—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
According to Alberich, the Grand Conference Hall was divided into a main building and three annexes.
The main building housed the Imperial leaders, and the annexes housed the leaders of the other continental powers.
I immediately headed towards the main building.
“If you’re expecting help from the Imperial Knights, you’re better off giving up.”
Alberich said, following me, his voice laced with concern. I ignored him. I wasn’t planning on asking for the knights’ assistance. Having Alberich, their captain, on my side was more than enough.
My destination was…
“The Archmage? Are you acquainted with Elderian?”
“Somewhat.”
Elderian, the master of the mage tower and one of the Empire’s leaders, was attending the meeting. The guards, recognizing Alberich, stepped aside, and we reached Elderian’s room without any resistance. I knocked on the door rather forcefully. A hunchbacked butler opened the door, and Elderian looked at me with surprise.
“It’s been a while.”
“…Almost a month. Sir Elliot, I’ve heard about your encounter with the Golden Lion.”
“It’s a long story.”
Emily Vallière was sitting on the sofa behind Elderian. She looked up, her eyes widening when she saw me, then quickly lowered her head.
‘…Emily is going through… a phase at the moment.’
Elderian whispered apologetically, and I nodded. It didn’t matter.
“I need your help, Archmage. Immediately.”
“What kind of help?”
“I’m going to attack the Pope.”
Crash!
Elderian’s monocle fell to the floor and shattered, but he didn’t even notice.
He blinked repeatedly, then looked around. After making sure no one was eavesdropping, he spoke,
“Attack… the Pope? You don’t mean… like, a card game, do you?”
“Yes, I’m going to physically assault him. Beat him up, to be precise.”
“…I see.”
Elderian looked at Alberich, as if seeking an explanation, and Alberich smiled wryly.
“The Saintess has been kidnapped. By the Shadows of God. They attacked Sir Elliot and the Saintess within the Empire’s territory.”
“What?!”
Emily reacted, staring at Alberich and me with wide eyes. I nodded.
“That’s the situation. We’re going to rescue Ophelia.”
“…That’s… troubling. I don’t want to believe it, but with the Sword Saint here… it must be true.”
“Yes.”
Elderian’s expression turned serious.
“You said you’re going to attack the Pope. Is that your will as the hero?”
“….”
“My apologies. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But conversations in the mage tower… tend to be overheard.”
So, he knew. Of course, he did. The mage tower would be riddled with surveillance and eavesdropping magic. It would have been stranger if he hadn’t discovered my identity as the hero after staying there for a week.
I had planned on revealing it eventually, so this just saved me some time.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
“No, we each bear our own responsibilities. I simply intend to offer my assistance to the hero who will save this world.”
Elderian looked at Emily. She hiccuped when our eyes met.
“Emily, aren’t you going?”
“That’s…”
Emily hesitated. It was time to play my trump card.
“Emily.”
“Y-yes?”
“Ophelia cherished the brooch you gave her. Until she was kidnapped.”
“…R-really?”
“Really.”
Emily’s eyes lit up. She nodded vigorously and put on her witch’s hat. It was the same hat she wore in the game. Elderian had called it outdated, but she seemed to like it.
Good. I had Emily’s support. It was time to move on.
“Where are you going now?”
“The Intelligence.”
Arlon, the Elven King of the Great Forest, couldn’t attend the meeting, as he was tasked with protecting the World Tree. He had sent one of his chieftains, the Binheim Tribe, to represent him.
So, Erwin, the chieftain and master archer of the Binheim Tribe, was tapping her long fingernails on the table, bored.
“Uthmund, the air in the Empire is stifling, isn’t it? Is it because there are no trees?”
“Indeed…”
She had brought Uthmund as her advisor. He had been humiliated and forced to cooperate with a human a few months ago, but he had played a key role in eliminating the dark mage in Nua Dhil, and his contribution had been recognized.
The meeting was still half a day away. Elves, with their long lifespans, had a different concept of time, but Erwin was bored. The polluted air of the Empire was suffocating.
She stood up abruptly.
“I’m going for a walk. Somewhere with trees.”
“A-a walk, milord?”
Uthmund’s face turned pale. Erwin, the master archer and chieftain of Binheim, was… free-spirited.
There was no telling what kind of trouble she would cause if she wandered around the Imperial Capital.
“N-no, you can’t!”
The Elven King would surely be furious. And Uthmund, as her advisor, would be held responsible. He was like a mouse caught in a trap.
“Please reconsider. The meeting is about to begin. I’ve brought some books that might interest you…”
“I don’t care. I’m bored. I’ve made up my mind.”
Erwin ignored Uthmund’s pleas and opened the door.
“…You’re…”
There were already people in the hallway. Four of them. She recognized two of them.
Alberich von Reudenstein, the Sword Saint, and Emily Vallière, the Archmage’s apprentice. She had met them when she arrived in the capital. Another one of them looked familiar.
Blue hair. Owen, the attack dog of the Intelligence. All of the Empire’s Mark bearers were gathered here. Even for an elf, it was an unusual sight.
“…Is the meeting starting early?”
“No.”
The last knight answered. A man with light blond hair stepped forward.
“Erwin, master archer of Binheim.”
“….”
“I need your help.”
“Why are you speaking so informally, short-ears?”
Erwin’s eye twitched. She looked ready to draw her bow, so Uthmund quickly intervened.
“S-Sir Elliot! What brings you here?”
“Uth… something, wasn’t it? Good to see you. You’re here too?”
“Yes. Thanks to you. I hope you’ve recovered.”
They seemed to be on friendly terms. Erwin frowned.
“You know each other?”
Elliot. She had heard that name before. In…
“You were the one who captured the dark mage in Nua Dhil.”
Not just a human, but a human who had helped them. Thanks to him, she had gained the Elven King’s favor and was now representing the Great Forest at the Continental Alliance meeting.
Erwin smiled brightly. Elves valued loyalty and reciprocity.
“Not bad, for a short-ears. Though long ears are much better, of course.”
“….”
“Anyway, what brings the great hero here? With the Sword Saint, the future Archmage, and the attack dog of the Intelligence?”
“We need your help.”
“What kind of help?”
“We’re going to… deal with someone very bad.”
Erwin frowned, observing them. According to Uthmund, this knight, Elliot, was as strong as an Elven Chieftain. And the other three were all Mark bearers.
There was only one conclusion Erwin could reach.
“Are you… going to defeat the Demon King?”
“Not the Demon King, but someone just as bad.”
—
Picking locks wasn’t the only skill Ophelia had learned during her long years in the Holy City.
To escape from the educational institution’s solitary confinement, she had to avoid the watchful eyes of the Holy Knights.
That’s how she learned stealth. It wouldn’t work against someone with sharp eyes like Elliot, though.
“Alright. Let’s do this, Ophelia.”
Ophelia took off her holy robes and reversed them, the black lining now on the outside. It was perfect camouflage in the darkness.
The only downside was that her underwear was visible if she bent over, but that didn’t matter right now.
Ophelia, holding her breath, crawled through the shadows. Knights had sharp senses, but Ophelia’s stealth was superior.
“Phew.”
She managed to reach the end of the corridor without being detected.
This door should lead to the annex.
Once she was out, she could ask the Imperial guards for help. Just as she reached for the doorknob…
“Saintess.”
A deep voice. She turned stiffly. A knight with short hair stood there. She could have avoided detection if it were an ordinary Holy Knight, but this one was a Cathedral Knight. His name was…
“Dick…”
“My name is not Dick. It’s Rowan Dictus.”
“Yeah, yeah, Rowan.”
“Where are you going? And how did you remove your handcuffs?”
“….”
“This is clearly desertion. His Holiness has ordered your immediate return. It would be best for both of us if you return quietly.”
Rowan Dictus, the Cathedral Knight, was blocking her path. And Ophelia knew how strong Cathedral Knights were.
She, with her meager skills, was no match for him. This was troublesome.
Just as Ophelia bit her lip…
“Ugh.”
Rowan winced and bent over. A powerful gust of wind swept past Ophelia’s face.
A priest, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, was pointing a sword at Rowan.
“Ured? What’s the meaning of this?”
“I’m simply doing my duty as an Inquisitor.”
Ured smiled, twirling his rapier. Elliot’s words came to mind. Ured was a lunatic, but a helpful lunatic, when he was on your side.
So, she cheered him on.
“Y-yeah… go get him!”
“I shall take the Saintess’s encouragement as a divine revelation.”
“Have you finally lost it, Ured?”
“Indeed, Rowan. I’m mad. Mad with faith. Unlike His Holiness, who is blinded by greed.”
“Retract that statement. It’s blasphemy.”
“I believe your actions are blasphemous. Threatening the Saintess, a messenger of God? When will you see the light? I, Ured, as an Inquisitor, shall enlighten you.”
Shing.
Another blade emerged from Ured’s wide sleeve.
Dual wielding.
Even an unarmored priest, if he was an Inquisitor, was a formidable opponent. Rowan adjusted his grip on his sword.
“F-fight…”
Ophelia, intimidated by the tense atmosphere, quietly reached for the doorknob behind her. It was locked.
“…Damn it.”
Ophelia pulled out her hairpin; while Ured lunged at Rowan.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m still new to translating as this is my second novel to pick up, so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
