Chapter 152, Not a Difficult Task (3)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

There were six Sword Masters on the continent, well, effectively only five.

 

And just three Seventh-Circle Mages.

 

A sparring match between two individuals from these rare ranks had long been something to avoid. It truly should have been avoided at all costs. Of course, Allan had merely played along appropriately with Kalian’s attacks, but Kalian was different. He faced Allan with all his might, pouring out every bit of Aura he possessed.

 

“Thank you, Master.”

 

The results brought about by their confrontation were tremendous.

 

First, Kalian’s Aura had increased significantly compared to before.

 

And it had changed.

 

It seemed like deep crimson blood, like a single ember cruelly left behind in darkness, and like something that contained both bitter death and sublime life.

 

“Truly a unique Aura, Your Highness.”

 

Of course, he would need to meet Marquis Evan Beurisen to confirm whether his Aura could be sensed, but if the amount of Aura had indeed increased beyond Evan’s level, there would no longer be any need to maintain the Magic that concealed his Aura. This would reduce mental energy consumption and increase his chances of winning the height competition with Ian.

 

What a tremendous achievement this was.

 

Therefore, Allan offered congratulations while observing Kalian’s Aura.

 

“Congratulations. At any rate, I have chosen my Disciple well.”

 

Of course, Kalian was pleased.

 

If the increase in Kalian’s Aura had been the entirety of the results brought about by this sparring match, he would have simply rejoiced as Allan did.

 

“…Hmm.”

 

However, Kalian could not simply rejoice.

 

The small rock where Kalian had sat, bathed in moonlight, remained untouched. It was the only thing left intact. Everything else around it had been utterly devastated.

 

Kalian’s sword would be the sharpest in the Royal Palace of Cyries, and Allan’s flames the hottest on the continent. The shattered rocks and the splintered trees, perfect victims of their merciless clash, and the earth, scorched black as charcoal, all bore silent witness to that truth.

 

Of course, since this had been anticipated, the surrounding situation had not affected Kalian’s emotions.

 

In fact, Kalian had planned to simply pretend not to know about the mess they had made of the forest. Since it was a place where people did not come, it seemed unlikely to be discovered.

 

Even if Rmain found out, what could be done? These were rocks that would crumble with time anyway and trees that would grow back with time. And by now, Rmain would have built up enough courage to simply accept such incidents as inevitable.

 

Therefore, after finishing celebrating with Allan, Kalian planned to return to Chermil Palace while riding on Raven’s back. He intended to return, take that beloved bath to relieve his fatigue, then greet a refreshing morning.

 

However…

 

“This is, hmm. Yes. This is somewhat troubling.”

 

“Looking at the situation, shouldn’t Commander go first?”

 

“Considering the hierarchy, shouldn’t Your Highness go first?”

 

There had definitely been only one Mage who went to find Allan.

 

When Allan was not at Arpia Palace, the Mage representative hurriedly went to find Kalian and was informed through Kalian’s attendant that Kalian and Allan were in the ‘forest’. Thus, the Mage came to the forest.

 

Thus, three curious individuals followed to the forest.

 

As a result, three ‘statues’ were about to be installed in Wilhelm Hall.

 

Although the cause and effect did not perfectly align, that is what happened. Kalian had sparred with Allan, and the number of ‘statues’ to be erected in Wilhelm Hall increased.

 

Perhaps when Hina went to Wilhelm, the first thing she would need to treat would be their heads.

 

[If that happens, they’ll probably want to erect a statue of Hina too.]

 

[They must all be mad. But what to do with them?] With such thoughts, Kalian grabbed his forehead, leaned against Raven, and burst into laughter.

 

Hearing the laughter, Allan turned his head and, seeing that Kalian’s complexion was not very good, quickly spoke.

 

“Your Highness should go in and rest. I will check on the matter at Heisia Palace.”

 

Whether Kalian’s fatigue was brought on by the sparring with Allan or by the interior decoration plans for Wilhelm Hall being established by those mad people in white robes was difficult to distinguish. However, it was clear that Kalian was exhausted, so he said this.

 

“I will only stop by briefly, so it’s fine.”

 

Kalian shook his head while still wearing a smiling expression as he said this. Although they had come to call Allan, having heard the story together, Kalian also intended to accompany Allan.

 

It was none other than Heisia Palace.

 

Since there was something that ’emitted light’ in the place where Syspanian had stayed, he could not help but go see it.

 

Allan spoke to Kalian in a gentle voice.

 

“Are you trying to shoulder burdens alone again? I will inform you after checking, so please rest today.”

 

Having agreed to share concerns, yet saying such things meant he was trying to overexert himself alone again. With such thoughts, how could he tell Kalian that the black pebble might be a ‘Divine Artifact made by humans’?

 

Compared to Kalian, whose Aura had been completely drained and who had returned to ordinary person with fatigue setting in, Allan was in the condition of someone who had just finished a light evening stroll. Therefore, Kalian inevitably nodded as if he had no choice.

 

“Understood. Please be sure to inform me as soon as it’s confirmed.”

 

“Do not worry.”

 

Thus, Kalian headed to Chermil, leaving Allan with all his curiosity about what had been discovered at Heisia Palace, some guilt about having destroyed even the forest, and worries about how to prevent ‘statues’ from being erected by Valkan.

 

“Then I’ll go in first.”

 

Having spent five days without proper sleep memorizing Chase’s information, he decided to rest for a while, following Allan’s advice.

 

*Clop, clop.*

 

Sensing Kalian’s decision, Raven began moving toward Chermil Palace on his own.

 

Allan, who had been watching that retreating figure for a moment, disappeared.

 

He had headed toward where Heisia Palace was located. The remaining Valkan Mages mounted their respective horses to return.

 

They did not even consider following Allan through spatial movement.

 

Traveling the distance from the forest to Heisia Palace was something only someone of Allan’s caliber could even think of doing.

 

* * *

 

Yes. It had definitely been there.

 

Between the pale beige sofa and the silver-white cat, there had definitely been a time when the black-clad Kalian was sitting.

 

*Thud!*

 

Even so, that was too much.

 

There was absolutely no reason for a boiled pea-green fellow to be wedged between the black sofa and the silver-white cat.

 

Kalian, who had opened his room door only to immediately close it, bit his lower lip slightly. However, having experienced doing such a thing once before with his own feet, and knowing very well what color his room was, he did not engage in the futile act of looking around to see whether this was the third or fourth floor.

 

“You don’t need to come in. I’ll manage fine on my own. I’m too tired.”

 

Instead, he said this to Ian, who was trying to come in to arrange his bedding. There was no way Ian would look kindly upon Plants, who had entered someone else’s room without permission.

 

Since Kalian’s face truly did not look good, Ian looked at Kalian with a deeply worried expression and answered.

 

“Understood. Please call if you need anything.”

 

“I’ll be fine if I sleep well. Don’t worry.”

 

Having reassured Ian and sent him away, Kalian turned on the room’s lights and barely managed to cast Silent. It would not be good if the two Escort Knights standing outside the door discovered that there was a guest who had secretly visited at this hour.

 

“What is the matter?”

 

Afterward, he asked in this low voice.

 

Of all places, today, and right now.

 

What impeccable timing.

 

It was not that his appearance was a mess due to the aftermath of the sparring.

 

Kalian had already straightened his attire the moment the Mages arrived at the forest. He was someone who knew very well how frightening others’ eyes could be.

 

However, he could not hide his pale complexion.

 

Plants, who had turned only his head while remaining seated to look at Kalian’s face, opened his mouth.

 

“My little brother seems to have made overexertion his hobby.”

 

“Does my older brother now worry about everything?”

 

“Stop barking.”

 

The predictable response came back.

 

Plants stood up from his seat while still holding the cat. He was not so tactless as to chatter in front of someone who looked like he should sleep soundly for a full day.

 

Watching the ‘I am Prince Kalian’s cat, who likes Prince Plants more’ cat that did not wake up even when Plants stood up, Kalian let out a short sigh. This meant the creature had been here long enough to fall so deeply asleep.

 

“Please speak. It’s fine.”

 

Plants, who had been looking down at Kalian for a while, sat back down. Then, looking into Kalian’s eyes at the same level, he said.

 

“There seems to be a bird in the Knight Order.”

 

“Are you saying that Secritia’s spy is hiding in the Royal Knight Order?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Wow.”

 

A heartfelt exclamation flowed out naturally. It was admiration directed at both Chase and Plants.

 

“I didn’t know.”

 

Whether Plants would believe it or not, it was truly a fact that Kalian had not known. In the past, spies had not been planted even in the Knight Order. Therefore, this was Chase’s doing.

 

To place a spy in another country’s Royal Knight Order.

 

Rmain’s hands could not reach Caera and Roan Knight Orders. What Rmain did was merely receive final reports on already confirmed Knights. Therefore, regarding the Knight Order alone, this could be seen as clearly revealing Rmain’s unchanged incompetence and Evan’s gaps.

 

Anyway, Kalian admired Chase’s boldness in planting a spy in Evan’s organization, and Plants’ perception in discovering it.

 

“How did you know?”

 

“Don’t know. Not even who it is.”

 

“Then how did you know there was a bird?”

 

Plants held out a small folded piece of paper.

 

“It was in my pocket somehow.”

 

Since he were to meet the Knight Order, he would have either watched them from close by or had conversations with them. During that time, someone must have passed this note to Plants.

 

Plants also handled the sword quite well. To be able to secretly deliver something to such a Plants meant the person was no ordinary skilled individual.

 

Indeed. Since it was a spy who would directly enter the Royal Palace, their abilities would be beyond question.

 

Taking the note from Plants, Kalian closed his eyes briefly without even checking the contents. It was to engage in thinking close to contemplation.

 

Was hiding the spy acting against Beurisen? Or not? Regarding choices whose outcomes could not be certain.

 

After a moment, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“Tell Marquis Beurisen. That there is a spy.”

 

“If it becomes known, The Crown Prince of Secritia will be in trouble.”

 

Chase and Secritia’s troubles.

 

And Plants’ heart.

 

Which carried more weight?

 

“It would be better to tell him.”

 

“If we keep it hidden, there might be uses for it in reverse.”

 

Plants, who chuckled at Kalian’s answer, leaned back on the sofa and replied.

 

“If we leave the spy as is, it might be useful for deceiving the Crown Prince of Secritia.”

 

Though it might be a false justification, that did not make it untrue. Keeping a spy alive to use in reverse someday would be difficult to view as an action against Beurisen.

 

“You can ignore birds that just act as Messenger Birds.”

 

“Is this what the Prince of Cyries says after learning that there is a Secritia spy in the Knight Order?”

 

“It doesn’t matter.”

 

In fact, there was nothing more for the birds to learn.

 

After all, Plants had directly revealed all the important secrets with his own mouth. Moreover, it was not that he did not understand that Plants was trying to show consideration for Chase or Kalian in his own way.

 

“Understood, then.”

 

Therefore, without further objection, Kalian nodded and finally unfolded the note in his hand.

 

Something he could not mention that day came to mind.

 

The gentlest possible handwriting.

 

The exact same handwriting that had been in the materials Kalian had desperately memorized until this very morning. Though he had expected it when told a Secritia spy had given it, it was Chase’s.

 

A simple sentence was written on the note.

 

It was the master’s son who brought together the believer and the denier.

 

Kalian did not even read the contents twice.

 

It was not particularly difficult to understand: it was the Crown Prince, not the King of Tansyll, who had orchestrated the alliance between the Priests devoted to Serenty and the Warriors of the Great Dunes who rejected Serenty join hands.

 

Plants spoke while watching Kalian, who created a small flame in his hand to burn the note. The same languid voice as always flowed out.

 

“If it’s Tansyll, it wouldn’t violate the Seal of Oath for me to know, would it?”

 

“Even if you came to know about the contents written here or about what I last discussed with Crown Prince Chase that day, it would not infringe upon the Seal of Oath.”

 

After thinking for a moment, Kalian shook his head.

 

“It won’t do.”

 

“Why.”

 

“Didn’t I tell you? That I would absolutely never tell you. The matter concerning older brother Randel is about future events. I should have told you that already too.”

 

“You bark so well with that shameless face.”

 

“It’s not something you need to worry about.”

 

At Kalian’s answer, one corner of Plants’ mouth curled up. It was a truly long-unseen annoying smile.

 

“My little brother…”

 

Having begun thus, Plants glanced briefly outside the terrace. Seeing the direction of that gaze, Kalian’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

“What exactly could be the reason for fighting an Archmage?”

 

“…Ha.”

 

A deep smile fell across Kalian’s lips.

 

He knew what Plants was now putting into words.

 

“Are you threatening me using your heart right now?”

 

“My head is probably better than my little brother’s, so speak up. Stop barking.”

 

Entrust the investigation of Tansyll to him. Otherwise, he would think more about ‘what Kalian was preparing for by sparring with Allan.’

 

“I’ll help you.”

 

He said he would help.

 

This damn older brother, who was using his own life to threaten him, said he would help.

 

Kalian sighed deeply once more.

 

The materials.

 

He had burned them for nothing.

 

…He would have to write them down again.