Chapter 14: The Door Has Opened
The door swung open.
As I stepped into the Throne Room, the lavishly designed ceiling lights illuminated the space brilliantly. I blinked for a moment, taken aback.
The scene before me was just as I remembered it, welcoming us back. The interior, reminiscent of German architecture, the red carpet laid across the floor, and the numerous decorations crafted from gold and mysterious ores—all remained unchanged.
Ahead of me, on the upper level, sat the Arcana King, a man with a grandiose white beard, perched upon an opulent chair.
Everything began from this very spot. A wave of nostalgia washed over me, mingling with something deeper—was it sentimentality or something else entirely?
In the silence, nearly forty individuals moved seamlessly as planned. As I scanned the room, I noticed the beautiful maiden of Arcana, Puffy, standing beside the king, while the elderly prime minister was positioned a little further away. Along the walls, church officials stood in a line, including the Pope of the Klaatel Church, several Cardinals, and influential Archbishops, all gathered in impressive numbers.
At that moment, one of the Cardinals—particularly young—cast a scrutinizing glance my way. His eyes seemed to assess me, yet strangely, I felt no hostility emanating from him.
In the front row of the honored contributors stood three Holy Knights.
Ashley Noble, protector of the Affirmative Sword.
Nelly Virtuous, guardian of the Grasp Damage Shield.
Adam Arrogance, defender of the Nodding Gear Armor.
It was clear to anyone that these three, who had selflessly contained the Sealed Labyrinth until now, were the ones most deserving of praise.
Despite the large gathering, we quickly arranged ourselves in order before the king and knelt down. Just as everyone was in place and ready, the figure of Ryuguin was still absent—when suddenly, a loud bang! echoed through the room. It was the sound of the heavy door swinging open, as if announcing the arrival of the main event.
We couldn’t help but turn our gazes toward the sound. Perhaps feeling the attention, he—Prince Ryuguin—flashed a beautiful smile and spread his arms wide.
“Greetings! I am the Hero Ryuguin, the savior of the nation! Having conquered numerous Nexbees, I have not stopped my journey. This time, I have completely annihilated the Sealed Labyrinth that has long tormented the Arcana Kingdom and its people! From now on, call me the Hero of the Ages!”
It was as if the earlier incident had never happened; he radiated charm and confidence. To his left and right stood Mika and Ange, with Eris following closely behind.
What does he mean by “call me”?
Ah, this is just a replay of that day. Yes, Ryuguin remains unchanged. No matter how much we suffer, he stays the same. His beautiful face, the extravagant decorations, his enchanting voice—nothing has altered.
Near the entrance, the women brought by Ryuguin were being held back. This was a natural precaution. I couldn’t help but think that their faces bore a look of relief, which surely wasn’t just my imagination. Ryuguin waved his hand dismissively at the women he had brought with him.
“Ryuguin-sama!!”
Puffy’s voice rang out, oblivious to the atmosphere, as she waved her small hand. The prime minister’s brow furrowed, and the king’s expression darkened in response.
In reaction to her cheer, Ryuguin struck a pose as if blowing a kiss. It was beyond disrespectful at this point. Before Puffy could let out another cheer, the prime minister acted swiftly. He clapped his hands, and the female tutor we had seen in the guest room covered her mouth with both hands.
That intelligent woman was now displaying such foolishness. I finally understood; it was all Ryuguin’s fault.
Ah. Ah—
My heart ached painfully. The sight of her, who had always been kind to everyone and cared for the people, was unbearable to witness.
Yet, seemingly satisfied, Ryuguin nodded a few times before leading the three of them through our line without waiting for anyone’s permission. He moved as if he were kicking aside pebbles on the roadside.
Naturally, many were displeased, but the only fool making a scene in the Throne Room was Ryuguin himself. He pushed past the three Holy Knights to take his place at the front, lining up from left to right: Ange, Ryuguin, Mika, and Eris.
Once he confirmed that the other three had knelt, he opened his mouth, revealing his dissatisfaction without any attempt to hide it.
“Do I have to do this too? Me?”
After throwing a small tantrum, he reluctantly lowered himself to kneel.