Ch.213213. The King’s Resolve

I needed to make a stop somewhere, which delayed my journey to Greyford.

Still, I was able to arrive the night before the Great Debate began, so there was no major issue.

When I got close, I deliberately got off the carriage and walked alone toward Greyford.

I had already heard that Mule and his followers had made quite a showy entrance into Greyford.

I certainly intended to create an atmosphere opposite to his.

“……”

I hadn’t expected Erika Bright, the Bright family, and the Zeronia family to go this far.

I had heard that she requested support from each family I had cooperative relationships with in order to find me.

But seeing Erika standing proudly at the end of the road was truly impressive.

With her arms crossed, she had a firm determination to let no one soil the path I walked on.

Even as our eyes met, she welcomed me without a change in expression, silently steadfast.

I entered Greyford listening to the sighs and screams of wandering souls echoing through the quiet night.

As the soldiers who had cleared the way for Erika and me re-entered and the gates closed behind them.

Erika was staring blankly up at me.

Tap.

A suddenly outstretched hand touches my cheek. Though the sensation wouldn’t be pleasant given how thin and withered I was, Erika quickly withdrew her hand in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

I asked her, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture, and Erika awkwardly scratched the back of her head.

“Nothing, just making sure you really came back.”

Her appearance had grown gaunt, suggesting she had suffered considerable mental anguish over the past month. She hardly looked like the Mage who had just overwhelmed and silenced the crowd.

“Where you’ve been all this time, why you left without saying anything… I have many questions, but let’s go to the palace first. His Majesty Orpheus is waiting.”

“Alright.”

Escorted by soldiers from the Zeronia and Bright families, Erika and I headed straight for the royal palace.

Though it was night, it wasn’t particularly late, so there were some people whispering as they saw me.

“Ex-excuse me! Dark Spiritmaster!”

Among the gathering crowd, a woman ran toward me.

The soldiers tried to stop her, but I held them back. I had seen this woman before.

As I approached her, she handed me a heavy money pouch from her bosom.

“Do… do you remember me?”

“Yes, I helped you when you were being chased by the ghost of a beggar boy.”

During the first Great Debate in Greyford, I had resolved several evil spirit incidents while living there.

“I was too flustered then to properly thank you, but here’s a reward. If you’re uncomfortable accepting it, please consider it a donation.”

I looked at the money pouch she offered for a moment, then gently pushed it back with a shake of my head.

“I didn’t do it for money.”

At the time, she had asked the bishops for help, but they had only taken donations and done nothing, so I had helped the tearful woman who had no money.

“B-but Dark Spiritmaster. That man Mule is performing various miracles and accepting donations. If my money could be used to prove your innocence and sincerity, it would be an honor…!”

I appreciated her thoughtfulness, but I was firm.

“I didn’t do it for money.”

“……”

“However, if you truly wish to help me.”

I slowly pointed toward the cemetery in Greyford.

“If you go there, you’ll find a child’s gravestone. It’s a single name, Mel, so it shouldn’t be hard to find.”

“A g-gravestone? But that child was just a beggar who lived by begging, he couldn’t have a gravestone.”

“I made one.”

“……”

“If enough time has passed and your heart has healed, I hope you’ll buy some food and visit that child. Though he became an evil spirit, he didn’t choose to die of hunger.”

A child who closed his eyes in a cold alley, too hungry to go on.

He was simply following his actions from when he was alive, wandering the streets begging for money and food.

“I… understand.”

The woman looked down at her money pouch with an expression of deep thought.

As I was about to pass by her.

“Dark Spiritmaster! Thanks to you driving away the earth-bound spirit, my shop is thriving!”

“I no longer have nightmares! Thank you!”

“I’m Mecken. Do you remember? My daughter who passed away before me would be proud of who I am now.”

Citizens of Greyford whom I had helped before came out to welcome me.

I knew time was short. But I didn’t want to ignore their gratitude and move on.

I wasn’t becoming arrogant or prideful because of their thanks.

I was simply grateful that my actions had made them comfortable, and that despite how numerous Mule’s followers were and how great his miracles might be.

I was just thankful to those who hadn’t forgotten me.

It took some time and kept His Majesty waiting, but he would understand this much.

After all, I wasn’t favored by the king for nothing.

“Impressive.”

Erika, who had been listening beside me the whole time, had a faint smile on her lips.

“What’s so amusing?”

This wasn’t particularly something that should please Erika. If anything, she should be anxious since we were keeping His Majesty waiting.

But she moved slightly closer to me and answered.

“Who wouldn’t enjoy seeing their fiancé being praised?”

“……”

“And I’m glad there are people who remember what you’ve done.”

Her expression softened and she smiled with a slight blush, pleased by this alone.

It gave me a warm feeling to see this cold, calculating Mage who had just been commanding soldiers melt like this before me.

“Still, we should go now. His Majesty might be dozing off.”

“He is known for keeping such regular hours, after all.”

Inside the royal grounds, two carriages were already parked.

One provided by the Academy and one from the Verdi family.

Since I had walked in through the main gate, there was no need to bring the carriages through that noisy area.

The carriages had entered Greyford through the back gate and were waiting at the palace.

“Oh, you’re here!”

“Professor, that was awesome!”

Findenai and Aria had been waiting. Darius was smiling brightly while carrying the sleeping Owen on his back.

“Kyaaa! That’s my brother for you!”

“Keep it down, you’ll wake the child.”

Deia warns Darius, slapping his shoulder as he shouted with his booming voice.

Then she turns to me and asks.

“Are you going to see His Majesty right away?”

“Yes, I’ll go alone, no need for you to come along. You must be tired from traveling, so rest.”

It would be impolite to crowd in late at night. Deia agreed and gave instructions to the others.

“Thankfully, the palace has provided rooms for us to stay, so everyone shut up and go to bed.”

“I’m a maid, shouldn’t I clean the master’s room or unpack his luggage?”

“Stop acting like a dog. There are already maids here who are several times more competent than you.”

“Hey! Is there any late-night snack? I’m a bit hungry.”

“Don’t ask me. I don’t know this place well either.”

“Ahem, if Sir Tyren or Sir Grace are here, I should request a sparring match after so long.”

“Alright, just grab your luggage and move. The attendants need to rest too.”

While Deia was answering each of the rowdy companions and urging them along.

Since they tended to do as they pleased, Deia eventually entered the Verdi family carriage with irritated steps.

Bang!

“You morons! Listen to me! Want me to get you a spot in the royal cemetery?!”

She threatened them by firing a magic shotgun into the sky.

Despite such behavior being quite disrespectful in the royal palace, she knew they wouldn’t listen otherwise.

‘I’ll have to smooth this over.’

She probably acted this way thinking I would handle it since I was going to see His Majesty anyway.

Though she might appear emotional on the surface, her mind was as cold as the northern winds of Norsweden.

Erika and I headed toward His Majesty’s office. Come to think of it, it was still winter break, so Elenoa should be at the palace too, but she must have already gone to bed.

After knocking and a brief greeting, I alone entered His Majesty’s office.

Erika agreed to wait outside.

Since this was a matter to be discussed between His Majesty and me alone.

She would serve as a reliable sentry.

“You’re late. I was so sleepy I’ve already had two cups of coffee. Thanks to that, I’m done with sleep for today.”

King Orpheus was reading various documents with his chin resting on his desk, looking rather bored.

Given the recent tumultuous situation, he too must have been quite busy.

“I was delayed briefly.”

“I’ve already heard the report. Citizens you helped before were expressing their gratitude?”

“I’m glad they’re doing well.”

“Hmm, that attitude of prioritizing citizens over me…”

Orpheus glanced at me briefly. His golden eyes held more wisdom than when I had seen them before.

“I like it.”

Orpheus rose from his seat with a smile and stretched.

“Nnngh! Because of that fellow Mule, I’ve been going to bed late recently. My skin has become all dry as a result.”

“Yet you still held the Great Debate.”

“……”

“And you’ve made no response to Mule and the bishops who support him, to the point where it might seem obtuse.”

My words might have seemed harsh, but I needed to clearly state what I was feeling.

“In a hurry? You’re being quite direct in asking about my intentions.”

“I need to prepare for tomorrow.”

Tomorrow is the Great Debate.

I haven’t met the Saintess yet, and Stella, whom I briefly saw on the wall earlier, has disappeared somewhere.

She probably disappeared to prepare something for me.

Understanding my words, Orpheus bitterly stroked his desk with his palm.

“Yes, I haven’t made any response, to the point where it might seem frustrating.”

“……”

“Please understand my position. This man Mule has been performing acts that can only be described as truly chosen by God.”

Mule had been showing even more radical progress than the Saintess in a short period.

Moreover, the claim that he had resurrected the dead was an act that shattered the fundamental principles of the continent.

To humans who fear death, he must have appeared truly as a savior.

“The moment I persecute him and his followers, I turn them into victims.”

“……”

“Also, nothing has been confirmed yet. I heard Saintess Lucia briefly spoke with Mule. But even she couldn’t grasp the depth and truth of his power.”

Sighing, Orpheus rubbed his eyes to relieve fatigue.

“Deus, I intend to thoroughly investigate everything, clearly understand the truth, and then make a judgment.”

“You’ve learned from the past.”

Orpheus’s eyes suddenly opened as he slowly removed his hand. Then he met my gaze and let out a hollow laugh.

“Was it that obvious? I thought you might notice. My ministers are in an uproar. They chirp like larks every day that we shouldn’t leave those rascals who disrespect and insult the royal authority unchecked.”

Just like.

“Yes, like 200 years ago when we were badly burned by the Black Mage and created the monster Heralazard.”

“……”

“We knew nothing about the Black Mage and only continued fighting, supplying him with corpses and souls.”

A voice filled with regret echoed softly in the office.

“Blinded by hatred, we also failed to realize that Heralazard was a damned royal conspiracy. That’s why Griffin has grown so twisted.”

Orpheus Luden Griffin doesn’t deserve to be king.

Deceit and greed flow through his veins.

But he has a responsibility.

The responsibility to set everything right and protect the kingdom.

“We need to carefully verify. What exactly is that mysterious power. How we should counter it if they become our enemies, and how we should handle it if we can control it.”

“So you’ve been waiting for the right time?”

“Correct. I thought that you and the Saintess would surely lift the veil covering that mysterious prophet at the Great Debate. Until then, I had no intention of provoking them.”

With a slight smile, King Orpheus continued.

“Even though they completely disregard royal authority.”

“……”

“It doesn’t matter. Thanks to you, royal authority has already risen sky-high. A few blemishes won’t be a problem. It just makes me feel unpleasant.”

Orpheus added.

“No matter how much the royal authority is insulted, you’ll resolve it in the end, won’t you?”

“You’re handing me a heavy burden.”

It was absurd, but not incorrect. And since it was roughly what I had expected, the corners of my mouth turned up slightly.

With the atmosphere somewhat lightened.

Orpheus slowly walked up and stood before me.

“Deus, much blood has been spilled on this land. Not just the massacre by Heralazard 200 years ago, but also how my ancestor, the demon of Griffin, sucked the lifeblood of the people to barely survive.”

“That’s right.”

An undeniable truth.

But Orpheus wasn’t turning away from it.

He patted my shoulder and naturally walked past me toward the window.

With his hands behind his back, Orpheus gazed at the horizon beyond the castle walls.

It was in the direction of the tent city where Mule’s fanatics were staying.

“Honestly, I somewhat understand them.”

“……”

“A strange prophet appears and shows unbelievable miracles. Resurrecting people from death? Sending souls to God’s embrace? Heh, I might have been tempted too.”

“……”

“But they’re foolish. They don’t realize that it’s not God protecting the land they stand on, but the kingdom’s walls and soldiers. They’re blinded by religion and God.”

That’s why they prioritized their God and Mule over royal authority.

Over the laws of the Griffin Kingdom.

“It’s dizzyingly pathetic, unwise, and they can’t even see one step ahead into the future, thinking the present will continue forever.”

King Orpheus let out a hollow laugh, but.

His gaze remained fixed on the scenery outside the window.

“Still, they are my people.”

Once again, Orpheus doesn’t shirk his responsibility.

“Anyone would know the easy solution. Those pathetic individuals pointing fingers at the royal family could be dealt with at the wave of a hand.”

“……”

“But aren’t they still my beloved people?”

And he doesn’t forget the past.

“In this land where the blood of the people once flowed so terribly…”

Though troubled, his words reach out to me with an implicit request.

“Must I once again spill their blood?”

The current king.

A statement containing the feelings of Orpheus Luden Griffin.

“I don’t want to.”

Though his expression doesn’t contort and no tears fall, there’s a mixture of love and hate in the gray.

“Thanks to you, royal authority has been strengthened. I’m grateful that I can make such a choice because of it.”

Orpheus’s determination that, because the royal authority was solidly established, he could endure this level of damage.

A pledge that reminds me of the saying that truly strong people can forgive.

“As Your Majesty wishes.”

I slowly placed my hand on my chest and slightly bowed my upper body toward him.

“I shall obey your command.”