Ch.76Chapter 76 – What Happened at the Founding Festival (2)

Aurelios, the capital of the Gelebrio Empire.

The largest city in the empire was bustling with people preparing for the Foundation Festival that would be held in a few days.

“Lord Pathos, is this your first time participating in the Foundation Festival?”

“I… suppose so?”

Even in the game, there was barely any information about the Foundation Festival, with only a few mentions from characters here and there.

Erasto Chronicle was primarily a heroine collection RPG, so most people didn’t pay much attention to the story.

I was one of those people.

It was surprising that the game company implemented in-game settings as cash-grab events, and equally surprising that there was hardly any story mentioned.

As a result, I didn’t know much about the Foundation Festival.

‘But that’s not a problem at all.’

Why? Because right beside me was someone who knew everything about the Foundation Festival.

“Then, would it be alright if I tell you about the Gelebrio Empire’s Foundation Festival?”

“I would be grateful if you did.”

“Hehe, then I’ll explain the Foundation Festival in my own way.”

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Just as everything has a beginning and an end, the Gelebrio Empire also had its beginning.

The Gelebrio Empire wasn’t always an empire from the start.

The Geremba Plains, where Aurelios is currently located.

The Magic Kingdom of Aurelios was founded on the foothills a short distance away.

Aurelios I, the last king of the Magic Kingdom of Aurelios and the founding emperor of the Gelebrio Empire, believed in the limitless potential of the Geremba Plains.

So he began conquering neighboring countries based on advanced magical engineering, and as a result, the small kingdom of Aurelios grew to the size of today’s Gelebrio Empire.

After experiencing various events, the Kingdom of Aurelios grew into an undisputed superpower, and Aurelios I established the city of Aurelios on the Geremba Plains with his magic, declaring the birth of a new nation called the Gelebrio Empire.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

“…So the festival commemorating that day is the Gelebrio Empire’s Foundation Festival.”

Eterna’s explanation was concise and clear.

Thanks to her explanation that accurately conveyed only the necessary information, I was able to understand exactly what event the Foundation Festival was commemorating.

“So it’s literally a festival celebrating the day the empire was founded.”

“That’s right. Even though I was born and raised in the Gelebrio Empire, I haven’t participated in the Foundation Festival that many times.”

“What?”

She hasn’t participated in the Foundation Festival much? What does that mean?

“Oh, my mistake. I do participate every year. As an Inquisitor, that is.”

“I see.”

I thought I understood what Eterna was trying to say.

When the Gelebrio Empire’s Foundation Festival was held, participating as an Inquisitor was clearly different from participating to enjoy the festival.

If you participate to enjoy the festival, there’s not much to worry about.

At most, you’d be concerned about pickpockets or transportation back home.

But if you participate as an organizer, it’s a different story.

Calculating the incoming and outgoing population, various cost calculations, safety inspections, and maintaining security.

There are countless headache-inducing factors.

So the thought of enjoying the festival can’t possibly enter your mind.

Thinking about it that way, I felt a bit sorry for Eterna.

“Then how about enjoying the Foundation Festival as a pure participant this time, not as an organizer?”

All I could offer was a suggestion to enjoy the Foundation Festival together as pure participants.

“What?”

“I don’t know much about Aurelios anyway. But… as an organizer, you must have traveled all around Aurelios, right?”

“I… suppose so?”

“So I’d like to ask for your guidance. I’m not familiar with the geography of Aurelios.”

Eterna seemed to hesitate a bit after hearing my suggestion.

But she soon nodded, accepting my proposal.

“Then I’ll be in your care.”

“I should be the one saying that.”

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

Lisa Energen, an agent of the Gelebrio Empire’s Intelligence Bureau.

She was a field agent skilled in stealth and infiltration within the Intelligence Bureau.

Although she had temporarily stepped back from being a field agent after being injured during an operation abroad, she was determined to return to field work someday.

So after her injury healed, Lisa persistently requested to return to the field, but all her requests were denied.

This was due to the Intelligence Bureau’s internal regulation that required at least one year of rehabilitation training for those who stepped back from field work due to injury.

But she argued that her injury was minor and didn’t require rehabilitation training, yet the higher-ups didn’t see it that way.

They believed that the injury Lisa sustained couldn’t be recovered from with just rehabilitation training.

So she was inevitably placed on indefinite standby until her return as a field agent.

Just when she was wondering when she could return to the field, a lifeline descended from heaven.

“Lisa Energen. I’m assigning you a new mission.”

The most senior agent among the field agents had come to find Lisa and assign her a new mission.

“What kind of mission?”

“A mission to protect someone from external forces’ intervention, interference, or persuasion.”

“In simple terms, it’s a protection mission, right?”

The senior agent nodded at Lisa’s words.

“That’s right. Although you’ve temporarily stepped back from the field due to injury, you’re the best agent among us when it comes to VIP protection.”

“So, who am I protecting?”

“The details are in the mission briefing. Review the documents and be ready to start the protection mission as soon as you’ve understood the subject.”

“Understood.”

Lisa was pleased at the thought of returning to the field after a long time.

She received the documents containing her mission briefing and read them thoroughly.

“Name… Pathos. Owns a repair shop in Arkenium, and currently enrolled as a freshman at Glesius Academy.”

Lisa began to slowly read through Pathos’s personal information written in the documents.

“Known as the Magic Sword Destroyer in public, and possesses the ability to cure Prezmerine disease. Also, he is scheduled to be awarded the title of Count in recognition of his achievement in destroying magic swords.”

As Lisa read through Pathos’s personal information, she became curious.

‘If he can cure Prezmerine disease, just how amazing is his ability?’

As an Intelligence Bureau agent, Lisa knew exactly what Prezmerine disease was.

The most representative incurable diseases were Prezmerine disease and baldness, with Prezmerine being the worst of them.

Baldness doesn’t kill you, but Prezmerine disease has a very high mortality rate once contracted.

‘Maybe this person could… No. I shouldn’t trust him until I see for myself.’

Lisa wondered if Pathos could heal her injury.

However, perhaps due to her work at the Intelligence Bureau, she didn’t immediately trust him.

Critically accepting all incoming information and retaining only the most reliable information.

That was the code of conduct for Intelligence Bureau agents.

After familiarizing herself with the information about Pathos, Lisa moved to find him.

Fortunately, since Pathos was designated as a VIP, Intelligence Bureau agents were keeping a close eye on him.

Moreover, since Inquisitor Eterna was accompanying him, finding him was very easy.

So Lisa was currently following Pathos and Eterna as they strolled through downtown Aurelios.

She was able to follow the two without being detected thanks to her ability.

‘Shadow Concealment.’

This was an ability granted to her by the Goddess of Night, whom Lisa served.

With this ability to hide in the shadows of nearby objects or people and follow them, she had perfectly carried out numerous espionage missions so far.

However, her ability wasn’t perfect.

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just feel like someone is following us.”

People who had reached a certain level of power, like Inquisitor Eterna, could sense her presence.

“Really?”

“Yes, but… whoever it is doesn’t seem to be showing any intention to harm us.”

“Then let’s ignore it for now.”

When Eterna detected her, Lisa had to increase the distance between them.

Then Eterna also seemed to no longer be conscious of Lisa.

“I’ll be going somewhere for a moment, so please wait here.”

“Understood.”

Eterna briefly separated from Pathos due to some business, and Lisa tried to close the distance with Pathos again.

However, she could no longer approach Pathos.

Because…

“You, it would be best for you to come out of the shadow right now. Why are you following Lord Pathos?”

Eterna had drawn her mace, infused it with holy power, and was staring at the shadow where Lisa was hiding with her eyes wide open, revealing her pupils.

“If… you’ve approached Lord Pathos with the intention to harm him, I suggest you turn back. Otherwise…”

Eterna was swinging her mace menacingly as she spoke, looking at the shadow where Lisa was hiding.

“I will split your head open right here.”