Ch.181181. Meeting (1)

After returning to Paris, Alicia began to review what she had seen during the expedition.

She was deliberating on how to proceed from now on, as the existence of the Divine Beast Phoenix had completely overturned all their previous plans.

However, not long into their meeting…

“Wow. In Paris, birds knock on windows, I see. Am I hallucinating?”

For some reason, a bird had flown to their lodging and was now deliberately knocking on Alicia’s window with its beak.

At first, Alicia thought, “Oh, so birds in Paris know how to knock on windows,” but…

[No, it’s actually knocking. It’s quite deliberately tapping, asking us to open the window that’s blocking its way.]

“Um… is this an attack from a new Awakened?!”

Bahamut confirmed the bird was really knocking and advised that it was asking for the window to be opened.

Though Alicia made a fuss about it possibly being an attack from a new Awakened…

“Even so, no fool would attack a head of state in broad daylight.”

The maid tried to calm Alicia’s panic, bringing tea and suggesting that such a thing was impossible.

However, Alicia’s eyes turned lifeless as she sighed and replied:

“What about the Lord Protector or the Saint?”

“…I can’t deny that. Hmm.”

Both were beings who defied common sense, so they truly might launch an attack in broad daylight.

The fact that the maid couldn’t deny Alicia’s statement suggested there was a societal belief that the Lord Protector and the Saint would definitely do such things if necessary.

Still, she seemed to think that if they were to attack so openly, they would do it themselves rather than using a small bird.

“I’ll open it, Your Majesty.”

Preparing for any possible situation, the maid stepped forward and gently opened the window.

As the window opened, a magnificent bird entered the room, flew straight to where Alicia was sitting, landed on the table in front of her, and put down something it had been carrying in its feet.

Then, with bright, expectant eyes, it stared at Alicia with an expression that seemed to say it was waiting for a human response.

Seeing this, Alicia’s first words were:

“What’s this? Is there a Hogwarts in Paris or something? Why is a bird bringing us a letter?”

“Well, it is an apocalypse with magic. Perhaps we’ve really entered the magical world written by Ms. Rowling… though reality is probably closer to the darkness found in Lord Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.”

She was referencing famous British fantasy novels, and indeed, what they were experiencing wasn’t much different.

A magnificent, magical bird delivering a letter and waiting for a response was undeniably a mysterious scene that anyone would recognize as a direct reference to a famous fantasy novel.

The maid agreed but emphasized that reality was more like the other, darker fantasy, highlighting Alicia’s gloom.

[This surprises even me.]

“You too, Lord Bahamut?”

But Bahamut was genuinely impressed by this sight.

[I don’t have the ability to train birds, and it’s faster to just communicate with magic. Isn’t that how it usually works?]

“True.”

Indeed, birds delivering letters was something that happened in movies, making it quite mystical.

Bahamut also lacked the ability to train animals, so he thought this must be a unique ability of Phoenix.

The issue was that after delivering the letter, the bird kept staring intently at Alicia, as if waiting for something.

“I-I’ll read it then.”

[To the esteemed Lord Bahamut,

Hello. First, I sincerely thank you for reading my letter despite your busy schedule. I am Phoenix, and I am currently contracted with the Saint of Orleans.

I have always been deeply impressed by your excellent leadership and profound insight shown in the Korean Peninsula.

Over the past year, I have learned much from your achievements and presence, which has positively influenced my own contract.

The reason I am writing to you is to seek your valuable advice regarding my contract. Having recently granted a contract, I am experiencing many difficulties, and with my lack of experience, I face challenges every day.

Therefore, I believe it is truly important to hear the opinion of someone as experienced and insightful as yourself. Through this, I am confident I can find better solutions and proceed with my contract more efficiently.

If you could spare some time to offer advice, it would be of great help to me. I understand your very busy schedule, but if possible, I would be grateful for the opportunity to hear your valuable opinion, even briefly.

Finally, I once again express my deep respect to Lord Bahamut, who always guides the Balhut Cult with outstanding leadership and sharp judgment.

I hope to continue receiving your guidance, and thank you once again for reading my letter.

I wish you good health and that you are always surrounded by good fortune.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Phoenix.]

[“…”]

Bahamut and Alicia fell silent after reading the letter.

They never dreamed they would receive such a polite and formal letter.

[“What is this? It’s scarily unfamiliar.”]

“It’s very polite. Seems like a courteous person. The quality is high.”

The maid, who had been reading the letter, also commented that it was surprisingly polite and full of courtesy.

“And this is from Phoenix?! Could it be a trap from the Saint?! Don’t panic!! This must be a trap from the Saint!”

While the letter’s content was nothing special, the sender was none other than the Divine Beast contracted with the Saint of Orleans.

For a Divine Beast contracted with that Saint, it was too polite and full of courtesy.

Of course, this might be a prejudiced view, but considering the behavior the Saint of Orleans had shown so far, it was understandably perplexing.

‘I don’t know what this is. It’s scary.’

Bahamut also couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the formal letter.

He had thought they were both shut-ins, but could it be that Phoenix was actually a well-adjusted person? The thought filled his mind.

Who would have thought that a single letter would throw Bahamut and Alicia into shock and terror!

As expected of the Phoenix, known to be on par with Bahamut.

[But the content of the letter seems fine]

“Yes. There’s no procedural issue. It’s just too polite to be written by someone contracted with that Saint…”

No matter how they looked at it, the letter’s content itself was fine.

Rather, it was politely asking Bahamut for help, and the maid who checked the procedure also said there was nothing wrong with Phoenix’s letter, though she remarked it was too polite for a Divine Beast contracted with the Saint of Orleans.

If the Saint had written the letter, wouldn’t it have been more arrogant, elevating herself?

[Then we should reply.]

“H-how do I reply to this?”

“I will help you, Your Majesty.”

But having received a letter, a reply was necessary.

Bahamut told Alicia to reply, and though perplexed, Alicia began preparing to somehow send a response to Phoenix.

Thankfully, with the help of the maid who assisted Alicia, they were able to write a reply without issue.

[I’ll meet them directly as requested.]

“No way. Another summoning here in Paris…?!”

[No need for that when I have a human form]

Bahamut said he would meet Phoenix directly as requested.

Alicia was surprised at this, but understood after Bahamut’s single remark.

“True, you were in human form when we first contracted.”

When Alicia first contracted, Bahamut was in human form and had even attended the international organization reconstruction meeting.

But since then, Bahamut had remained in his dragon god form, so the only people in Paris who would recognize Bahamut’s human form were the Lord Protector and the Saint of Orleans.

[The question is whether the other party can do the same…]

The issue was whether Phoenix could use polymorph magic.

If Phoenix couldn’t use polymorph magic, the premise of meeting in human form in Paris would be impossible.

So with a slightly troubled expression, Bahamut looked around and made eye contact with the bird sent by Phoenix.

[Well, we have a suitable messenger right here. That should work.]

“Chirp?”

Come to think of it, using this bird in front of them, they could maintain regular contact with Phoenix.

So they wrote a reply about how to establish regular communication and handed it to the bird, which chirped once as if tired of waiting, took the letter from Alicia, and flew away.

A day later, just like before, a reply came from Phoenix via the bird. With the maid’s help, Alicia wrote letters and continued exchanging correspondence with Phoenix.

“Chirp chirp.”

“Oh, you’re here. We’re practically friends now, you and I.”

“Chirp chirp!”

Alicia had somehow become quite close with the letter-delivering bird.

She was now treating it almost like a pet, preparing snacks for the messenger bird, and the bird seemed to like Alicia too, chirping happily when receiving treats from her.

“Finally, a reply saying they want to meet.”

[Really? Then…]

And the long-awaited meeting time approached.

Bahamut nodded at Phoenix’s letter requesting a meeting and…

“I should prepare for the meeting too.”

“Whoa?!”

He teleported to Paris in human form using Alicia.

Seeing Bahamut appear wearing armor similar to what Alicia was wearing, Arthur was so startled that his chair fell backward, and as he struggled to get up, he was wary of the suddenly appearing man, but…

“It’s Lord Bahamut.”

“Huh? Is it?”

“Yes. It’s the same appearance as when we contracted.”

Alicia explained that the suddenly appearing man was Bahamut, and the maid nodded to the half-awake Arthur, confirming it was indeed Bahamut.

Having convinced Arthur, the maid brought clothing for Bahamut as if accustomed to this, saying:

“Let’s show Miss Phoenix a gentlemanly appearance.”

“I’m counting on you.”

She prepared makeup for this meeting.