kscans

Chapter 135 - The Little One and the Gods' Banquet

"You seem to be doing well, too."

Sliding smoothly down the underground slope, the Little One arrived in the forest of Castrato. The subterranean lake was serene, a complete change from before. The oppressive, ominous atmosphere from that time was gone, replaced by a beautiful lake that stood with quiet dignity. The milky-white water had a bluish tint, appearing to perfectly reflect the color of the moss that faintly glowed on the cavern walls. A strange tree, or perhaps a vine, spread its budding tendrils across the entire ceiling. Countless small white flowers bloomed in profusion on the vines that hung down along the walls. Standing by the water’s edge, a man with silver hair bowed his head deeply to the Little One.

"I was truly in your debt on that occasion."

His name was Abdahil. A Divine Messenger from Donautil. He had felt a kinship with Legion, who had come on a pilgrimage in the past, and became a follower. Due to his deep faith, he had made a pact to become a Divine Messenger. This place was a forest, and yet not a forest. It was originally meant to be a guidepost forest, the first step on Cesare’s journey to reclaim his power.

"So that’s why you were here."

"Yes. I was to be the first to meet him, and I was supposed to accompany my lord on his tour of the forests."

That was why a human Divine Messenger had been prepared in the underground forest of Castrato. To serve as an attendant. But when the crucial Cesare finally arrived, he had a massive entourage that was a chaotic mess of attendants and even guards. So Abdahil saw Cesare off without a word. He already had sufficient retainers. He judged that he would only be a burden.

"To think he would begin his journey from Flowers, so far away. It never even occurred to me," Abdahil said with a wry smile.

Of course it hadn’t. Normally, one would look at a map and visit the nearest border region. To ignore Castrato, a week’s journey by carriage, and head first to Flowers, a three-week journey, must have been unexpected even for the demon Legion.

"This place, it’s a forest but not really a forest. It’s an ambiguous forest without a lord, right? If you’re okay with it, would you like to make a pact with me and become its Lord?"

That was right. This subterranean lake was a place that had only gained the power of a forest in a simulated sense, because a magic crystal had been planted there. Now that the crystal in question had been retrieved, it had become an ambiguous forest maintained by Abdahil’s magic. You could say it was like a border region that had magical power because monsters were present. It had none of the special qualities of a Lord’s forest. It was unclear what would become of this forest in Arcadia, where magic was now reviving. That was why the Little One had wanted to confirm what Abdahil wanted to do. He was not a wild creature. He was a human who knew civilization. If he wished to live as a human, she could turn him back from a Divine Messenger into a person. After explaining this, the Little One waited for Abdahil’s answer. Abdahil, who had been staring at her with a somewhat perplexed look, was silent for a time, and then smiled like a blooming flower.

"If I may be so bold as to wish for it, I would like to make a pact. My duty is finished. From now on, I wish to live as the Lord of the Forest."

Many monsters surrounded him. It seemed this forest was home to many relatively small and gentle creatures, like rabbits and small birds. They must have been his companions, comforting him in his long solitude. For the Divine Messengers of Legion, who was not a Lord, were bound by a curse of immortality. As long as their master, the O-saki Legion, did not die, they could not die. A curse that bound their fates together.

The Little One hadn’t known about this until she heard it from Cesare. Cesare, having regained all his memories, remembered that Legion was an O-saki from the past, and that he had been granted a portion of power from a young god and had lived for an eternity. And this curse also applied to the guardians of the borderlands, who were his Divine Messengers. The Little One intended to visit each of the guardians and release them from that curse. That was why she had planned to tour all the forests.

"Okay! Well then, Abdahil, I’m leaving this forest in your hands from now on!"

The Little One touched Abdahil, and his eyes transformed into gold. A case of so-called heterochromia. Unlike with monsters, Abdahil’s irises, being human, were quite beautiful.

"I’ll tell the king about this place. It might get a little lively, but do your best."

With those parting words, the Little One returned to the Castrato Royal Palace.

"...A Lord’s forest, beneath this castle?!"

The new king shot to his feet with a loud clatter, rushing frantically toward the Little One.

"Yep. From now on, I think it’ll have an influence as a Lord’s forest, so Castrato should become prosperous, I think."

That was right. Until now, its ambiguous existence meant it couldn’t function as a Lord’s forest. Being underground was also a disadvantage, and it hadn’t been enough to revive the magic in Castrato. But from now on, it would be different. Abdahil’s magical power, having become a Lord through his pact with the Little One, would surely skyrocket. Even accounting for the fact that it was underground, there was no doubt it would bring great blessings to Castrato. This was the first case of a forest existing within a city. If the palace didn’t manage it properly to ensure the monsters didn’t harm people, things could get ugly. After explaining this, the Little One narrowed her sharp gaze.

"This is top secret. It should be a secret known only to the royal family. If others find out, some fool might get bad ideas, and adventurers might come flocking to get their hands on monster materials."

Fools could come up with ultra-C-class delusions, like using monsters to overthrow the state, so they couldn’t let their guard down. Adventurers were more practical. If something that could make them money was nearby, their eyes would change color.

"...So, with that, the Lord who lives underground is human. He’s an ancestor of the Jaizary family, an ancient who once built the foundation of Castrato. You will show him respect."

The king’s eyes widened to their absolute limit, and he was rendered speechless.

Could that mean... he was an ancestor to the royal family as well?

In other words, the founding king was living underground.

"Guards! Someone! Call the artisans!!"

Stunned, the king went stumbling and tripping over himself as he ran off. The Little One watched him with an amused expression and nodded in satisfaction. It was deep underground, accessible only through a passage behind a mirror. Abdahil’s life was no different from that of a wild animal. He had built a bed of piled dry grass in a slightly elevated spot and ate only the fruits that grew wild in the forest, using large leaves as dishes. Apparently, the fortune teller would occasionally bring him food, but she was old, and descending that steep slope was not easy. It was a secret known only to the successive generations of fortune tellers. It had been kept hidden even from the royal family, and no one had ever spoken of it.

"If the powers that be at the time were to learn of it, they might entertain wicked thoughts. Especially a fool like the former king..."

The old woman had murmured these words as if squeezing them out, and the Little One could only nod, agreeing that it had been a wise decision.

However, now that the forest was to be fully activated, she couldn’t keep quiet about it. In a way, it was like having a bomb nestled inside you. She wanted to instill respect and gratitude for the Lord of the Forest, and while she was at it, implement a plan to improve Abdahil’s living conditions. So, the Little One had spilled everything to the king.

If you don’t do things properly, you might incur the Lord of the Forest’s wrath, you know? she had said.

As expected, the three Castrato brothers flew into a great panic. After seeing them off, the Little One, wondering if there was anything tasty to eat, headed out into the royal capital with Dorfen and the others.

To depart from a newly revitalized Castrato, the Little One and her group gathered in the palace courtyard the next morning.

"You haven’t forgotten anything, have you?"

As they checked their belongings and prepared to board the carriage, the three Castrato brothers arrived.

"You are leaving so early. You could have stayed a while longer."

The Little One gave a wry smile at the king’s earnest eyes, which pleaded for her to stay, and waved her hand.

"My purpose was the forest and the coronation. My business is done, and I have other forests to visit."

The Little One had already told Castrato the purpose of her pilgrimage. She planned to visit the royal palaces of each border nation to inform them as well. Once she visited the last country, magic would be revived throughout all of Arcadia. It wouldn’t happen suddenly, but as magical power gradually recovered, people would become able to use magic. Naturally, confusion and disturbances were sure to arise. There was a chance that accidents would become frequent. Knowing versus not knowing would change how they dealt with it. Hearing this, Castrato immediately invited mages from Frontier and set about establishing laws and developing a magic department. Castrato knew Frontier. They knew how convenient and how dangerous a thing magic was. It was a power that could change the world.

Nodding in understanding, the king bowed his head deeply to the Little One.

"I offer my heartfelt thanks for your kindness. Here and now, I vow that from this day forward, Castrato will not oppose Frontier. ...No, we will follow Frontier’s will."

A great stir went through those gathered in the courtyard. The knights from Frontier, in particular, stared at the King of Castrato as if they were looking at something unbelievable. But the Little One was unconcerned. She grinned and looked up at the King of Castrato.

"You’ll have your hands full too, but do your best. Your Gyoku-rei was splendid. I’m sure there’s a lot of opposition to that, too. Don’t let it break you, okay?"

When she implicitly told him not to go back on his word, the King of Castrato raised the corners of his mouth in a grin.

"That is bait. In order to prevent it from being overturned, my subjects will strive. I have no doubt they will cooperate with me and contribute to building a good country."

The Little One’s eyes widened slightly.

It was simple, really. He was also looking properly to the future. A bill that asserted the rights of the people for the first time. In order not to lose it, the subjects would desperately support the King of Castrato. That’s what he was predicting. Of course, commoners, but there were surely many among the nobility as well who longed for romantic freedom. A bill to win over that younger generation. The younger generation was ecstatic about the King of Castrato, who had driven a deep wedge into the Arcadian concept of children being their parents’ property. Even that was part of his plan. He was a shrewd one.

"They say love is a fever, but watching Charles, I have learned that when a fever reaches its peak, it becomes power."

I see.

The two of them looked at each other and couldn’t help but share a wry smile.

Little did she know that this conversation would later cause a great uproar. The Little One departed, seen off by many people from Castrato.

It was the Little One’s standard procedure to continue on her journey until Romel, hearing the news later, would tear at his hair in anguish.

"Castrato declared itself a semi-vassal state?! At times like these, you come back and explain! Chihiro!!"

The Little One did not yet know of the future where Romel would scold her through a water mirror, bringing her to the verge of tears.