Chapter 12: In the Royal Capital
Having completed our plans for the day, we returned to our inn for a brief respite.
I had unilaterally agreed to the matter concerning the Dungeon, and tomorrow I would be entering the “Foundation of the Royal Family” alongside the handsome knight, Lord Harsivil, and the enchanting sorceress, Lady Meldoza.
As for the situation with Lady Shizuna, I decided to wait for the members’ consensus before proceeding, so I had asked them to hold off on their responses until tomorrow.
After dinner, I gathered everyone in my room for a discussion.
We unanimously decided to accept the request regarding Lady Shizuna. It was a request from the royal family, making it difficult to refuse, but the women had developed a fondness for Lady Shizuna, and their curiosity about the rumored Oz Country was also a significant factor. Personally, I was eager to see it for myself.
Regarding the Dungeon, Freinir expressed her concern about me entering alone, while Larni insisted, “I want to go too!” However, there were no further disputes.
“Embarrassingly enough, I was unaware of the ‘Foundation of the Royal Family’ Dungeon. Is it really that famous?” I admitted.
Mariane responded to my words, her expression serious.
“Indeed. It is well-known that the Royal Capital was built around the ‘Foundation of the Royal Family.’ It is a Dungeon where precious materials and treasures can be found, and only those permitted by the royal family are allowed to enter. In that sense, the greatest reward for you, Soushi, is obtaining permission to enter.”
“I see. It seems like a bigger deal than I thought.”
“Yes, the Guild is also eager to gather any information about the ‘Foundation of the Royal Family,’ so if possible, please share your findings upon your return.”
“Understood. As long as I’m not sworn to secrecy, that is.”
It appeared that there were still many aspects of “common knowledge in this world” that I was unaware of. Regardless, the prospect of entering such an exclusive Dungeon was exciting in its own right.
“Now then, for our final discussion, I was actually considering offering the ‘Elixir’ we obtained recently to the royal family.”
My sudden proposal took everyone by surprise.
Among them, Mariane’s eyes widened the most. I realized that we hadn’t informed them about our possession of the ‘Elixir.’
Naturally, Larni was the first to voice her doubts.
“Why would you want to offer the ‘Elixir’ to the royal family?”
“I heard from Mr. Toronto that the queen is gravely ill. Freinir, didn’t you hear anything from the princess?”
“Yes… I heard a little in the carriage. Sister Margarot went to fetch medicine but said she couldn’t obtain any. However, she didn’t mention the ‘Elixir.'”
“When I spoke with His Majesty the King today, I overheard that there was some contention with the church regarding the ‘Elixir.’ It seemed like the church was reluctant to release the ‘Elixir’ they already possessed.”
As I lowered my voice, Sfenia furrowed her brow.
“Does that mean the church is trying to use the ‘Elixir’ as leverage to influence the royal family?”
“It seems His Majesty interpreted it that way as well.”
“How could they use the queen’s life as a bargaining chip…?”
It was only natural for Freinir to look saddened. The nature of the relationship between the royal family and the church was unclear, but it was unsettling to think of a transaction involving a person’s life.
“Mariane, I’m still new to this country, so I’m not well-informed. What is the current public opinion of His Majesty the King?”
“I believe there are hardly any negative stories circulating. According to the guild master in the Royal Capital, he seems to have a good understanding of the Adventurers’ Guild. What about among the Elf Race?”
“Well… There have been requests for stricter measures against slave hunters, but aside from that, there isn’t much else.”
“From the Beastmen’s perspective, it seems that work has become easier. However, the issue of slave hunters remains. It’s partly due to Mecalinan, but the southern border does seem a bit lax.”
“I see…”
While there were concerns about the border, it seemed that the overall governance was relatively sound, given the lack of complaints. From what I had observed, there was no negative image of this country.
“I met with His Majesty today, and I felt he was a reasonable person. I don’t think it would be a bad idea for our party to establish a connection with the royal family. Unless there are strong objections, I plan to offer the ‘Elixir’ tomorrow. What do you all think?”
“I believe we should offer it if the queen’s life is in danger.”
“Knowing Soushi, I feel like he could obtain another one soon, so it should be fine.”
“I agree with Soushi’s opinion. With Mecalinan’s unsettling movements, we, as the Elf Race, would like to avoid any turmoil within the royal family.”
“The Guild would also prefer that ‘Soul’s Guidance’ gains external influence.”
With that, we had reached a consensus on this pressing matter.
The question now was how this would affect “Soul’s Guidance,” but for now, I could only trust that it would lead to a positive outcome. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being guided by “Bad Luck,” though…
The next day, our party headed to the royal castle.
We were led to the same waiting room as yesterday, where the women would remain. It seemed the princess had requested to interact with the female members of “Soul’s Guidance,” so they would likely spend their time chatting over tea. I had even brought along a deck of cards to help pass the time.
Meanwhile, I was escorted deeper into the castle by Lord Raylot. After passing through several sturdy doors and descending stairs into the underground, we arrived at a spacious stone chamber.
There, I found Chancellor Julios, Lord Harsivil, and Lady Meldoza waiting for me.
Upon seeing my face, Chancellor Julios bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for coming today. Harsivil and Meldoza are here to assess your abilities, Soushi, but you may treat them as party members. Feel free to give them instructions during battle if necessary.”
“Understood. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
“I look forward to studying the skills of the Twilight Slayer, Soushi,” Lord Harsivil said with a confident smile, still clad in his azure silver armor and mithril spear, just as I had first seen him.
“Hehe… I too shall enjoy this. Do let me know if you require magic,” Lady Meldoza said, exuding a mysterious aura in her witch-like attire, which featured a plunging neckline and a deep slit in her skirt, making it difficult to know where to look.
As I retrieved my usual mace and shield from my Item Box, the three of them, excluding Lord Harsivil, looked slightly surprised.
Chancellor Julios nodded and opened an iron door at the back of the room. Beyond it lay only a staircase descending into darkness.
“A well-prepared A-Rank party can traverse down to the fifth floor of the ‘Foundation of the Royal Family’ in about two hours. Both Harsivil and Meldoza are well-acquainted with the route to the boss room on the fifth floor, so they will guide you. Best of luck.”
“Thank you. We shall proceed.”
I bowed to Chancellor Julios and Lord Raylot, then, accompanied by Lord Harsivil and Lady Meldoza, I stepped into the classless Dungeon, “Foundation of the Royal Family.”