.
"Thank you very much."
He expressed his gratitude further.
"Your Highness, new robes and a crown for the imperial princely investiture have been prepared. Tomorrow, please be sure to wear them when you present yourself at court and receive the seal and the imperial edict."
"Thank you for your guidance."
At the Chief Eunuch's instruction, Prince Ryun folded his hands over his chest, bowed, and gave his thanks.
This was Prince Ryun's royal residence.
The rescript had been delivered personally by the Chief Eunuch, the very coordinator of the eunuchs who always stand beside Emperor Tsuin.
Because this was an imperial edict concerning the bestowment of the imperial prince title, they had been informed in advance that it would arrive today.
The real event was tomorrow.
He would go up to the Taiji Hall, receive the seal and the edict from the Emperor, and be formally bestowed the title of Imperial Prince.
The mansion that served as Sixth Prince Ryun's base had been renovated over the course of a month and reborn as a royal residence.
It was vast… easily more than ten times the area of the previous mansion, a residence capable of containing several thousand troops directly under its command.
It had not yet been officially designated as a royal residence, but once Ryun is bestowed the title of Imperial Prince tomorrow, it would become the formal Ryun Royal Residence.
Seen from above, however, the Ryun Royal Residence had a slightly irregular, distorted shape.
It half-surrounded the adjacent mansion.
That adjacent mansion was by no means small, but compared to the enormity of the Ryun Royal Residence… perhaps one-twentieth the size.
Of course, the owner of that adjacent mansion had told both Prince Ryun and Emperor Tsuin, who had granted it.
That the residence could be absorbed into the royal compound—that they would move elsewhere without objection.
But…
"Leave it as it is."
Emperor Tsuin had said that with a laugh.
Therefore, the owner of the mansion was spending his days as before: dabbling in magic and alchemy, playing the piano, and petting a horse that lazily lay on the lawn.
Of course, that owner was Ryo, and Abel stood as his guard.
"It seems the imperial edict arrived next door a little while ago."
"That was it, right—the one from the Emperor."
"Yes, yes. At long last—tomorrow. Prince Ryun will be bestowed the title of Imperial Prince. He'll be taking the first step toward becoming the next Emperor."
Ryo said it with the delight of someone speaking about his own matter.
As Duke Rondo, Ryo had accepted Prince Ryun's request for cooperation.
Of course, that had not been announced publicly.
After all, Ryo was a foreign duke who had gained the Emperor's favor and was merely staying in Darwei.
He was not in a position to overtly intervene in the succession struggle.
That said, everyone in the Imperial Palace knew that Duke Rondo and Prince Ryun were on good terms.
It was also known that Duke Rondo was one of the Emperor's favorites.
Therefore, even as a foreign duke, no one in the Darwei Imperial Palace would treat Ryo lightly…
"This is probably where the real contest between the imperial princes begins."
Abel said that and let out a small sigh.
"Abel, you don't seem suited for that sort of thing."
"Yeah. I'm bad at it."
Abel accepted Ryo's remark without any objection.
Court intrigues, power plays, and palace backstabbing were things Abel completely did not understand… and he knew he did not understand them.
"You're not good at it either, Ryo, are you?"
"No. I have no clue at all."
Ryo likewise accepted Abel's confirmation without protest.
Perhaps both of them were simply too decent by nature.
"Honestly, there's probably nothing we can do, right?"
"Yeah… at best we can cheer him on."
"Cheer? What exactly are you going to do?"
"Hurray! Hurray! Prince Ryun! Hurray-hurray Ryun-ryun, hurray-hurray Ryun-ryun, hurray~~~~ Ryun—!"
Ryo launched into a sports-day-style cheer… and Abel stood with his mouth agape, frozen.
Ten seconds later Abel recovered.
"Hey, was that supposed to be cheering?"
"Yes. How was it? Does it make you feel better?"
"Somehow… I think you should stop."
"Is that so… what a shame."
Abel stopped him, and Ryo yielded.
Even Ryo felt it had been a bit off.
Doing it alone didn't really raise the energy.
His gaze landed on the ice golems that were cleaning the garden.
"If the golems joined in…"
"Hmm, I don't know about that."
"I think if I lead the rhythm and the golems do the dancing alone, it might work."
"…Dance?"
"The cheer I did earlier had dances attached. If I go in with them, the sense of unity becomes odd, so I'll keep out and lead them from the outside. I think that's better."
"…I don't really get it."
Ryo argued passionately, but Abel shook his head in incomprehension.
"Tomorrow he'll receive the seal and edict at the Taiji Hall… I hope nothing happens."
"Nothing will happen, right?"
"But remember the banquet before… a Phantomkin attacked during the prince and princess's reception, didn't they?"
"That's why they probably inspected the Starry Veil thoroughly, right? I heard Captain Lu Yao even came all the way from the Ryun royal residence to witness the inspection.
Ryo expressed concern about something going wrong, and Abel said it would probably be fine.
Of course, both of them sincerely wished that nothing would happen.
They did?
Truly?
"The attack at the banquet—we still don't really understand it, do we?"
"It seemed like that Maria person targeted only the Emperor and the two main characters. If she wanted to weaken Darwei, she should have used a wide-area destructive spell like
"That's extreme, but… maybe. It was as if the target had been predetermined."
"Even if it was a declaration of challenge against Darwei, it felt odd."
Both Abel and Ryo still tilted their heads at the banquet attack.
Certainly, that incident revealed the existence of the Choouchi Empire to the Darwei Imperial Palace, and it likely led to General Yun's capture and intelligence-gathering on the Starry Veil later on…
"It would be more natural to think Prince Ryun was already the target at that stage."
"Probably so. If that's the case, why was Prince Ryun targeted then… rather than one of the other three imperial princes?"
"…Could one of the three imperial princes already have ties with the Choouchi Empire and given the order?"
"Possible, but…"
"Either way, it's all still conjecture."
Abel and Ryo sighed.
Even if the problem couldn't be solved, leaving it unsaid felt uncomfortable.
"For now, I just want tomorrow to pass with no incident."
"The Ryun Royal Residence's troops will accompany movements to and from the Imperial Palace, right?"
"Captain Lu Yao, who was promoted to commander of the Imperial Prince's Guard, will lead five hundred royal residence troops to secure the area. They plan to have them in full dress and displayed to the people of the capital, and apparently, the Palace has granted permission."
"That's a lot to organize."
"Well, mobilizing five hundred soldiers within the Imperial Capital… Even for the Emperor, that would require coordination, so with a new Imperial Prince, it's probably even tougher."
Both Abel and Ryo, vaguely but correctly, understood that coordinating all that would be difficult.
It was likely that not only Captain Lu Yao but also Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun had been heavily involved.
"Still—outside the Palace, the golems could do the cheering dance…"
"No. Definitely don't do that."
This time, Abel clearly stopped Ryo's suggestion.
The next day, inside the Forbidden City at the Taiji Hall.
"Present the seal and bestow the Imperial Prince title."
The Chief Eunuch declared it, and Prince Ryun received the seal and the edict.
Emperor Tsuin, seated on the throne, kept smiling and nodding repeatedly.
Most of the court ministers arrayed there remained expressionless.
Most of those in the Shitaifu class already belonged to the factions of one of the other three imperial princes.
Therefore, the newly titled 'Imperial Prince' Ryun held no particular interest for them.
However, rumors that the Emperor favored Prince Ryun had spread throughout the Palace.
If that were not the case, there would be no reason to promote Ryun as a new imperial prince when the question of which prince would be appointed Crown Prince—amid the ongoing confusion—was still unresolved.
But that created a difficult problem for the Shitaifu class.
They had joined factions backing one of the three imperial princes because those princes might become the Crown Prince and then Emperor.
But the decision of which prince to make Crown Prince belonged solely to the Emperor.
And that Emperor apparently liked the newly elevated Imperial Prince Ryun…
How much did he like him?
That was the question.
Would he favor Ryun enough to make him Crown Prince over the other three imperial princes already prominent?
Or would he set them to compete and decide later from among the four imperial princes?
If one quickly left the faction of one of the three imperial princes to join Prince Ryun… there was no guarantee it would succeed.
On the contrary, one would likely be attacked by the faction they left.
And would Prince Ryun be able to protect them from that attack? Prince Ryun's abilities were still unknown.
In the end, the Shitaifu could not move.
Amid the army of expressionless ministers… however, there was one whose eyes bore a look of hatred.
Fourth Prince Bin.
Though he kept it somewhat out of sight, any observer paying attention could clearly see Prince Bin's hatred.
Some may have noticed it…
Nevertheless, without incident, Sixth Prince Ryun was formally recognized as an Imperial Prince.
Prince Ryun left the Taiji Hall and joined his entourage in the square… Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun and the others who had become his retainers now that the royal residence was open.
A man called out to them there.
"Lu Yao."
"Rowon-sensei, it's been a while."
Lord Rowon greeted Captain Lu Yao, who was his alchemy disciple.
"Prince Ryun, congratulations."
"Thank you, Lord Rowon."
Lord Rowon returned the formal greeting with his hands folded at his chest, and Ryun returned the courtesy.
"I have something to speak to my disciple about for a moment; may I borrow her? Is that all right?"
"Of course. Lu Yao, we'll return in advance."
Thus, the teacher and disciple were about to exchange words after a long time.
"Has it been… two years since I last spoke with you, sensei?"
"Yes, two years. You've grown."
Lord Rowon answered with a smile at Lu Yao's remark.
Nineteen-year-old Captain Lu Yao and Lord Rowon, who was over eighty, looked every bit like granddaughter and grandfather.
But Captain Lu Yao knew.
Though advanced in years, Lord Rowon's combat ability still stood at Darwei's pinnacle.
That was why he was one of the 'Six Saints', the apex of Darwei's magicians and sorcerers.
"Now that Prince Ryun has been formally recognized as an Imperial Prince, there is something I feel I must tell you."
"What is it?"
Lord Rowon said with a smile, and Captain Lu Yao tilted her head.
"I have become a retainer to a certain person."
"A retainer?"
"Do you know who?"
"Since you bring it up at a time like this, it's probably one of the imperial princes."
"Hmm."
"Perhaps… Prince Kouri, the Second Prince."
"Correct."
Lord Rowon gave a broad smile and nodded repeatedly.
The teacher was pleased to find that his disciple had grown not only in alchemy but in thought as well.
"With that in mind, why don't you come under Prince Kouri as well?"
"I refuse."
"That was immediate."
Captain Lu Yao refused instantly. And Lord Rowon laughed.
"My lord is—and will remain until death—only Prince Ryun."
Looking straight into her teacher Lord Rowon's eyes, Captain Lu Yao stated it clearly.
"You must have known I would refuse, sensei."
"Indeed."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Obviously. Because I do not wish to fight you."
The air surrounding Lord Rowon changed in an instant.
Captain Lu Yao took a step back unconsciously to put distance between them.
Of course, nothing happened.
This was the Imperial Palace.
Moreover, the very center of it: the Forbidden City.
Drawing a sword would be a capital offense.
Causing a disturbance would be a capital offense.
"Good reaction."
Lord Rowon, again attired in a gentle atmosphere, said.
"Please don't test me, Sensei."
There was neither a smile nor calm on Captain Lu Yao's face.
She had leapt back reflexively… but if it had turned into a fight, she would have been cut down at once.
She was fully aware of how great the difference in strength still was.
"Given twenty years, you will surpass my current self."
"…"
"I wish you not to die until then."
"I don't want to die either."
"I'll ask you again: Will you leave Prince Ryun's service and go under Prince Kouri?"
"I will answer again: I refuse."
Lord Rowon, now without a smile, asked in earnest.
Captain Lu Yao again refused instantly.
"The gap is overwhelming, you know? Under him are four of the Six Saints."
"…Even so, I devote everything to Prince Ryun. I cannot change masters."
Despite being struck by the magnitude of the claim— Captain Lu Yao reaffirmed her resolve.
That statement was shocking indeed.
'Four of the Six Saints' under Prince Kouri?
(The Six Saints… It's obvious, even looking at Sensei, they are not exactly human. Saying one could wipe out an army alone is not an exaggeration. Four of them? I think there are currently three Six Saints who are special-rank adventurers… three of those and my sensei? That would be overwhelming as a force.)
Captain Lu Yao thought through the implications.
"Prince Kouri is generous. He said that if you wish to serve him later, that's fine. He said he would gladly have you and Lin Shun under his banner at any time."
Lord Rowon smiled as he said it.
"I, and Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun, will not leave Prince Ryun. You know that."
"He will be crushed eventually, won't he?"
"Crushed? What do you mean by crushed? Does Prince Kouri intend to start a civil war?"
"He need not wage war… Prince Ryun has been the target of attempts on his life before, hasn't he? Come to think of it, I was the one who saved him then."
Lord Rowon said with a laugh.
A month earlier, while returning from the Palace in this capital, Prince Ryun's party had been attacked by second-rank adventurers.
The person who had pulled the strings behind that was Fourth Prince Bin.
Yet the one who had given orders to the perpetrators, Lin Sui, had been stripped of his post and expelled from the capital… while Prince Bin, unsurprisingly, faced no punishment.
"Such a blunder will not happen again."
"Well, it might have been a blunder…"
Lord Rowon continued with a serious expression.
"If we get serious, we could crush the whole royal residence."
"…"
Captain Lu Yao was struck speechless.
It was obvious without further thought—it was a fact.
Lord Rowon alone could likely do it.
He had that much power.
"Darwei's greatest magicians have gathered. Lu Yao, no matter how hard you try, you cannot match them."
"…That may be true. I wouldn't stand a chance."
Captain Lu Yao answered with a frustrated look.
But her gaze met Lord Rowon's squarely.
"However, it is not only me."
"Hmm?"
"If you were under Prince Kouri, you would know. You know who is aiding Prince Ryun."
"I have heard. Duke Rondo, correct?"
Lord Rowon kept smiling.
But the light in his eyes did not share it.
No—looking closely, it was a smile of ecstatic delight.
"A water-attribute magician who also dabbles in alchemy."
"Yes."
"How intriguing. But since you mention him… is he stronger even compared to me?"
"Sensei, you are unquestionably inhuman. Likely the other Six Saints are similar."
Captain Lu Yao paused for a moment.
And a scene flashed through her mind.
The time a woman visited the water-attribute magician.
Suddenly, there appeared a beautiful woman with horns and a thin, black tail.
She was not a being humans should come in contact with.
Yet she conversed familiarly with that water-attribute magician.
Moreover, their manner implied they had fought each other, and were seemingly evenly matched…
"Duke Rondo… is a being humans should never cross."
"…What did you say?"
"Sensei… please remain human."
-x-X-x-
Captain Lu Yao returned to Prince Ryun's royal residence and told Prince Ryun and Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun the entirety of her conversation with her master, Lord Rowon.
"Lin Shun, what do you think?"
"I think we should inform Duke Rondo as well."
Because of that exchange between Prince Ryun and Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun, Captain Lu Yao went straight to visit the neighbors.
When she arrived at the Rondo manor, a golem immediately came up to Captain Lu Yao.
It had a yellow scarf tied around its neck.
"Oh—Friendship Token No. 2-kun. Long time no see."
Captain Lu Yao smiled and greeted it before she could help herself.
Of course, because Friendship Token No. 2-kun was an Ice Golem, it could not speak.
It didn't show any special reaction…
But Captain Lu Yao patted its head.
She had been borrowing it every day up until a week ago; it had followed her around day after day and peered at the magic formulas, so she had grown very fond of it.
However, with Prince Ryun's investiture as imperial prince approaching and Captain Lu Yao's duties increasing as captain of the royal residence's Yulin Guard, she had reluctantly sent it back to Ryo…
"Hello, Captain Lu Yao."
"Duke Rondo, I'm sorry for coming so suddenly."
Ryo greeted him, and Captain Lu Yao apologized for the unannounced visit.
"Captain Lu Yao is the temporary master of Friendship Token No. 2-kun, after all. Don't worry about it—come by anytime."
Ryo said with a nearly overflowing smile.
Captain Lu Yao didn't seem to understand the term 'temporary master', but she did understand that she was in a position to command Friendship Token No. 2-kun.
"Actually, the reason I came today is…"
Escorted into the room, Captain Lu Yao began and then related her conversation with her master, Lord Rowon.
When she had finished, Ryo and Abel were surprised.
"Lord Rowon—the one who taught you the 'mana amplification string' that was used on those gauntlets, right?"
"The mana amplification string? Ah, yes, that's right. He taught me that long ago."
"I'd wanted to ask him about that before any fighting starts."
Ryo murmured, nodding slightly.
"Before fighting? Do you really think you'll be fighting Lord Rowon, Duke Rondo?"
"It's possible."
Ryo said decisively.
He did not explain.
Abel, listening at the side, thought to himself.
(Probably one of those classic story developments.)
He could see right through what Ryo was thinking.
After passing on what was necessary, Captain Lu Yao returned to the royal residence.
On her way out, lingering with obvious reluctance, she stroked Friendship Token No. 2-kun several times.
"I told her many times she could take Friendship Token No. 2-kun to the royal residence…"
Ryo said to no one in particular as he re-tied the golem's scarf.
Of course, he was fully aware that Abel was sitting beside him.
"She's the captain of the Prince's Yulin Guard, right? The Yulin Guard is like the palace guard, isn't it? She won't have time to train her troops properly."
"I think so. I heard Captain Lu Yao also trained the former magic bombardment unit, and they were quite impressive."
"That's true. Units change entirely depending on the person who trains them."
Abel nodded at Ryo's words.
One of the king's duties is to inspect the kingdom's knightly orders and magic corps.
Those inspections don't just involve watching a parade; sometimes they include mock battles that look like real combat.
Mock battles with hundreds of participants are fierce enough that, while there are no fatalities, serious injuries can occur.
Of course, during those fights, not only regular
That's why Abel understood the importance of training.
In single combat, the only thing at stake is one's own life.
But in group combat, if one person slacks off, dozens or hundreds of lives can be endangered.
Training is necessary to make people understand that.
Still…
"Training people is pretty tough, you know."
"Not everyone is like you, Abel—not everyone will keep working hard on their own."
"I'm not saying I always work hard at things I hate."
"For example—magic! You slacked off at magic!"
"No, I just had no aptitude for it…"
Abel smiled wryly and shook his head at Ryo's teasing finger.
Abel's father, the late King Stafford IV, could use magic.
But Abel's late older brother, Crown Prince Cain, also could not use magic, just like Abel.
"Some people genuinely can't do it from birth; that's just how it is."
Abel shrugged.
"Well, everyone's different. Do what you can—that's all you can do."
"That's true."
The two laughed together.
"I'm really looking forward to it in five days."
"You mean the Kyoonkai or whatever it's called."
"Yes, that's it! A concert hosted by the entire palace—that's amazing."
"I suppose princes and imperial prince factions will perform, and maybe even members of the Shitaifu class. But listening from afternoon until night straight might be exhausting, right?"
"The Emperor likes the arts. If you love something, you can do it forever… just like Abel and his sword."
"Yeah, put that way, I can understand it a little."
Abel accepted Ryo's analogy.
Indeed, if you love something, you can lose track of time.
Those who are forced to attend and don't like it might have a hard time, though…
"Won't Princess Shio Fen perform from Prince Ryun's residence? And Mifa will join the ensemble too."
"Yeah—she came to ask me about that the other day."
It seemed Abel was not only Mifa's sword instructor but also her violin teacher.
"When a formal consort is presented, that consort performs at the Kyoonkai… thinking about it, it's a huge custom, a sort of binding tradition."
"It's meant as a public presentation of the consort. If she performs here, everyone will know who she is."
"But what if her playing is terrible…"
"Someone who will be the legitimate consort of a Darwei prince should have that level of refinement. As part of her education."
"The royal family is terrifying…"
Abel said casually, and Ryo shook his head slightly.
In every era and in every world,
it's not simply a matter of 'lucky to be born royal'.
Royals must acquire skills ordinary people never need in a lifetime.
Likes and dislikes don't matter.
A normal person might go mad under such pressure.
That's what royal life is like.
People who haven't lived it couldn't possibly imagine it.
"Also, they're the grand finale… they're playing last in the program, right?"
"Of course—it's meant to introduce the presenting consort."
"You saying that makes me think your sense of normal is way off, Abel."
"Is it? I'd think that's only natural if you're royal."
Usually, Ryo is told he can't understand by Abel… but matters related to royalty and the royal household are indeed far removed from ordinary folk.
Still, some things are the same whether you're royal or common:
Both eat meals, after all!
"Well, anyway, we're officially invited. Listening to wonderful performances and getting to eat palace food all-you-can is fantastic!"
Ryo looked very pleased.
"All-you-can-eat palace food…"
"Getting to eat palace cuisine all you want is something ordinary commoners like me rarely get to do."
"You wouldn't call the Premier Duke an ordinary commoner."
Abel chuckled and shook his head slightly.
Even so, Abel himself was curious about palace cuisine.
He had tasted it at Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen's banquet, and it was indeed delicious.
Of course, Abel was the king of Knightley and had eaten dishes prepared by the castle's finest chefs… but the palace food was different in its own way.
"Good food is justice!"
"That can't be argued."
Ryo and Abel both looked forward to the Kyoonkai itself, but even more to the meals that would be served.
-x-X-x-
On the day of the Kyoonkai.
Ryo and Abel rode in a carriage provided by the Imperial Palace to attend the ceremony.
They were not wearing their usual clothes, but the outfits bestowed upon them by Emperor Tsuin after the campaign on the Ryokusou Plain.
Ryo's garment was pale blue with deep-blue trim and a karakusa-like arabesque embroidered in gold thread.
Abel's garment was crimson with black trim and embroidered in silver thread.
Actually, a messenger from the Imperial Palace had come the day before and asked, if possible, that they wear those clothes.
They were splendid garments—indeed perfect for such a festive occasion—so both men wore them.
"It's rare not to see you in your robe, Ryo. Feels fresh."
"That robe was a gift from my master. It suits me best, I think. But once in a while, clothes like these are nice."
Ryo seemed pleased as he let the large sleeves flutter.
While they chatted, the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.
They were escorted north within the Forbidden Palace.
To the same room that had been shown to them before—Emperor Tsuin's private chambers.
Unsure of the room's name,
Ryo decided to ask the guide.
"Is this the Emperor's private chamber? What is the name of this room… or building?"
"Yes. It is called the Wenhua Hall. It was built by the sovereign two generations past, and His Majesty often played there as a child."
'His Majesty' referred to the current Emperor Tsuin.
Because Ryo and Abel were originally from the Central Countries, they weren't used to that particular honorific and typically said 'the Emperor', hoping it was sufficiently polite.
"The name Wenhua Hall is lovely. It suits an emperor who loves the arts."
Ryo nodded happily.
The guide smiled slightly upon hearing that.
If the person he served was praised by a celebrity sung by bards, it was not unpleasant.
This was, as Abel put it, one of Ryo's many ways of charming people.
Abel remained silent this time.
Though his expression… looked as if he had something to say.
"Oh—Duke Rondo, you came."
"Your Majesty, thank you for inviting us to the Kyoonkai."
Ryo bowed with Abel at his side.
"Nonsense. I wished for Duke Rondo and Albert-dono to hear this. Both are well-versed in music."
Emperor Tsuin said and offered them chairs.
"Well, Albert aside, I…"
Ryo smiled sheepishly.
Albert—Abel—had taught violin to Workshop Chief Ron Shen and had reached a level so impressive the Emperor praised him.
It's no wonder the Emperor valued Abel so highly.
"Oh, come off it! And Chief Ron told me. That there's a chance you can play the piano. Because of that, I bestowed the 'Shen-Lon' No. 1 Grand Piano on Duke Rondo."
"Ah, so it was thanks to Ron-san that that magnificent grand piano came to us."
Ryo nodded vigorously.
Since then, Ryo had been playing the piano every day.
Having lived on Earth in his previous life, he had not played for over twenty years, so his fingers initially felt rusty, but now they moved without problem again.
He could even play the pieces he used to play back then.
In fact, Ryo playing the piano while Andalusia and Feiwan sprawled on the lawn listening had become a new sight at the Rondo manor.
"I hear today is also the official unveiling of the 'Shen-Lon' Grand Piano."
"Indeed. It's large and won't be spread immediately… but I hope it will one day, like the violin, be known around the world."
"That would be wonderful!"
"If ever the two of you return to the Knightley Kingdom… we shall present one from Darwei."
"Ooh!"
Ryo was surprised and delighted by the Emperor's words.
Abel, listening beside him, widened his eyes.
It was said that caravans and even high-ranking adventurers did not travel freely between the Eastern Countries and the Central Countries, so transporting a piano would be difficult.
Still… if the emperor of the superpower Darwei truly put his mind to it, perhaps it could be done.
As they talked, the Chief Eunuch appeared in the corner of the room and bowed to Emperor Tsuin;
it was time to enter the main hall.
"The Kyoonkai will be held in the same Zhenglín Hall where Prince Ryun's banquet took place. I shall sit at the central seat. Duke Rondo and Albert-dono shall be seated where they sat at the banquet."
"Thank you."
Ryo and Abel bowed in gratitude to the Emperor's arrangements.
"His Majesty approaches—"
All the courtiers stood to greet the Emperor.
The Emperor entered.
Followed by two men.
The courtiers glanced with puzzled looks.
But that lasted only a moment.
Even without knowing their names, everyone could guess who they were.
One wore pale blue with deep-blue trimming and gold-stitched arabesques;
the other wore crimson with black trim and silver thread embroidery.
Both were magnificent garments.
Everyone present, of course, knew these were garments bestowed by the Emperor.
Anyone ignorant of such things would not be standing in this assembly.
"That's Duke Rondo…"
That whisper floated from seats away from the throne and turned into a murmur.
Those seated near the throne… the princes and the senior officials of the Six Ministries—kept silent;
Of course, they knew the Duke and recognized him.
And they knew his standing.
He had entered with the Emperor.
That single fact signaled that he was a favorite of the Emperor.
In the first place, it was unthinkable for the Darwei Emperor to enter accompanied by anyone.
Yet Duke Rondo had come in,
Accompanied by his bodyguard swordsman.
Some present felt displeased but hid it;
Most were indifferent.
Only one person watched them with a bitter, sour expression.
That person was the Fourth Prince and an imperial prince.
Prince Bin.
The princes were seated together.
Slightly apart sat their families.
Most of the princes' families were looking forward to the Kyoonkai.
But the princes themselves… could not truly enjoy it.
From the entrance's perspective, the princes and their families sat on the left side.
On the opposite right side sat the high officials of the Six Ministries.
In the highest-ranking seat among them, Duke Rondo and his bodyguard swordsman took their places.
Just as they had at the reception.
After the opening address, the dishes were immediately brought out on trays.
Performances began with lesser-ranked members of the Shitaifu class and their families.
They could be considered the opening acts.
"Abel, just now it looked to me like someone was glaring at us fiercely—was that my imagination?"
"Ryo, that wasn't your imagination. Prince Bin, the Fourth Prince, was scowling at us with a frightening face."
As the concert began, Ryo and Abel started speaking in low voices.
Of course, they wouldn't be scolded for talking.
The Emperor and Empress, seated at the front, were chatting happily, and small conversations were taking place here and there at volumes that didn't interrupt the performances.
Naturally, the princes themselves were not speaking to one another.
Their families, however, were talking amiably with their neighbors…
"I don't think Prince Bin needs to glare so obviously."
"He's probably upset about several things."
"But we weren't the ones who repelled the attack by seventy second-rank adventurers—that was Lord Rowon. And Lord Rowon serves under Prince Kouri, the Second Prince, right? If anyone should be glared at, it should be Prince Kouri."
Ryo spoke without changing his expression, his gaze fixed on the performers.
Abel nodded while also keeping his eyes on the performers.
Their seats were above those of the ministers.
In other words, directly across from the princes—so they had a clear view of the princes' faces.
Prince Bin was obviously in a bad mood.
He was pouring drinks for himself at an unusually fast pace. And glaring at the two of them from time to time.
Prince Kouri watched the performers steadily, drinking and eating slowly.
"The Second Imperial Prince appears composed."
"You mean Prince Kouri. The fact that he's so visible from our seats means the other senior ministers can see him well, too."
"Yeah! If he appears composed, people will think 'as expected of His Highness Kouri!' "
"Exactly. It's the difference between being constantly aware of being observed or not."
"Excellent point, Abel. Your experience as a king is coming in handy!"
Ryo nodded repeatedly at Abel's apt explanation.
Indeed, the higher one's rank, the more one must maintain an awareness of being watched.
In such a position, there is no real privacy.
Once you become famous, private life ceases to exist.
That is true in any era and any world.
Thus, one must always be careful.
"Oh—Princess Shio Fen and Mifa are looking our way."
When Ryo said that, he saw the two of them give a small bow.
Seeing that, Ryo smiled broadly.
Abel gave a very slight nod.
"They don't look nervous."
"They must be properly prepared. That removes one worry."
"Worry? There wasn't a worry to begin with, right? Ryo, you were only thinking about eating good food, weren't you?"
"W-what are you saying? I was also concerned about whether the two of them were properly prepared."
"Well, I wasn't worried at all. I was only thinking about the dishes that would be served."
"Ugh… now Abel is trying to show off how magnanimous he is."
Abel grinned and said it, and Ryo gave a small, frustrated shake of his head.
But then…
"This fish-ball thing is delicious!"
"I've never had this in the kingdom, but it's certainly tasty."
They quickly cheered up after eating good food.
Truly, the power of cuisine is formidable.
The Kyoonkai was divided into two parts.
The first part began with performers from among the Shitaifu class who were not of particularly high rank, and as it progressed, the performers grew more senior, culminating in guest performances.
The second part featured performances from those connected to the imperial household: beginning with the princes, then the various imperial princes… and closing with the grand finale—Princess Shio Fen, who would be presented as the formal consort of the newly elevated Sixth Prince, Imperial Prince Ryun.
"Officials perform, or the women who appear to be their wives perform… sometimes a husband's music is accompanied by his wife's dance—a variety of presentations."
"They've put together various tasteful arrangements, haven't they?"
For Ryo and Abel, the primary goal was to eat well.
Still, some surprising acts and performances drew them in.
The instruments ranged from violin-centered string quartets combining cello and double bass to East-West collaborations like koto paired with violin—fascinating from Ryo's perspective.
But all of it was lovely.
"Music is wonderful."
"That it is."
There might be varying levels of technical skill, but you could feel the performers' desire to deliver something good.
It was very pleasant.
The instruments most commonly used were the violin, flute, and koto.
Flute and koto were expected, but Ryo found the widespread use of the violin particularly interesting.
"Abel also plays the violin, but so many people play it."
"Well, the violin exists across the world."
Abel said that as if it were self-evident.
Ryo, who knew the history of Earth, couldn't understand it at all.
(It must have been spread by a past reincarnator, without a doubt.)
"Did King Richard spread it around the world?"
"I don't know about that… When I was studying at the royal castle, the violin was regarded as a universal refinement that everyone had to acquire because it was played everywhere."
"Violin as refinement…"
What a terrifying world.
"Of course, it's refinement for royalty. If you visited foreign lands and were perceived as lacking in culture, it would shame your nation. Royals, for better or worse, are the face of their country. So being able to play the violin is considered natural for royalty."
"Abel, when you were an adventurer, did you ever get chances to play the violin?"
"No, not at all."
Abel answered Ryo's question immediately.
"So the cultural refinement expected of royalty and the knowledge needed by commoners are completely different. Though those who move between both worlds surely have it rough."
"Is there anyone like that besides Abel?"
"Isn't Rihya like that?"
"Ah! I see."
Rihya had married Abel, the king.
Although a saintess, she was not originally royal, and there was no talk of her being a noble before.
In other words, she entered the Knightley royal family from common origins.
The expectations placed on her would have changed drastically, which might be difficult.
"Did Rihya practice the violin, too?"
"She did practice. The earlier you start learning something, the easier it sticks. That's why in the royal household violin training starts at age three…"
"Well, it's not that you can't learn it later."
"She put a lot of effort into it, including dance."
"Dance…"
Royal balls and such were things Ryo had only read about in novels and stories.
He merely had no such knowledge; and even in the twenty-first century, the tradition of debutante balls in European society still existed.
Naturally, such events required a level of refinement and etiquette completely different from what is expected of ordinary people in their daily lives…
"When your status changes, it becomes really troublesome."
"That's for sure."
Ryo said ruefully, and Abel nodded in agreement.
While they were talking, the first part of the Kyoonkai reached its final program.
It was a guest performance…
"Closing the first half is a performance by the era's foremost bard, Wang A-Shi!"
At that moment, cheers erupted.
Voices cried out here and there—"Oh!" and "As expected!" among others.
Only the princes and the senior ministers remained quiet.
Incidentally, the princes' families chatted happily with their neighbors.
And then Wang A-Shi took the stage.