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Vol 2: Chapter 37
The escort waiting room in the 1st Holy District was crowded with many escorts. Hundreds of escorts were waiting in a large hall which was almost like a gorgeous outdoors banquet hall.
A pitcher with fruit juice and a jug of fresh water was lined on the table for self-serving. A number of escorts brought their chairs together and sat in a circle, after waiting for quite a while on the chairs which were originally lined up against the wall.
It’s been an hour since we came here. Maxim-san and his friends gathered around and took a break, but I killed time while observing the escorts.
Escorts did not have a uniform like the Knights Order. And if it were knights of a particular House, like Captain Maxim and his friends, you can see them wearing matching armor. But there were also some that made me wonder if they were truly escorts – because they have red hair styled in a mohawk, you see.
「The drinks here are delicious hyaha…」
I almost spit my drink when I heard someone say that. Is that “hyaha” your catchphrase? Dialect? A filth disinfectant?
「House Sillys’ escort–」
「Hyaha!?」
A sudden hand on my shoulder made a “Hyaha” escape my mouth. It made me spit my drink slightly, so I hurriedly took out a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped it.
「”Hyaha”…?」
「N-N-Nothing. How can I help you?」
Looking back, there was Lord Ethan’s escort—the halfling escort.
Wearing the same armor as at the banquet, she wore a cloak embroidered with House Ebene’s crest on the back.
The 6 Great Duke Houses are equipped with expensive equipment that sets it apart from other noble families, so it is easy to tell. To be honest, she looked really cool.
(Looking at a halfling woman reminds of Mimino-san…)
「I am Lelenore, an escort of House Ebene. Can I know your name?」
「Ah–yes, I’m Reiji. As you know, I’m an escort at House Sillys.」
「Hmm, yeah, so you are called Reiji-kun.」
Hmm? By the way, didn’t this person wave to me at the escorts security meeting?
Have I met her before in the past… No, there’s no way of that. If she’s a halfling, then I’ll definitely be reminded of Mimino-san. In the first place, I can’t forget anything when I have【World Ruler】.
「By any chance, do you know me?」
「Yeah. Actually…」
It was when she said that – the room became dark, as if there was a power outage. Everyone looked up at the ceiling, but it was still morning, so the magic lamps weren’t in use. It relied on the sunlight from outside.
It became bright again soon, but in other words, the sky became dark at that instant moment.
「What was that!? …Reiji-kun, what’s wrong?」
「… I have a bad feeling.」
The darkness was too unnatural. The sun was shining so bright today. So it is unthinkable that a huge rain cloud covered the sun.
Unrest filled my chest.
Speaking of which, the Border Earl Berserker also said that today things were going to get bloody.
Wild intuitions are correct. Especially if it’s a life-threatening situation.
When I approached the windows, there were several escorts who were also looking out the window. One of them was Captain Arthur.
「Captain Arthur, what was that just now?」
「………」
Arthur silently stared outside even when I called out. His line of sight was the Holy Royal Palace.
「Do you have any idea?」I asked again.
「No… no way…」
「Captain Arthur!」
Arthur, who was brought back to reality with my voice, finally realized that I was the one who was speaking to him.
「Y-You’re the cleaner…」
「Did something happen at the Holy Royal Palace?」
「What’s wrong?」Lelenore-san asked, coming from behind, but Arthur just put his hand on his mouth and did not give out any information.
Today there should only be the ceremony to award skill orbs. It’s a ritual, but it’s something they do every year, so if something special was planned, the Earl would have informed me in advance.
(What was special?)
…Wait, there was one. One thing was special.
The skill orb to be awarded to Prince Kluvshrat. Apparently there was a strong possibility of 7 or more stars.
A special skill orb.
I know how powerful a 6-star skill orb can be—the power that Lark wielded at Six Mine. The power to slash a dragon’s neck – although on the verge of death – with a single stroke.
What if it was a 7 or more stars?
「Captain Arthur… Is it the skill orb given to Prince Kluvshrat?」
「!?」Arthur was greatly astonished.
「Y-You, why do you know that…」
「What is it? What kind of skill orb is to be given to Prince Kluvshrat?」Lelenore-san asked.
「…No, if Prince Kluvshrat received it, there should be no problem. That was supposed to be the solution…」
「W-Wait a minute. What will happen if Prince Kluvshrat did receive the special skill orb? The darkness as it was just now?」I asked.
「I don’t know…」
Then, there was a rumbling sound.
As expected, the escorts also felt the abnormality and began to rustle. I exchanged glances with Arthur and Lerenore-san.
「Captain Arthur, you don’t know what will happen, isn’t that right?」
「Y-Yeah…」
「Then, it’s possible that something unexpected is happening right now, right?」
「That is…」Arthur averted his gaze, but then「…possible.」he said.
He then turned towards the escorts.
「Everyone, listen! I am Arthur, the second captain of the Holy King’s Knights Order!」
The noise in the venue stopped.
「I can’t tell you the details yet, but there may have been some problems with today’s skill orb award ceremony. It’s something that His Majesty the Holy King and Prince Kluvshrat were supposed to hold back, but plans can go wrong. Please get ready to move out soon!」
…Wait. Wait just a minute!
「Captain Arthur, what is that “hold back” you mentioned?」
「No… my tongue slipped. Forget it.」
「Did you know that something dangerous might happen?」
The escorts started getting noisy again hearing what I said.
「That’s not it. It shouldn’t have gone to that.」
「The darkness just now, and the rumbling right now… Obviously something is wrong!」
Just when I said that, a loud sound reverberated. I heard the sound of something being destroyed in the distance.
(It came from the Holy Royal Palace.)
At that instant, I broke into a sprint.
「Ah, wait, cleaner!」
There was no reason to wait. I jumped out of the open window, thinking of the shortest route to the Holy Royal Palace.
「This way!」Lelenore who jumped out right after me beckoned.
「Lelenore-san!?」
The two of us started sprinting.
Soon after leaving the building, we reached the wall that separated the Holy Royal Palace and the 1st Holy District.
「Look there!」
A hemispherical darkness appeared on the grounds of the Holy Royal Palace.
It was difficult to perceive how far it was, but the size was probably about the size of a huge shopping mall. It was also 50 meters tall.
There was no reason to conclude that it was not an “abnormal situation”.