Chapter 67

Emergency Assembly (1)

Rigon, the boy, woke up late in the evening, after half a day had passed.

"Ugh... Big sister?"

Rif, who had cried for a long time during the day, burst into tears again when her brother woke up.

As soon as he got up, he hugged her with a puzzled look and tried to comfort her.

Rigon seemed to have no memory of what happened at the stadium, so a truly concerned Rif explained everything that had happened.

His face contorted, his eyes widened in shock, and he showed a variety of expressions as he listened to the explanation. First, he thanked me.

"Thank you. Th, th... ."

"Ron."

"Ah, Sir Ron. Thank you so much for saving my sister and me. I, I really... ."

Rigon, who tried to get out of bed, swayed as if he were dizzy and fell back onto the bed.

"Don't move. Lie down again quickly."

Rif urgently laid him back down.

"It will take a long time for your body to fully recover. Not only from this recent incident, but you were already in a very weakened state."

Gulpiro clicked his tongue and added.

"We used the most effective potion we had, but you should still remain still and rest for a while."

"Yes... Thank you, Sir Pleon."

Once the situation was roughly sorted out, the conversation shifted to what would happen next.

"What do you plan to do with these children?"

In response to Gulpiro's question, I looked at the siblings.

My current situation was, well... seriously dire.

The death of a ruler was a major event that would turn Caldrick upside down, and the one who killed him was not from a different faction but another ruler.

In the game's setting, there had only been two instances in Caldrick's history where a ruler had been killed by another ruler. That's what I remembered.

And both of those rulers were purged.

One was captured at an emergency assembly where all the rulers were gathered, and the other fled after the incident but was eventually caught by the Grand Ruler and executed by her.

This was also the fork in the road presented to me.

'Go back to the 7 Rulers' Order or run away.'

However, the latter was not an option, even without much deliberation.

It would mean turning the entire Caldrick, one of the four major powers on the continent, into an enemy.

Even if I managed to escape, would I be able to overcome the numerous obstacles ahead as planned?

'And above all, it would be too irresponsible.'

If I ran away, those left behind who were associated with me would inevitably face great difficulties.

In the capital of the 7 Rulers' Order alone, there was the Alkimas Workshop. It was uncertain how the Grand Ruler would deal with them.

In the end, the only remaining option was to return to the 7 Rulers' Order.

If I returned to the 7 Rulers' Order, an emergency assembly would likely be called soon.

An emergency assembly meant exactly that.

It was a gathering of all the rulers by the Grand Ruler's authority when a significant event like this occurred.

And I would have to attend the assembly, half as a criminal.

'But there's no choice but to go.'

I didn't know how things would unfold. I might even die.

But I wasn't completely unprepared.

First, I would attend the assembly willingly and have a conversation with the Grand Ruler.

Resolving this crisis there and tying it up would be the best course of action, at least according to my judgment.

I first gave the siblings a brief explanation. They needed to understand the situation.

That I was one of the 7 Rulers of Caldrick, that the 6th Ruler, the Tyrant, was dead, and a rough outline of what would happen next.

Rigon's mouth dropped open as he listened, and Rif swallowed hard with a tense face.

"......So, you two will also come with me to the 7 Rulers' Order."

Even though my current situation was precarious, it would be the safest for them to stay with me for now.

I had considered taking them away with Ashel, but if things went wrong at the emergency assembly, it would be a futile effort.

Fortunately, the two did not show any resistance or refusal.

"We have received a favor that we cannot repay. We will gladly follow your wishes, no matter what."

Rif said this, and Rigon also agreed.

I stared at Rigon intently.

It was still absurd to think about.

When I first learned that her name was Rif, I did think of Rifrigon, but I dismissed it as a coincidence. There was no connection.

But her brother, this innocent-looking boy, turned out to be Rifrigon... What are the odds?

'I don't know if this is a good thing or not.'

Was this the reason for the mysterious memory that surfaced?

Saving and securing the boy who would become the corrupted Rifrigon in the future.

...Ah, I don't know. There was no point in overthinking this issue.

I shook my head and said to Rif.

"First, both of you should eat."

Rigon, of course, and Rif, who had been awake since earlier, had not eaten anything while watching over her brother.

I had Baros prepare dinner.

However, Rif tried to set aside her own portion and feed the soup to Rigon first. It was a terrifying love for her brother.

In the end, Rigon took the bowl and started eating on his own, and only then did she eat her own meal.

Gulpiro, watching this from a table outside the room, asked.

"When do you plan to leave?"

"Once Rigon's condition has improved somewhat."

"But it will be too late... Shouldn't you hurry back?"

I shook my head.

There was no point in rushing since it wouldn't change anything.

Four days passed.

While staying at the shop, I occasionally felt gazes from outside, but that was all.

During this time, Rigon's condition rapidly improved to the point where he could move around on his own.

Although he was still thin, his complexion had improved significantly compared to when he first woke up.

'It's time to move.'

It was time to return to the 7 Rulers' Order.

***

The capital of Enrock, the 7 Rulers' Order, Burkhorn.

After a considerable amount of time, the carriage arrived at the Ruler's Castle.

Although it had been over half a year since I last returned to the Ruler's Castle, it didn't feel like coming home.

I hadn't stayed here for very long in the first place.

The first to greet me at the castle's main gate was the head butler, Floto.

He, who usually maintained a poker face, seemed a bit tense.

Not only him, but the atmosphere of the knights standing in line was also tense, for obvious reasons.

"Has anyone visited the castle?"

"......Yes, knights from the Grand Ruler's Castle visited not long ago."

It seemed the news had already reached the Grand Ruler's Castle and here.

There was no need to be impressed by the speed of their response.

I hadn't rushed, and the Grand Ruler's side had plenty of time to assess the situation.

I brought Gulpiro and the siblings into the castle.

I lived my life as usual, waiting for a reaction from the other side.

During this time, I could feel eyes watching from a distance around the castle.

They were likely sent by the Grand Ruler's Castle, so I didn't pay much attention. They were probably watching in case I left the castle.

About two weeks later.

Creak!

Hearing a faint cry from a distance, I got up from my seat and looked out the window.

Three giant flying creatures, wyverns, flying towards the castle came into view.

And the people riding them...

'Finally, they're here.'

I stepped out of the room and said to Ashel, who was waiting by the door.

"Stay in the castle with the siblings and Gulpiro. If you hear bad news, act as I told you."

She looked like she had a lot to say but eventually nodded with a determined face.

"......Understood."

Leaving her behind, I went down to the central hall on the ground floor.

Amid the commotion outside, the head butler soon approached and relayed a message.

"They say they have come to deliver a message from the Grand Ruler."

Three figures soon appeared in the hall.

A dwarf, a man in a robe, and a knight.

I stood facing them and looked at each one in turn.

The atmosphere in the central hall was icy.

【Lv. 96】

【Lv. 89】

I recognized two of them.

1st Ruler Sintui and Chief Advisor Dayphon.

【Lv. 95】

And the black-armored knight standing on the right, by his level, was likely...

'The Captain of the Black Lin.'

Captain of the Black Lin Knights, Cradiel.

While the Chief Advisor was the Grand Ruler's right hand, he was her left hand and the most powerful sword.

The Black Lin Knights, unlike the rulers, were loyal to the Grand Ruler and followed only her orders.

"The Grand Ruler has declared an emergency assembly, 7th Ruler."

Sintui, armed with armor and a sword emitting a faint multicolored glow, spoke first.

"I don't think you don't know the reason, so let's confirm the facts. Is it true that you fought the 6th Ruler in Mahaea and ultimately killed him?"

There was no point in denying it, so I nodded.

"Yes."

"Why did you kill the 6th Ruler?"

"That doesn't seem necessary to explain right now."

"......Does that mean you will attend the assembly willingly?"

Sintui asked with a stern look. A field of force rippled around his armor like mist.

The Captain of the Black Lin, who had his hand on the hilt of his sword, subtly tightened his grip.

A cold and suffocating tension filled the hall.

I stood facing them and finally spoke.

"Yes."

If I hadn't intended to, I wouldn't have returned to the Ruler's Castle.

And they knew that as well.

At that moment, the Chief Advisor spoke up.

"I heard you saved a human brother and sister at the Actifol Games. If this is related to the incident... ."

"I'm the only one moving."

I firmly cut him off.

He looked at Sintui with a tense face, and Sintui nodded.

"Understood. Then let's move to the Grand Ruler's Castle immediately."

I wondered if the other rulers had already gathered.

It was curious, but I would find out soon enough, so I didn't ask.

I looked at the Chief Advisor.

I knew he would use his teleportation to return to the castle. As expected, he stepped forward.

"Please come to my side. We will move by teleportation."

I walked over to the three of them.

Soon, a massive flow of mana distorted my surroundings.