Now that the pleasentries were over, Reinhard looked straight into Merlin's eyes.
"It is a very long story, so I should start from the bigger topic to the smaller details."
"Yup." Said Merlin, making a pop sound at the last 'p'.
The response from Merlin recieved a nod from Reinhard who finally started explaining about the world.
This is a basically a flat world, like a single continent, which is divided into 4 different countries.
The Dragon kingdom of Lugunica.
The Sacred Vollachia Empire.
The Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, and.
The Kararagi City-States.
Currently where I'm in is the capital of Lugunica, atleast I got that much right.
And Reinhard also explained the important parts of the history of this world.
400 years ago, a very terrifying witch called the Witch of Envy, Satella, destroyed half the world. They say that she did so because she was starved for love.
She was an unstoppable force. It was impossible to even destroy her skin, leave alone the dream of defeating her.
So, 3 heroes, the Great Sage Shaula, the first Sword Saint Reid Astrea and the Divine Dragon Volcanica came together in an effort to destroy this indestructible horror.
But even they failed to completely destroy her. In a final effort of saving the world, the Sage with his near endless knowledge was able to seal the witch, putting an end to a disaster that would later be come to known as the Great Calamity.
Even after 400 years, the witch remains sealed at a location which is theorized to be near the Pleadis Watchtower, a humongous structure created by the sage to prevent anyone from getting close to the witch's seal.
...
And this girl was supposed to be in love with me? Not like I'm not interested.
But hearing about her from Reinhard, no wonder his ability to return is so cruel. It was given to him by her according to Kaito.
Meh. Whatever, Merlin would not have been sitting her if it weren't for the witch.
Maybe there'll come a day when he'll meet her face to face. And then he'd understand why she loves him. It could be because of his protagonist status right~?
Merlin snapped out of thoughts when he realised that he wasn't paying well attention to Reinhard who had moved from the world's history to Lugunica now.
The kingdom of Lugunica is called dragon kingdom for a reason.
After the great calamity, the 35th king of Lugunica, Farsale Lugunica formed a pact with Volcanica to help protect his kingdom.
The kingdom had been thriving since that time, until 350 or some years later, it witnessed the biggest civil it had ever in the history of its existence.
The Demi-Human war.
The war was filled with blood, betrayal and horrors that would scar even the strongest of the warriors.
Even after the civil war ended, it left a sense of distrust and unease within the hearts of the populace.
If that was not enough, a few decades later the entire Royal family perished. Leaving not even a strand of hair in the world.
Now there was no one for the dragon to maintain a contract with.
The kingdom would've surely fallen, but that fate was prevented by the help of the dragon who made a decision to start the Royal Selection.
Five maidens are to be selected to ascend the throne and reforge the pact with the dragon.
With a smooth motion, Reinhard pushed back his chair and got up from his seat.
With steps placed in perfect coordination and elegance, he walked around the table and stopped in front of Felt.
To the further surprise of Merlin, the knight got down to his single knee before pulling something out from his pocket.
He held out his hand towards Felt and spoke respectfully. In his hand was a critical dragon shaped insignia with a green crystal in the middle of it.
"By holding this, you'll get most of the answers you require Lady Felt."
"H-huh?" Felt looked at his hand warily. It was eerily similar to the one she had stolen from the elf onee-san.
"O-oi isn't that the one she...?"
"Worry not Lady Felt, I have made sure that she received it back. This one was entrusted to me."
"Then this...?" Begrudgingly, Felt reached out and grabbed the insignia from Reinhard's hand.
Almost as soon as it came in contact with Felt's fingers, the green crystal in its middle started to glow with a red gleam, surprising both Merlin and Felt, the latter of them dropped it on the floor in caution and surprise.
"Wha—?"
"That there is an irrefutable proof of your status as a maiden chosen by the Divine Dragon."
"Huh—? Wha? Me?!" Felt shouted in disbelief.
"Yes, lady Felt."
"STOP WITH THAT 'LADY' BULLSHIT!!! NO WAY I'M AGREEIN' TO THIS!!! I'M JUST A SLUM RAT!"
" Wait, does that mean you're a princess now?" Said Merlin.
"HELL NAH I'M NOT!"
"But lady Felt..."
"I ain't falling for your noble people schemes you bastard! You and your kingdom can suck each other's asses!" Felt leaned back in her chair with crossed arms.
Reinhard fell quiet, unsure about how to proceed with this. It was his first time dealing with things like this. In desperation he looked at Merlin as if signalling for any sort of assist.
Merlin caught that gaze well. To be honest, he was quite well in dealing with kids because near about all his cousins were younger than him, with only a few exceptions. He never had a cousin his age.
With a heavy sigh he contemplated his interference with closed eyes.
A royal candidate.
Felt was only a simple girl who must've been striving ever since childhood to just be able to survive in the slums.
To be forced upon with a responsibility as huge as running for the throne of the kingdom. Convincing her wouldn't be as easy as calming a tantrum throwing kid.
"Hahhh..." With an annoyed sigh he ruffled his long hair before turning to look at the blond girl beside him, still pouting in indignation.
"Say. Felt?"
"Hah?"
"Why did you accept that mission to steal the insignia? Surely you must be smart enough to know that it was something important and how much trouble it could've gotten you into." His question came out in a phlegmatic manner.
His words struck Felt silent, forcing her to look away from him.
"I...I wanted to get me and Rom-ji outta that shit hole...and that bitch...offered me 10 sacred holy coins. I got desperate okay?!"
That struck a common thought among everyone present there.
Merlin silently turned his gaze to Reinhard who had a perfectly calm face, but there was a hint of slight surprise on his face too.
"Hired...?" Adelheid repeated those words coming to a rather undesirable assumption.
"Lady Felt, why hadn't you mentioned this detail to us before?" Hearing herself being mentioned being Reinhard, Felt slowly looked up with a part guilty and part "tf you want?" face.
"I-I thought it wouldn't matter much!"
"No my lady. That proves that this was not a simple encounter, but a hired assassination attempt. 10 sacred coins isn't something any commoner or a simple merchant can throw around like this." He explained.
Adelheid then followed up with her own theory. "Then that must mean it came from someone who knew of Last Emilia's candidacy. Possibly someone that holds influence in the Royal court."
Reinhard let out a tired sigh. "It was likely, considering that she's..." He chose not to continue with what he was about to say, but the meaning was well understood by all.
"I have report this to captain Gildark."
'Well that saves me effort.' Merlin smiled amusedly on his own thought.
Felt's eyes widened like saucers, shaky and guilt struck. Who knew a simple robbery was supposed to be the end of a kind person's life? Her greed would've brought everyone down along with her.
"With all that said Reinhard, what's this gotta do with me?"
Reinhard looked towards Merlin and let out an "Ah" in realization that he had more explanation left to do.
"I dearly apologize for forg—"
" Dude you know that not every line has to start with an apology right?"
Reinhard stopped for a moment before putting on his everyday smile again. His expression never revealing anything he felt. His Divine protections prevented so.
"I apo—I understand."
"Heh, you're insufferable." Merlin snickered while Reinhard could only smile helplessly. Old habits die hard after all.
He then began with the events of a week ago. With his arrival.
Reinhard spared not a single detail in this talk. Every thing was accurate to the point of being a documentary. Every word made Merlin sweat more and more profusely.
He knew he was cooked, and it would be proved soon enough.
Reinhard excluded one single detail, a detail left for some suspense in the story.
Felt, Grassis and Flam started at Reinhard with gaping mouths.
"WHAT THE HELL?! AND Y'ALL ALLOWED SUCH A THING IN?!"
"By all due respect young master, isn't this too dangerous?" Said Flam.
"And now that thing that came from beyond the falls and called itself a 'God' is living in this World?!" Continued Grassis.
Adelheid was confused. Why did brother started to speak about that event? She hadn't been present that day due to some...girl matters but why now all of a sudden? Is he just warning Merlin to look out as he's new...or is there a bigger fish in the pond that she was missing?
"With all that said, I believe you must've understood what I am implying."
Right at that moment, Merlin felt like the number 68. Neither forward, nor backward saved him. So he did the most logical thing.
Calling upon the blessings of all his predecessors, Merlin prepared the most bullet proof idea of the century.
"No i don't—"
"He's lying."
"FOR FUCK'S SAKE ADELHEID!!!!"
Welp. There goes the plan.
Everyone looked at Merlin.
"I believe this next line must make what I intend to say clear." His eyes sharpened. "Before he left, he mentioned in being hurrry for a vessel."
Loud gasps filled the table. Felt slowly moved out of her chair and backed off to where the maids stood.
Merlin felt absolutely naked with all the glares boring down at him.
"I believe you have some explanation to do Merlin"
Oh lord kill me.
Wait. That wouldn't work.
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!