Chapter 80

It's been a long time... I'm really, really sorry for not updating for so long!!

I have some good news for all the readers who have been following me without giving up.

This time, my work will be published as a book by Hero Bunko.

It will be released on October 31st. There are no plans for a digest version.

I have written the details in my activity report.

It's not just a countdown... it's the day before!

Well, I'll update tomorrow too! I'll do my best!

The beautiful courtyard of the royal castle was momentarily in an uproar.

I didn't have the leisure to take in the reactions around me.

The two envoys from the Rotus Empire, who were also my colleagues, proceeded into the depths of the castle as if nothing had happened.

As for me, I was heading to the training ground with Alice to check the status of the soldiers, but I was ordered to return to my room temporarily by an Albion knight. I recognized his face; he was Robert's subordinate. This meant it was an order from the king.

From the knight's anxious demeanor, it seemed they didn't really want me to meet them. There must be diplomatic issues.

I was also told not to make any unnecessary contact with them while they were in the castle.

Back in my room, I tried to find something to do. I didn't want to think about anything right now. If I admit what Renji said, it would mean my father betrayed me.

I can't believe that while my mother was ill and I was on a journey to find medicine, I ended up with Renji's mother and even had a child.

Moreover, my father died afterward, so I can't even ask him what really happened. I don't have any evidence to completely deny Renji's story.

She is a good girl. She is devoted to her mother, works hard despite her small size, and has been a companion who has worked hard with me. I can't push Renji away coldly right now.

I was so engrossed in organizing the soldiers' statuses that Izu suggested taking a break.

"You've been working hard for quite a while. Why don't you take a break?"

Izu smiled softly, holding a warm cup of tea.

I rubbed my eyes, stretched, cracked my knuckles, and finally managed to stand up from the desk I had been biting into.

"Thank you, I'll have some."

While drinking the tea, I told Izu about the situation bit by bit.

She listened quietly without blaming anyone. When I finished, Izu said:

"All I can do is make sure Noah doesn't meet those people. The envoys from the Rotus Empire will surely try to make contact in various ways. Talking to them now would be very dangerous."

"Various ways...?"

What kind of methods could they use?

"For example, being invited to a salon tea party or a dance party. You can refuse once or twice, but if you refuse too many times, it becomes impolite."

Emma, Viscountess Cupid, is a noble and a representative of the Rotus Empire. I am in a delicate position, and if I refuse in the wrong way, it would be impolite. I understood that.

Izu, as a duchess's daughter, has been educated and can handle such situations. However, if I were to encounter them unexpectedly, like today, what should I do?

There was a knock, and Alice and the former king appeared.

"It's been a while, Noah."

"Your Majesty, it's been a while."

I hurriedly stood up and bowed. Izu also bowed and started making tea for the new guests.

"You can call me Yuse. I know you understand, but I came today to talk about the envoys from the Rotus Empire. Their official purpose is to discuss the venue for the next tournament."

"So early..."

The tournament is held once every five years, alternating between the domestic and the Five Great Nations Alliance. In the domestic tournament, the final match is between a selected mercenary or adventurer and a knight or royal guard, chosen from the general public. There are individual and team categories, and the capital is in a festive mood throughout the tournament period.

After the best in the country is decided, the next is the international match. The last one was held in Albion, so the next one will be in the Rotus Empire.

I think it's strange that they need to decide so early, but since it's a matter of national prestige, it seems that greetings and discussions start early.

"By now, the preliminaries in each country should be starting. From this year, the level of Albion's warriors will generally improve. It might take a while for a clear difference to appear, but the Rotus Empire might have come to verify the difference."

"Thanks to Noah's skills, the mercenaries and adventurers in the capital who belong to the guild have definitely become stronger. The skill manuals should be having an effect in other branches as well."

The former king was followed by Alice. Ah, that's right. I had a feeling that the success rate of quests and the number of people advancing in guild ranks were increasing. I can give clearer advice now compared to when I was in Albus.

And now, I am seeing the strength of the castle's soldiers. If the strength of all of Albion is improving, that's a good thing, right?

"The rise in Albion's national power is wonderful. It will be proven in the next tournament. The difficult part will be when that happens."

The two envoys from the Rotus Empire know about my skills. I want everyone to get stronger for when the dark period comes. I want to contribute to the strength of the Five Great Nations Alliance, as I have been doing by checking statuses in the guild.

But I don't think they will back down. They might try to pull me into their country, like Princess Daria.

"I feel sorry for Viscountess Emma Cupid. It was her fault that Princess Daria learned about your skills. She said she was returning to the Rotus Empire for family reasons and never came back to the guild. It was our mistake to be so lenient."

I nodded in agreement with the former king's words. I wasn't particularly surprised, but thinking about how long the wheels had been in motion, I sighed, realizing how much I had been relying on peace.

"And about your father."

"!"

"Renji, whose real name is Hydrangea, I believe. We don't have any evidence to deny her words. Your father did stay in the place where her family lives in the Rotus Empire for a while."

I couldn't suppress my dark mood at the former king's words.

"But that doesn't mean your father did such a thing. Personally, I think it's completely baseless."

It was the first time I heard something I wanted to hear, but I wondered why the former king was so sure.

"I know your father, Noah. Randolph—your uncle. That man, who loved his wife, would never leave his ill wife and child in his own country to do such a thing."

I must have looked foolish. Even though I had doubted it, the former king believed in my father. I felt a bond with my father that I didn't know about.

"The dark period came the year before you were born. At that time, I was the king. Randolph and I worked together to get through it. Your father also helped in his own way."

The story from before I was born in this world was very precious. Perhaps because of this connection, the former king continued, suggesting that there might be a reason for my father's death in the Rotus Empire.

"Are you saying that someone in the Rotus Empire intentionally killed my father, not by accident?"

"That's a possibility. There were many unnatural points about your father's death. Even if we investigate now, I don't think we'll find any solid leads. It's a disheartening story, but it means he might still be being used even in death."

"Is Renji also being used?"

"I don't know. Whether she is really your sister or believes she is, or whether she is lying for money or status, or being threatened. I don't know, but if you're not careful, you might be pulled into the Rotus Empire."

If I admit that Renji is my real sister, the Rotus Empire will probably try to bring me into their country. They might want me to take over her mother's family, or something like that.

"Be very careful. If anything happens... I will help you."

The former king said this and left.

For the next few days, nothing happened. I was once called to a salon, but Izu skillfully declined. The second time, I said I had prior commitments and showed up at a different salon. The noble tea parties were so elegant that I almost fell asleep.

I also paid attention to the route to the soldiers' training ground. I was told in advance the routes the envoys would take, and I changed the routes I used daily.

The third invitation hasn't come yet. Perhaps the former king had already taken some action before I was invited.

And the day before the envoys leave. Today, a farewell party will be held at the palace to see them off. Of course, I won't attend. However, I was suddenly called and am now in the glittering party venue.

2015/01/12 Revised