Interlude: Ordis
“I never expected things to unfold this way… Perhaps it’s time to make my move…”
The Arclight Kingdom is currently divided into two major factions: the Third Princess, Lily Arclight, and the Second Prince, Jester Arclight. Rumors have circulated that the King and Crown Prince were murdered by these two, but the truth remains uncertain.
“Yet, it seems that what Welter predicted has come to pass.”
I thought it was just some sort of joke when I heard that the Arclight Kingdom was on the brink of collapse… I truly never imagined the Royal Castle would be destroyed.
“Hehe, it’s amusing that this is all thanks to Welter’s apprentice.”
Fortunately, aside from the royal family present in the castle, there were no casualties. The Empress, who had been imprisoned in the spire, had become nothing but a nuisance, so we can consider her removal a necessary cleanup. For the citizens, it appears that merely changing the leadership has not significantly impacted their daily lives.
It seems that the other summoned Heroes have also left the kingdom, but the Arclight Kingdom does not seem to have the luxury to send pursuers after them. In fact, it feels as if they are avoiding the topic altogether, as if they were handling a delicate matter. It seems that the repercussions from Shu and Rio’s actions have left quite an impression.
Having bound them with the Collar of Subjugation, it would be unreasonable to expect them to be welcomed back with open arms now.
“Hmm… In that case, it might be worth attempting some contact.”
I believe they headed towards the commercial nation. They seem to be traveling in a group, so their pace isn’t particularly swift. However, one of them appears to be acting alone… but that can be overlooked.
Quietly slipping out of the Royal Castle, I decided to head outside while observing the state of the town.
“Nothing seems particularly different.”
Looking around, I don’t notice any significant changes. In fact, the number of people bustling along the Main Street seems to have increased. Certainly, in terms of the castle’s restoration efforts, there must be a rising demand for construction-related work.
It appears that stalls have gathered around the castle, likely capitalizing on this demand. I decided to try some skewered meat, and to my surprise, it wasn’t bad at all.
The Noble District is currently in a state of flux as the power dynamics shift, so it seems a bit noisy. However, that’s not unusual, and the general populace plays a significant role in determining the nation’s economy. As long as the common citizens can maintain their usual way of life, there shouldn’t be any major issues.
“Now then, the Heroes are heading south.”
Checking their coordinates, I made my way towards the southern gate of the town. It has been a while since I returned to Bergstein, but I should be fine.