After those mysterious and deep conversations with Den, I had nothing particularly important left to do for the day. It was clear that the real commotion would begin tomorrow morning when I would go to the Royal Knight Headquarters with Historia. So, I spent the rest of the day simply passing time in the quiet atmosphere of the palace.
Slowly, evening faded and night fell. After finishing dinner, I went straight to Alisha. It was necessary to inform her that Historia would not be available for household duties tomorrow. In a very casual tone, I asked for permission, "Alisha, tomorrow I'll need Historia's help for an important task. Can you give her a day off?"
Alisha listened and agreed immediately without asking many questions. She probably assumed I was taking my personal maid out for some private work. Feeling relieved, I returned to my room and fell into deep sleep as soon as I lay down on the bed.
The next morning, the same thing happened again. Light sunlight filtered through the curtains and fell directly on my eyes, breaking my sleep. I rubbed my eyes and muttered to myself, "Today is going to be a very big day."
After getting up, I quickly finished my routine. After brushing and bathing, I first began Aurum Cultivation for 20 minutes. But today, a new chapter was added to my routine. I directed my cultivation energy inward—feeling the static energy inside my body and guiding it to the tips of my fingers.
There were a few pieces of paper lying on the table. I extended my hand toward them and practiced pulling them toward myself with concentration. This small bit of magic was now working better than before. The paper pieces were not only being attracted toward me but were also floating in the air in sync with my hand movements.
Encouraged by this small victory, I got ready.
I was now fully prepared to go to the Royal Knight Headquarters. As I left my room and came downstairs, I found Historia waiting for me in the hall. She was wearing the same black gown she had worn on the day we first arrived in this world. Seeing her, it occurred to me that perhaps Historia owned no clothes other than this gown and her maid uniform. I decided silently that I would buy her some dresses on the way back today.
"So, are you ready to go?" I asked as I approached her. Historia simply bowed her head politely.
After leaving the palace, we took a royal carriage. As soon as I sat inside, clouds of anxiety began to gather in my mind. Going to the Royal Knight Headquarters was a big deal in itself, but my real concern was Historia. She was an AI, which meant she was not skilled at lying at all. If someone asked us a question about our past or information that needed to remain secret, Historia would either tell the truth or stay silent—and that silence itself could raise suspicion.
Turning to Historia, I said in a serious tone, "Listen, Historia. If they ask something that we shouldn't answer, don't stay silent. You need to twist the conversation and give a logical answer that protects our secret without raising suspicion."
Historia turned her blue eyes toward me and asked simply, "Master, are you instructing me to lie?"
"Yes, exactly," I replied plainly.
She paused for a moment to think and then said, "Understood, Master. I will be careful. If there is a risk of confidential information being revealed, I will provide a fictional yet logical response to manage the situation."
Just then, the carriage stopped. We had arrived at our destination. As soon as Historia and I stepped down, the sight before us took my breath away.
On a high mountain slope stood the main building like an unshakable fortress. It was not merely a structure of stone and lime—it was a symbol of the Empire's power. As the golden afternoon sunlight fell upon its domes and towering walls, the entire structure gleamed like pure gold. White stone pillars carved with intricate designs surrounded the building, and flags atop them waved proudly in the wind. From the mountain's height, it looked as though the building was trying to touch the clouds. The sharp sunlight created a halo-like effect, making the entire headquarters appear divine and invincible.
As I stepped toward the massive iron grill gate, my heart began pounding heavily. Two Royal Knights stood guard, wearing heavy armor and holding gleaming spears. Their gazes were sharp like hawks. I tightly held the letter in my hand, assuming it would serve as an entry ticket.
But before I could reach the guards, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Master Jona! Wait… Master Jona!"
I turned around, and my eyes widened in shock. It was Misty. She was running toward us frantically. When she reached me, she bent forward, clutching her knees and breathing heavily. Her face had turned red from running.
I was completely stunned. Historia silently watched her, her blue eyes showing no reaction.
When Misty finally caught her breath, she stood up straight, exhaled deeply, and said, "Master Jona… thank goodness I found you here! I was looking for you."
"Misty? You're here? But why?" I asked in confusion.
Misty glanced around and then said softly, "Master, perhaps the last time you came to my house… you accidentally left your money there. As soon as I realized, I came to return it to you."
Her honesty shocked me. She opened her fist, revealing the same gold coins I had given her. I never expected her to come all the way here to return them.
The truth was, the money was mine—but I had no intention of taking it back. I wanted her and her mother to live a slightly better life.
Looking into Misty's eyes, I said calmly, "Sorry, Misty, but I didn't accidentally leave any money at your house. These aren't mine at all."
A deep look of confusion appeared on her face. "If they're not yours… then whose are they? I found them inside my vegetable bag. I thought maybe you had dropped them."
I already knew from Jona's diary that Misty and her mother worship the Goddess of Moon. Smiling lightly, I said, "Maybe this is a miracle from the Goddess, Misty. Perhaps she rewarded your hard work and honesty with this small gift. Keep it quietly and take good care of your mother."
At the mention of the Goddess, a strange glow of faith appeared in Misty's eyes. She fell silent for a moment, as if she believed my words.
But then, the voices of the two Royal Knights guarding the main gate rang out loudly.
"What are you standing around talking for? Move forward or leave!"
Their heavy voices pulled us back to reality.
I asked Misty about her father, but her sad expression and her silent refusal answered everything. Just then, a sharp and confident voice echoed from behind.
"Then why don't you find your father yourself?"
I turned to see a girl around 19–20 years old, wearing extremely expensive and elegant clothes. Misty immediately bowed her head and said softly, "Madam Helena, you're here?"
Helena Saint Clair—member of the Saint Clair family and a friend of my elder sister Conte. Jona's diary flashed in my mind like lightning. Jona had written that Helena's intentions toward him were not good. She liked him, but in a disturbing, almost molesting way. Jona avoided her—and now she was standing in front of me.
Helena continued, looking at Misty, "You should find your father yourself."
Misty replied innocently, "But Madam, I'm just an ordinary person. Isn't that the police's job?"
A cunning smile appeared on Helena's face. "You're not from a noble family, nor rich like me. The police won't take your problems seriously. So if you agree, Jona and I can help you."
She turned her gaze toward me. "Right, Jona? You'll help too, won't you?"
I panicked internally. Why was Helena dragging me into this? Was this some ploy to get closer to me? But Misty was there, looking hopeful—I couldn't refuse. Reluctantly, I nodded.
"Yes… why not."
Helena's smile deepened. It looked like she had gained Misty's sympathy and bound me into a "secret mission."
After that strange conversation, I composed myself and said, "Helping Misty is a good idea, but right now I don't have time. Historia and I need to enter the Royal Knight Headquarters for an urgent matter. We'll discuss this later."
With that, Historia and I moved toward the massive golden building. As planned, I took out the royal invitation letter and approached the guard, believing it would grant us entry.
But after reading it, the guard fixed a cold stare on me and said sternly, "Only Historia Chester may enter."
"What? But I'm with her!" I exclaimed.
"The official letter lists only Historia Chester," he replied emotionlessly. "According to headquarters security rules, outsiders are prohibited. If she wishes to join the regiment, she must enter alone."
I argued briefly, explaining that Historia was my personal assistant, but Royal Knight laws were absolute. Historia stood calmly, showing no fear—waiting only for my next instruction.
In the end, I had no choice. I turned to her and said softly, "Alright, Historia. Go inside. Be careful and remember what you need to do. I'll meet you here in the evening."
She bowed and walked through the massive doors without looking back. Watching her go alone made me uneasy.
As I was still watching her, Helena's laughter echoed behind me. She and Misty had seen everything. Helena came closer, waving her hand playfully, and said, "Well… your maid has gone inside, Jona. Now you're free to come with us. It's time to help Misty!"
Misty's eyes were still filled with hope, and Helena looked excited. I had no excuse left. Reluctantly, I went with them—while half my mind remained behind those headquarters walls, where Historia was stepping alone into a new world.
---
Inside the Royal Knight Headquarters
For Historia, the building was not a work of art—it was merely a data structure. As soon as she entered the main hall, her blue eyes, now functioning like advanced scanners, began reading the mathematical truths hidden behind the wall carvings.
Where an ordinary human would be awed by grandeur, Historia immediately detected a serious structural flaw. Focusing on a specific section where two stones joined unevenly, she calculated mentally:
"The south-west corner of this hall. Due to decorative carving, the stone here is 3.5 centimeters thinner. If a high-frequency shockwave concentrates energy at this point, the entire wall will collapse like a house of cards."
She found more flaws. The stairs narrowed significantly as they ascended—creating a high risk of stampede during emergencies. The evacuation route was logically inefficient. The floor cement absorbed moisture; stone edges were eroding, increasing the risk of slipping. A military headquarters floor must be non-slip.
The structure deemed "invincible" by the Empire's greatest engineers had been dismantled in her mind within minutes.