kscans

Chapter 276 - A Request

Several days had passed since I gave Lydia-chan the Water of Life. That day, I was at home watching Arc and Lydia-chan’s game screen when Arc suddenly paused the game and stood up.

Figuring he was just going to the bathroom, I watched him, but he came over to me instead.

"Hajime, His Majesty is calling for Eleanor…"

Arc and the King can communicate via Telepathy.

"Hm? Does he need something?"

"Seems like it. He wants to talk to you, just the two of you."

Just the two of us… In other words, he wants to speak without Arc present.

"Got it. Wait a second."

I stood up, returned to the bedroom, and changed into Eleanor-san. Then I went back to the living room and over to Arc.

"Alright. Send me there."

"Okay, here we go."

Arc raised his hand, and my vision shifted. I was in the King’s study.

"Well, call me when you’re done."

After dropping me off, Arc immediately returned home.

"My apologies for summoning you so suddenly."

The King, sitting at his desk, apologized.

"Not at all. I was bored anyway, so it’s no problem. What’s wrong?"

"I wanted to talk for a bit…"

Talk, huh… He probably didn’t summon me just because he was bored.

"What is it?"

"How is Arc? He looked quite pale the other day…"

He meant when he burned Montaigne.

"He’s fine now. Lydia-chan supported him well. It’s good to have a wife at times like these."

I’m also being healed by Kaede-chan.

"I see… I am grateful to Lydia, but I thank you as well. Arc has seemed so happy since he started spending time with you all."

Well, he gets to play games, cool off in the air conditioning, and eat ice cream. Of course he’s having fun.

"Isn’t that a good thing?"

"Yes. It is a very good thing. That boy has been through so much, losing his mother and his older siblings, and now he has had the heavy responsibility of being king thrust upon him. I am relieved to see he is doing well."

That guy has some surprisingly heavy baggage… You wouldn’t think so from how carefree he is…

"Well, he has the brilliant Lydia-chan, and we’ll do what we can to help."

We’re bored, after all.

"Thank you… Also, I heard you gave Lydia the Water of Life for Arc’s sake."

"That’s right. We had no use for it, so I gave it to her. That guy is reckless, and on top of that, he’s in more danger than I thought."

I get what the King was saying, that things become unstable when the crown changes hands, and I get that it’s because of that alchemist. But more than that, I feel like Arc is being underestimated too much.

"Yes, he is in danger. As you know, Arc is the youngest, and because of that incident, his ties with the senior lords are weak."

Aside from Lydia-chan’s father, he probably has none.

"So he has no one to rely on."

"Well, that’s how it is. That’s why the Water of Life is extremely valuable as an insurance policy. What would you like in return? I must give you something for a gift like that."

I don’t need anything.

"I don’t need anything. I’m making plenty of money from our deals, and I wouldn’t know what to do with anything more."

"Then how about land? I have plenty of territories I have no use for, I will give you one."

"Arc already said he’d give me some, so I don’t need any. I plan on getting an uninhabited island from him eventually and building a summer retreat."

I’m going to go play in the ocean.

"I see…"

"You don’t have to worry about it. It’s for my cute disciple, and above all, it’s not something I worked hard to obtain."

I just happened to find it while I was killing time.

"Understood. Then we will leave it at that. Please accept some land from Arc at your convenience."

"I will. Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

"No, there is a main subject. The reason I called you here today is because I have a favor to ask of you."

A favor? Another job?

"What is it? Do you need someone killed? Or is it another bodyguard job?"

"It’s nothing so violent… You can be frightening at times, you know."

Well, those are the only kinds of violent jobs that come my way.

"Then what is it? Do you want me to make something?"

"That’s not it. Actually, I want you to become Arc’s guardian."

Guardian? Like a legal guardian?

"Why?"

"I want to abdicate the throne as soon as possible. To be honest, my legs have been getting worse and it is difficult for me to manage things. It would be better to have the younger Arc succeed me than an old man like myself."

"Is it that bad? What about a Healing Potion?"

"This is old age. A Healing Potion would certainly cure it temporarily, but the pain would return soon after."

I see…

"So you’re planning to retire?"

"I believe it will not be long. In a few years, at the latest."

A few years… Will Arc ascend to the throne in his teens?

"That’s rough."

"It is. That is why I want you to become his guardian."

"Me? I’ll be blunt, I’m not very smart."

"I am aware. I am not expecting that of you."

He said it so bluntly… Eleanor is shocked…

"Then what is it?"

"You are already feared in this world. As an unbelievable monster."

Montaigne said that too.

"‘Monster’ is a bit harsh."

"In reality, a Swordsmanship Level 6 is a monster."

Fufu, well, that’s true!

"So it’s a threat? A way of saying that Arc has a monster like me on his side?"

"That is the idea. It will make it difficult for anyone to make a rash move."

At the very least, it should reduce the number of people plotting his assassination.

"I don’t really mind, but I’m a person from Feire, you know?"

"That does not matter. I am asking you personally. Besides, you have allies with unique skills, and I am sure they will support the Arc of the future."

Well, Nanapon and Yoshino-san are certainly useful.

"Well, he is my disciple, so being his guardian isn’t exactly wrong. And he is living in my house."

I’m the one paying for everything.

"Will you do it?"

"It’s not a matter of ‘will I do it,’ it’s the same as what I’ve been doing all along. I’m always looking after him."

Seriously, tell me what’s supposed to change.

"My apologies… I do not have much time left. I must do what I can for the future of Frontier and Arc."

"No, people who say things like that always live long lives."

Stop raising death flags all over the place. I’m the one buying all that alcohol and those snacks you’re consuming. You’re perfectly healthy.

"In any case, I am counting on you."

"Yes, yes. I’ll change Frontier’s name to the Ocean Kingdom eventually."

"Please don’t do that."

I’m definitely going to do it!