Chapter 63 - <1>
And so begins Volume 6.
As forewarned, this volume is extremely serious. On top of that, Edward's family (the royals) will appear in droves. Please enjoy.
Although they had trapped the former false king, Stewart, in the 'Infinite Nightmare,' the conspiracy of those targeting the king's life was not over. The second chapter of the conspiracy is about to begin, set in the Royal Capital of Sears.
The content is intensely serious.
Six men gathered in a reception room surrounded by old-fashioned, heavy furniture. The warm room, illuminated by the flames of the fireplace and a sparkling chandelier, was filled with a heavy, cold air that was at odds with the atmosphere.
They were currently listening to an unwelcome report brought by one of their number.
"So, Stewart-sama will not be returning?"
The oldest and seemingly highest-ranking man in the group murmured as if to convince himself, chewing on the words.
"Unfortunately, there is no mistake."
Without replying to the answer from the man who clung to his back like a shadow, the elderly man slowly looked away from the flickering flames of the fireplace. After a brief silence, the man, with a look of great effort, unclasped his hands and murmured again.
"I see, he will not return…"
The man's sigh, along with the silence, drifted around the men present. A suffocating sense of despair and anguish.
It was the youngest man in the gathering, seemingly in his forties, who broke the silence. He had been restlessly looking around, but finally, unable to bear it any longer, he stood up irritably.
"Has His Majesty discovered our identities? What is the situation?!"
The one being questioned was the man who had been standing like a shadow, reporting on the situation. Unlike the others seated on the sofa, he was clearly of a different status and didn't even have a seat. The shadow man's eyes, as he looked at the restless man, were terrifyingly sharp.
"He does not know. But it is only a matter of time."
The man who had been questioning him grabbed the calm reporter.
"Can't something be done! Can't you somehow prevent His Majesty from finding out…"
To the man who was almost losing his composure, the reporter was all too calm and ruthless.
"Nothing can be done. The ones investigating are a special inspectorate unit within the Kingdom Army."
"But they are soldiers, just like you!"
At those words, the reporter fell silent for a moment. It was true that he was an active-duty soldier. But to say so in this place was forbidden. Without even noticing the cold stares, the man tightened his grip as if the reporter were his last lifeline.
"It is impossible. The ones in charge of the investigation this time are a favorite platoon of His Majesty's."
"You useless fool!"
The man's voice, almost a scream, cracked high, but no one in the room was moved by him.
"That's unsightly. Won't you sit down?"
Unable to watch any longer, a voice was directed at the distraught man. The elderly man was staring straight at the questioner. His experienced and flawless eyes should have been enough to silence an emotional person.
But pitifully, the man, already on the verge of madness, couldn't even notice the terror hidden in those eyes.
"But I was not told it would become this dangerous! You were deceiving me, weren't you? You said I could easily obtain a high position, did you not!"
To the man who continued to rave in his excitement, everyone around him answered with silence. With no one to stop or rebuke him, the man could not hold back his words.
Finally, foaming at the mouth, the man uttered the forbidden words.
"Let us beg His Majesty for forgiveness. Let us ask for his pardon! That's right, no one has been sacrificed yet, surely His Majesty will forgive us… too?"
The man's high-pitched words were cut off midway. The man, drunk on his own excitement and ideas, was now staring at the object protruding from his stomach as if it were something strange. He slowly touched his stomach and stroked the tip of the sword sticking out from it.
It glistened with the man's blood.
"What… are you doing…"
The man could not finish his words. Just after the sword that had stabbed him was pulled out by his murderer, the blood that gushed into his mouth effectively silenced him.
"Death to traitors… Did you forget?"
As the man writhed in agony, letting out voiceless cries and thrashing in a pool of his own blood, not a single person spoke to him or lent him a hand.
The blood, absorbed by the long-piled carpet, clung to the moaning man.
A terrifying silent drama…
When he finally died, the eldest man rang a bell on the table and called for a sturdy servant.
"Dispose of this filthy traitor in the slums."
At the utterly unfazed words, the sturdy servant merely bowed his head and obeyed silently, carrying away the man's corpse as if it were a piece of luggage.
"That man had no more use. It is almost a relief that he is gone."
The eldest man let out a low laugh. His voice held weight and dignity. He slowly recrossed his legs and, as if nothing had happened, looked back at the reporter. The reporter's hands were stained crimson with the blood of the traitor, but he didn't seem to mind.
He had never possessed the emotion of grief for the death of a person. He himself said that feeling had disappeared at a certain point, but whether that was true or not, no one knew.
But he had hidden it perfectly within the military and had obtained a position where he could freely access information.
"Now, let us hear the rest. When will His Majesty identify us individually?"
The reporter quietly closed his eyes. He was probably making detailed calculations in his head. When he opened them a short while later, there was no hesitation in his eyes.
"The new year… that will be the limit."
Something like a sigh filled the room. The time remaining was only one month.
"Edward Baldia, and the sons who carry his blood… we must eliminate them quickly. We are past the stage of waiting."
The men nodded in silence.
"Death to traitors… Do not forget this."
Everyone nodded quietly. They had long been prepared. This was merely a confirmation.
One by one, they disappeared into the darkness of the night, until finally, only the reporter and the eldest man remained.
"Now, how is he? Does that man seem usable?"
The eldest man asked the reporter without turning around. The reporter quietly answered, his expression unchanging, as he wiped the blood from his hands and clothes with a handkerchief.
"He is a fearsome man. His physical abilities and strength are completely different from a human's, so…"
Raising his hand to cut off the report midway, the eldest man turned and looked at the reporter.
"I am not asking that. I am asking if you have gained complete control over that beastman."
The corners of the reporter's mouth turned up slightly. It seemed he had smiled a little.
"He is already addicted to the drug. Everything is as we wish…"
Nodding in satisfaction and sinking into the sofa, the elderly man received a deep bow from the reporter, who then left the room. He had a mountain of things to do.
The deeply pulled hood eventually disappeared, blending into the cold night wind and the darkness that colored the city.
And so—time flows, carrying with it the speculations and thoughts of each.
The bells of the five temples in the city rang out in unison throughout the Royal Capital of Sears.
In the moment filled with that solemn and clear sound, the year 1572 of the Yuresla Kingdom Calendar ended, and the Royal Capital of Sears welcomed the year 1573, the New Festival Month.
The sound of the bells echoed through every corner of the city, reaching the ears of all who lived in this kingdom. From the royal palace to the high-class residential areas, from the merchant districts to the port and the slums, it was the same.
Ritz and his two companions, along with the three members of the Clayton family and Sara the Salamander, welcomed the New Festival Month all together in their new home, the former haunted mansion.
"For the beginning of the new year, we give thanks to the Goddess Eneonea, the symbol of all living things and all that shines. May you guide us on the righteous path this year as well."
With the prayer of Evans Clayton, the New Year's feast began. Though it was called a feast, it was late at night, so the table was modest.
"Alright, let's eat. The fun New Festival Month starts tomorrow."
Ritz Alster immediately put his knife to the roast chicken that Annie had made. The scent of aromatic vegetables and herbs gently filled the dining table.
Originally, he had asked Evans, as the elder, to take on this role, but he had been politely declined with the reason that Ritz was the master of the house, so Ritz had been bestowed this honorable duty on New Year's Day.
Anna Myers, who had been offering prayers with Evans, smiled as she looked around at everyone seated at the table.
"Happy New Year! Being like this, it feels like we're a real family, it's so fun!"
Her green eyes, true to her words, sparkled cheerfully as if bathed in sunlight.
"It's great, isn't it, Joe!"
"Yeah."
Joe, who had just recently become a member of the family, nodded with a complex expression. It had only been a week since Joe, or rather Josephine Clayton, had become the adopted daughter of this house.
She didn't seem to have fully grasped it yet, but her expression had become calmer over the past week. Her speech was still that of a boy, but that would probably change over time.
Anna turned her carefree smile to Franz Lucina, who was silently eating the roast chicken Ritz had carved.
"You're having fun too, right, Franz?"
"Well… yeah."
Franz mumbled softly, but from his interactions over the past few months, Ritz could sense that he was somehow enjoying himself.
Many things had happened, and before they knew it, the hectic year in which they had come to this city had passed, and a new year, which seemed likely to bring many more events, had begun.
The Yuresla Kingdom Calendar consists of thirteen months, with twelve months of thirty days each, and a New Festival Month of about a week to ten days, determined each year by astronomers and calendographers.
In other words, this New Festival Month exists between December and January.
For the several days of the New Festival Month, the streets of Sears are thronged day and night with festively dressed people, wrapped in a lively celebratory mood.
The entire city becomes a festival all day long, and except for those in certain important positions, most people take time off to enjoy the festivities.
This year's New Festival Month is eight days long, and except for the royal events on the second day, even Ritz, who had been commuting to the castle, has a holiday.
On that day, various events will be held at the largest open-air amphitheater in Sears. It is the biggest event among the various festivities held during the New Festival Month.
Normally, it would be something to look forward to, but when he thought of his own situation, having to sit in state with the royalty and national dignitaries, he couldn't help but sigh.
This time, thanks to the consideration of the king and queen, Anna and Franz were also to be present at the event.
Anna seemed a little hesitant because she couldn't go see the sights with Joe, but when she confided this to Joe, Joe had ordered her without a second thought to go. Hearing that it was an invitation from the queen, it was apparently 'unthinkable to refuse' for her.
This feeling of Joe's, as a common citizen, is correct. It is Ritz and the others whose association with the royal family deviates from common sense. He knew that well.
And so, Anna had seemed unenthusiastic, but while going to the castle for a costume fitting with the queen, she seemed to have started having fun. In the end, captivated by the colorful dresses and furs hung all over the room, Anna was cooped up in the castle for a full two days.
When she returned, Anna spoke excitedly about her outfit for the day, saying, 'Look forward to it, I promise you'll be surprised!' and was keeping it a complete secret from Ritz and Franz.
Franz, for his part, had hastily had the clothes he had previously received from Edward's son tailored and had managed to get his outfit ready in time. He seemed to find it a bother, but his personality was such that he couldn't refuse when Anna invited him to go with her.
As for Ritz, he would be in his usual disguise. And unlike Anna and Franz, he wasn't being invited out of goodwill; his attendance was an obligation. There was no way he could refuse.
Whether she knew of Ritz's troubles or not, Anna looked at him cheerfully. She was always so happy, it was calming just to watch her.
It had been three months since he started traveling with Anna. In these three months, Ritz had completely gotten used to Anna's presence. He had thought she was a troublesome child, but her straightforward and positive attitude in everything was an irreplaceable charm of hers.
Especially for a slightly pessimistic man like Ritz.
"Ritz, we finally have a break, so let's go sightseeing in Sears."
Anna asked Ritz in a cheerful voice as she spooned a generous amount of blueberry sauce onto her chicken. Come to think of it, he had been so busy he had hardly paid any attention to Anna. He went to work every day, and when he came back, he went to a tavern. He had promised her they would go sightseeing to their heart's content when they arrived in the Royal Capital, but he had completely broken that promise. He felt a little guilty about that.
"You're right. The second is going to be busy again, and the first day is the best for seeing the sights. Shall we go, sightseeing?"
When he said that to make up for his past neglect, Anna jumped up, overjoyed beyond his imagination.
"Yay!"
As Anna got excited, the gentle Evans smiled.
"There's also the once-a-year dedicatory dance at the Main Temple of Light."
"Amazing! I want to see it!"
Anna, in her excitement, turned abruptly to Joe, who wasn't quite keeping up with her enthusiasm.
"You're coming too, right, Joe?"
"Is it okay? For me to go?"
To Joe, whose eyes widened at the sudden invitation, Anna smiled back brightly.
"Of course. Because you're my friend, Joe."
"Friend, huh? That's embarrassing."
Next to the heartwarming pair of girls, Franz was single-mindedly shoveling chicken, consommé soup, and salad into his mouth.
"Your family was rich too, so the New Festival Month must have been pretty grand, right?"
"…Apparently. I don't have any good memories of it, though."
"'Apparently'…"
"When I was a child, the New Festival Month was an annoying day when my father would gather merchants at the mansion and lord it over them."
That one comment cast a strange atmosphere over the celebratory mood. To liven things up, Anna raised her voice cheerfully.
"Then, then, after you became Orphe-san's apprentice, it must have been lively, right? For a spirit user, the month of blessings brought by the goddess who rules all spirits must be important! And Orphe-san seems like he'd like lively things."
"It was no different from a normal holiday."
"Huh…"
"Come to think of it, that's right. Why was the New Festival Month so quiet back then…"
Franz frowned as if he had noticed for the first time.
"The church was super lively and festive, you know?"
"My master was quieter than usual, just staring at the high mountain range hazy in the far north, or gazing into the void. He looked so pained, I couldn't even speak to him."
After saying just that, Franz seemed to fall deep into thought. Anna looked at Franz with concern, then sent a glance his way.
He knew full well that if he pried into his inner thoughts, Franz would dislike it, so he just shrugged his shoulders at Anna. It seemed she understood what Ritz wanted to say, as she nodded broadly and then changed the subject.
"Hey, you'll come with us too, right, Franz?"
"…Where?"
"It's a continuation of what we were just talking about. Weren't you listening? I said, let's go together too, Franz, to see the dedicatory dance at the Main Temple of Light."
As if to supplement Anna's words, Evans smiled and said to Franz.
"I'm affiliated with them, you see. I'll arrange for seats where you can see properly. Aren't you interested?"
There are many temples in this country, but there is only one that bears the name of Main Temple, and that is the Main Temple of Light. Each country on the Eneonea Continent has one main temple.
This country has the Main Temple of Light, while the neighboring countries have the Main Temple of Earth or the Main Temple of Fire. In other words, the guardian spirit god of this country is the Light Spirit King.
But he had never actually seen the dedicatory dance of creation offered to the goddess, which can only be seen once a year at the Main Temple of Light.
"I'll go too."
"Yay! Then it's settled, the four of us."
It seemed that he had been counted in at some point. Since he had offered to be their tour guide, it was a guardian's duty to take them where they wished.
"Alright, then decide where else you want to go."
With the roast chicken he had served himself, he poured a glass of champagne. Satisfied with Franz's answer, Anna downed the grape juice left in her glass.
"Well, I have to be up early tomorrow, so I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Ritz, Franz. I look forward to another year with you."
"Goodnight, Anna."
Her smile was the same carefree smile she had since the time her life was in danger last year. It seemed to be able to warm the heart of even the misanthropic Franz. As expected of the one with the power of healing.
Maybe Franz, in some ways, was a bit dependent on Anna, who was older than him. Well, he would never admit it, though.
Clutching a bottle of wine, he saw Anna off with a smile.
"Goodnight, Evans-san, Annie. Let's go, Joe."
Anna and Joe were now sleeping in the same room. Being close in age, at least in appearance, they seemed to be getting along well. Since the two of them started going out to buy groceries, their expenses had gone down.
Apparently, Joe had taught Anna, who had been buying things at face value, how to haggle, but she hadn't told the two men about it. He didn't have any particular complaints about it, but when he remembered their journey as a trio, Ritz, as the guardian, felt a little complicated.
With Anna and Joe gone, the table felt a little lonely, and the banquet for the evening came to a close.
Ritz returned to his room and sighed heavily at the thought of the New Year's royal events.
But well, that was that. The first day of the New Festival Month, in the year 1573 of the Yuresla Kingdom Calendar, had dawned peacefully.
At this point, no one knew that various incidents would occur right from the very beginning.