Chapter 48

"Welcome back."

"Welcome home."

"Have you finished talking?"

When I returned to the balcony on the second floor of the reception hall, I was greeted with smiles from the two of them.

"Yeah. I don't really have any intention of staying in the castle, so we agreed to non-interference."

Actually, given the content of that agreement, it felt like that would be the case whether I won or lost.

"So—what are you doing now?"

Looking at the square, there stood a stone pillar about the size of a person's arms, and a knight in armor was facing it from a distance, gripping a bastard sword.

"It's the Knight Commander's demonstration, they say."

A demonstration. So, he's going to slice that stone pillar, I guess. As I watched, he leaped and raised the bastard sword high. A fighting spirit enveloped the blade, and he delivered a vertical slash with the momentum of his descent.

The sound of the stone breaking echoed. The blade of the bastard sword reached the ground without losing any momentum, and the stone pillar split neatly in half, falling to either side.

A moment later, applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

The great sword technique, Gourakuretsu. The jump before it is also a technique. The Knight Commander placed his hand on his waist and bowed to the king and the audience.

"Quite a show."

"It's a festive day. He prefers a more subdued style of fighting, though."

Oswald. Oswald doesn't take sides with anyone; he seems to think that as long as someone is strong and interesting, that's good enough.

"Everyone, well done. I have clearly seen the fruits of your daily training with my own eyes."

It seemed to be the last performance by the Knight Commander, and King Melvin nodded in satisfaction.

"Those who have shown significant improvement, I will call their names. They will receive rewards, so they should state their wishes."

Following the king's words, an attendant read out the names of the knights one by one. When it came to their wishes... the knights who were called all responded in unison, "As you wish, my lord." They were leaving the rewards to the king's discretion.

"Sir Chester."

Chester had returned to the line of knights in the square, but he seemed distracted and didn't react immediately when his name was called.

"Sir Chester?"

"Y-Yes! I apologize for my rudeness."

"It's fine. State your wish."

"...As you wish, my lord."

Kneeling and performing the vassal's bow, Chester responded, but his answer was somewhat hesitant. A puzzled expression crossed King Melvin's face, but it was only for a moment.

"Hmm. Then, the knights should wait for further notice. Well—"

King Melvin nodded and turned his gaze to me.

...Here it comes. Given that I defeated the demon, I had expected some kind of talk from the royal family.

"For the hero who fought for our kingdom—a small hero—there must be a reward. Therefore, I will grant a reward commensurate with your achievements. However, since you are not one of my knights, we need to have a more detailed discussion."

King Melvin said to come to the king's tower and smiled contentedly before turning away. The square was filled with chants praising the king.

The content of the reward is to be discussed.

Suddenly being offered a position or a reward... in my case, it wouldn't be discussed in public. Unlike the pampered knights, if I said something foolish, it would be harder to cover up.

"I have been instructed to guide you by His Majesty."

The one who said this was a female knight in magnificent armor, wearing a white cloak. She was a royal guard.

"Then, I will return ahead of you."

Grace said this, perhaps out of politeness, but the knight smiled and replied.

"I have also been informed about your companion. His Majesty has instructed you both to come to the king's tower."

"...I accept the invitation, but is it alright for me to accompany you? I am—"

"Don't finish that sentence. In the castle, there are also non-human races, such as elves and dwarves, who work and come and go. However, the seal on that ring—should I call it that?—must not be broken within the castle walls."

"Understood."

She seems to have a fairly accurate grasp of Grace's situation.

The source of the information could be from the guild, the academy, or perhaps—my father. It's possible that the information was passed on from the beginning.

I haven't been pretending to be someone else, so I haven't hidden the fact that I am a bastard son of the Gartner family. If my father had originally intended to make Byron my guardian, it wouldn't be surprising if he had already laid some groundwork for me and Grace.

Following the royal guard, we headed to the center of the castle Theorem, to the king's tower. Climbing a large staircase and entering the white tower, I saw a huge pillar running through the center of the spacious hall.

The pillar was hollow, with its walls and interior carved out, allowing entry. The royal guard walked into a small room inside the hollow pillar.

"Please step onto the central part."

Hmm. Step onto it...?

Looking up, I saw a vertical shaft. The walls, adorned with patterns, glowed white, allowing me to see quite far up, but it seemed to extend very high. I understood the purpose of this structure.

Following the royal guard's instructions, two of us entered the small room inside the pillar. The royal guard confirmed this and then placed her hand over a gemstone on the wall, muttering something.

Magic power flowed through the magic circuit, and green lines of light ran across the floor.

At the same time, the entrance we had come through became a wall, and the platform we were on began to rise vertically inside the pillar.

"Eh...? What's happening here?"

Grace looked around the inside of the pillar, puzzled. There was a unique sensation, as if being pressed by gravity. It would be an unfamiliar feeling for someone not used to elevators.

"Is this... going to take us to the top?"

"You understand well?"

When I confirmed the situation with the royal guard, the two of them seemed to understand.

"...That's an impressive mechanism."

"Everyone is surprised. You might feel uneasy, but don't worry; the floating stone has never broken."

The royal guard smiled at Ashley, who had wide eyes.

...Theorem is said to be part of a dungeon. It's not unusual for there to be one or two mechanisms that are unconventional by our world's standards.

The fact that it has never broken... it's probably maintenance-free, or the dungeon itself repairs it automatically. If that's the case, there might be similar mechanisms in the deeper parts of the dungeon.

"It's certainly fast for going up and down, but isn't it inconvenient to have only one route?"

"There are other ways to enter and exit, of course. Using a flying dragon or a teleportation magic circle, for example. However, from the main gate to the audience chamber, we use the floating stone pillar. We can't have guests being led through the soldiers' and knights' quarters and climbing endless stairs."

This 'floating stone pillar'... it probably serves as a security measure and also demonstrates the kingdom's power to foreign guests.

The castle is not only a residence for the royal family but also a fortress.

When the floating stone stopped moving, a section of the wall dissolved into the air, allowing us to exit the pillar.

"His Majesty is waiting for you."

Exiting the elevator, I saw a long carpet on the floor.

It was a corridor with finely decorated pillars.

Paintings adorned the ceiling. ...The corridor itself could be called a work of art.

Passing through this museum-like corridor, we eventually reached a large door.

"Beyond this door is the audience chamber. I will conduct a quick inspection, just to be safe."

"Please do."

Hmm. So that's why they prepared a female royal guard. I appreciate their consideration, but... have I really impressed the king that much?

While the royal guard conducted a body check, I looked around the waiting room, noticing patterns carved into the walls and floor that were clearly not just for decoration.

It seemed that a barrier was set up in the audience chamber and the connected waiting room. It appeared to be a powerful anti-magic barrier... probably to prevent assassination attempts by mages.

Since this is where the royal family meets with outsiders, it's a necessary precaution.

"It seems to be fine."

When the royal guard's body check was complete, the door to the audience chamber finally opened.

As I entered the audience chamber, I saw the thrones of the king and queen on a raised platform, flanked by royal guards, court mages, and nobles.

"Welcome. Small hero. You are permitted to speak freely, so raise your visor. You are indeed the son of Baron Henry and the Holy Maiden Lisa, Theodore Gartner, are you not?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

When I answered, King Melvin smiled again.

"A genius mage and the son of a holy maiden. You have a fitting appearance for a demon slayer. I find you, a prodigy, quite appealing."

I don't think someone like me has ever been a vassal, so it feels like I'm being found interesting for my rarity.

The fact that I'm not being asked about magic... might be thanks to my mother.

"Well. As I mentioned earlier, I want to hear your thoughts. Since you have come to Termwill, you must have your own ideas. Speak your mind freely."

"Then, with all due respect, I would like to continue my adventurer's career for a while."

"Hmm. What is your reason?"

"I want to improve my abilities. And there's also the matter of my mother."

If they know about Grace, they probably know about the Sleeping King. I won't explain too much.

Exploring the dungeon is something the kingdom encourages, and since the demons are involved with the Moonlight Temple, my desire to explore the dungeon would be welcome to King Melvin.

Also... since the royal family doesn't fully understand my character yet, I think it would be more welcome to ask for a fief or position later rather than immediately.

"—Even though you are already a demon slayer, you want to become even stronger, do you?"

King Melvin laughed heartily and expansively.

"That is a commendable answer. For a while... does that mean you have other plans in the future... hmm."

King Melvin glanced at Grace and Ashley, who were standing behind me, and nodded.

"Very well. I will bless your martial fortune and future."

In other words... our exploration of the dungeon and our relationship have been officially recognized by the king.

Ashley is the head of the Siln family. If the kingdom wants to prevent me, a demon slayer, from leaving the country, a noble marriage would be something they would welcome from the start.

If Ashley hadn't been here, I might have been pressured into other marriage arrangements on the spot.

"But since this is something you have already achieved on your own, it cannot be called a reward. I have investigated you a bit. You are looking for a staff, are you not?"

"That's correct."

"Then, in addition to the reward money, I will grant you a magic staff from the treasury. Choose one that you like."

"...I deeply appreciate Your Majesty's generosity."

"Hmm. I have high expectations for your work."

From the treasury of Theorem. Needless to say, it's a valuable item. It's not something that can be bought with money.

While maintaining my current situation and relationships, I am being supported, and I am being granted a treasure that cannot be bought with money.

Honestly, it's a welcome offer. The better treatment than I expected indicates that the king has high hopes for me.

The situation with the demons is suspicious, and I am being seen as a valuable asset. The battle against the demons is—rather, what I hope for.

The offer of a magic staff is probably because my relationship with the court has become less direct.

Even if the treatment is favorable to my wishes, it doesn't involve power. There will be less resistance from the nobles and fewer complications due to changes in the environment. The king might be the one most pleased internally. It's the correct use of unnecessary treasures.

"I will call on you again when the occasion arises. Next time—how about inviting you to a banquet?"

If there is a next time, it will probably be when something is discovered or progresses regarding the Moonlight Temple or the demons.

But still, a banquet... I must have made quite an impression.

While it's said that a tall tree casts a long shadow, it could be troublesome if I get too close to King Melvin, who is somewhat advanced in age, as there might be a backlash later.

...It's no use worrying too much about the future. Prince Albert is here, so things will work out.

The rest is—what kind of magic staff is in the treasury.