Chapter 75

"Noah, Ignis, Essex! Step forward!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I am now standing next to the king, looking at the people lined up in the audience chamber. The cold gazes of the nobles pierce me, but there is no place to retreat. I cannot turn back now.

"Some of you may know that he is a relative of the Earl of Essex and possesses the skill called Ability Score. With his cooperation, we will start by revising the entry criteria for the Royal Guard. Additionally, we will thoroughly implement training based on the manuals for the conscripted soldiers."

"Are you saying that you will monopolize the holder of that skill in Albion...?"

"The Empire of Lotos will not stand idly by!"

"Such... Are you going to end the peaceful world that the previous generation built, Your Majesty?"

Murmurs spread. Announcing the strengthening of the military could be interpreted as preparing for war. Saying that it is to prepare for the coming dark age might sound like a surface reason to other countries. They know that I am the current sole possessor of a special skill. Until now, I was part of a guild, so other countries observed me quietly. However, if I intervene in a country's military, things will change.

"This decision was made by me and the Council of the Three Nobles. There is no intention to revoke it. You all know that peace is always on a knife's edge."

However, the nobles standing beside me continue to argue. Most of the nobles in the palace do not know the regions. Unlike the military nobles who guard the borders, they are all book-smart and have never experienced actual combat.

"Understand, this is an order."

Bathed in the king's sun-like gaze, the nobles who had been shouting fell silent instantly.

It is unusually quiet. The deafening silence in the audience chamber makes my body feel heavy. I realize the abnormality for the first time. Even Alice's attitude remains unchanged, making me wonder if it's just my imagination. Sound. That's it.

I can't hear the voices of the spirits. There are no spirits in this audience chamber. The whispers that usually unconsciously enter my ears, the voices that blend into life as background noise, are completely absent.

"Is something wrong?"

"…No."

While answering the king's question, I frowned due to a terrible ringing in my ears.

"For example, feeling heavy in the body."

"Is this… like the city walls?"

Alice listens to our conversation with a curious look.

"Yes. A large magic array is laid out in this audience chamber. Magic and skills cannot be used here."

I see. Considering the king's safety, it makes sense.

"The royal guards and I can still use magic. The method is a state secret, though!"

I nodded vigorously at the smiling king. I wouldn't ask about the method even if he didn't say so.

'That ring on his right hand is a magic item, right? Robert wore one too,' I thought but didn't say it. I don't think a state secret would be so obvious, and it's unlikely they rely on an item that can be identified.

The capital itself is within a large magic array. It defends against large-scale attacks, and in the royal castle, magic is sealed, while the royal guards can use physical force. I thought it was a very solid defense.

"I have heard about you, but this is our first meeting. Optimus Albion."

I simply bowed.

"I heard that you have a lot of magic power. Robert also felt the magic seal when he first entered the audience chamber."

The king continued, "I thought it was a lie, but it seems Robert was telling the truth." I do feel a bit heavy, but is this it?

I noticed the setup because there are no spirits, but I couldn't say that, so I remained silent.

"My father has made an incredible find, indeed. …Ah, Noah, you are not to blame. On the contrary, you are very welcome. I am glad you decided to stay in our country."

The thought of the red princess's invitation to join the Empire of Lotos as a noble and the recent attempt to kidnap me flashed through my mind.

"I have been waiting for an opportunity to strengthen the military. You appeared at the right time. The number of guild members who have been promoted in the past year from the Albus branch is more than double that of other branches."

I didn't know. Back then, I was hiding the Ability Score skill, so the changes were gradual.

"Since the status imprinting in the capital began, a clear difference has emerged between those who received advice and those who did not. The manuals created jointly by your guild and the magic guild are spreading across the continent. The overall level-up of the guild is necessary for the coming days."

The manuals contain advice to help manifest skills and guidelines on what experiences are beneficial.

"For over three hundred years, the Five Great Nations Alliance has been in place. However, cracks are beginning to show. This continent has become too prosperous. But human desires are insatiable."

Alice nodded slightly.

"Even if we say there is no large-scale war, small disputes occur daily at the borders. Especially in recent years, the Empire of Lotos has been overtly aggressive, claiming that the border should be corrected."

"My village was close to the border. There have been no direct damages yet, but I have heard rumors."

Without war, people's lives become prosperous. But to seek even greater prosperity, one must take over neighboring territories, leading to war. In a world with dark ages, if a country becomes exhausted, it can lead to the entire continent being consumed by darkness. Still, why does the Empire of Lotos provoke Albion?

"The Empire of Lotos has a lot of territory, but little arable land. The harsh mountainous regions have many mineral veins. They process precious metals and sell them to other countries to import grain, but there will be a limit to this."

I see. The Emperor of Lotos recently changed. The young emperor, around the same age as King Optimus, wants the fertile land of the Kingdom of Albion to prevent his people from starving.

"We cannot afford a large-scale war, so we must compromise. If we show weakness, the other side will take advantage."

It's a difficult situation. The king, sitting deeply in his chair and looking far away, exudes not just youth but also wisdom. His eyes are very similar to those of the previous king.

"First, I want you to strengthen the Royal Guard. I will silence the nobles, so you can reform the Royal Guard."

It's true that we can't suddenly strengthen all the soldiers in the country. But I am just a guild employee and don't know much about military training.

"Don't worry, the tasks are the same as when you were in the guild. The direct training will be done by us. You just need to look at the statuses and recommend effective quests for the Royal Guard and the knights I command."

"But will they follow my orders?"

It's already difficult enough to give orders to the proud nobles. When I saw the statuses of the Mensis Knights, some of them were resistant. It's natural to feel threatened.

"But you don't want to become a noble, do you? I am also against making you a noble. As a noble, you would be bound by your status. I want you to supervise the nobles and the military from a step back."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The king continued to speak. His words were weighty. The conversation returned to the beginning.

"First, we will summarize the future of the Royal Guard. Robert, read it out."

"Yes, Your Majesty.

1. Those who refuse to have their statuses seen will be punished as traitors.

2. The training content will be revised according to the manuals created jointly by the guild and the magic guild.

3. Standards for physical strength and magic power will be set for joining the Royal Guard. Those who do not meet the standards will, in principle, not be allowed to join.

4. Current Royal Guards who do not meet the standards will return to the training facilities as trainees. If they meet the standards within six months, they can rejoin. If they fail, they will be dismissed from the Royal Guard. They can retake the entry exam.

5. Qualifications for the Royal Guard will also be given to beastmen."

"Isn't that too oppressive!"

"Beastmen in the Royal Guard? It will give other countries a reason to look down on us!"

The nobles shouted in unison at the king's bold statement. I think arguing here will only worsen their position, but the last point might indeed be unprecedented.

"Let those who want to laugh, laugh. They are also our citizens. Have you forgotten that we were helped by their strength during the last dark age?"

I am not denying the Frater religion. Only those who volunteer and meet the standards will be accepted. The king looked at me.

"Under the king's name, I appoint Noah Ignis Essex as the Special Training Advisor."

It's a grand title, but it's a new position the king created to place and protect me in the royal castle. I won't be part of the Royal Guard but can interfere in the training of the soldiers. For a limited time, it will be a very convenient position, second only to the king in military matters.

"The dark age is approaching. We have already received reports of anomalies from the investigation teams in various countries. The appearance of Cerberus is one of them."

Some nobles still believe the next dark age is not imminent. It has been coming every ten years for the past few decades, but the intervals are gradually narrowing.

"The invasion of monsters is expected to be more intense than the last dark age. We don't know how long it will last. It will be meaningless if only the capital remains after the dark age ends."

The king talks a lot. I wanted to wrap up the conversation, but he kept talking, so I will use the overflow for the next interlude.

2015/01/12 Revised