episode_0052

No, this human! There is a limit to how much you can ignore. Do you want to see what happens if you ignore me because I am small? Glenn’s teeth started to grind, but he held back as much as possible.

‘In this age of advanced magic, short and ugly kids are treated favorably as wizards, so what’s so important about height?! And experience, experience?! I’ve been an adventurer for over 10 years and I’m still alive, so what do I lack? Is being an adventurer a problem, or is it job discrimination?

I wanted to shout all my complaints to the world, but I kept my mouth shut. I had to hold back. I’ve often been subjected to such underestimation and contempt. Especially, as a commoner with no connections or family, I’m used to being looked down on by nobles. So, I had to hold back. Rather…

Then, he turned his gaze to Milicia. And then, Glenn’s discontent subsided on its own.

The aura of the Militia was ominous. It was not the stiffness and anxiety that had been briefly seen a moment ago, but rather a feeling of contempt and fear.

“No. Not even a speck of regret. From the moment the blessing was given, it was impossible to even revoke the appointment of Glenn as his escort knight.”

“I see… Wait, a blessing? A blessing.”

“Oh, brother. Have you already forgotten that in the distant past, when appointing a Knight Templar, a saint or a bishop would give a blessing? Even though he is an escort knight, he is also a position close to the Knight Templar, so it is only natural.”

Well, that’s what I thought, but my mind was complicated after receiving the definitive answer. The First Princess provided the information to Endymian in a somewhat pitiful tone.

But the expression behind him was not good. He had a sinister smile. And then, as if he was just passing by, he muttered without any hesitation.

“Well, well… I’ve never seen a scene where someone kisses the forehead of someone and blesses them. It was definitely a sight that was hard to see.”

Glenn felt dizzy.

“What, what are you saying!”

“Oh my…”

“Huh?”

Endymian reacted strongly to the bomb thrown by the First Princess, and the King sighed while touching his forehead. Then, the Second Princess Luna broke the dignity she had maintained until now and looked back and forth between Milicia and Glenn with a truly bewildered expression.

Wow, the first princess. She’s definitely a great trickster. She knows how to control the atmosphere! But she seems more suited to the Demon King’s position than the throne…

With the sudden delusion, Glenn decided to refrain from doing anything that would displease the First Princess as much as possible. And he erased his interest in the First Princess from there.

Now, Endymian, whose face was gradually turning red with shock before his eyes and who was questioning the saint, was more important.

“Seo, Saint! What is this!”

“What are you talking about?”

The saint hesitated a little. She seemed a little flustered by the tremendous momentum that was beginning to surge forward. Her tone of voice was surprisingly cold.

“Ba, that’s what my sister just said! It’s true!”

“Yes.”

“Ha, answer without a moment’s hesitation? Are you sure you know what that means, Saintess?”

The saintess hesitated at Endymian’s attitude of asking questions almost as if he was pressing her. Ah, this is a bit difficult to watch.

Glenn slowly moved his feet, standing as if to slightly block the saintess. Endymian’s expression distorted at that action. He almost burst out laughing when he saw his face, which had been heated up just a moment ago, distorted, but Glenn, a man who was good at maintaining his composure, held back. Endymian continued speaking for now.

“Saint. I too have been educated through the ancient books and know well. I know very well that appointing a knight as a bodyguard, and especially appointing one while kissing the top of the knight’s head and giving a blessing, means asking that knight to be by your side and protect you absolutely until you die! But, how could you do such a thing to such a small man! How reckless! ”

“I am not complacent. Prince Endymian.”

Glenn could feel a terrible aura pouring out from behind him, from Milicia. It was a combination of divine power and Milicia’s wrath. It was so obvious, even though it wasn’t directed at him. So…

“Ugh!”

“Oh my gosh…”

“Umm…”

“Ah, ah…this is Millie’s…”

As expected, the people around him gasped at the sight. Only Endymian and Glenn were not greatly flustered by the sight. Glenn had seen it before, so Endymian was caught in a self-contradiction.

“What! How can you say that so clearly…”

“Because I have never doubted the plan of the god I believe in, Prince Endymian. God, at the same time as giving me the power of a saint again, gave me a revelation. He told me to make this man, ‘Red-Eyed Glenn’, my escort knight and walk the land of the continent to make a name for myself and purify evil. Reckless and complacent, La. Are you telling me to doubt my god?”

“Ugh! That, that… Saintess, are you satisfied with that! Knowing what the warrior would say if he saw it…”

“Can I ask why you suddenly bring up this topic, Warrior?”

“What, what? You, you…knowing that, like that…”

“Take it easy. Endymian.”

The king, unable to bear to watch the two arguing, spoke in a deep voice. At this, both Endymian and Milicia fell silent.

Milicia still glared at Endymian with contempt. However, Glenn knew that half of this sentiment was a bluff.

‘milli…’

If it is not a bluff, how can one explain this cute… no, no! This act of symbolizing anxiety, holding tightly to one’s own right hand? Glenn felt fortunate that he was standing in front of the saint. The king’s voice was heard again by Glenn, who was admiring his own wisdom.

“Saint, please forgive your son for his rudeness. Whether it’s the Knights Templar or the Knights Guard, the appointment itself is something that has only been happening in the royal family for decades.”

“Yes. I apologize for raising my voice. Your Majesty. Prince, I was too hasty. I apologize. ”

“Endymian?”

“Ah…yes. Father. I was short-sighted. Please forgive my rudeness. Saintess…”

Still in shock, the First Prince lowered his head. Glenn sighed in relief for a moment. Well, honestly, there was no way he would be so stupid as to do something rash in a place like this audience room. If he had, he wouldn’t have been invited to this place.

However, if you recognize Saint Milicia behind you, who confidently declares herself and then cautiously lets out a trembling sigh filled with anxiety, you can never let your guard down.

‘At the same time, I’m incredibly happy that you rely on me more than anyone else… but now is not the time to be indulging in such happiness.’

“No, Endymian. I apologize for raising my voice.”

So, the argument came to an end for a while. After the king had finished his quarrel, he asked the servants nearby to prepare the banquet hall. When the servants cautiously told him that it was ready, the king nodded.

Ah, I wondered why we were dying here, but it was because of the dinner? Glenn accepted the reality calmly. It was called the dinner, but it felt like he was being dragged to undergo another ordeal. Was this just a premonition…

“Saint, and the knight guard and high-ranking adventurer of our kingdom, Glenn. The royal family has prepared a banquet to celebrate your investiture, so I hope you will attend.”

“It is an honor, Your Majesty. I will be happy to attend.”

“Thank you so much.”

The saintess turned back to the king and thanked him, and Glenn also quietly bowed to him. And then, Glenn began to feel that the eyes of the four people were focused on him.

The first princess, the second princess, the queen, and the first prince.

Some people looked at it with hostility, some with curiosity, and some with favor.

‘I don’t know if I can eat rice or not.’

Glenn, nervously adjusting the collar around his neck, followed the servants who entered the audience room and began to guide them.

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Glenn was surprised that the royal banquet was simpler than he had thought. It was simply served with finely sliced steak, roasted beans, grilled onions, and wine. The saintess whispered in Glenn’s ear, who was more surprised than he had thought.

“It is now the time between breakfast and lunch, so the King is likely to eat something light and then get down to business, so he is preparing something simple like this. I know this because I have been invited to him often before.”

“Oh, I see.”

Glenn nodded at the explanation, as he was reminded of the king from a novel he had read before. He had heard that the king was a person who valued efficiency more than he had thought. So he had heard that the qualification of Senior Adventurer was also newly established by the current king to select seven adventurers with outstanding skills and perform tasks that were difficult to assign to government officials. As a monarch who values efficiency, he would thoroughly utilize organizations like the Adventurer’s Guild. For the sake of the entire nation.

“Okay, everyone, take your seats. Luna, Endymian, it’s been almost a year since I’ve had a spoon with you guys. This father couldn’t be happier.”

No, if you say it with such an indifferent expression, who would know how happy it is? Glenn suppressed his desire to object and sat down carefully. However, Princess Luna and Prince Endymian looked quite pleased with those words.

Oh, is it true that the child understands his parents’ feelings? In other words, the King is truly happy? Soon, the First Princess’s tone of voice proved it.

“Chaam. Father too. He eats dinner with me every day. Are you happier when two people come?”

“Hahaha. Our Josephine, don’t be so angry. You can always see the child at home, so you can tell if they’re healthy or not, but you don’t know if the child far away is eating well, sleeping well, sick, or in danger. So you can’t help but be happier.”

Oh. The King’s words sounded familiar. The saintess sitting next to Glenn also smiled and looked at Glenn.

That story sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It seemed to be the same. Glenn smiled faintly, cautiously. And the queen proved the feelings the two shared.

“Haha. Josephine? Josephine, you must have seen the old story of ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son’, right? It’s said that no parent is happier than a child who left home and returned safely.”

As expected, Glen nodded involuntarily when he saw that the royal family had quoted from the ‘Collection of Old Tales for Those Who Want to Gain Faith’. It was a book that Glen also knew. It felt like a collection of old tales, proverbs, and fables that had been compiled to fit the doctrines of the Church of Airgrants, but it was a book that had a lot of interesting content.

“I see…I didn’t understand Father’s broad mind. I was too low-minded. I’m sorry, Dad.”

Ah. Ah, Dad? Glenn almost burst out laughing at that expression, but held it in as best he could. However, Princess Luna, who maintained her composure, also shook her eyes slightly, and Endymian openly coughed. Finally, the target of the aegyo, the king, smiled faintly. Then, a meaningful smile appeared on Princess Josephine’s face, and it seemed that the situation had changed as intended.

What a wonderful princess.

“Hahaha! I’m even happier when you call me that. It’s okay. Okay, we have some special guests today, so let’s have a good time. I want to hear Luna and Andy’s story, but let’s also hear a lot of stories from our guests today.”

The King seems to be a person who loves his children more than I thought. Ah, the story of the Guild Master came to mind. It is said that the King originally had six children under the Queen. However, except for the current First Princess, Second Princess, and First Prince, they all died of illness or accidents. So it is said that the King cherishes his three children who are both talented and handsome.

However, it is said that the two princesses, excluding the first princess, had a strong sense of adventure and impulsivity and had a strong will to advance outside, so the king expressed great concern when sending them.

‘The problem was that Your Majesty’s children resembled Him too much. Hahaha. If you think about Your Majesty now, you wouldn’t be able to imagine it. Hahaha!’

According to the guildmaster, King Teius in his youth was also a man who had to act directly and act impulsively, just like the Second Princess and the First Prince. Even at that time, the Demon King was still alive and well and the threat of the Demons still existed.

Thanks to this, it is said that he led the knights and the army and fought against the demons and achieved great successes. And it is said that he often said that he became king ‘because he survived’, unlike his rivals for the throne.

However, after becoming king, it is said that he became a man who, like the current First Princess, hid his true feelings well while actively exercising his political ability and using all sorts of tricks to get what he wanted. The same was true of the conspiracy of treason by the Duke of Arkwright, which Glenn was also involved in.

The Duke of Arklight was the most prestigious and capable family among the central nobles of this country, so they were a headache, but thanks to the treasonous plot that was discovered, they were able to be ‘eliminated’ from the kingdom. Although it was the expression of the guild master, it was appropriate to use that expression when thinking about the situation of the Duke of Arklight after ‘that incident’.

“I am so glad to be able to treat you to a royal banquet today, Red-Eyed Glenn. Last time, when I bestowed upon you the title of High-Rank Adventurer, I didn’t even have time to do so.”

“Ah, yes… Back then, things weren’t going well for many reasons, so there was nothing I could do.”

“That’s right. It was a time when the Demon King was alive and well. The hero’s great efforts ended the Demon King’s era, but I will not forget the achievements of adventurers like you who worked behind the scenes. When this is over and we all gather, it would be nice to have a banquet together.”