Ch.729Why Are You Showing up Here?

“Nidhogg, is it…”

Leopold pressed his temples as if just hearing the name gave him a headache, then picked up his wine glass and downed the remaining grape wine in one gulp.

“…things have become quite troublesome.”

With a sigh, Leopold put down his empty glass and began to talk about the escaped Nidhogg.

“The beast flew continuously toward the northwest of the Sky Mountains, and then its trail disappeared. It’s probably hiding somewhere in this vicinity.”

Leopold took out a map, placed it on the table, and drew a circle with his pen on one corner of the Sky Mountains to mark the creature’s position.

It was near the western part of the massive mountain range that stretched across the northern Empire. A location close to the border between the Dragonic Kingdom and the Holy State.

“It’s hiding in a problematic location.”

“Indeed. Extremely problematic. Of all places, it had to be the Sky Mountains that don’t belong to any country’s territory, and of all parts, the western region. There couldn’t be better conditions for other races to intervene.”

Leopold sighed and explained the detailed situation.

It wasn’t a long story.

Because Nidhogg had hidden in the Sky Mountains, Dragonborn targeting the dragon, hastily dispatched Paladins, and even elven guardians had become entangled in a tense standoff—that was all.

Although they were merely watching each other warily since Nidhogg’s hideout hadn’t been discovered yet, once its hiding place was found, it wouldn’t be strange if they all drew swords against each other to claim exclusive rights to the dragon’s corpse.

What a mess.

“Well, it’s natural for the Dragonborn to get involved, but… why are the elves interfering? On what grounds?”

“They claim it’s one of their racial enemies.”

“A dragon that died eight hundred—no, that died eight hundred years ago?”

“Yes. Apparently, it was the dragon that wounded the roots of the World Tree two thousand years ago and planted deadly poison in it, causing it to rot and decay.”

Two thousand years ago—that was an unfathomably distant past for a human like me.

Well, since both dragons and elves live extraordinarily long lives, for the elves, it’s probably not some ancient tale but more like avenging their grandfather’s generation.

“We can’t verify this from our records, so we don’t even know if it’s true, but they’re claiming it nonetheless.”

Right, it would be impossible to verify. Humans at that time were probably no better than livestock, unable to write, let alone keep records.

Hah, who knew Nidhogg had such a backstory? If it was a dragon that damaged the World Tree, no wonder the elves are going berserk.

This is troublesome.

“Whether it’s the Dragonborn or the elves, we cannot surrender the dragon’s corpse to them.”

Leopold declared in a low, heavy tone.

“Consider the blood the Empire has shed to weaken the beast. Only we have the right to claim that body.”

…I’m guessing this means he wants me to go and beat them all up?

Well, I had no reason to refuse anyway.

Even if the Empire would just use the dragon’s body as material for weapons or armor, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what the elves or Dragonborn might do with it.

Those spell-casting bastards always come up with outlandish schemes that others couldn’t even conceive.

“Dragonborn and elven guardians… I’ll need to be thoroughly prepared.”

I glanced at the empty space where my left arm should be.

Whether Dragonborn or elves, they would have dispatched forces of at least Hero rank, so I needed to be fully prepared to persuade or subdue them.

They might not be as strong as Orhan, but it would still be burdensome to fight them with one arm missing and my strength significantly diminished.

—-

After finishing our conversation, I headed with Leopold to the place where Eleonora was in seclusion.

“Take us to that mansion.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The coachman was a man with rough clothes and shaggy hair.

Despite his well-trained body, his aura felt ordinary, suggesting he was not a knight but someone raised as an imperial intelligence agent.

Since Eleonora’s presence on the island was confidential, he was likely disguised to avoid attention. The carriage we were guided to was also plain and unadorned.

Still, the interior was reasonably comfortable. Except for the fact that there were no windows, making it feel like being trapped in a box.

It would take about thirty minutes to reach Eleonora’s hideout. Fortunately, it wasn’t far. I wasn’t keen on enduring this box without being able to smoke a cigarette.

During the journey, I asked Leopold various questions about Eleonora, but didn’t learn much.

Perhaps because they had been separated for so long, he didn’t seem to know much about his sister despite caring for her.

He mentioned feeling guilty for failing to prevent her from being sold to Panam, and for separating her from her child, who was also King Danon’s son. Despite bringing her back, he hadn’t been able to have deep conversations with her.

It seemed he didn’t even know how to approach his sister whom he was reuniting with after more than a decade.

He surely cared for Eleonora, but… his way of caring for family seemed excessively one-sided.

Bringing her back and keeping her in semi-confinement after separating her from her son, and now trying to hand her over to me out of concern—it was obvious he was partly disregarding her wishes under the pretext of prioritizing her safety.

I’m not sure if Leopold was aware of this.

Well, it’s ridiculous for someone like me, who never had a family, to comment on others’ family matters. Especially imperial family matters.

—-

“Eleonora, there’s someone I’d like to introduce to you.”

And so, I finally got to meet Eleonora Wittelsbach.

She appeared to be around thirty. She had flowing blonde hair resembling—no, no longer resembling—Leopold’s, and wore an old-fashioned black dress.

“Brother…?”

Her voice sounded strangely familiar. I couldn’t place where I’d heard it before.

“Someone to introduce? Who could it be that you’d come personally… Ah!?”

Eleonora, who had turned her head toward me with a languid, melancholic expression, suddenly had her face filled with shock and confusion.

Wide eyes and a face drained of blood. It was a reaction that seemed excessive for merely encountering an unexpected celebrity.

What’s this about? Judging by her complexion, she looked as if she’d just faced some bloodstained human butcher.

Well, technically I am a human butcher… but still, is such surprise necessary?

I’m not particularly bloody-looking right now, and I’ve never raised my sword against someone who wasn’t an enemy.

“This person… no, why is he here…?”

“This is the Imperial First Sword, the Median of the Starry Sky, Marquis Haschal Aishan-Gioro, who inherited the castles of Median and Landenburg. You must have heard of his reputation?”

“Ah, yes. The hero who slew the witch…”

Eleonora, who had been about to point at me and call me “this person,” quickly changed her expression and clasped her trembling hands below her navel.

“Pleased to meet you, Marquis Median. I am Eleonora Wittelsbach. It’s an honor to meet the Imperial First Sword.”

Her expression didn’t look pleased at all. Not in the slightest.

Though she was forcing a smile, her stiff eye corners and trembling lips betrayed that she was barely suppressing an expression that could crumble at any moment.

…Well, one thing is clear—she doesn’t like me very much. Though I don’t know why.

That’s strange, because without wanting to brag, I’m essentially her benefactor. I helped her escape from King Danon’s clutches and even took the king’s head.

Yet this is her reaction? This isn’t the expression one would show to someone who, even indirectly, saved them.

Could she be a Ka’har discriminator too? That’s the only explanation that makes sense.

“Marquis Median?”

Ah, right. I should greet her first.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Eleonora. I am Haschal Median.”

I placed my right hand on my chest and slightly bowed my head in respect.

Deliberately omitting the surname Aishan-Gioro, in case she was a Ka’har discriminator.

“Please call me Marquis Median.”

“…As you wish.”

Seeming somewhat calmer now, Eleonora smiled more naturally and turned to indicate the small tea table where she had been sitting.

“Please don’t stand there, sit here. You too, Brother. I’ll have refreshments brought right away.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

As Leopold and I sat down at the tea table, Eleonora lightly clapped her hands to summon a maid.

Shortly after, there was a soft knock at the door.

“You called for me, miss.”

A low, thin voice that sounded somewhat young.

Judging by the low position of the knock and the presence I sensed, it seemed to be quite a young maid.

“Yes, could you bring two cups of black tea and some refreshments? My brother and Marquis Median… have come to visit.”

“…Understood.”

After a moment of silence, the maid gave a brief reply and returned down the corridor.

While waiting for the maid to bring tea and refreshments, we engaged in light conversation before getting to the main topic. More precisely, just Leopold and Eleonora.

I had nothing particular to say and didn’t want to intrude on the siblings’ conversation, so after asking Eleonora’s permission, I leaned against the window and smoked.

– Knock knock.

About five minutes later, there was another knock at the door. It must be that maid again.

I put out my finished cigarette and returned to the tea table.

Five minutes should have been enough for greetings and small talk. It was time to get to the main point.

“Miss, I’ve brought the tea and refreshments.”

“Yes, come in.”

“Excuse me.”

The maid opened the door slightly and revealed herself. I glanced over without much thought.

As expected, she was a girl who still had a youthful appearance.

Gray long hair that looked like black fabric washed a thousand times until the color faded. Pale green wall-eyes reminiscent of a rotten lake, and a ghostly pale, expressionless face.

The formal attire she wore seemed terribly mismatched with her appearance.

…Judging by her impression alone, she looked more like an assassin-in-training than a maid. Her muscles seemed quite well-trained too.

“Hmm…”

I couldn’t take my eyes off that maid.

Aside from her unusually fierce appearance for a maid, her face and aura felt… somehow strangely familiar.

Had I seen her somewhere before…?

No, I don’t think someone like her ever appeared in the original story.

“…Is something making you uncomfortable, sir?”

Perhaps because I was staring so openly, the girl turned to me after placing the teacups and refreshments on the table.

“You look familiar… Have we met before? What’s your name?”

I asked straightforwardly.

“Velnesia.”

A name I’d never heard before.

“No surname? If you’re Lady Eleonora’s maid, you’re probably not a commoner.”

“…Velnesia Valenstein.”

After a moment’s hesitation came the answer. I couldn’t help but be stunned. It was truly an unexpected name.

“Valenstein…?”

Why is that surname appearing here?