Chapter 19: The One Who Rules the Kin of Twilight – 04
After recounting everything that had transpired to His Imperial Majesty, who had once again appeared in the Audience Chamber, he bowed his head and said, “I believe this is the most reasonable and appropriate course of action. Please take care of my sister.”
To be honest, I felt a twinge of doubt about whether this was the right way to handle the situation regarding the Imperial Princess, but if she and her family were content, there was no need for me to stir the pot.
As I sat in the carriage on the way home, I felt a sense of my life solidifying. Honestly, from the perspective of my previous life’s common sense, it was a bizarre way to solidify. However, I was now a resident of this world, and I understood that what we call common sense is often more ambiguous than people think. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; perhaps it was wise to adhere to such wisdom.
Upon returning home, I gathered everyone and provided an update regarding the Princess. I expected some form of protest or comment, but to my surprise, they accepted it without hesitation. In essence, it seemed that everything had already been “discussed” beforehand. I certainly didn’t want to think that they had simply given up.
In any case, the decision for Princess Marishielle to join “Soul’s Guidance” was now set in stone. Naturally, there were further discussions to be had, but that could wait for another time. I had already steeled my resolve.
“So, Soushi, what are we going to do from here?”
The next day, in the living room, the wolf beastgirl Larni asked me this. Everyone else was present, their curious gazes fixed on me.
“It seems we’ve wrapped up matters regarding the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld,’ so the most pressing concern now is the movements of the ‘Kin of Twilight.’ However, that will only become relevant if they decide to attack, so for now, we should focus on training while we wait.”
“But I’m getting bored with the dungeons around here. We’re not gaining any Skills, and it doesn’t seem like there are any major requests from the guild. Isn’t it pointless to just sit here?”
“What about heading to another territory? For instance, if we were to go north, where the ‘Kin of Twilight’ is likely to appear, it might not be a bad idea.”
Sfenia’s suggestion prompted Larni to raise her hand enthusiastically. Shizuna and Karma also seemed supportive, but Sakurahime quietly interjected, “If we’re going north, that would mean entering Marquis Fulcrum’s Domain.”
The atmosphere shifted slightly at her words.
“Now that you mention it, the north is indeed Marquis Fulcrum’s Domain. I don’t think there would be any issues, but perhaps we should consult with His Imperial Majesty or the Grand Master first.”
“Soushi-sama, with my Skill, I might be able to uncover something about the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld.’”
Freinir’s serious expression indicated her strong interest in the matter.
“Indeed. We should bring that up as well. Mariane, is the Grand Master still busy?”
“No, the Martial Arts Tournament has concluded, and the issue with the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’ has been temporarily resolved, so I believe she is not too occupied at the moment. If we call for her, she will likely come by tonight.”
“I feel a bit hesitant to summon her…”
Just then, our steward, Milgret, announced a visitor.
The one who appeared was none other than Grand Master Lady Dorozitte. It was a perfectly timed entrance, perhaps a result of Divine Fortune at play.
“Ah, everyone is gathered today. Soushi, I heard you had an important discussion this morning. How did it turn out?”
Lady Dorozitte settled into the sofa as if it were her own home, a knowing smile gracing her lips.
“I just informed everyone that Princess Marishielle will be joining ‘Soul’s Guidance.’”
“Oh? Is that all?”
“Yes, that’s all for now.”
“I see, so she will be treated the same as the other members. Given that this continent seems poised for further upheaval, it’s a reasonable arrangement, especially since you won’t be able to settle down for a while, Soushi.”
I could only nod ambiguously at Lady Dorozitte’s words, which were laden with implications.
“Regardless, what are the future plans for ‘Soul’s Guidance’? With the recent events in the arena, you’re already being recognized as a hero in the Empire. I would like to be informed of ‘Soul’s Guidance’ movements in advance.”
“We were just discussing that. We’re considering heading to the north, to Marquis Fulcrum’s Domain. However, given the situation with the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld,’ we were about to consult the Grand Master to see if it’s appropriate for us to visit.”
“I see, I see. So, you were guided here to discuss this matter. It seems I cannot escape your Divine Fortune, Soushi. That’s not a bad turn of events, heh heh.”
Lady Dorozitte chuckled merrily.
At that moment, Mariane quietly cautioned, “The Grand Master approached of her own accord. To say it happened naturally is somewhat misleading.”
“Now that I think about it, it does feel like I was drawn closer naturally.”
“That’s not the case.”
With that firm rebuttal, Lady Dorozitte turned back to me and cleared her throat.
“Now, returning to the matter of going to Fulcrum’s Domain, I would actually prefer if you did so. With the Marquis’s house in turmoil, the talk of the ‘Kin of Twilight’ is likely to increase anxiety in Fulcrum’s Domain. If you, the hero and victor of the Martial Arts Tournament, and your party were to visit, the impact would be immeasurable. This would also be significant for the local adventurers.”
“I see…”
“Regardless, we should inform His Majesty beforehand, but I doubt he would stop you. However, I believe we should also strengthen the defenses of the Imperial Capital, so Princess Marishielle may not be able to move immediately.”
“Indeed, that seems to be the case. I will make sure to discuss it with His Majesty in advance.”
“Also, if possible, I would like to ensure that we can maintain constant communication with ‘Soul’s Guidance.’ When in a city, we can connect with the headquarters through the ‘Communication Magic Tool,’ but it becomes a bit troublesome when traveling along the roads.”
As she spoke, Lady Dorozitte glanced over at Geshura.
I understood the implication behind her gaze.
“Geshura, the ‘Communication Magic Tools’ you created before, are they operational?”
“Yes, they should work without issue. Since Soushi mentioned they might be useful, I made five of them. However, for now, communication is only possible between those five. The range is equivalent to that of the guild’s tools.”
“Impressive. That’s a great help.”
I offered a brief expression of gratitude, but it was clear that this discussion held significant weight in this world. Honestly, I felt that Geshura’s presence carried far more importance than my own.
“Then, let’s allocate one of those tools to the Grand Master and another to His Imperial Majesty. Would that be acceptable?”
“Certainly, that would be very helpful. However, Geshura, you should feel fortunate to be a member of ‘Soul’s Guidance.’ This truly is a divine arrangement.”
Lady Dorozitte nodded repeatedly, affirming her words.
Indeed, Geshura was an incredibly valuable asset to those in power. If she were free, everyone would undoubtedly seek to acquire her by any means necessary.
Perhaps she would find more happiness immersed in her craft while being surrounded by powerful individuals, but I thought that if that were the case, she would voice it herself. For now, I would have her accompany us in our endeavors.
In any case, it seemed our plans were solidifying around a journey to Marquis Fulcrum’s Domain in the north.
While the primary objective was to explore new dungeons, it also served as preparation for a potential large-scale conflict with the ‘Kin of Twilight.’ I had experienced battle with Mecalinan, but this time the opponent would be entirely different. If this were to become an unprecedented war on this continent, we needed to ensure we were prepared for everything.