Ch 115
“The High Priest is hiding their power…”
A sentence that makes one want to open the book and read it, if it’s the book’s title.
The situation was clear enough to be summarized by that one sentence.
Separately, we were confused.
If Moria’s sudden power surge at the end of the sparring match was simply a restoration of hidden power, then what was the Enhanced Ability we recreated?
I was so confused that I asked Klana.
‘Klana, what on earth is going on?’
-I want to ask, but you were the one who first brought up this topic.
‘I’m just a low-ranking subordinate who doesn’t know much. Please explain it, Klana, the higher-ranking person who knows more.’
-What kind of guy is this…
It was the same for Klana, who was also confused and couldn’t give a proper answer.
-Don’t be surprised, Master!
At that moment, the demon’s voice was heard.
‘Oh, calm down. Reliable. What is it, Dangaleon? Why is there nothing to be surprised about?’
-It is the result of Master and I combining our powers! There’s nothing strange about any wonder happening!
‘No… Don’t say such nonsense with such a confident tone. And why is Klana holding back?’
-Even without such a womanly weapon, the result wouldn’t have changed much! After all, isn’t this a miracle we achieved solely through the power of magic, Master and I?
Klana also seemed to be attached to the Enhanced Ability we created by combining our powers, and she seemed quite stimulated by Dangaleon’s words.
The composed murderer rarely showed emotional disturbance as they spoke.
-That’s interesting. Then, show me that ability using only pure magic.
-Khahahaha!!! What ridiculous provocation! To dare doubt the Master’s ability! That foolishness will torment you!!! Master! Unleash that power now and remind that foolish barbarian, whose skill is only in wielding iron, of their foolishness!!!
The Enhanced Ability we three created had the nature of swordsmanship and magic complementing each other.
Using magic on oneself to drive oneself into a temporary abnormal state, and then enhancing the body with swordsmanship to endure and maintain it.
For example, if you use only magic as Dangaleon said, your body can’t withstand it and will burst.
‘Are you telling me to actively engage in high-level self-harm?’
-Oops! For a moment, I forgot that Master is trapped in the prison of the flesh!
‘Prison? I’ll die if I get out of this prison.’
Despite such an in-depth discussion, our doubts were not resolved in the end.
“I understand your bewilderment.”
I flinched.
My body trembled at the sudden voice.
I was so bewildered that I even forgot that I was meeting with Dray’s agent.
“…Indeed, it is bewildering.”
I finally came to my senses and responded to her words.
“Could it be that that power isn’t an enhancement━”
“Encountering the High Priest is a terrible ex━”
“?”
“?”
We spoke almost simultaneously, and stopped almost simultaneously, looking at each other.
An expression of “What are you saying?”
“Please.”
I politely gestured for her to speak first.
“…Encountering a heretical High Priest is a terrible experience. I believe you are deeply worried about what the High Priest might have done without your knowledge.”
“Ah! That’s right! The High Priest! Terrible! Absolutely terrible! Worry! Oh, deeply so! Ah, this harsh world, the opponent I fought was a High Priest. My body trembles with fear.”
“…”
The cold eyes behind the glasses narrowed.
They seemed to be paying attention to what I was originally going to say.
However, the businesslike woman did not seize on my words and reveal personal curiosity.
She immediately continued with the main point.
“The reason I visited you this early morning is for that very reason. Dray has promised you full support and compensation to alleviate your worries.”
“Full support and compensation?”
Full support and compensation from a Grand Noble Family’s young master.
It was a sweet resonance that gently touched my eardrums, but I couldn’t erase the feeling that it was sudden.
‘Why is Master offering compensation and support?’
Dray, like me that day, had met Moria for the first time in the VIP room.
Dray, a perfect third party, had absolutely no obligation to take responsibility for anything related to Moria.
“He highly values your merit in expelling the High Priest who tried to hide their identity and cause chaos in society.”
The words were impressive, conveying the Grand Noble Family’s broad generosity and sense of responsibility—
‘Dray… Dray yes Mastien…’
From my position of having met and talked with him, I felt that there must be intentions other than pure responsibility or goodwill.
The distance that seemed close yet thorough.
That man is not the kind of good-natured person who enjoys bestowing unwarranted favors on others.
It’s reasonable to assume that there are other intentions.
“Therefore, Dray has invited you to dinner later, so let’s continue our conversation there.”
“Understood.”
Whatever it was, I decided to accept Dray’s invitation.
It wasn’t a common opportunity to attract the attention of a Grand Noble.
Afterwards, Dray’s agent left after saying that they would send someone as soon as the schedule was set.
✦✦✦
“Now then—”
After Dray’s agent left.
Left alone in the room again, I tried to have a secret and precious happy time.
Sleep.
I had been working all night to recreate Moria’s Enhanced Ability（?）, and my fatigue was considerable.
Currently, the most important thing for me is to complete the ability with Klana and Dangaleon.
Rest for that was not an option, but a necessity.
‘I wonder what happened to the banquet.’
I regretted missing the opportunity to get acquainted with the City Nobles of Bondales, but completing this Enhanced Ability was my priority right now.
I walked to the window, closed the curtains, and lay down on the bed.
Just as I was about to fall asleep.
-Knock knock
“A message from Lord Pallag.”
“…”
The same situation unfolded as before.
“…Therefore, Lord Pallag has invited you to a private meeting. There, let’s discuss the ‘Victory Reward’ I promised you earlier.”
“Just in case, is Lord Dray also attending?”
“Duke Pallag would also like it to be such a lavish event, but as you know, Lord Dray is not unrelated to this matter? Unfortunately, there is no justification for inviting him.”
The words were polite, but the meaning behind them was blatant.
-He’s not coming here. No, he can’t come.
Pallag’s agent smiled politely and said.
“As someone who walks the path of magic, you will surely know how significant an opportunity this meeting with Frozen Breath is. Therefore, I believe without a doubt that you will prioritize your promise with Lord Pallag no matter what.”
After Pallag’s agent left, Klana said.
-Those two seem eager to get their fangs on you first.
✦✦✦
This time, I lay down on the bed and tried to sleep.
Sleepiness overwhelmed me the moment I closed my eyes.
Now that everyone who was going to come had come, it was time to enjoy a sweet, sound sleep.
-Knock knock
“I’m going crazy.”
But another knock came.
I walked over and opened the door like an angry zombie.
With this mood, I wouldn’t be able to welcome anyone warmly, would I?
“Huh?”
However, to my surprise, a smile appeared on my lips the moment I opened the door.
“What is this, such a well-matched couple?”
A truly handsome man and beautiful woman.
A prince and a princess in pure white stood there.
It was Rona and Pien.
“Such a well-matched couple… huh?”
The prince looked at my fatigued face and the dark room, and said in surprise.
“What, you didn’t get any rest at all?”
“I had so much to do. I’m really tired.”
“What were you doing all night… Could it be that you secretly brought a woman in?”
The prince chuckled and nudged me with his elbow.
Then he entered the room and sniffed—sniffing the air.
“It doesn’t seem like that.”
“…Are you a dog or something? Can you tell that by smell?”
Rona, who looked around the room with a serious expression for a moment, returned to her kind prince-like face and said.
“Well, various traces are left in places where a lady has visited. Anyway, I’m sorry. It seems I interrupted you while you were resting.”
“Isn’t it wrong to not sleep when everyone else is sleeping and to prepare for sleep at this time?”
At that moment, a proud voice cut in.
Pien walked to the window and opened the curtains.
“Kishaaaaaaaaaaaakkieeeaaaayangaaak!!!”
Exposed to the bright light, I writhed in pain.
Pien looked at me with her characteristic crooked smile.
“Are you some kind of low-level vampire?”
“I assure you… I’m more vulnerable to light than that… A human who stayed up all night and was just about to fall asleep, that’s what I am…”
Rona looked at me and smiled bitterly, then said to Pien.
“Anyway, why did you open the curtains? To torment him?”
“Yes. To torment the pathetic man who leaves a lot of troublesome things to others and doesn’t even take care of himself properly. Satisfied?”
Pien, grumbling, came closer and looked up at my face.
“…”
She silently examined my complexion, then clicked her tongue.
“Looks like you stayed up all night practicing magic again. Am I wrong?”
“You can tell at a glance… Even in this bright space… It feels like I’m naked…
“Seeing you talking nonsense, it seems you didn’t overdo it too much. Sniff sniff. It doesn’t seem like you’ve bled either.”
Pien looked around the room and said.
“Do you remember?”
“Huh?”
“When you first came to Bondales. At that time, you also stayed up all night practicing magic.”
Pien’s red eyes looked wistfully into the distance, then she chuckled softly and shook her head.
“How can a person be so consistent.”
Pien looked at my tired eyes and said.
“Are you very tired? Should I close the curtains?”
“No. It’s okay. Anyway, closing the curtains now wouldn’t make any difference. Something brighter than the sun is right in front of me.”
“Oh, anyway, your mouth…”
Her mouth showed disgust, but her eyes were smiling.
Pien looked at me and said.
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“Long time no see.”
“Besides that.”
“You’ve become even prettier since we last met? Are you going to make everyone in the world fall for you?”
“…Ugh, stop it. It’s my fault for asking you anything.”
Here.
Pien casually handed me a stack of documents.
“What’s this?”
“The series of events you conducted with Councilwoman Ran at the City Council meeting this time have been concluded. I want to say, ‘Read it now,’ but you’re not in a condition to read now.”
“No, it’s okay. I feel like my eye strain has gone away after looking at Pien for a while.”
“Shut up. I’ll give you a brief summary, so just listen.”
“It’s time to relieve my ear strain…”
“The City Council’s treatment of you has been decided.”
“Is something big coming?”
“Yes. You can look forward to it.”
“Could it be, Council Member!?”
“How did you know?”
“Huh? Really!?”
“Is it really?”
“Huh!?”
“I just returned your nonsense with nonsense. Listen seriously. It’s the result that Ran and I achieved by staying up all night for several days.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You’re a man who is interested in privileges but hates the duties and responsibilities that come with them. Right?”
“Right.”
“You’ll only find burdensome positions like Captain of the Guard or Deputy Council Member. Right?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“The most important thing is minimum duties, maximum freedom, maximum rights for the effort. Right?”
“Why do you know me so well? Do you live inside my heart?”
“So, the City Council has decided to award you a position that suits you perfectly.”
Pien smiled meaningfully after saying that.
“What, why are you stopping?”
“Let’s check what that is at the upcoming award ceremony.”
“…”
I was dumbfounded by the unexpected development.
I never thought Pien would pull a “To be revealed in 60 seconds” move.
And that smug expression.
My anticipation reached its peak.
That’s what Pien intended.
“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.”
As Pien intended, I decided to look forward to it.
Pien snorted happily at my reaction and said.
“Now then—don’t you have anything to say to me this time?”
“Thank you.”
“And?”
“Uh… Thank you… thank you…”
“Pien. You’ll ruin him.”
The prince, who had been listening, offered a helping hand.
“To give you a hint, when expressing gratitude, it’s proper to show sincerity that matches it, right?”
“…Ah! Do you, perhaps, want something in return?”
“Do you think I did all this hard work to receive compensation? Well, since you’re giving it, I’ll accept it out of consideration for your sincerity.”
Pien uttered the formal lines as if she had been waiting.
And, with a subtly playful smile, she was about to speak, when—
“Master!”
A threatening voice cut in.
Verbande…t!
With a threatening posture, raising both arms with all their might, they said to me.
“It’s time for Master to go to sleep!!! Why aren’t you sleeping!!!”
It turned out to be a sleep police dispatch.
“Huh?”
“…What is this child? A spirit?”
Rona and Pien were bewildered by the sudden appearance of Verbandes.
Ah, come to think of it, they were still strangers to each other.
That’s good.
I introduced Verbande…t! to the two of them.
Look at my child.
Isn’t she cute?
Bichu nieun nieun.
I had just finished the introduction with that feeling.
“…Verbandes?”
The two of them turned pale when they heard the name.
✦✦✦
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