"Rudeus?"
Under the vibrant red sun, glazing down at the bright orange local street of Lugunica, a white-haired half-Elf and her loyal servant walked side by side through the empty streets of the Capital of Lugunica.
The half-Elf, Emilia, questioned as they continued to stroll to their destination.
"That girl from before… Where did you meet that girl?" She asked tentatively.
The woman in question, Priscilla Barielle, was also a Royal Candidate for the throne. While the identities of each candidate weren't publicized, most of the upper-ranked nobles and the candidates knew of each other. Direct contact was frowned upon outside of specific circumstances to prevent early skirmishes. Thankfully, Emilia and Crusch had a decent enough relationship with each other, so their homestay didn't raise any brows from the Council of Wise Men.
But Priscilla Barielle was different. Of the four known candidates, she was the most reclusive, other than Emilia. As the governing lord of the Barielle Barony territory, she was responsible for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the previously ravaged land. Yet, beyond her previous husband, her past is little known. Thus, of all the candidates for her knight to interact with, Priscilla Braielle was the most unpredictable and dangerous to meet.
Oblivious to this all, Rudeus didn't notice his liege's downcast look. She continued to cover her face with her identity-hiding cloak and refused to look up.
"Hmm? That woman? I saw her get dragged into an alley. I chased the men off, then met Old-Man-Rom, walked him home, and she followed me along…." He replied.
Though, he decided to leave out the minor detail where the woman tried to behead him or the little argument he had about the less fortunate of the slums.
'I'd rather avoid that woman. She's just a spoiled princess. Yeah… that's just it. She doesn't know what she's talking about.'
"Is that so…" Emilia quietly replied.
It was worrying when she finished her meeting, only to realize her knight had wandered off, disregarding her orders. It bothered her when she spent hours around the capital looking for him. And when she finally found him, 'she' just had to be there.
Emilia didn't understand what these feelings were. The only indication of her turmoil was the clenched fists under her white cloak. But she wondered if Rudeus meant those words two months ago.
And oblivious to his master's emotional strife, Rudeus continued to march on to the Karsten manor.
"So, will thy not talk?"
The fiery monarch, Priscilla Barielle, questions her helmeted knight, playing with her red-feathered fan atop her vermilion throne.
"No, Princess. It's just that man and I share a hometown." He replied.
She clenched her fan at her servant's words. Stepping down from the throne, Priscilla Barielle walked down the red carpet toward the kneeling knight. Each step echoed louder than before. And when she stood before him, she raised his chin with her fan, staring through the helmet's visor into the man's soul.
"Hmph, don't think for a second that mine divine self would believe that idiot tale. Not even the faintest lowlifes would claim such absurdity."
As she spoke, she pressed her fan into Al's lower neck, slowly increasing the pressure.
"Hmph, well, regardless, princess. I think he's cool." Al struggled to reply.
She sneered back at the knight. Very rarely had Al ever talked against her orders. He knew better than ever to never go against her orders. And if he believed that mongrel had some value...
"Hmph, then do as you wish with that pitiful pig."
With her sharp order, Priscilla Braielle lets go of her knight, leaving the room. But before she leaves, she turns around, eyeing Al, who is still on the floor, gasping for air.
"Bring him here, and his head will roll, Aldebaran."
She leaves after her final order.
"Hah, I told you not to call me that." Al muttered.
With the help of Schlutt, Al got up on his two feet and left for his quarters as well.
There was much to plan with his brother, not by blood but by a shared origin.
"Agh. I yield. I yield!"
It was early morning when a young boy's voice echoed through the Karsten manor. In the inner courtyard of the mansion, Rudeus lay prone on the ground, chucking his wooden sword in defeat. Breakfast hadn't yet been served; the old butler, Wilhelm, stood firm before the exhausted servant.
Rudeus ran into the old man when he woke up. As he continued his morning exercise routine, he ran into Wilhelm holding two wooden swords like before. Even though he could have simply declined the offer, Rudeus couldn't deny how enticing it was. Despite his grueling defeat the other day, he had to admit he missed practicing the sword. Whether it was incorrect training or simply his lack of skill, even Rudeus could recognize his technique with the sword hadn't improved an inch since his days with Ghislaine. And part of his training was specifically to aid him in his battles after all. There wasn't any better way to train than to spar with a skilled swordsman.
Wilhelm went easy on the young mage. Even with his age, the difference in skill was night and day.
"You lasted far longer than last time. While little, even I can tell, you are learning to handle yourself better with the blade." Wilhelm sternly replied.
The ever-elegant butler bowed, accepting his opponent's defeat. He picked up the exhausted man's sword off the ground and cleaned the courtyard after their bout.
The match continued for a whole hour. Most, if not all, of the rounds ended in Wilhelm's favor. While such an uneven match may have been boring for the old veteran, Wilhelm did not voice any complaints. He kept offering advice on his sword technique every time he fell flat on his ass.
"Well, that sounds like a compliment, so thank you. But, Wilhelm, aren't you bored sparring with me? I'd imagine a man of your skill could find much better opponents to fight." Rudeus asked.
"Hmmm? Oh, you don't need to worry about that. It is not your swordsmanship that intrigues me." Wilhelm replied.
Now that made Rudeus' ears perk up. Standing up from the ground, cleaning his dirtied uniform, he helped the man organize the messy courtyard.
"Not my swordsmanship?" Rudeus carefully asked.
After a short pause, Wilhelm turned to face him before sighing.
"No, it is nothing important. It was amusing… That is all."
"Well, thank you for the opportunity. I'll work on what you've told me."
"If it won't cause much trouble, I would like to ask, where have you learned the sword? While amateurish, I am certain your blade was not honed by your own. I have not seen such techniques in my time." Wilhelm inquired.
Without realizing himself, Rudeus felt his chest fill up inside. While Roswaal never explicitly forbade him from mentioning his otherworldly origins. It was best not to delve too deep into his life with an opposing political faction, regardless of how close they got. As amicable as Wilhelm was, he was an employee of the Dutchess Crusch Karsten.
'Besides, can I talk about this without everyone thinking I'm crazy? I'm honestly not sure if even the maid twins believe or if they just go with the flow of their master.'
And besides, he didn't want to talk about himself too much.
"This? Well, I grew up in a small village far from here. At first, my fa- no… a local knight trained me the basics. When I grew older, I tutored a famous swordswoman in magic, arithmetic, and language while she trained me. I never got past the intermediate stage with her but continued to train independently." Rudeus honestly replied.
Even with the fiasco with Eris, not to mention the Greyrat family politics, Rudeus could proudly say his memories with the Boreas family were happy. Sure, his face was a constant target for Eris' justifiable payback, but his first job wasn't painful. He still remembered the glint in their eyes when Eris and Ghislaine cast their first fireball.
Well, Eris only seemed to enjoy the magic. He was more than sure that Eris had forgotten most of his arithmetic and writing studies during their travels, but Ghislaine was a different story. It even seemed like she worked some paperwork at the refugee camp. A significant improvement, for sure!
"A famous swordswoman, you say? Well, I must say, I've never seen such techniques before. Is there a name for this style?" Wilhelm asked.
"Yes, they called it the Sword God style. She told me it prioritized using a solid first strike to end battles quickly. She also told me I had no talent with it, so please don't take me as an example. I've seen her fight, and it's pretty terrifying! She runs incredibly fast and ends the fight with a single sword swing. I've even seen her go head-to-head with a Great Spirit!" Rudeus excitedly replied.
"Your master fought a great spirit and won?"
Responding to Rudeus' exclamation, even Wilhelm had trouble keeping his voice down. Great spirits were greatly respected for their strength and spirituality. Only the best of the best the Kingdom had to offer would even consider fighting such a being.
And it was at this moment, Rudeus realized he had spoken too much.
'Ah, I forgot. Spirits are really important and strong in this world! Ah, cultural differences strikes again!'
'Actually, if people from my old world met Almanfi in person, they'd probably treat him with respect too. He is one of Perugius' loyal retainers.'
"Oh, it's nothing of the sort. It was a misunderstanding! The spirit mistook me as a person responsible for a… magic related accident and attacked. My master merely acted to protect us. We talked it out and ended amicably! Really!" He quickly replied.
'Well, as amicable as abandoning children in the center of a nuclear explosion can be.'
"I see… Those words are quite hard to believe. I haven't heard of a swordswoman of such skill. But I will believe you. She must be a formidable foe if it's true." Wilhelm muttered.
Rudeus only looked down at his feet at Wilhelm's words. The old man couldn't see what kind of face the young mage was making, but it was clear it wasn't happy.
"She really was…."
Rudeus whispered, only barely audible to Wilhelm.
"Well, if time permits, would you entertain this old man in your master's teaching?" Wilhelm asked.
Looking up at the man, Rudeus raised his brow. As far as he knew, Wilhelm was leagues above his skill. He didn't use any techniques of the three sword styles, but Wilhelm was superior with the blade.
'Wilhelm might just be a butler, but his skill is frankly amazing. I can't see myself reaching half his skill in a hundred years. I've only felt this once when I challenged Ruijerd a week after getting my demon eye. So, just what could he learn from a person like me?'
"Are you sure? I don't think I can be a good teacher to you…" Rudeus carefully asked.
"I thought it would be merely… fun to do so, Rudeus." Wilhelm replied.
'Well, if it's just for fun. I guess it can't be helped. And, this is excellent for my training after all.'
"Sure, why not. I'll do my best, Wilhelm."
"Wow, this suit fits me perfectly! Thank you so much, Rem!"
After a quick wash and food, it was almost time for the Royal summoning. The Emilia camp had assembled at one of the borrowed meeting rooms for one last review of their situation.
It was decided prior that only Roswaal, Emilia, Puck, and Rudeus would be attending, leaving Rem at the Karsten manor. Being a political event, the party was required to wear appropriate attire. While the council accepted Roswaal's unique sense of fashion, and Emilia's white dress was more than enough to count as a noble's garment, Rudeus had yet to wear a proper suit for the occasion.
That was until Rem had finished her work adjusting a new robe for the mage.
The white mage's robe was designed after Rudeus' old grey robe from the demon continent but was modified to follow Lugunican noble society better. Since Rudeus was unofficially recognized as a Royal knight for Emilia, the robe was crafted similarly to a Lugunican knight's uniform but with none of the Lugunican embroidery. Instead, the inner lining had black and red accents with delicate golden embroidery accentuating the collar and family crest of the Mathers family.
While it wasn't created using rare leathers and fabrics or weaved with Roswaal's' spellcraft, Rem's sewing skills perfectly recreated the outfit to her master's orders.
"It is nothing. I merely followed Roswaal-sama's orders, Rudeus." She coolly replied.
"Ohya~, have you taken a liking to your new~ robe, Ru~deus-kun?" Roswaal asked.
"Yep! It's much better than my old one. Am I even allowed to wear this? It feels too… fancy. I don't have the social standing like you or Emilia." Rudeus replied.
"No~t at all! You are recognized as the knight of my~ family. Trainee or no~t, it is my discretion to dress you howe~ver I wish!" The eccentric mage declared.
"That sounds really bad coming from you…." Rudeus commented.
Rudeus couldn't look up at the clown boasting before him because only one thought continued to plague his mind at this moment.
'You don't deserve this.'
Roswaal closed in and inched right in front of Rudeus' face. With a mysterious smile reaching both ears, he softly asked his employee just one question.
"Do you think you can behave yourself today?" He whispered.
'There it goes again. It sounds more serious when he doesn't use his weird word tick. His normal voice is a bit too creepy for me to handle. This must be his way of warning me not to mess up.'
Rudeus took a big deep breath. It had been almost four years since he worked with nobility and politics. This endeavor, whatever it took, was serious business.
"Yes, I won't mess up." Rudeus replied.
"Goo~d. Well, Emilia-sama should be waiting for us at the ca~rriage. We should hurry and leave soon, Ru~deus-kun." Roswaal cheerfully proclaimed.
Rudeus didn't quite understand what the sudden change in tone meant. All he could focus on was the political nightmare that awaited him soon.
"Woah… So, this is the Royal castle? It's amazing!"
The grand scale of the Capital of Lugunica's castle was beyond Rudeus' imagination. The grand scale of a medieval castle with its great drawbridge, high walls, and orange roofs was the pride of Lugunican craftsmanship. Compared to the walled city of Roa, which was still very attractive to the young man, the castle tickled Rudeus' romance bone. Had he not been here on official business with the nobles, he would be hugging the walls enthusiastically, just like his first outing around Roa.
After all, this is the first time he has seen such a castle up close. While he did live in the Kingdom of Asura, he never got to visit the Capital, even once during his travels. Besides, he doubted they'd let a scrappy adventurer inside the palace even if he had.
"Well, I guess I should get to work now. Is there anything else I should know about?" Rudeus asked.
This wouldn't be his first time interacting with nobles, and his time at the Capital had brought him up to speed about Lugunican etiquette. Now, he was ready. No, he was confident he wouldn't screw anything up. As Emilia's knight, he had to look the part of a noble, not the typical mercenary.
"No! You'll be good. Just be a good boy and don't do anything unless told." Emilia replied.
"Huh? Oh. Umm. Yes, ma'am." Rudeus quickly replied.
Emilia's reply was much colder than usual. Her words hit harder than expected, and a slight hitch was heard at the end as if she'd instinctively replied without much thought. He was surprised by the sudden change in tone.
'Well, I guess anyone would be nervous. It's not every day you present your case in front of the country's entire noble population. Now that I think about it, this is oddly democratic for a medieval monarchy. I'd expect this would be the perfect setting for a power struggle for the throne if this world were like Asura….Yeah, this world is just weird.'
The group quickly reached the grand ballroom's entrance following the appointed guide. Passing the two great doors revealed the main ballroom. It was large enough to hold hundreds comfortably, maybe thousands of people. With a royal red carpet splitting the center, the left filled with idle chatter from the knights of Lugunica, all dressed in white uniforms. On the right were the nobles mingling in fanciful suits and dresses.
"Rudeus, my future knight! Go and stand with the knights on the left." Emilia ordered.
"Huh? Ah, Yes! Emilia-sama."Rudeus followed.
This was the first time Emilia had been this direct with her words and the first time she mentioned Rudeus by his position by technicality. For the past two months, they have stayed chiefly as friends, not as a servant and master relationship. But here, in the confines of the palace, Rudeus was her knight.
As he left the group to line up with the other knights in the crowd, he didn't notice the slight grimace on Emilia's face from the robotic order she just gave.
"The Council of Wise Men will now enter!" The announcer shouted.
From the center of the room, the supposed people of great wisdom entered the meeting desks at the front. All the nobles, knights, and Royal candidates stood in formation, greeting the elders.
"So, those are the ones ruling the county? The old geezers don't look like much, to be honest." Someone mumbled behind Rudeus.
"Heh? Al? Is that you?" Rudeus asked.
As he suspected, the familiar helmeted knight greeted him as he turned around. Al wore his signature helmet and roughed leather jacket, unlike the rest of the knights surrounding them. He spoke up like a sore thumb. Just how the hell did Rudeus not notice he was here? And more importantly, is nobody going to comment on his ridiculous outfit on what is clearly a very important noble's event?
"Huh? I should have expected you, but I didn't even notice you with that uniform. What the hell are you even wearing?" Al asked.
"This? Oh, I guess this is my knight's uniform. Rem made some modifications to suit my magic. Wait, never mind that. What are you doing here? And why are you dressed like some hippie barbarian on a day like this? Don't tell me this is some obscure traditional uniform!" Rudeus asked.
"Didn't I tell you someone might take your head off for that? Well, I'm still cool, so I'll let it slide. To answer your question, this is my uniform. It might not be much, but it's mine, and I like it." Al replied.
Looking head to toe, Rudeus took an examining look at the knight behind him. Well, his outfit definitely wasn't vulgar, per se. It was revealing, but it didn't seem inappropriate. Al was a man. Besides, even Ghislaine's outfit was exposing, and she worked fine at the Boreas household.
'No, wait, I think that's very different from this though….'
"Ok.. but why are you here? Are you also a knight of Lugunica?" Rudeus carefully asked.
"A knight? No. Something like that doesn't suit me. All that knighthood and chivalry thing is too much. I just work for Princess and do as she tells me to." Al nonchalantly replied.
'Princess? Does he mean that woman? I guess she is a noble, but I didn't expect a stuck-up nobleman's daughter to come to such an important event- Hey, wait a second!'
His eyes widened in surprise as his ears and the skin on his back tightened. The cogs in his brain began to turn and then accepted the turn of events.
"Uh, so that Princess of yours is…" Rudeus carefully asked.
"You've finally figured it out? Lady Priscilla Braille, candidate for the forty-second ruler of the Kingdom of Lugunica." Al proudly pronounced.
'Well shit, isn't that convenient. Not only did I disregard Emilia yesterday, but I also happened to come across the leader of an opposing political faction. No wonder Emilia seemed upset yesterday…'
"Damm, I really should have just stayed put." Rudeus sighed.
"Eh, I wouldn't worry about it. I guess your master didn't tell you anything, either. Well, the show's about to start. We should get in line, lest we get kicked out."
Al replied to the worried mage, patting his shoulder in condolence. Well, if anything, his disposition made him feel better about himself. It seemed ordinary for those from another world to be out of the loop.
"So… those are the Royal Candidates?" Rudeus muttered.
Looking at the center of the room, four women stood side by side, facing the Council of Wisemen, taking their seats at the high table. While their faces weren't visible from the back, it was easy to tell them apart.
On the far left was Emilia wearing her usual white one-piece dress.
To her, right was the fiery sun Princess, Priscilla Barielle, proudly beating her hand fan as if bored.
Next to her was the Dutchess Crusch Karsten, standing tall and firm in her sharp militaristic attire.
And lastly, on the far right was the last candidate. The final candidate's identity wasn't known to Rudeus, but the purple hair with an overly large puffy white hat and cloak screamed expensive in his mind. It was the type of clothing those posh rich people would wear to seminars and social events for the rich. Well, not that Rudeus would know. He never had such chances in his previous life. But that's the feeling such clothing gave him.
"What a… diverse set of faces?" Rudeus awkwardly whispered.
"Hm? You came, after all, Rudeus!"
Coming from the man in front of him, a small but proud voice drew Rudeus' attention, who was definitely not checking out the candidates for the throne. When he came face to face with the man who called him, it was none other than Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint himself, greeting him with a calm and wide smile.
"When I heard Emilia-sama would be here, I suspected you would be here as well." Reinhard continued.
Hearing those words and facing him, Rudeus couldn't help but smile back. While he wasn't well acquainted with the man, Rudeus had grown fond of the red-haired swordsman. From the few books of knighthood available at the library, he knew about the Astrea family and their ties to the legendary sword Reid. This man, who had saved his and Emilia's life on the first day, was also the Lugunica's this generation Sword Saint, one of the strongest warriors ever to walk on these lands.
The instinctual reaction to such a man may be fear, but Rudeus had no such emotions toward Reinhard.
'Not only would fearing such an amicable guy be rude, but I feel like I can trust him. I haven't trusted someone to this extent in my previous lives, so it's a bit creepy to feel this way to a complete stranger. But, creepy or not, I don't mind this comforting feeling I get around him.'
"Ho! Reinhard! It's good to see you as well! I never got to thank you, have I? Well, thank you so much again, Reinhard. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you that day."
The instant he thought back to the first day and the heroic rescue from Reinhard spelled the anxiety and worry of yesterday's blunders away. He was just happy to see Reinhard.
"Not at all, Rudeus. It is I who must thank you. Thanks to your help, I achieved a long-standing mission of mine. So, as Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint, and your friend, I thank you from the bottom of my heart." Reinhard replied.
The presumed words of gratitude didn't quite reach the young mage. He heard them and understood every word he said, but Rudeus didn't know what it meant.
'Reinhard is thanking… me? I… well, all I did that day was fumble the bunch. I didn't accomplish much with Emilia or stop that assassin. So, why is Reinhard, the Sword Saint, thanking me? Really, he's the one who did everything!'
And as much as he wanted to deny Reinhard's acknowledgment vehemently, 'Would that be the polite thing to do?' he thought.
"Eh? Well… um, I don't know what I did, but you're welcome? Reinhar- Sir Reinhard…" Rudeus awkwardly replied.
Reinhard's smile wavered the second Rudeus said, "sir". No one noticed the detail, however. Holding his emotions firm, he continued to smile back at the fumbling mage in front of him.
This was expected of him. This was the norm. There's nothing wrong about this situation to him after all.
"Hiya, Rudeus-kun!"
Breaking the awkward moment, Felix Argyle interrupted and joined in on the group. Unlike her previous attire, she was wearing the same white-cloaked knight uniform. Though, the two ribbons on her hair stayed.
Despite the fresh appearance, the knightly Felix in front of Rudeus emitted the same suspicions, just like their first greeting at the Roswaal mansion. Even with the few moments they spent together, Rudeus could not figure out what was wrong with the beast woman.
"Oh, Felix. I guess I should have expected you to be here." Rudeus greeted the beast woman knight.
"Oh, Rudeus, you know him?" Reinhard asked.
"Yeah, and we've met a few times before and at the Crusch Ma- wait, what did you just say?" Rudeus asked in return.
'I could have sworn Reinhard just said something outrageous.'
"Hm? I asked if you knew of him. It is nice to you've acquainted yourself with the knights, Rudeus." Reinhard replied.
"Oh, well, it wasn't anything big. We just got to somewhat know each other at the Karsten manor. I wouldn't say we're well acquainted, but I would still like to get to know him bet-" Rudeus replied, cutting himself off.
"Wait…. HIM!?" Rudeus shouted, drawing the eyes of a few people standing nearby.
"Ahem. Yes, he is Felix Argyle, a knight. Despite appearances, he is male." Reinhard calmly explained.
With the final puzzle piece in mind, Rudeus could finally comprehend the monster that was Felix Argyle.
'IT'S A TRAP!' Rudeus shouted in his mind.
'So that's why it felt so odd! That's a femboy furry! That's why he seemed so suspicious! How could I not have realized? This is my specialty as a good-for-nothing hikikomori with 30-plus years of experience!'
Rudeus scratched the back of his head. With a small fake laugh, he could only accept the reality in front of him.
"Hmmm? I guess I got you didn't I, Rudeus-kyun? I would love to tease you more, but we have more pressing matters-nya."
With his final comment, he swiftly moved behind Al, following formation.
'I miss Gyes….'
"We meet again, Rudeus. Have you been well?"
Another new voice called from behind this time. Wearing the same white knight uniform, Julius Jukulius greeted the mage as he stood beside Reinhard in the formation.
"It's nice to see you again too, Julius. I guess all the knights are here today." Rudeus replied.
If Reinhard's greeting was casual, then Julius was the opposite. Following strict knight protocols, every glance, every step, and breath was exact and formulaic. He was the pinnacle of knighthood many worked to strive for. Believing in diligence and hard work, Julius took the "Knight of Knights" mantle to its perfected extreme.
"Indeed, most knights and Royal Knights have been summoned today. I presume you are here as Emilia's Royal Knight?" Julius asked.
"Ah, no. I'm not officially a knight, so I don't have the right to do so." Rudeus meekly replied.
"Is that so? Even still, it should be no problem to support your candidate. You may not be an official knight, but you still represent the strength of your political faction. By the way, did yesterday's business turn out fine? I remember Emilia-sama's distress when she couldn't find you outside. It is unknightly to abandon your post." Julius asked.
"Ah, yesterday. Something drew my attention I couldn't ignore. In hindsight, I wish I had ignored it. Things probably would have turned out better if I had. But at the time, I think I did the right thing." Rudeus replied.
Now that he knew Priscilla Braielle, he wished he hadn't run off to save her. If any of the other Royal Candidates had in common was their combat prowess. Rudeus couldn't speak for the purpled-haired one, but each candidate was no pushover. Crusch was a military commander. And, if Wilhelm was any indication, he didn't want to face Crusch, even in a spar.
He saw Emilia's incredible ice magic alongside her ever-reliable spirit, Puck, on his first day in Lugunica. Only the most unfortunate assassins and thieves would worry her with the two working together.
And for Priscilla herself, if she could summon a sword of fire with the dexterity and strength to behead him immediately, she could handle those three thugs alone.
Of course, this is all in hindsight. Rudeus could have never known who the fiery woman was. If it were any other person, he'd do the same thing. But knowing who it was now, he earnestly regrets putting Emilia in too much trouble.
If they didn't need his help, it was unnecessary to intrude, especially when your boss ordered you not to.
"Well, whatever the case is, do not forget why you became a knight. Your core is your guide. Do not stray far, or you will never reform." Julius replied.
With his sharp remarks, Julius ended the conversation. He turned away to face the ahead and fixed his posture, leaving the young mage struck with his words.
"Why I became a knight…" He mumbled softly.
"Oi, you're popular with the boys, eh? I didn't know it was that kind of genre. I wonder, which route you'll take?" Al commented.
"Eh?"
"Now, if I may be so forward. I, Marcos, leader of the Imperial Knights, will direct today's proceedings."
The knight, known as Marcos, stood away from the knights in form and directly addressed the crowd and Royal candidates in front of him. He stood out, not just from his position, but his full knight's armor, bright green hair, and charismatic voice drew everyone's attention.
"It all happened about half a year ago, when members of the royal family, starting with the king, passed away, one by one, causing-" He continued, only to be cut off by a soft-spoken voice.
"Listen. I get that ya wanna talk up a good show here, but I'm busy, ya know? As we say in Kararagi, time is money." The woman continued.
The mysterious royal candidate with purple hair and extravagant clothing interrupted Marcos' introductory speech. She continued to pester Marcos to simply "Get over with the show. Money won't make itself, ya know?".
"Is that… Kansai dialect? And can she just cut him off like that?" Rudeus asked no one in particular.
"That's Anastasia Hoshin. She's from Kararagi and is known for being a ruthless businesswoman. And no, she's not from Japan. Or, at least, I'm pretty sure she's not. There's only a handful of people like you and me." Al replied quietly from behind.
"Hm? Wait, so you know others from Japan as well?" Rudeus asked back.
In his previous world, Rudeus had never met another person from Japan. Well, he had his suspicions about Nanahoshi. The pronunciation seemed far too familiar to the young boy. Though, it could be a misheard pronunciation from the verge of death. With a hole in his chest, who knows how much of what he saw and heard distorted? And to be fair, she was the companion of the Dragon God Orsted. Who knows what kinds of people that man was acquainted with?
"Not really the best place to talk about this, but kinda? I don't know them personally, and they're probably long dead, but I have my suspicions. And to answer your second question, she's not like us, man. She's a Royal candidate. She outranks everyone in this room. Nobody would dare try to criticize her." Al nonchalantly replied.
'Well, that's good to know… Better keep my mouth shut then.' He thought to himself.
Even with the ongoing events of this new world, Rudeus had to admit he was feeling a bit lonely. There was this itch for something that was missing in his current life. If he could connect with more people from Japan, he could just find what it was.
"I agree." Crusch Karsten spoke as Anastasia's rant finished.
Perhaps not to the degree of the ruthless businesswoman, but Crusch, too, was getting bored of the lengthy proceedings. Time spent listening to babble she already knew could be spent rallying her troops for her first political ploy. This Royal Summoning would hold little meaning had it just been a social event to get to know the other candidates.
"Crusch-sama, should the head of the Karsten family be saying something like that?" Marcos questioned.
Crossing her arms on her chest, Crusch eyed back at Marcos, clearly not hiding her annoyance.
"Observing formality is important, but it is also a fact that our time is limited. It would be wise to inform us why we are here at once. Naturally, I do have a general idea." She continued.
"You already know the purpose of this meeting?" The voice beside the throne asked.
Miklotov McMahon, one of the Council of Wise Men members overseeing the event and the kingdom, was the one to answer the Dutchess. He inquired honestly at the Dutchess' words. With her connection to the previous royal family, he knew Crusch Karstens wouldn't speak up to break formality without a good reason.
"Yes, Lord Miklotov. For a drinking party, correct?" Karsten proudly proclaimed.
"One day, we will face each other as rivals. But by sharing the same table and drinks, we will come to better know one another." She continued.
Taking a second to pause, Miklitov looked back at the proud Dutchess. His face chance naught and showed nothing to read off. He calmly replied to correct the incorrect conclusion she had arrived at.
"No, that is not correct."
The knights and nobles didn't react to the Dutchess' mistake. You would be forfeiting your trial to life to laugh at the head of the Karsten family, not to mention a Royal Candidate. Only Crusch herself and Anastasia looked disappointed at Miklitov's reply.
"Huh? Ferris, that wasn't what you told me." Crusch calmly asked her knight.
"Oh, come on nya~... All I said was it might be a tea party." Felix joyfully teased.
"Wha- is no one going to point out that childish speech at an event like this? Does she get a pass, too, for being a knight of a Royal Candidate? Talk about perks nya." Rudeus whispered to himself.
'Oops, I'm starting to talk like her too!
"I heard that!" Al teased.
"I see. I jumped to conclusions then. Forgive me. Allow me to retract what I just said." Crusch gently asked.
"Hey, hey! Even if she backs down, my opinion aint gonna change. No need to explain the Royal Selection now. We already know, right?!" Anastasia asked her fellow candidate members.
Priscilla didn't react. She just stood still with both eyes closed. She may not have said anything, but her demeanor was screaming how bored she was at the event. The white-haired half-Elf standing beside her fidgeted her cloak and earnestly replied in her soft voice.
"Um, I think we should hear the-"
"Sorry, but I ain't asking for ya opinion." Anastasia said, cutting Emilia's reply.
"Eh! Well, that was needlessly rude…" Rudeus whispered once more.
But he also noticed that no one else from the crowd reacted. They all just accepted the Royal Candidate's behavior. Even the knights, the shining example of chivalry, were mute at Anastasia's provocation.
'Is… this what I'm supposed to do? If no one else is doing it, I guess I should just watch as well….' He thought to himself.
"You men will prattle on about it either way, yes? Continue, Marcos." Priscilla ordered with a sigh.
"Then, we've gathered you, who are qualified to be the dragon priestess, because a new prophecy has been engraved in the Dragon Stone. It says, [From the five capable of becoming the nation's new leader, choose one priestess to enter into a covenant with the dragon]." Marcos announced.
"So… the candidates are supposed to be the Dragon Priestess, but only four are present…" Rudeus whispered once more.
"Yes, there are only four candidates as of now. The Royal Selection hadn't even begun. But today, history is set in motion." Reinhard replied.
Reinhard confidently announced, eyes glinting with determination never seen from the swordsman. He did not turn around to face Rudeus when he spoke. He didn't flinch nor move a muscle. But even from the back, anyone could feel the weight of the Sword Saint behind those words.
"Then that means…" Rudeus asked.
"Knight Reinhard van Astrea, come forward!" Marcos announced, cutting Rudeus off.
"Yes!" Reinhard replied.
He walked forwards, directly facing the four Royal Candidates and the Council of Wise Men. With a Lugunican bow, he maintained his lower posture as he answered his summoning.
"Honored members of the council of Wise Men, I, Reinhard van Astrea, of the Imperial Knights, would like to announce my mission's completion."
He then raised his head, looking head-on confidently. He had finished his mission at long last.
"The Dragon Priestess, the fifth and final candidate for the throne, has been located." Reinhard announced.
All those present: the members of the Council of Wise Men, the four Royal Candidates, the gathered nobles, and even the Imperial knights all understood the exact purpose of today's summonings. If the final Royal Candidate was found, and all the other candidates were collected together, the final candidate had to be somewhere around the castle.
Everyone barred a select few and began looking around, hoping to glimpse at the mysterious fifth candidate. Following a strict protocol, even the knights looked behind as the grand doors to the halls began to open.
"The one I, myself, revere as queen. Her name is Felt-sama!" Reinhard finished his announcement.
"Wait, Felt? That Felt?" Rudeus said aloud, forgetting to whisper at the shock of the news.
Walking down the red carpet from the grand double doors was a young blonde girl with red eyes wearing a well-matched frilly dress color that perfectly matched her hair. Taking elegant strides and two servants tending behind her, the once malnutritioned slum thief was nowhere to be seen, reborn as a proper noblewoman.
She proudly walkd the hall, looking weary as if looking for a specific someone. She climbed to the front of the hall, finally facing her Royal Knight, Reinhard van Astrea.
Reinhard, in turn, greeted her as well, taking another Lugunican bow to his new liege.
"Felt-sama, thank you for gracing us with your presence." Reinhard softly spoke.
Her worried face calmed down to a small smile at the sight of her knight and his dependable voice.
"Finally, Reinhard…" She replied.
Felt took another few steps, now right in front of Reinhard. The two locked eyes as they shared bright smiles at each other. It was clear that the two pairing stemmed from great trust and respect.
Or not.
"You bastard!" Felt shouted as her feet got caught in Reinhard's hand.
The steps she took and the look she shared were not to confirm their relationship but a careful calculus to find the perfect roundhouse kick distance.
Though, it wasn't much effective as Reinhard simply caught it in his hands, unfazed at the sudden attack from his liege.
"You dragged me here with no explanation, and what do you call all this!?" Felt continued to shout angrily.
"You surprised me. What brought on such behavior?" Reinhard asked.
"Don't block my kick and ask me like nothing happened! I've had just about all I can take." Felt continued.
"Is the dress not to your liking?" Reinhard asked once more.
Lowering her leg still in his hands, he kneeled lower than the already short candidate and gently placed her feet on the ground. He continued to act as a proper Royal Knight.
"It looks lovely on you." Reinhard finished, still kneeling.
That only triggered the girl more.
Her fists tightened, and her voice shouted louder. Looking at her kneeling knight directly in the eye, she continued to complain about how ridiculous her situation was. Just how many jobs could she have done during these past two months?
'Mysterious pure maiden pulled into a political ploy, check. A low-slum rat was actually the princess of the country, check. The hot-as-hell spoiled bratty princess who thinks everything should work by her standards and is ironically charismatic, check. The ruthless capitalistic businesswoman who only thinks money, check. The stoic, strong, independent military lady who's actually soft inside, check. The ridiculously overpowered chosen hero of the sword, check. The well-intentioned but bullied comic relief, check. The creepy but reliable magic user giving exposition here and there, check. An old butler that happens to be a badass swordsman in retirement check….' Rudues continued to tally.
And Rudeus was utterly silent about all that was going on. Because in his mind, the puzzle pieces were falling together with over thirty years of cliched fantasy novels he's read. At that moment, he realized he had become the side character for a management power fantasy.
'And I'm the innocent side character that gets killed off mid-season for character development for the main character… Yeah, I can see it pan in my mind.'
It was more a matter of fact rather than a mind-shattering existential crisis. Rudeus didn't feel sad or lost at the realization. He just accepted it as was presented in front of him.
'Well, maybe that's just where a person like me belongs.' His self-deprecating thoughts told him.
He merely accepted his role in the universe and stood still, unfazed by the introduction of the fifth candidate.
As he stood behind Reinhard, the blonde girl recognized him first.
"Oh? What the heck are you doing here, big-bro?" Felt asked.
"Huh? Oh, it's good to see you in great health, Fe-Felt-sama." Rudeus awkwardly replied.
As he greeted the old thief, Rudeus bowed down in his newly learned Lugunican bow. He had practiced the exact motions since his last departure with Julius for moments like these. He would only take perfection as an answer.
And behind him, a purple knight smirked at the sight of an utterly beautiful and perfect bow.
"Hey, what's with the bow and stuff? That doesn't suit you, big-bro."
With a lighter, but equally fast roundhouse kick, Felt kicked the air out of Rudeus as she belated his ineffective bow.
"Eek! What the…" Rudeus reflexively spoke before shutting his mouth as he remembered where he was and who he was talking to.
"Besides, I need to give this back…." Felt replied, handing a small item in her hand to Rudeus.
'Huh? What was that for? I'm pretty well trained, but that surprise attack still hurt like hell. Eh? What's with the sudden tone shift? Is… is she blushing? Why is she looking away? Wait, that's…'
The flawless gem Rudeus had given her the day Bowel Hunter had attacked was in her hands. Instead of selling it or sending it to an artisan, Felt had kept it with her for the past two months to return it to its owner.
"Ta- take it. I don't need it, and I shouldn't have taken it in the first place. You'd already saved my life. I can't take this. So take responsibility, and take it back, now!" Felt shouted.
Rudeus looked at Felt's sudden expression change and the flawless gem in her hand. The small little girl, only a year or two younger than her, presented a gem with such an expression. In his mind, it all looked too cute to him.
'Wait, that's not what's important here. As weird as it would be to take back a gift, Felt… Felt-sama is now a Royal Candidate and outranks me, and that tone was clearly an order. If I refuse, who knows what she might do to me…'
"Ah, thank you very much for your kindness, Felt-samachk!" Rudeus screamed as he reached to retrieve the flawless gem.
"And stop it with the -sama part!" Felt shouted as she continued to kick and pommel the young mage to the ground.
"Let this divine power be as satisfying nourishment, giving one who has lost their strength the strength to rise again! Healing!" Rudeus chanted.
'Ughhhh, if she's a princess now, she should at least act like one. Since when were they brutes of violence? Ha…. At least Emilia isn't like this. No matter how much I screw up, I'll never be abused for my actions under Emilia.'
"As you can see, the dragon gem has recognized Felt-sama as a priestess. With her participation approved, I believe it is time to begin the Royal Selection in earnest." Reinhard proclaimed.
With the fifth Royal Candidate officially announced, starting with Marcos, the Imperial knights bowed in support, Rudeus shortly following and mimicking their short bow as well. Even with his ribs aching in pain from the royal beating, he had to follow protocol as Emilia's future-knight.
"Even if the Dragon Stone has recognized her, isn't her selection a bit problematic?" One of the nobles questioned.
"You believe we, the Imperial Knights, have made an error?" Marcos strongly rebuffed.
His words became a signal as all the Imperial knights turned their heads to stare down the nobles. The two groups didn't share another word. Separated by the red carpet, the knights faced those who dared to accuse them, while the nobles refused to stand down.
In a room filled with the best knights of Lugunica fully armed, and the best mages and powerful noblemen, Rudeus could feel the tension harden like glass.
"Things are getting dicey…" He mumbled.
He had not taken offense to the noble's question. Not only was he not part of the Imperial Knights, but it sounded like an honest question. He had to question, was it really wrong to doubt?
'But I guess the knights are just proud of their title. Remember, Rudeus, no matter what happens, never offend a knight.'
"Al, with the Sword Saint present, you don't think they'll make a scene, right?" Rudeus asked.
"Well, I don't really care. It's not like I'll die even if things go wrong." He proudly answered.
"Woah, you must be really strong to be that confident!" Rudeus replied in a surprised tone.
"Eh, not really, but you learn a few tricks if you've been here as long as I have." Al jokingly replied.
'Man, it's really nice having another Isekaied person. I'll have to ask him for some tips and tricks later on. I don't want to die again from some unknown world event, or greeting the wrong person.'
"Just be on alert, and you should be fine." Al finished.
"Alert, you say…" Rudeus mumbled.
Despite Rudeus' great magic capabilities, he doubted he could successfully rescue Emilia and escort her to safety had things gone south. Not only did he leave his staff at the Karsten Manor, but he was also still suffering from the Wolgram's curse. While he couldn't ascertain his exact mana capacity, he doubted he could fire more than a handful of spells.
'Though, I should still be able to use…'
Thus, the best way to defend was to defuse the situation. He'd have to step up and risk offending tradition or the knights and nobles, but if he could prevent an all-out free-for-all, that would be worth it. With his newly found determination, Rudeus activated his Demon Eye.
'This way, if they start to fight, I should at least be able to redirect their attention.'
"Silence." Lord Miklitov ordered.
"Knight Reinhard, would you start by explaining to us what led you to her discovery?" He asked.
Reinhard placed his sword on the ground and kneeled at the Wise Men's question. He faced Lord Miklitov from his position right next to Felt and began recounting his battle with the Bowel Hunter.
"It is thanks to Emilia-sama and Rudeus that I was able to locate and rescue Felt-sama." He proclaimed, finishing his report.
The crowd divided into two as they reacted differently from each other. The Imperial Knights were simply impressed at the nameless Knight in Training's prowess in contesting the infamous Bowel Hunter or were astonished at Reinhard's incredible skill at defeating said assassin.
The nobles, however, clearly had different thoughts about the whole debacle.
"She's from the slums!" One noble shouted.
"The Sword Saint brought a gutter rat here!" Another shouted.
"Oh my, what does the future of this kingdom hold?" Others questioned.
And Felt was not having any of this.
"Well, sorry for being a gutter rat! You were the ones who dragged me here against my will!" She shouted, turning around to face the disgusted nobles berating her.
"All of this long-winded blather could not be more tedious. Of course, I suppose you lived as a gutter rat because you could only manage tedious conversation." A woman interrupted.
With a snarky smile and a red fan on her right, Priscilla was the one to insult Felt this time. Without giving two thoughts about her fellow candidate, she happily mocked Felt.
"Huh? If you're looking for one, I'll give you a fight." Felt sneered back.
"How insolent. Who do you think I am?" Priscilla replied.
Hiding her mouth behind her fan, the trim of her dress began to flutter with power and mana. While the other knights and nobles didn't react to the slight change, three people recognized the difference and what that meant.
"Princess, that isn't…." Al tried to call out.
'No.. she's not going to…' Rudeus thought as his Eye of Foresight reacted to the change.
With red mana particles swirling from her body, she slashed down the girl with a stroke of her fan. Only to be interrupted by a kneeling Reinhard, getting in between the Firey Monarch and Felt.
'Phew. Yep, Reinhard's got it covered. You really are helpful, huh? If I hadn't seen Reinhard take action, I might have done something stupid and made a scene. I need to thank that Demon Empress someday.'
"Many pardons, Priscilla-sama." Reinhard elegantly spoke.
"What are you thinking in a hallowed place like this?" Emilia shouted.
During the short provocation from Priscilla, Emilia also joined in to protect the young thief. Standing behind Reinhard but shielding Felt behind her shoulder, she angrily stared down the Priscilla, prouder than ever.
The rest of the crowd didn't seem to flinch an eye. The two other candidates rolled their eyes at the scene while the knights and nobles quieted. Whether they were confident the Sword Saint could handle the situation or didn't care, Rudeus could not tell.
"I was only trying to teach an untrained little bitch her place." Priscilla mocked.
"You won't even apologize?" Emilia angrily questioned.
"Then, will you also apologize for being born? You silver-haired half-Elf?" Priscilla sneered back.
From that question, Emilia grew smaller as her once proud and angry stance faltered. She quickly stepped back and held her hand over her chest defensively. Losing her previous admonition's emotional vigor, she could only weakly reply to the firey Monarch's insult.
"I… I have no connections to the witch…"
"Half-Elf… witch?" Rudeus whispered.
'Wait, does she mean that witch? The Witch of Envy? That's just a children's story! Why is that bitch talking like that? And why is Emilia so distraught? Emilia even used her name as an alias the first time we met, so it can't mean anything bad right?'
His fists clacked as he unknowingly clenched them so hard. Whether it was the modern perspective of life or his time with people admonished for their race, Rudeus could not hold back his anger at the conniving candidate. Had she not been of practical Royalty and he not under the guise of Emilia's retainer, Rudeus would have already taken action. But he only cursed himself for his inability to act on those urges. He couldn't act out of line in front of the entire country's nobility, primarily since he represented Emilia's political faction.
"Are you all quite finished?" Miklitov asked, drawing the attention back to today's summoning.
"Then, royal selection candidates, please come forth." Marcos announced.
The first to introduce themselves was Priscilla and her knight Al. Even as she climbed the stairs, she continued mockingly, hiding half her face behind her fan, as if the crowd wasn't worthy enough to be shown such excellence.
"This selection is pointless. I am the one fit to rule this nation! All you must do is grovel at my feet and serve me!" Priscilla declared.
'So much talk about self-work and laziness. Who in their right mind would anyone vote for such a prick of a human being.' Rudeus thought to himself.
The next was the Dutchess Crusch Karsten and her knight Felix Argyle. The two stood proud and tall. In front of the throne, an air of elegance and order emanated through their stance. While Felix's strides were more playful, Crusch's followed strict military protocol, not a millimeter off.
"Should I become the new ruler, I will make the dragon forget the covenant it demanded. The Kingdom of Lugunican belongs to its people, not the dragon!" Crusch declared.
'That's… rather bold. Isn't the dragon akin to a god in this Kingdom? Well, if anyone could do such a thing, I guess Dutchess Crusch would be the one to do it. It doesn't seem like the nobles or knights are necessarily opposed to it, either. Or is that just social standing?'
After Crusch was Anastasia with her knight, Julius Juukulius.
"I'm a greedy gal, so I want anything and everything. No amount of commercial success can satisfy me! I want my very own nation!" Anastasia proudly announced.
'Now, as much as money motivates the world, why does the year 2077 pop up when she talks about money? Is capitalism really that bad? It would be pretty progressive to implement it in this day and age.'
Succeeding the businesswoman was Emilia and her sponsor Roswaal L. Mathers. While his liege looked as determined as ever, her sponsor simply looked aloof, as if not caring for his role in the candidacy.
"I have but one wish. For all to be equal. I desire to create a nation where all citizens are equal!" Emilia proudly announced as she bowed to the crowd.
"Still, after the introdu~ction of all those knightly attendants, I feel te~rribly out of place here~!" Roswaal playfully complained.'
'Ah, equality. I haven't lived in a free country for 16 years now. If Emilia can somehow turn the country around, that would be pretty amazing. Considering the entire room is filled with nobility and the like, I don't think her goals would be well accepted…And what's with Roswaal? I know he's a clown, but I thought he'd tone it down. Do people really accept that just because he's the greatest mage of the kingdom?'
And contrast to the rest of the candidates, Felt alone did not climb the steps to announce her candidacy. When Marcos called the final candidate, she deflected, saying, "Who'd want to be the ruler of this stupid nation anyway?" and the like.
And the nobles didn't take her attitude well.
"This is a mockery! I've overlooked this because the situation is dire, but to drag it out this long is outrageous!" One of the nobles shouted.
"He's right. The Astrea family offers us a gutter rat to rule us, while the Margrave Mathers endorses a half-devil. Utter foolishness!" One of the council members spat.
"It isn't nice to call a half-Elf a half-devil" Roswaal replied without his usual word tick.
"That silver haired half-devil matches the Witch of Envy's appearance, as described for generations! Why do you not realize that even allowing her into the throne room is disastrous!" The councilmen continued.
"The elder speaks true! It's absurd for such candidates to even exist!" Another noble cried out.
"And the rat from the sewers? That's just as crazy! I shudder at even the thought of being ruled by adulterated swine." Another noble voiced.
"This is unacceptable to allow those filthy women! Has the dragon forsaken us?" Another shouted.
Emilia had not even finished walking down from the altar when the entire room was filled with discourse over her race and Felt's origins. Insults echoed in the halls as the nobles continued to berate the two candidate's mere existence. And Emilia didn't even look at her aggressors. Seemingly ignoring the loud shouting, she looked down at the ground, never daring to look up in fear.
"He-" Rudeus tried to shout. But before he could talk, he clenched his jaw biting his tongue.
From the outrageous comments of the nobles, Rudeus had forgotten that he was a mere commoner in a room filled with prideful knights and egotistical nobles. Without even a house name behind him, a lowly assistant under the guise of a knight-in-trainee would do more harm than good.
'These people are not like me. I'm neither a knight nor a noble. The fact that I'm even standing here is a miracle! If I'm not executed for speaking out of turn, I'd be doing more harm than good trying to defend Emilia now… And besides, it's not like I understand the racist undertones of this country, nor could I rectify their views in a day. I tried to help Ruijerd and the Superd for three years and barely made a single step.'
So, he locked his unpleasant thoughts deep down in his mind. Right now, Rudeus had to show restraint. In his mind, this was how politics were. It was a world of illogical and emotional fools looking to one-up each other whenever they could. Their battle wouldn't be here but in the campaign later. He had no clue how it would work, but he didn't worry.
Because all he had to do was follow Emilia's orders.
Nobody batted an eye at Rudeus' inaction. Al kept to himself, trying to keep his princess' temper in check. Felix didn't seem to care as well. So long as his master was okay, those noble's insults to another demi-human didn't matter to him. Reinhard didn't flinch, either.
Unseen to the crowd, only two people frowned at Rudeus' inaction.
"Silence!" A commanding voice shouted.
From the sudden voice filling the halls, the nobles and knights all looked toward the man responsible.
"I do not speak for a candidate other than my own, but as the knight of knights of Lugunica, representing the Imperial knights, I cannot let this injustice go unchecked!" He continued.
The voice in question was none other than Julius Juukulius.
"Heh… I knew you wouldn't be still. Just don't be a dork and end it quick." Anastasia whispered.
With a quick nod to acknowledge his master's permission, Julius looked straight against the nobles shouting their bickering just a minute ago.
"It greatly excites me to see so many of us value the history of our great country. We must never forget the deeds of the heroes of old defeating the greatest enemy ever recorded in Lugunican history. Yet, we mustn't let our hatred towards the Witch cloud our sight!" Julius shouted.
"Standing before you, the five candidates have gathered by the will of the Great Dragon! They have been chosen by fate to compete for the throne. To insult the candidacy would thus be the same as insulting the Great Dragon itself! Not only will you spout hate from a history yet uncovered, you even dare to berate our country's founding as well? Have we learned nothing from the Demi-human war all so many years ago!" Julius continued.
It was then the nobles got a clue about how out of line they were. It was clear as day, just what the Knight of Knights implied. Some began to clench their fists, others held their breath, and more started thinking of a way to escape this situation.
The other Candidates and their loyal knights looked pleased. Crusch, Anastasia, and Felix all knew the knight's attitude all too well. The three had already predicted this would happen sooner or later. Once Julius finishes, it would be up to the candidates to resolve the issue, showing great skills in political turmoil.
Vaguely glancing towards the knights in unison, she bit her lip and stared at her two feet on the ground. People were defending her of their free will for the first time in her life. It was supposed to be an eye-opening moment, yet no joy could be felt by the silver-haired candidate.
"So, I ask my brethren, the loyal Imperial knights, who all swore an oath to Lugunica and her people, what say you?" Julius questioned the Imperial knights.
As if to answer Julius' call, the Imperial knights glared at the nobles, each stomping their right foot in unison as they turned. Whether those were the knight's genuine sign of support, or just a show at their question of loyalty, no one would know for sure.
The confronted crowd merely whimpered at the collective pressure of the knights. The ones who shouted the loudest shrunk the most as they all began to scurry slowly from the tense atmosphere of the room.
And the last person to frown frowned deeper than ever.
'Wow, Julius sure is amazing! I don't think I could ever come up with a speech on the spot. He really is the Knight of knights! I should really learn more from his example from now on.' Rudeus thought.
But what Rudeus missed was the quick glance Julius made. As he caught a glimpse of a dumbfounded Rudeus, he closed his eyes as if disappointed and continued to eye the nobles.
And at that instant, when all the knights inside were too distracted with their chivalrous call to action, the stone tiles beneath began to smoke up.
"What's going on!" Marcos shouted.
Immediately assuming an incoming attack, all the knights drew their swords. Most of them were already on edge after the provoking speech from the Knight of Knights. Amongst their confusion, large footsteps reverberated the floors, all directed to a specific confused candidate.
"Huh? Why is he…" Rudeus muttered.
Even with their blades drawn, the knights did not act. With so much confusion and visibility limited by the smoke, swinging swords could harm their brothers in arms or innocents instead of the assailant.
The first to make a move, and thus signaling the rest of the knights to action, was the Sword Saint, Reinhard van Astrea. With an overhead swing with his sheathed blade, the single stroke blew away the smoke screen like a leaf blower in mid-spring. With the smoke now gone, it was clear as day what had happened. A hulking muscular giant had attempted to kidnap one of the royal candidates right under their noses!
"Old man Rom?" Felt squealed.
With their visual sense regained, the Imperial knights instantly surrounded the giant. With their blades already drawn and a potential Royal Candidate captive, the group immediately took action to cut the giant down.
Cracking the stone tiles of the floor, a thick wall of magic earth surrounded and encapsulated the giant. With a sharp clang from one side and another from the front, the reinforced fortress was enough to deflect the knight's slash and stab.
"What is this?" The knights shouted in confusion.
A single slash would have been sufficient if the perpetrator had just been a brute as he looked. But the earthen wall that emerged from the ground had been anything but brute strength. It had to have been magic. Yet, no one had heard a single spell or word leave the giant's mouth. Then the knights could next assume this was the work of an unknown Divine Protection, protecting the life of the giant in question.
But had they been able to look inside, they would have noticed the man himself was just as confused.
"Please stop!" A sharp voice echoed in the halls.
Before any of the knights could see who the perpetrator was, even before Reinhard had blown away the smoke screen, the Eye of Foresight had presaged who it was. And at the very end, as Reinhard's blow finished, he could see the body of a headless giant clutching a crying blonde girl on the floor.
With that vision in mind, he had cast the spell instantaneously. Rudeus didn't even doubt his decision. As undesirable as the commotion was, he could not let the man trying to see his daughter again be killed.
From his conversation with the man yesterday, it was clear that Rom was unaware of Felt's situation. As reckless as this act was, Rudeus could assume this was an act of desperation, not malice.
And if such a person were to be cut down in front of his surrogate daughter. Well, he couldn't just stomach the thought.
"Rudeus? Wha-" Said Emilia before getting cut off.
He needed to act fast if he wanted to save Rom from this predicament. Using a small wind spell, he propelled himself toward the entrance of the Earth Fortress protecting Rom.
With his body firmly between the knights and Rom, he lowered the Earthen Fortress' front walls but left the back side in case of an unexpected backstab.
Her hands shook at the sudden turn of events. Her eyes glistened to comprehend what was in front of him. Facing a dozen or so knights alone, her future knight raised both hands and pleaded for everyone to calm down.
"This man is an associate of Felt-sama and means no harm! He was there and protected Felt-sama when the Bowel Hunter attacked. He hadn't been informed of Felt-sama's situation and must have gotten desperate! He means no harm to the Royal Candidate!" Rudeus shouted.
"And just who are you? This man had snuck into the castle and attempted to kidnap a Royal Candidate. For his crimes of treason against Lugunica, he should be executed. And you are aiding in his schemes!" Marcos shouted back.
When the word 'treason' had left Marcos', the knights moved to surround the lone mage. Except for the Royal Knights and Al, the rest of the room filled with Imperial knights, all pointing their weapons at the isolated mage protecting Rom and Felt.
'Shit, I never intended this to go this bad. I barely have enough magic to fend off a single trained knight; there's just no way I can live through this. And now I've completely ruined Emilia's political campaign… No, I can't think like that. I can't regret saving Rom's life. If I'm to live life seriously, I can't just ignore a friend in need. I'll use Quagmire, then Deep Mist, and blow a hole out of here with Rom. I'll be a fugitive in Lugunica, but I'll have to consider that afterward. Saving a life comes first.'
Buying his time to execute his plan at the perfect moment, Rudeus said nothing as he faced down the Imperial knights.
"Knight Marcos, that is my knight, Rudeus! Please, order your men to stand down!" Emilia pleaded.
"Emilia…-sama, that man is your knight? Even still, the Imperial Knights cannot overlook an attempt at treason." Marcos firmly replied.
"Then I'll say it too! Stop this! I'm the one getting kidnapped, so if I say it's fine, then you have to stop, right?" A voice echoed.
Shouting from within the half-opened stone cocoon, Felt called from the top of her lungs. The girl had already escaped from the old man's arms and began to walk out of their protective shell. With his Demon eye indicating no knights charging in, Rudeus continued to eye the room warily, allowing Felt to leave the makeshift shelter.
"Unfortunately, I cannot comply. Felt-sama, you have publicly declared that you have no intentions of participating in the Royal Selection. I am not obliged to obey your orders." Marcos coldly replied.
"Khh…" Felt hissed.
Gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, Felt glared back with both brows furrowed if that's how he'd come back. If that's why he wouldn't listen to her, then…
She turned around to see the old man still inside the artificial cave. With sweat drops dripping from his forehead and eyes unable to focus, her determination strengthens.
"Fine! You want me to be the next ruler, right? Then I'll play your stupid game! I hate this country and its nobility. So I'll bring it down to the ground and return it to the people. You happy now?" Felt shouted back.
"Huh? Felt, what are you saying…" Rom wheezed from the ground.
"That old man is like family, so I'm ordering you to stand down!" Felt continued.
With her declaration made public, Marcos closed his eyes in satisfaction and raised his right hand to his chest. With only a slight bow, he replied.
"Yes, understood, Felt-sama."
And the rest of the Imperial knights lowered their swords and relaxed their blades. Rudeus followed suit as he removed the Earthen Walls back. Though, the stone tiles were still a mess. He couldn't restore those immediately.
With the tense air clearing, Emilia breathed a deep sigh of relief. Despite her conflicting emotions, she did not want to see her knight and only friend beheaded right before her.
"So, you, Rudeus, are Emilia's knight, correct?" Marcos questioned.
"Eh? Yes, that's right." Rudeus immediately replied.
Eyeing the young mage replying meekly to his question, he simply growled and ordered him.
"Then, as you seem to know this man, see to it and escort this man out of the castle and make sure he stays out of trouble."
"Yes! As you say." Rudeus bowed and replied.
He took two deep breaths before moving away. With light footsteps, he turned around and deactivated his Demon Eye. He walked up to the old Giant and helped him up to his feet.
"C'mon old man Rom. I'll explain once we get out." Rudeus softly spoke.
"Hmm? Oh, sure. Thanks again, boy." Rom replied, scratching the back of his head.
With the boy leading the man out the grand doors of the castle, everyone's eyes continued to follow until the pair left the halls, and their steps echoed no longer. However, only three pairs of eyes continued to scowl at the back of the boy who was no longer there.
The creaking sounds of the Roswaal's fists were missed by all.
"So… not this time." He murmured.