Published at 22nd of January 2020 4:10 pm

Volume 2, Chapter 4: The Illusionary Night

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

All of Imperial Nelpha was in an uproar.

The Roland Empire, which had grown into power quickly, was sending its king to visit Nelpha. They couldn’t do anything but receive him, considering what’d happened to the Kingdom of Estabul.

The official reason was to deepen the friendship between the rulers of both countries, but… nobody really believed that.

Nelpha’s king, its nobles, and even its people were nervous of the Roland Empire invading now that it’d become strong. To top it off, the one visiting was the young king Sion Astal; he was a military man who’d taken the country of Roland in the blink of an eye.

Youth cultivated greed, after all.

“There’ll be a great war soon. If that happens, Nelpha won’t be able to win against Roland.” That was the public opinion on the matter. To make matters worse, Nelpha’s eastern neighbor, the Runa Empire, was Roland’s ally…

Merchants who travelled the continent had a lot to say on the subject. “It’s better to not get involved with those two countries.”

The army was set up to guard the cities, and troops were mobilized in the capital, Élarun.

And so Sion entered the country while it was on high alert.

He’d brought two thousand soldiers from Roland with. Compared to the forty thousand Nelphan troops in Élarun alone, there was quite a difference in numbers between them. Sion had brought so few troops to make a show of the fact that he wasn’t looking for a war.

However…

As they rode their horses into town, Sion spoke to Froaude who rode beside him. “Guess that’s that. We’re advancing into this large of an army… Nelpha is awfully cautious.”

Froaude surveyed the situation without any changes in his expression. “This is the result of their evaluation of the Roland Empire. After the Roland Empire annexed the Kingdom of Estabul, they calculated that the Roland Empire has twice their military power. Our system of magic is also twice as strong, and looking at the numbers, our troops number two hundred thousand. That is what Nelpha is afraid of.”

“Hm,” Sion said and nodded. A self-deprecating smile rose to his face. “In reality, their land and customs are different from Estabul’s in every way. Estabul’s rule was in dire straits and unable to properly prepare for war. If their king had taken his eyes off them for even a moment, the nobility probably would have assembled their own armies and attacked… Of course Nelpha didn’t have the time to deal with that. That sort of thing is why Nelpha’s king wants to keep this visit in check, too. Isn’t that right, Froaude?”

“It is exactly as you say. As a result, if this visit should be successful, Roland’s new king will become very appealing to the other countries. We may even be able to exterminate the rats nesting in our own country.”

Sion was astonished. “So that’s why the king is advancing into an army of forty thousand with only two thousand troops at his side?”

“Do you have an issue with that?” Froaude asked, though it was more like a statement - he clearly already thought he knew the answer.

Sion sneered. “Not at all,” he said easily. This probably wasn’t something the two thousand troops accompanying him had to endure…

Even so, Sion was able to reach Nelpha’s castle without incident.

---

The royal court he was led to painted a picture of simple sturdiness. From there he was led straight to the throne. Burly military men, scholars, and nobles were lined up along the way. They all stared at him nervously as he passed, keeping his eyes fixed forward. Sion had brought a few people from the army with him as guards as well as Froaude. They walked with an air of composure.

Someone’s voice rose up. “The king of the Roland Empire, Sion Astal, has arrived!”

A man in his advanced years stood from the throne.

Sion stopped where he stood to watch him, the king of this country. The king of Imperial Nelpha. He was probably older than sixty, judging by the deep wrinkles all over his face, and he had the dignified air of an older gentleman. Even so, his expression was tender. Gentle.

His character appeared to be the complete opposite of Sion’s.

Compared to Sion, whose hopes only shined as he led his country…

At the king’s side were men, likely those of extremely high status - the nobility of this country. They glared at Sion with horribly cautious eyes.

Sion accepted their glares and smiled. Their reaction was natural.

With one wrong step, their country could be engulfed in war… That was the reigning public opinion. It would have been far stranger if they weren’t cautious.

Sion pulled himself together and walked. He was finally before Imperial Nelpha’s king. He looked around once then lowered his head politely. “It is good to finally meet you, King of Nelpha. I have no words thankful enough to describe how I feel that you accepted this sudden visit of mine. I am the Roland Empire’s king, Sion Astal.”

The king was somewhat flustered at Sion’s greeting. “H-how rude of me. I am Imperial Nelpha’s king, Gread Nelphi. I’ve heard much of you from rumors over the past couple years. I hear that you’ve put a good government into place and are adored by your people.”

“Surely you jest. I still have a ways to go. There are many things that one so inexperienced as myself cannot yet accomplish… I came to take advice from you, Lord Nelphi. After so many years of rule, you have become a wise king whom I can rely on so as to avoid bringing shame to my country.”

“You are very skilled with words, Lord Astal.”

“No, it is the truth. One can tell just by looking at the people of Imperial Nelpha.” Sion turned to look at the nobles and troops who were watching their conversation and gulped. Then he smiled. “Everybody adores you. After Nelpha’s natural disasters, you… no, all of you returned this country to splendor. It was not half-hearted or mediocre; it was truly wonderful. If at all possible, I wish for the Roland Empire to have a lasting relationship with your country.”

Sion’s tone was sincere to the end. Those were the true words of his heart.

Since Gread Nelphi ascended to the throne, Nelpha became a country that turned its eyes away from war and to itself, pouring all of its energy into becoming a wealthy, thriving country. How many hardships had he overcome to revive his country to this extent? It was easy to imagine how difficult it must have been.

Roland had always been wrapped up in its own vanity and greed, but Nelpha was a country that was able to put that greed down to better itself. That’s what Sion believed.

The surrounding nobility understood his sincerity and their tension mellowed…

“Your Majesty, perhaps the conversation with Roland’s king should be continued in a less stiff place? We have already made preparations for a banquet…”

Nelphi nodded. “Mmhm, that’s right. What do you say, Lord Astal? We can discuss the relationship between our countries going forward over drinks tonight… or something of the sort. Or perhaps you’re still a bit tired from your travels?”

Sion shook his head and smiled innocently. Nobody who saw could look away from the sight.. “It would be my pleasure.”

Several people ran out of the royal court. They were probably running to tell everyone that the conference was a success and Nelpha and Roland would not go to war.

In any case, his visit to Nelpha appeared to be successful…

Sion smoothed his clothes, relieved.

---

The banquet was pretty fun.

Many of the nobles the king surrounded himself with were good-natured, and more than anything, Nelpha’s king himself was friendly and easy to talk to. He was proud of the fact that he did everything he could to revive his country.

They weren’t people who acted based on their own desires. They did what they did for the people. For their country.

Sion smiled as he drank with the king and nobles. He spoke quietly to Froaude, who sat beside him. “What do you think? I think it’s unlikely that the nobles who are aiding our rotten nobility are here…”

Froaude nodded. His eyes were dark, cold, and sharp as always, and his usual undiplomatic tone didn’t falter in the slightest. “I agree. It would be strange if they were actually the sort to scheme and plot. It appears that killing you has never even entered their minds.”

“I think so too. But that means the ones plotting with our nobility are elsewhere. That or…”

Froaude nodded. “Yes. Or they’re nobility that has power over this country in another way entirely. If not, there would be no way for them to accomplish such a large-scale plot.”

Right then, Nelphi, red-faced and fairly drunk, handed Sion a glass. “Hey, King of Roland! are you getting enough to drink!?”

“Thank you,” Sion said, smiling brightly.

Nelphi looked pretty satisfied with that. “Mmhm! You can’t not drink here. When I was a young man, no matter how hard things got, my friends would always cheer me up like this with drink. Isn’t that right, everyone?”

The equally drunk old men around him nodded enthusiastically. A conversation about the olden days sprouted between them.

Sion remained smiling and continued his hushed conversation with Froaude. “So, Froaude. Have any idea who our enemy might be?”

Froaude shook his head. “I apologize. I am currently investigating this country’s notable elite, but it’s not yet complete… but there are two possibilities as of now: Marquess Protone, and the lone son of the king, Starnelle Nelphi.”

“Hoh… and your reasoning?”

“Marquess Protone’s territory is close to Roland, so it would be easy for him to form ties with the Rolander nobility. In addition, he imposes heavy taxes on his fief. I have heard unfavorable rumors about him which the current king of Nelpha has been warned of time and time again, bringing his loyalty to question. I find that suspicious…”

“I see,” Sion said. “But I have to wonder if a guy like that really has any political power.”

“It is as you say. A marquess’ power only extends to the surrounding nobility.”

“…So how about the other suspect?”

“Starnelle Nelphi’s case is simple. He is ambitious and of poor conduct. The fact that he was given power as the king’s only son has caused nothing but trouble. And so—”

The door to the banquet hall slammed open. Several men clothed in gaudy outfits entered. The man at the front of their pack had brown hair and walked in smirking. He was a slender man in his late thirties or so. He looked at Sion like he was a lesser human than himself. “Hm, so you’re Roland’s king. You’re pretty young. If someone like you is in charge, I guess Roland’s not that big of a deal after all,” he said, smirking all the while.

The atmosphere froze over in an instant.

The old men who’d been so merrily drunk moments before paled. “W-what are you saying, my Lord Prince? Saying something like that—”

Before he could even finish his sentence, the prince cut him off. “Aahn? Who’re you talkin’ to? I am the prince of this country, you know? You sure it’s okay for a third-rate noble like yourself to talk back to me? You wanna die?”

From that short exchange, Sion already understood everything about these men…

At the very least, he understood that these men didn’t see anything but themselves…

Nelpha as it exists now had managed to avoid war. It looked like it wasn’t going to become Roland’s next target.

Roland had recently absorbed the powerful Kingdom of Estabul.

Without considering that fact or the situation he was in, this man had said such a thing to the king of Roland himself… if this man became king, it would be regardless of what was good for his country and his people.

Even so, Sion’s smile didn’t crumble. “My, if it isn’t the prince. I am the king of the Roland Empire, Sion Astal. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Shut it. Why should the king of a poor and boring country like yours act all important to me—”

This time, the prince was the one who was cut off. Nelpha’s king hurried to the prince’s side and placed his hand in his hair, forcibly lowering the prince’s head…

But the prince quickly hit it away. “The hell’re you doing, old man!?”

“Quiet, you stupid prince! Return to your room at once!”

The prince looked between his father and Sion, full of spite. “Tch. Let’s go, guys.”

The flock of people surrounding him hurried on after him. Nelphi watched to ensure that they’d truly left then bowed his head deeply. “My apologies for exposing you to such unthinkable shame. Lord Astal, you have expressed interest in how I fixed this country, but this is the true state of things. I put too much of my attention into this country’s revival and allowed my son to grow up spoiled. I must sincerely apologize for his impoliteness…”

Sion took Nelphi’s hand and had him raise his head. “Please don’t fret. It is true that I’m still a young and powerless king. It can’t be helped that the prince pointed it out.”

“T-to say that for my sake…”

“It is only natural,” Sion said with a smile.

Nelphi nodded gratefully. “No matter how I look at it, Roland’s new king is the real deal. You are able to remain human. If at all possible, I would have liked a son like you… I will tell this to the powers inside Nelpha as well as the other countries in hopes of them acknowledging you as a true king.”

Sion bowed slightly. “Thank you.”

With that, the banquet came to an end.

---

Sion was speaking with Froaude in the large and tidy room he’d been allotted.

“What was that prince called again?” Sion asked.

“Starnelle Nelphi, Your Majesty.”

“Hm. Starnelle,” Sion whispered and fell into thought for a while. He looked to the side of his room; like his room in Roland, it had a window with a sweeping view of Nelpha’s imperial capital. Unlike Roland’s, the view from Nelpha Castle was drawn in a clean circle.

The sky was just beginning to lighten at the edges. Dawn would soon break.

Sion spoke to Froaude, who had been standing this whole time instead of taking a seat, as he gazed out the window. “It looks like they’re goading him - that prince, Starnelle Nelphi - into this.”

“Yes. Someone as simple-minded as him must believe there is some advantage to working with Roland’s nobility. I don’t believe he has much courage of his own.”

Sion nodded. “There’s probably a mastermind. Some noble or other. Maybe that Marquess Protone you mentioned before.”

“I will find proof of whom the mastermind is soon. The people I’m using are excellent.”

“And you want to say you’re excellent as well, right?”

A weak smile rose to Froaude’s face to accompany his cold eyes. “I have devoted myself to Your Majesty. No matter what may come, I shall protect Your Majesty even if it should cost my life…”

Sion looked into Froaude’s ominous face. But the darkness surrounding him deepened and he was unable to tell what he was thinking or read between the lines at all.

Even so, those words weren’t a lie. Sion understood that. Sion shrugged. “Only as long as you prove trustworthy. Now, find this affair’s mastermind quickly.” With that, Sion stood. He approached the window frame and looked out past it. “I’m going to slip out of here for a while. I’m counting on you.”

Sion lifted a foot to the window sill. He’d be able to get out without anyone seeing this way.

Suddenly, Froaude’s expression changed. How rare. His eyes opened wide in shock. “Surely you jest. I thought that you understood the situation, and yet…”

“Are you trying to say that this is dangerous?”

“Yes.”

Sion smiled meanly. “But you said it yourself, didn’t you? You said I’m not a king that would die in a place like this. Is the king you respect so much the sort of man that’d die in the current state of things? If so, it’s better if he dies here. Don’t you think?”

What he was saying was absurd. But just as a king was a king, a retainer was a retainer.

Froaude smiled icily. “Understood. Please leave the matter from before to me.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you,” Sion said.

With that, he skillfully leapt from the window.

---

Mornings were early in Toale’s manor.

Toale woke up first to prepare meals for the day.

Then the kids woke up. They ran through the manor, yelling as they played, and when a few kids got tired of that they snuck into Ryner’s room and pinched his nose while he slept.

“……!? Uu… ah… auau… hey,” Ryner mumbled for a while before waking with a start. “I’m gonna die!?”

“Kyaaah, the beast woke up!”

“Who’re you callin’ a beast!?”

“Weeell, when Iris left. she said even if you just talk to the beast you’ll end up making babies! She said you’re a real scary lifeform so we shouldn’t go near you!”

“Then don’t come near me!!”

“Kyah, kyaah!” The kids screamed and ran around happily.

Ryner held his head in his hands and sighed. “Guys, I stayed up real late sorting documents last night… ow, owowowowow! How many of you are even climbing on me!?”

“Kyah!?”

“Don’t just ‘kyah’ me!”

It looked like they’d gotten pretty close…

The kids poked fun at Ryner for some time, then finally got to the point. “Toale says breakfast’s ready.”

“Mmgh… got it,” Ryner said and nodded to make a show of it, then got up and stretched.

The kids watched him to make sure he really rose. “Alright! Next up is Ferris!”

With that, they raced out of his room. Ryner watched them go. “These kids have some guts to do this to Ferris too,” he mumbled to himself as he walked out.

Sure enough, a moment later…

“Gyaaaaahhh!!”

It wasn’t even a kyah. It was a gyah. That was proof it was a real scream.

It happened every morning, though, so it wasn’t actually worrying.

Ryner walked towards the dining hall with a hand in his hair, still messy from sleep. He pushed the door to the dining hall open. “Wait, what?” He said out of surprise as he looked in.

Two people were sitting at the table, eating with incredible vigor. One raised his head to look at him.

“Hey, Ryner. It’s been a while. Are you working like you’re supposed to?”

Then the second raised her head.

“Iris!?” A kid yelled from behind. A band of kids pushed Ryner over and trampled over him to reach her.

Ryner stood up, already used to this sort of thing, and sighed. “Anyway… this all seems like a massive pain, so I’m gonna go back upstairs and sleep some more. See ya…”

Just when Ryner was about to turn back around, something far more forceful than before slammed into his back.

“Gyah!?”

The blonde beauty, Ferris, had appeared behind him. For some reason, she was stomping on his back and looking down on him. “Mm. What’s wrong, Ryner? Why are you sleeping in a place like this?”

“I’m definitely gonna fucking kill… ow… I lied, I lied, I’m sorr… gyaaaahh!!”

Sion watched them with satisfaction. “Hm, seems like you’ve gotten pretty close.”

Ryner and Ferris both tried to reply to him at the same time, talking over each other.

“What part of this makes you say such a thing? Consider the feelings of these weak, beautiful girls as they tremble with fear, never knowing when this sex maniac might attack them.”

“What part of this is close!? I’m gonna fucking kill you for making me deal with this troublesome girl… gyaaahh! Am I gonna die!? I might really die!!”

Sion smiled wryly. “You really do look close. Ferris has never hit me like that before.”

Ryner’s body flipped over, and he stood himself up with incredible dexterity. “I’m through with this! I can’t take any more of this crap today! Let’s go!” Ryner said and assumed a fighting stance.

“Mm. Come at me,” Ferris said, completely unperturbed.

In an instant, their bodies crossed. As usual, Ryner was left defeated on the floor.

“Uu… I’m seriously gonna snap and kill one of these days… Ferris is impossible, so I’ll get Sion,” Ryner whispered, his voice weak from exertion…

In any case.

Ryner, Ferris, Sion, Iris, Toale, and Toale’s siblings took their seats and began to eat.

Toale tried to talk to them amidst all that ruckus. “So I heard that Sion is Ryner’s cousin…”

Ryner and Ferris exchanged a look.

“What’re you saying, Toale?” Ryner asked. “There’s no way a bad guy like this is my—”

Sion kicked Ryner under the table, then stomped on his foot.

“Hey… uu… seriously…?”

It left a dull pain that felt very different from Ferris’ kicks. Ryner was at a loss for words.

Nobody noticed Sion’s antics under the table. He just kept smiling, the perfect picture of a kind young man. “That’s right, Toale. He’s terribly lazy… you take your eyes off him for a second and he’s already off napping somewhere, and he’s always chasing after girls…”

To Ryner, Sion sounded like he was trying to pick a fight. “Sion, you… uwah!?”

Ryner was kicked forcefully, leaving him unable to speak…

He had no other choice. He had to play along.

“Th-that’s right,” Ryner said. “Yeah. Me and Sion are cousins… And boy, this guy’s been rotten since forever ago. He’s always laying traps for me somehow or another, and he even made me travel with that violent girl. Just how much hardship has he made me go through now…? Him and Ferris combined have horrible violent potential. I might have to live a life where I can’t nap ever again because of them…”

“But you’re always sleeping,” Ferris said.

“But I want to sleep all day.”

“Mm. Well, I guess you must get sleepy during the day because you spend every night on the streets attacking girls.”

“I have absolutely no recollection of ever doing that though?”

“Maybe you’re sleepwalking?” Sion said nonchalantly.

“I’m not!!”

Toale laughed happily at their conversation. “You three seem very close.”

“How?” All three answered at once.

Despite their squabbling, they were all eating the food Toale had made for everyone.

“Hey, Sion,” Ryner said. “Why’re you even here?”

“I just happened to be in the area,” Sion said like it was obvious.

“Hah? Liar. There’s no way you’d be here by chance.”

Sion ignored him entirely. “Then I just so happened to see Iris coming in, and when I called out to her Toale answered, and that’s that.”

“No… there’s no way that’s that… and you’re just gonna ignore what I’m saying?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t ‘yeah’ me… geez, why do I gotta know a guy like you…”

Ferris nodded. “For real. Because I’m a sweet, abused maiden always stuck with you simpleton beasts…”

“…Sweet maiden? Should I be hearing that sorta thing from you?”

“Mm. If I should open my beautiful lips, I can sing a song like a fairy might sing.”

One would think she meant devils, not fairies, from her expressionless face and disinterested voice.

Even so, Toale smiled. “Hmm. Are you a talented singer, Ferris?”

“Hm I do often hum in the bath,” Ferris said.

Ryner and Sion’s heads whipped to look at each other.

Ryner was trembling. “S-seriously… she says she hums in the bath,” he said, voice shaking.

“H-hey, Ryner,” Sion said. “Have you ever… heard Ferris sing a song?”

“No way. That’d be scary. She probably kills anyone who hears her.”

“Th-that is possible…”

The two of them were getting fired up at their conversation between men… but were soon slammed into the ground.

Now, just why could that be?

Some time later, Ryner, Ferris, and Sion were drinking black tea that Toale served after their meal while watching Iris and the other kids run around in the yard together.

“Toale, do you really have royal blood?” Sion asked. “I heard that you’re Lord Gread Nelphi’s grandson from Ryner, but…”

Toale smiled bitterly and shook his head. “I’m not such a great person as that, Sion. You must understand just by looking around, right? This place is where they keep the nuisances. He… my father has had many children. Each and every one of us were told that we’re in the way and shoved into this house. None of these kids have anyone to look after them, so I’ve been doing it… of course, they’ve ended up thinking that nobody but me is good enough because of that. But I think they must have moments where they want to see their real mother and real father. Even so, I’m their everything…”

Toale watched the kids run through the yard, a little sad.

Sion smiled at the sight. According to Ryner’s report, Toale was popular with the people. Many were even vocal about their desire for him to be the next king.

Naturally, Sion thought. The prince couldn’t compete with Toale, who had the makings of a splendid king. He understood the pain of being human. He understood kindness.

But… his mother was the same as Sion’s, a woman of low status - to use the words of the nobility, a lowborn mutt. So Toale was unable to become king.

Unless he started a revolution like Sion did, of course…

But that was impossible as long as the prince retained his power.

This might be fine too, though. There was no need for a young man as kind as Toale to walk Sion’s path.

Ryner finished his tea and stretched. “It’s not like you can’t be happy just because you don’t have any parents. As long as these kids know that someone loves them, they’ll grow up strong and healthy.”

What a thing to say. Sion’s eyes widened as he stared unblinking at Ryner.

Ryner shrunk back. “Wh, what…”

Sion just continued to stare earnestly. “R-Ryner… you said something honest. What sort of catastrophe will befall us now!?”

“H-hey, what on earth do you think of m—”

“Don’t worry, Sion,” Ferris interrupted. He was surely going to continue like this: ‘I’ll love her, so please give me Toale’s youngest girl as a bride,’” Ferris said, shaking her head over and over. “Unbelievable. Your degeneracy has really come this far… I must dispose of you now for the sake of this world.”

“…Augh, geez! Fine, fine, I get it. I’m in the wrong. Do whatever you want… I’m gonna go back to sleep!” Ryner said. He lay down across a few of the table’s chairs and closed his eyes.

“Ahaha. You three really are close,” Toale said as he stood to clear their teacups. “Thank you for encouraging me, Ryner.”

“Mm,” Ryner mumbled curtly, his face mellow.

---

The three went back inside to share information they couldn’t while Toale was there.

Ryner shared information about their long stay in the imperial capital and what he’d learned about Nelpha as well as the state of his search for the relics.

After that, Sion told them about his visit with the current king of Nelpha.

No matter how one looked at it, conspiracies and traps were swirling together. Their aim was likely Sion’s life. Ryner listened to him, lying on his side on his bed, and Ferris listened while chomping on dango Iris had brought her, not minding that they’d only just finished eating breakfast.

Sion smiled bitterly at how disinterested they both looked. “That’s the state of things. Your king’s life is in danger, I’d like to have you guys guard me for a while. What do you think?”

Ryner was, frankly, disgusted. “Huuuh, why do I gotta do it? The plan’s to assassinate you, so that means assassins are coming, right? That’s scary, I don’t like it. Also, it’s a pain, and like, I’m sleepy.”

Those were the words of the man who’d single handedly defeated fifty of Estabul’s strongest troops, their Magical Knights, during the war, folks.

Sion turned his attention to the blonde beauty.

“Nngh, muhmh. Hrrm. Nyuhniu,” she mumbled in her usual monotone. Because of the dango in her mouth, her words were unintelligible. Then she herself seemed to realize that fact and chewed her dango at her own pace…

For quite some time, her chewing at her dango was the only sound. It resounded dumbly through the room until she finished. “Mm. That’s how it is.”

“That’s how what is!” Sion and Ryner asked in unison.

Sion was at his wit’s end. But he wouldn’t back down. He’d pretty much expected them to respond like this. He smiled and tried another approach. “Ryner, do you know about the Taboo Hunters?”

“Mm? What’s this about all of a sudden? Of course I know about them. They chase down or otherwise kill people who know Roland’s magic and try and leave the country to keep our magic from getting out to other countries. They’re a disturbing organization.”

“You even know the details.”

“Yeah, well, it was the place most people from the special facility I was at ended up working. They boasted about it… about being one of the hated Taboo Hunters. So? What about them?”

“They’re coming after you,” Sion said easily.

But Ryner didn’t understand what he meant. He was silent for some time before finally raising his voice. “Hah?”

Sion nodded, satisfied. “Well, maybe I should’ve said they’re going to be after you from now on.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, Sion,” Ryner said, flustered. “Why am I being chased by the Taboo Hunters?”

“Hm? You don’t know even though you yourself were the one who said it? You can use Roland’s magic, escaped from jail, abducted a blonde beauty, and then fled the country. Why wouldn’t they be after you?”

“Huh? Well, er… I’m gonna say this again, slowly, so please listen carefully this time, okay? Why am I being chased by Taboo Hunters? I was ordered to do this work I didn’t wanna do by you -Roland’s king and a horrible, horrible person - wasn’t I? It was basically an imperial edict. And yet the Taboo Hunters want me? Isn’t that kinda weird?”

“Is it?” Sion asked. “But I think it’s obvious that the Taboo Hunters hunt taboo breakers?”

“Then say something to them!”

“Oh, right. I wonder if that’d be okay? I mean, I don’t really feel like doing something for you, Ryner. You won’t even listen to me… The Taboo Hunters will attack you even when you’re napping, when you’re in the bathroom, and when you’re eating… your private time will cease to exist. How pitiful… Hm? What’s wrong? You’ve suddenly gone quiet.”

Ryner held his face in his hands. “Why oh why did I have to have to meet a demon as bad as him?”

“Hm. Would you rather be my guard?”

“…Ah, geez, I get it already… do whatever you want.”

”Just as I thought, my good friend.”

“You talk too much!”

Next, Sion turned his attention to Ferris…

She glanced, no, glared back at him. “What, demon? You can’t get me with that. If you send the Taboo Hunters after me, I will just cut each and every one of them down.”

Scary. But Sion pushed forward. “I understand, Ferris. I didn’t think that drivel would bother you, and I don’t think I can get you to agree just by asking nicely.”

“Mm. Good call,” Ferris said and nodded, relieved.

“Oh, I know,” Sion continued casually, his tone light. “Wynnit Dagno is thinking about opening a branch in the noble sector, close by your house, Ferris, but they’re hesitating. What do you think, Ferris? Maybe markets really don’t suit the noble sector. Should I turn them down?”

Ferris suddenly rose. “Come, Ryner, and stop your complaining. We must begin guarding Sion immediately.”

“Hey, you, what’re you doing letting Sion win you over that easily! And over something as stupid as dan—”

“Mm? You bastard, did you just make light of dango?” Ferris asked. The shrill sound of her sword unsheathing echoed through the room.

“Hey, w-w-w-wait!! I take it back! Y-you’re right, dango is enough to overthrow the government over. It’s what’s really important. I g-get it so put your sword away.”

“Mm.”

Sion smiled at their exchange as he watched them, satisfied. “I’m so glad I have subordinates who think of their king.”

Ryner and Ferris turned on him, both talking at once.

“One of these days I’m definitely gonna spread a rumor that Roland’s king is a beast of a sex maniac that can make kids just by talking, and then I’m gonna murder you!”

“Mm. If the new branch isn’t complete by the time I return home, King, I’m severing your head.”

Overflowing with patriotism, weren’t they?

---

The moon was visible that night.

It dimly lit the castle’s imposing rampart several storeys high and its gate.

The whole castle was on high alert. Many guards were stationed, vigilantly watching so that not even a single kitten could pass.

Obviously. This was the king’s residence. The king of a neighboring country was currently visiting, too. It would be far stranger if they weren’t vigilantly guarding.

There shouldn’t be anyone hidden in a place like this. It’d be impossible for a normal person…

And yet, the light of the moon on the roof lit six suspicious figures. They wore all black, complete with black masks. They held onto the edge of the roof as they advanced, movements nimble.

Their aim was—…

A small window on their path suddenly opened from the inside. A young lady-in-waiting looked at the men in black and timidly waved to them. She was likely in on it, playing the part of inviting them in. The men lined up and ran towards her.

That was the current scene.

“……”

A little ways away, people watched it from the roof. There were two of them. One had lain down and was watching the men in black with motivationless and bored eyes. He sighed. “I’m like, suuuper tired… I didn’t get to sleep until late last night, and then I had to get up early… Hey, is it okay if I leave Sion’s work to you and just sleep here?”

Despite the situation, he didn’t sound nervous or on-edge in the slightest.

The second person, a blonde beauty, responded. “That should be my line. Even though Iris finally brought me some dango, I have to restrain myself from eating it while watching the moon because I need to sit here with a resentful habitual sex maniac instead. You could grant my dream.”

Ryner sighed loudly at her. “Well, about that. This is all a massive pain, so how about we just leave?”

“Mm. I’d like to, but the fate of the dango branch shop is in my hands. I can’t give that up.”

“…And what about worrying for Sion’s life?”

Ferris furrowed her eyebrows suspiciously. “Do I need to do that?”

“Nope,” Ryner said easily and stood. He popped his shoulders, horribly languid. “But, I mean, his personality’s so bad that he’d probably curse us if we let him die now… there’s nothing we can do about it, so let’s get to work.”

“Mm. Go on then.”

“Huh!? Hey, come on. You’re coming too, right?” Ryner asked.

“It’s a pain so I don’t want to,” Ferris said.

“I’m the one who doesn’t want to!”

For some reason, that surprised Ferris. “But then… then… what’ll happen to the dango shop?”

“Like I give a shit about that!”

As they argued, they ended up raising their voices quite a bit…

In the dead of a quiet night, no less.

Today, the castle was holding a grand reception party for Sion on the first floor. Ryner and Ferris were on the very top of the castle, over five floors higher, so there was no way they could hear them arguing all the way from the first floor banquet hall. The men in black were another story. They heard every word of it. They stopped in their tracks and looked to Ryner and Ferris.

“Hey… when did they get there? I couldn’t sense their presence at all…”

“Who are they…?”

The men had a cold, sharp glare through their masks that only an assassin was capable of. Ryner and Ferris noticed them staring.

Ryner’s mellow expression never changed. “Ferris, they noticed us because of all the dumb stuff you were saying. They look the real thing, too… Real strong.”

Ferris’ usual expressionless face didn’t change in the slightest. “It appears so. But they aren’t strong enough to be a problem for you.”

“Hmm. You have a surprisingly high opinion of me.”

Ferris nodded seriously. “Night after night you attack girls on the streets, but you haven’t been caught once. Even I have a certain respect a veteran such as yourse—”

“Enough already!” Ryner said and sighed. “I was wrong for thinking you expected good things of me for even a second… But, well, there’s no point in arguing with a selfish and violent—”

The shrill sound of her sword unsheathing echoed through the night.

“…No, um… that’s not what I meant… er, this should be no problem for your magnificent swordsmanship, right?”

“Can’t be helped,” one of the men in black said. I don’t know who they are, but we’ve gotta eliminate witnesses. Let’s do it.”

They all ran to attack at once.

Ryner stared at them vacantly and Ferris stared expressionlessly.

“It’s a pain, but… let’s do it,” Ryner said.

“Mm.”

They began to move. Ferris ran for them while Ryner stayed back and rose a hand to draw one of Roland’s magic circles.

When they saw it, the men in black stopped. “You’re… Rolanders!?” They screamed. Then the leading three men pulled sharp daggers from their pockets. The remaining three lifted their hands, moving them in complicated patterns, and began to draw a seal of light.

“Hmm. So you’re Nelphan assassins. Here I thought Roland’s nobles might’ve payed you off… well, I guess I’ll give this spell up then,” Ryner said and easily erased his magic circle.

In the next moment, Ferris reached the dagger-wielding assassins. They began their clash.

“What can a lone girl do as our opponent?” One of the men yelled.

Another man continued after the first. “Real unfortunate for you, but you can’t compete with us…”

They threw their daggers at her with unbelievable speed. Ryner’s initial impression was correct: these guys were the real deal. Their movements didn’t leave even the smallest gap, and their battle formation showcased their cooperation. Though their type was the sort that would never go down in history since they always worked from behind the scenes, if given the chance, these six men could easily take out a whole platoon of soldiers.

Even so, the beauty’s expression didn’t change one bit. “You’re pretty talkative for assassins.”

Ferris’ movements were comparatively calm and relaxed. She unsheathed the sword at her waist, then threw it up into the air. As she did, she kicked a dagger up and away. Two more were heading her way - she caught them between her fingers, then tossed them back up.

“Wha!?”

The men were in shock, but Ferris wasn’t done. She caught her falling sword. It flashed in the moonlight.

In an instant, the single sound of metal-on-metal resounded through the air. But even though there had only been one sound, she’d hit the three daggers she’d thrown into their air. They flew back to the three men in the rear who were chanting incantations’ arms.

“Gyyaaaaahh!!”

They collapsed to the ground, holding their arms. Ferris then sheathed her sword and looked to the front three men. “Mm. Do you want to keep going?”

Their faces had paled, and they leapt back. “Wh-what are you?”

“A beauty,” Ferris said easily.

“……”

Nobody had the guts to play the straight man to that one…

Aside from Ferris, whose face had gone red at her own compliment… everyone’s expressions were deathly serious.

“Kuh! We won’t have anywhere to return to if we fail here! We have to do something, anything to deal with…”

The assassin’s words trailed off. Ryner, who was carving seal after seal into the air with a horribly unmotivated expression, had caught his eye.

“W-what…?” The man mumbled and shivered. “What the fuck’s with these guys…? You can use Roland’s magic… and Nelpha’s?

Unbelievable.

For starters, magic’s composition was completely different depending on its country of origin. It was even fair to say that magic to its core was different depending on the country. How should one start a spell? What medium should they use? Should they use an incantation or a magic circle? What about a seal? Even the absolute fundamentals were different.

So using magic from another country was really not that easy of a task. That’s why it was so dangerous to let one’s magic’s composition be known abroad… so it was important for Taboo Hunters to go out of their way to keep that from happening. That way the division of magic between countries wouldn’t become too lopsided.

So it was clearly strange that he could use the magic of two different countries…

But Ryner could do it all with a tired expression.

The men were astonished. “What in the world…”

Then one of them yelled suddenly, having realized something. “H-his eyes… he’s got pentagrams in his eyes!?”

The men started an uproar.

“What!? Then that means he’s… he’s one of those disaster bringing Alpha Stigma bearers!?”

They screamed, faces twitching.

Alpha Stigma. They always spat those words through fear and loathing…

The red glow of the pentagram in his eyes was bound to draw attention in the dead of night. His eyes could copy magic just by seeing it, from its composition to its ability, analyzing it completely and bringing it into existence.

In truth, the Alpha Stigma was an abomination. But that wasn’t all…

“You fools! Those Alpha Stigma bearing monsters shouldn’t be able to understand reasoning or work for someone else’s sake… I’ve never heard of this sort of thing before!”

“Roland’s keeping monsters like this now?”

Ryner watched them, his expression turning just a little sad. He narrowed his pentagram bearing eyes. “You talk too much,” he said quietly. “It’s not like they like monsters all that much either…”

“Mm. But once he gets in bed, he instantly becomes a beas—”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re being noisy. Be quiet,” Ryner said. He closed his sad eyes for a moment and smiled bitterly. Then he faced the assassins once more to finish his Nelphan spell. He spoke the incantation calmly. “O breath of wind, loan us your power.”

The wind around them suddenly collected into something more violent, then headed for the assassins. They couldn’t dodge and were forced to take the direct hit…

Their whole bodies were torn. It was obvious that they couldn’t fight anymore.

With that, the battle ended.

“Phew.”

Ryner sighed listlessly.

Ferris tilted her head. “Hm. It was an easy victory. But Ryner… why did you hold back? You could have killed them with your magic. That naivety will be your undoing.”

“Huh, um? What’re you saying? You just cut the guys’ arms. You didn’t kill anyone either. You could have hit their hearts if you’d wanted to, right? Ryner asked. But he didn’t sound like he was trying to pick a fight at all.

For some reason, Ferris reacted with surprise despite her lack of expression. “C-could it be that you’re thinking of extending your rotten ways past women and children and onwards to men too!?”

“Hey, were you even listening to me?”

“Of course not.”

“Oh, so you’re admitting to it!?”

They continued to argue for a while…

Eventually, Ryner was left several times more exhausted than he’d felt after the actual battle had ended. “So what should we do with these guys? Just leave them sleeping here? Cleaning up’s a pain so I don’t wanna do it.”

“Mm. We have three ways we could go from here,” Ferris said.

“Right,” Ryner said in agreement. “One: we capture them while they sleep. Two: we kill them. Three: we let them go home. So what should we do? I think these guys’ll be too scared to try and attack Sion again… pros like this can’t find assassin work again after a failed mission, so I think it’s fine to just go with the third option.”

Ferris shook her head seriously. “No, it has to be the second option. We call Iris and eat dango while watching the moon.”

“…Were you even listening to me? You don’t want to listen at all, do you?”

“Of—”

“Don’t just say ‘of course not’ again!”

After arguing for a while, they decided to leave the assassins and go home. Assassins never actually knew their client’s names, so even if they captured them nothing would come of it.

Once they reached their conclusion, Ryner and Ferris walked away with an unmotivated gait.

“Man, I sure am tired… I do know why though. Dealing with you every day is one hundred times more tiring than dealing with assassins…”

“Hm. You were born with such a poor character that my own angelic heart inflicts damage on you.”

“…The damage miiight be inflicted when you hit me.”

And so the curtain draws on their night as they leave the scene over some friendly (?) banter.

---

At around that time, Sion safely returned to his room after the party. He was a bit fatigued after holding a friendly demeanor and carrying on pleasant conversation for so long. He sighed softly. “At least it’s been more or less uneventful,” he whispered to himself.

He lay on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. People were seriously after his life right now. The party had made him realize that. He’d felt malice and killing intent on his back. When he turned to look at those nobles, they smiled at him. But through their smiles he could tell that they wanted to kill him.

They were obviously regular people. If they were pros - assassins - then they wouldn’t have been so obvious about their anticipation. They’d approach him, kill him without hesitation, and then leave the scene as quickly as they’d come. There would be no need for them to make contact with anyone but their target…

That was the golden rule. So even though there had been people who wanted him dead at that party, nobody could have actually killed him. If someone was coming for him, they’d strike somewhere else entirely. But there had been no sign of anyone coming.

“…Hm. I wonder if it’s because Ryner and Ferris are doing a good job…?”

As he thought to himself, he was struck by a mysterious unease. Then someone knocked on his door.

Sion raised his head. “Oh, you came.”

“I apologize for coming late, Your Majesty,” a dark, cold voice said from outside the room. “I have completed my investigation. May I request permission to enter your room?”

“Mm. Come on.”

The door opened, and Sion watched as he entered with narrowed gold eyes.

“……”

It was Froaude. His expression was as dark as always, but there was something even colder about him. Something frigid.

He’d brought something strange in behind him - a living being. He tossed it down in the center of the room.

“The mastermind of this affair is one single person: Count Welias,” Froaude said. “I heard all about it from him.”

His tone was completely unconcerned…

Sion couldn’t say anything. No… he was made to be unable to say anything. He could only stare at the man lying on the floor in front of him.

The man who’d been introduced as Count Welias didn’t have any arms or legs. That wasn’t the end of it, either. His torso was damaged, too… it was completely lacking pieces as if some kind of beast had chewed through it…

It was a strange scene.

What in the world had Froaude done to Welias…?

Sion’s mind erupted in suspicion. But he closed his eyes for a moment, took a breath, and looked up. “Give me your report,” he said.

For some reason, that made Froaude happy. His lips curved up. “I really am glad that I chose you to be my master.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Of course it means that I am glad to be your retainer. You didn’t say anything even after seeing this, even though you yourself are wrapped in light… because at the same time, you are wrapped in a great darkness. I will work for you to my heart’s content.”

Sion forced a smile. Froaude didn’t need him to urge him again. He began his detached explanation.

“According to what I heard from this man… the ringleaders to this affair are the prince and his circle of nobles. The reason it started was that the king apparently does not want the prince to succeed him; instead, he seemed interested in choosing one of the prince’s sons. That displeased the prince. And so the prince apparently decided that he should assassinate the king and take his place as ruler of this country…”

Froaude paused for a moment, then continued. “However, to accomplish that, they had to get rid of the shield protecting him from behind - you, Lord Astal. You procured that power through the military ranks as opposed to through lineage. Even if it would shame them, the prince and Nelphan nobility relied on Roland’s nobility. Though I doubt it is so much relying on them so much as accepting their money,” Froaude said and faintly smiled.

“Well, that sort of thing is pretty common.”

“Yes.”

“So he didn’t end up giving the names of his noble Rolander conspirators?”

“Well… it appears that Roland’s nobility was merely acting as his financial backing. Their names were not clear to him.”

“Haha. Our nobles would have made the better masterminds.”

“…In any event, we must deal with them as well,” Froaude said.

Deal with them. In other words, kill them.

Sion sighed and fell into thought. Sooner or later, his hands… and his subordinates’ hands… would murder a great number of people. There was no room for hesitation in matters such as this. Even so, Sion looked at his own palms and sighed.

He couldn’t help but feel that his hands were already quite dirty with blood…

He’d already lost the right to touch his mother with these hands of his. A self-deprecatory smile rose to his face.

Enough of that. He had to return to the matter at hand. He now understood who his enemies in Nelpha were. All that was left was figuring out how to approach the issue…

This wasn’t his country. It was another country’s affair. He couldn’t just ‘deal with’ the prince.

“I think that I should approach the prince,” Froaude said. “Your Majesty will support the prince on behalf of Roland’s nobility.”

“Hoh. And let the current king be assassinated by the idiot prince?”

“Yes. Should a fool rule the country, it will be that much easier to make it crumble,” Froaude said easily.

Sion’s thought process stopped entirely for a moment before he caught it and shrugged. “You seriously think I’m going to take over the whole continent of Menoris, don’t you… But I really don’t want that, you know. I don’t think I want that kind of senseless, indiscriminate war.”

“There is nothing wrong with that. A true king does what the world desires, not what he himself desires. Even if… you should refuse to do such a thing… sir. But I do believe that you will want it after a while.”

“I don’t want that.”

“Then I will tempt you until you do,” Froaude said, tone still as detached as before.

Sion was taken aback, then smiled like this was fun for him. “All my subordinates are scary people, aren’t they?”

“…May I accept those words as praise?”

“Haha. Who knows. Right now, my path leads to fixing Roland up from the inside. If that stupid prince takes Nelpha’s throne and their public safety suffers, it’ll affect Roland too. I’d rather have a good relationship with them. I’ll talk to Nelpha’s king and then leave the matter of the prince in his hands.”

Froaude was quiet for some time before slowly lowering his head. “As you wish.”

---

That night, the other side of Imperial Nelpha’s politics were in disarray.

Sion heard the details from Nelpha’s king.

If Nelpha made one wrong move, they’d end up at war with the Great Roland Empire. Nobles who had the country’s best interests at heart made every effort to avoid that from within Nelpha.

First of all, the ringleader of the affair, Nelpha’s prince Starnelle Nelphi, was restrained. Then the nobles acting with him were captured one after another… it was a fight against time. If they took too long, they could flee and join Roland’s anti-monarchy faction. They had to clean them all up in a single night…

Luckily, many nobles were assembled in the castle that night for the party. They were able to capture the vast majority of instigators.

Right now, the king and the important nobility were bowing deeply to Sion.

“Th-this journey has truly only caused you trouble… We are indebted to you for your generosity in not going to war with our country.”

Sion’s expression was troubled. “No, I could say the same. Roland’s nobility is equally to blame for this matter. From my point of view, there is no need for you to apologize to me, Lord Nelphi. Please, there is no need for you to worry.”

“…I have no words fit to convey my gratitude… I think our neighbor Roland ought to be proud of you, Lord Astal.”

Sion smiled. “That is what I should be saying. A king that would bow his head to another country’s ruler such as yourself is rare. As long as you, Gread Nelphi, are king of Imperial Nelphi, I shan’t worry for the north of my country.”

With that, the group from Nelpha had no more words to match Sion’s praise.

---

And so, everything ended… or at least it should have.

But in the dark, deep night, Froaude remained standing.

His surroundings were dyed bright red.

Blood, blood, blood.

A smile rose to his lips as he gazed at it. “Now all the remnants appear to be dealt with,” he whispered.

The men and women surrounding him had all stopped breathing indiscriminately…

He sighed once, then looked up at the sky to confirm the position of the moon. Dawn wouldn’t break for a while still. Then he looked back around the unbreathing corpses. “It is a nice night. Please sleep well, everyone…”

With that, he walked off, stepping slowly into the dark.

“Now, there is one more thing to take care of… I cannot allow people who would interfere with Lord Astal’s military rule to live. I must eliminate all who should stand in His Majesty’s way… if at all possible, I would like to deal with them before dawn breaks…”

He walked without a sound as he headed for his next destination. The moon’s position was moving in the sky, but it seemed that dawn wouldn’t break for a while yet.

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