Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 08
The interior of the castle was as splendid and luxurious as its exterior. The floor was polished white, and the deep blue carpet laid upon it was astonishingly soft. The marble walls were adorned with intricate sculptures, likely crafted by master artisans, and the magical lamps placed at regular intervals were decorated with exquisite glasswork.
At key points, guards who appeared to be former adventurers stood watch, their sharp gazes piercing through the full-face helmets. Well, it was only natural for them to scrutinize a party that looked unmistakably like adventurers.
After walking through the castle for about ten minutes, we emerged into a corridor lined with guest rooms, where Mr. Zorberg turned to face us.
“Now, I will guide each of you to your respective rooms. A servant will be assigned to each room, so please feel free to ask them for anything you need. If you desire a bath or anything else, they will assist you promptly. I will call for you at dinner time, so until then, please enjoy your stay in your rooms.”
Having a room to oneself, along with a dedicated servant, was an extraordinary privilege, even for someone of my noble status in the kingdom. Perhaps my surprise showed on my face, as Miss Dorozitte patted my shoulder and whispered, “The ‘Soul’s Guidance’ party is deserving of such treatment.”
As Mr. Zorberg had promised, I was led to my room, which was far more spacious than any poorly designed apartment I had lived in during my previous life. The room was lavishly furnished with a bed, a table set, a sofa, and a closet, all arranged with ample space to spare. The servant—who was a beautiful woman dressed in a maid’s outfit—was waiting in an adjacent room, apparently ready to assist me, which was quite a delightful surprise.
It was around three in the afternoon. Although there was still some time until dinner, I was informed that I couldn’t roam freely around the castle. Since I had the chance, I decided to take a bath. While we were accustomed to bathing even while camping, the desire for a spacious bath was something I couldn’t shake off. I had experienced luxurious baths in high-end inns in the royal capital, but I was quite curious about what the castle had to offer.
After requesting the maid’s assistance, I was promptly guided to the bathing area, though it took nearly ten minutes to walk there.
“This is the entrance. We can wash your clothes and return them to you by tomorrow morning. How would you like to proceed?”
“That sounds good, please do.”
“Then allow me to explain the bathing facilities.”
Upon entering the changing room, I was astonished to find about ten private changing stalls lined up. Further inside, the bathing area was so vast that it felt like a theme park.
Everything was constructed from high-quality stone resembling marble, and beside a bathtub the size of a pool, various sculptures depicting animals were displayed. Some of the baths were herbal baths, emanating a delightful aroma that promised relaxation. I had visited large spas in Tokyo during my previous life, but this place was on an entirely different level.
As the maid offered to assist me with undressing, I politely declined and made my way to the bathing area alone. It seemed that due to the odd hour, I had the entire place to myself.
Using a luxurious-smelling soap, I washed my body and then stretched out in the tub. Although I wasn’t particularly tired from my travels, the sensation of fatigue washing away in the warm water was undoubtedly one of the pleasures of a large bath. I wondered if there were hot springs on this continent as well.
As I soaked for a while, drowsiness began to creep in. In a dreamy haze, I heard sounds coming from the changing room. It seemed someone had entered.
Glancing over, I saw a tall, well-built young man accompanied by several maids, who were washing his body and hair with practiced ease. His deep indigo hair flowed down to his back, making it clear that washing it himself would be quite a challenge.
However, his confident demeanor gave me an unsettling feeling about his identity… Would it be disrespectful to think such a thing?
After he had his body washed, he dismissed the maids and walked toward my tub. As I stood up, he raised his right hand in a gesture of restraint.
“This is a place to wash away worldly troubles, so there’s no need for formalities.”
The young man smiled as he spoke, appearing to be in his late twenties. He had a strikingly handsome face, reminiscent of an actor.
His speech conveyed a deep intelligence, and despite his relaxed demeanor, there was an undeniable air of authority about him—a mysterious presence. He slowly sank into the tub, exhaling softly before turning his indigo eyes toward me.
“As you may have noticed, I am Aeneas Borealis, the Emperor of this Empire. It is a pleasure to meet you, Count Okuno. Or should I refer to you as the ‘Demon God’?”
“Please call me Okuno. It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Soushi Okuno, a mere adventurer at present, though I hold the title of Count in the kingdom. I apologize for keeping you waiting…”
“In this setting, and indeed in any other, you need not say such things. Count Okuno is a valued guest, and more importantly, you have already achieved numerous accomplishments within the Empire. It is I who should be expressing my gratitude.”
The young Emperor smiled warmly, his eyes softening.
“I am humbled. It seems I have a knack for encountering troublesome situations, which inevitably leads me to resolve various incidents. As a result, I have received quite a bit of recognition, and I find it difficult to keep up with the changes in my status.”
“Indeed, that seems to be the case. After all, when tracing Count Okuno’s footsteps, the first notable event is the Goblin King subjugation from about six months ago. From there, you saved the Elf Village, rescued the priestess of Oz, single-handedly defeated the ‘Kin of Twilight,’ and in Oz, you were regarded as the ‘Apostle of Spirits.’ Furthermore, you nearly single-handedly ended the civil war in the Country of Mecalinan, brought the ‘Kin of Twilight’ into your party in the Inner Elf Village, obtained crucial information, and traversed the ‘Wandering Dungeon’ twice. You also conquered the A-Class Dungeon in the Royal Capital, thwarted the schemes of the Cardinal of the Arshuram Church, and in the Empire, you faced the ‘Chaos Flare Dragon’ and defeated multiple ‘Kin of Twilight’… Hahaha, even as I recount this, I find myself laughing. There are no heroes in myth that can compare to such a figure.”
Chuckling softly, the young Emperor gazed off into the distance.