Episode 30

“Are you both ready?”

“Of course. Shall we put on a splendid show?”

“Are you an idiot? If you want to play at a recital, do it somewhere else. We crush them all. That’s it.”

“…That was completely different. Are you two really going to be okay?”

The three of them, dressed in formalwear prepared for high society, stood by at the entrance. As a member of a ducal house—and the next duke—Aktor was to enter before the royal family. Aaron and Zeke, as his escorts, would enter at the same time.

“I’m counting on you in every sense… seriously.”

Normally, Aktor should have attended with the Astera Ducal House’s dedicated knight order, the Duke Guard, providing security, but in terms of combat strength it felt unreliable. With their ties to the Royal Guard Corps, he had brought Aaron—and Zeke, their strongest asset.

Because of the nature of a social gathering, some attended with partners of the opposite sex. For Aktor, a fiancée might have been appropriate, but bringing one’s future family into a place he knew was dangerous was unthinkable.

“Don’t forget that you are escorts. …Move only if an emergency arises.”

“Prepared… I’m ready anytime.”

“Don’t get it twisted. I’ll move when it suits me. If you get in my way, I’ll crush you too.”

“—Yes. I understand that perfectly.”

They entered the hall under a flood of attention.

The Diabalet royal family’s social gathering was held in the royal castle built at the center of the Royal Capital.

It was a traditional event of the Kingdom of Diabalet, where princes and princesses appointed by the reigning king hosted nobles and lords.

A great many people had gathered in the large hall. There were famous nobles close to the current king, landholding lords, representatives of various organizations, merchants—an eclectic mix.

Encircling the hall as security were the Royal Guard Corps in silver-white armor. And, perhaps dividing duties, there was also a knight order guarding the other half.

The attendees chatted and laughed in their own circles.

Each invitee had standing. Some were inwardly desperate to forge new connections here.

Around Wishka, head of the Izosaar Marquis House, people like that had gathered.

If it had been obvious flattery or mere formal greetings, he could have brushed it off, but many here were sharp. They understood why this gathering had been convened.

Who would align with whom—would shape the kingdom’s political climate, and their own fates. It was only natural that interest ran high.

“If I can say one thing… it seems Lord Aktor of the Astera Ducal House will be attending.”

“What—Lord Aktor, the next duke…?”

The Astera family was one of Diabalet’s ducal houses, inheritors of silver who had supported the Diabalet royal line since the nation’s founding.

Anyone could see they were important by position alone, but those present understood something else.

A clan that supported, protected, and monitored the kingdom from the shadows—an intelligence arm lurking behind history’s curtain.

The perceptive knew. That was why they cared: the Astera house’s movements, and the choices of those who sometimes condemned even royalty and their own kin.

In some ways, they drew even more attention than today’s host, Arnica von Diabalet, a princess high in the line of succession.

“Speak of the devil…”

The Royal Guard near the entrance stirred. Aktor appeared—silver-haired.

Aktor of the Astera Ducal House emerged from the entrance.

Not only the nobles, but even the knights on security detail turned their eyes to him.

Aktor entered with two escorts.

One was Aaron Izosaar, known to many here—young genius of the Royal Guard Corps. His occasional abnormal behavior stood out, yet his brilliance never dimmed; it drew people in.

Seeing Aaron standing proudly beside Aktor, Wishka looked pleased.

Being chosen to escort the next duke at an official royal event was a major signal. It displayed the Izosaar house’s connection to the Astera Ducal House to every noble present.

By contrast, Clotted and Tsaity—attending with Wishka—looked dissatisfied. They hated that everyone recognized him as “Aaron of House Izosaar.”

As attention drifted toward them, the hall began to buzz. Eyes gathered on a black-haired young man who entered a moment later.

“That black hair…”

“So the rumors were true.”

“That is… Zeke Lagias.”

Scion of a vile noble family known across the land.

An A-rank adventurer active in the Royal Capital.

The strongest combat asset, said to belong to a ducal-house unit.

The man of countless rumors monopolized the room’s gaze. Some looked with malice or hostility; others with sheer curiosity.

Once, most people had believed that “Lagias” equaled evil. Now it was different. There were still rumors of wrongdoing, but also facts that could not be ignored: his continued activity as an A-rank adventurer, his ties to a ducal house, and witnesses who claimed their lives had been saved—whatever the process.

The environment around Zeke was changing, little by little. —Though the man himself showed little interest.

Nobles approached to greet Aktor. At the head of them was the famed Izosaar Marquis House.

Wishka led, followed by his two sons, as they exchanged formal greetings.

“The Izosaar house will remain Lord Aktor’s sword. Naturally, my foolish son Aaron shares that intent.”

“…I am counting on you. All of you.”

While the conversation continued, Aaron and Zeke stood silent as escorts. Behind Wishka, Clotted and Tsaity were likewise silent—though they kept glaring at Aaron.

As the dignitaries finished greeting Aktor, a Royal Guard raised his voice as if he had timed it.

A young woman appeared, surrounded by many escorts.

Silver hair—the mark of royalty—and a silver dress, the symbol of the nation.

Princess Arnica von Diabalet.

Everyone knelt at her appearance—everyone except Zeke.

“Please, be at ease. Thank you all for gathering today. There is no doubt that the presence of those here has brought prosperity to our kingdom. Tonight, enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”

The hall erupted into applause. The social gathering began.

People chatted as they enjoyed food and drink. Some spoke of the kingdom’s future; others exchanged views on fashionable business; others probed one another’s intentions—an endless variety.

“My friend, it’s a rare chance. Won’t you eat?”

“I don’t want it.”

Away from the center where the princess stood surrounded, the three of them ate at a separate spot.

Aktor and Aaron held glasses; Zeke stood in stark contrast.

“Are you worried about impurities? Before my sacred arts, such things are meaningless.”

“Hah. If this country has to cling to your sacred arts, it’s already in its last days.”

Aktor’s face twitched. He was as merciless as ever.

“Hm? Now that’s a big name.”

Where Aaron looked, several armored knights approached. They did not wear the Royal Guard’s silver-white armor, which suggested they belonged to the knight order.

Leading them was Hanhanberu Plant—a tall, lean man with deep wrinkles, on the verge of old age. A famous field man who had climbed from a lowly knight to vice-commander.

“Sir Aaron, thank you for earlier.”

“Right… Is there something else you need?”

“No. The one I’m here for is the man behind you.”

Since formal greetings had already been exchanged, Aktor showed honest puzzlement. The target was neither Aktor nor Aaron.

It seemed to be Zeke, standing there with arms crossed as if it were none of his business.

“You are Zeke Lagias. We have met once at the National Military Headquarters.”

“Have we? I don’t remember.”

A single disinterested line. The subordinate knights bristled as if their vice-commander had been insulted, but Hanhanberu restrained them.

“Neither of us wants small talk. I will get to the point. What was that attitude toward Her Highness?”

Hanhanberu glared at Zeke, carving his wrinkles deeper. Perhaps from the pressure, the knights behind him stiffened.

“Do you truly not understand? Do you think such rudeness is permissible?”

When Arnica appeared, only Zeke had remained unbowed. Hanhanberu was condemning that.

“Her Highness is generous… but that is beside the point. I cannot overlook one who disrupts the kingdom’s order.”

“…I remember now. You’re one of those old men’s lapdogs.”

Zeke stared as if satisfied, recalling Hanhanberu from the meeting convened when Maenof had been abducted.

“What, you’re still a knight? You cling on like a filthy rat.”

“!? You insolent whelp—so the House of Lagias does not teach manners.”

“Right. Because manners are unnecessary when talking to a worn-out rag like you.”

“—!?”

They slipped into a war of words. But the outcome was obvious.

“You called it rudeness? Who gave you the right to judge? Are you royalty? Doesn’t it occur to you that the one being rude is you, making judgments on your own?”

“W-what did you—?”

“Her Highness said to be at ease, didn’t she? Then what are you, defying her? Are you demanding I commit treason? A vice-commander of the knight order, no less.”

Hanhanberu fell silent under the storm of abuse, face flushing red.

“If kneeling is your tradition, go kneel to some pebble. …How ridiculous.”

Zeke mocked him openly.

“My friend, stop.”

Aaron stepped in. Perhaps he could not bear to watch.

“It can’t be helped—it’s night already. He must be past his bedtime, so his head won’t work.”

Aaron’s “support” made no sense. Old people go to bed early, right? he asked Zeke—insulting the man without malice.

“You little brats…”

Hanhanberu put a hand on his sword hilt. This time, someone truly stopped it.

“That is enough, Lord Plant. That would be a poor move. It would only harm you.”

Aktor casually stepped forward.

“You two, it’s time we greeted Her Highness.”

Aktor and his escorts left. Hanhanberu continued to glare with a demonic expression. The knights around him panicked at the sight.

“Ah, right… I forgot to mention something.”

Aktor halted and turned back, adding one sentence.

“I recommend that you keep any important ‘hidden’ items securely stored. Magical security and even a classic safe are not foolproof. Do check once. Well then— goodbye.”

Hanhanberu’s face flipped from beet-red to deathly pale. Seeing the sudden change, Aaron praised it as an excellent party trick.

Princess Arnica stood surrounded by many people, responding politely to each greeting. Depending on what followed, these actions could later tip the nation toward light or darkness. Thinking that way naturally tightened her resolve.

One noble had been speaking, but suddenly stopped, bowed deeply, and withdrew. Other nobles and merchants followed suit.

When Arnica looked around to see what had happened, someone with the same silver hair as hers approached.

It was Aktor of the Astera Ducal House.

(This is the critical moment.)

“Royal Guard Corps, please step back for the moment.”

“But…”

“It is fine.”

The Royal Guard elites obeyed. There was a reason she deliberately distanced the strongest royal protectors. Empty words would never earn a ducal house’s trust. And personally, Arnica wanted to exchange opinions that would affect the kingdom’s future.

(And… that black-haired man is Lagias.)

Lagias walked with a faintly irritated air. Against a hall full of revelers, he looked all the more out of place. He might be different from the Lagias lords of past generations who clung to power and wealth.

“Your invitation honors me beyond measure, Your Highness.”

“Please raise your head. …You dislike roundabout talk, don’t you?”

“You understand well…”

Aktor’s response was calculated with the surrounding eyes in mind. Like the current duke, he was famed as a capable operator. She could not afford to handle him poorly.

“As escorts… Aaron of House Izosaar, and Zeke of House Lagias.”

Introduced by Aktor, Aaron offered the proper formal greeting. Zeke, however, stayed silent.

“…Why are you silent?”

“You’re the one who said not to say anything unnecessary.”

“…You’ve ruined it already. Do whatever you want.”

Aktor pressed his temple.

Arnica, who had met him many times due to their positions, was inwardly surprised by the rare reaction. Seeing normally impassive Aktor show emotion felt oddly fresh.

“I’ll ask bluntly: what does the royal family intend to do?”

“…At this stage, nothing.”

“To watch and wait. I understand the logic, but…”

To watch and wait—sounded nice, but in truth it was the same as doing nothing and dumping everything on others. Leaving the choice to the successors. The royal family would simply wait from afar. That was Diabalet’s answer.

“However, my personal view differs. That is why I invited you.”

Arnica had predicted that if Aktor came, he would bring Lagias as his escort—the Lagias who was different from those before, and constantly a topic of discussion.

“—Even so, I think it will be difficult for Your Highness alone.”

“Yes. That is why I wish to speak. As the royal family, as a princess—and to you, Lagias. First, that.”

No matter the form, once the “Keys” gathered, Lagias would be forced to fight regardless of his will.

So long as a “Guide” existed, days haunted by endless death would cling to him.

Even if the world changed, Lagias—who inherited the “Warden”—could not exist in that new world.

For the world to change, Lagias had to die.

“The royal family has forced everything onto Lagias. We could not build a paradise for you. It was all—‘Hey…’”

Her words stopped as a chilling sensation clamped her heart. Her body went unnaturally cold.

“What is that? What are you talking about?”

(My body… won’t move.)

“You claim you feel guilty now? You royals have conveniently used and crushed Lagias for years—across generations.”

Zeke’s blue eyes glowed. His rage became mana, leaking from his gaze. His emotion was that intense.

“Don’t put on a saint’s face now. It makes me sick. You’re the same hypocrite as the rest of them. You just want to feel better about yourself.”

His words were swords, shredding her to pieces.

For Arnica, it was the first time anyone had directed such killing intent at her.

(Such deep hatred… as expected, Lagias will not forgive Diabalet. I knew it, but…)

Tears overflowed. She was not crying because Zeke frightened her.

She could not forgive Diabalet for destroying the lives of young people her own age, stealing peace from the Lagias line, and yet living in comfort without hardship.

She had known the facts for years. Only now, with that emotion thrown at her, did she finally understand the weight of it.

If she had been in the same position, knowing the truth of Lagias as Zeke did—

(I… couldn’t endure it.)

“Don’t think things will go the way you want. I’ll fight for myself. And if every Lagias disappears—then I’ll take all of you with me.”

Perhaps sensing something wrong, the Royal Guard Corps and the knight order at a distance exchanged looks. The hall grew gradually louder.

—Then it plunged into even greater chaos, dragged there by a presence that invited confusion into the gathering.

“Yoo-hoo, can you hear me? Everyone in the Kingdom of Diabalet!”

A childlike voice echoed through the hall. With no visible speaker, the room stirred in alarm.

“Today I came to tell the truth for you poor people! Let’s all take down the Diabalet royal family that keeps lying!”

The cheerful, cackling voice flipped the atmosphere of the gathering in an instant.