Chapter 21

The king's expression turned visibly displeased...

"Do you lie before the king?"

"No, no, it's the truth!?"

Why do you assume I'm lying!?

"I do not doubt your accomplishments at all. You gathered the materials for the Explosion potion and rescued a valuable alchemist from slave traders. Both are commendable deeds. How could someone who has achieved such feats be skill-less!?"

For some reason, I'm the one being scolded.

"There are those who hide their skills because they don't want to reveal their true capabilities. However, I am the king. It is my duty to appropriately allocate all talents for the good of the country and make the best use of them. Hiding your abilities from the king is a sin, you should know that!"

"But I really am skill-less..."

"Enough, are you still saying that!!"

"Would you like to see my guild card?"

"Show it."

The guild card clearly states the registrant's information, and anyone can see it.

If you look at this, you'll know right away if I'm lying or telling the truth.

"...It really says 'skill-less'."

"See?"

"However, I cannot believe it. The slave traders had strong bodyguards, and to obtain the materials for the Explosion potion, you had to enter a dangerous dungeon and fight various monsters. It's hard to imagine someone without any skills, someone completely unarmed, coming out unscathed."

The king, still scrutinizing the guild card closely.

Even if you hold it up to the light, nothing will appear, you know?

"Your Majesty, if I may,"

"What is it, minister?"

"Isn't the most likely possibility that this person is lying?"

The minister, who looks very important, standing beside the king, has a thinning head of hair.

"Surely, one cannot lie on a guild card? Besides, what benefit would there be in falsely claiming to be 'skill-less'?"

"The lie isn't about that, but about the numerous accomplishments he claims. An incompetent person without any skills could never be of any use to the king. This person must be listing nonexistent accomplishments to ingratiate himself with the king."

The minister with the thinning hair looks at me with a disdainful gaze, as if I were trash.

"A 'skill-less' person is human garbage. Just involving yourself with such a person is a grave sin, wasting the king's precious time. Get rid of this useless person quickly and focus only on beneficial discussions with the noble lady who possesses alchemy skills."

"If Ryuya leaves, I'll leave with him!!"

Noem's sharp voice cuts in.

She sends a hostile gaze towards the bald minister without any restraint.

"Did I say something to offend you, young lady? But I'm saying this for your own good. Someone like you, who has been chosen, should not be with the lowest of the 'skill-less'. You might be tainted by their filth."

"Ryuya is my benefactor! I won't listen to anyone who speaks ill of him!"

"Insolent...!"

I clearly heard him click his tongue.

Just as the bald minister was about to say something more...

'Noem's words are refreshing.'

This voice...?

'The numerous insults to my master are worthy of death. I thought about destroying the entire country, but I will spare the castle in light of Noem's boldness.'

"Stop it!"

The demon spirit Abinion.

She had been absent until now, but as soon as she appeared, she started saying scary things, so I quickly stopped her.

"What, what is this!? A white woman suddenly appeared!?"

"Is that a ghost? A ghost!? Get out, get out!! The castle has been invaded by a monster, protect the king!!"

Soldiers rushed into the audience chamber.

Chaos ensued.

"Wait! Wait! She's harmless!"

'Hehehehe, a bunch of weaklings. Even if you gathered a hundred thousand of you, the effort to kill one of you is the same.'

We were both in a fighting mood, so I hurriedly stopped her.

"Ryuya, is this ghost a relative of yours? It's unusual to bring a non-human companion..."

"I met her on the plains, and after a series of events, she became attached to me..."

"Plains? Could it be...?"

The king furrows his brow, as if he has some idea.

'If you are the king of this country, you should know. The leader of the evil spirits that lived in the place you call the Colant Plains is me. I fell in love with the master here and have no more interest in that land.'

"Then, the Colant Plains are free from evil spirits!?"

'Of course, since I left, the evil spirits have no reason to cling to that land.'

"I have received no such report! Why did no one inform me of such a significant event!?"

'Well, if you didn't, you can hear it now. From the one who accomplished it.'

Everyone's gaze turned to me.

"Ryuya, did you really liberate the Colant Plains? The land that was thought to be completely ravaged by evil spirits and impossible to reclaim...!?"

"It happened by chance...!"

"If that's true, your accomplishments are not limited to the two mentioned. How many medals should I award you?"

I don't really need medals.

I just did what I thought would be helpful.

"Don't be fooled, Your Majesty!"

The bald minister started causing a commotion again.

"That ghost woman might just be one of the 'skill-less' person's tricks! The evil spirits in the Colant Plains couldn't be subdued even by the church's full efforts! How could a 'skill-less' person drive them away!?"

'Is the only measure in your head skills, baldy?'

"Who are you calling bald!?"

Oh, I said it.

'There are many other types of power that shape this world besides skills. Unlike you, I have a broad perspective and can understand the greatness of my master. After all, he was chosen by the Eight Dragons and has a level of eight million. Isn't it only natural to obey him?'

"Eight million!? Level!?"

Oh, I said it.

"Hah! Hahahaha! You've finally shown your true colors! The level cap is 99! There's no way such a ridiculous number exists!!"

'That's only true for humans. It's truly pitiful to think that what you know is all there is in the world.'

"Pitiful!?"

'The level cap for demons is 999. The level cap for demon spirits like us is 99,999. The level cap for the Eight Dragons, who are even higher, is said to be ten million. So, what's so strange about my master having a level of eight million?'

"..."

The king and the bald minister fell silent.

They couldn't process the information.

'How about it, master! I've properly enlightened these foolish people about your greatness!'

Abinion, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

The audience was supposed to praise Noem, but the flow has completely changed.

"Truly impressive, Abinion! Amazing!"

'Indeed, indeed! Praise me more!!'

Noem, who had been completely overshadowed, is also getting excited.

"Ryuya, is what that ghost woman says true?"

"Would you believe me if I said 'it's true'?"

"You have a point."

The king let out a dry laugh.

"However, my interest in you has only grown. Whether or not you really have a level of eight million, I want to verify your abilities as much as possible. ...Someone!"

The king shouted loudly.

"Bring Reslaser here."

◆

After a short wait, a dignified knight in armor arrived.

He even wore a helmet that covered his face, making it impossible to see.

"This is Reslaser, one of the knights who serves me."

The king introduced him.

"His skills are among the best in the country. I plan to appoint him as a general in the future. Ryuya, would you like to spar with Reslaser?"

"Fight?"

"If you can match Reslaser, you can be considered one of the strongest in the country. I have only heard about your accomplishments but have never seen you in action. If you have the power that the ghost boasts about, I would like to see it."

I have no reason to accept, but Noem and Abinion are looking at me with shining eyes.

Their gaze is full of expectation.

I'm not thick-skinned enough to betray their pure expectations, and above all, it's a royal command. It would be troublesome to refuse.

"Alright, let's do it."

That's how it was decided.