kscans

Chapter 242 - Getting Old is Scary...

Noon arrived. The three of us ate udon for lunch, and after finishing our preparations, the appointed time came.

"Ready to go?"

"I'm ready."

"Okay."

Kaede-chan and I nodded at the same time.

"Alright, first we'll pop over to the dining hall... here we go."

As Arc said that, we were instantly transported to the dining hall I had visited several times before. The King was seated at the table, and Mia, who stood nearby, slowly bowed her head.

"Hello."

"Good afternoon."

Kaede-chan and I offered simple greetings.

"Mm. Thank you for coming. And, though I don't quite understand, I hear you were married. Congratulations."

The King nodded and offered his congratulations.

"Thank you, but what do you mean, you don't understand?"

Is it because I'm Eleanor-san? But he knows about Okita-kun, too.

"Ah, my apologies. I had thought you were already married. She was introduced as your wife, after all."

Ah... that might have happened.

"It was only a matter of time."

"Father, this one's head is not right, so please ignore her."

"Mm... ah, no, that is rude, Arc."

You too! You just nodded emphatically.

"So? What did you want to talk about, King?"

"Mm. I apologize, but could you come with me?"

"Of course."

It's probably that cramped study again.

"Arc, look after our guest."

"Yessir."

As Arc nodded, Mia began to prepare some tea.

"Then, I will transport you."

"Alright."

I nodded, and once again, my vision changed in an instant. As expected, we arrived in the same cramped study as before.

"Teleportation is so convenient. I want it too."

"Then I shall tell you, it seems alchemists can also learn to create such items."

What? Really?

"What level?"

"That much I do not know."

Then never mind.

"I'll pass. Leveling up is scary."

"Well, that is probably for the best."

The Philosopher's Stone. I definitely don't need it.

"So? What was it you wanted to talk about?"

"The truth is, I have not been feeling well lately."

"Is that so? You should use a Healing Potion or a Cure Potion."

I gave him so many. He's the king, he should just use them.

"No, it is not an illness or anything of the sort. It is simply old age. I am already turning sixty."

What?

"You're older than I thought. You look so young."

He looks like he's in his forties. Also, that means Arc was born quite late in his life.

"I try my best to look young. In any case, I am getting old. I must start thinking about my successor."

"It's Arc, isn't it?"

He's the only one there is. That's why I even gave him a TS Potion.

"I know that, and thanks to you, it has been decided that Arc will be the next king. That is why I will officially name Arc as my successor and have him marry Lydia."

"But those two are still children."

Arc and Lydia-chan should both be thirteen.

"I married my wife when I was fifteen. It is by no means too early."

Wow. Getting married when you're in middle school. Well, maybe that's just how it is for royalty.

"But isn't it dangerous to get pregnant at that age? Lydia-chan's body hasn't fully developed yet."

She's thin and small all over.

"I am well aware of that. Besides, it will likely be some time before they enter into that sort of relationship."

The King is probably referring to Arc's gender situation. I tried to educate Arc on such matters before, but he just made a strange face. But then again, there's Lydia-chan...

"Well, I won't pry into that. But marriage, huh?"

"I also want to reassure the people. In a situation like this, it is better for the younger generation to lead the way than for an old man like me to be at the top."

"Isn't he a bit too young?"

That would make me more anxious, not less.

"Of course, I will not have him succeed to the throne immediately. I will gradually entrust him with more duties from now on."

"I see."

Being royalty sounds tough.

"And so, I have a favor to ask. We will be holding an unveiling ceremony soon."

"Really? I haven't heard anything from Arc."

"I have not told him yet. At that time, I will announce his marriage to Lydia and officially name Arc as the next king."

Huh.

"Like a party?"

"Indeed."

"What? You want me to attend or something?"

"Indeed."

I was just joking.

"Are you serious? I'm a witch, you know. A witch. And an evil alchemist at that."

"Officially, it is not you I wish to borrow, but another."

"I'm not lending you Kaede-chan."

No way.

"That is not it. You have a disciple with Clairvoyance, do you not?"

So that's what this is about.

"You mean Nanaka-san."

"Yes. Before, at the briefing for the Emeraldus Mountains, you used Lydia, Arc, and this person named Nanaka to see through the enemy's weapons, did you not?"

We sure did. Lydia-chan checked their statuses, and Nanapon scanned for weapons. And any undesirable guests were teleported away by Arc. The ultimate combo of my three disciples.

"You want to use the three-person combo?"

"That is correct. Royalty has many enemies. And with Arc as my only heir, losing him is tantamount to the fall of Frontier."

It's because without the royal family's unique teleportation skill, the supply chain from Earth would be cut off.

"Hey, why don't you have another child? Mia's not an option, but you could have some random person bear one for you."

At this point, having a spare seems like a good idea.

"I can no longer get it up."

Oh, I see. He is sixty, after all. I hope that's not what he meant by not feeling well.